Chapter 2067: Closed-Door Cultivation, The Plans of the Deng Family and Qingyun Sect

In a secret chamber on Xuanyue Mountain, Chen Haotian was speaking with Liu Yuning, his expression grim.

"It turns out your second and third senior brothers' demise was indeed connected to the local faction. To dare to arbitrarily order my disciples around—it seems they no longer respect me." Chen Haotian's gaze was dark, his face filled with murderous intent. His two disciples had encountered Void Refinement cultivators from the local faction midway, were assigned important missions, and died, not at the hands of bandits.

"Master, isn't Martial Uncle Li going too far? He actually sent second and third senior brothers to Tianhai Cavern to search for rare treasures. Tianhai Cavern is one of the ten most dangerous places in the Profound Spirit Continent; even Integration stage cultivators risk falling there. Isn't that just sending them to their deaths?" Liu Yuning said with some dissatisfaction. The Ascendant Faction and the local faction frequently clashed in private, previously keeping their disputes within certain bounds. Now, Void Refinement cultivators from the local faction had forcibly assigned two of Chen Haotian's disciples to dangerous missions, and they never returned. Had the two disciples not been cautious enough to send out a message beforehand, Chen Haotian wouldn't even know how his disciples died.

"Yuning, relay my order: have Martial Nephew Chen and the others go to the foreign race's territory to assist your fourth senior brother. Tell them to depart immediately. If Li Xun dares to play the first day, I will play the fifteenth." Chen Haotian said with a cold expression. His fourth disciple had been undercover among the foreign races, constantly gathering intelligence for humanity. Few knew about this.

"What? Master, fourth senior brother is in the foreign race's territory?" Liu Yuning was utterly shocked. She worried that Chen Haotian might be fabricating a reason, which would lead to significant trouble if caught by the Enforcement Hall.

"He has always been among the foreign races, not merely traveling. First, summon Martial Nephew Chen and the others for me; I need to instruct them to rendezvous with your fourth senior brother." Chen Haotian said, his face cold. His fourth disciple had been undercover among the foreign races for many years, enduring great hardships. It was time to bring him back.

Liu Yuning acknowledged, then turned and left.

Not long after, Liu Yuning returned, her expression excited. "Master," she said, "Junior Brother Wang and Junior Sister Wang are back! They've brought back the Qianyang Calamity Dispelling Pills. Take a look?"

"Qianyang Calamity Dispelling Pills? Those are a secret medicine unique to Taiyang Sect! Quickly, invite them in." Chen Haotian was momentarily stunned, then quickly showed delight as he instructed.

Liu Yuning acknowledged, then turned and left.

A moment later, Liu Yuning returned, leading Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan inside.

"Disciples pay their respects to Martial Uncle Chen." Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan bowed respectfully.

"Martial Nephew Wang, Martial Nephew Wang, you've worked hard." Chen Haotian said with a pleasant expression. "Only our own people are truly reliable."

Wang Changsheng took out an exquisite azure jade box and handed it to Chen Haotian, saying respectfully, "Thanks to Martial Uncle Chen's great fortune, this disciple managed to obtain two Qianyang Calamity Dispelling Pills."

Chen Haotian took the jade box, opened it, and saw two light-golden pills inside. The pills had faint purple patterns on their surface and emitted a unique, fragrant aroma.

"Excellent, these are indeed Qianyang Calamity Dispelling Pills. You've done well. Tell me about your experiences at Taiyang Sect. Did True Monarch Taiyang have any messages for me?" Chen Haotian put away the jade box and asked gently.

Wang Changsheng dared not delay. He briefly recounted the events, though he did not mention that he had obtained five Qianyang Calamity Dispelling Pills himself.

Chen Haotian showed an approving expression and said, "Excellent, you've done very well. You haven't shamed our Zhenhai Palace. It was right for me to send you to Taiyang Sect for the celebration."

"Martial Uncle Chen exaggerates; this disciple doesn't deserve such praise." Wang Changsheng said modestly.

