Chapter 1546: Central Plains Pursuit

"My dear husband, Zhou Sihong's rebellion in the South Sea has been quelled, and the Netherworld Spider, which was harming cultivators in the Northern Frontier, has also been eliminated. It seems the Central Plains will not be so easy to pacify. I wonder why those old Soul Transformation cultivators haven't intervened to overthrow the Great Qin Dynasty; surely hundreds of thousands of cultivators must have died or been injured."

Wang Ruyan sighed. The system of the five great dynasties in the Central Plains differed from other regions. Each dynasty was dominated by the imperial family, supported by the royal family, and its overall strength surpassed any major sect in the South Sea. Overthrowing a dynasty would undoubtedly result in significant casualties among cultivators, let alone mortals.

Soul Transformation cultivators generally do not interfere in the affairs of the cultivation world. However, a war causing hundreds of thousands of cultivator casualties should not be something Soul Transformation cultivators stand idly by for.

Unless supported by the Soul Transformation cultivators behind the four dynasties, the war wouldn't last too long. The Great Qin Dynasty has been in turmoil for over a decade, which suggests that Soul Transformation cultivators aren't ignoring the situation, but rather actively instigating it from behind the scenes. Wang Ruyan naturally couldn't know the specific details.

"Could this 'great calamity' refer to the internal strife in the Central Plains? Or is it connected to the Great Qin Dynasty's civil war?"

Wang Changsheng's face showed curiosity. The main battlefield of the last Immortal-Demon War was the South Sea. Where would the main battlefield of this great calamity be? The Eastern Barrens? The Central Plains? The Northern Frontier? Or the Western Desert?

Wang Ruyan shook her head and said, "It's hard to say. We've been in seclusion for many years but haven't been able to advance to the late Nascent Soul stage. This time, let's travel properly and hope to reach the late Nascent Soul stage. If not, it would still be good to help your avatar advance to the Nascent Soul stage, my dear."

"By the way, has Cailian not returned yet?"

Wang Changsheng inquired about Fairy Cailian. They had adopted her as their goddaughter, and Fairy Cailian had agreed to move to Green Lotus Island to cultivate divination arts using their luck.

Over a decade ago, when the Netherworld Spider burst out of the Puppet Emperor's Palace, Fairy Cailian went to the Northern Frontier with Wang Qingshan and has not returned since.

"Not yet. She sent a message back saying she wants to help find the culprits who broke into the Puppet Emperor's Palace. They already know one person is Ouyang Hongguang, who was possessed by a demonic entity, but the identities of the other two are unknown."

If the Ouyang family hadn't held a grand celebration and notified multiple factions in advance, they might have become enemies of the Northern Frontier cultivation world.

"Never mind. Their identities don't concern us. Let the Northern Frontier cultivation world worry about it! Anyone who can break into the Puppet Emperor's Palace and escape unscathed certainly isn't an ordinary person."

Wang Changsheng said nonchalantly. For those three to dare infiltrate the Puppet Emperor's Palace, their strength was probably not much weaker than Zhou Sihong's.

After chatting for a while, Wang Changsheng, Wang Ruyan, and Wang Xin left Green Lotus Island and headed towards the Western Desert.

Central Plains, Great Yan Dynasty.

Xuanyang Prefecture is located in the eastern part of the Great Yan Dynasty. It consists mostly of mountains and hills, with a sparse population, but its mineral resources are relatively rich.

The Golden Cypress Mountain Range, located in the northwest of Xuanyang Prefecture, is composed of tens of thousands of mountains of varying sizes. Deep within the range, vast quantities of golden cypress trees grow. Looking out, the entire landscape is a shimmering gold. From high above, the whole Golden Cypress Mountain Range resembles a massive piece of gold, reflecting golden light under the sun.

Deep within the mountain range, clouds and mist swirled, and strange rock formations abounded.

A towering, steep peak rose into the sky, its upper half enveloped in thick fog.

At the foot of the mountain stood a golden archway, over thirty meters high, bearing the four silver characters "Golden Cypress Manor." Its spiritual light continuously shimmered, making it extremely conspicuous.

Passing through the thick white fog, numerous buildings became visible, covering the mountain from mid-slope to the peak. Many cultivators moved about the mountain; this was the ancestral home of the cultivating family, the Song family.

At the mountain's summit was a large bluestone plaza spanning nearly seven hectares, upon which stood a golden palace adorned with dragon carvings and painted beams.

