Chapter 1544: Heavenly Illusion Stone

Otherwise, sword formations and high-level cultivation techniques would have long since become widespread.

"Dragon Roam Sword Formation?" Sword Lord Xiaoyao's eyes showed a hint of approval as he took a sip of spirit wine. "Are you here to bid farewell to your master?" he asked.

"That's right," Wang Qingshan replied with a serious and respectful expression. "If Master has any instructions, this disciple will naturally obey."

Sword Lord Xiaoyao shook his head. "I have no instructions. If you wish to return to the South Sea, then go! Go back and cultivate diligently. Senior Martial Uncle Liu informed me that the great tribulation won't be far off. You've been in the Nascent Soul stage for a century now, haven't you? Return to Qinglian Island and cultivate in seclusion! I hope the next time I see you, you'll have already reached the mid-Nascent Soul stage."

"Oh, by the way, if your Ninth Uncle and Ninth Aunt have time, have them visit the sect. Senior Martial Brother Sect Master wishes to meet them. Also, your clan uncle's master has passed away."

Sword Lord Xiaoyao was referring to Xu Zihua. He had remained at the Core Formation stage, and his lifespan had run out, leading to his peaceful passing in his cave abode. It was Ximen Feng who discovered the anomaly.

"When Clan Uncle Mingren was alive," Wang Qingshan sighed, "he often said that his parents gave him life, but Senior Martial Brother Xu nurtured him. I should go pay my respects." As a registered disciple of Sword Lord Xiaoyao, he was of the same generation as Xu Zihua.

Sword Lord Xiaoyao gave a few final instructions and then let Wang Qingshan depart.

No sooner had Wang Qingshan left than Chen Haibin emerged from the side room.

"Senior Martial Brother Ye," Chen Haibin remarked meaningfully, "this young man is quite sentimental. No wonder you took him as a disciple." Personal grievances aside, he still held a considerable admiration for Wang Qingshan.

"My taking Qingshan as a disciple is indeed related to his character," Sword Lord Xiaoyao replied. "But since you've come to see me, you must have something else on your mind. Speak your mind."

"Martial Nephew Wang has comprehended this Dragon Roam Sword Formation," Chen Haibin said politely. "Could we ask him to make a copy for us?" Throughout history, only a handful of cultivators had ever comprehended the Grand Unity Sword Wall, and Wang Qingshan was the only one to have comprehended a sword formation from it.

Sword Lord Xiaoyao bristled, frowning as he spoke. "What was Senior Martial Uncle Liu's purpose in allowing Qingshan to comprehend the Grand Unity Sword Wall? To put it plainly, it was to establish a karmic connection between him and our Grand Unity Immortal Sect, so that Qingshan could assist us should our sect face a crisis in the future. If you want the sword formation, how much more karma do you expect him to incur?"

In the cultivation world, there is a concept of karma: where there is a cause, there is an effect. Liu Ye guiding Wang Qingshan and allowing him to comprehend the Grand Unity Sword Wall was the cause. Whether Wang Qingshan would repay this favor was entirely up to him. High-level cultivators do not easily incur karmic debts. Given Sword Lord Xiaoyao's understanding of Wang Qingshan, he was certain that Wang Qingshan would repay any karmic favor. Indeed, if not for the impending great tribulation, Liu Ye would never have allowed Wang Qingshan to comprehend the Grand Unity Sword Wall.

Chen Haibin sighed. "If that's the case, then forget it. I just hope he understands gratitude!"

In a valley filled with the chirping of birds and the fragrance of flowers, there was a manor covering ten mu. In the northwest corner of the manor was a secluded small courtyard with blue tiles.

Wang Qingshan, Chen Xianger, Ximen Feng, and dozens of other cultivators gathered in the small courtyard. Wang Mingren and Chen Xianger were dressed in mourning attire, their expressions filled with sorrow.

Wang Mingren's master, Xu Zihua, had passed away. During his lifetime, Xu Zihua had treated Wang Mingren as his own son. After Wang Mingren died during a heart demon tribulation, Ximen Feng took over most of his connections and served Xu Zihua on his behalf. Wang Mingren had divorced Chen Xianger, but with Xu Zihua's passing, Chen Xianger still came to pay her respects, as the deceased are always honored.

