Chapter 1719: Consolidating Cultivation, Situation in the Qianhu World

Huang Fugui flew over, bowed, and said in a fawning tone, "Junior congratulates Senior Wang on reaching the Deity Transformation stage. I've always said that Senior's talent is extraordinary and that you would definitely reach the Deity Transformation stage. It seems I was right."

Wang Changsheng had already entered the Deity Transformation stage, a completely different person from before, and Huang Fugui dared not be disrespectful.

Wang Changsheng's gaze swept over Wang Ruyan and the others. He nodded contentedly and said, "You all can go do what you need to do! Wife, I have something to tell you."

Wang Qiuming and the others agreed in unison and went about their respective tasks.

Wang Ruyan flew over and landed beside Wang Changsheng, her face full of concern. She carefully examined Wang Changsheng's body and was surprised to find no injuries on his skin.

Wang Changsheng exhaled slowly and smiled, "The insights of our predecessors are indeed different from one's own personal experience. It was well worth cultivating my foundation with earthly fiend qi and forming my core with heavenly gang qi."

The key to transforming one's physical body into a 'sandalwood body' is to introduce some lightning energy to temper the flesh. Cultivators can withstand this process purely with their physical strength, or they can rely on their Natal Dharma Treasures or Natal Spirit Beasts. If a cultivator's physical body is not strong enough and cannot undergo this transformation, then spiritual artifacts are needed to assist.

The stronger the lightning energy used to temper the body, the easier the 'sandalwood body' transformation is. Wang Changsheng consumed a Green Moon Jade Divine Pill and, relying on his physical strength, withstood three lightning tribulations. His body successfully transformed, entering the next stage. According to the records of the Zhenhai Sect, many cultivators failed in their attempt to reach the Deity Transformation stage because their physical bodies could not undergo this transformation.

For the physical body to successfully transform, one either needs sufficient spiritual elixirs or a Natal Dharma Treasure capable of weakening the lightning tribulations, allowing the cultivator to introduce some lightning energy to temper their body.

Wang Changsheng's Natal Dharma Treasure, the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl, couldn't withstand the lightning tribulations and was nearly destroyed. It was by relying on his physical strength that he endured three lightning tribulations, coupled with a Green Moon Jade Divine Pill, that his body successfully transformed.

The spiritual items used to assist in breaking through to the Deity Transformation stage were exceedingly precious. If he hadn't killed True Monarch Lihuo, Wang Changsheng wouldn't have obtained three such items. He still had a Golden Moon Spirit Peach and a Green Moon Jade Divine Pill, which he could save for Wang Ruyan's breakthrough to the Deity Transformation stage.

He then meticulously recounted his experience and insights from breaking through to the Deity Transformation stage. This was his personal journey, more authentic than any written record.

"Husband, it was too risky for you to only take one Green Moon Jade Divine Pill."

Wang Ruyan's eyes were filled with tenderness. Wang Changsheng had endured the lightning tribulations with only one Green Moon Jade Divine Pill, undoubtedly to save the other two spiritual items for her.

"I was fully prepared," Wang Changsheng gently reassured her. "If my physical body couldn't withstand it, I would have used the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl. I never intended to stubbornly push through without a fallback."

Besides wanting to save the two spiritual items for Wang Ruyan, he also intended to use the lightning tribulations to temper his body and strengthen his physical power. His body had been continuously fortified by earthly fiend qi and heavenly gang qi. As Wang Changsheng had anticipated, he successfully withstood three lightning tribulations.

His divine sense could extend up to a thousand *li*. Within eight hundred *li*, his perception was relatively clear, but beyond that, it became quite blurry. According to the records of the Zhenhai Sect, the divine sense of a Deity Transformation cultivator could extend up to eight hundred *li*, two hundred *li* less than Wang Changsheng's. He wondered if this was related to his successful endurance of three lightning tribulations.

They were an old couple; some things didn't need to be said aloud; a single glance was enough for them to understand each other.

"Husband, you should first consolidate your realm and repair the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl. Then we can make other plans."

Wang Ruyan suggested.

Wang Changsheng also had this plan. He had many things to do: consolidate his realm, repair the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl, and then rendezvous with other cultivators from the Eastern Lihua Realm.

