Chapter 1424: Qingyu Island

Two years passed quickly, as spring turned to autumn.

Golden Toad Sea Region, Zhoushan Island.

Inside the council hall, Wang Youyu sat in the main seat, with over a dozen clan elders seated on either side. Their expressions were grave.

The Wang family of Zhoushan Island is a branch of the Azure Lotus Wang family. Currently, they have 535 cultivators, including two Core Formation cultivators.

Wang Youyu is responsible for managing the clan members on Zhoushan Island. She has cultivated to the sixth level of Core Formation but has been stuck at a bottleneck.

“Patriarch, a large number of cultivators have recently appeared in the Golden Toad Sea Region, including disciples from the Ten Great Sects and Ten Great Immortal Cultivation Families. It seems something major is about to happen.” A clan elder said with some concern.

“It’s fine; just focus on your duties and don’t pay attention to them.” Wang Youyu knew the inside story: the Immortal Ascension Ruins are located at the edge of the Golden Toad Sea Region, and these individuals are here for them. Every thousand years, when the power of the realm weakens, the Ten Great Sects use their sect-suppressing artifacts to open a rift and send people inside to search for treasures.

Golden Toad Island is located in the northwest of the Golden Toad Sea Region, stretching 580 li long and 320 li wide. It is named for the large number of Golden Toad Beasts raised there. A verdant mountain peak, over a thousand zhang tall, had a massive red palace standing at its summit. The stone pillars of the red palace were carved with sun and moon patterns. A large number of cultivators were entering and exiting Golden Toad Island, creating a bustling scene.

Inside the red palace, Song Tianyang and Mu Yuehua sat in the main seats. They were the future successors of the Sun Moon Palace, as well as the successors to Du Chang and Fang Yue. They were proficient in combined attack secret techniques, and together they could contend with Mid-Nascent Soul cultivators. Du Chang and Fang Yue were preoccupied with apprehending Zhou Sihong and couldn't leave. True Monarch Yaori, Li Jiong, sat to one side, the three of them discussing something.

“Uncle-Master Li, have the people from the Dai family and other affiliated forces arrived yet?” Song Tianyang asked courteously. Though they were all Nascent Soul cultivators, Song Tianyang addressed Li Jiong as Uncle-Master according to their seniority.

“Not yet, but they should be arriving soon. The Immortal Ascension Ruins only open once every millennium. If I hadn’t formed my Nascent Soul relatively early, I would have wanted to go in and seek treasures myself.” Li Jiong said with some regret. Aside from the heavenly materials and earthly treasures within the Immortal Ascension Ruins, there's also the possibility of treasures left behind by the Spirit Realm. This alone is enough to drive people mad.

Mu Yuehua smiled slightly and said, “Uncle-Master Li, you jest. Such minor matters are best left to the younger generation. This time, we’ve sent quite a few elite disciples into the Immortal Ascension Ruins; they are sure to acquire many good things.” The Ten Scions of Sun Moon, who are Core Formation cultivators meticulously trained by the Sun Moon Palace, had five of their members sent into the Immortal Ascension Ruins this time, clearly demonstrating the Sun Moon Palace's emphasis on the Ruins.

Li Jiong shook his head and said, “Strength doesn’t guarantee absolute safety; luck is also crucial. The Immortal Ascension Ruins are fraught with danger, even containing Fourth-tier demonic beasts. The Shen family, one of the Ten Great Immortal Cultivation Families, sent ten Core Formation cultivators into the Immortal Ascension Ruins, but they encountered foreign races, and only two managed to leave alive.”

“Who can say for sure about luck? Every Core Formation cultivator who dares to enter the Immortal Ascension Ruins to seek treasures is risking their life. By the way, Uncle-Master Li, have the Wang family members not arrived yet?” The Wang family has cultivated several Third-tier Flood Dragons and also possesses puppet beasts. If we can join forces with them, the chances of acquiring treasures will be higher. The Immortal Ascension Ruins are extremely dangerous; having more allies increases the survival rate.

