Chapter 2169: Dialogue with Taiyang Zhenren, News

Spring turned to autumn, and a year passed swiftly.

Golden Turtle Island, the headquarters of the Taiyang Sect.

Inside Taiyang Palace, Wang Qingshan sat cross-legged on a blue meditation mat, holding a cyan jade slip. A pensive expression crossed his face.

At Yang Hongji's earnest invitation, Wang Qingshan took up residence at the Taiyang Sect, ensuring its tranquility.

In return, the Taiyang Sect presented a piece of Heavenly Flame Divine Crystal, a fifth-tier refining material.

Additionally, the Taiyang Sect assisted Wang Qingshan in gathering intelligence and collecting cultivation resources.

The Sky Sea Realm is a direct subordinate realm of the Xuanyang Realm. One can ascend upon reaching the mid-stage of the Soul Transformation realm, but the exact ascension point remains uncertain. After ascending to the Xuanyang Realm, the Taiyang Sect's patriarch unexpectedly found himself in the barbaric lands. There, he not only faced relentless pursuit by savage beasts but also had to endure a minor heavenly tribulation. It was only after multiple life-or-death encounters that he finally returned to the Profound Spirit Continent.

Wang Qingshan could ascend now, but he needed a secure location. He had to ensure he would ascend to human territory within the Profound Spirit Continent; landing in a non-human area would be a death sentence.

Having almost lost his life traversing parallel realms, he was even more cautious about ascending to the upper realm. He planned to prepare several more treasures and ideally wait for True Monarch Taiyang to send someone down, then travel to the Xuanyang Realm with them.

His current task was to gather more precious items, protect the Taiyang Sect, and foster goodwill before the reinforcements sent by True Monarch Taiyang arrived.

A voice transmission talisman flew in, landing before him.

He crushed the talisman, and Yang Hongji's voice suddenly rang out: "Senior Wang, we've used the formation to contact our patriarch. Please come quickly; the formation won't hold much longer."

Wang Qingshan's eyes lit up, and he immediately walked out.

Yang Hongji stood outside Taiyang Palace, looking tense.

"We've contacted our ancestor in the Ancestral Hall. Senior Wang, please follow me."

After speaking, Yang Hongji transformed into a streak of light and flew off into the distance. Wang Qingshan promptly followed.

Shortly after, they arrived at a ten-thousand-mu bluestone plaza. Two statues stood prominently in the plaza: one of True Monarch Taiyang, and the other of Wang Qingshan.

Grateful for Wang Qingshan's benevolence, Yang Hongji dispatched artisans to swiftly create a statue of Wang Qingshan. He also ensured Wang Qingshan's act of rescue was recorded in the Taiyang Sect's annals, to be forever remembered by its disciples.

Yang Hongji understood clearly that if their patriarch had not been in the Xuanyang Realm, Wang Qingshan might not have agreed to protect the Taiyang Sect. Without a Soul Transformation realm cultivator in residence, the Taiyang Sect would not have survived this crisis. The Profound Jade Palace, once as renowned as the Taiyang Sect, had already been annihilated by the Blood Shadow Clan.

Wang Qingshan cared little for fleeting fame, yet Yang Hongji's actions brought him considerable satisfaction. No one wished to aid an ungrateful individual, and those who showed gratitude were more likely to receive help again in the future.

Behind the statues stood a magnificent palace, its plaque emblazoned with the three characters: "Ancestral Hall."

Inside the Ancestral Hall, they entered a side chamber. There, a thousand-zhang-wide magic formation filled the room. At its center lay a small piece of Golden Ring Divine Crystal, and a humanoid phantom floated above the formation – it was True Monarch Taiyang.

"Junior Wang Qingshan, greets senior."

Wang Qingshan spoke respectfully, a hint of nervousness in his expression.

He had already learned from Yang Hongji that True Monarch Taiyang was currently an Integration realm cultivator; above the Soul Transformation realm were the Void Refinement, Integration, and Mahayana realms.

"Young friend Wang, there's no need for such formality. Thank you for your assistance; I am immensely grateful. This Golden Ring Divine Crystal won't last much longer, so I will be brief. I attempted to use a soul clone to descend to the lower realm, but unfortunately, it failed. Without extraordinary treasures like a Boundary-Breaking Plate, cultivators from the Xuanyang Realm cannot descend. However, I have contacted the Azure Profound Sect, and they have already dispatched three Soul Transformation cultivators to the lower realm. Once you help them deal with the Blood Shadow Clan, they will bring you up."

