Chapter 1696: Heavenly Lan Sect Encircles and Suppresses the Eastern Xi Boundary Cultivators

Southeastern Tianlan Realm, Tianfeng Mountain Range.

In a boundless verdant plain, the void suddenly rippled, twisting and deforming. As spatial fluctuations intensified, the void tore open, revealing a rift over a dozen zhang long. A blue light shot out from it and crashed downwards.

Boom! A deafening roar followed, and the ground shook violently. A blue palace sank into the earth, its gate facing upwards, with the characters "Profound Water Palace" written on its plaque.

After a moment, the Profound Water Palace soared upwards, and Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan emerged from its gate, their faces filled with caution.

Wang Changsheng extended his divine sense, scanning an area of three hundred li, but detected no other cultivators.

He suddenly remembered something and meticulously checked the Profound Water Palace for damage. Fortunately, it was unharmed, without a single scratch.

Wang Changsheng became increasingly convinced that the Zhenhai Order came from the Spirit Realm, and the Flying Immortal Ruins likely did too, possibly even being fragments of the Spirit Realm.

Based on the spiritual energy fluctuations, the Zhenhai Order appeared to be just an ordinary magic treasure. However, its defensive capabilities far exceeded Wang Changsheng's imagination, surpassing even those of defensive spirit treasures.

With the Zhenhai Order in hand, treasure hunting and exploration would be much easier for Wang Changsheng, significantly increasing his survival rate.

"I don't know where this is. Let's recover our magical power first, then investigate the situation here," Wang Ruyan suggested.

Wang Changsheng nodded. He and Wang Ruyan returned to the Profound Water Palace to meditate and recuperate.

An hour later, Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan emerged, their complexions rosy.

Wang Changsheng formed a hand seal, and the Profound Water Palace glowed with dazzling blue light, transforming into a blue token that vanished into his sleeve.

Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan ascended into the sky, transforming into a blue streak of light, flying towards the heavens and disappearing into the horizon.

After the Tianlan Sect unified the Tianlan Realm, the country was also unified. The entire realm now consisted of a single nation, the Tianlan Nation, comprising 365 prefectures and 34,372 commanderies. Each commandery had cultivators stationed there to ensure the normal functioning of the mortal kingdoms.

Ningyuan Commandery was located in the northwest of the Tianlan Nation, boasting an advantageous geographical location with numerous traveling merchants. Jinling City, the commandery seat of Ningyuan, saw a large volume of merchants entering and exiting daily.

In a secluded small courtyard with green tiles in the northwest corner of Jinling City, Huang Fugui, Wang Qiuming, and Wang Xin were discussing something.

After escaping from the Azure Glaze Sea, they had traveled extensively before arriving in Ningyuan Commandery.

Huang Fugui suggested they hide in mortal cities to evade the Tianlan Sect cultivators' pursuit. Wang Qiuming naturally had no objections. As for Wang Xin, Wang Changsheng's order to him was to protect Wang Qiuming, and he was strictly carrying out this command, protecting Wang Qiuming every step of the way, effectively like a high-level puppet.

"The latest news is that the high-ranking members of the Tianlan Sect have discovered cultivators from the Eastern Ocean Realm and are mobilizing forces to encircle and annihilate them. Let's be careful, don't wander around, and stay in our residence. At the first sign of trouble, we'll immediately use the teleportation array to leave," Huang Fugui solemnly advised. He believed in the concept of "great reclusion in the city" and had led the Wang family cultivators to hide in mortal cities. For many years, they had lived in peace. Huang Fugui had also not neglected his cultivation, setting up spirit-gathering arrays to cultivate. He had already advanced to the mid-Nascent Soul stage, thanks to the cultivation resources he had accumulated over the years.

He had formed his Nascent Soul almost two hundred years ago. Advancing from early-Nascent Soul to mid-Nascent Soul in over two hundred years was not a fast cultivation speed.

The cultivation techniques and divine abilities he practiced leaned towards evasion arts. With his mid-Nascent Soul cultivation and a flying magic treasure, even ordinary late-Nascent Soul cultivators would be unable to catch him.

"Fellow Daoist Huang, is this news reliable?" Wang Qiuming asked, frowning. This was not good news.

