Chapter 1634: Core Disciples Return to Zhenhai Sect

In the northwest corner of White Crane Island, a steep peak rose, crowned by a blue palace over thirty zhang high. The palace was constructed from massive blue boulders, its surface engraved with numerous profound runes.

Directly above the main hall's entrance hung a lacquered golden plaque, inscribed with three large blue characters: "Zhenhai Hall."

This was Immortal Purple Moon's residence and a forbidden area of the Zhenhai Sect. Ordinary disciples were not permitted to enter Zhenhai Hall without explicit permission.

The main hall was spacious and brightly lit, its ceiling embedded with exquisite blue crystals. A misty vapor permeated the air.

Immortal Purple Moon sat on the main seat, her face beaming with joy.

Zheng Nan and Cheng Zhenyu stood respectfully to one side.

"Excellent, excellent, excellent," Immortal Purple Moon said. "Junior Nephew Zheng, Junior Nephew Cheng, I am delighted that you are willing to rejoin our sect. You may choose any peak to establish your immortal's cave. As for the Spirit Objects for Nascent Soul formation, our sect is currently unable to provide them, but I will have someone keep an eye out for them."

Immortal Purple Moon's expression showed a hint of difficulty as she spoke. The Zhenhai Sect, still undergoing reconstruction, lacked high-level cultivators, and even the Wang family was in urgent need of Spirit Objects for Nascent Soul formation, leaving no surplus to provide to the Zhenhai Sect. To refine Spirit Objects for Nascent Soul formation, a fourth-tier alchemist was required. Even the Wang family did not possess a fourth-tier alchemist, so naturally, the newly rebuilt Zhenhai Sect would not either.

Over the past five years, numerous cultivators claiming to be descendants of the Zhenhai Sect had appeared, but most of them were impostors. Not a single core disciple of the Zhenhai Sect had been found.

Zheng Nan cultivated the "Heavenly Sound Overturning Sea Art," one of the Zhenhai Sect's three foundational cultivation techniques. Wang Changsheng had previously mentioned Cheng Zhenyu and his wife to Immortal Purple Moon, and she was very pleased to see them join the Zhenhai Sect.

Cheng Zhenyu and Zheng Nan had initially adopted a wait-and-see approach, uncertain of the true situation. However, after five years of the Zhenhai Sect's reconstruction, with the Wang family investing significant human and material resources, and high-ranking officials from the Sun and Moon Palace, Four Seas Gate, and Myriad Sword Gate publicly expressing their support, they decided to join the Zhenhai Sect for the sake of their cultivation paths. For years, they had wandered the four seas, considering anywhere their home, and felt little sense of belonging to the Zhenhai Sect. If they had to pinpoint a feeling of belonging, it was perhaps when they were being hunted by the Sun and Moon Palace. They joined the Zhenhai Sect for Nascent Soul formation, understanding the benefit of sheltering under the strong backing of the Wang family. The Immortal Couple of Green Lotus cultivated the Zhenhai Sect's foundational techniques. It was this connection that made Cheng Zhenyu and Zheng Nan willing to join the Zhenhai Sect; if Immortal Purple Moon had rebuilt the sect alone, they might not have joined, as they were accustomed to their free and unconstrained lifestyle.

"Thank you, Sect Master," Zheng Nan said cautiously, her expression apprehensive. "This disciple understands the sect's current difficulties, but I have an audacious request. Please, Sect Master, grant it."

Immortal Purple Moon smiled faintly and said, "Speak freely."

"If circumstances permit," Zheng Nan continued, her expression tense, "we would like to meet the Immortal Couple of Green Lotus. This disciple wishes to seek guidance from Immortal Heavenly Harp regarding cultivation techniques." If Wang Ruyan could offer her some guidance, it would greatly benefit her cultivation.

"Very well," Immortal Purple Moon replied, showing no surprise. "I will certainly convey your request to Senior Brother Wang and Senior Sister Wang. You must be tired; go and rest for now!"

Cheng Zhenyu and Zheng Nan nodded repeatedly in agreement and turned to leave.

