Chapter 2305: The Ancestor Is Not Easy to Be

Zhenhai Palace was a vast estate, featuring pavilions, towers, terraces, garden waterside pavilions, rockeries, and gardens.

Fang Ming and Wang Changsheng sat in a blue stone pavilion, sipping tea and chatting.

Upon arriving at Zhenhai Palace, Wang Changsheng immediately went to visit Chen Yueying, but as she was in seclusion for cultivation, he could only seek out Fang Ming.

"Methods for Thunder Spirit Root cultivators to break through to the Void Refinement stage? Our Zhenhai Palace does have them," Fang Ming said, "However, it requires a substantial amount of merit points for exchange."

Fang Ming frowned as he spoke, explaining that the elder in charge of the Scripture Repository belonged to the local faction, so he couldn't offer much direct assistance.

Other items were relatively easy, but Zhenhai Palace placed great importance on cultivation techniques and secret arts, so anyone wishing to exchange for them required a corresponding amount of merit points.

"Senior Brother Fang, since you oversee the Deacon Hall, which tasks currently offer a high amount of merit points?" Wang Changsheng asked earnestly.

"There are a few tasks that offer substantial merit points, but they are very dangerous," Fang Ming said, his tone grave. "You would need to go to the Savage Land to search for Silver Gang Crystals. This is a task posted by Uncle-Master Liu."

"Uncle-Master Liu?" Wang Changsheng was slightly taken aback and asked curiously, "Is that Uncle-Master Liu, the one who practices saber techniques?"

There were not many Integration cultivators in Zhenhai Palace, and only one, Liu Qingfeng, bore the surname Liu. Liu Qingfeng belonged to the local faction.

"Precisely," Fang Ming confirmed. "Silver Gang Crystals are excellent materials for forming saber and sword Dharma Idols. If refined into a magic treasure, they can also enhance its power. I've heard that Silver Gang Crystals can be found in the Savage Land. Junior Brother Chen and his group are preparing to travel to the Savage Land; Junior Brother Wang, you could go with them. These are newly released tasks and all offer substantial merit points."

Fang Ming took out a red-glowing Dharma plate and handed it to Wang Changsheng.

Wang Changsheng examined it closely, and as his palm lightly slid across its surface, various tasks appeared before him, one by one.

Searching for Silver Gang Crystals was considered one of the better options, as there were even more perilous tasks, such as infiltrating foreign territories to gather intelligence or collect cultivation resources, or searching for the inner core of a particular seventh-order demon beast.

"Who are Senior Brother Chen and his group?" Wang Changsheng inquired about these fellow disciples.

"They belong to the local faction," Fang Ming explained. "If you go alone, it would be too dangerous. There are a few other tasks that might suit you, such as searching for the Thunder-Absorbing Stone found within a sixth-order Golden-backed Thunder Ray, or Five-Element materials for condensing a Dharma Idol."

These two materials are not easy to find, and even if found, their scarcity means they wouldn't yield many merit points. However, finding Silver Gang Crystals could be exchanged for a substantial amount of merit points.

"Senior Brother Fang, do you know the location of the Silver Gang Crystals?" Wang Changsheng pressed on.

Fang Ming shook his head and replied, "We know a general direction, but not the specific location. Otherwise, Uncle-Master Liu would have personally intervened. Silver Gang Crystals are seventh-order refining materials. If a sufficient quantity were found, it wouldn't be a problem to refine high-grade Heaven-reaching Spirit Treasures. However, the yield of this material is very low. The few known large Silver Gang crystal veins are all controlled by the Spirit Fire Tribe, so it's rarely seen within human territory."

Wang Changsheng pondered for a moment before making his decision. "Never mind, I'll make the trip myself! If that doesn't work out, I'll find another solution!"

Fang Ming took out a cyan jade slip and handed it to Wang Changsheng, saying, "This contains the general location of the Silver Gang Crystals. The Savage Land is teeming with demon beasts, including many ancient beasts with immense divine abilities. Foreign races also frequent the area. Be extra careful and don't let your guard down."

"Thank you, Senior Brother Fang," Wang Changsheng expressed his gratitude and accepted the jade slip.

Fang Ming took out a golden jade slip and handed it to Wang Changsheng, saying, "If you go to the Savage Land, please help me look out for a material called Golden Mulberry Divine Wood. I need this material to condense my Dharma Idol."

