Chapter 1927: Seven Star Merchant Alliance and Ten Thousand Spirits Sect

This is naturally closely related to the abundant cultivation resources in Xuanyang Realm. While spirit beasts in Dongli Realm can only grow to the fifth rank at most, Xuanyang Realm even has Mahayana-stage demonic beasts. It's not surprising for fourth-rank spirit beasts and insects to advance one minor rank in over a hundred years.

Wang Changsheng was preparing to visit Xuanyue Island to purchase some artifact refining materials, and coincidentally, some elixirs and miraculous medicines for feeding spirit beasts and insects. It would be even better if he could acquire some body-tempering elixirs.

The artifact spirit had previously given Wang Changsheng a bottle of Gold Marrow Bone Forging Pills, which had an excellent body-tempering effect.

He put away the Wood Demon and the Qilin Turtle, then left Xuanling Valley.

Not long after, Wang Changsheng appeared above a lush, verdant mountain peak. At its summit lay a sprawling estate covering ten thousand acres, with blue bricks and red tiles, and its main gate was tightly shut. Numerous golden spirit trees grew there, each dozens of meters tall, with oval-shaped golden leaves. Many golden ants could be seen gnawing on these golden spirit trees.

A light blue energy barrier enveloped the entire estate, with runes flickering on its surface.

The golden ants were precisely Gold-Devouring Ants, and some of them had silver spirit patterns on their bodies.

Shen Yunfei stood atop a golden spirit tree several hundred meters tall. This tree was ten people wide, with dense foliage and a canopy spanning over a thousand meters. There wasn't a single Gold-Devouring Ant on this particular golden spirit tree.

The blue energy barrier suddenly rippled, revealing an opening several meters wide. Wang Changsheng flew through the opening and landed in front of Shen Yunfei.

"Disciple greets Martial Uncle Wang. Martial Uncle Wang, these are Golden Glaze Woods. The youngest ones are at least a hundred years old. This particular Golden Glaze Tree is the oldest, with an age of over three thousand years. Golden Glaze Woods older than five hundred years secrete a special liquid called Golden Glaze Spirit Fluid. This fluid benefits spirit insects that feed on metals, aiding their advancement. The older the Golden Glaze Tree, the better the Golden Glaze Spirit Fluid it secretes."

Shen Yunfei explained slowly.

"Where did these Golden Glaze Trees come from? Were they originally on the island?"

Wang Changsheng asked curiously. He had noticed that the number of Gold-Devouring Ants had increased severalfold, which was related to their extensive consumption of the Golden Glaze Woods.

In Dongli Realm, there weren't so many high-aged spirit woods for them to consume.

"These were presented as tribute to Martial Uncle Wang by cultivators from the affiliated islands of Xuanling Island. All past Martial Uncles and Martial Aunts stationed on Xuanling Island received similar offerings; they are just some spirit woods. This three-thousand-year-old Golden Glaze Spirit Wood was purchased at great expense from the Seven Stars Alliance by Fellow Daoist Zhou from the Zhou family of Thousand Bamboo Island. It is their honor to be able to show respect to Martial Uncle Wang in this way."

Shen Yunfei spoke in a fawning tone. He had, of course, received many benefits for helping Wang Changsheng look after his spirit beasts and insects. If he had to rely solely on the meager stipend from Zhenhai Palace, it would barely be enough to sustain his cultivation, let alone support him in raising spirit insects and beasts, or for social interactions and showing respect to his elders in the sect.

As a Nascent Soul cultivator, his status as a Zhenhai Palace disciple, coupled with his ability to interact with Soul Transformation cultivators, meant countless other Nascent Soul cultivators vied to curry favor with Shen Yunfei.

It's a common saying that those who accept favors are beholden. Since the Zhou family offered Shen Yunfei many benefits, he naturally spoke well of them. Such situations were not uncommon in Zhenhai Palace.

This kind of situation exists in any faction. As long as it's not too excessive, no one will interfere.

To cut off someone's source of wealth is like killing their parents.

"The Zhou family of Thousand Bamboo Island? Is their influence significant?"

Wang Changsheng asked casually. He naturally knew that Shen Yunfei had received many benefits, but as long as it didn't affect him, he wouldn't bother with such matters.

"The Zhou family has a legacy of over eight hundred years, and their current patriarch is Zhou Chengqian. The Zhou family hasn't been affiliated with our Zhenhai Palace for very long. Fellow Daoist Zhou has two descendants with decent aptitude, and he intends for them to join our Zhenhai Palace. However, the sect will only open its gates for disciple recruitment fifty years from now."

