Chapter 154: Zhao Ningxiang's Transformation

A little over a month later, a blue light appeared above the Yaowang Mountain Range, quickly flying towards the depths of the mountains.

It was Wang Changsheng.

He had gone to Ziyue City, intending to buy Vein-Nourishing Pills, but was surprised to find that they were no longer for sale. Not just Vein-Nourishing Pills, but all other second-tier elixirs had been withdrawn from the market.

Besides second-tier elixirs, second-tier talismans and second-tier puppets were also nowhere to be found. The Wang family had a shop in Ziyue City, and Wang Changsheng learned from his clansmen that, for unknown reasons, the Four Great Sects of Great Song had increased their personnel and reinforced the number of patrolling cultivators in Ziyue City.

Clearly, the Four Great Sects of Great Song had detected something and began hoarding war-essential materials.

After much deliberation, Wang Changsheng headed to Medicine King Valley, planning to ask Zhao Ningxiang for help to acquire a bottle of Vein-Nourishing Pills.

Of course, this was also a way to shake off Fang Mu, as he worried Fang Mu might follow him back to Qinglian Mountain.

The thought of a demonic cultivator who enjoyed refining corpses following him back to Qinglian Mountain filled him with worry.

Fang Mu was powerful, and Wang Changsheng had too few trump cards. If it came to a decisive battle, Wang Changsheng felt his chances of victory were low. However, it wouldn't be easy for Fang Mu to kill him either. Wang Changsheng possessed a second-tier Earth Escape Talisman, so even if he couldn't win, escaping wouldn't be an issue.

The black gourd Fang Mu summoned spouted immensely powerful flames, easily destroying his low-grade second-tier Black Bear Puppet.

The Black Bear Puppet was an offensive puppet beast, only inscribed with some basic sturdy runes, so it was naturally no match. However, the Tiger-shaped Puppet was a mid-grade second-tier puppet beast, and he also had a Crow Puppet and a Green Eagle Puppet. If it truly came to a fight to the death, it was still uncertain who would win.

Fang Mu's black gourd must have some kind of limitation, otherwise, Fang Mu would have unleashed it to kill him long ago. Perhaps Fang Mu was in a hurry to deal with a traitor.

Judging from Fang Mu's reaction, Fang Mu seemed very interested in the Ghost Abyss.

This battle made Wang Changsheng keenly aware of his insufficient strength. Frankly, he had too few artifacts at his disposal, possessing only water-element artifacts. After returning to Qinglian Mountain, he would definitely refine an earth-element or metal-element artifact to enhance his power.

Just then, a streak of yellow spiritual light flew towards Wang Changsheng, moving extremely fast.

Before long, Wang Changsheng saw the yellow spiritual light clearly; it was a yellow flying boat, with an ice-faced woman in a yellow dress standing on it.

"Oh, Cousin Ningxiang."

Wang Changsheng stopped upon seeing Zhao Ningxiang.

"Cousin Changsheng, are you here to see Senior Sister Liu?"

Zhao Ningxiang asked indifferently, with a noticeable lack of warmth.

During the trip to the Ghost Abyss, Zhao Yutang was killed. Wang Changsheng attended Zhao Yutang's funeral, and Zhao Ningxiang also participated. At that time, Zhao Ningxiang's attitude towards Wang Changsheng was quite good.

After a few years apart, Zhao Ningxiang seemed like a different person, treating Wang Changsheng as if he were a stranger.

Wang Changsheng was a bit displeased, but since he needed her help, he didn't get angry. He smiled and said, "No, I specifically came to see you, Cousin Ningxiang. Do you have a way to get some Vein-Nourishing Pills? I'll make sure you're well compensated."

Wang Changxue had warned the family to stay away from the Four Great Sects of Great Song, so Wang Changsheng naturally wouldn't seek out Liu Yuerong again.

"Vein-Nourishing Pills? I have a bottle on me. I'll sell it to you for 1,500 spirit stones."

As Zhao Ningxiang spoke, she took out a small green porcelain bottle and tossed it to Wang Changsheng.

