Chapter 1788: Guests Gathered

The Huangfu family had poured vast cultivation resources into nurturing ice-attributed spirit beasts, yet none could rival that particular demon beast.

"A Seven-star Ice Marrow Fruit! A Heaven-reaching Spirit Treasure!"

Wang Changsheng suddenly understood. It made perfect sense why the Huangfu family was so keen on acquiring the Icewind Flood Dragon.

The Seven-star Ice Marrow Fruit tree is located deep within the Fallen Immortal Ice Plain. The path there is fraught with powerful restrictions; a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator from the Huangfu family once perished beneath one. Every few centuries, these restrictions enter a weakened state.

According to Huangfu Xiong, the restrictions on the Fallen Immortal Ice Plain would enter their weakened period in a few years, which would be the optimal time to retrieve the treasure.

"If there's a Heaven-reaching Spirit Treasure, we can certainly make the trip," Wang Changsheng said. "As for how many Seven-star Ice Marrow Fruits you'll receive, that will depend on our total acquisition. Let's hope that demon beast hasn't advanced to the fifth rank yet!"

Wang Changsheng's tone was grave. Over a thousand years ago, that demon beast was already a peak fourth-rank creature. After so many years, it might very well have advanced to the fifth rank.

Before seeking the treasure, they would need to make extensive preparations.

"Naturally," Huangfu Xiong readily agreed. "We will follow Senior Wang's lead in everything!"

Huangfu Xiong repeatedly agreed. As long as Wang Changsheng agreed to search for the treasure, everything else was negotiable.

Huangfu Rui took out a white jade slip and respectfully handed it to Wang Changsheng with both hands. "Senior Wang," he said deferentially, "this details the conditions of the Fallen Immortal Ice Plain, the restrictions we might encounter, and a particularly dangerous area with a series of connected restrictions."

Wang Changsheng took the jade slip, scanned it with his divine sense, nodded, and put it away.

"Senior Wang," Huangfu Xiong sincerely stated, "our Huangfu family would like to propose a marriage alliance with your Wang family. We hope Senior Wang will grant us this favor."

Huangfu Xiong spoke sincerely, knowing the Wang family's development was currently booming and that a marriage alliance would greatly benefit the Huangfu family.

"Let's discuss this after we return from retrieving the treasure in the Fallen Immortal Ice Plain!" Wang Changsheng instructed. "You've had a long journey; go back and get some rest first!"

Wang Changsheng explained that more in-laws weren't necessarily better; a true friend was worth a hundred casual acquaintances. The Huangfu family only sought a marriage alliance after seeing the Wang family prosper, and such an alliance would likely be unreliable.

He wasn't entirely opposed, but he didn't want to agree too readily. Things obtained too easily are rarely cherished.

Huangfu Xiong and Huangfu Rui readily agreed, and Wang Mengfen then led them away.

"So they were after a Heaven-reaching Spirit Treasure," Wang Qingling mused, a thoughtful expression on her face. "No wonder they valued Little White so much."

"Even the Soul Transformation stage cultivators in the East Reaching Realm don't each possess a Heaven-reaching Spirit Treasure," Wang Ruyan said with a serious expression. "An additional Heaven-reaching Spirit Treasure can significantly enhance a family's strength and foundation."

Wang Ruyan's expression was serious. Only body cultivators could wield the Nine Flood Dragon Drum, and currently, only Wang Changsheng in their clan was capable of controlling this treasure.

Wang Changsheng nodded. "Regardless, a Heaven-reaching Spirit Treasure is worth the trip. However, before we go, we must make some preparations. As the saying goes, 'caution ensures safety for a long voyage.' The Fallen Immortal Ice Plain is, after all, one of the seven most perilous locations in the South Sea Cultivation World, so we must proceed with extreme caution."

"By the way, Qingling," Wang Changsheng asked, "is the Icewind Flood Dragon still a low-rank fourth-tier beast?"

"Yes," Wang Qingling replied, her eyes sparkling when she spoke of the Icewind Flood Dragon. "Flood dragons inherently find it difficult to advance. Little White especially loves ice-attributed elixirs and miraculous medicines, but our family can't acquire many, so its advancement isn't that fast. However, its lifespan is much longer than that of Nascent Soul cultivators, so advancing slowly is perfectly fine."

"Take good care of it," Wang Changsheng instructed, "We might need to use it when we retrieve the treasure in a few years. This is a Dragon Transformation Fruit; it can strengthen its bloodline power, which will be beneficial for its advancement." As he spoke, he took out a Dragon Transformation Fruit and handed it to Wang Qingling.

