Chapter 1618: Dragon Enthalpy Princess's Plan

Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan were a long-married couple. Sometimes, a single glance was enough for them to understand each other's thoughts. Furthermore, they practiced a secret technique using Concentric Worms, making their minds perfectly connected.

"Husband, during your years in seclusion, the East-Lichen Realm almost underwent a drastic change. Cultivators from the Sky-Ripple Realm invaded, two Spirit Transformation cultivators were killed, and Bai Xin died in battle. One Spirit Transformation cultivator from the Sky-Ripple Realm is still at large."

Wang Ruyan's expression was grave. Long Hanyi still hadn't been apprehended, posing a considerable hidden threat.

Wang Changsheng's expression shifted. He frowned and asked, "What? Cultivators from the Sky-Ripple Realm invaded? What exactly happened?"

Wang Ruyan recounted everything she knew, though she wasn't clear on the exact circumstances of Bai Xin's death.

"The Sky-Ripple Realm has shown great audacity. Major forces put aside their prejudices and merged into a super-sect. Their invasion of the East-Lichen Realm was likely premeditated. The Spirit Transformation cultivators from the Sky-Ripple Realm probably sought to plunder resources to advance their cultivation or to gain access to the spatial channel leading to the Spirit Realm."

Wang Changsheng analyzed the situation. Having reached the Nascent Soul stage himself, he found it difficult to advance even a minor cultivation level, let alone the Spirit Transformation stage.

Wang Ruyan nodded and said, "I think so too. Long Hanyi is an unstable element; there's no telling what trouble she might stir up. She might even reopen the spatial channel to the Sky-Ripple Realm. To be honest, realm wars are both a crisis and an opportunity. If we want to advance further, a realm war is indeed a great chance, though the battlefield would ideally be in the Sky-Ripple Realm. Those old Spirit Transformation monsters seem keen to penetrate the Sky-Ripple Realm, but why they can't, I'm not sure."

Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan consulted the notes left by successive Nascent Soul cultivators of the Zhenhai Sect. They discovered something very strange: no late-stage Spirit Transformation cultivators had appeared in the East-Lichen Realm. Strictly speaking, there had been none for the past 50,000 years.

The notes left by the successive Grand Elders of the Zhenhai Sect explicitly stated that before 50,000 years ago, they could still contact their patriarchs in the Spirit Realm through secret techniques. However, after that time, no matter how hard they tried, they could no longer reach them.

Otherwise, the Zhenhai Sect would not have been destroyed by the Sun-Moon Palace.

The Grand Elder's notes proposed two theories: either the Zhenhai Sect's branch in the Spirit Realm was destroyed, or a significant change occurred in the Spirit Realm, preventing East-Lichen Realm cultivators from contacting those in the Spirit Realm.

This current invasion of the East-Lichen Realm by the Sky-Ripple Realm might be related to this matter.

"These are troubled times. I'm just worried Long Hanyi will target our family."

Wang Changsheng said, frowning, that no matter how strong they were, they couldn't be a match for a Spirit Transformation cultivator. It would be good enough if they could escape unscathed.

"I've already instructed Haitang to transport a group of clan members to the Zhenhai Sect ruins with Qingjing. Even if Long Hanyi truly comes to our doorstep, we can just abandon the island and flee. As long as we have clan members at the Zhenhai Sect ruins, we'll still have a chance to rise again."

Wang Ruyan said solemnly that this was her contingency plan. They couldn't simply abandon the island and flee just because Long Hanyi existed.

Wang Ruyan suddenly remembered something and added, "Oh, right, husband, the Murong Royal Family was annihilated by Situ Mei and her people. Murong Yuyao is currently staying on Green Lotus Island, and five to six thousand other Murong Royal Family members are scattered across various locations."

"Situ Mei! This person is completely deranged. Bringing cultivators from another realm to invade the East-Lichen Realm is truly courting death. Fortunately, she merely possessed Zhang Wuchen's body. If she were the real Zhang Wuchen, we would be in a lot of trouble too."

Wang Changsheng frowned, stating that cultivators in the East-Lichen Realm could cause as much internal trouble as they pleased, as it was their own affair. However, Situ Mei acting as a guide for foreign cultivators, aiding a villain, was courting death.

