Chapter 1650: Leading the Expedition

"Send us to the Heavenly Serenity Realm?" Wang Changsheng asked, looking at Liu Ruyi with disbelief.

Liu Ruyi had suddenly arrived, requesting Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan to lead a group of experts to the Heavenly Serenity Realm to cause disruption and thereby stall their offensive.

Liu Ruyi nodded. "Exactly. Most of the Heavenly Serenity Realm's experts are concentrated here, limiting your actions. Going to the Heavenly Serenity Realm will allow you to operate freely, plundering various cultivation resources. This is also a great opportunity for you; you might even advance to the Spirit Transformation stage as a result."

Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan frowned deeply. If they had a choice, they would not go to the Heavenly Serenity Realm. Opening a temporary spatial passage meant they couldn't return unless the Heavenly Serenity Realm and the East Embankment Realm reconciled. Given the current state of the war, reconciliation was simply impossible.

"This isn't just my idea," Liu Ruyi continued. "Fellow Daoist Sun and Fellow Daoist Ouyang specifically requested you to go. As a reward, I will personally look after your family. In addition, you will receive two spirit treasures and one million merit points."

Liu Ruyi's tone became more serious. The East Embankment Realm was dispatching experts to disrupt the Heavenly Serenity Realm. Cultivators who were too weak would simply die, while those too powerful were precious assets they were reluctant to send too many of. Though it was presented as an opportunity, no one knew the true situation once they reached the Heavenly Serenity Realm. The Azure Lotus Immortal Couple possessed exceptional strength. Both Sun Tianhu and Ouyang Yulin wanted them sent. In exchange, they would also send experts from their affiliated forces. To put it plainly, the Azure Lotus Immortal Couple's deployment to the Heavenly Serenity Realm was the result of a gamble among several Spirit Transformation cultivators, and they could not refuse.

Liu Ruyi had secured two spirit treasures and one million merit points for the Azure Lotus Immortal Couple, which was a considerable reward. It was important to note that few Nascent Soul cultivators in the East Embankment Realm possessed spirit treasures; most were top experts from major factions.

Cultivators sent to the Heavenly Serenity Realm had many restrictions. First, they needed cultivation above the Core Formation stage. Core Formation cultivators were acceptable, but Nascent Soul cultivators couldn't be too weak. Furthermore, these cultivators ideally came from cultivating families or sects, having ties that bound them. If rogue cultivators were sent, they might simply hide or even defect to the Heavenly Serenity Realm cultivators.

Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan's hearts sank. With three Spirit Transformation cultivators specifically naming them, they had no other choice.

"Senior Liu," Wang Changsheng asked with concern, "is a decisive battle imminent? Can we withstand the Heavenly Serenity Realm cultivators?" If the fighting became too intense, he considered taking some of his clansmen to the Heavenly Serenity Realm to preserve their lineage.

"Of course we can," Liu Ruyi sneered. "The Heavenly Serenity Realm has twelve Spirit Transformation cultivators, but don't assume they're all-powerful. If it came down to a life-or-death struggle, Fellow Daoist Sun could certainly eliminate True Monarch Qianlei. Why else do you think they're fighting a protracted war with us? It's simply because they don't want to risk everything."

Liu Ruyi smirked. Sun Tianhu possessed a secret art that allowed him to merge with his bonded spirit beast, elevating his cultivation to the late Spirit Transformation stage. However, this art implied mutual destruction, and Sun Tianhu would not use it unless absolutely necessary.

"When do we depart?" Wang Changsheng pressed on. "What exactly will be our main objective in the Heavenly Serenity Realm?"

"We'll depart the day after tomorrow," Liu Ruyi explained. "Your primary tasks will be to break seals or attack spatial nodes. Kill anyone you encounter, and all plundered wealth is yours to keep. Simply put, if the Heavenly Serenity Realm makes things difficult for us, we'll return the favor."