"A Dragon Transformation Fruit! This is wonderful!" Wang Qingling exclaimed excitedly. "With the core, we can try to plant a Dragon Transformation Fruit tree. If we succeed in cultivating one, it will be much easier for the family to raise flood dragons in the future!"

Wang Qingling said excitedly, recognizing that this was a benefit for future generations, akin to 'one generation planting the trees for another to enjoy the shade.'

After a brief chat, Wang Changsheng sent Wang Qingling back.

"Wife," Wang Changsheng said with a smile, "I plan to refine the Soul Nurturing Wood into a magic treasure. With both the Soul Nurturing Wood and the Soul-devouring Golden Cicada, our divine sense will grow increasingly powerful." A sufficiently powerful divine sense was required to cultivate the *True Scripture of Kui Water*. Furthermore, his and Wang Ruyan's combined divine sense could be used to attack enemies.

"Gather more materials," Wang Ruyan suggested, "and strive to refine it into a spirit treasure. The effect on enhancing divine sense would definitely be better."

Just then, Wang Mengfen quickly walked in, his expression grave.

"Ancestors," he reported, "Senior Meng from the Grand Unity Immortal Sect and Senior Gongsun from Myriad Beasts Island have arrived. They are outside now."

Meng Tianzheng and Gongsun Yang were old acquaintances of Wang Changsheng. Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan exchanged glances, then transformed into two streaks of light, shooting through the air and flying out of Qinglian Island.

Outside Qinglian Island, a hundred-zhang-long golden flood dragon hovered high in the sky. Gongsun Yang and over a hundred cultivators stood upon its back.

The golden flood dragon had a sparkling red horn on its head, and its body was covered in exquisite red patterns. Gongsun Yang and Jin Tianlong stood on its head.

A pale green flying boat hovered high in the sky, carrying Meng Tianzheng and over a hundred disciples from the Grand Unity Immortal Sect.

Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan stopped. They clasped their fists towards both groups and said, "Fellow Daoist Meng, Fellow Daoist Gongsun, your esteemed presence brings great honor to our Qinglian Island."

"Fellow Daoist Wang, Madam Wang, you are too kind," Meng Tianzheng replied. "We have been friends for many years. I am here on the orders of Patriarch Liu to attend the Qinglian Dharma Assembly and to present a few items as a small token of our sincerity, congratulating you on advancing to the Soul Transformation stage."

"Our Myriad Beasts Island has also prepared a congratulatory gift," Gongsun Yang said cordially. "Fellow Daoist Wang and Madam Wang will surely like it. This is Martial Uncle Jin; he wishes to exchange insights on flood dragon cultivation with Fairy Bailing."

"Both of you are too kind," Wang Changsheng replied, gesturing them inside. "Please come in. I will immediately contact Qingling and have her learn from Fellow Daoist Jin."

Wang Mengfen was responsible for arranging accommodation for the disciples from Myriad Beasts Island and the Grand Unity Immortal Sect. Meanwhile, Meng Tianzheng, Gongsun Yang, and Jin Tianlong followed Wang Changsheng and his wife to Qinglian Peak.

Wang Qingling arrived shortly after. Jin Tianlong left with her, and the two of them exchanged knowledge on flood dragon cultivation, while the four Soul Transformation cultivators, including Wang Changsheng, chatted idly.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, Madam Wang," Gongsun Yang said, "these are some tokens of our sincerity from Myriad Beasts Island, to congratulate you on advancing to the Soul Transformation stage."

Gongsun Yang took out a golden jade box, a green porcelain bottle, and two blue jade boxes. The golden jade box contained two pale golden demon cores, and each of the two blue jade boxes held a piece of seven-colored coral.

"These are the inner cores of two fourth-tier Soul-devouring Golden Cicadas," Gongsun Yang explained politely, "along with a bottle of Beast Spirit Pills and two sections of two-thousand-year-old seven-colored coral. It's a humble token of our respect." Gongsun Yang said politely, knowing that Wang Changsheng had long desired to help his Soul-devouring Golden Cicada advance to the fourth tier. With the inner cores of fourth-tier Soul-devouring Golden Cicadas and a bottle of Beast Spirit Pills, if Wang Changsheng's cicada still couldn't advance, it wouldn't be worth continuing to cultivate it.

The seven-colored coral was an excellent material for refining artifacts, more than sufficient for use as the primary material for a spirit treasure.