Chapter 1523: News from the Upper Realm

His gaze swept around, seeing all the Nether Spiders fallen in pools of blood, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

Wang Qingshan bowed respectfully and replied, "Senior Martial Ancestor Liu, your disciple has successfully completed this mission."

"Greetings, Senior Liu."

Song Xiruo and the others all bowed, their expressions respectful.

Liu Ye soared towards the spatial node, his spiritual sense carefully sweeping through the void, finding no abnormalities.

Several screams echoed, and Wang Qingshan frowned. Following the source of the sound, he appeared in a locust tree forest.

On the thick tree trunks hung huge golden cocoons, which swayed continuously as if something alive was inside.

A corpulent man in a green robe lay in a pool of blood, with over a dozen gleaming golden Nether Spiders devouring the corpse.

Wang Qingshan flicked his sleeve, and nine Azure Glaze Swords shot out, transforming into nine streaks of azure light. They danced through the forest, causing the golden cocoons to fall. Inside each cocoon was a cultivator, unconscious but still breathing.

The lowest among them were at the Foundation Establishment stage, while the highest was at the ninth layer of the Core Formation stage.

Suddenly, a graceful young woman in a green skirt woke up. She stared at the unfamiliar surroundings, momentarily stunned. Before she could understand what was happening, a gleaming golden claw pierced through her chest, and several gleaming golden Nether Spiders crawled out from her abdomen, devouring her corpse.

"Those cultivators captured by the Nether Spiders were apparently being used as food for the juvenile Nether Spiders."

Wang Qingshan frowned and said, "No wonder the number of mutated Nether Spiders is increasing. This is where the problem lies. These mutated Nether Spiders are most likely the offspring of that fifth-order Nether Spider. After all, she has completed her mutation, so it's normal for other mutated Nether Spiders to be her descendants."

"These mutated Nether Spiders, once they reach the fourth order, are extremely troublesome. If tamed, however, they would be a great asset."

Lei Yiming said thoughtfully. Even without him saying it, the others shared the same thought.

Having witnessed the Nether Spiders' abnormal defense firsthand, who wouldn't want to raise a mutated one? Even if they couldn't use it themselves, they could pass it on to future generations.

They exchanged glances and nodded to each other, each taking a few juvenile Nether Spiders. These cultivators wouldn't live much longer; although they still showed signs of life, it was because the Nether Spiders hadn't yet consumed their vital organs. The day the Nether Spiders hatched would be their death day.

"Junior Nephew Wang, the situation here has been resolved. Come with me, I have something to ask you."

Liu Ye called out to Wang Qingshan. Wang Qingshan dared not delay and quickly followed him.

The Nether Spiders had been mostly eliminated, and the cultivators were clearing the battlefield. Wang Yingjie was among those tidying up; this insect extermination had brought him a substantial fortune, enough to cultivate to the ninth layer of the Core Formation stage. It seemed that his decision to follow Wang Qingshan to the Northern Frontier was the right one.

Before long, Liu Ye and Wang Qingshan appeared on a low dirt mound.

"Junior Nephew Wang, is that flame you wield the Azure Lotus Karma Fire?"

Liu Ye asked in a deep voice, his expression solemn.

"Nothing escapes Senior Martial Ancestor Liu's notice. It is indeed."

Wang Qingshan did not deny it, honestly admitting that it couldn't be hidden anyway. If he hadn't possessed the Azure Lotus Karma Fire, he wouldn't have been able to eliminate so many Nether Spiders.

"You obtained the inheritance of Elder Azure Lotus?"

Liu Ye pressed, his gaze holding a hint of expectation and a touch of nervousness.

"Elder Azure Lotus? No! That person called himself True Monarch Azure Lotus. Does Senior Martial Ancestor Liu know him?"

Wang Qingshan asked curiously. The 'Azure Lotus Sword Scripture' he cultivated came from an ancient cultivator named True Monarch Azure Lotus, who left behind this cultivation method before his ascension. He wondered if he had successfully ascended.

Liu Ye sighed softly, a reminiscent expression on his face. "It's him. True Monarch Azure Lotus and Elder Azure Lotus are the same person. He and Senior Martial Ancestor Four Seasons were contemporaries. Senior Martial Ancestor Four Seasons sparred with him many times but could never gain an advantage. To think you've received his inheritance, what a fated encounter!"

"Is the Azure Lotus Karma Fire also his?"

Wang Qingshan asked cautiously. In today's battle, the Azure Lotus Karma Fire had also been exposed. In the future, if enemies faced him, they would surely guard against this. The Azure Lotus Karma Fire is an extremely Yang and rigid flame, and treasures that counter it are exceptionally rare. As long as a Soul Transformation stage grand elder didn't make a move, Wang Qingshan had no worries.

