Chapter 1600: The Attitude of the Sun and Moon Palace

"Yes, Ninth Aunt (Ancestress)," Wang Qingqi and the others replied in unison, their expressions serious.

After giving a few instructions, Wang Ruyan dismissed them, keeping only Wang Qingjing, Wang Qingjun, and Wang Mengfen.

"Mother, are you and Father really descendants of the Zhenhai Sect?" Wang Qingjing asked, her face filled with disbelief. This was not good news; the Jiuyou Sect alone had already caused the Wang family immense trouble. With the addition of the Sun Moon Palace, their lives would become even more difficult.

Wang Ruyan sighed softly, nodded, and said, "Our ancestors were disciples of the Zhenhai Sect. Your father and I do practice the Zhenhai Sect's foundational cultivation methods. We didn't tell you before because the implications were too significant. If word got out, our family's demise would be imminent."

Before forming their Nascent Souls, Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan had kept a low profile, avoiding the Sun Moon Palace as much as possible. After reaching the Nascent Soul stage, they participated in conflicts to acquire islands with fourth-tier spirit veins. Even then, they still avoided the Sun Moon Palace, unwilling to engage in direct conflict with them.

The Wang family now had nearly ten Nascent Soul cultivators, making them a powerful force. There was no longer a need to keep it a secret.

Wang Changsheng was in secluded cultivation, and Wang Qingshan had gone to the Eastern Barrens to participate in battles. Revealing their identity at this time was not a major issue. With the great calamity approaching, it would be unwise for the Sun Moon Palace to act against the Wang family at this juncture.

"No wonder our family has so many valuable ancient texts!" Wang Qingjun said with a light chuckle, realization dawning on him. "So, Ninth Uncle and Ninth Aunt inherited the Zhenhai Sect's legacy."

"The Zhenhai Sect's ruins have already been thoroughly searched," Wang Ruyan slowly explained. "When we went in search of treasures, we didn't find any spirit treasures, only subsequent cultivation methods. A storm is brewing. For now, focus on healing your injuries, and advise all family members to be cautious when traveling. Outwardly, firmly assert that it's just a rumor. The Sun Moon Palace likely won't target our Wang family based on unconfirmed information, but precautions are still necessary." She added that once Wang Changsheng reached the late Nascent Soul stage, they would dare to fight even if the Twin Saints of Sun and Moon came looking for trouble. After all, they had many family members in the Zhenhai Sect ruins, and Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan had long prepared for this day.

Wang Qingjing and the other two exchanged glances, their expressions unusually solemn.

At the Sun Moon Palace, Fang Yue and Du Xu sat on jade chairs, their faces grim.

Zhong Chen stood to the side, reporting the situation to them.

Zhong Chen was one of the contingencies Si Tumei had left behind in the Sun Moon Palace. Si Tumei had played a crucial role in his current standing.

Given Fang Yue's character, where she preferred to kill an innocent rather than let a culprit go, Zhong Chen would undoubtedly face death if his identity were exposed; there was no other path.

When Wang Changsheng and Fairy Ziyue killed Yuan Gang of Huanglong Island, Zhong Chen happened to be nearby. He discovered some clues and immediately informed Si Tumei. Afterwards, Si Tumei instructed him to stop the investigation, and Zhong Chen complied.

When Si Tumei's identity was exposed, the Sun Moon Palace dispatched numerous experts to hunt her down. Zhong Chen was terrified. To save his own life, he went to the Ten Thousand Ghost Sea Region, claiming to be searching for Si Tumei.

Once the uproar subsided and Si Tumei had escaped, Zhong Chen returned from the Ten Thousand Ghost Sea Region.

Not long ago, Si Tumei actively contacted Zhong Chen, which thoroughly unnerved him. Si Tumei instructed him to report to Fang Yue and Du Xu that the Azure Lotus Immortals were descendants of the Zhenhai Sect.

With Si Tumei holding incriminating information against him, he dared not defy her orders. While he had considered killing Si Tumei to silence her, he lacked the courage.

Before Si Tumei underwent soul possession, she possessed a spirit body and had cultivated to the late Nascent Soul stage before the age of three hundred, making her one of the foremost prodigies in the cultivation world of the South Sea. After the soul possession, Zhang Wuchen spent several centuries cultivating to the mid-Nascent Soul stage. Zhong Chen, only at the early Nascent Soul stage, simply could not defeat Si Tumei.

If he simply fled, it would be akin to "protesting one's innocence by conspicuously displaying one's guilt," and he would then face pursuit from the Sun Moon Palace. Zhong Chen was in agony.

Therefore, he could only obediently follow Si Tumei's instructions.

