Chapter 1452: This Requires Extra Payment

The Ten Great Sects of the South Sea, in conjunction with the Ten Great Immortal Cultivation Families, dispatched numerous experts to apprehend Zhou Sihong. However, Zhou Sihong possessed a Tongtian Spirit Treasure, and without a Soul Transformation cultivator intervening, even five Nascent Soul cultivators working together could not stop him.

This was not surprising. Zhou Sihong originally hailed from the Great Yan Imperial Family, a core member of the royal lineage. However, he had strayed down a misguided path, using demonic energy to imbue his body and becoming a demon.

To capture Zhou Sihong, the Ten Great Sects of the South Sea offered a reward of fifty million spirit stones. Since the bounty was issued, any sighting of Zhou Sihong, or even a cultivator suspected of being him, was immediately reported to the Ten Great Sects.

Unfortunately, Zhou Sihong constantly changed his escape route, making him incredibly difficult to track.

By chance, Huang Fugui, who hailed from the Eastern Barren, discovered Zhou Sihong in the Burial Immortal Sea Region. The Burial Immortal Sea Region was a peculiar place, characterized by a natural gravitational field. Ordinary Nascent Soul cultivators attempting to force their way through would have their bodies crushed by the gravity restriction. Furthermore, the area was permeated by Spirit-Suppressing Qi.

After deliberation, the Ten Great Sects decided to send body cultivators at the Nascent Soul stage to the Burial Immortal Sea Region to apprehend Zhou Sihong, as only body cultivators would be minimally affected there.

Even in the resource-rich South Sea, Nascent Soul stage body cultivators were exceedingly rare, with only a few well-known figures.

The last time the Immortal Suppressing Pagoda opened, Wang Changsheng had sparred with Stone Roar, defeating him purely through his physical strength.

"What? He's still alive?" Wang Changsheng asked with some surprise. It was rare for Zhou Sihong to still be alive after the Ten Great Sects of the South Sea had jointly moved to apprehend him. Even the impoverished Eastern Barren had Soul Transformation cultivators, let alone the resource-rich South Sea. If a Soul Transformation cultivator from the South Sea were to act, Zhou Sihong surely wouldn't be able to resist.

"He's currently in the Burial Immortal Sea Region, and Huang Fugui spotted him. He immediately reported it to our Ten Thousand Swords Sect," Dai Ren said with a smile. "Speaking of which, we owe a lot to Fellow Daoist Wang, otherwise Huang Fugui might have reported to other forces." Huang Fugui was not well-known in the South Sea, but he claimed to be an old friend of True Monarch Taihao, which allowed him to easily meet with the sect master of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect.

The Ten Great Sects had already reached an agreement: whoever first located Zhou Sihong and made significant contributions to his annihilation would be granted a large territory. This was to motivate everyone to work diligently towards eliminating Zhou Sihong, as idly watching him open a spatial channel would bring widespread devastation to the South Sea.

Huang Fugui's report to the Ten Thousand Swords Sect meant that if the sect made further significant contributions to the annihilation of Zhou Sihong, it could increase its influence and expand its power.

"Huang Fugui? What does this have to do with me?" Wang Changsheng was slightly taken aback, completely bewildered. He certainly hadn't asked Huang Fugui to search for Zhou Sihong.

Dai Ren briefly explained the situation. Huang Fugui had offended the Sun-Moon Palace years ago, so he naturally wouldn't dare approach them. Since he had some past dealings with Wang Changsheng, he instinctively went to the Ten Thousand Swords Sect.

"Fellow Daoist Huang said that he was initially unwilling to help, but it was your persistent persuasion, urging him to consider the welfare of all living beings in the South Sea cultivation world, that compelled him to search for Zhou Sihong tirelessly, come rain or shine. Even at the risk of his own life and cultivation, he was determined to find Zhou Sihong. Indeed, persistence pays off; he finally located Zhou Sihong's whereabouts. Zhou Sihong wasn't using his true appearance at the time, but the Blood Demon Blade could not be faked."

Hearing this, Wang Changsheng inwardly gave a wry smile. Huang Fugui clearly knew how to flatter himself. Huang Fugui was trying to establish a righteous and grand image for himself, which was why he dragged Wang Changsheng into it. Huang Fugui loved to give himself credit; with his timid personality, how could he possibly take the initiative to search for Zhou Sihong?

