Chapter 1599: Identity Revealed

Qinglian Island, South Sea.

A massive azure lotus seat served as both a building and the Wang family's place of spiritual teaching.

Wang Qingqi sat on an azure lotus seed, with hundreds of cultivators seated nearby, their expressions respectful.

Wang Qingqi was imparting alchemical techniques. He had over a hundred years of life left, but his cultivation had stagnated. Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan both urged him to cultivate diligently, yet Wang Qingqi had little interest in cultivation.

To be precise, he knew his limitations. He could count on one hand the number of times he had engaged in life-and-death battles with immortal cultivators, and he had little real-world experience. Most of his time was spent on alchemy, either researching ancient elixir recipes or training alchemists. His cultivation largely depended on consuming elixirs.

The Wang family's current prosperity was due to Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan as pioneers, while Wang Qingqi was the founder of the family's alchemy lineage. Forty percent of the elixir recipes currently used by the Wang family came from Wang Qingqi. When the Wang family was still a Core Formation family, Wang Qingqi successfully refined Foundation Establishment Pills, nurturing a large number of Foundation Establishment cultivators for the family.

When Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan had just formed their Nascent Souls, the Wang family was still relatively weak, with few Core Formation cultivators. It was only after Wang Qingqi became capable of refining Core Formation spiritual items that the number of Core Formation cultivators in the Wang family steadily increased.

Wang Qingqi had sacrificed greatly for the family. He knew very well that achieving Nascent Soul formation was beyond him. His greatest wish was for the family to produce a Tier 4 alchemist. To this end, he had spent considerable time over the years nurturing new alchemists.

Wang Changjie's alchemy skills were second only to Wang Qingqi's, but he was devoted to the Way of the Sword. Unlike Wang Qingqi, Wang Changjie was not engrossed in alchemy.

Therefore, Wang Qingqi had to find suitable clan members to train as successors.

For the Wang family to ensure its lasting prosperity, it needed not only high-level combatants but also skilled professionals, especially alchemists.

"There are no shortcuts in alchemy," Wang Qingqi remarked, his face etched with nostalgia. "You must study diligently, practice assiduously, and spend more time refining elixirs. The family's conditions are excellent now; when I was your age, I didn't have such a favorable environment or treatment."

He looked at the surrounding clan members, a satisfied expression on his face. He had never imagined the family could develop to this extent. If the deceased elders of the clan could see the Wang family today, they would surely be overjoyed.

Just then, a series of urgent dragon roars echoed through the clouds, each more rapid than the last. Simultaneously, a loud bell began to toll.

Wang Qingqi's heart jolted. Only matters of great importance, concerning the very survival of the family, would prompt the Flood Dragons to give a warning.

"That concludes our discussion for today. You may attend to your duties!" Wang Qingqi declared, then transformed into a streak of light and soared away.

When he arrived at the council hall, he found Wang Ruyan, Wang Qingjun, and another elder already present. All three had grave expressions, as if something significant had occurred.

Core Formation cultivators arrived one after another, all bewildered and completely unaware of what was happening. The cultivators gradually took their seats, remaining silent, and the atmosphere grew heavy.

"Ninth Aunt, what happened? Has something happened to Seventh Brother and his group?" Wang Qingqi broke the silence. More than a year had passed since Wang Qingshan led a group to support the Eastern Desolate Lands. By now, Wang Qingshan should have reached his destination. Had something happened to him? That seemed unlikely! Wang Qingshan's strength was considerable; even if he couldn't win, he should be able to retreat safely. Had a Spirit Transformation cultivator intervened?

"Mengfen, you tell them!" Wang Ruyan instructed Wang Mengfen, her tone serious.

Wang Mengfen acknowledged, then looked at Wang Qingqi and the others, stating with a solemn expression: "Someone is spreading rumors, claiming that the Azure Lotus Immortal Couple are descendants of the Zhenhai Sect, specifically core disciples' descendants, and that our Wang family acquired the Zhenhai Sect ruins, which is how we prospered."

