Chapter 1730: Finding the Twin-Pupil Rat

Shen Tianle had cultivated for over four hundred years and successfully reached the early Nascent Soul stage. He was currently stationed at the entrance to the Devil Burial Icefield, accompanied by five Core Formation cultivators and over twenty Foundation Establishment cultivators.

The Tianlan Sect's primary objective was to apprehend cultivators from the Dongli Realm, which had significantly weakened defensive forces in various locations.

A rapid pipa melody suddenly rang out, and the house Shen Tianle was in instantly exploded. From the void, countless blue mists surged forth, transforming into fist-thick blue ropes that shot directly towards Shen Tianle.

Shen Tianle tried to evade, but a stirring zither melody rang out, making his head feel heavy and dizzy. By the time he regained his senses, dozens of blue ropes had already bound his body. An unbearable pressure assailed him from all directions, as if to crush him.

A group of cultivators flew towards him, led by a tall, blue-clad young man. A young woman with exquisite features, dressed in a blue skirt, stood beside him, while a pockmarked man in a yellow robe stood behind them.

"The Azure Lotus Immortals! Huang Fugui!" Shen Tianle exclaimed. Their portraits were widely circulated, and he recognized them instantly.

The Tianlan Sect had been actively searching for them everywhere, so Shen Tianle was surprised they were hiding in the Devil Burial Icefield. As he knew, the Devil Burial Icefield was home to fifth-tier demonic beasts, which was precisely why Tianlan Sect cultivators hadn't ventured in to search for Dongli Realm cultivators.

"Since you've recognized us, there's no need for me to waste words. Choose, do you want to die or live?" Wang Changsheng said coldly. He could have directly searched Shen Tianle's soul, but he preferred to subdue a few Tianlan Sect cultivators, as they might prove useful.

"What do you wish to know, Senior? This junior will tell you everything. Please, I beg you to spare my life. I have never participated in apprehending any Dongli Realm cultivators." Shen Tianle was sensible; his aptitude was not good, as he had only formed his Nascent Soul close to five hundred years of age, and he certainly didn't want to die.

"Tell me your name, your lineage, your Dao companion, and the situation of the Dongli Realm cultivators," Wang Changsheng asked in a deep voice. "And also the war. We've been hiding in the Devil Burial Icefield for decades, cut off from information."

Shen Tianle answered truthfully, knowing that the other party would search his soul and that he couldn't hide anything.

"What? Spirit-nullifying energy erupted in the Immortal Burial Sea?" Wang Changsheng was overjoyed. This was the best news he had heard, and it explained why Tianlan Sect cultivators were apprehending Dongli Realm cultivators everywhere – it was due to the outbreak of spirit-nullifying energy in the Immortal Burial Sea.

"Cooperate honestly, and the soul search won't be too painful," Wang Changsheng commanded with a cold tone.

Shen Tianle agreed repeatedly, actively cooperating with Wang Changsheng's soul search.

Wang Qiuming and the other four performed soul searches on the remaining Tianlan Sect cultivators, ensuring they wouldn't dare to lie.

"You participated in the first opening of the spatial channel! You understand array formations!" Wang Changsheng's eyes narrowed, and an expression of interest appeared on his face. During his soul search, he found that Shen Tianle hadn't lied. What truly surprised Wang Changsheng was learning that Shen Tianle had been involved in the array formation for the Tianlan Sect's initial attempt to open a spatial channel.

After unifying the Tianlan Realm, the Tianlan Sect attempted to open spatial channels three times. The first channel, though briefly opened, quickly closed and was sealed off. The second channel's entrance was in the Immortal Fall Cave of the Central Plains Dynasty in the Dongli Realm, where Dongli Realm cultivators had set an ambush, causing the Tianlan Sect heavy losses. The third spatial channel, whose entrance was in the Devil Burial Icefield, was successful. Had it not been for the outbreak of spirit-nullifying energy, the Tianlan Realm would likely have conquered the Dongli Realm.

If Wang Changsheng wished to return to the Dongli Realm, he would either need a heaven-reaching spiritual treasure capable of opening spatial channels or he would have to rendezvous with Fu Wen.

"This junior knows a little and participated in opening the spatial channel," Shen Tianle said cautiously, fearing Wang Changsheng might kill him. "However, the spatial channel quickly closed, presumably blocked by high-level cultivators from other realms."

"Grandfather, good news!" Wang Qiuming walked over, saying with some excitement. "A fourth-tier demonic rat suddenly appeared, broke into multiple spiritual medicine gardens, and devoured all the spiritual medicine!"

When Wang Changsheng had been escaping, his Twin-Pupil Rat had lost contact with him and its whereabouts had been unknown.

