Chapter 1566: Discussion Conference

Seven days passed quickly.

Zhou Xingguo recounted his experiences; he was both delivering a sermon and affirming his own Dao Heart.

The expressions of the cultivators varied: some were completely bewildered, while others experienced sudden enlightenment.

Wang Changsheng wore a pensive expression. Zhou Xingguo was also an artifact refiner, and in addition to cultivation, he spoke about artifact refining. Wang Changsheng benefited significantly, as many long-standing questions were resolved. However, he gained little from the cultivation aspect of the discourse.

He glanced at Wang Ruyan and noticed she had closed her eyes, seemingly deep in contemplation.

Besides Wang Ruyan, True Monarch Haoyu, Peng Tianyu, and Venerable Fire Dragon also seemed to have gained insights; they all closed their eyes, looking serene.

“The discourse has concluded,” Zhou Xingguo’s voice sounded in Wang Changsheng’s ear. “Young friends who have not gained any insights, please leave and do not disturb others.”

Wang Changsheng and most of the cultivators stood up, bowed to Zhou Xingguo, and then departed.

More than twenty cultivators remained on the bluestone plaza, including Wang Ruyan and Wang Tianwen. These cultivators had all achieved breakthroughs in their cultivation, ranging from Foundation Establishment to Nascent Soul stages.

Zhou Xingguo flicked his sleeve, and dozens of white lights flew out, transforming into white barriers that enveloped Wang Ruyan and the other cultivators, shielding them from external interference during their meditation.

A team of cultivators, clad in identical white robes, surrounded the bluestone plaza to maintain order.

Wang Changsheng followed Zhou Ningshuang to a secluded courtyard, where Li Jiong and Peng Tianxue were already present.

“What a pity!” Li Jiong sighed, his face full of regret. “A Soul Transformation cultivator giving a discourse—such an excellent opportunity, yet none of us could grasp it.”

“Cultivation still relies on us practicing step by step,” Wang Changsheng said. “Insights are profound and elusive; they might lead to great advancement or prove entirely useless.”

Wang Changsheng had a good mindset. If he gained insights, that would be ideal; if not, he wouldn’t feel regret. He was fortunate to gain, but accepted loss with equanimity. Cultivation is a long race; one shouldn’t be disheartened by temporary setbacks, but rather strive to cultivate even harder in the future.

Wang Changsheng’s cultivation method focused on cultivation resources, while Wang Ruyan’s method emphasized character and disposition, so it was not surprising that she gained insights.

“I agree with Fellow Daoist Wang,” Zhou Ningshuang said with a smile, her face full of curiosity. “Madam Wang has gained insights; I wonder if she can seize this opportunity to advance further.”

Wang Changsheng smiled faintly and said, “Advancing to the late Nascent Soul stage isn’t that easy. Let’s hope so!”

He looked at Li Jiong and asked, “Fellow Daoist Li, are you still staying in the Central Plains cultivation world to search for Situ Mei?”

“Yes,” Li Jiong replied earnestly. “The two Palace Masters have issued a kill order. She must die. As long as she lives, I cannot return to Sun Moon Palace to report completion.” Li Jiong spoke solemnly, explaining that based on their understanding of Situ Mei, she was vengeful, and as long as she was alive, the Dual Saints of Sun and Moon could not rest easy.

Wang Changsheng nodded. It seemed better for Situ Mei to die later, and it would be great if she could severely damage Sun Moon Palace—though he only mused on this, ultimately deciding it was better for Situ Mei to die sooner rather than later.

“Fellow Daoist Wang, do you think True Monarch Haoyu might seize this opportunity to attempt a breakthrough to the Soul Transformation stage?” Peng Tianxue asked.

