Chapter 1839: Searching for Cultivation Resources

"It seems there are indeed spatial nodes leading to other realms here, though we don't know their exact location."Wang Ruyan gazed at the topographic map, a thoughtful expression on her face.

"Since we have a map, let's follow it and leave this place first! We've gained a lot; there's no need to stay here any longer."Wang Changsheng's tone was heavy.

They carefully searched the ice cave but found nothing else before exiting. Thanks to the map left by the Sword Lord of Four Seasons, they encountered no restrictions. They did, however, come across some demonic beasts. Wang Changsheng captured all those with significant potential, while beasts with mixed bloodlines were directly killed. The demonic beast corpses were divided among Huang Fugui, Ye Haitang, and Wang Yingjie.

Less than half a month later, they departed the Icy Snowfield.

"We finally made it out!"Huang Fugui let out a long sigh of relief, a look of lingering fear on his face.

Wang Changsheng looked towards the distant horizon, his expression serious. "Someone's emerged. It appears to be Fellow Daoist Shangguan."No sooner had he spoken than a red streak of light flew out from the depths of the Icy Snowfield. Before long, it stopped, revealing Shangguan Tianhong. His face was pale, his Daoist robe stained with numerous brown bloodstains, and his hair was disheveled. He looked rather wretched.

Without a map, he had been forced to wander aimlessly, relying on his numerous treasures and divine abilities to finally escape the Icy Snowfield alive. Even with one arm missing, Shangguan Tianhong's strength was still comparable to an early Deity Transformation stage cultivator. However, against the Azure Lotus Immortal Couple, it was hard to say.

"Fellow Daoist Shangguan, are you alright?"Wang Changsheng asked courteously. He could clearly see that Shangguan Tianhong was in a sorry state and had likely suffered considerably. He couldn't help but think that without the maps left by Xuanwater Palace and the Sword Lord of Four Seasons, they might have sustained heavy casualties.

"I'm fine. Fellow Daoist Wang, Madam Wang, do you possess a map of the Icy Snow Abyss?"Shangguan Tianhong asked, his brow furrowed with confusion. He knew Wang Changsheng had a powerful defensive treasure, but he assumed it had been destroyed. He himself had sacrificed five spiritual treasures to leave the Icy Snow Abyss. The fact that Wang Changsheng and his group had emerged from the Icy Snowfield unscathed made Shangguan Tianhong unwilling to believe they didn't have a map.

"We stumbled upon a map left by the Sword Lord of Four Seasons and followed its guidance to leave the Icy Snow Abyss," Wang Changsheng explained.

"Sword Lord of Four Seasons? Did he truly come here?"Shangguan Tianhong exclaimed in surprise, having always thought it was merely a legend. The Sword Lord of Four Seasons had indeed visited the Tianlan Realm, defeating several cultivators of the Deity Transformation stage there, and his reputation was well-known.

Wang Ruyan took out a palm-sized blue mirror and handed it to Shangguan Tianhong. He cast a spell into it, and the mirror's surface blurred, revealing a giant ice pillar with visible text and a map.

"Never mind. Let's wait for the main force to arrive, then send people to slowly explore the forbidden areas of Thousand Gourd Realm! I'll go back to heal my injuries first. You may do as you please."After speaking, Shangguan Tianhong gently flapped his Wind-Fire Wings, transforming into a red streak of light that soared into the sky, disappearing after a few flashes.

"Senior Wang, Senior Wang Ruyan, I have other matters to attend to, so I won't trouble you further."Huang Fugui bid farewell. While staying with the Azure Lotus Immortal Couple offered safety, any valuable items they found would likely be claimed by them, leaving him with only a small share.

"Wait, take this set of defensive artifacts. This is your reward. If you discover an ancient cultivator's abode or other treasures, don't forget us."Wang Changsheng took out three pale yellow command flags and handed them to Huang Fugui. They had unearthed many treasures from the demon stronghold, but spiritual treasures were few. Wang Changsheng wasn't so generous as to give Huang Fugui a spiritual treasure, which could serve as a clan's inherited treasure for generations.

Huang Fugui was overjoyed, expressing his thanks as he put away the three yellow flags. He stomped his right foot, transforming into a yellow streak of light that shot into the sky and vanished into the horizon.

"Let's go! We should leave too!"Wang Changsheng conjured the Soaring Dragon Heavenly Diagram and led his clansmen away from the area. He planned to head to a certain sea region known for its rich mineral resources. Before the main force arrived, he wanted to gather as many treasures as possible to strengthen the family's foundation.

A dragon's roar, echoing through the heavens, suddenly resounded. The Soaring Dragon Heavenly Diagram transformed into a green rainbow, disappearing into the sky.