"According to unofficial sources, it was Situ Mei who led the attack on the Zhenhai Sect back then and destroyed it. I suspect this is a rumor spread by the Sun-Moon Palace, as news of us cultivating the Zhenhai Sect's foundational technique has leaked, though it hasn't been confirmed. The Myriad Swords Sect and the Ouyang Family do support us, but other forces haven't expressed their stance."

"It seems a lot happened in the East-Lichen Realm while I was in seclusion. Tianwen, Qingjing, and Qingjun have all reached the Nascent Soul stage. I need to refine Natal Artifacts for them. In these troubled times, if one's strength is too weak, they cannot survive the great calamity."

Wang Changsheng's face was filled with worry; he hadn't expected so much to happen during his seclusion.

After a brief chat, Wang Changsheng returned to his room to refine artifacts.

He believed the great calamity wouldn't pass quickly, and countless people would die. A more powerful Natal Artifact would increase their survival rate.

As the most senior member of the clan and the one with the highest artifact refining skill, it was entirely appropriate for him to refine Natal Artifacts for a few juniors.

Wang Changsheng sat cross-legged on a futon. He planned to refine a Natal Artifact for Wang Qingjing first, as she was his daughter.

On a desolate island, roughly a hundred li in circumference, lay a hidden mountain cave.

Long Hanyi, Song Yuzhen, Liu Jiaojiao, Situ Mei, Zhao Hengbin, and Zhao Junlan gathered inside the cave. Situ Mei's complexion was rosy, and her expression was respectful.

"Little friend Situ, are you certain the Shen family is the weakest? After all, the Shen family is one of the Ten Great Immortal Cultivation Families of the South Sea; they are not comparable to the Murong Royal Family. If we attack the Shen family, I'll be fine and can escape at any time, but you might not be so lucky."

Long Hanyi's tone was grave.

After escaping disaster, she and her subordinates had hidden in a forbidden area for over a decade, living in constant apprehension during that time.

A year ago, Situ Mei had approached them, claiming to know about a spatial channel to the Sky-Ripple Realm. Situ Mei was willing to help open the channel connecting the two realms, but in return, she demanded elixirs that could extend her lifespan.

Situ Mei had once been the Vice Palace Master of the Moon Palace of the Sun-Moon Palace and knew many secrets of the East-Lichen Realm. With her assistance, Long Hanyi and her companions would have a much easier time.

To open a spatial channel, vast cultivation resources were required, and the Ten Great Immortal Cultivation Families of the South Sea were excellent targets.

The Green Lotus Immortal Couple possessed great fortune, but the Wang family started too late and didn't control many cultivation resources. Spirit Transformation cultivators might also be ambushing near Green Lotus Island, waiting for them to walk into a trap. Under Situ Mei's suggestion, they decided to target the Ten Great Immortal Cultivation Families of the South Sea instead.

The Shen family had been declining for years, making them the optimal target.

Only by obtaining the treasures in the Shen family's vault could they arrange the formation required to open a spatial channel to the Sky-Ripple Realm.

The Scarlet Flood Dragon Blazing Heaven Sword in Long Hanyi's possession was a Heaven-Reaching Spirit Treasure, but it lacked the power to break through realms. They could only rely on the power of formations to set up a grand formation capable of realm-breaking, which required a vast amount of materials. As they didn't have enough, they had to plunder other forces.

If Long Hanyi wanted to survive, she absolutely had to open the spatial channel to the Sky-Ripple Realm. Otherwise, she would eventually be captured by the East-Lichen Realm's Spirit Transformation cultivators, and that would be her demise.

"Don't worry, Senior Long," Situ Mei said, her face solemn and filled with anticipation. "The Shen family is strong on the outside but weak on the inside and has been declining for years, making them the best target. However, it still depends on Fellow Daoist Shen. If he can break the restriction of the Myriad Ghost Sea and release the ghost creatures inside, our task will be much easier."

Many Spirit Transformation cultivators had placed restrictions in the Myriad Ghost Sea back then, sealing numerous ghost creatures. If those restrictions were broken and the vengeful ghosts released, the South Sea cultivation world would surely be shaken.

"Nephew Shen has a fifth-tier talisman, so breaking the restriction of the Myriad Ghost Sea should be no problem," Long Hanyi said in a deep voice, her face filled with killing intent. "Once the vengeful ghosts from the Myriad Ghost Sea rush out, we can act."