Chapter 1690: Qingqi's Parinirvana

Wang Qingshan and Wang Mengbin flew towards Dongli Island. The cultivators of the Tianlan Sect flew towards Tianlan Island.

After decades of conflict, for convenience, the island where Dongli Realm cultivators gathered was renamed Dongli Island, and the island where Tianlan Realm cultivators gathered was renamed Tianlan Island.

Wang Qingshan took Yan Zong's corpse to the Deacon Hall, exchanged it for a substantial amount of contribution points, and returned to his residence.

"I wonder how Ninth Uncle and Ninth Aunt are doing! So much time has passed, and there's been no news."

Wang Qingshan sighed.

By now, Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan had been in the Tianlan Realm for over forty years.

"Once the Tianlan Realm cultivators are driven back, our ancestors will surely return safely."

Wang Mengbin said with full confidence.

Wang Qingshan nodded and said, "Indeed. All right, you should go back and rest!"

Inside the deliberation hall, Sun Tianhu and over a dozen other Soul Transformation cultivators were discussing the war. They had originally mobilized a group of Soul Transformation cultivators from the rear, but the Tianlan Sect cultivators were causing disturbances everywhere, forcing some Soul Transformation cultivators to return for support.

The number of high-level cultivators in the Tianlan Sect was constantly decreasing, especially the number of Nascent Soul cultivators. With their numbers dwindling while ours grew, it was only a matter of time before the Tianlan Sect's Soul Transformation cultivators surrendered to them.

"In today's battle, the Tianlan Sect lost many more people. It probably won't be long before their cultivators surrender to us."

Dongfang Yulin said with some excitement.

"Madam Feng, what's the status of the demon beasts sent to attack the Tianlan Realm cultivators in the Buried Immortal Sea? Have they sent back any word?"

Sun Tianhu looked at Feng Li and asked with concern.

"We've received a reply, and it's not good news. We found some bodies of Tianlan Realm cultivators, but no Soul Transformation cultivators. They've built a city at the entrance of the spatial passage. Now, the Buried Immortal Sea is filled with a vast amount of Spirit-Suppressing Qi, making it impossible for either cultivators or demon beasts to use their spiritual power. The city walls are too high; we can't do anything to them."

Feng Li sighed.

What they could think of, the Tianlan Sect cultivators could certainly also anticipate.

"If Spirit-Suppressing Qi erupts, they'll become mortals. How can they stay in that environment?"

Liu Ruyi asked with a frown. The magnetic field deep within the Buried Immortal Sea could cause cultivators' bodies to explode.

"They've set up a special formation that weakens the magnetic field's power. However, I've already sent more demonic birds to attack them, aiming to inflict as many casualties as possible on the Tianlan Sect cultivators."

Feng Li said seriously. Due to the unique conditions of the Buried Immortal Sea, only demon beasts with powerful physical bodies, at least of the fourth rank, could enter its depths. Affected by the natural magnetic field, demon beasts easily got lost, and over a hundred fourth-rank demon beasts had died there so far.

This was precisely why that sea region was called the Buried Immortal Sea.

"Can we contact our cultivators who went to the Tianlan Realm? We don't know how they are doing."

Sun Tianhu looked at Lu Dao and asked with a frown.

The Tianlan Realm and the Dongli Realm were adjacent realms, but they were still separated by a realm, and the power of the realm barrier was no joke. It was not easy for cultivators from two realms to communicate.

Lu Dao shook his head and said, "We've tried various methods, but we can't establish contact. If the Immortal Suppressing Pagoda opens and we can obtain one or two Heavenly Spirit Treasures, it might be possible to completely turn the tide."

The Immortal Suppressing Pagoda and the Immortal Ascension Ruins came from the Spirit Realm; this was a consensus among the Dongli Realm's Soul Transformation cultivators. There was once a Soul Transformation cultivator who tried to seize the Immortal Suppressing Pagoda but suffered a backlash.

Throughout the entire Dongli Realm, the most precious item was the Immortal Suppressing Pagoda. As long as challengers provided sufficiently good materials, they would receive generous rewards for passing through the pagoda, up to Heavenly Spirit Treasures.