"Absolutely true. The Commandery Governor has begun a population clear-out in Ningyuan Commandery, overseen by Core Formation cultivators. Fortunately, I had foresight and prepared fake identities early, which should get us through. You just need to stay hidden," Huang Fugui said smugly. In recent years, the Tianlan Sect had continuously intensified its efforts to apprehend cultivators from the Eastern Ocean Realm, and it was said that many of them had been captured and executed.

While cultivating in a spirit vein location would certainly be convenient and easy, it would make them very easy for Tianlan Sect cultivators to find, as the Tianlan Sect had long since mapped out all spirit vein locations in the Tianlan Realm.

"Fellow Daoist Huang, is there any news about my grandfather and grandmother?" Wang Qiuming asked, frowning.

Huang Fugui shook his head directly and said, "No, don't worry! With their abilities, they should be fine." In his heart, he wasn't so sure. Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan staying behind to block the enemy meant a high chance of misfortune, but if it weren't for Wang Changsheng and the others buying time, they would have had no way to escape.

Wang Qiuming nodded, sighing, "I hope so! It would be great if we could reunite with them sooner."

"As long as the green hills remain, there will be wood to burn. As long as we are safe, we will have a chance to reunite with them," Huang Fugui said confidently. When it came to survival, he had a wealth of experience.

Southwestern Tianlan Realm, Qiyang Mountain Range.

In an open area, dozens of cultivators were engaged in a battle, continuous booming sounds filling the air. The ground was pockmarked, and over a dozen corpses lay scattered.

Tens of thousands of zhang high in the sky, Shangguan Tianhong stood on a golden cloud several zhang wide, his expression cold and indifferent.

A thousand zhang away in the void opposite him, Zhao Chi stood on a black cloud. His aura was weak, and his left arm was missing.

Zhao Chi was a Grand Elder of the Yin Corpse Sect, a Soul Transformation cultivator in the early stage.

When the Spirit-Severing Qi erupted in the Buried Immortal Sea, the Tianlan Sect lost contact with their sect members in the Eastern Ocean Realm. All cultivators sent to the Eastern Ocean Realm had gone and not returned. They had guessed the truth of the matter, allowing Shangguan Tianhong to free up his hands and calmly focus on encircling and annihilating the Eastern Ocean Realm cultivators.

Zhao Chi and Ancestor Qinghua led a team into the Tianlan Realm. Their team was the most well-preserved and strongest. Initially, they plundered a lot of wealth and killed many Tianlan Sect cultivators. However, after the Tianlan Sect freed up its forces to specifically deal with them, they suffered heavy losses.

"Your spirit ghosts and refined corpses have been destroyed by me. I'll give you one chance: surrender to our Tianlan Sect, and I can spare your life." Shangguan Tianhong's expression was cold, his face filled with killing intent.

"Heh heh, I may not be a righteous gentleman, but I also know that since ancient times, traitors have never had a good end. You want to kill me? I don't mind taking one down with me." Zhao Chi chuckled, his body rapidly expanding as he rushed straight towards Shangguan Tianhong, seemingly intending to self-detonate and harm his enemy.

"Obstinate and incorrigible, seeking death." Shangguan Tianhong's expression turned cold. He opened his mouth, and nine streaks of red light flew out. They were nine exquisite small red mirrors, each emitting a red light directly towards Zhao Chi.

Zhao Chi's body suddenly burst apart, transforming into a large cloud of black mist.

"Evasion art! Humph, comparing evasion arts with me? You're asking for death." Shangguan Tianhong's expression turned cold. A dazzling fiery light illuminated his back, revealing a pair of five-zhang-wide red feathered wings. The surface of the wings was filled with a large amount of crimson flames and a strong gust of wind.

The Heaven-Reaching Spirit Treasure, Wind-Fire Wings, took a hundred years to refine, using the wings of a late-Soul Transformation stage Wind-Fire Beast as the primary material. With this treasure, even late-Soul Transformation cultivators could not catch Shangguan Tianhong.

A fierce wind arose, and countless crimson fiery lights emerged from Shangguan Tianhong's body, enveloping the nine small red mirrors.

A moment later, the crimson fiery lights dissipated, and Shangguan Tianhong vanished.

Three hundred li away, a red light suddenly illuminated the void, and Shangguan Tianhong reappeared with the nine small red mirrors.

His eyes glowed with dazzling fiery light as he gazed into the void.

A mocking expression appeared at the corner of his mouth. He formed a hand seal, and each of the nine small red mirrors shot out a red light beam, striking a certain part of the void.