Chapter 2420: Double Joy Arrives

Sixty years, a full cycle, passed quickly.

On Qinglian Island, as twilight fell, the lingering glow of the sunset spilled onto the sea, making the waves shimmer under a gentle sea breeze.

A team of Wang family disciples was patrolling on spirit birds, led by a resolute-faced young man in a golden robe. Wang Liangchen, at the Mid Nascent Soul stage, was a descendant of Wang Mengbin and responsible for leading the patrol. Since the Golden Roc clan's defeat, the number of high-level demonic beasts in this sea area had significantly decreased, making patrols much less dangerous.

Time gradually passed, and the sky slowly darkened. In a short while, they would be able to change shifts.

A streak of red light flew from the distant horizon at great speed.

“Someone’s approaching,” Wang Liangchen instructed, “Stay alert, everyone.” He then stopped.

Not long after, the red light also stopped, revealing a handsome young man in a red robe. His expression was excited, as if he had seen a close relative.

“This is Qinglian Island,” Wang Liangchen said politely, “Unauthorized individuals are not permitted beyond this point.”

“I am Wang Zongyun,” the red-robed youth transmitted, “I ascended from the Lower Realm. Please inform your elders.”

He was indeed Wang Zongyun. Having cultivated to the Mid Soul Transformation stage, he activated the Flying Spirit Array and successfully appeared on Xuanguang Island. Liu Qingyun, who guarded the Ascension Platform, learned he was a Wang family disciple and enthusiastically gave him a sea map, allowing him to travel to Qinglian Island on his own.

When Wang Changsheng returned to the Xuanyang Realm back then, Wang Zongyun was at the Early Soul Transformation stage. Nearly a thousand years had passed, and he had successfully cultivated to the Mid Soul Transformation stage, though his lifespan was now running short.

“Ascended from the Lower Realm?” Wang Liangchen exclaimed. “I’ll inform them immediately. Please wait a moment.”

Wang Liangchen quickly took out a communication plate and contacted the clan elders.

“You all continue patrolling,” Wang Liangchen instructed his clansmen. “Senior, please come with me.” He then flew towards Qinglian Island with Wang Zongyun. He hadn't yet confirmed the newcomer's identity, so he could only address him as ‘Senior’.

About half an hour later, Wang Liangchen returned to Qinglian Island with Wang Zongyun. By this time, the sky had completely darkened, and the island was brightly lit.

Spiritual energy from hundreds of miles around seemed to be guided and flew towards a certain spot. A massive spiritual energy vortex appeared above a valley. A yellow light flew out from within the valley, transforming into a hazy yellow phantom of a giant rat that exuded an aura of supreme dominance.

Seeing this scene, Wang Zongyun was stunned. “Are the spirit beasts in the Xuanyang Realm all this powerful?” he wondered. “I don’t know who raised such a spirit beast.”

A startling scene unfolded: The giant rat phantom let out a strange roar, opened its gaping maw, and spewed out a hazy yellow glow. This glow enveloped the spiritual energy vortex and pulled it into its mouth, where it vanished.

Wang Liangchen seemed to sense something. With a flick of his sleeve, a small, golden mouse crawled out. It was a Treasure-Seeking Mouse, skilled at finding rare heavenly materials and earthly treasures. The golden mouse’s body trembled, as if it had encountered something terrifying.

The giant rat phantom suddenly glowed brightly, then transformed into specks of spiritual light and vanished.

Deafening thunder rumbled from high in the sky, and violent gales suddenly swept across the island. It felt like a hot summer day in June, with a torrential downpour threatening to begin at any moment.

A massive dark cloud suddenly appeared above the valley. It galloped through the sky like an unbridled wild horse, as countless silver electric arcs emerged. Lightning flashed and thunder roared, with lightning snakes dancing wildly.

“Liangchen, quickly bring Zongyun to the council hall.”

A dignified female voice sounded in Wang Liangchen’s ear. Only then did Wang Liangchen react. He led Wang Zongyun to the council hall, where Sun Yuejiao had been waiting for a long time.

Wang Qingcheng was in seclusion, attempting to break through to the Void Refinement stage, so Sun Yuejiao was responsible for managing clan affairs.

“Liangchen, you may go and attend to your duties.” Sun Yuejiao waved her hand and instructed.

Wang Liangchen acknowledged, then turned and left.