"The Azure Lotus Immortals are descendants of the Zhenhai Sect? They practice the Zhenhai Sect's foundational cultivation methods? And they have a fourth-tier Zhenhai Ape?" Fang Yue's gaze darkened. This news was too shocking. The Zhenhai Sect had been destroyed for over a thousand years. Core Formation cultivators could live for over five hundred years, and some long-lived ones could even reach seven hundred. It wasn't strange for Zhenhai Sect descendants to still be alive, but if it was the Azure Lotus Immortals, then it was troublesome.

She pondered for a moment, realizing that the cultivation methods practiced by the Azure Lotus Immortals did indeed match.

The "True Scripture of Gui Water," "Heavenly Sound Overturning Sea Art," and "Blazing True Aura Art" were the three foundational cultivation methods of the Zhenhai Sect. True Lord Taihao cultivated a water-attribute method and practiced both Dharma and Body cultivation; Fairy Tianqin cultivated a musical method, corresponding to the "Heavenly Sound Overturning Sea Art."

No one knew the specific divine abilities of the Azure Lotus Immortals. True Lord Taihao usually used physical strength against enemies. Any cultivator or demon beast who had fought the Azure Lotus Immortals had died, leaving no witnesses, which indeed raised suspicions.

Over a century ago, there were rumors that the Wang family had control over the ruins of a major immortal cultivation sect. However, at that time, Zhou Sihong's actions had caused widespread panic in the South Sea, so this news wasn't given much attention. Now, it seemed this information was likely true, and it was almost certainly the Zhenhai Sect's ruins.

After Si Tumei possessed Zhang Wuchen, it took Zhang Wuchen over five hundred years for the Zhang family to have only three Nascent Soul cultivators, becoming one of the major powers in the Red Moon Sea Region. In contrast, the Wang family now boasted nearly ten Nascent Soul cultivators and dozens of Core Formation cultivators. Their profound heritage could not be attributed to just one or two fortuitous encounters. For the Wang family to develop so rapidly, they must have obtained the legacy of a major sect.

It was either the Zhenhai Sect or the Murong aristocratic family. From all indications, the Azure Lotus Immortals were very likely descendants of the Zhenhai Sect, and core descendants at that.

If this information was true, the situation was serious.

The Azure Lotus Immortals' formation of Nascent Souls had triggered unusual phenomena, earning them renown in the South Sea after a single battle. Backed by the Myriad Sword Sect and allied through marriage with the Ouyang aristocratic family, it was foreseeable that the Wang family's power would steadily increase over time.

If the Wang family's strength surpassed that of the Sun Moon Palace, would they then seek to destroy the Sun Moon Palace? This was a question that absolutely had to be confronted directly.

In the past, the Twin Saints of Sun and Moon would not have believed the Wang family capable of destroying the Sun Moon Palace, but with a great calamity approaching, it was hard to say.

"Replying to the Palace Master, I cannot be certain myself; I merely discovered some indications," Zhong Chen slowly stated. "While I was tracking Si Tumei in the Ten Thousand Ghost Sea Region, I found reports from over a century ago claiming that the Wang family had acquired the ruins of a major immortal cultivation sect. Those ruins were said to be deep within the Ten Thousand Ghost Sea Region. Oh, and another thing: the number of ghosts in the Ten Thousand Ghost Sea Region has been decreasing in recent years. There are hardly any low-level ghosts, let alone high-level ones." He explained that he had previously used the excuse of searching for Si Tumei in the Ten Thousand Ghost Sea Region to discreetly gather information, discovering the anomalies within.

"No wonder the Zhenhai Sect ruins couldn't be found," Du Xu said, resting a hand on his chin, a thoughtful expression on his face. "If the Zhenhai Sect ruins are in the Ten Thousand Ghost Sea Region, then everything makes sense."

Although there was no direct evidence to prove that the Azure Lotus Immortals were descendants of the Zhenhai Sect, all indications pointed to them very likely being descendants of the Zhenhai Sect.

"The Wang family's rise has been too rapid," Zhong Chen said solemnly. "If it's not the Zhenhai Sect ruins, then it must be the Murong aristocratic family's Heavenly Grade secret realm. How could a small family acquire such a vast collection of ancient texts and cultivation methods? A few minor fortuitous encounters simply wouldn't provide so many cultivation manuals and secret texts."

"We understand. You may leave for now," Fang Yue said coldly. "This matter requires long-term deliberation. And remember, the information has not yet been confirmed, so do not take any action against the Wang family. Strengthen our defenses. I suspect this news was released by Junior Sister Si Tumei, intentionally trying to create a rift between us and the Wang family. Knowing her, there's nothing she wouldn't dare to do." Si Tumei understood her well, and she, in turn, understood Si Tumei well.

Zhong Chen acknowledged and turned to leave.