Chen Haotian flipped his right hand, and with a flash of blue light, a pale blue jade box appeared in his hand. He handed it to Wang Changsheng and said gently, "You cultivate a water-attribute technique. This piece of Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Soul Jade will be quite beneficial to you. You can refine the Ice Soul Qi within it and release it during combat for an unexpected effect."

"Ice Soul Jade?" Liu Yuning's beautiful eyes were filled with envy. This was a Tier 6 heavenly material and earthly treasure, which could be used for artifact refining or directly refined for its Ice Soul Qi, greatly enhancing the power of ice-attribute Dao techniques.

"Thank you, Martial Uncle Chen." Wang Changsheng said gratefully. He had long heard of the Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Soul Jade and never expected to receive a piece himself.

"I always reward merit and punish transgression. I hear your descendants have already reached the Core Formation stage. Our sect relies on you to pass on its legacy. Have them cultivate diligently and reach the Nascent Soul stage as soon as possible." Chen Haotian spoke earnestly. Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan's acquisition of two Qianyang Calamity Dispelling Pills this time had significantly accelerated his recovery.

Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan assented repeatedly. They also planned to enter secluded cultivation for a period.

"Alright, if there's nothing else, you may withdraw! Cultivate with peace of mind; cultivation is the foundation." Chen Haotian gave a few more instructions, then dismissed Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan.

Upon returning to their residence, Wang Changsheng saw Wang Qingcheng and Wang Qingfeng sitting in a stone pavilion, chatting.

"Father, Mother, you're back." Wang Qingcheng and Wang Qingfeng stood up to greet them, speaking in unison.

"Your cultivation levels are too low. Don't run around recklessly. Stay here and cultivate with peace of mind, reaching the Nascent Soul stage as quickly as possible. We also plan to enter secluded cultivation for a while." Wang Changsheng said gravely, his tone severe.

"Husband, you can cultivate in seclusion with peace of mind! I will be responsible for teaching them." Wang Ruyan said softly. She wanted to properly guide Wang Qingfeng, as his straightforward nature would cause him great trouble in the long run. She hoped Wang Qingfeng would become a bit more tactful, not necessarily identical to Wang Qingcheng, but just a little smoother.

Wang Changsheng understood Wang Ruyan's thoughts. He looked at Wang Qingfeng and instructed, "Qingfeng, I hope you change your temperament, or you will suffer greatly sooner or later."

"Understood." Wang Qingfeng readily agreed, but whether he truly took it to heart, only he knew.

"Father, you can enter seclusion with peace of mind! We will take care of ourselves. By the time you emerge with greatly advanced cultivation, my brother and I will definitely have reached the Nascent Soul stage." Wang Qingcheng said confidently. This was both a congratulation to Wang Changsheng for his cultivation breakthrough and an indirect declaration that he would diligently cultivate.

Hearing this, Wang Changsheng felt much better. Wang Qingcheng truly knew how to speak, unlike Wang Qingfeng, who couldn't utter such words.

He gave a few more instructions, then strode towards a nearby pavilion.

The Kylin Tortoise had already fallen into slumber. Wang Changsheng settled it in one secret chamber, while he himself went to a cultivation room. The two were far apart, ensuring that even if the Kylin Tortoise advanced to Tier 5 and drew a lightning tribulation, it wouldn't disturb Wang Changsheng's cultivation.

Wang Changsheng sat down cross-legged, took out a jade box, and opened it. Inside was a crystal-clear white jade stone, emanating a bone-chilling cold.

As soon as the white jade stone was exposed to the air, the room's temperature plummeted. The ground instantly froze, and the ice layer rapidly spread. A large amount of white ice shavings appeared in the air, then fell, transforming the entire stone chamber into a world of ice and snow.

Wang Changsheng's hands glowed with a soft blue light as he reached for the Ice Soul Jade. His hands immediately froze upon touching the Ice Soul Jade, though the ice layer was not thick. The blue light from Wang Changsheng's palms intensified, and wisps of white cold mist flew out from the Ice Soul Jade, floating in mid-air. Wang Changsheng's gaze was fixed on the Ice Soul Jade. Refining the Ice Soul Qi within it would not be easy.