Immortal Purple Moon let out a sigh of relief. Since the Zhenhai Sect's reconstruction began, she had had little time for cultivation. She actually disliked managing affairs, but things were different now. Among the Zhenhai Sect's five thousand disciples, those truly loyal to her were likely still the former Yunhai Sect disciples; the newly joined disciples had little loyalty to her as their Sect Master. Immortal Purple Moon had taken on ten disciples, some in the Qi Refinement stage and others in the Foundation Establishment stage, three of whom were members of the Wang family. Only when these ten matured could she truly be said to control the Zhenhai Sect. Currently, she primarily relied on the Wang family to maintain control; if the Wang family withdrew its personnel, she would be utterly unable to control the sect.

In addition to its five thousand disciples, the Zhenhai Sect also controlled one hundred and thirty-five islands. White Crane Island, which originally belonged to the Lu family, possessed a fourth-tier spiritual vein, and there were seven other islands with third-tier spiritual veins. For the current Zhenhai Sect, merely holding onto these territories was a commendable achievement. Supporting five thousand disciples required vast cultivation resources. As the Zhenhai Sect had only recently been rebuilt, it naturally could not provide much wealth, largely relying on the Wang family's assistance. To put it bluntly, the Zhenhai Sect's ability to rebuild was due to the Wang family expending immense human and material resources. This could be seen as Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan repaying Grand Elder Nangong Miao's kindness, and it was also what they ought to do.

Green Lotus Island, Green Lotus Peak.

A lively guqin melody drifted from Green Lotus Peak, filling listeners with an indescribable sense of joy.

In a courtyard filled with birdsong and fragrant flowers, Wang Ruyan sat in a stone pavilion, playing her instrument. The pavilion was situated in the center of a lake spanning over ten mu, where Kylin Tortoises frolicked, chasing low-level fish demons. A Tree Demon was entwined around the trunk of a towering tree, rarely moving.

A pure white spirit fish leaped out of the lake. Before it could land, a small mound of earth bulged from the ground, and a Twin-Pupil Rat burrowed out. Its body glowed yellow, and its size rapidly expanded to that of a house. It opened its massive mouth and swallowed the white spirit fish in one gulp.

The Kylin Tortoise let out a low roar, and a thick blue lightning bolt shot from its mouth, striking towards the Twin-Pupil Rat.

The Twin-Pupil Rat rapidly shrank to palm size. The blue lightning bolt grazed past it, plunging into the ground and exploding into a crater several zhang wide.

The Twin-Pupil Rat swiftly climbed up the towering tree where the Tree Demon resided. The Kylin Tortoise let out an angry roar, but then a lively guqin melody resonated.

The Kylin Tortoise submerged back into the lake, no longer bothering with the Twin-Pupil Rat.

The Twin-Pupil Rat lay beside the Tree Demon, emitting cheerful chirps and wagging its tail back and forth. It often snatched food from the Kylin Tortoise, and due to its strong defense, the Kylin Tortoise could do nothing to it.

Wang Changsheng walked out of the Green Lotus Pavilion, a faint smile on his face. He had refined Natal Artifacts for Wang Qingqing, Wang Tianwen, and Wang Qingjun, though these were not complete sets. Refining complete sets of artifacts was inherently difficult, and gathering the materials was particularly troublesome. Wang Qingshan's flying swords were primarily refined from Thousand-Year Glazed Bamboo, while Ye Haitang's Heavenly Ghost Banner was primarily refined from Ten-Thousand-Year Ghost-Yin Wood. The reason they possessed complete sets of artifacts was partly due to having excellent materials and partly related to their cultivation techniques and divine abilities. The Natal Artifact used by Wang Mengbin was not a complete set, nor was Wang Qingling's. In the entire Wang family, only four individuals possessed complete sets of artifacts: Wang Changsheng, Wang Qingshan, Wang Qiuming, and Ye Haitang. However, Wang Qiuming's Natal Artifact, a pair of Golden Moon Wheels, was inferior in power to the Natal Artifacts of the other three.

The Twin-Pupil Rat leaped down from the towering tree and quickly scurried onto Wang Changsheng's shoulder.

"You rascal," Wang Changsheng said in a chiding tone. "You're snatching the Kylin Tortoise's food again. I told you not to snatch its food. If you anger it, even I won't be able to protect you."

The Twin-Pupil Rat's tail drooped, and it lowered its head, appearing somewhat guilty.

"My dear," Wang Changsheng asked Wang Ruyan, "how is the Zhenhai Sect doing now?" He had not interfered with the Zhenhai Sect's management affairs, having spent the past few years refining artifacts, and was therefore unaware of the Zhenhai Sect's current situation.