Chapter 2186: Cloud Beast

Over a month later, a boundless expanse of azure sea stretched to the horizon. The sky was cloudless, and a gentle sea breeze stirred.

A streak of green light flew from the distant sky with incredible speed. Soon, it halted above a desolate island, and as the light faded, it revealed a gleaming green flying boat. The boat had a pair of green bird wings on each side, and three men and one woman stood upon it—they were Wang Changsheng and his three companions.

"Grandfather, this time it should be correct. This desolate island has abundant spiritual energy. From the layout of the nearby islands and mountain ranges, I believe there might be a spirit stone mine beneath the sea, though the reserves probably aren't large."

Wang Qiuya held a light green compass in her hand, inscribed with countless tiny runes and a silver needle. Her face was full of excitement.

With Wang Changsheng's travel speed, if he had journeyed at full pace, he would have long since reached Snow Goose Market City. However, Wang Qiuya was very interested in searching for mineral veins. Along the way, she had inspected numerous islands to determine if there were any, but all her attempts had failed. She had consulted many ancient texts on searching for mineral veins and possessed deep theoretical knowledge. However, theory is one thing, and practical situations often differ greatly from it. Wang Changsheng was not in a hurry, so he let her wander about, allowing her to search for mineral veins as she pleased.

Wang Sen understood implicitly; his body glowed brightly with green light, and he flew into the sea.

Wang Changsheng formed a hand seal, and the Azure Luan Boat quickly descended onto a steep peak. His immense spiritual sense swept across the entire island, detecting many demonic beasts, including quite a few fourth-tier ones.

The Xuanyang Realm had a vast territory, and the Xuanling Continent alone contained countless islands. This particular island possessed a fourth-tier spiritual vein yet was not occupied by cultivators. In the South Sea of the Dongli Realm, unoccupied islands either had scarce spiritual energy or were in remote locations. In the Xuanyang Realm, however, such ownerless islands were plentiful, a testament to its vast land and sparse population. This island's location was not particularly remote; within a million-li radius, there were hundreds of islands with fourth-tier spiritual veins, none of which were occupied by cultivators. This was because beast tides frequently erupted, making it very risky for cultivators to settle there.

Besides beast tides, there were also natural disasters like sky gales. Powerful sky gales could even obliterate Spirit Transformation cultivators, though gales of such magnitude were truly rare. The human race's higher-ups had always encouraged rogue cultivators or small families to settle and develop on desolate islands rich in spiritual energy, thereby expanding the human race's sphere of influence. However, this initiative yielded meager results. Those with low cultivation levels simply couldn't withstand demonic beasts, while high-level cultivators often moved inland. After all, inland areas were more prosperous, making it easier to gather cultivation resources, and they didn't have to constantly deal with beast tides.

Once, a rogue Spirit Transformation cultivator named Grandmaster Qianyang established the Qianyang Sect here. It developed for over a thousand years, cultivating seven Spirit Transformation cultivators. Had nothing unexpected occurred, the Qianyang Sect might have become glorious. However, a once-in-ten-thousand-year beast tide erupted, featuring sixth-tier demonic beasts. The sect's experts were almost entirely killed or injured, with only a portion of disciples escaping. The Qianyang Sect never recovered its vitality and vanished into the river of history. The Wang family had a sixth-tier defensive formation from its establishment, so defending against sixth-tier demonic beast attacks was not an issue. However, not every force possessed such robust financial resources. Therefore, in this sea region, high-level formation masters were highly sought after and widely acclaimed.

A huge booming sound came from high in the sky, and several streaks of light appeared in the distant firmament, rapidly flying toward them. Wang Qiuya was startled, but then she thought of Wang Changsheng and quickly calmed down.

