Chapter 1748: Five-Step Alchemist Baili E

In a secluded blue-tiled courtyard within Jinyan City, Murong Yuyao sat on a stone stool, her face filled with shock. A refined-looking middle-aged man stood respectfully beside her.

"True Monarch Taihao has actually advanced to the Spirit Transformation stage? Is this news true?" Murong Yuyao's expression was one of disbelief. After returning to the Great Yan Dynasty, she had been hiding in Jinyan City, gathering a group of her clansmen. The activities of the Tianlan Sect cultivators were too widespread; many forces had been attacked. Without a Spirit Transformation cultivator in residence, nowhere was safe. She dared not return to the Murong royal family's ancestral home, fearing she would be used as a sacrifice by the Tianlan Sect cultivators. Her clansmen had suddenly informed her that Wang Changsheng had advanced to the Spirit Transformation stage, and this news was truly shocking.

"It's currently unconfirmed. The latest news is that True Monarch Taihao has returned to Qinglian Island in the South Sea. Your nephew believes the news is likely true. If it were false, why would they not claim it was Senior Song from Three Flame Palace or Senior Han from the Eastern Wilderness?" the middle-aged man analyzed carefully.

Murong Yuyao pondered for a moment, then said, "I must make a trip to the South Sea. If True Monarch Taihao has indeed advanced to the Spirit Transformation stage, that matter can be moved forward." If Wang Changsheng advanced to the Spirit Transformation stage, she intended to offer up a Heavenly-grade secret realm in exchange for benefits. The Murong family desperately needed experts; currently, there was only one Nascent Soul cultivator in their clan.

The Great Yan Dynasty also had Spirit Transformation cultivators, but the Heavenly-grade secret realm was in the South Sea. If the news leaked, Zhou Xingguo might not be able to monopolize that secret realm. More importantly, the Wang family's foundation was shallow, making a Heavenly-grade secret realm an invaluable treasure to them—a much-needed gift. For Zhou Xingguo, it would merely be an added bonus. The Wang family's rise was unstoppable; providing assistance when it was truly needed was better than adding to what was already plentiful. The Murong royal family possessed only one Nascent Soul cultivator, and most of their territory had been seized by other royal families, even by the imperial family itself. Murong Yuyao detested the Great Yan imperial family from the bottom of her heart.

She took out a pale golden jade box, which was secured by a small silver lock. "Keep this safe. If something happens to me, open this jade box. From now on, find a place to hide immediately and don't contact anyone." Murong Yuyao instructed, worried that the Wang family might silence them, so she had to take precautions.

"Yes, Aunt," the middle-aged man agreed without hesitation.

Murong Yuyao gave a few more instructions, then left her residence.

In the Eastern Wilderness, on Qingmang Mountain, Cheng Xiaotian and Feng Li stood above, their brows furrowed.

"What's going on, Fellow Daoist Cheng? Is Fellow Daoist Hua recuperating?" Feng Li frowned and said. Had Cheng Zhanxian not found her, claiming that Old Ancestor Qinghua knew secrets about ascending to the Spirit Realm, she would not have rushed to the Eastern Wilderness so quickly.

Cheng Zhanxian's face was full of confusion; he had sent five sound transmission talismans in a row, but received no response. "Perhaps Senior Sister Hua is cultivating to heal her injuries and is not convenient to meet right now. Let's come back later!" Cheng Zhanxian apologized profusely.

Feng Li's expression softened, and she nodded in agreement. The two then departed.

In a hidden underground cave, a massive blue python lay on the ground. Its abdomen was bloated, and its body was enveloped in a layer of blue mist—it was Old Ancestor Qinghua. There were many empty wooden and jade boxes on the ground. Numerous intricate runes were carved into the stone walls, emitting faint restrictive fluctuations. She knew nothing about secrets related to ascending to the Spirit Realm; that was merely an excuse to send Cheng Zhanxian away.

