Chapter 1900: Standing in Line

Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan were stunned. They hadn't expected Lin Youxin to come and present them with a Spirit Treasure.

The immortal cultivation resources in the Spirit Realm were abundant. Low-grade Spirit Treasures were not rare, but they weren't commonplace either. It wasn't easy for an ordinary disciple of Zhenhai Palace to acquire one.

The Lin family excelled at artifact refining, and Lin Tianlong's refining skills were among the best in Zhenhai Palace. Even so, Wang Changsheng was still greatly surprised that Lin Youxin directly gifted him a Spirit Treasure.

Besides being surprised, he also felt a little nervous.

If he accepted the Spirit Treasure, the Ascension Faction might be displeased, believing Wang Changsheng was ambiguously involved with the Local Faction. However, if he didn't accept it, Lin Youxin would be embarrassed, indirectly offending the Lin family.

Wang Changsheng was in a dilemma, unsure how to respond appropriately.

"What's wrong? Does Junior Nephew Wang look down on this treasure? The Zhenhai Mystic Water Token was personally refined by our ancestor; it's both an identity token and a special protective artifact. This Glazed Spirit-Severing Axe was forged from the same material and is much better than the low-grade Spirit Treasures found on the market. Our Lin family excels at artifact refining. To speak frankly, seventy percent of the Spirit Treasures produced in Zhenhai Palace come from our Lin family disciples."

Lin Youxin's face was filled with pride. She wouldn't have been so generous with other ascended cultivators.

Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan were somewhat special. They were ascended cultivators, but they had received assistance from Lin Tianlong's friends to ascend to the Xuanyang Realm, so there would be no issue if they aligned themselves with the Local Faction.

"Since it's a gift from Junior Sister Lin, Junior Nephew Wang, you should accept it! Accepting a few gifts is fine, and interacting more is also fine. The important thing is for you to understand who truly has your best interests at heart. Senior Uncle Lin's artifact refining skills are top-notch, but Senior Uncle Yang's alchemy skills are also excellent."

Fang Ming said meaningfully, "Do they think a single Spirit Treasure can sow discord between the Ascension Faction and the Wang couple? That would be underestimating the Ascension Faction too much."

"By the way, this is three thousand catties of fifth-grade spiritual water. I had intended to give it to you after your tenure ended, but here it is now! After a while, I'll take you to visit other Senior Uncles and Aunts; they are never stingy with the younger generation."

Fang Ming flipped his hand, a blue light flashed, and a shimmering blue gourd appeared in his palm, exuding a powerful spiritual aura.

As long as Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan formally pledged allegiance to the Ascension Faction, they would naturally receive a considerable amount of cultivation resources. Without sufficient benefits, how could one win people over? Mere empty words wouldn't suffice.

Wang Changsheng breathed a long sigh of relief and thanked him repeatedly, accepting both items.

This action by Fang Ming helped him resolve the awkward situation.

"Alright, I have matters to attend to, so I won't trouble you any further. If you encounter any problems you can't solve, you can find me at Feiyun Peak or the Hall of Enforcement."

After saying this, Lin Youxin turned and left.

Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan personally escorted Lin Youxin out. Returning to the stone pavilion, Fang Ming stood up.

"Junior Nephew Wang, Junior Niece Wang, think carefully about what I've said. Contact me once you've made up your minds. I still have matters to deal with."

With those words, Fang Ming left as well.

"Husband, we can't remain neutral. The two factions won't tolerate any ambiguity, and the outcome of neutrality would be even worse."

Wang Ruyan sighed. If they continued to feign ignorance and caused the two factions to develop disgust towards them, disaster would surely follow.

"Forget it. In any case, we are ascended cultivators; let's align ourselves with the Ascension Faction! Tomorrow, we'll contact Senior Uncle Fang and ask him to introduce us to Ancestor Chen."

Wang Changsheng said with a hint of helplessness. They couldn't remain neutral. Neutrality would earn the displeasure of both factions; it was better to side with the Ascension Faction and use this opportunity to acquire cultivation resources.

Early the next morning, Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan left their residence and went to the massive tower where the Steward Hall was located. They found Fang Ming and asked him to help with an introduction.

Upon learning that Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan wished to meet Chen Yueying, Fang Ming revealed a satisfied smile.