The Tianlan Sect had unified the Tianlan Realm for over six hundred years, and fourth-tier demonic beasts were extremely rare, let alone a fourth-tier demonic rat. It was highly probable that this was Wang Changsheng's own Twin-Pupil Rat.

"Where?" Wang Changsheng pressed. If he could find his Twin-Pupil Rat, he might be able to locate Fu Wen thanks to its sensitive sense of smell.

"It was last sighted at a branch sect five million li from here," Wang Qiuming replied truthfully.

"Let's go, we'll find the Twin-Pupil Rat first," Wang Changsheng said. "Comply and prosper, resist and perish; you choose for yourselves." He then placed a restriction on Shen Tianle and killed all the other Tianlan Sect cultivators, as taking them along would be inconvenient.

The group flew northwest and soon vanished into the horizon.

In an underground cave, a massive yellow rat lay in a corner, its body covered in blood, its aura weak. Two terrifying bloodstains marred its back, faintly revealing white bones—it was Wang Changsheng's Twin-Pupil Rat.

That day, it had dived into the seabed and kept fleeing. Due to the significant distance from Wang Changsheng, the Twin-Pupil Rat couldn't find him and had been wandering aimlessly.

The Tianlan Sect's widespread apprehension of Dongli Realm cultivators had weakened the defenses of spiritual medicine gardens across the land. The Twin-Pupil Rat, which had originally transformed into a spiritual rat after secretly consuming spiritual herbs planted by Wang Changsheng, set its sights on these less guarded gardens.

It broke into the less defended spiritual medicine gardens and feasted heartily. As it ate its way through, it detected Wang Xin's aura, but quickly lost track of it again.

In this manner, the Twin-Pupil Rat had wandered around for years, secretly consuming spiritual medicines from the Tianlan Sect's gardens. With its tough hide, mastery of earth-burrowing techniques, and incredible speed, it had escaped danger multiple times. After devouring a vast amount of spiritual medicine, it successfully advanced to the mid-grade of the fourth tier.

It had devoured as many as five thousand-year spiritual medicines, not to mention countless others over five hundred years old. Many Tianlan Sect cultivators, mostly at the Foundation Establishment stage, had also perished by its hand, though none were Nascent Soul cultivators.

Not long ago, it had secretly consumed a thousand-year spiritual medicine and was severely injured by three Nascent Soul cultivators, yet it still managed to escape.

"Squeak!" The Twin-Pupil Rat let out a painful cry. It deeply missed the days when it served as Wang Changsheng's spirit beast, when no one dared to harm it.

*Boom!* A deafening roar echoed, and the cave began to collapse. Startled, the Twin-Pupil Rat's body erupted with dazzling yellow light as it burrowed towards the ground.

Just then, countless green weeds and vines suddenly sprouted from the ground. The green vines swiftly entangled the Twin-Pupil Rat's body, hoisting it into mid-air.

The Twin-Pupil Rat let out a flurry of "squeaking" noises, having never endured such humiliation.

A burly young man in a green robe descended from the sky, holding a green magic plate with a cold expression.

"You beast, how dare you steal and devour the spiritual medicine I painstakingly cultivated? Pay with your life!" the green-robed youth said coldly, his face full of murderous intent.

Fear flickered in the Twin-Pupil Rat's eyes, and its massive body struggled violently. The green vines tightened further, causing a large amount of blood to flow.

"You dare to injure my spirit beast? Pay with your life!" A cold male voice suddenly resounded.

Above the green-robed youth's head, countless blue light points suddenly appeared, instantly forming a blue hand over a hundred zhang large that swiftly slapped down.

With a painful shriek, the green-robed youth was flattened into a pulp. A miniature Nascent Soul flew out from the mangled remains, and just as it ascended into the sky, a giant red-glowing pagoda descended, engulfing the miniature Nascent Soul and drawing it inside.

A hazy blue sound wave descended from above, severing the green vines, and the Twin-Pupil Rat fell to the ground.

A white flying boat descended from the sky, with Wang Changsheng and his companions standing within it.

Upon seeing Wang Changsheng, the Twin-Pupil Rat's body quickly shrank. It kicked its legs, leaped up, landed on Wang Changsheng's trouser leg, and then scrambled onto his shoulder.

The Twin-Pupil Rat let out a series of sharp "squeaks," seemingly pouring out its grievances to Wang Changsheng.

"Alright, you've suffered these years," Wang Changsheng chuckled softly. "You actually dared to steal spiritual medicine from the Tianlan Sect's gardens and even advanced to the mid-grade of the fourth tier." The fondness in his voice was unmistakable.