Chapter 1916: Golden Butterfly Valley Deng Family

Zhong Yangming's expression turned cold. The small red mirror in his hand lit up with countless runes, and hundreds of fist-sized crimson thunder-fireballs flew out, striking a particular spot in the void.

That area of the void suddenly glowed with a golden light, and four Nascent Soul cultivators—three men and one woman—abruptly appeared. The one with the highest cultivation was a tall, thin man in a green robe. He had a pigeon-like face and an aquiline nose, and his tiger-like eyes exuded a powerful sense of oppression. His aura was even stronger than Wang Mengbin's.

The lowest cultivated among them was a graceful young woman in a green skirt, with early Nascent Soul cultivation. She had an oval face, cherry-like lips, and a delicate nose, and a rare heroic spirit for a woman shone in her eyes. She carried three flying swords on her back. The other two men had quite similar facial features, suggesting they were brothers; both were late Nascent Soul cultivators.

A glittering golden butterfly was embroidered on the sleeves of their robes, seemingly indicating their affiliation.

On Wang Mengbin's side, there were five Nascent Soul cultivators. Wang Mengbin had the highest cultivation, reaching Nascent Soul Grand Perfection. Zhong Yunxiu was in the late Nascent Soul stage, Zhong Yangming in the mid Nascent Soul stage, and the remaining two were in the early Nascent Soul stage. All of them bore injuries, to varying degrees.

"The Deng family from Golden Butterfly Valley," Zhong Yangming said coldly. "Fellow Daoist Deng, our two families have always kept to ourselves. Are you declaring war on us now?"

Zhong Yangming spoke with a cold expression. The Deng family's lineage was even older than the Zhong family's; it was rumored that a Deng ancestor had ascended to the Spirit Realm, and the family had flourished in the Qinghuan Realm for thousands of years. Though they had since declined, even a 'lean camel is bigger than a horse,' meaning the Deng family's overall strength was not significantly weaker than the Zhong family's.

"Declare war? We have no interest in that," the green-robed man sneered. "We merely wish to reclaim what belongs to our Deng family."

The green-robed man sneered, his gaze fixed on Wang Mengbin.

Wang Mengbin's expression remained calm. If his Gold-Devouring Beast hadn't warned him, he wouldn't have detected their presence. As for why the Gold-Devouring Beast discovered the Deng family cultivators, Wang Mengbin wasn't sure.

"Reclaim what belongs to your Deng family? What exactly do you mean? When did we ever take anything from your Deng family?" Zhong Yangming asked with a frown, utterly bewildered.

The Zhong family's ancestral lands were billions of li away from the Deng family's. The two families had never interacted, much less had any conflicts of interest.

"Still playing dumb?" the young woman in the green skirt said with a cold face. "The Golden Orb Divine Crystal! Hundreds of years ago, my Seventh Grand-Uncle led a party into the Fallen Immortal Valley to seek treasure and discovered the Golden Orb Divine Crystal. Tragically, on their return journey, they were ambushed by thieves. My Seventh Grand-Uncle sacrificed himself to cover my father and the others, dying at the thieves' hands. Your ability to find this place proves you're in league with those thieves." The Deng family also desired the Golden Orb Divine Crystal to set up a grand formation to contact their ancestors in the Spirit Realm, seeing it as a crucial opportunity to restore their family's former glory.

"We paid a heavy price for this information," Zhong Yangming said with a cold expression, "but we certainly did not participate in any attack on your Deng family cultivators. If you don't believe us, then let's fight!"

Zhong Yangming's face was cold. He spoke the truth; the Deng family's claims were merely an excuse, their real objective being the Golden Orb Divine Crystal.

"Having more friends opens up more paths," the green-robed man said sincerely. "We bear no ill will. How about this: we'll pay a hefty sum to purchase some Golden Orb Divine Crystals from you?"

The green-robed man's tone was sincere.

Zhong Yangming was somewhat tempted; he didn't want to make an enemy of the Deng family. However, he didn't know how much Golden Orb Divine Crystal they possessed. If the quantity was too small, it wouldn't even be enough for their own needs, let alone providing some to the Deng family.

He would have to ask Wang Mengbin to ascertain the quantity of Golden Orb Divine Crystal.

"Eighth Grand-Uncle," Zhong Yunxiu cautioned, "they were hiding in the shadows, clearly with ill intentions. Besides, they never really intended to negotiate with us. Be careful of what's beneath the sea."

