Chapter 1739: One Move

Wang Changsheng was too preoccupied with his own problems to worry about Elder Qinghua’s fate. He realized that Shangguan Tianhong’s primary interest was the refining method of the Darkmoon Pearl, and Shangguan Tianhong would undoubtedly want to master it. From Shangguan Tianhong’s perspective, if Wang Changsheng were in his place, he would undoubtedly kill or imprison the other party until he had mastered the Darkmoon Pearl's refining method.

Wang Changsheng flipped his hand, and two Darkmoon Pearls appeared in his palm.

Shangguan Tianhong’s pupils constricted, his eyes betraying apprehension. After a brief pause, he stated, “I can allow you to leave, and this old serpent can be returned to you. Give me one pearl, along with the refining method. If you refuse, there's nothing more to discuss. I'm eager to see what abilities you possess.”

He narrowed his eyes and looked into the distance. Some things were better left unsaid. Shangguan Tianhong had already ascertained that Wang Changsheng hailed from a cultivation family and had brought his clan members to the Heavenly Azure Realm. Should Wang Changsheng outright refuse, Shangguan Tianhong would immediately attack and eliminate his kin. Such words could not be uttered, as they would only infuriate Wang Changsheng, leaving both parties in an unresolvable standoff.

Upon seeing Shangguan Tianhong glance towards Fu Wen and the others, Wang Changsheng instantly grasped his intent. Shangguan Tianhong possessed a flying Heaven-piercing Spiritual Treasure, and if he chose to eliminate Wang Qiuming and the others, Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan would be powerless to stop him. His clan members were Wang Changsheng’s weakness, and his grandson, Wang Qiuming, was also among them.

“I can give you a Darkmoon Pearl, but first, my kin must be allowed to leave. If you refuse, then we fight. At most, it will be a mutual destruction.” Wang Changsheng sneered, confident that with the Darkmoon Pearl and Profound Water Palace, he could still make a clean escape.

“Very well,” Shangguan Tianhong replied, “However, I wish to spar with you. If you can withstand one of my attacks, I will allow them to depart. I, Shangguan Tianhong, am a man of my word. I will return this old serpent to you first, as a gesture of sincerity. In exchange, you must return Junior Sister Zhao’s Nascent Soul to me.”

Shangguan Tianhong formed a hand seal, and the golden glow covering the azure python disappeared. The azure python transformed into a streak of azure light and flew towards Wang Changsheng.

Wang Changsheng summoned the Blazing Sun God Pagoda, taking in the injured Elder Qinghua. He cast a spell, and Zhao Hongxue’s Nascent Soul flew out, heading straight for Shangguan Tianhong.

“Senior Brother Shangguan,” Zhao Hongxue’s Nascent Soul warned, her expression panicked, “he has been to the Demonic Burial Icefield and refined numerous Azurefrost Snow Crystals, along with artifacts forged from Darkmoon Water.”

Shangguan Tianhong nodded, flicked his sleeve, and collected Zhao Hongxue’s Nascent Soul.

“Fellow Daoist Fu,” Wang Changsheng declared, his face resolute, “immediately open the spatial passage and lead Changming and the others away. We will cover your retreat.” He added that if Shangguan Tianhong dared to harm Wang Qiuming and the others, Wang Changsheng would immediately flee, vowing to exclusively hunt down and kill low-level cultivators of the Heavenly Azure Sect in a blood-for-blood retribution.

Upon hearing this, Fu Wen no longer hesitated. He took out a Qiankun Light Boundary-Breaking Talisman and threw it towards the void. With a muffled ‘whoosh,’ the Qiankun Light Boundary-Breaking Talisman shattered, emitting a blinding white light. Ripples spread across the void. He then wielded the Myriad People Brush; a flash of white light ensued, and a sharp white rainbow struck the illuminated void. The void violently twisted and tore open, revealing a white portal from which a fierce gale of spiritual energy erupted.

“Young Friend Wang, hurry and leave, don’t dally,” Fu Wen instructed, his tone heavy.

Wang Qiuming also understood the gravity of the situation. He knew he couldn't be of much help by staying; as long as the green mountains endure, there will always be firewood.

“Yinghao, Jiyun, let’s retreat first.” Wang Qiuming summoned a pale golden orb, which released a sheet of golden light that enveloped everyone as they flew towards the white light portal.

On the other side, Shangguan Tianhong also made his move. He summoned nine shimmering red mirrors. With a hand seal, the nine red mirrors instantly glowed brightly, their surfaces revealing countless red runes, emanating an overwhelming spiritual aura.

“A set of spiritual treasures!”

Wang Changsheng’s expression grew serious. He and Wang Ruyan both emitted intense blue light from their bodies, and a spherical blue light barrier materialized out of thin air – the Water Moon Profound Light.

Rumble!

Accompanied by a colossal roar, the nine red mirrors shot out thousands of slender red fire lights. Thousands of red fire lights streaked across the sky, striking towards Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan. This attack, though seemingly similar to the Meteor Fire Rain spell, differed vastly in power; it was a full-force strike from a set of spiritual treasures.

The red fire lights blurred and then rapidly expanded, forming a dense barrage of red fire that hurtled directly towards Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan. The very void seemed to buckle under the intense heat, twisting and deforming, while the ground’s weeds spontaneously combusted, creating an overwhelming spectacle.

Wang Changsheng summoned eighteen Sea-Calming Pearls. With a hand seal, countless waves of seawater surged forth, and a vast ocean quickly appeared around him. The ocean rapidly spun, forming a blue tornado tens of thousands of feet in diameter. The blue tornado spun rapidly, emitting a deafening roar. The ground tore open, revealing thick, long cracks. Countless weeds were uprooted and swept into the blue tornado.

The dense red fire lights vanished into the blue tornado, as if swallowed by the sea, leaving no trace. Soon, a large portion of the red fire lights converged, transforming into a colossal, crimson blade that, with destructive force, cleaved towards the blue tornado.

Rumble!

With an earth-shattering roar, the blue tornado was sliced in half by the colossal blade, erupting in a powerful air wave. The ground shattered, yellow dust filled the sky, smoke billowed, and several low earthen mounds exploded.

The colossal blade struck the Water Moon Profound Light, causing an immediate indentation. However, the Water Moon Profound Light quickly restored its form after emitting a blinding blue glow. The colossal blade recoiled, and three faint red flying needles shot out from within it, impacting the Water Moon Profound Light.

With several ‘thwack’ sounds, the three red flying needles pierced through the Water Moon Profound Light and flew straight towards Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan’s foreheads. A set of spiritual treasures, and flying needle artifacts at that. Shangguan Tianhong clearly intended to kill Wang Changsheng; the sparring was merely an excuse.

Wang Changsheng’s expression remained calm. Countless streams of blue cold air surged from his body, slowing the three red flying needles. However, at that very moment, the needles erupted in blinding red light, their surfaces wreathed in a vast expanse of crimson flames. Their speed surged, and they instantly appeared before Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan, merely two inches from their foreheads.

At that precise moment, a sudden gale erupted around Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan, and a shimmering barrier materialized before them: the Wall of Divine Sense. This was the manifestation of their divine consciousness! Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan’s divine consciousness and magic power could both be superimposed. They had each consumed True Soul Fruits and possessed Soul-Devouring Golden Cicadas that replenished their divine consciousness, allowing their combined divine consciousness to reach the mid-stage of the Spirit Transformation realm.

The three red flying needles struck the Wall of Divine Sense and immediately flew backward.