Chapter 1950: Dinghaizhu Advances to Heavenly Spirit Treasure, Mission Execution

Spring passed and autumn came; ten years flew by quickly.

Wang Changsheng sat cross-legged on a blue meditation mat. In front of him were various artifact refining materials, and a ball of snowy white flame hovered before him. The temperature inside the room was frighteningly low, with thick layers of ice covering the stone walls and floor.

His face was pale, and his gaze was fixed intently on the white flame.

After a while, Wang Changsheng made a hand seal, and the white flame transformed into a streak of white light that vanished into his sleeve.

Eighteen Sea Stabilizing Beads floated in mid-air, their runes flickering with astonishing spiritual energy.

Suddenly, faint blue lights appeared in the room, clearly pure water spiritual energy.

"It's a success."

Wang Changsheng let out a long breath of relief. All eighteen Sea Stabilizing Beads had successfully ascended to become Heavenly Treasures, each one being a low-grade Heavenly Treasure. If he hadn't traded the Water of the Styx for a large quantity of artifact refining materials, just the materials alone would have been a major headache for Wang Changsheng. His destiny artifacts were low-grade Heavenly Treasures, and there were as many as eighteen of them.

The Sea Stabilizing Beads had been refined with various water-attributed artifact refining materials, including Azure Sea Crystals. Although they were low-grade Heavenly Treasures, their sheer number made them no less potent than ordinary mid-grade Heavenly Treasures.

There were still many Azure Sea Crystals left.

He shook his sleeve, collecting the eighteen Sea Stabilizing Beads and the refining materials from the ground, then walked out of the secluded chamber.

As soon as he stepped out, a sound transmission talisman flew towards him. Wang Changsheng crushed it, and Wang Ruyan's voice rang out: "Husband, I've finished my seclusion and am staying right next door to you."

Wang Ruyan had entered seclusion with Wang Changsheng to switch cultivation techniques. Changing musical cultivation techniques was more troublesome and lacked auxiliary items, whereas Wang Changsheng had the aid of fifth-order spirit water, so his cultivation speed was naturally faster.

Wang Changsheng left his residence, went to the small courtyard with blue tiles next door, and sent a sound transmission talisman.

Soon, the courtyard gate opened, and Wang Ruyan emerged. She was still at the early stage of the Soul Transformation realm, but her aura was significantly stronger than before, not far from the mid-stage.

"Wife, since you came to Xuanyue Island, who is guarding Xuanling Island?" Wang Changsheng asked casually.

"I mentioned it to Martial Uncle Li, and she sent Junior Martial Brother Qin to replace me," Wang Ruyan said. "Husband, it's wonderful that you've advanced to the mid-stage of Soul Transformation! Let's go inside and talk." As she spoke, she invited Wang Changsheng into her residence.

Most of the cultivators stationed on Xuanyue Island belonged to the Ascension Faction. Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan enjoyed more freedom, as their elders and fellow disciples in the sect were quite considerate towards them.

"Wife, I plan to exchange for a different mission with Martial Uncle Li. To obtain the Nine Dragon Pills, we need to accumulate merit points," Wang Changsheng said gravely. They had been in the Xuanyang Realm for over a century and were already familiar with the situation on the Xuanling Continent. Wang Changsheng intended to undertake some sect-assigned missions to accumulate merit points and exchange them for Nine Dragon Pills.

Given the rarity of the Nine Dragon Pills, even if they were auctioned with spirit stones, they might not be able to outbid other forces. Undertaking missions to accumulate merit points would both temper themselves and gather cultivation resources.

"I was thinking the same thing," Wang Ruyan said with some regret. "I heard that Nine Dragon Pills appeared at an auction more than ten years ago, but unfortunately, they required materials for condensing a Dharma Idol for exchange."

"Let's go find Martial Uncle Li together!" Wang Changsheng said, his gaze firm. "We'll take on some simple missions and slowly accumulate merit points. Once our cultivation improves, obtaining the Nine Dragon Pills won't be a problem. In the end, it all comes down to strength. The higher one's cultivation, the stronger one's power, and the greater one's influence."