Xuanyun Mountain was the Deng family's stronghold, perpetually shrouded in mist, making it difficult to discern its interior. Xuanyun Peak was the most important place for the Deng family; only a few select clan members were allowed entry, and others were forbidden from approaching without orders. At the peak of Xuanyun Peak, a ten-thousand-mu bluestone plaza featured a palace built from white jade, situated directly in front of the plaza. The three characters "Xuanyun Hall" were written on its plaque in an elegant, flowing script.

In a secret chamber, a burly old man in golden robes and a graceful young woman in a green skirt stood before a formation spanning over ten thousand zhang. Judging by their spiritual energy fluctuations, they were both Void Refinement stage cultivators. The golden-robed old man had a square face, his tiger-like eyes conveying natural authority without anger, presenting the aura of a superior. The green-skirted young woman's face was like frost, giving the impression of keeping everyone at a thousand li's distance.

The golden-robed old man was Deng Tianyang, the Deng family's Grand Elder, a mid-Void Refinement cultivator. The green-skirted young woman was Deng Tianxue, an early-Void Refinement cultivator.

"Brother, is there really no way to descend to the lower realm?" Deng Tianxue's willow-like eyebrows furrowed, her face full of reluctance. The Deng family's branch in the lower realm had obtained half a page of the Heavenly Void Jade Book, but due to some special reasons, it had fallen into the hands of a newly advanced Spirit Transformation cultivator. The clan members in the lower realm were no match and couldn't reclaim it.

"Without wondrous items like World-Transforming Stones, it's simply impossible. I attempted to send a soul clone down to the lower realm, but it failed. That was originally intended for refining a clone; without potent elixirs, I'll need a thousand years to recover. For now, our only option is to cooperate with the Azure Cloud Sect and ask their lower realm branch, Azure Cloud Palace, to intervene. With the two of them working together, they should be able to subdue this person. After all, this person hasn't been in the Spirit Transformation stage for long, so they shouldn't possess any major divine abilities, just a few spirit treasures." By the end, Deng Tianyang's tone was filled with helplessness.

If the clan members in the lower realm weren't so weak, why would they need to cooperate with the Azure Cloud Sect and share the treasure? If the powerful secret techniques recorded in half a page of the Heavenly Void Jade Book were obtained, the Deng family could very likely soar to prominence, becoming one of the top cultivation families in the Profound Spirit Continent. The Essence Fire Clan was an example of this.

"Hmph, ultimately, the clan members in the lower realm are too useless. The Heavenly Void Jade Book was originally our Deng family's property, yet they had to give it away. I hope we can retrieve it. I also wonder who possessed such great ability to actually cut the Heavenly Void Jade Book in half. Wasn't it rumored to have originated from the Immortal Realm? Could it have been destroyed by a true immortal?" Deng Tianxue's face was full of curiosity. Rumor had it that the Heavenly Void Jade Book was an item passed down from the Immortal Realm.

"Who knows? Everyone says the Heavenly Void Jade Book came from the Immortal Realm, but no one truly knows the facts. However, one thing is certain: the cultivation techniques and secret arts recorded in the Heavenly Void Jade Book are extraordinary. It's said that the Essence Fire Clan obtained one page of the Heavenly Void Jade Book, which led to the emergence of numerous experts, allowing them to become a major clan capable of contending with our human race." Deng Tianyang said indifferently. The Essence Fire Clan was originally just a small group, but it's said they obtained a page of the Heavenly Void Jade Book, and their entire race developed rapidly.

Precisely for this reason, when Deng Tianyang learned that their lower realm clan members had acquired half a page of the Heavenly Void Jade Book, he was ecstatic, believing the Deng family was about to ascend. Who knew that half a page of the Heavenly Void Jade Book would fall into the hands of a cultivator named Wang Mengbin?

