Chapter 2413: Layout (None Today)

Wang Yuanjiang was deeply moved and excited, witnessing Wang Yingjie undergo tribulation was a significant shock to him.

As cultivators offered congratulations to Wang Mengbin, Wang Yingjie was attempting to break through to the Integration Stage. He successfully attracted two-colored divine lightning and passed the Six-Nine Thunder Tribulation, thereby entering the Integration Stage.

When Wang Ruhuan and Wang Qingshan attempted to reach the Integration Stage, they only drew ordinary lightning. However, Wang Changsheng, Wang Mengbin, and Wang Yingjie attracted other forms of lightning during their breakthroughs. This signified a transformation, indicating they had received the Dao of Heaven's approval.

It was unfortunate that Wang Ruhuan had not yet managed to refine the Heavenly Thunder Spirit Transformation Talisman. Otherwise, Wang Yingjie would not have been so severely injured. When Wang Qingshan and Wang Mengbin broke through to the Integration Stage, they had the Five-Element Thundercloud Talismans to use, which weakened the power of the tribulation, so their injuries were not as severe.

Wang Yingjie didn't have such good timing and suffered serious injuries, relying only on a few fifth-tier defensive talismans.

He would need at least several centuries to fully recover. Fortunately, Integration Stage cultivators have no lifespan limitations, so a few centuries is not a long time for them.

After this unexpected event, Song Yunwu did not mention sparring again.

The Wang family's rise was unstoppable, but since Song Yunlong was an Apotheosis Stage cultivator, the Song family could still hold an advantage over the Wang family.

There is a huge gap between Apotheosis Stage and Integration Stage cultivators. Even if the Wang family had twenty Integration Stage cultivators, their influence would not surpass the Song family's. At the very least, when Zhenhai Palace assigned tasks, the Song family could now refuse, whereas the Wang family did not have the confidence to do so.

"Many thanks to all fellow cultivators for traveling such a long distance to congratulate me. I'd like to toast to all of you."

Wang Mengbin raised his wine cup and toasted the cultivators, who all returned his gesture.

After more than an hour of casual conversation, the guests gradually departed.

Wang Mengbin returned to the secret chamber to check on Wang Yingjie's injuries.

The dead skin on Wang Yingjie's body had already peeled off, and he had changed into new clothes; he could now walk.

However, his face was pale, his expression haggard, and he was still very weak.

"Finally, I've entered the Integration Stage."

Wang Yingjie exhaled a long breath, his expression filled with excitement.

He had never imagined that he, a five-element spirit root cultivator, could reach this stage.

Recalling the past, Wang Yingjie was filled with emotion. In the lower realm, it was difficult for a five-element spirit root cultivator to even reach the Core Formation Stage, let alone the Nascent Soul or Spirit Transformation Stages. Everyone around him advised him to give up cultivation and simply live as a wealthy mortal. But he refused to accept his fate, firmly believing that heaven rewards diligence and that his destiny was in his own hands.

He was grateful for his past efforts and also for his family's help.

He cultivated diligently and also benefited from the family's growth. Other five-element spirit root cultivators either didn't work as hard as he did or couldn't capitalize on the family's development. He was the first five-element spirit root cultivator in the clan to achieve such success.

Without either his diligence or the family's developmental benefits, Wang Yingjie might not have reached where he was today.

He resolved to cultivate even harder and to help the family develop further, providing a better environment for clan members so that more five-element spirit root cultivators would have the opportunity to progress further on the path of immortality.

"I can't believe you attracted two-colored divine lightning, and thankfully it was only two bolts."

Wang Mengbin sighed, having exhausted the power of his Five-Element Thundercloud Talismans during his own tribulation, otherwise, he would have saved them for Wang Yingjie.

"I also didn't expect to attract two-colored divine lightning. If there had been just one more, I surely wouldn't have survived."

Wang Yingjie said with a bitter smile. Sixth-tier defensive talismans were rare; once they appeared on the market, they were quickly snatched up.

Activating high-tier talismans doesn't require much magical power, but wielding Heaven-Reaching Spirit Treasures demands a lot. Therefore, even with high-tier formations or treasures, if the tribulation-undergoer lacks sufficient magical power, their full power cannot be unleashed.

Wang Yingjie also had defensive Heaven-Reaching Spirit Treasures, but his magical power was insufficient to fully utilize them, so he could only use fifth-tier defensive talismans.

Liu Hongxue could refine Golden Sun Elixirs, which could restore magical power in a short period. Wang Yingjie took multiple Golden Sun Elixirs to sustain enough magical power until the end. However, too many magical power recovery elixirs taken at once could diminish their effect.

