Chapter 2132: 2115 Wang Changsheng Breaks Through

More than three months passed quickly.

They were inside a hidden underground ice cave. Wang Ruyan sat cross-legged on the ground. In front of her lay a light blue animal hide, which, upon closer inspection, was a topographical map. Some areas were marked with red dots, others with green, and some with blue. These marks indicated places they had passed through. Some locations contained rare fruits, exotic herbs, or unique minerals that they hadn't had time to collect for various reasons. They had specially drawn this map, hoping it would be a valuable reference for future generations who might enter this area.

Wang Ruyan's injuries were not fatal, and having taken the Golden Scale Jade Sun Pill, she was recovering relatively quickly. Wang Changsheng's injuries were more severe. However, as a body cultivator, it was unusual for him to be in seclusion for over three months.

Wang Ruyan hadn't been idle. She had controlled the Five-Element Talisman Soldiers to explore the surroundings, discovering two sixth-tier demon beast lairs. Both contained ice-attribute spiritual herbs that were six to seven thousand years old, but her strength was insufficient to acquire them. In her free time, Wang Ruyan organized the topographical maps Wang Changsheng had obtained and drew new ones. As the saying goes, "one generation plants trees, the next enjoys the shade." This new map would provide great convenience for future generations searching for treasures in the Profound Spirit Grotto-Heaven.

With a crisp "crack," an ice wall suddenly shattered into pieces. Wang Changsheng emerged, his face ruddy, eyes bright and piercing, and his aura significantly stronger than before.

"Oh, husband, you've reached the perfected Nascent Soul stage?" Wang Ruyan exclaimed, surprised. For Wang Changsheng to achieve this in such a short time, she surmised he had most likely consumed an Azure Moon Peach.

"I consumed an Azure Moon Peach and successfully reached the perfected Nascent Soul stage," Wang Changsheng explained. "With this, if we encounter a sixth-tier demon beast again, we won't be so desperate, and our chances of survival will increase." He elaborated that it was fortunate he possessed the Azure Moon Peach; otherwise, it would have been very difficult to elevate his cultivation to the perfected Nascent Soul stage in such a short period. This breakthrough meant that their combined magical power, when working together, could reach the initial stage of Void Refinement, making them much more formidable in combat.

There was still over a month until the Profound Spirit Grotto-Heaven closed, so they had enough time. Wang Ruyan nodded and suggested, "I found two sixth-tier demon beast lairs here, containing spiritual herbs that are six to seven thousand years old. Should we try to get them?"

"No," Wang Changsheng firmly shook his head, rejecting her proposal. "We don't have enough time. We already have plenty of thousand-year-old spiritual herbs. If we get injured by a sixth-tier demon beast, we won't be able to acquire the Nine Thunder Bamboo or Profound Light True Water. Obtaining a seventy-thousand-year-old Nine Thunder Bamboo is far more valuable than a hundred six-thousand-year-old ice-attribute spiritual herbs." He was very clear about his priorities: the Nine Thunder Bamboo was crucial for establishing their own family territory, and that was paramount.

"You're right," Wang Ruyan agreed. "There's no time to lose; let's leave this place immediately!" Her suggestion had also been driven by the desire to accumulate more cultivation resources so that the first few generations of their family wouldn't have to worry about them. As the saying goes, "one generation plants trees, the next enjoys the shade." They knew some hardships had to be endured by them. If they didn't suffer these hardships, their descendants would. If they did, their descendants would suffer less. Being a founding ancestor was truly difficult! The founding ancestors of all cultivation families had gone through similar experiences.

After exiting the underground ice cave, Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan dared not fly too high, to avoid being targeted by sixth-tier demon birds. Two hours later, Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan appeared above an endless range of emerald green mountains, their escape speed not particularly fast.

"Oh, someone's coming," Wang Changsheng said, frowning. He stopped atop a steep peak as his divine sense detected three Nascent Soul cultivators flying toward them, one of whom had a relatively weak aura. Their communication artifacts showed no reaction, indicating the approaching individuals were not disciples of Zhenhai Palace, but cultivators from other factions.

Wang Changsheng flicked his sleeve, and a gleaming azure spherical bead flew out, exuding astonishing spiritual energy. This was the mid-grade Sky-reaching Spirit Treasure, the Azure Chi Pearl, capable of concealing one's presence, which he had obtained from True Monarch Black Tortoise's secluded cultivation cave. Wang Changsheng performed a hand seal, and the Azure Chi Pearl spun rapidly, emitting a large amount of azure mist that enveloped both of them. A gentle breeze blew, and the azure mist vanished, along with Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan.

Less than a quarter of an hour later, a deafening explosion echoed from a distance, and a massive crimson mushroom cloud appeared high in the sky. The crimson mushroom cloud suddenly burst, and a swirling azure hurricane swept out, soaring toward the sky. A piercing whoosh sounded, and a colossal, flickering crimson blade of light suddenly appeared in the sky, splitting the azure hurricane in half. Several mountain peaks were shattered by its strike, raising clouds of dust.

A blue light glowed in the void near where Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan were hidden, revealing an elderly man in an azure python robe. The old man had a round, plump, and pale face, with small eyes filled with terror and sweat beading on his forehead. A miniature flood dragon was embroidered on his sleeve, identifying him as a disciple of the Dragon Family from Golden Flood Dragon Valley.

"Long Yunfeng, do you think you can escape? Return what you stole from us. You're tired of living, daring to seize our possessions!" A cold, ruthless female voice suddenly rang out.

As her voice faded, the ground shook violently. Hundreds of thick azure thorns burst from the earth, instantly growing and weaving into an azure wooden wall over a thousand zhang tall, blocking Long Yunfeng's path. With a flash of azure light, a stick-thin elderly man in a green robe, with sunken eyes and an indifferent expression, stood atop the azure wooden wall. Judging by his attire, he was clearly a disciple of the Mysterious Azure Sect.

A massive explosion reverberated from high in the sky. A five-colored fire cloud suddenly appeared, violently churning before unleashing a torrent of five-colored fireballs that rained down on Long Yunfeng. Long Yunfeng's face turned pale. He quickly conjured a shimmering azure banner, giving it a fierce shake. The banner glowed with dazzling azure light, and a swirling azure gale swept out. As the five-colored fireballs touched the azure gale, they instantly burst open. A series of thunderous explosions rang out, and an area of over ten li was engulfed by a sea of five-colored flames. The temperature was terrifyingly high, turning the earth and rocks a fiery crimson.

A streak of red light flew in from the distance, revealing a voluptuous young woman in a golden dress. Her skin was as fair as snow, and a golden flame mark adorned her brow. Her magical power fluctuations indicated she was a perfected Nascent Soul cultivator, and her attire clearly marked her as a disciple of the Nine Flames Sect. In her hand, the young woman held a shimmering crimson short blade, exuding astonishing spiritual energy. With a gentle flick of her wrist, a piercing whoosh sounded, and thousands of crimson blade energies swept forth like a death net, engulfing Long Yunfeng. Long Yunfeng hastily cast spells to defend himself. A series of thunderous explosions erupted as thousands of crimson blade energies shattered over a dozen mountain peaks.

Left with no choice, Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan revealed themselves.

"Zhenhai Palace!" The young woman in the golden dress's face darkened. She recognized Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan from their gathering in a large hall before entering the Profound Spirit Grotto-Heaven.