Chapter 1539: Shapeshifting Thunder Tribulation

"The mutated Netherworld Spider is actually a new species. Be careful; don't assume that placing a restriction on it means everything will be fine. If its rank is too high, it might turn on its master," Wang Qingling said sternly. Generally, spirit beasts raised from a young age are less likely to betray their masters, while those that recognize a master midway through their lives have a relatively higher chance. For fierce spirit insects like the Netherworld Spider, even after being tamed, one must not let their guard down.

Wang Yingjie's cultivation of the "Five Spirit True Spirit Grimoire" did not grant him powerful divine abilities. Its advantage was that breakthroughs were only a matter of time as long as cultivation progressed steadily, with no major bottlenecks. Naturally, it also meant no great divine abilities. Influenced by Wang Qingling, Wang Yingjie had raised many spirit insects and beasts, but their strength was not impressive. Wang Qingling had him give them away, as his five-spirit root aptitude made it even harder to advance if he continued to raise a large number of spirit insects and beasts.

During his trip to the Northern Frontier, Wang Yingjie personally witnessed the formidable power of the mutated Netherworld Spiders. Wang Qingshan had captured some, and Wang Yingjie subdued a third-tier Netherworld Spider to serve as a guard and supplement his strength.

The Wang family was capable of crafting third-tier puppet beasts, with their most potent creations being complete sets of these puppets. However, not every Core Formation cultivator in the family possessed a full set, as the Wang family had not yet reached such a level of luxury.

Each newly advanced Core Formation cultivator in the family would be issued a single third-tier puppet beast. If it were damaged and they desired another, individuals would need to exchange contribution points with the family.

When the family assigned tasks, complete sets of puppet beasts would be granted, but these sets had to be returned upon completion of the mission.

The Wang family's merchant caravans all carried complete sets of puppet beasts to protect their goods. Additionally, these sets occasionally appeared at large auctions, and sometimes they were used to exchange for cultivation resources with other powers. The Wang family had few third-tier puppet masters capable of crafting complete sets, and their production speed lagged far behind demand. Therefore, Wang family members who desired a complete set of puppet beasts needed to exchange a massive amount of contribution points for them.

"Yes, Old Ancestor, your grandson understands," Wang Yingjie replied without hesitation. In fact, he didn't spend much cultivation resources on the third-tier Netherworld Spider, feeding it only very rarely.

The sounds of dragon roars and phoenix cries echoed as the Thunder Phoenix and Ice Wind Flood Dragon flew in. The Thunder Phoenix let out a joyful cry and landed beside Wang Qingling, spreading its wings as if showcasing its transformations, much like a child displaying their abilities to their parents.

The Thunder Phoenix was much larger than Wang Qingling. Its plumage was vibrant, its light silver beak incredibly sharp, and it continued to emit joyful cries. Wang Qingling's face was filled with doting affection. She extended her right hand, and the Thunder Phoenix obediently lowered its head, allowing her to caress it.

Wang Yingjie watched with envy. The Thunder Phoenix behaved like a docile pet in front of Wang Qingling, but it was nowhere near as polite with him.

"It's been a while, and you've grown again. I look forward to you advancing to the fourth tier and protecting our family," Wang Qingling said with a smile. She then flipped her hand and produced a light silver spirit fruit. Tiny silver electric arcs pulsed on the fruit's surface. She tossed the spirit fruit into the Thunder Phoenix's mouth. After consuming the fruit, the Thunder Phoenix excitedly flapped its wings, stirring up a strong gust of wind.

The Ice Wind Flood Dragon let out a loud roar. It landed beside Wang Qingling, staring at her expectantly. It opened its gaping maw, and two plumes of stark white cold air burst from its nostrils, instantly freezing the ground. The ice layer was about a foot thick, and the temperature plummeted.

Wang Yingjie was secretly surprised. If both the Ice Wind Flood Dragon and the Thunder Phoenix advanced to the fourth tier, he wondered which one would be more powerful.

The Thunder Phoenix's flight speed was incredibly fast, while the Ice Wind Flood Dragon possessed a powerful physical body. When spirit beasts advanced a major realm, they would all gain new innate divine abilities. Similarly, cultivators would also learn new divine abilities upon breaking through major realms.