Just then, a sound transmission talisman flew in and landed before Song Tianyang. With a flick of his two fingers, a red light shot out, accurately striking the sound transmission talisman. A man's voice suddenly rang out: “Uncle-Master Song, the Wang family members have arrived. They are heading to Azure Fish Island.”

“The Wang family members have arrived; we should make time to visit Azure Fish Island.”

An island shaped like a large azure fish, with a broader eastern part and a narrower western part, was lush with greenery and dotted with numerous buildings. A large number of cultivators were active on the island.

On a vast plain, three enormous Flood Dragons lay sprawled. Wang Changsheng sat atop the head of an azure Flood Dragon. Ever since he received news of the Immortal Ascension Ruins opening, he had dedicated himself to refining magical treasures and puppet beasts. Wang Mengfen had dispatched a large number of personnel to procure cultivation resources, acquiring two sets of Fourth-tier formations.

Wang Qingqing, Wang Qingling, Ye Haitang, Wang Qiuming, and Wang Huaxu were the five chosen to represent the Wang family in seeking treasures within the Immortal Ascension Ruins. Among them, Wang Qingqing, Wang Qingling, and Wang Qiuming each possessed a Third-tier Flood Dragon. Additionally, Wang Changsheng gave a Fourth-tier puppet to Wang Qingqing for her to command, and Ye Haitang had a Fourth-tier formation. As for Wang Huaxu, Wang Changsheng refined two defensive magical treasures for him; in terms of speed alone, few Core Formation cultivators could match Wang Huaxu.

In the distance, there was a nine-story azure pavilion, guarded by cultivators nearby. Two streaks of escape light flew out from the azure pavilion, landing before Wang Changsheng. They were Li Rui and Nangong Fu.

Wang Changsheng jumped to the ground, cupped his hands, and said, “Fellow Daoist Li, Madam Li, it’s been a long time.” Li Rui and Nangong Fu were still Early-Nascent Soul cultivators. However, they were sword cultivators, and their combined sword arts had once contended with a Mid-Nascent Soul cultivator.

Li Rui nodded and said, “Fellow Daoist Wang, it’s been a long time. We’ve been waiting for you; you’ve finally arrived. Fellow Daoist Ye and the others haven’t arrived yet.” Nangong Fu’s gaze fell upon Wang Qingling, and she praised, “This must be Fairy Bailing! Excellent, Fellow Daoist Wang, your Wang family truly has a wealth of talent!”

“Madam Li, you flatter us. Our Wang family is far inferior compared to your Ten Thousand Swords Sect.” Wang Changsheng replied humbly. He didn't know if Nangong Fu's words held any other meaning, so he naturally didn't pursue the conversation.

“Fellow Daoist Wang, you must be tired from your journey. Please rest well first! Once Fellow Daoist Ye and the others arrive, we can discuss important matters together.” Due to the existence of Zhou Sihong, the Ten Great Sects placed even greater importance on the Immortal Ascension Ruins. If Zhou Sihong were to truly open a spatial passage, acquiring a few crucial treasures could mitigate their losses. With limited treasures, no one wanted to yield them to others. While the Ten Great Sects of the South Sea were currently united because of Zhou Sihong’s presence, their competition never truly disappeared.

“Nephew-Disciple Zhao, please arrange accommodation for Fellow Daoist Wang and his group.” Nangong Fu called over a graceful young woman in a green skirt and instructed her to arrange accommodation for Wang Changsheng and his party.

Not long after, Wang Changsheng and his group appeared within a secluded manor.

“Qingqing, Haitang, during this period, interact more with Core Formation cultivators from other forces, especially those entering the Immortal Ascension Ruins. If you enter the Ruins, you will be allies. Of course, clan members are the most reliable; allies are not necessarily so.” Wang Changsheng admonished them. If they entered the Immortal Ascension Ruins, the Ten Thousand Swords Sect’s affiliated forces would naturally form a small group. However, there was also competition within that small group, and no one could guarantee that internal strife wouldn’t occur. There are no eternal friends, only eternal interests.

Wang Qingqing and the other four readily agreed. Even without Wang Changsheng's advice, they would not easily trust others. After a brief chat, Wang Changsheng dismissed them, and they each returned to their respective accommodations.