If he had possessed a sixth-tier defensive talisman or a sixth-tier magical power recovery elixir, Wang Yingjie would not have been so severely injured, but unfortunately, he had neither.

In recent years, the Wang family had also dispatched people to collect sixth-tier talismans or elixirs. Most sixth-tier talismans on the market were auxiliary or offensive; defensive ones were particularly rare. Everyone wished for a sixth-tier defensive talisman when undergoing tribulation. Most sixth-tier elixirs improved magical power, while sixth-tier elixirs for recovering magical power were relatively uncommon.

The Wang family possessed sixth-tier elixir formulas and methods for refining sixth-tier defensive talismans, but they lacked talent in these areas. If Liu Hongxue or Wang Qiuyu advanced to the Integration Stage and refined sixth-tier magical power recovery elixirs, it would be much easier for clan members to break through to the Integration Stage. It was like planting trees for future generations to enjoy the shade.

"Heal well! The family treasury has some five-element materials for solidifying Dharmic Forms, all brought back by our ancestors. We are truly fortunate to have materials to solidify our Dharmic Forms as soon as we enter the Integration Stage."

Wang Mengbin sighed, most Integration Stage cultivators spent thousands of years just to find one set of materials to solidify their Dharmic Forms. Dharmic Form materials were rarely auctioned for spirit stones; they were either traded for treasures, sought through exploration, or seized from enemies.

Wang Yingjie nodded and said, "Our ancestors have helped us. When we grow stronger, we must also help them find materials. A family must be united."

Wang Mengbin's face showed a look of satisfaction. He gave a few more instructions, then turned and left.

Upon returning to his residence, Wang Mengbin began to cultivate.

He closed his eyes, and countless silver electric arcs surged around his body.

In Tianji Valley, on a spacious and bright bluestone plaza, there were many small stalls. The cultivators manning the stalls varied greatly in cultivation level, and the items displayed were diverse.

Deng Qingwu, a member of the Deng family from Dengyun Mountain, was currently at the mid-Nascent Soul Stage. As Celestial Sage Tianji had advanced to the Apotheosis Stage, she had the good fortune to accompany Deng Tianyang to Tianji Sect for the celebration.

The celebration had not yet begun, so they were temporarily active in Tianji Valley, either purchasing cultivation resources, befriending elite disciples from other sects, or exchanging insights with cultivators of similar cultivation levels.

She browsed around, hoping to stumble upon a good find.

After a while, she suddenly quickened her pace and stopped in front of a small stall. The stall owner was a portly man in golden robes, at the early Nascent Soul Stage. His stall displayed some refining materials and five spirit treasures.

Beside the spirit treasures was a sign that read: "Trade for items of equal value, no sales."

Deng Qingwu's gaze fell on a glowing red spherical pearl. She asked, "Fellow cultivator, how about I trade you two bottles of Blood Locust Pills, a thousand-year-old Profound Cloud Wood, and two pieces of Profound Core Jade for this spirit treasure? The Blood Locust Pills are healing elixirs."

"Blood Locust Pills? I haven't heard of them. Could you let me see?"

The golden-robed man frowned and said.

Deng Qingwu took out a blood-colored jade bottle and handed it to the golden-robed man.

The golden-robed man pulled out the stopper, poured out a blood-red pill, sniffed it lightly, and then, looking thoughtful, shook his head and said, "No elixirs. Let's trade for other materials!"

Cultivators generally do not consume elixirs of unknown origin. They typically purchase them from large, reputable shops.

Deng Qingwu didn't think much of it and took out several other materials for the golden-robed man to examine.

The two haggled, and eventually, the exchange was successful. Deng Qingwu left with the spirit treasure.

Time passed by. Some cultivators exchanged items with the golden-robed man; some exchanges were successful, others failed.

As dusk fell, the golden-robed man's stall was almost empty, so he packed up and left.

About fifteen minutes later, the golden-robed man appeared in a secluded small courtyard. His features blurred, then restored to Wang Changsheng's face.

He couldn't be sure when Deng Tianyang would leave the Tianji Sect, nor could he be certain that Deng Tianyang would return to Xuanyun Mountain afterward. He could only act on the younger generation of the Deng family.

Over the past two days, he had disguised himself as a Nascent Soul cultivator, approaching the Deng family's Nascent Soul cultivators, either through exchange or sale, and traded two spirit treasures bearing his unique mark to two of the Deng family's Nascent Soul cultivators. Even a Spirit Transformation cultivator wouldn't detect anything unusual.

The Twin-Eyed Rat crawled out from Wang Changsheng's embrace. Wang Changsheng took out a few materials with Deng Qingwu's scent on them, allowing the rat to memorize her scent as a double assurance.

What he needed to do now was wait until the celebration ended and Deng Tianyang left the Tianji Sect before making his move.