Chapter 1587: East Wilderness Demon Clan's Scheme

Eastern Barrens, Taiyi Immortal Sect.

In the Hall of Great Unity, Zhang Zhanfeng sat in the main seat, with Wang Qiuming beside him. The two chatted and laughed, as if they were old friends.

"Fellow Daoist Zhang, my visit to your esteemed sect today is, first and foremost, to thank you for the care your sect has shown our Wang family over the years. I've brought a small token of gratitude; please don't be offended by its insignificance, Sect Leader Zhang."

Wang Qiuming took out a string of storage beads and handed them to Zhang Zhanfeng.

Zhang Zhanfeng took the string of storage beads, swept his divine sense over them, a flash of surprise in his eyes. He smiled and said, "Fellow Daoist Wang, you are too kind. If you ever need assistance from our Taiyi Immortal Sect, please don't hesitate to ask; we will do our best."

Wang Qiuming took out a letter and handed it to Zhang Zhanfeng, stating solemnly, "Fellow Daoist Zhang, this is a personal letter my grandmother entrusted me to give to you. She said you would understand once you read it."

Zhang Zhanfeng took the letter. After reading its contents, he frowned and said, "The Three-Origin Heart Protection Pill is a unique secret medicine of our Taiyi Immortal Sect, and we don't have many."

He was speaking the truth. As a unique secret medicine, even if there were reserves, they wouldn't be extensive. Under normal circumstances, it might be different, but knowing a great tribulation was coming, the Taiyi Immortal Sect was even less likely to give away Three-Origin Heart Protection Pills easily. At a critical moment, one such pill could save a Nascent Soul cultivator.

Wang Qiuming was somewhat disappointed, though it was within his expectations.

"Two pills are indeed out of the question," Zhang Zhanfeng said, changing his tone with a smile, "but in consideration of the Azure Lotus Immortals, one pill is fine. Additionally, I can arrange for you to receive a bottle of Seven-Star Pills, which are also healing elixirs, though their effect isn't as potent as the Three-Origin Heart Protection Pill."

Wang Qiuming's personal visit, coupled with a generous gift and Wang Ruyan's handwritten letter, meant Zhang Zhanfeng still had to show respect.

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Zhang."

Wang Qiuming felt a sense of relief and expressed his gratitude.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, no need for such formality," Zhang Zhanfeng said sternly. "Our Taiyi Immortal Sect helps you today; we hope your Wang family will also assist our Taiyi Immortal Sect in the future."

Zhang Zhanfeng spoke gravely. Had it not been for the extraordinary strength of the Azure Lotus Immortals and the astonishing potential of the Azure Lotus Sword Monarch, the Taiyi Immortal Sect would not have been so generous.

"Naturally. A drop of kindness should be repaid with a gushing spring. Our Wang family never neglects individuals or forces who have shown us favor," Wang Qiuming promised solemnly, his tone sincere.

Zhang Zhanfeng nodded, took out a communication plate, and made a few gestures.

Half a quarter of an hour later, Huang Youxin strode in and handed two white jade bottles to Zhang Zhanfeng.

Wang Qiuming's gaze fell upon Huang Youxin. He smiled and said, "You must be Huang Youxin, Fellow Daoist Huang's grand-nephew! He mentioned you to me. It's rare to meet you; please accept this third-tier puppet beast as a gift!"

He took out a red sphere the size of a watermelon and handed it to Huang Youxin.

Huang Youxin thanked him profusely and happily accepted the red sphere.

After chatting for more than half a quarter of an hour, Wang Qiuming departed with the elixirs.

Zhang Zhanfeng watched Wang Qiuming's retreating figure, his gaze serious. He muttered to himself, "The Wang family has gained two more Nascent Soul cultivators. The Azure Lotus Immortals truly possess great fortune, even stronger than our patriarch's. If they survive this tribulation, the Wang family will flourish even more in the coming millennia, perhaps even becoming the foremost of the Ten Great Families of the South Sea."

***

Somewhere in the Eastern Barrens, deep within the demon territory.

On a towering peak covered in exotic flowers and rare plants, Ancestor Azureflower, Ancestor Blacktiger, and Baixin stood at the summit, gazing at the high sky.