Shen Yunfei spoke slowly, knowing when to stop.

Zhenhai Palace opens its gates for a major disciple recruitment every hundred years. Besides this, if a high-ranking cultivator of Zhenhai Palace takes a liking to someone, they can be specially admitted. Only Soul Transformation cultivators have the right to specially admit disciples. Zhou Chengqian was trying to use Wang Changsheng's connections to have his descendants become Wang Changsheng's disciples.

Shen Yunfei dared not say more; he clearly understood what should and shouldn't be said.

"They want to join Zhenhai Palace? Let his descendants participate in the disciple recruitment ceremony fifty years from now! If they are capable, they will naturally be able to join Zhenhai Palace. If not, then so be it."

Wang Changsheng's tone was flat; he truly had no interest in taking disciples.

With a "crunch," a tiny crack suddenly appeared on the Golden Glaze Tree behind Shen Yunfei. Soon, the crack grew larger and larger, and a golden giant ant, five zhang long, drilled out from the main trunk of the Golden Glaze Tree. Its entire body glittered with golden light, like a massive piece of gold.

The Gold-Devouring Ant Queen had also grown to fourth-rank superior grade. After arriving in Xuanyang Realm, its diet had improved severalfold, with thousand-year-old spirit woods, fourth-rank ores, and more, allowing the Ant Queen to advance more quickly.

With a single-hand gesture, Wang Changsheng beckoned, and the Gold-Devouring Ant Queen transformed into a streak of golden light, flying into his sleeve and disappearing.

"Take good care of the other Gold-Devouring Ants and stick to your duties. Don't do anything you shouldn't, or it will be troublesome if the Hall of Discipline catches hold of something."

Wang Changsheng warned, his tone stern.

Shen Yunfei looked terrified and repeatedly assented.

"By the way, how is the Soul-Devouring Golden Cicada doing now?"

Wang Changsheng inquired about the Soul-Devouring Golden Cicada, which was the slowest growing spirit insect he possessed.

"It's already a fourth-rank middle grade. Not long ago, it consumed a batch of fourth-rank demonic beast spirits and entered a deep sleep. This type of spirit insect is quite difficult to advance, as most auxiliary spirit insects are."

Shen Yunfei replied truthfully.

"Do you know anyone who raises Soul-Devouring Golden Cicadas? Are there any masters of raising spirit insects?"

Wang Changsheng pressed on.

"Not many high-level cultivators in our Zhenhai Palace raise spirit insects, mainly because spirit insects are easily destroyed in combat. I've heard that Fairy Golden Butterfly of the Myriad Spirit Sect raises a fifth-rank Soul-Devouring Golden Cicada. Aside from her, I haven't heard of other high-level cultivators raising Soul-Devouring Golden Cicadas. Auxiliary spirit insects are indeed very difficult to advance, but once they reach a high rank, they often possess incredible divine abilities."

Shen Yunfei explained.

Wang Changsheng nodded thoughtfully. The Myriad Spirit Sect is one of the Four Great Sects, and its disciples are skilled in controlling insects and beasts.

Wang Changsheng gave a few instructions and then left with the Gold-Devouring Ant Queen.

Not long after, Wang Changsheng appeared in a ten-thousand-acre bluestone plaza. In the center of the plaza stood a magnificent, golden hall. A plaque above its entrance bore the characters "Teleportation Hall." The Teleportation Hall housed multiple arrays capable of transporting users to various islands.

Two Core Formation cultivators guarded the entrance. Seeing Wang Changsheng, they quickly bowed in greeting.

Wang Changsheng nodded and strode inside. Huang Yun'er had been waiting for a long time.

Without further ado, Wang Changsheng led Huang Yun'er to the largest teleportation array and cast a spell.

A dazzling spiritual light flared up from beneath their feet, engulfing their figures. They vanished.

Wang Changsheng felt a blur before his eyes and suddenly found himself in a stone chamber.

Huang Yun'er had been here many times, so she led the way.

Not long after, Wang Changsheng and Huang Yun'er emerged onto a bustling street.

The street was teeming with people, mostly Core Formation cultivators, followed by Nascent Soul cultivators, and several Soul Transformation cultivators could also be seen.

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Wang Changsheng and Huang Yun'er arrived at the entrance of a nine-story blue pavilion adorned with carved railings and jade. A plaque above the entrance read "Seven Stars Pavilion."

The Seven Stars Pavilion was a shop opened by the Seven Stars Alliance. It offered a wide variety of high-quality goods, and naturally, its prices were not cheap.