Liu Ruyi's face was filled with killing intent. Sending people to disrupt the Heavenly Serenity Realm was mainly to compel their Spirit Transformation cultivators to sit down and negotiate peacefully. Only when one's fist was large enough would others listen to reason; the weak would always be bullied.

With a flick of her sleeve, a blue light and a green light flew out, settling in front of them: an exquisite blue jade box and a three-foot-long green brocade box.

Wang Changsheng opened the jade box, revealing a shimmering blue gauntlet. Its surface was adorned with blue scales, shifting runes, and a hazy mist.

Inside the green brocade box lay a delicate green pipa, exuding astonishing spiritual energy.

"This Sea-Rending Gauntlet and Heavenly Illusion Pipa are both spirit treasures from the Divine Weapon Palace," Liu Ruyi said slowly. "It took a lot of convincing for Fellow Daoist Lu to part with these two treasures for you. With them, combined with your combined attack technique, very few below the Spirit Transformation stage will be a match for you."

Liu Ruyi wasn't being entirely benevolent. With the Azure Lotus Immortal Couple gaining spirit treasures, their increased strength meant the Ten Thousand Swords Sect could send fewer experts.

"You may bring some clansmen with you, provided they have at least Core Formation cultivation. Anyone willing to go will receive generous rewards. This operation will be led by a Spirit Transformation cultivator. If you are assigned to Fellow Daoist Fu's team, that would be even better. Fellow Daoist Fu is the East Embankment Realm's only rogue Spirit Transformation cultivator and a Fifth-rank Talisman Master."

"The East Embankment Realm's only rogue Spirit Transformation cultivator and a Fifth-rank Talisman Master?" Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan were stunned. It seemed the East Embankment Realm was truly desperate. Once they caused chaos in the Heavenly Serenity Realm, fierce battles were likely to erupt in the East Embankment Realm as well, and it was impossible to say how many cultivators would die then.

"Prepare well," Liu Ruyi instructed. "Also, the fewer people who know about your mission to disrupt the Heavenly Serenity Realm, the safer you'll be. Do not publicize it." With that, she turned and departed.

Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan dared not be disrespectful, personally escorting Liu Ruyi out.

"This is troublesome. Causing disruption in the Heavenly Serenity Realm... it might be hard to return," Wang Ruyan said, her brow furrowed. With three Spirit Transformation cultivators specifically naming them, they had no choice but to go.

"Staying here isn't safe either," Wang Changsheng said gravely. "Let's see what Mengbin and Qiuming think. If they're afraid, we won't take them." He could force them, but a coerced decision seldom yielded good results.

He took out his communication disc and summoned Wang Mengbin and others to his residence to discuss the war.

In less than fifteen minutes, more than a dozen Wang family cultivators, including Wang Qiuming, Wang Mengbin, and Wang Rongxiang, appeared before Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan.

"We are about to undertake an extremely dangerous mission," Wang Changsheng said, his voice heavy as his gaze swept over Wang Qiuming and the others. "It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say it's a near-certain death, but it's also an immense opportunity. Do you dare to go?"

"Grandson is willing to follow Grandfather and Grandmother into battle," Wang Qiuming volunteered, his gaze firm.

Wang Mengbin and the others echoed, "Grandson is willing to follow our Ancestors into battle."

Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan frowned, surprised that none of their clansmen feared death.

After much deliberation, they decided to bring eight individuals: Wang Qiuming, Wang Rongxiang, Wang Rongting, Wang Rongfei, Wang Yinghao, Wang Jiyun, Liu Xudong, and Wang Yingjie. Crisis and opportunity coexisted, and this might very well be their chance to form their Nascent Souls.

Once the selection was made, Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan headed to the Myriad Spirits Hall to collect a generous sum of merit points and exchange them for cultivation resources.

Two days later, Wang Changsheng and a large group of experts departed the front lines, heading to the Central Plains. Publicly, it was announced they were being transferred to the rear for recuperation.