Zhong Yunxiu warned him, simultaneously striking downwards into the empty space above the seawater with her right hand. A red light flashed, and a crimson fire-palm over a hundred zhang large appeared out of thin air, striking towards the sea.

Before the crimson fire-palm even landed, a large volume of seawater evaporated, and plumes of white smoke billowed upwards.

Boom!

The seawater suddenly exploded, and over a dozen thick water columns shot skyward, shattering the crimson fire-palm. Countless crimson flames scattered across the surface, igniting colossal waves.

Two enormous black whales flew out from the seabed. Each had a grotesque ghost face on its back and white patterns on its belly. Their heads had several large holes, and their gaping, blood-red maws revealed a row of sharp silver fangs.

These were two rank 4 mid-grade Ghost-Faced Whales. This type of spirit beast possessed a natural divine ability called Soul-Snatching Forbidden Light. If a cultivator were struck by this ability, their three souls and seven spiritual bodies would be snatched away, leaving them as soulless puppets.

The moment they appeared, the ghost faces on their backs let out piercing wails. Each whale then shot out a stream of black light, aiming for Zhong Yunxiu and a Zhong family elder.

Upon hearing the wails, Wang Mengbin's head buzzed, and he felt dizzy and disoriented. Countless silver electric arcs surged around him, enveloping his entire body.

A red light glowed on Zhong Yunxiu's prominent chest, and a red jade lock faintly shimmered into view.

With a flash of red light, a crimson flame materialized, enveloping her entire body and automatically protecting its owner. It was clearly a spirit treasure, and one of no low rank.

As a leading figure and one of the most outstanding members of the Zhong family, it was not surprising for her to possess a protective spirit treasure.

When the black light touched the crimson flame, it immediately produced plumes of green smoke and dissipated without a trace.

The Zhong family elder, lacking a protective spirit treasure, naturally wasn't so fortunate. The black light easily pierced his protective spiritual aura, enveloped his body, and snatched his soul away, which was then swallowed by the black whale.

The elder's eyes glazed over, and he became motionless.

The two Ghost-Faced Whales opened their blood-red maws and lunged at Zhong Yunxiu and the now soulless elder.

Zhong Yunxiu snapped back to reality, only to find a gaping maw right before her. She could even smell a pungent, bloody odor.

A silver light flashed, and Zhong Yunxiu felt someone wrap an arm around her slender waist. A strong masculine scent filled her nostrils; it was Wang Mengbin.

On his back was a pair of glittering silver wings, shimmering with countless silver electric arcs and exuding astonishing spiritual energy.

One Ghost-Faced Whale missed its target, but the other successfully swallowed a Zhong family elder.

Both Ghost-Faced Whales attacked Wang Mengbin and Zhong Yunxiu, their massive bodies slamming directly into Wang Mengbin. With their formidable physical bodies, magic treasures would struggle to dispatch them quickly.

Wang Mengbin's left hand held Zhong Yunxiu's slender waist, while his right hand lifted high. Countless silver electric arcs surged, and two silver thunderballs, each the size of a water vat, abruptly appeared above his right hand.

With a slight flick of his wrist, the two silver thunderballs transformed into two streaks of silver lightning, accurately striking both Ghost-Faced Whales.

Boom!

Dazzling silver lightning enveloped half of the two Ghost-Faced Whales' bodies, eliciting two piercing roars.

Wang Mengbin opened his mouth and spat out two purple lightning arrows, each about a foot long, which shot directly towards the two Ghost-Faced Whales.

Two more tremendous booming sounds rang out, accompanied by continuous wailing.

Zhong Yunxiu and the others swiftly joined the attack on the two Ghost-Faced Whales.

Continuous roars and dazzling spiritual light from spells engulfed their figures.

Not long after, two completely charred Ghost-Faced Whales rapidly plummeted into the sea, sending up massive splashes. Their bodies were covered in wounds, bleeding profusely, and emitting a scorched odor.

From the moment the Ghost-Faced Whales attacked until they were annihilated, less than three breaths had passed. This speed was far beyond the Deng family cultivators' expectations.

"A flying spirit treasure!"

The green-robed old man's gaze was fixed on the silver feathered wings on Wang Mengbin's back, his eyes burning with desire.

During the Deng family's heyday, they possessed several flying spirit treasures, but with their current decline, they had none. Obtaining this flying spirit treasure would be incredibly convenient for both travel and escape.

"This fellow Daoist seems unfamiliar," the green-robed man said earnestly. "You are likely not a Zhong family cultivator, are you? Why align yourself with the Zhong family? Why not join our Deng family instead?"