Chapter 244: Flying Phoenix Valley

"No matter what, Uncle Seven, please pay more attention when our clansmen go out," Wang Changsheng urged with some lingering unease.

"I've already given instructions: no one is to leave the market city without good reason. If they must leave, they must travel in groups. Changsheng, Ruyan, given what's happened, could you delay your departure? It would be good to have you here if something major occurs." Wang Changsheng nodded in agreement. Even if Wang Mingzhong hadn't suggested it, he wouldn't have been in a hurry to leave.

After chatting for a while, Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan went to rest.

"Husband, you don't think something bad is going to happen, do you? What a coincidence that an Incense Burning Sect popped up at this very moment." Wang Changsheng shook his head and said, "I don't know. Let's wait and see. We'll postpone our departure for a while. If nothing happens, we'll set off later. I'll use this opportunity to try refining a second-tier high-grade puppet beast."

Wang Changsheng was already capable of refining high-grade magical artifacts. His Profound Ice Banner had been upgraded to a high-grade magical artifact, with the essence soul of a second-tier high-grade ice dragon incorporated into it. Over twenty years had passed since he could refine mid-grade magical artifacts to when he could refine high-grade ones, which showed just how difficult artifact refining was. It was somewhat regrettable that he hadn't yet been able to refine a second-tier high-grade puppet beast.

Over a month later, news of the Incense Burning Sect's destruction reached Qingyue Market City. The Five Sects confirmed that a few rogue cultivators were merely using the sect's name to cause confusion. Although the Incense Burning Sect was gone, Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan, out of caution, stayed in Qingyue Market City for two more months.

Wang Qingjing followed Wang Mingmei to learn how to refine puppet beasts. She was lively and active, and Wang Mingmei was very fond of her.

Wang Changsheng bid farewell to Wang Mingzhong, and then he and Wang Ruyan departed from Qingyue Market City.

The State of Yu was one of several large states controlled by the Taiyi Immortal Sect, vast in territory and populous. The Lijiang River was the largest river within the State of Yu, cutting across more than half of the state, making water transportation extremely convenient.

A small blue boat drifted downstream. A blue lotus flower was carved on its hull, and inside the boat were a man and a woman. The man was tall, dressed in a blue scholar's robe, and the woman wore a long purple dress, with fair skin, appearing as a young married woman. She held a half-zhang long azure pipa, marked with an azure lotus flower. They were indeed Wang Changsheng and his wife.

By this time, they had been away from the State of Wei for three years. Heaven and Earth Spirit Water was extremely rare and hard to come by, but large market cities had a higher chance of possessing it. There was a large market city named Feifeng Valley within the State of Yu, and Feifeng Valley was the destination of Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan's journey.

The sound of the pipa was clear and melodious, pleasing to the ear and uplifting the spirits. Wang Changsheng held a blue book, reading with great interest.

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the Blue Lotus Boat arrived amidst a continuous mountain range. Wang Changsheng suddenly put down his book and struck the Blue Lotus Boat beneath him with a spell. The boat glowed intensely and immediately soared into the air. At the same time, a dark shadow emerged from the riverbed—it was a huge blue python, which opened its mouth and spat out dozens of blue water arrows, shooting towards Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan. Judging by its aura, the blue python was a second-tier low-grade demonic beast.

A cold glint flashed in Wang Ruyan's beautiful eyes. Her slender fingers swiftly swept across the pipa strings, and the pipa's melody became rapid. A large expanse of azure sound waves surged out, and as soon as the dozens of blue water arrows touched them, they disintegrated. The azure sound waves quickly swept past the blue python's head, making it feel dizzy, as if it had been struck by a heavy object. Two thin azure threads flew from Wang Ruyan's sleeve, instantly piercing the blue python's eyes, blinding it. With a few sharp whistling sounds, three azure arrows flew forth, piercing its head.

Working together, Wang Changsheng and his wife easily annihilated the second-tier low-grade demonic python. Of course, Wang Ruyan used a mid-grade magical artifact, and Wang Changsheng used a high-grade magical artifact; otherwise, it wouldn't have been so easy to kill the demonic python.

The blue python's body quickly fell towards the river, but two azure threads swiftly wrapped around it, pulling its corpse into mid-air.

"You two fellow Daoists truly have remarkable skills, to kill a second-tier low-grade demonic beast so quickly. Pan is impressed." A hearty male voice rang out. As soon as the words fell, a beam of azure light flew from a distance with extreme speed. In less than three breaths, the azure light stopped directly opposite Wang Changsheng. The azure light receded, revealing a middle-aged Daoist priest in his forties. The middle-aged Daoist had a fair, beardless face, regular features, and a wisp of a goatee. He wore an azure Daoist robe and possessed a cultivation of the fourth layer of the Foundation Establishment stage. Beneath his feet was an azure leaf-shaped magical artifact.

The middle-aged Daoist cupped his hands and asked with a smile, "Fellow Daoists, is this the Feifeng Mountain Range? And where is Feifeng Valley?" "This is the Feifeng Mountain Range. If you go further ahead, you should be able to see Feifeng Valley," Wang Changsheng replied, watching the middle-aged Daoist with a wary expression.

"Thanks," the middle-aged Daoist said, his azure leaf artifact beneath his feet glowing brightly as he flew forward.

Wang Changsheng controlled the Blue Lotus Boat to land on a tall mountain, disposed of the blue python's body, and then pursued in the direction the middle-aged Daoist had left.

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, a valley with paths leading in all directions appeared before Wang Changsheng. The valley was filled with buildings, and numerous figures could be seen moving about. Outside the valley, a silver stone tablet over ten zhang tall stood, with the three golden characters "Feifeng Valley" carved upon it.

The Blue Lotus Boat seemed to lose control, slowly descending towards the ground. Wang Changsheng was not surprised; large market cities typically had aerial restrictions in place.

After landing, Wang Changsheng put away the Blue Lotus Boat, and he and Wang Ruyan walked towards Feifeng Valley.

On both sides of the street were buildings of varying heights: tall, exquisite pavilions over ten zhang high, and short, simple stone houses about one zhang high. Most of the cultivators walking the streets were at the Foundation Establishment stage. While surprised, Wang Changsheng also felt a sense of relief. He had come to the right place, hoping to find Heaven and Earth Spirit Water here.

They spent over three hours touring the market city, visiting more than a dozen large shops, but couldn't buy any Heaven and Earth Spirit Water, not even diluted versions.

After selling the corpse of the second-tier demonic python they had killed earlier to a material shop, the shopkeeper informed them that Feifeng Market City would hold a large auction in two years. During the previous large auction, Core Formation spiritual items had appeared, so there might be Heaven and Earth Spirit Water at the auction two years from now.

After discussion, Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan decided to stay in Feifeng Valley for two years to attend the large auction. This was their only option. Before this, they had visited over a dozen market cities and attended several auctions, but had failed to find any Heaven and Earth Spirit Water. Searching in other market cities didn't guarantee success, so it was better to wait in Feifeng Valley for two years.

Considering their limited funds, they rented a shop for three hundred spirit stones per year to sell magical artifacts and puppet beasts. And so, Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan settled down in Feifeng Valley.