To send a soul clone to a lower realm, a Realm-Transforming Stone is essential; otherwise, the clone would be annihilated by the realm's inherent power.

True Monarch Taiyang possessed only one Realm-Transforming Stone and personally attempted the descent, which ended in failure. This demonstrated the immense difficulty of sending a soul clone to a lower realm, a feat largely dependent on luck. After one failure, attempting this secret art again would not only necessitate centuries or even longer for recovery but also require another Realm-Transforming Stone.

Left with no other option, he could only turn to the Azure Profound Sect for help. Fortunately, they had already dispatched cultivators to the lower realm.

"What? It failed?"

Wang Qingshan's expression turned grim. He had been counting on accompanying the Taiyang Sect cultivators to the Xuanyang Realm!

"To perform a soul clone descent requires a Realm-Transforming Stone, which is a single-use consumable. I only possessed one. I've already communicated with the Azure Profound Sect; they will send someone to contact you. Once the Blood Shadow Clan is dealt with, they will escort you to the Xuanyang Realm. Also, it's highly likely that the Sky Sea Realm contains exceptionally rare cultivation resources; otherwise, the Azure Profound Sect wouldn't have dispatched their people. If you can bring any up, I will certainly reward you generously."

True Monarch Taiyang's tone was laden with allure.

The Taiyang Sect was personally founded by True Monarch Taiyang, and he held deep affection for it, which motivated his desire to descend. However, the Azure Profound Sect deploying a Boundary-Breaking Plate to send three Soul Transformation cultivators to the lower realm was certainly not an act of pure benevolence.

"Rare cultivation resources?"

Wang Qingshan was slightly taken aback.

"What exactly they are, I do not know. I originally intended to borrow the Azure Profound Sect's Boundary-Breaking Plate to send my own disciples down, but they refused, which certainly suggests an underlying issue. If you are concerned about exploitation by the Azure Profound Sect, you can ascend to the Xuanyang Realm from other locations. I know of a few spots, but I cannot guarantee they are within the human territories of the Profound Spirit Continent."

True Monarch Taiyang then listed several locations. He recalled his own ascension to the barbaric lands, where he barely survived and subsequently triggered a minor heavenly tribulation.

Wang Qingshan wished to say more, but True Monarch Taiyang's phantom flickered incessantly before abruptly dissolving.

"Oh no, the power of the Golden Ring Divine Crystal is depleted."

Yang Hongji exclaimed, his face contorting in distress.

"The Azure Profound Sect, rare cultivation resources."

Wang Qingshan murmured to himself, a pensive look on his face.

Yang Hongji retrieved a shimmering magic disk from his robes, cast a spell, and furrowed his brow.

"Senior Wang, a senior named Sun has arrived. He claims to be from the Azure Profound Sect. What are your instructions?"

Yang Hongji asked cautiously.

"Invite him in immediately, to the Reception Hall!"

Wang Qingshan instructed.

Yang Hongji acknowledged, cast a spell, and made a series of gestures.

"Is there no more Golden Ring Divine Crystal?"

Wang Qingshan pointed at the grayish-white ore and asked with a frown.

Yang Hongji offered a wry smile. "No, that was the last small piece. Perhaps the people from the Azure Profound Sect have some."

Wang Qingshan nodded and strode out.

Upon reaching the Reception Hall, Wang Qingshan settled into the main seat.

Shortly thereafter, a red streak of light flew in, revealing a gaunt, red-robed old man whose aura was noticeably stronger than Wang Qingshan's.

"I am Sun Feng. Are you Fellow Daoist Wang?"

The red-robed old man asked, his tone stern.

"Indeed. What guidance do you have, Fellow Daoist Sun?"

Wang Qingshan replied courteously.

"Presumably, Fellow Daoist Wang has already made contact with True Monarch Taiyang! Cooperate with us to resolve the invading Blood Shadow Clan, and we will take you to the Xuanyang Realm as a matter of course."

Sun Feng spoke in a commanding tone. Although both were Soul Transformation cultivators, the divine abilities and secret arts mastered by those from the Xuanyang Realm far surpassed what lower-realm cultivators could achieve, not to mention his own numerous treasures.