"You glutton," Wang Qingling said with a doting smile. She retrieved a snow-white fruit and tossed it into the Ice Wind Flood Dragon's mouth. The Ice Wind Flood Dragon opened and closed its mouth, quickly devouring the fruit.

A deafening roar suddenly erupted. Gale-force winds swirled backwards, and dark clouds gathered.

"Could someone be attempting to break through to the Nascent Soul stage?" Wang Qingling wondered, her heart startled. She transformed into a streak of green light and flew out of Hundred Spirits Peak.

Towards Green Lotus Peak, a massive dark cloud appeared directly above it, accompanied by lightning and thunder.

"Ninth Uncle? Could it be his spirit beast attracting the Transformation Tribulation?" Wang Qingling murmured to herself. Green Lotus Peak was the residence of Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan. Since they had already formed their Nascent Souls, they naturally wouldn't attract a lightning tribulation. Therefore, the tribulation must have been drawn by Wang Changsheng's spirit beast.

Some spirit beasts with higher bloodlines can transform into human form upon reaching the fourth tier. Without exception, all spirit beasts transitioning from the third to the fourth tier must undergo the Transformation Tribulation. Most spirit beasts perish under this tribulation; only a fortunate few manage to barely survive and advance to the fourth tier. An extremely small number can even transform into human form, at which point they are considered demon beasts.

To Wang Qingling's knowledge, among Wang Changsheng's spirit beasts, the Dual-Pupil Rat, Soul-Devouring Golden Cicada, and Gold-Devouring Ant Queen all had the potential to advance to the fourth tier. She favored the Gold-Devouring Ant Queen more. The Dual-Pupil Rat had originally been an ordinary mouse that evolved into a Dual-Pupil Rat by consuming spirit medicine, so its potential was relatively low.

According to Wang Changsheng, the Dual-Pupil Rat had previously consumed two Heavenly Beast Pills, as well as a fourth-tier demon core and numerous other miraculous elixirs, yet it still couldn't advance to the fourth tier. A spirit beast with greater potential would likely have already reached the fourth tier.

The Soul-Devouring Golden Cicada was a supportive spirit insect; if it attracted the lightning tribulation, it would be very difficult for it to survive.

The Thunder Phoenix, sensing the distant thunderclouds, grew excited and let out a series of loud phoenix cries. Wang Qingling flew onto its back. With a flap of its wings, the Thunder Phoenix created a strong gust of wind and soared towards Green Lotus Peak.

At Green Lotus Peak, within a secluded courtyard, hundreds of century-old ironwood trees grew. In the center of the courtyard stood a bamboo building about an *mu* in size. Beneath the bamboo building were tens of thousands of Gold-Devouring Ants. Inside the building, the Gold-Devouring Ant Queen lay on the ground, her eyes constantly darting, her body trembling. The lightning tribulation had indeed been drawn by her.

Over the years, she had gnawed on a large amount of leftover artifact refining materials, eating no less than the Dual-Pupil Rat. While the Dual-Pupil Rat had undergone three periods of slumber, this was her first.

The Dual-Pupil Rat advanced by consuming spirit medicine as an ordinary mouse, whereas the Gold-Devouring Ant Queen was originally a spirit insect; the two were vastly different.

In a secret chamber within Green Lotus Pavilion, Wang Changsheng sat cross-legged on a futon, his body enveloped in a blue light. He seemed to sense something and abruptly opened his eyes.

"Could the Dual-Pupil Rat have advanced?" Wang Changsheng muttered to himself. He greatly anticipated the Dual-Pupil Rat advancing to the fourth tier, as it would be useful for treasure hunting and explorations.

He stood up and strode out of Green Lotus Pavilion. Looking at the thunderclouds high in the sky, Wang Changsheng felt a little disappointed.

"It's actually the Gold-Devouring Ant Queen undergoing tribulation. I wonder if she can advance to the fourth tier?" Wang Changsheng wondered aloud, as he strode towards the courtyard where the Gold-Devouring Ant Queen was located.