Thousand Spirit Island is located in the northeastern part of Thousand Gourd Realm, stretching over 1,300 li from east to west and 750 li from north to south. This was originally the main headquarters of Thousand Spirit Palace. After the demon race occupied Thousand Gourd Realm, Thousand Spirit Island became a branch stronghold, garrisoned by five Nascent Soul cultivators. It governed an area of three million li, holding significant power. Due to its advantageous geographical location and the constant flow of cultivators, it naturally accumulated considerable wealth.

Revered Golden Dragon had cultivated for over seven hundred years and was currently at the mid-Nascent Soul stage. Since he could remember, he had considered himself a demon. His education had taught him to view spirit cultivators as outsiders. Although he had questioned whether the demon race was legitimate—why their accessible texts only went back a thousand years, why they aggressively cultivated Demon Trees—his relatives and friends were staunch believers in the demon faith, so Revered Golden Dragon hadn't thought much of it. After advancing to the Nascent Soul stage, Revered Golden Dragon was assigned to Thousand Spirit Island, holding a high position of authority.

Thousand Spirit Island was engulfed in flames. Numerous buildings had collapsed, towering trees lay fallen in swathes, and corpses littered the ground amidst constant screams. Revered Golden Dragon stood in an open space, his face pale. The ground was dotted with hundreds of flaming giant pits. Wang Mengbin floated in mid-air above a black cloud, his face filled with killing intent.

A golden dragon circled overhead, as Ouyang Mingyue and Cheng Zhenyu jointly attacked it. Ouyang Mingyue and Cheng Zhenyu cooperated seamlessly. A series of piercing sword cries rang out, and sharp sword qi strikes repeatedly landed on the golden dragon. Explosions echoed continuously, accompanied by pained dragon roars. A large number of scales fell from the golden dragon's body, which was now riddled with wounds, its white bones faintly visible.

Zheng Nan held a green jade flute, playing a joyful melody. A burly middle-aged man was fiercely battling a strikingly beautiful young woman in a purple dress. The middle-aged man's expression was fanatical, as if he were being controlled. The young woman in the purple dress looked pale, repeatedly shouting, "Senior Brother Sun, wake up! I'm Junior Sister Chen! Why are you attacking me instead of the enemy?" The middle-aged man paid no heed, relentlessly attacking the young woman in purple.

Wang Youwei stood in an open space, continuously forming hand seals. A towering yellow giant ape frantically attacked a yellow-robed elder over fifty years old. The giant ape was over ten zhang tall, its body covered in profound spiritual patterns. Under the sunlight, it shimmered with a metallic luster, clearly a fourth-tier puppet beast.

In addition, hundreds of cultivators controlled puppet beasts to engage the enemy. Their sleeves were either embroidered with green lotuses or bore the small characters "Zhenhai." The Deity Transformation stage demons were dead, but Thousand Gourd Realm still had many high-level demon cultivators. These demon cultivators did not consider themselves spirit cultivators; they had been brainwashed by the demon race since childhood, firmly believing themselves to be demons. No amount of persuasion would work on them; to them, cultivators from Dongli Realm and Tianlan Realm were invaders. To fully control Thousand Gourd Realm, a number of high-level demon cultivators had to be eliminated.

Wang Mengbin, Ouyang Mingyue, Wang Youwei, Cheng Zhenyu, and Zheng Nan acted together, raiding various important strongholds. Their goals were twofold: to eliminate high-level demon cultivators and to plunder cultivation resources, which would greatly aid their individual cultivation paths.

"Myriad Thunders Resonate!"Wang Mengbin's expression turned cold. With a hand seal, the thundercloud beneath him violently churned, emitting deafening thunderclaps and blinding lightning that illuminated the heavens and earth.

Boom!Amidst a deafening roar of thunder, countless dense silver lightning bolts shot forth, numbering over a thousand, making one's scalp tingle. Seeing a thousand silver lightning bolts strike down, Revered Golden Dragon's face turned pale. He felt as if he had stumbled into a sea of lightning. He quickly summoned a pigeon-egg-sized golden orb and cast a spell into it. The golden orb spun rapidly, suddenly radiating blinding golden light, transforming into a thick golden barrier that enveloped his entire body.

A tremendous thunderclap sounded as dense silver lightning struck the golden light. Blinding silver lightning engulfed Revered Golden Dragon; the world seemed to be illuminated silver. A powerful shockwave uprooted vast amounts of weeds and towering trees. Where the powerful shockwave passed, rocks shattered and buildings crumbled.

An eye-catching golden light suddenly flared within the silver sea of lightning, and Revered Golden Dragon flew out from it, heading towards the golden dragon. Black smoke emanated from Revered Golden Dragon's body, his Daoist robe was tattered, and he was covered in dust, looking utterly wretched.

Wang Mengbin's strength was too great. Revered Golden Dragon, unable to resist, decided to merge with his life-bound spirit beast to perish with this group of enemies.

"Hmph, you want to merge with your spirit beast? Do you think that will make you my match?"Wang Mengbin roared, countless silver electrical arcs surging from his body. Like a god of thunder, he stood atop the clouds, looking down upon all beings. His cold gaze was full of disdain and contempt. His voice, though not loud, echoed across the entire Thousand Spirit Island, clear to every cultivator.