"It's just Spirit Transformation cultivators fighting; there's no need to worry," Wang Changsheng said. He had noticed these people immediately. Several Spirit Transformation cultivators were engaged in combat, the highest cultivation level being late-stage Spirit Transformation. Besides beast tides and sky gales, conflicts among cultivators were also common. In the past month, they had encountered over a dozen instances of cultivators fighting. If demonic beasts were attacking human cultivators, Wang Changsheng would lend a hand, as he was human. However, if it was human cultivators fighting amongst themselves, he didn't bother to interfere; who could really tell right from wrong?

A deafening explosion rang out, and a huge red mushroom cloud appeared high in the sky. A streak of white light plummeted from above, crashing onto the desolate island, sending dust flying everywhere.

As the smoke and dust dissipated, a several-hundred-zhang-wide crater was revealed. A pale-faced old man in a green robe lay prostrate in the massive pit, with a wisp of white cloud beneath his feet. The green-robed elder had a square face and large eyes, his face covered in wrinkles. He had multiple bloody gashes on his body and was bleeding profusely. The white cloud suddenly solidified, transforming into a small, entirely white beast that lifted the green-robed elder.

"Oh, a Cloud Beast!" Wang Changsheng exclaimed softly, his gaze falling upon the small white beast, his face full of curiosity. Cloud Beasts fed on clouds and mist, were capable of traveling through clouds and fog, could transform into any shape, and were skilled at disguise. This type of demonic beast was difficult to reproduce and very few in number. In the Xuanling Continent, there was once a Xutian Clan that was skilled in spatial divine powers and kept many Cloud Beasts. After the Xutian Clan was destroyed, Cloud Beasts became extinct. Wang Changsheng was surprised to see a Cloud Beast here. Judging by its aura, it was a fourth-tier spirit beast.

Two streaks of light flew from afar. Soon after, they stopped, revealing a stout red-robed Daoist priest and a beautiful young woman in a white dress.

"Void Refinement cultivators!" The red-robed Daoist priest's expression tightened. He bowed respectfully and said, "Junior Liu Nianhang greets Senior. We are acting on Senior Liu's orders to apprehend this person. This individual has harmed innocents and killed many cultivators. We ask Senior to grant us this convenience."

"Harm innocents?" The green-robed elder's face showed mockery, and he laughed heartily. "Your Liu family captures Nascent Soul cultivators, sends them to dangerous places to mine, and then silences them. Who is harming the innocent?"

"Silence! You're blaming the victim. Our Liu family would never do such a thing," the young woman in white snapped coldly.

Wang Changsheng raised an eyebrow and asked, "Senior Liu? Which Senior Liu?"

"Senior Liu from the Liu family of Thousand Bamboo Island. We still ask Senior to grant us this convenience," Liu Nianhang said politely.

"Understood. You may leave!" Wang Changsheng waved his hand. He had no favorable impression of the Liu family. When Wang Qingshan first arrived at Nine Dragon Island, a large-scale beast tide erupted. The scale of the beast tide was so immense that it seemed man-made, and the Liu family naturally had the power and motive to do so.

Liu Nianhang frowned and said, "Senior, this is the person Senior Liu specifically wants apprehended. Senior Liu's great-granddaughter has already joined the Cold Flame Sect, and..."

Before Liu Nianhang could finish speaking, he was interrupted by Wang Changsheng: "Are you deaf? Or do you want me to repeat myself?" Liu Nianhang and the young woman in white felt their heads spinning, and an unbearable sharp pain surged through their spiritual senses, as if their minds were about to tear apart. They broke into a cold sweat. Without a word, they transformed into two streaks of light and vanished into the sky.

The Cloud Beast carried the green-robed elder and flew to Wang Changsheng. The green-robed elder bowed respectfully to Wang Changsheng, expressing gratitude. "Junior Sun Sihai expresses his deepest gratitude for Senior's life-saving grace. May I know Senior's name?"

"Where did you get a Cloud Beast?" Wang Changsheng asked casually.

"Junior purchased it at a high price from the black market. If Senior likes it, I will gladly offer it to Senior," Sun Sihai said sincerely.