"The Spirit-Suppressing Qi has persisted for thirty years. Based on the usual intervals for the Immortal Suppressing Pagoda's appearance, it should open within a hundred years. That's too long; the Tianlan Sect cultivators in the Buried Immortal Sea are likely all dead by then. Send people to monitor various sea regions! Once the Immortal Suppressing Pagoda appears, immediately send people to challenge it. We must obtain several Heavenly Spirit Treasures."

Sun Tianhu said gravely. The Immortal Suppressing Pagoda's appearance didn't have an exact time; it could only be said to appear within a certain timeframe.

They deliberated for over half an hour before adjourning the meeting.

Eastern Wasteland, Wei State, Green Lotus Manor.

In a secluded courtyard, Wang Qingqi lay on a bed, cradling a red alchemy furnace. His hair was completely white, his face covered in wrinkles, and his eyes were barely open.

Wang Qingling, Wang Tianwen, Wang Changjie, Wang Yinghao, Wang Youwei, and others stood around the bed, their expressions filled with grief.

Wang Qingqi had truly dedicated his life to the family. He alone carried the banner of the family's alchemy, teaching clansmen how to refine pills and research new elixir recipes. More than half of the family's alchemists were directly trained by him, and his character was deeply respected by the clan members.

"Fourth Brother, if you have any last words, please tell us! I will definitely fulfill them for you."

Wang Qingling's eyes were slightly red, and she choked out the words.

She and Wang Qingqi grew up together and studied together in the Lecture Hall. They pursued different paths: Wang Qingqi was engrossed in alchemy, wanting all clan members to be able to use pills refined by their own family.

"My greatest hope in this life was for our family to produce a fourth-rank alchemist. I won't live to see that day. Uncle Changjie, if you become a fourth-rank alchemist in the future, remember to tell me at my tombstone. This is my favorite alchemy furnace. When our family produces a fourth-rank alchemist, bury this furnace with me."

Wang Qingqi spoke intermittently, his voice weak and faint.

"I will. I will definitely work hard to become our family's first fourth-rank alchemist."

Wang Changjie solemnly took the alchemy furnace, suppressing his grief as he spoke.

Wang Youwei and the others looked grief-stricken. Even in his final moments, Wang Qingqi's thoughts were still on his family.

Wang Qingqi clasped Wang Qingling's hand tightly. He took a deep breath and said, "Tell Ninth Uncle and Ninth Aunt that I'm gone. If there's a next life, I still wish to be born into the Wang family. I can no longer serve the family. In my storage pearl, there are fourth-rank elixir recipes I've researched for years. Uncle Changjie, you must continue studying them. I hope our family can also have unique secret medicines. We must have the elixirs others possess, and also those they don't. What I couldn't accomplish, I leave to you. The future of the family rests with you."

After saying this, Wang Qingqi slowly closed his eyes and breathed his last.

Wang Qingqi, the pioneer of the Wang family's alchemy path, passed away. He had completed his life's journey, and the family continued to develop.

"Fourth Brother!"

Wang Qingling was overwhelmed with grief, tears streaming down her cheeks and dampening her clothes. Her clan brother, whom she had played with since childhood, was gone, and her heart was unusually heavy.

Wang Changjie and the others also looked sorrowful, with tears glinting in their eyes.

After a moment, Wang Qingling wiped away her tears and said sternly, "Fourth Brother's funeral must be handled with great solemnity. Youwei, you are in charge. Engrave Fourth Brother's last words on a stone tablet and erect it at the entrance of the Alchemy Institute, so all alchemists can see it."

Wang Youwei repeatedly agreed. The war had not yet ended, so many clansmen could not return for Wang Qingqi's funeral, which was unavoidable.

Half a month later, the Wang family held a grand funeral for Wang Qingqi. Many forces from the Eastern Wasteland sent representatives to attend. Wang Qingqi's memorial tablet was enshrined in the Green Lotus Tower. Wang Qingling assigned clansmen to write Wang Qingqi's deeds into an autobiography, and all alchemists were required to read his autobiography before beginning their alchemy studies.