Chapter 1585: Storm Brewing

A vast, boundless yellow desert, where furious winds raged, filling the sky with yellow sand.

Ten thousand feet beneath the ground, in a cave about an acre in size, Situ Mei sat cross-legged on a yellow magic array over ten zhang wide, her body enveloped in a soft silver glow.

After a while, Situ Mei opened her eyes, which emitted a dazzling silver light.

She was still a Nascent Soul mid-stage cultivator, but her injuries had completely healed.

"You don't need to hide and observe anymore. What's there to see? Come out! It's time to get going."

Situ Mei stood up, stretched her body, her expression cold.

A soft yellow light glowed on the stone wall, and Song Yuzhen and an old man in a yellow robe emerged from within it.

"Who do you plan to target?" Song Yuzhen frowned, her tone severe. "Let me remind you, we are no match for the Sun and Moon Dual Saints. They are searching for you everywhere. If you provoke the Sun and Moon Palace now, you'll be walking into a trap."

"Don't worry," Situ Mei said, her face filled with murderous intent. "I know Senior Sister Fang and Senior Brother Du. We have to pick on the weaker ones first. The Murong Royal Family will be our first target, a sacrifice to assert our power. Two Nascent Soul cultivators dared to lay hands on me; they clearly don't know what's good for them." Among the many forces that ambushed her, the Murong Royal Family's power was intermediate, making them the most suitable target to establish dominance.

"The Murong Royal Family?" Song Yuzhen asked, her voice sinking. "What do you plan to do?"

"I'll go directly to their doorstep and destroy the Murong Royal Family," Situ Mei said with a sinister smile, her eyes full of murderous intent. "I'll kill every single one of them."

"We can agree to your plan," Song Yuzhen said coldly, a hint of murderous intent in her tone. "After it's done, you must come with us to the East Wasteland and kill someone. If you go back on your word, we will kill you immediately."

"Hmph," Situ Mei scoffed dismissively. "I, Situ Mei, always keep my word. No problem. Tell me, who do you want me to kill?"

The old man in yellow robes took a deep breath and said solemnly, "Bai Linger of Qingqiu Mountain."

"Bai Linger? You want to kill Bai Linger?"

Situ Mei was slightly taken aback, her expression a little strange.

She naturally knew Bai Linger's identity and status; killing her could easily provoke a riot among the demonic beasts of the East Wasteland.

Song Yuzhen narrowed her eyes and asked, "What? Are you afraid?"

"Hmph, I dare to do anything now," Situ Mei scoffed. "This deal is worthwhile. You help me once, I help you once."

Song Yuzhen and the old man in yellow robes exchanged glances and nodded to each other.

A short while later, Song Yuzhen, the old man in yellow robes, and Situ Mei returned to the surface.

Situ Mei took a deep breath and laughed wildly at the sky, her expression ferocious. Her laughter was clearly heard within a hundred-mile radius.

Song Yuzhen and the old man in yellow robes exchanged glances, their eyes filled with wariness. Situ Mei was too deranged; if such a person could not be controlled, she would harm them.

The three transformed into three streaks of light and vanished into the horizon.

***

South Sea, Green Lotus Island.

Green Lotus Peak, a green pavilion with carved beams and painted pillars.

Wang Qingjing lay in bed, her aura weak, with multiple scorched marks on her body.

Wang Qingjing and Wang Qingjun had successfully advanced to the Nascent Soul stage. However, perhaps because they had been in seclusion for too long, the thunder tribulation was particularly severe. Although they passed the tribulation, their vitality was greatly damaged. According to Wang Ruyan's estimation, they would need at least several decades to recover, though spiritual pills and miraculous medicines could speed up the process.

Wang Ruyan stood by her side, gripping Wang Qingjing's hand tightly, and said with concern, "Qingjing, I have already sent Qiu Ming back to the East Wasteland to seek help from the Taiyi Immortal Sect, hoping to obtain two Three-Yuan Heart Protection Pills to help you and Qingjun recover faster."

"Mother, I'm fine," Wang Qingjing said weakly. "I just need more time to recuperate." The most difficult part was overcoming the inner demon tribulation, where the demon manifested as Zhao Ziyu, complaining that Wang Qingjing had not avenged him. Fortunately, she woke up in time and overcame the inner demon.