Initially, Deng Tianyang intended to descend to the lower realm himself, but he lacked treasures like the Reverse Star Compass, making it impossible to send people down. His attempt to send a soul clone down also failed, which wasn't surprising. If cultivators from the Spirit Realm could descend so easily, high-level cultivators from the Profound Sun Realm would have long since gone down to plunder various cultivation resources and establish talent cultivation bases. Left with no choice, he could only cooperate with the Azure Cloud Sect, having the lower realm Deng family work with Azure Cloud Palace.

Deng Tianyang cast several hand seals, and the grand formation shook violently. Countless runes lit up brightly, all flying upwards. After spinning, they transformed into a dazzling, multi-colored mirror. The mirror surface blurred, and Deng Tianxin appeared on it. They all belonged to the 'Tian' generation, but their seniority was fundamentally different. The Deng family ancestors who arrived in the Spirit Realm redefined the generational names, and the Deng family in the lower realm, having developed for many years, also redefined theirs, leading to this situation where their generational names were the same.

"Grandson pays respects to Ancestor." Deng Tianxin dared not be negligent. He bowed respectfully, his expression nervous.

"You are to immediately go to Azure Cloud Palace and cooperate with their Spirit Transformation cultivators to eliminate this person and reclaim the Heavenly Void Jade Book. It must be recovered. If conditions permit, you can observe from the sidelines and let Azure Cloud Palace's Spirit Transformation cultivators and Wang Mengbin fight among themselves, allowing you to reap the benefits. If that's not feasible, then work together to kill this person. Remember, you absolutely must retrieve the Heavenly Void Jade Book." Deng Tianyang said gravely, his face filled with a murderous aura.

"Yes, Ancestor, this grandson will definitely retrieve the Heavenly Void Jade Book." Deng Tianxin readily agreed.

"Don't worry, I've already negotiated with the Azure Cloud Sect. After recovering the Heavenly Void Jade Book, Azure Cloud Palace will assist your cultivation. Once you reach the mid-Spirit Transformation stage, you can ascend to the Profound Sun Realm. At that time, we will develop our family together. Perhaps in ten thousand years, our clan will become the first True Spirit family in the Profound Spirit Continent." By the end, Deng Tianyang's expression was agitated, his gaze fervent.

"Yes, grandson obeys your command." Deng Tianxin agreed without hesitation; he had no way to refuse.

Deng Tianyang gave a few more instructions, then retracted his hand seals. The golden mirror transformed into specks of spiritual light and dissipated.

"Brother, won't the Azure Cloud Sect go back on their word and monopolize the Heavenly Void Jade Book?" Deng Tianxue remembered something and asked with some concern.

"Don't worry. If he dares to monopolize the Heavenly Void Jade Book, I'll immediately leak the news. The Five Elements Son obtained a page of the Heavenly Void Jade Book, kept it hidden instead of submitting it, and his sect was destroyed, with the Five Elements Son disappearing without a trace. If that old demon Chen of the Azure Cloud Sect isn't afraid of meeting the same fate, then he can monopolize half a page of the Heavenly Void Jade Book." Deng Tianyang sneered, appearing full of confidence.

Deng Tianxue thought it over carefully and found it reasonable.

The Azure Cloud Sect had a legacy of over fifty thousand years. During its peak, it had five Integration stage cultivators and hundreds of thousands of disciples. Later, after several major calamities, the Azure Cloud Sect declined. To this day, the Azure Cloud Sect has three Void Refinement cultivators. Chen Qingyang is the Grand Elder of the Azure Cloud Sect, a mid-Void Refinement cultivator.

In a secret chamber, Chen Qingyang stood before a massive formation. A shimmering silver mirror floated above the formation, and on its surface appeared a graceful young woman in a red dress.

"Remember, help whoever is winning, but most importantly, secure the Heavenly Void Jade Book." Chen Qingyang said gravely, his tone serious.

"Yes, Ancestor, this disciple will definitely retrieve the Heavenly Void Jade Book." The red-skirted young woman readily agreed.

Chen Qingyang nodded, then formed a hand seal. The silver mirror transformed into specks of spiritual light and dissipated.

"Once I get the Heavenly Void Jade Book, will I not hand it over to a major power? Why would I fear your Deng family leaking news, you fool." Chen Qingyang sneered.