"Not that. Senior Martial Ancestor Four Seasons left behind notes mentioning that Elder Azure Lotus possessed an Azure Lotus Lamp. It's said that this item came from the Immortal Suppressing Pagoda in the South Sea, but whether that's true or false, I'm not entirely sure."

Liu Ye said somewhat uncertainly. He then suddenly remembered something and continued, "You came all this way to the Northern Frontier to exterminate the insects this time; that was very thoughtful of you. Rest assured! I will speak with Old Ghost Sun and Old Monster Ye. You are my grand-disciple, and if anyone dares to use their age or seniority to deal with you, I will be the first to object."

Liu Ye's tone was full of confidence, his face radiating pride.

Wang Qingshan nodded gratefully. He then seemed to remember something, hesitated slightly, and asked, "Senior Martial Ancestor Liu, can the East Eaves Realm communicate with the Spirit Realm? Can we communicate with Grand Ancestor Four Seasons?"

Logically speaking, over all these years, someone must have ascended to the Spirit Realm. He wondered if they could contact any seniors in the Spirit Realm. His main concern was that when dealing with the Nine Nether Sect in the future, powerful figures from the Spirit Realm might descend.

Better to be cautious, just in case.

"It's hard to say. As far as I know, communication with the upper realms ceased over 30,000 years ago. It used to be possible. If not for that, those major sects wouldn't have perished due to internal strife. Perhaps communicating with the upper realms requires certain rare resources, or perhaps the cost for powerful Spirit Realm figures to descend is too great. I'm not clear on the specifics."

Liu Ye said with some uncertainty. Sword Venerable Four Seasons had gone missing back then, and none of the disciples of Taiyi Immortal Sect knew his whereabouts. The Taiyi Immortal Sect had no way to contact Sword Venerable Four Seasons.

Wang Qingshan suddenly understood and sighed, "No wonder. I was wondering why the Nine Nether Sect and the other three major sects didn't invite their ancestors from the upper realms to descend. Otherwise, it wouldn't have been so troublesome, and Senior Ye wouldn't have been injured by the fifth-order Nether Spider."

"Do you think it's that easy for powerful Spirit Realm figures to descend? Even for a wisp of a divine soul to descend, it's incredibly difficult. The power of realms is no laughing matter. But then again, if one could establish contact with the upper realms, as long as the forces there haven't perished, a sect would almost never perish; it would only grow more prosperous."

Liu Ye sighed, stating that no sect remains prosperous forever. If future generations are unworthy, then no matter how much wealth their predecessors accumulated, it would be useless.

"Alright, after the Northern Frontier matter is concluded, come back with me to the Taiyi Immortal Sect. Heaven and Earth are about to change, and you possess too few Sword Dao divine abilities. I will give you some guidance. Regardless, since you call me Senior Martial Ancestor, I will treat you equally."

Wang Qingshan's aptitude and character were excellent, but unfortunately, he was unwilling to join the Taiyi Immortal Sect. However, a good sapling shouldn't be ruined just like that, so Liu Ye planned to give Wang Qingshan some guidance. In case the Taiyi Immortal Sect ever faced hardship, Wang Qingshan could also lend a hand.

"Yes, this disciple thanks Senior Martial Ancestor Liu for your guidance."

Wang Qingshan said excitedly. Having a Soul Transformation stage sword cultivator willing to offer some pointers made him happier than acquiring a spiritual treasure.

Not everyone could receive guidance from a Soul Transformation stage sword cultivator. Wang Qingshan's face flushed crimson, overjoyed.

"By the way, Senior Martial Ancestor Liu, the 'Heaven and Earth are about to change' you mentioned isn't just about the Nether Spider chaos, is it?"

Liu Ye shook his head and said, "It's hard to say. Junior Nephew Song forcibly divined and predicted that our sect will face a great calamity in the future. If conditions allow, I hope you can lend a hand."

"Although this disciple is only an registered disciple, I am still a disciple of the Taiyi Immortal Sect. If conditions permit, this disciple will certainly not refuse."

Wang Qingshan solemnly promised. He clearly understood that Liu Ye's guidance was most likely in hopes that he would be able to assist the Taiyi Immortal Sect in the future; it was a form of exchange of benefits.

He didn't believe that Taiyi Immortal Sect's higher echelons would ever be so peaceful as to have a low chance of internal strife. External forces didn't highly regard the East Eaves, so they wouldn't target the Taiyi Immortal Sect. As for the East Eaves Demon Clan, that was even more impossible. If the East Eaves Demon Clan were to annihilate the Taiyi Immortal Sect, it would be tantamount to declaring war on the human race, and other forces would absolutely not let the East Eaves Demon Clan off the hook.

Liu Ye nodded with satisfaction and flew back the way they came, with Wang Qingshan following.