Old Ancestor Qinghua knew very well that if Cheng Zhanxian learned of her true condition, he might kill her and seize her treasures. She had preemptively taken her accumulated wealth of a thousand years and found a place to hide. She possessed dozens of Fourth-tier demonic cores and dozens of millennium spiritual herbs. In less than two hundred years, she would be able to advance to the Fifth-tier. However, transforming back into human form would not be as easy.

"Once I cultivate to the Fifth-tier, I must go to the South Sea to find Old Devil Baili and ask him to help refine a Human Transformation Pill," the blue python spoke in human language. Some demonic beasts had mixed bloodlines, preventing them from transforming even at the Fifth-tier. A Human Transformation Pill could increase the chances of transformation. The Human Transformation Pill was a Fifth-tier medicinal pill, with a four-thousand-year-old Spirit Transformation Ginseng as its main ingredient, along with hundreds of auxiliary herbs. Its refinement difficulty was very high. She possessed a four-thousand-year-old Spirit Transformation Ginseng, and she had also collected dozens of auxiliary herbs for the Human Transformation Pill. She had originally intended to leave them for her descendants, but now found herself needing them.

In the South Sea, on Dongli Island, Liu Ruyi and six other Spirit Transformation cultivators were discussing something in the council hall. Sun Tianhu sat in the main seat, his face full of shock. He was not shocked that Wang Changsheng had advanced to the Spirit Transformation stage, but that Wang Changsheng had destroyed the physical bodies of two Spirit Transformation cultivators.

"Fellow Daoist Wang and his companions have rendered great service. Of course, the Twin Saints of Sun and Moon also contributed significantly. We should reward them based on their merits. I hear Fellow Daoist Liu from Taiyi Immortal Sect intends to offer the lands of five nations for the Wang family's development; we in the South Sea shouldn't be too stingy," Liu Ruyi said in a deep voice. She had changed "the lands of three nations" to "the lands of five nations," and the additional two nations' worth of land was the benefit she was seeking for Wang Changsheng. The new Twin Saints of Sun and Moon had grown and cultivated to the late Nascent Soul stage. With the transition from old to new, the Sun and Moon Palace could continue its legacy. The old Twin Saints of Sun and Moon had contributed significantly, so other forces would not be too excessive.

"First, give him six hundred islands. After we repel the Tianlan Sect cultivators' invasion, we can consider the division of territories. We can also give them four spiritual treasures and a batch of cultivation resources. Immortal Liu, did Fellow Daoist Wang mention any specific resources he needs?" Sun Tianhu suggested. The barbarian territories had already been divided among them, so they couldn't give too much land to the Wang family. Dividing territories now could easily cause internal strife.

Liu Ruyi took out a blue jade slip and handed it to Sun Tianhu.

"Ten-thousand-year Profound Jade, Wutu Divine Crystal, Taiyin Divine Crystal? These materials are too rare. Even if I wanted to give them, I don't have them. I can only give him a portion." Sun Tianhu frowned and said. He looked at a ruddy-faced old man in red robes and spoke kindly, "Fellow Daoist Baili, please make a trip with Immortal Liu to deliver the rewards to Qinglian Island. On my behalf, congratulate Fellow Daoist Wang on his advancement to the Spirit Transformation stage."

The red-robed old man had a high nose, large eyes, and a goatee, giving him a benevolent appearance. Baili E, at the early Spirit Transformation stage, was one of the few Fifth-tier alchemists in the Dongli Realm. He was much younger than Sun Tianhu and possessed great potential; given his alchemy prowess, advancing to the middle Spirit Transformation stage was only a matter of time. He had been in secluded cultivation and only recently emerged. The Baili family specialized in alchemy. In the entire Dongli Realm, no other force could surpass the Baili family in terms of the number of alchemists.

"Very well, I also wish to meet Fellow Daoist Wang," Baili E readily agreed, his voice clear and resonant. He was very curious about the Qinglian Immortal Couple and saw this as a perfect opportunity to meet Wang Changsheng.