In the high sky, a massive thundercloud, a thousand zhang wide, churned. Wind and clouds swirled, lightning flashed, and thunder roared. Within a radius of ten thousand li, a vast number of demon beasts had gathered, and a peculiar scent permeated the air.

Ten thousand beasts roared in unison, a hundred birds echoed.

"After all these years, is the Skywolf clan going to produce another Spirit Transformation cultivator?" Baixin murmured to himself. "I never thought a half-demon could reach this stage; I truly misjudged him."

After True Monarch Skywolf disappeared, the demon race in the Eastern Barrens was without a leader, allowing humanity to develop the region. Fortunately, there were many capable figures among the demons, and coupled with internal strife among humans, the demon race withstood human offensives. Since then, the Skywolf clan had declined, and the head of the Eastern Barrens demon race was Ancestor Azureflower.

Had it not been for receiving messages from several Spirit Transformation cultivators about a great tribulation befalling the Dongli Realm, Ancestor Azureflower would not have focused on cultivating Cheng Zhanxian.

"Hmph," Ancestor Blacktiger said dismissively, with a look of disdain. "If we hadn't carefully nurtured him, he wouldn't even have reached Nascent Soul. The only reason he's drawing the Spirit Transformation five-nine lightning tribulation this time is because he swallowed seven high-grade fourth-tier demon wolf inner cores. That was the Skywolf clan's last precious collection."

The demon race valued bloodlines above all else. Cheng Zhanxian was a half-demon, and Ancestor Blacktiger despised him from the bottom of his heart.

"In the future, don't speak such divisive words," Ancestor Azureflower said gravely, his gaze serious. "His advancement to Spirit Transformation is a good thing for us too. The great tribulation could descend at any time, and keeping ancestral demon cores is useless. It's better to cultivate more masters. The tribulation might even be an opportunity for us."

"Do you think True Monarch Skywolf ascended or fell?" Baixin asked, somewhat curious. "Once you reach Spirit Transformation, further progress is extremely difficult. There was True Monarch Skywolf before, and then the Four Seasons Sword Monarch, both of whom disappeared in the mid-Spirit Transformation stage."

Ancestor Blacktiger smiled. "Neither True Monarch Skywolf nor the Four Seasons Sword Monarch left behind their soul lamps, so their fate is unknown. However, a Spirit Transformation cultivator in itself is a deterrent; it's better if their fate remains unknown." He recalled something and continued, "By the way, Fellow Daoist Bai, please reconsider that matter carefully. It concerns our future, so don't be indecisive."

Baixin frowned. "I don't mind, but if we really do that, won't it give others an opening?"

"If there's no great tribulation, then we'll make it a real show," Ancestor Azureflower sneered. "Hmph, times have changed. No matter how many die, I'm unwilling to sneak through to another realm with dwindling lifespan, like those before us."

Baixin and Ancestor Blacktiger exchanged glances but said no more.

***

Northern Border, Nine Nether Sect.

In the Nine Nether Hall, Shangguan Wei sat in the main seat, her expression indifferent.

Lei Yiming stood beside her, his expression respectful.

"Has the investigation been completed? Does the Wang family really have so many Nascent Soul cultivators?"

Shangguan Wei said with a frown. She had never imagined that one of her commands would lead to a deadly feud with the Wang family.

From all the signs, the Wang family clearly knew some internal matters and was guarding against someone. As the Wang family's strength continuously grew, Shangguan Wei became increasingly wary.

As long as she advanced to the Spirit Transformation stage, everything would be resolved easily.

She was already at the perfected Nascent Soul stage and was looking for an opportunity to break through.

"Absolutely true. The Wang family has many in-laws," Lei Yiming reported truthfully. "The Ouyang family is their most powerful in-law. The Murong Royal Family in the Central Plains, the Tang family in the Eastern Barrens, and the Wu family in the Northern Border all have good relations with the Wang family."

"Never mind," Shangguan Wei said coldly. "Just pay close attention to the Wang family's situation. Without my command, no one is to act rashly. We must not let a situation arise where we fail to kill the snake and get bitten ourselves." Her immediate priority was to break through to the Spirit Transformation stage.

"Yes, Sect Leader."

Lei Yiming readily agreed.