On Qinglian Peak, Wang Changsheng stood in a green stone pavilion, gazing at the distant thunderclouds with an excited expression.

“Devouring Divine Light!” Wang Changsheng murmured to himself. “It truly inherited the Bloodline of the Heaven-Devouring Rat!”

The Twin-Eyed Mouse, which had evolved from an ordinary mouse into a spirit beast, had helped him a great deal over the years and had also consumed many rare heavenly materials and demonic cores. The Twin-Eyed Mouse’s ability to inherit the Heaven-Devouring Rat’s bloodline was largely due to its refinement of a Mid-grade Rank Six Spirit-Devouring Mouse’s demonic core.

Rumbling thunder sounded, and a massive silver lightning bolt struck down, heading directly for the Twin-Eyed Mouse. Wang Changsheng was not worried. This trial could only be faced by the Twin-Eyed Mouse itself, and he could not interfere.

He flipped his right hand, and a yellow light flashed as a yellow jade seal appeared in his palm. A miniature qilin was carved onto the seal, emitting terrifying spiritual energy fluctuations. The Yellow Qilin Seal, a Mid-grade Heavenly Spirit Treasure, was the first of its kind Wang Changsheng had forged, designed as an offensive artifact. If not for obtaining many forging materials from the Deng family and Qingyun Sect, Wang Changsheng would have needed much more time to forge a Mid-grade Heavenly Spirit Treasure; after all, even a clever chef cannot cook without ingredients. This treasure was forged by him for Wang Qingcheng. If Wang Qingcheng successfully advanced to the Void Refinement stage, this artifact would undoubtedly be a great asset.

Wang Changsheng put away the Yellow Qilin Seal and observed the Twin-Eyed Mouse undergoing its tribulation.

Massive silver lightning bolts tore through the sky, illuminating the entire Qinglian Island as if it were day. The silver lightning carried an aura of destruction, heading straight for the Twin-Eyed Mouse below.

Wang Changsheng took out a communication plate from his robes and struck a spell into it. Sun Yuejiao’s voice then sounded: “Father, Zongyun has ascended from the Lower Realm.”

“Have him come to Qinglian Peak,” Wang Changsheng instructed. “I have some questions for him.”

“Alright, I’ll bring him over immediately.”

Putting away the communication plate, Wang Changsheng was all smiles. Wang Zongyun’s ascension to the Xuanyang Realm and the Twin-Eyed Mouse’s attempt to break through to Rank Six were a double blessing.

Not long after, Wang Zongyun arrived at Qinglian Peak.

“Your grandson pays his respects, Old Ancestor.” Wang Zongyun quickly bowed with an excited expression.

Sun Yuejiao had given him four portions of spiritual pills and miraculous medicines that extended life, which could extend his lifespan by over 1,500 years. In the Lower Realm, this was something he couldn’t even dream of.

Wang Changsheng inquired about the situation of the family in the Lower Realm. Wang Zongyun answered truthfully: the Wang family’s development was progressing well. Currently, there were two Soul Transformation cultivators in the Lower Realm, as well as a Rank Five puppet beast, so there were no major issues.

“How is the Profound Sky Immortal Vine growing?” Wang Changsheng pressed.

“The same as before,” Wang Zongyun shook his head. “We tried many methods, but none worked.”

“I understand,” Wang Changsheng nodded. “You may go and rest now!”

Lightning flashed and thunder roared high in the sky, as bolts of lightning struck down one after another. After the time it takes to steep a cup of tea, only two more lightning tribulations remained.

The thunderclouds churned violently like boiling water, and suddenly, green, red, and blue electric arcs emerged.

“Three-colored Divine Lightning!”

Wang Changsheng’s expression tightened. Since the Twin-Eyed Mouse had inherited the Heaven-Devouring Rat’s bloodline, the power of the lightning tribulation was also greater. Fortunately, there were only two more lightning tribulations, so it should be able to withstand them.

In a smoking giant pit, the Twin-Eyed Mouse lay prone, its body charred black. Its body twitched, and many charred clumps of earth fell away, revealing yellow soil beneath.

After the rumbling thunder sounded, a three-colored lightning spear, over a hundred zhang long, tore through the sky and instantly struck the Twin-Eyed Mouse. Following a pained cry, the Twin-Eyed Mouse was engulfed by the three-colored lightning, and powerful shockwaves spread outwards, raising clouds of dust.