"It's rare for you to be so sensible. Senior Uncle Chen even mentioned you a few days ago. Come on, let's go together!"

He led Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan to a vast, boundless red bamboo forest. As far as the eye could see, the forest was filled with red spirit bamboos, over a hundred zhang tall, with some faint green patterns on their surfaces. The fire spiritual energy here was extremely abundant.

Wang Changsheng was secretly astonished. He could naturally tell that these spirit bamboos were all Millennium Azure Flame Bamboo, and this was just the periphery.

It was truly worthy of being the residence of an Integration stage cultivator, so extravagant.

Back in the Dongli Realm, a single Millennium Spirit Bamboo could be used as the core of a formation, but in Zhenhai Palace, Millennium Spirit Bamboos were merely part of the restrictions placed around the periphery of an Integration stage cultivator's immortal's cave.

Fang Ming flipped his right hand, and a shimmering golden paper crane appeared in his palm. He spoke a few words, then infused it with a spell. A clear crane cry resounded, the runes on the golden paper crane glowed brightly, its size rapidly expanded, and it suddenly flew into the bamboo forest.

Not long after, a three-zhang-tall red giant ape appeared in the bamboo forest. Its entire body was covered in red fur, and it had a golden horn about a chi long on its head. Its eyes gleamed with golden light. Judging by its aura, it was a fifth-grade high-rank spirit beast, equivalent to a late-stage Soul Transformation cultivator.

Wherever the red giant ape passed, the azure fire bamboos quickly shifted and parted, creating a path.

Walking out of the bamboo forest, the red giant ape bowed to Fang Ming and spoke in human tongue, "My master wants you to come. Follow me."

After saying this, the red giant ape turned back the way it came, and the three of them quickly followed.

Along the way, Wang Changsheng saw many rare and exotic beasts. It was his first time seeing such spirit beasts.

After a while, they arrived before a nine-story red pavilion. The pavilion's entrance was open.

"Disciple Fang Ming greets Senior Uncle Chen. Junior Nephew Wang and Junior Niece Wang wished to pay their respects to Senior Uncle Chen, and seeing their sincerity, I brought them here."

Fang Ming said respectfully.

"Bring them in! They are not outsiders."

Chen Yueying's voice suddenly rang out.

Fang Ming acknowledged with a sound and stepped towards the red pavilion, with Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan closely following.

The pavilion's interior was elegantly furnished, and a faint scent of sandalwood permeated the air. Chen Yueying sat on a red bamboo chair, her expression languid.

"Disciples Wang Changsheng (and Wang Ruyan) respectfully greet Ancestor Chen."

Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan bowed in salute, their expressions respectful.

"Fang Ming tells me you are already familiar with the situation in Zhenhai Palace and can now proceed to take up your posts on Xuanling Island."

Chen Yueying's tone was calm.

"Ancestor Chen, you flatter us. We are new here and there's much we don't understand. We wish to learn more from Senior Uncle Fang for now and would prefer not to take up posts on Xuanling Island just yet. However, if Ancestor Chen has a specific arrangement, we will certainly comply."

Wang Changsheng said cautiously, his expression nervous.

"You haven't gone to the Scripture Depository to receive Soul Transformation stage cultivation techniques yet, have you? Have you considered changing your cultivation method?"

Chen Yueying asked casually.

At her words, Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan froze, surprised that Chen Yueying would ask such a question.

"What's wrong? Do you still intend to cultivate our palace's sect-guarding cultivation technique? The Elder of Transmitted Skills has a very good relationship with Senior Brother Lin. Even if you receive the Soul Transformation stage cultivation technique by the Sect Master's order, if you advance to the Void Refinement stage, obtaining the subsequent cultivation techniques will be extremely difficult. Junior Brother Yang and Junior Sister Li cultivate the same technique as you, but due to palace rules, they cannot directly teach you. At most, they can offer guidance. If you don't change your cultivation method, advancing to the Void Refinement stage and acquiring the corresponding cultivation technique will require an enormous amount of merit points."

Chen Yueying said slowly, her tone calm.

Wang Changsheng frowned deeply. Chen Yueying had made it very clear: if they didn't change their cultivation method, it would be extremely difficult to obtain subsequent techniques in the future.