Revered Golden Dragon's mind buzzed upon hearing these words. The black thundercloud violently churned, and a purple lightning serpent suddenly appeared. Initially, there was only one, but as the black thundercloud spun faster and faster, a second and third purple lightning serpent abruptly emerged. In less than five breaths, hundreds of purple lightning serpents coiled within the thundercloud.

Revered Golden Dragon, feeling the aura of the purple lightning serpents, his face pale, immediately communicated with the golden dragon. The golden dragon let out a roar, sweeping its tail forcefully, striking Cheng Zhenyu and Ouyang Mingyue. Clanging sounds of metal striking metal rang out, sparks flying. Cheng Zhenyu and Ouyang Mingyue were sent flying backward, their expressions grave.

Seizing this opportunity, the golden dragon swiftly flew towards Revered Golden Dragon. The man and beast instantly merged, unleashing a blinding golden light that illuminated the heavens and earth. Soon after, the golden light dispersed. The golden dragon's aura had risen to the peak of the fourth tier, and Revered Golden Dragon's face appeared on its head.

"Hmph, you all shall die!" The golden dragon's tone was devoid of emotion, its eyes cold.

"Fool, *you* are the one who will die."A man's voice, full of undeniable authority, descended from the sky. These words were resolute, like a long nail hammered deep into Revered Golden Dragon's heart. No sooner had the voice faded than a deafening thunderclap erupted from high above. Hundreds of silver lightning serpents flew out from the black thundercloud, directly towards Revered Golden Dragon below.

The hundreds of purple lightning serpents converged mid-air, their bodies intertwining. After a flash of purple lightning, a thick-waisted purple lightning dragon emerged. The purple lightning dragon collided with the golden dragon, instantly unleashing an astonishing shockwave. Dozens of hilltops were shattered by the powerful blast, and vast numbers of trees and houses were swept high into the air, creating a swirling cloud of dust and smoke.

Wang Mengbin did not stop. With a hand seal, the black thundercloud beneath him violently churned, abruptly transforming into a several-hundred-zhang-long silver lightning dragon that plunged downwards. Booming explosions resounded as silver, purple, and gold spiritual lights intertwined, illuminating the heavens and earth, with dust filling the air.

Three breaths later, the dust settled. The area spanning a hundred li had been flattened. A completely charred dragon lay on the ground, and Revered Golden Dragon lay beside it, an expression of disbelief on his face. A terrifying, burnt bloodied hole marred his chest. After advancing to the late Nascent Soul stage, Wang Mengbin's strength far surpassed his previous level. Coupled with the spiritual treasure Thunder Roc Wings refined for him by Wang Changsheng, he could retreat safely even when facing powerful enemies.

With a flash of spiritual light, Revered Golden Dragon's Nascent Soul flew out from his corpse, soaring into the sky at incredible speed. A silver flash, and a shimmering silver giant tower descended from the sky, engulfing the miniature Nascent Soul.

Having dealt with Revered Golden Dragon, Wang Mengbin looked towards other areas, his expression turning cold. Countless silver electrical arcs surged from his body. A deafening thunderclap echoed from high above, and a colossal thundercloud abruptly appeared in the sky without warning, filled with flashes of lightning and thunder. Silver lightning serpents continuously writhed within the black thundercloud, their sheer number enough to make one's scalp tingle.

Following the booming thunder, thick silver lightning bolts sliced through the sky, carrying an aura of destruction as they targeted the enemies below. Lower-tier cultivators trembled at the sight of the dense silver lightning descending, while Wang family disciples and Zhenhai Sect cultivators saw their morale soar.

Wang Youwei and the others were already overpowering their enemies. With Wang Mengbin's addition, they smoothly annihilated their opponents and collected their Nascent Souls.

"We've finally dealt with the enemies! Fellow Daoist Wang, we owe you a great deal this time!"Cheng Zhenyu complimented him, his face filled with admiration. Wang Mengbin's strength was extraordinary. In Cheng Zhenyu's view, among the Wang family's Nascent Soul cultivators, Wang Mengbin's strength ranked second, surpassed only by Wang Qingshan. Wang Qingling's strength was not weak, but it primarily relied on her Ice-Wind Flood Dragon.

"Fellow Daoist Cheng, you flatter me. Madam Cheng is also very formidable, tying down two Nascent Soul cultivators."Wang Mengbin said humbly. Zheng Nan cultivated Zhenhai Sect's foundational technique, the "Heavenly Sound Surging Sea Art." Her use of illusions to restrict two Nascent Soul cultivators was a significant contribution.

"Fellow Daoist Wang jokes. This humble one only provided restraint, which cannot compare to Fellow Daoist Wang. Even with Revered Golden Dragon merging with his beast, he was no match for you."Zheng Nan praised him.