Peng Tianxue put forth a bold hypothesis. True Monarch Haoyu possessed extraordinary talent, having cultivated to the late Nascent Soul stage before turning three hundred. For most cultivators, advancing to a major realm requires spiritual aids. However, a small minority of cultivators do not need spiritual items; some enter the Soul Transformation stage simply by a change in their disposition, while others achieve breakthroughs through insights gained in life-and-death battles. Legend says that Sage Confucius entered the Soul Transformation stage after compiling *The Analects*. Cultivators who can break through major realms without spiritual items are exceedingly rare; for the majority, spiritual items are the most crucial and indispensable tools.

“Soul Transformation isn’t that easy, is it?” Wang Changsheng said with a frown. Even if True Monarch Haoyu was a once-in-ten-thousand-years prodigy, he couldn’t be *that* extraordinary!

Zhou Ningshuang smiled sweetly and said, “Then let’s wait and see. It might actually be possible.”

The Great Yan imperial family had a good relationship with True Monarch Haoyu; the imperial family had provided him with some assistance when his cultivation was still low.

After chatting for over half an hour, the four of them, including Wang Changsheng, returned to their respective residences.

Wang Changsheng sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion, closed his eyes, and began to meditate and regulate his breathing.

***

In the South Sea, on Elephant Island.

Elephant Island was vast. From a high altitude, the island resembled a giant elephant lying across the sea.

The Shangguan Family was hosting a Dao Discussion Assembly and a large-scale auction simultaneously, offering many valuable items, which attracted a significant number of cultivators.

With too many cultivators attending the Dao Discussion Assembly, the Shangguan Family dispatched additional patrols. Shangguan Hengyu was the captain of one such patrol team.

The Shangguan Family was a vast and prosperous clan, with tens of thousands of cultivators within its ranks, making it difficult to stand out. Shangguan Hengyu was a son born of a concubine, with two older sisters and an older brother above him. He received few cultivation resources. He cultivated a Profound-grade cultivation technique and only managed to reach the Foundation Establishment stage through his own efforts and his parents’ help.

Cultivation aristocratic families represented the pinnacle of cultivation clans in the East Green Realm, and the Shangguan Family had reached its peak development. Internally, the family was divided into multiple factions, all competing. Each faction hoped its lineage would acquire more cultivation resources. While there was competition between factions, it had not yet escalated into internal strife. This situation was not uncommon; it emerged in both cultivation families and sects once they developed to a certain stage.

Shangguan Hengyu was currently leading his clansmen on patrol. Patrolling offered little benefit, and if they slighted any guests attending the Dao Discussion Assembly, they would be punished.

“How unlucky,” sighed a young man in a green shirt, barely in his twenties. “Out of twelve hours a day, we patrol for eight, while they patrol for only four.”

“Alright, let’s not say things that undermine unity,” Shangguan Hengyu said with a frown. “We don’t want outsiders laughing at us. Besides, we lost the competition!” Shangguan Hengyu explained that they had agreed to a competition with another patrol team: the winners would patrol for four hours, and the losers for eight. Since they had lost, they had to accept the outcome.

“It’s only because he has a talisman treasure,” the green-shirted youth grumbled, still somewhat unconvinced. “Otherwise, Brother Hengyu, you might not have lost to them.”

“Roar!”

A deafening dragon’s roar suddenly erupted. Shangguan Hengyu’s expression turned serious, and he ordered, “Someone is coming. Be sharp, all of you. Don’t make a spectacle of yourselves.”

The cultivators quickly adjusted their attire and put on smiling faces.

A white Flood Dragon, over fifty zhang long, flew from the distant horizon. Before long, it stopped, its massive nostrils exhaling a bone-chilling cold air. A team of cultivators stood on the Flood Dragon’s back; most of them wore clothing bearing a blue lotus pattern, the emblem of the Wang Family of Green Lotus Island.

Wang Qingling and Guangdong Ren stood on the head of the Icewind Flood Dragon, their expressions impassive.

“Junior Shangguan Hengyu greets all seniors,” Shangguan Hengyu said respectfully. “Elephant Island is to the southeast, another thirty thousand li flight away.”