Upon hearing this news, he was stunned, but after careful thought, he realized the news might very well be true. Wang Mengfen knew that the family had obtained the ruins of a major sect. For a period, the Wang family's scripture pavilion had acquired a vast number of ancient texts, including many elixir recipes, artifact refining insights, and cultivation techniques. Knowledge was priceless, and it was precisely these acquisitions that allowed the Wang family to develop so rapidly.

He had never imagined that the Wang family had acquired the Zhenhai Sect ruins. It was well known that the Zhenhai Sect was once one of the ten great sects in the South Sea, with profound foundations. Had it not been for the Sun-Moon Palace destroying the Zhenhai Sect, it would still exist today.

As Wang Mengfen finished speaking, Wang Qingqi and the other Core Formation cultivators were wide-eyed, exchanging bewildered glances. This news was too shocking. The claim that the Azure Lotus Immortal Couple were descendants of the Zhenhai Sect was not the main issue, but who didn't know that the Zhenhai Sect was annihilated by the Sun-Moon Palace? Would the Sun-Moon Palace act against the Wang family? If the Sun-Moon Palace did not act against the Wang family, and the Wang family grew strong, would they then destroy the Sun-Moon Palace? This was a very serious issue, indeed concerning the family's survival.

"Ninth Aunt, this news isn't true, is it?" Wang Qingqi asked, somewhat disbelievingly. Before this, there had been rumors that the Wang family had obtained the ruins of a major immortal cultivation sect, but soon a flood of other rumors emerged, drowning out that particular one. Rumors in the immortal cultivation world were a mix of truth and falsehoods. Sometimes, even what one saw with their own eyes wasn't real, let alone what one heard!

"Rumors stop with the wise," Wang Ruyan stated. "Be careful when you go out during this period. Do not venture out alone. The family will be outwardly relaxed but inwardly vigilant, strengthening our defenses." Wang Ruyan did not answer directly. She desperately wanted to deny it, but the information was too accurate for her to refute.

Few cultivators knew that the Azure Lotus Immortal Couple were descendants of the Zhenhai Sect and possessed a Tier 4 Zhenhai Ape. The person spreading this news was certainly not from the Sun-Moon Palace. Most likely, they hoped to incite a conflict between the Wang family and the Sun-Moon Palace. Immortal Fairy Ziyue was highly suspect. She had a blood feud with the Sun-Moon Palace, but the Wang family did not. If the Wang family became enemies with the Sun-Moon Palace, Immortal Fairy Ziyue would likely be pleased to see it.

Wang Ruyan found it hard to believe. Based on her understanding of Immortal Fairy Ziyue, she wasn't that kind of person. So who could it be? If the Wang family and the Sun-Moon Palace went to war, who would benefit the most? The Myriad Sword Sect? The Four Seas Sect? Myriad Beast Island? Or the Taiyi Immortal Sect?

These factions all had some suspicion, but their motives seemed insufficient. What utterly baffled Wang Ruyan was how the person spreading the news knew that Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan possessed a Tier 4 Zhenhai Ape. Was it a lucky guess, or did they have concrete evidence?

According to Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan's plan, they intended to rebuild the Zhenhai Sect only after finding an opportunity to kill the Sun-Moon Dual Sages or after advancing to the Spirit Transformation stage, ensuring absolute safety. Wang Ruyan could publicly declare the news false. Whether the news was true or false wasn't important; what mattered was whether the Sun-Moon Dual Sages believed it. If the Sun-Moon Dual Sages believed the news, then there would be trouble. As long as the Sun-Moon Dual Sages had not advanced to the Spirit Transformation stage, the Wang family would not fear even confronting the Sun-Moon Palace. It was important to remember that the Wang family would not be fighting alone. The Myriad Sword Sect and the Ouyang family had good relations with the Wang family, especially the Myriad Sword Sect. The Wang family had done a great deal for the Myriad Sword Sect; they wouldn't abandon them when convenient.