Inside the grand hall, Wang Tianwen sat on a golden wooden chair, his face beaming.

An elder with white hair but a youthful complexion, dressed in a golden robe, sat in the main seat, a smile gracing his face. His magical robe was embroidered with a miniature golden cypress tree motif.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, I am extremely grateful for your help this time. Should you ever need assistance from our Song family in the future, please do not hesitate to ask."

The elder in the golden robe said gratefully.

"Fellow Daoist Song, you're too kind; it was merely a small effort. I have official duties to attend to, so I won't stay longer. Please excuse me."

Wang Tianwen replied courteously. The Song family had a Nascent Soul cultivator presiding over them and controlled two third-grade spirit ore veins and a large market city. Wang Tianwen befriended the Song family with the aim of opening up trade routes for his own family.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, please take your time. I will see you out."

The elder in the golden robe rose to escort him. Wang Tianwen departed with a dozen subordinates.

Upon reaching the foot of the mountain, Wang Tianwen summoned a green flying boat. With a dozen subordinates aboard, it soared into the sky.

After flying fifty li, the green flying boat suddenly lost control and rapidly descended from the sky.

Wang Tianwen's expression changed. Just as he was about to shout, a melodious, bell-like female voice suddenly sounded in his ear: "Young friend, you must be tired! Why not stop and rest before continuing your journey?"

For some unknown reason, upon hearing this voice, Wang Tianwen felt a surge of goodwill and obediently complied, controlling the green flying boat to descend.

When Wang Tianwen regained his senses, he suddenly found five Nascent Soul cultivators before him: three men and two women.

He was slightly startled, his gaze quickly sweeping over a young woman in a black palace dress. Her features were exquisite, her expression indifferent, and there was a black flame pattern between her eyebrows and also on her skirt.

"Nine Underworld Sect!"

Wang Tianwen's face tightened. Why would members of the Nine Underworld Sect attack him? He observed closely and noticed a middle-aged man with a square face beside the black-skirted woman. The man's clothes bore the emblem of a crimson Qilin.

The Ouyang family of Fire Qilin Island—this was the emblem of one of the Ten Great Cultivation Families of the South Sea, the Ouyang family.

"Young friend, I am Ouyang Shengtao from the Ouyang family of the South Sea. We are apprehending an evil cultivator, and we hope you will cooperate with us."

The middle-aged man asked with a kind and amiable demeanor, making him seem approachable.

"What would Senior like to know? This junior will certainly tell you everything I know, holding nothing back."

Wang Tianwen replied honestly, his expression tense.

How did the Nine Underworld Sect get involved with the Ouyang family? This was the Song family's stronghold; had the Song family offended the Nine Underworld Sect?

"How many high-level cultivators does the Song family have, and what are their abilities? Has anything unusual happened with the Song family recently? We hope you answer truthfully. We will not trouble you, but if you conceal anything, do not blame us for being impolite."

Ouyang Shengtao asked in a stern tone.

"Why bother with so much trouble? Wouldn't a direct soul-search suffice?"

The black-skirted young woman snorted disdainfully.

Ouyang Shengtao chuckled, saying, "Fairy Shangguan, after all, the Myriad Immortals Division was established by the Great Zhou Dynasty. We should show respect for the source, even if not for the direct party. Every wrong has its perpetrator, and every debt its debtor. There's no need to make things difficult for a junior, unless he refuses to cooperate."

Wang Tianwen was startled. The Nine Underworld Sect didn't have many Nascent Soul cultivators, and the only one with the surname Shangguan was Sect Master Shangguan Wei. This woman was actually Shangguan Wei? As far as he knew, Shangguan Wei was a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator. Why would she personally come here?

Without time to ponder, he quickly answered truthfully.

"The Song family indeed has something fishy going on. That traitor is most likely hiding here. Fairy Hai, your Myriad Beast Island's spirit insects are indeed quite useful."

Shangguan Wei looked towards a graceful young woman in a purple dress and said in a deep voice.

The purple-skirted young woman was Hai Xinjian, and Gongsun Yang was her senior martial brother.

Their presence here was naturally to apprehend Ouyang Hongguang, who had been possessed by an evil cultivator.

If not for Ouyang Hongguang, the Netherworld Spider could not have escaped the Puppet Emperor's Palace. And if Soul Transformation cultivators hadn't arrived in time, the fifth-tier Netherworld Spider would certainly have severely damaged the Northern Frontier cultivation world.