Chapter 1800: Absolute Spirit Energy Disperses, War Begins

The Immortal Graveyard Sea, Dongli Island.

In a secluded valley, there was a vast estate with pavilions, towers, gardens, and waterside gazebos.

Baili E stood inside a blue stone pavilion, with Baili Yunying excitedly standing beside him.

"Yunlong has advanced to the Spirit Transformation Stage. Excellent, excellent, excellent!" Baili E smiled, repeating "excellent" three times.

The Baili family maintained a low profile, and Baili Yunlong rarely appeared in public. He was a key cultivation target for the Baili family and also a spiritual physique holder.

"Indeed! This makes our Baili family the sixth power in the Dongli Realm to simultaneously have two Spirit Transformation cultivators," Baili Yunying said excitedly. Over ten years ago, Song Xiruo of Three Flames Palace had already advanced to the Spirit Transformation Stage, giving Three Flames Palace two Spirit Transformation cultivators. Taiyi Immortal Sect, Wang family of Qinglian Island, Three Flames Palace, Myriad Beasts Island, the Baili family, and the Eastern Barren Monster Race all had two Spirit Transformation cultivators. Three of these powers originated from the South Sea cultivation world, demonstrating the richness of its cultivation resources.

Baili E shook his head and said, "The sixth? It's more like the seventh. The Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple in the Western Desert is full of hidden masters; those monks simply don't venture out much, so few people know about its true strength."

Just then, a transmission talisman flew in, landing before him.

Baili E flicked his finger, and a red light shot out, striking the talisman. A respectful male voice suddenly sounded: "Senior Baili, Ancestor Sun requests your presence in the deliberation hall. It's said there's an important matter to discuss."

"Important matter? Could it be that the spirit-nullifying qi in the Immortal Graveyard Sea has dissipated?" A bold conjecture arose in Baili E's mind. Realizing something, he instructed Baili Yunying, "Stay here; I'll be right back."

He hastily left his residence and arrived at the deliberation hall.

Sun Tianhu and Liu Ruyi were speaking. Seeing them both there, Baili E's heart sank, sensing trouble.

"Fellow Daoist Sun, Immortal Liu, what major incident has occurred?" Baili E asked, frowning.

"The spirit-nullifying qi in the Immortal Graveyard Sea is gradually dissipating. It won't be long before it completely disappears, and the Skywave Sect might make a comeback." Sun Tianhu's expression was grave. The spirit-nullifying qi had appeared suddenly, but based on observations from previous years, it would take some time for it to dissipate. They had already laid out numerous restrictions in the outer regions of the Immortal Graveyard Sea. However, if the Skywave Sect were to send over a dozen Spirit Transformation cultivators and deploy several Heaven-reaching spiritual treasures, these restrictions would not be enough to stop them.

"What's the quickest estimate? And the slowest?" Baili E asked, frowning.

"At the fastest, three days; at the slowest, one month. We've already sent people to notify Fellow Daoist Lu and the others. We must hold off the Skywave Sect cultivators before their arrival," Sun Tianhu said, frowning. Their current task was to hold back the Skywave Sect cultivators and await reinforcements.

Baili E suddenly recalled something and asked, "Have you sent anyone to notify the Azure Lotus Immortal Couple?" The Azure Lotus Immortal Couple possessed Heaven-reaching spiritual treasures and had mastered combined attack techniques. If they came to assist, the pressure on them would be significantly reduced.

"As soon as we received the news, we immediately dispatched someone to Qinglian Island to deliver the message. Even if they come to assist, they won't reach here within a month. The Five Dragons Sea and the Immortal Graveyard Sea are hundreds of millions of li apart!" Sun Tianhu's tone was heavy.

"With the three of us working together, we don't fear them. Coupled with the grand formation, we should be able to stop them," Liu Ruyi said with full confidence.

The Five Dragons Sea, Qinglian Island.

In the deliberation hall, over thirty clan elders were gathered, their faces beaming with broad smiles.

A moment later, Wang Mengfen walked in.

The many clan elders rose in unison and said, "Greetings, Family Head."

Wang Mengfen nodded, took his seat at the head of the table, and instructed, "Everyone is here. Let's begin the reports!"

"Reporting, Family Head, our entire clan currently has 17,574 cultivators. Eighty percent operate in the South Sea, with 10,000 cultivators in the Five Dragons Sea alone. Within the clan, we have two Spirit Transformation cultivators, fourteen Nascent Soul cultivators, one hundred and twenty Core Formation cultivators, and three thousand two hundred and thirty-five Foundation Establishment cultivators." The term "Wang family cultivators" and "Wang family members" are two different concepts. The former refers to all cultivators the Wang family can deploy, while the latter refers to direct descendants of the Wang family, who possess a stronger sense of belonging to the clan. Wang Yinghao had advanced to the Nascent Soul Stage. As a descendant of Wang Qingjing, he became the clan's fourteenth Nascent Soul cultivator. Of the one hundred and twenty Core Formation cultivators, eighty percent were direct descendants of the Wang family, and twenty percent were cultivators of other surnames who had joined the Wang family for various reasons, pledging their loyalty. After the Wang family became one of the Ten Great Cultivation Families of the South Sea, they raised their entry requirements. To join the Wang family, one must possess a special skill or have made significant contributions.

"Reporting, Family Head, our family currently owns 220 shops, operates seven markets, and seven trade caravans. Our most profitable business is the puppet store, while the bookstore barely avoids operating at a loss." With two Spirit Transformation cultivators in the family, various powers showed deference. The Wang family collaborated with multiple powers to establish markets, and the annual rent alone amounted to a considerable sum. Puppet beasts were the Wang family's best-selling products and their most profitable business.

"Reporting, Family Head, our family currently possesses 1,425 islands. Four of these islands have fourth-order spirit veins, and 135 have third-order spirit veins..."

Clang! Clang! Clang!

A series of heavy bells rang out, resounding throughout Qinglian Island, and alarms blared loudly.

"This is bad, something has happened! Meeting adjourned! Quickly, let's go out and see what's wrong." Wang Mengfen's heart jolted, and he was the first to fly out of the deliberation hall.

He flew out of Qinglian Island and saw over a dozen massive blue whales floating on the sea surface. Jiao Mingzhu stood on the head of one of the blue whales.

Jiao Mingzhu exuded an aura as vast as the sea, having clearly advanced to the Spirit Transformation Stage. She was the Saintess of the Sea Race, who had once led a team to hunt down Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan.

Jiao Mingzhu's appearance near Qinglian Island with over a dozen fourth-order demonic beasts immediately startled the patrolling disciples.

"Junior Wang Mengfen greets Senior Jiao. What brings Senior here?" Wang Mengfen bowed respectfully and asked with a frown.

"I bear no ill will. Fellow Daoist Sun from Myriad Beasts Island sent someone to transmit a message to the Azure Lotus Immortal Couple, and I came personally to deliver the news." Jiao Mingzhu's tone was calm. She had received news that the spirit-nullifying qi in the Immortal Graveyard Sea was dissipating. She came personally to inform the Wang family, partly to resolve past grievances with them and partly to inform Wang Changsheng about the qi's dissipation.

"Immortal Jiao gracing Qinglian Island with your presence is an utmost honor for us." Wang Changsheng's voice suddenly rang out.

As his voice faded, a long blue rainbow shot out from Qinglian Peak, flashing once before landing beside Wang Mengfen. The escaping light receded, revealing the figures of Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan.

Wang Changsheng's aura was significantly stronger than before. He had cultivated in seclusion for over fifty years, making considerable progress in his cultivation, though he was still far from the mid-Spirit Transformation Stage.