Wang Changsheng swept his divine sense over it, nodded, and assented.

"I'll go back and prepare now. Farewell, Senior Brother Fang."

Wang Changsheng summoned the Azure Luan Boat and jumped aboard. He cast an incantation, and the Azure Luan Boat immediately emitted a dazzling blue light, transforming into a streak of light that shot through the air, disappearing into the horizon.

Upon returning to Azure Lotus Island, Wang Changsheng sent a sound transmission talisman to Wang Ruyan.

Not long after, Wang Ruyan emerged from her secret chamber, her expression solemn.

"Husband, are you going to the Savage Land? Perhaps we should wait until the beast tide passes?" Wang Ruyan suggested.

If Wang Changsheng were to encounter an accident, even if he were merely injured, dealing with the beast tide would become considerably more difficult.

"I wish it were that simple," Wang Changsheng replied. "Meng Bin is no longer young. If we wait for the beast tide to pass, that's at least four or five hundred years. After obtaining the method for breaking through to the Void Refinement stage, it will still take time to make preparations, which could delay his advancement to the Void Refinement stage. My Dharma Idol has condensed by a considerable amount, and my strength has improved significantly. Moreover, with the Nine Heavens Escape Shadow Talisman you refined, I believe there won't be any issues."

Wang Changsheng could afford to wait, but Wang Mengbin might not. Who knew what method Thunder Spirit Root cultivators needed to break through to the Void Refinement stage? What if it required collecting vast quantities of rare materials? How many years and months would it take to gather them all?

An additional four or five hundred years of delay would mean Wang Mengbin would have to wait that much longer. While there were spiritual elixirs in the Profound Sun Realm that prolonged life, each could only be taken once, and taking it a second time would have no effect.

He was currently at the early Void Refinement stage, but his Dharma Idol had condensed considerably, significantly boosting his strength. Most importantly, Wang Shen had already advanced to the Spirit Transformation stage, and with the assistance of spirit beasts like the Twin-Eyed Rat, Wang Changsheng was confident in his abilities.

Wang Qingshan was currently attempting to break through to the Void Refinement stage, and Wang Ruyan needed to remain on Azure Lotus Island, so Wang Changsheng could only make the trip alone.

Wang Changsheng yearned to cultivate in peaceful seclusion, but for the sake of his clan's cultivation paths, he had to make this journey to the Savage Land. If a sufficient quantity of Silver Gang Crystals were obtained, Wang Qingshan, upon entering the Void Refinement stage, could also use them to condense his Dharma Idol.

If he couldn't acquire Silver Gang Crystals, Wang Changsheng would return as quickly as possible and seek other methods.

Wang Ruyan took out a pale green jade box and handed it to Wang Changsheng, saying, "I have refined a fifth-order Talisman Soldier, as well as a Nine Heavens Escape Shadow Talisman and a Nine Origin Concealing Spirit Talisman. I hope these can be of assistance to you."

Wang Changsheng accepted the jade box and instructed, "I will return as soon as possible. Guard Azure Lotus Island well, and do not let anyone disturb Qingshan as he attempts to break through to the Void Refinement stage."

In addition to the Qilin Turtle, Twin-Eyed Rat, Wood Demon, and Gold-Devouring Ant Queen, Wang Changsheng also brought Wang Sen and Wang Shen.

His incarnation, Wang Sen, had already cultivated to the late Spirit Transformation stage, while his clone, Wang Xiangrong, was in seclusion for cultivation. It was therefore opportune to bring the incarnation along.

"Oh, by the way," Wang Ruyan recalled something and took out a blue jade slip, handing it to Wang Changsheng. "Yingjie drew a topographical map. It contains all his observations from the Savage Land. I hope it's useful to you."

Wang Changsheng accepted the jade slip and nodded, saying, "I will return as soon as possible."

Having said this, Wang Changsheng summoned the Azure Luan Boat and jumped onto it.

He cast an incantation, and the Azure Luan Boat suddenly emitted a dazzling blue light, transforming into a streak of blue light that shot through the air, disappearing into the horizon.

Wang Ruyan sighed softly, her eyes filled with worry.

Being the family's patriarch was not easy. Before Wang Qingshan and others had fully matured, Wang Changsheng still needed to exert himself. If Wang Qingshan and his group advanced to the Void Refinement stage, Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan could finally relax a little.

The title of "patriarch" was easy to say, but difficult to embody.