After Wang Changsheng checked it and confirmed it was correct, he thanked her and was about to take out spirit stones to pay Zhao Ningxiang, but she refused. "Cousin Changsheng, please deliver these spirit stones back to my family for me. And please tell Grandma for me that I've reached a critical point in my cultivation recently, so I won't be able to return for her birthday celebration. Ask them to take good care of themselves. It's quite inconvenient for me to travel back and forth to the family. Cousin Changsheng, I'd trouble you to look after the Zhao family a bit. If there's nothing else, you can go back now. It's best not to wander around lately; it seems something big is about to happen."

"Understood, Cousin Ningxiang. Take care of yourself. I'm leaving now."

Wang Changsheng formed a hand seal, changed direction, and flew back the way he came, disappearing into the horizon.

Zhao Ningxiang watched Wang Changsheng's receding figure and sighed softly. Just then, a red streak of light appeared in the distant sky and quickly flew towards Zhao Ningxiang's location.

Soon, the red light stopped. It was a red gourd, with a dignified-looking youth in a red shirt sitting atop it.

"Oh, Junior Sister Zhao, it's Senior Brother Nangong's big day today. Why aren't you at the wedding feast, staying here instead?"

The red-shirted youth said with a smile.

Upon hearing the words "Senior Brother Nangong," a cold glint flashed quickly in the depths of Zhao Ningxiang's eyes, and her expression immediately turned cold. "No, I have something very important to do. Senior Brother Li, if you want to drink wedding wine, hurry along!"

Without waiting for the red-shirted youth's reply, she struck a hand seal onto the yellow flying boat beneath her feet, which glowed brightly and flew out of Medicine King Manor.

"That's strange. Junior Sister Zhao has always been close to the Nangong family. On Senior Brother Nangong's wedding day, she isn't even going for a drink. Could she have fallen out with the Nangong family?"

The red-shirted youth wondered, unable to fathom the reason, and too lazy to ponder it further. The red gourd beneath him glowed brightly and flew towards the depths of the Yaowang Mountain Range.

Over two months later, Wang Changsheng returned to Qinglian Mountain.

Without resting, he found Wang Yaozong and recounted his trip to Wei.

"I knew it! Why second-tier materials suddenly became scarce. So, a war is about to start. The Four Sects of Song are hoarding supplies. This matter is too significant. Let's convene some of the elder clansmen to discuss it!"

Soon after, ten Wang family elders gathered in the Wang family ancestral hall. Wang Changsheng briefly recounted his trip to Wei.

"So, that means Changxue must be controlled by the Hundred Spirits Sect. The Hundred Spirits Sect doesn't want us to be close to the Four Great Sects of Great Song. Perhaps the Hundred Spirits Sect wants the territory of Ningzhou. Our Wang family has intermarried with several cultivation families. If our Wang family is willing to defect to the Hundred Spirits Sect, we could persuade other cultivation families to join them as well. This might be the reason why the Hundred Spirits Sect is controlling Changxue."

Wang Yaozu analyzed calmly.

"Grandpa is right, this reason does explain why the Hundred Spirits Sect would control Second Sister. But do they have such great confidence to take down Song? We are originally from Song, and if we suddenly defect to Wei, the Four Great Sects of Song won't let it go easily! What if the Hundred Spirits Sect doesn't take responsibility? Our Wang family would face annihilation."

Wang Yaocong shook his head and said, "I don't know where the confidence of the Five Sects of Wei comes from. However, the Hundred Spirits Sect warned us through Changxue, which likely isn't a call for us to defect immediately. Furthermore, with our large family and over a hundred cultivators, if we suddenly vanish, once the Four Great Sects of Song discover it, they won't spare our mortals in the secular world. Most importantly, the situation is not yet clear. If Wei fails to conquer Song, and we rashly defect to the Hundred Spirits Sect, our family could face annihilation. I suggest we start hoarding supplies: second-tier talismans, spirit artifacts, and puppet beasts."

Wang Changsheng nodded and said, "I think so too. In addition, I propose relocating some of our clansmen to Chu. With Song and Wei at war, and no knowing how long it will last, moving some clansmen to Chu would, firstly, offer refuge, and secondly, preserve some of our family's seeds in case of unforeseen circumstances. Eldest Brother also agrees."

"I agree with Changsheng's suggestion. Mingyuan, how many cultivators are in the clan now? And what are their cultivation levels?"