Xu Zihua never married and had no direct descendants. While he had many disciples and grand-disciples, none of them showed much promise; they were all rather mediocre.

Inside the memorial hall, a statue of Xu Zihua hung prominently at the front. Below it was a blue offering table, on which a blue incense burner and various offerings were arranged. The incense burner was filled with burning sandalwood incense.

Wang Qingshan lit three sticks of sandalwood incense, bowed to Xu Zihua's statue, and inserted the incense into the burner.

"Senior Martial Brother Xu has passed away. Please accept my condolences," Wang Qingshan said gently. Wang Changsheng still owed Xu Zihua a favor, but Xu Zihua had passed away before it could be repaid.

Xu Zihua's disciples and grand-disciples echoed his words, uttering phrases meant to curry favor with Wang Qingshan. Wang Qingshan's expression remained unchanged, though he felt a touch of regret. Xu Zihua had been a snob, and his disciples and grand-disciples were much the same; aside from flattery, they showed little promise. Wang Mingren had been Xu Zihua's most outstanding disciple, but unfortunately, he had not managed to advance to the Nascent Soul stage.

After paying their respects to Xu Zihua, Wang Qingshan and Ximen Feng went to a secluded small courtyard with blue tiles, where they chatted about family matters.

Over the years, Ximen Feng had maintained close ties with the Wang family. When Wang Qingshan inquired about the family's situation, Ximen Feng informed him truthfully.

"Qiuming has formed his Nascent Soul, that's wonderful!" Wang Qingshan said with a smile, a look of approval on his face. "I wasn't wrong about this young man."

Ximen Feng smiled gracefully. "Qingshan," she said, "perhaps by the time you return to Qinglian Island, Qingjing will have also formed her Nascent Soul."

"Aunt, you must have accumulated enough contribution points to exchange for Nascent Soul forming spiritual items by now, right?" Wang Qingshan asked honestly. "If not, the family can help you." After Wang Mingren's passing, Ximen Feng had greatly assisted the Wang family's development.

"No need," she gently declined. "If it succeeds, that's one thing, but if it fails, I cannot accept it. I swore before my husband's spiritual tablet that I would take good care of Changjie, watch him establish his own family and career, and hope he can advance to the Nascent Soul stage, fulfilling my husband's dying wish."

Wang Changjie was Ximen Feng's only hope in this world and her reason for living. Otherwise, she would have long gone to join Wang Mingren. Wang Qingshan was slightly taken aback, not having realized Ximen Feng's feelings for Wang Mingren ran so deep.

"Aunt, please rest assured!" Wang Qingshan solemnly promised. "After I return, I will take good care of Changjie. This young man has some talent in the way of the sword." The family had a Sword Hall, but there were not many outstanding sword cultivators; only Wang Jiyun and Wang Changjie were somewhat exceptional.

"Oh, right, this is Sky Illusion Stone," Ximen Feng said, taking out a blue wooden box and handing it to Wang Qingshan. "I heard Haitang was looking for this kind of thing, so I had someone acquire a piece. Take it back to her."

Sky Illusion Stone is an extremely rare artifact-refining material, and also an essential component for setting up high-level illusion formations. Ye Haitang lived a reclusive life, rarely appearing in public, so outsiders were unaware of her specific circumstances. However, Ximen Feng had frequent dealings with the family over the years, so she naturally knew Ye Haitang's standing within the Wang family. Ye Haitang was proficient in array formations. She had helped the Wang family set up various formations, including participating in the creation of the clan's protective grand formation, for which her contributions were immense. As Wang Changsheng's niece, she held a relatively high status.

Wang Qingshan opened the wooden box to find a silvery-white crystal inside. He glanced at it and felt his mind become hazy, his surroundings blurring. He quickly circulated his spiritual power, and only then did he return to normal. He put away the blue wooden box, noting that while this piece of Sky Illusion Stone was a bit small, perhaps too small for refining artifacts, it would be perfectly fine for setting up formations.

After chatting for a while, Wang Qingshan bid farewell and departed, transforming into a long green rainbow that flew towards the outside of the mountain gate and disappeared into the horizon.