"I wonder how the family is doing," Wang Changsheng sighed. "It would be great if we could reunite with Senior Fu. Only by finding him do we have hope of returning to the Eastern Lihua Realm."

They had been in the Sky-Azure Realm for almost a century, unable to contact any cultivators from the Eastern Lihua Realm, and had no idea about the situation back home.

Wang Ruyan said, "With Qing Shan there, I believe he will protect the family well. As for Senior Fu, the Sky-Azure Realm is so vast, it won't be easy for us to find him. You should consolidate your cultivation first! Other matters can be handled gradually."

Wang Changsheng nodded, gave a few instructions, then sat cross-legged to meditate and adjust his breathing. Wang Ruyan guarded him, while the Wood Demon and Kirin Turtle watched nearby.

***

In the Thousand Gourd Realm, the Azure Dragon Sea Domain was located in its northeastern part, spanning tens of millions of *li* and containing tens of thousands of islands of varying sizes.

Golden Turtle Island, situated in a corner of the Azure Dragon Sea Domain, was an inconspicuous island spanning just over thirty *li*.

A family named Sun occupied this island. The total number of cultivators in the family was fewer than fifty, and Sun Youwang was the most highly cultivated among them, at the third layer of the Foundation Establishment stage.

Golden Turtle Peak was a forbidden area on Golden Turtle Island, and also where Sun Youwang's cave mansion was located. Ordinary members of the Sun family were not permitted to enter.

At the top of Golden Turtle Peak was a secluded manor. In the northwest corner of the manor stood a six-story azure pavilion, with the three golden characters "Golden Cloud Pavilion" inscribed on its plaque.

On the second floor, Sun Youwang was reporting something to a robust young man in a green robe.

"Master, the demonic cultivators' activities are becoming increasingly rampant. They've captured another three hundred and forty-five spirit cultivators, extracted their souls, refined their essences, and hung their corpses at the entrance of the market."

Sun Youwang spoke cautiously, his expression filled with dread.

The young man in green was his master, Li Tianya, who was at the early Nascent Soul stage.

Over a thousand years ago, a group of demonic cultivators opened a spatial通道 and arrived in the Thousand Gourd Realm. After centuries of war, the demonic cultivators successfully occupied the realm, planting Sky Demon Trees and transforming the environment of the Thousand Gourd Realm. All cultivators were forced to switch to cultivating demonic arts; those who refused were executed without mercy.

Cultivators who practiced demonic arts could also absorb spiritual energy, but for pure demonic beings, their cultivation required demonic qi.

Switching cultivation methods required a vast amount of time, and demonic arts were quite overbearing, easily affecting one's mind. If not handled carefully, one could suffer a qi deviation, becoming a puppet driven solely by slaughter until death.

Some cultivators from the Thousand Gourd Realm refused to practice demonic arts, continuing to cultivate the methods left by their predecessors. They called themselves 'spirit cultivators,' distinguishing themselves from 'demonic cultivators.' If demonic cultivators caught a spirit cultivator, they would extract their souls and refine their essences, leading to a grim fate.

The demonic cultivators' coercion of cultivators to switch to demonic arts was also for the sake of their own rule. Besides the cultivation system, the demonic cultivators also implemented high-pressure cultural measures, forcing all cultivators to learn "demonic script," which was supposedly the official language of the demonic race. Over a thousand years ago, the demonic cultivators claimed they weren't invading the Thousand Gourd Realm but liberating it.

After more than eight hundred years of rule, the demonic cultivators' power grew stronger, and they amassed a group of followers. However, cultivators from the Thousand Gourd Realm continued to resist. Unfortunately, these resistance forces were not strong and were scattered across various regions, making it difficult for them to connect with each other. Stepping outside, they risked encountering patrol envoys who would immediately execute them if they were identified as spirit cultivators.

"Is there any news about True Monarch Qianhu?"

Li Tianya asked, frowning. True Monarch Qianhu was considered the foremost figure in the Thousand Gourd Realm and the hope of its cultivators, but he had not appeared for a long time.

"No, the Azure Dragon Sea Domain is remote, and it's difficult for this disciple to inquire about True Monarch Qianhu's whereabouts."

Sun Youwang's face showed difficulty.