"Your father is in death seclusion," Wang Ruyan sighed. "This time, he won't emerge until he reaches the late Nascent Soul stage. Otherwise, we would personally go to the Taiyi Immortal Sect, and they should give us face." Wang Qingjing and Wang Qingjun's injuries were too severe; they almost lost their lives.

The Wang family did not have a fourth-rank alchemist or their own unique healing elixirs. When Nascent Soul cultivators were injured, they could only seek help from other forces.

"Mother, I saw Ziyu when I was overcoming the inner demon tribulation," Wang Qingjing said, gripping Wang Ruyan's hand tightly and gnashing her teeth, her eyes full of murderous intent. "I promised to avenge him. Shangguan Wei must die."

Wang Ruyan nodded and said solemnly, "Don't worry, this is a feud for our entire clan. Once your father advances to the late Nascent Soul stage, we will seek revenge on Shangguan Wei."

"You focus on healing for now! I'll go check on Qingjun."

Wang Ruyan gave an instruction, then stood up and left.

Not long after, she arrived at another secret chamber. Wang Qingjun lay in bed, all his limbs wrapped in white cloth, only his head visible. Wang Qingqi was applying medicine to him.

Wang Qingjun's injuries were even more severe than Wang Qingjing's; he could not move freely. If he hadn't received timely treatment, he would have died.

Wang Ruyan walked over to Wang Qingjun's side, her brows deeply furrowed, and asked, "Qingqi, how is Qingjun?"

"Twelfth Brother is not in critical condition anymore," Wang Qingqi sighed, his face full of worry. "His injuries are even more severe than Eighth Sister's; he will need a longer time to recuperate. The Three-Yuan Heart Protection Pill is a unique secret medicine of the Taiyi Immortal Sect. I don't know if Qiu Ming will be able to obtain it." If he were a Nascent Soul cultivator and could refine healing pills, they wouldn't be in this predicament now.

"The Taiyi Immortal Sect should give us face," Wang Ruyan instructed. "I told Qiu Ming that if he couldn't get the Three-Yuan Heart Protection Pill, other healing pills would also be acceptable. Qingqi, during this time, please take good care of Qingjun. I will be responsible for Qingjing."

"Yes, Ninth Aunt," Wang Qingqi replied.

Wang Qingqi agreed; it was his duty.

Wang Ruyan gave a few more instructions, then turned and left.

She needed to activate the family's network to obtain fourth-tier healing pills to help Wang Qingjing and Wang Qingjun recover.

The Wang family had been operating in the South Sea for many years. With the reputation and status of the Green Lotus Immortals, there should be forces willing to do them a favor and sell the Wang family two fourth-tier healing pills.

***

Central Plains, Great Yan Dynasty, Bailing Mountain Range.

In a blue pavilion with carved beams and painted pillars, Zhou Ningshuang and Wang Tianwen sat opposite each other. Wang Tianwen's face was beaming with joy, and a vast aura, like an endless ocean, emanated from him; he had already become a Nascent Soul cultivator.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, you have just entered the Nascent Soul stage," Zhou Ningshuang said unhurriedly. "Don't rush back to the South Sea. It's not too late to return after a period of secluded cultivation. The South Sea has been calm for the past thirty years, and your Wang family is flourishing, so you don't need to hurry back."

Wang Tianwen cupped his fists and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Eldest Princess. I promised the Ancestor that I would return to the South Sea once I formed my Nascent Soul. I'll depart next month."

"As you wish," Zhou Ningshuang said. "By the way, Murong Yuyao of the Murong Royal Family has advanced to the Nascent Soul stage. The Murong Royal Family held a Nascent Soul formation ceremony for her, and our Imperial Family also sent representatives to attend."

Wang Tianwen was not surprised. Murong Yuyao was a core disciple of the Murong Royal Family, so her advancement to the Nascent Soul stage was not unexpected. He had a good impression of her.

"Since I'm free anyway," Wang Tianwen said with a smile, "I'll go congratulate Fairy Murong before returning to the South Sea!"

Zhou Ningshuang nodded and said nothing more.

After chatting for a while, Wang Tianwen stood up to take his leave and returned to his residence to cultivate.

Half a month later, Wang Tianwen left the Bailing Mountain Range and headed towards the Murong Royal Family.