Wang Changsheng saw through the lie but didn't expose it, figuring the Ten Thousand Swords Sect likely wouldn't believe such claims anyway. However, if handled well, this matter could also be beneficial for the Wang family.

"The Burial Immortal Sea Region... Fellow Daoist Dai, your visit this time, you're not asking me to go to the Burial Immortal Sea Region, are you?" Wang Changsheng said with a frown, a bad premonition forming in his heart.

"Precisely. Ordinary Nascent Soul cultivators cannot withstand the immense gravity in the Burial Immortal Sea Region, and their divine sense would also be affected. The Sect Master and the leaders of other sects have deliberated and plan to send several Nascent Soul body cultivators into the Burial Immortal Sea Region. Oh, and the demon race will also be sending people. You'll work together to deal with Zhou Sihong." Nascent Soul body cultivators were exceedingly rare, so the Ten Great Sects had no choice but to seek help from the demon race, as they too would suffer if Zhou Sihong opened a spatial channel.

This was a gamble: whoever killed Zhou Sihong would undoubtedly perform a great service. Besides preventing the spatial channel, the Blood Demon Blade in Zhou Sihong's possession was also a coveted item for various major powers. The Burial Immortal Sea Region experienced sporadic outbreaks of Spirit-Suppressing Qi, lasting for unpredictable durations—from a few years to over a century. Soul Transformation cultivators were unwilling to risk entering the Burial Immortal Sea Region, so they could only send others. Nascent Soul body cultivators were rare, and Wang Changsheng's strength was undeniable.

Wang Changsheng's brows furrowed deeply. What kind of joke was this? Wasn't this sending him to his death? Setting aside the fact that the Burial Immortal Sea Region was one of the South Sea's seven perilous lands, Zhou Sihong possessed a Tongtian Spirit Treasure. No matter how strong his physical body was, could it truly withstand a Tongtian Spirit Treasure?

"Fellow Daoist Dai, my strength is modest; I'm afraid I won't be able to handle such a task," Wang Changsheng politely declined. He certainly didn't want to seek trouble with Zhou Sihong; that would be suicidal.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, the Sect Master said that as long as you are willing to undertake this mission, your family will be exempt from tribute for a thousand years. Furthermore, you will immediately be rewarded with two Nascent Soul-forming spirit materials and a Ten Thousand Swords Token. With this token, you can send one clan member to join our Ten Thousand Swords Sect. After the mission is accomplished, you may make two reasonable requests to our sect. Should any unfortunate accident befall you, our Ten Thousand Swords Sect will protect your Wang family for a thousand years." Dai Ren spoke sincerely, deeming these terms already very generous.

Wang Changsheng was unimpressed. Anything not yet in hand was illusory; was he expected to swallow a mere promise?

"Besides you, there will be three other Nascent Soul body cultivators. Grand Elder True Monarch Tiangong of the Divine Weapon Palace will personally lead the team. True Monarch Tiangong is a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator. With the addition of the demon race, as long as Zhou Sihong is found, he will surely die," Dai Ren continued to add. The Ten Thousand Swords Sect also had a Nascent Soul body cultivator, but he was only at the early Nascent Soul stage and was currently traveling abroad, not in the South Sea. If Wang Changsheng didn't go, even if Zhou Sihong were killed, the Ten Thousand Swords Sect wouldn't gain much credit.

Thinking of this, Dai Ren felt a hint of envy for Huang Fugui. The information Huang Fugui reported to the Ten Thousand Swords Sect was worth fifty million spirit stones—a fortune acquired far too easily. If Wang Changsheng agreed to go, Dai Ren himself would have made a contribution.

"Fellow Daoist Dai, Zhou Sihong possesses a Tongtian Spirit Treasure, and it's said that over a dozen Nascent Soul cultivators have already died by his hand. This task seems incredibly difficult, unless..." Dai Ren heard a glimmer of hope and quickly asked, "Unless what, Fellow Daoist Wang? Please speak freely."

"This requires additional compensation. I'll need some artifact refining materials, such as fourth-tier Heaven and Earth Spirit Water."