Wang Ruyan nodded in agreement.

A short while later, Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan appeared before Li Ruxue.

Upon learning their purpose, Li Ruxue nodded and said, "You've been in the Xuanyang Realm for quite some time now, and it's good that you want to go out and gain experience. Unpolished jade cannot become a vessel. Coincidentally, Junior Martial Nephew Chen needs to escort a batch of goods to Golden Toad Island. You can go with him. Junior Martial Nephew Qin and the others can guard Xuanling Island."

"Thank you, Martial Uncle Li, for making this possible," Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan said in unison, their faces full of gratitude.

"Go back and prepare," Li Ruxue instructed. "You'll depart in three days. Learn more from Junior Martial Nephew Chen; you still have much to learn."

Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan repeatedly affirmed, bowed, and withdrew.

They went to the Teleportation Hall and teleported back to Xuanling Island.

Not long after, Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan appeared outside a small valley. A sharp chirping sound was heard, and two Soul-Devouring Golden Cicadas flew out, stopping in front of Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan respectively.

One Soul-Devouring Golden Cicada was of mid-fourth-tier, and the other was of low-fourth-tier.

After more than a century apart, Wang Changsheng's Soul-Devouring Golden Cicada had advanced to the mid-fourth-tier, and Wang Ruyan's had advanced to the low-fourth-tier. Their advancement speed was considered relatively slow.

Shen Yunfei flew out from within the valley, holding an ominous black gourd in his hand.

Seeing Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan, Shen Yunfei bowed and saluted: "Disciple greets Martial Uncle Wang and Martial Uncle Wang."

"Junior Martial Nephew Shen, we are being transferred. You've worked hard these past years. This treasure is for you," Wang Changsheng said, taking out a golden jade box and handing it to Shen Yunfei.

Shen Yunfei repeatedly expressed his gratitude and accepted it.

He took out a blue jade slip, handed it to Wang Changsheng with both hands, and respectfully said, "Martial Uncle Wang, this is the information I've gathered on heavenly materials, earthly treasures, and methods beneficial for the advancement of Soul-Devouring Golden Cicadas."

Wang Changsheng took the jade slip, swept it with his divine sense, and nodded with satisfaction.

They put away their Soul-Devouring Golden Cicadas and departed from Xuanling Island.

A short while later, Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan appeared at the entrance of a courtyard with green bricks and red tiles.

Wang Ruyan sent a sound transmission talisman. Soon, the courtyard gate opened, and Chen Xin walked out, a smile on his face.

"Junior Martial Brother Wang, Junior Martial Sister Wang, Martial Uncle Li has already informed me. Please come in! I'll explain the specific mission to you." As Chen Xin spoke, he invited them into the residence.

Upon entering a secluded small courtyard, Wang Changsheng saw Sun Wu and a short, stout old man sitting by a green stone table, sipping tea and chatting.

The old man had a fair complexion, a round face, small eyes, and a red gourd tied to his waist. Dressed in a red Daoist robe, he gave off an impression of an immortal master. Judging by the powerful spiritual pressure emanating from him, he was clearly also a late-stage Soul Transformation cultivator.

"I am Lu Guanghong," the red-robed old man introduced himself warmly. "Junior Martial Brother Wang, Junior Martial Sister Wang, I've heard Junior Martial Brother Chen speak of you for a long time. It's good to finally meet you in person."

"So it's Senior Martial Brother Lu. We've long admired you," Wang Changsheng said earnestly. "This is our first mission, so we hope Senior Martial Brother Chen and Senior Martial Brother Lu will guide us generously."

"Actually, the mission is very simple," Sun Wu explained. "It's just that the journey is long and will take a lot of time, but there isn't much danger."

"Junior Martial Sister Sun, you shouldn't speak so lightly," Lu Guanghong said sternly, looking very seasoned and prudent. "We still need to be careful. Long journeys are prone to unexpected incidents."

Chen Xin nodded and said, "Junior Martial Brother Lu is right. Long journeys are indeed prone to unexpected incidents, so we must be extra careful. Junior Martial Sister Sun, please explain our mission to Junior Martial Brother Wang and Junior Martial Sister Wang."