Chapter 2440: The Seventh Refining Void Cultivator

"Yes, junior accidentally discovered this monster's lair, which is over a billion li from here."

Li Weiguang's expression was anxious; it was rare to meet the renowned True Monarch Taihao, and he hoped to establish a good relationship. Had he not encountered True Monarch Taihao, he would have sold this information in exchange for some cultivation resources.

"Lead the way! If the information proves reliable, I will not mistreat you." Wang Changsheng commanded.

Li Weiguang agreed profusely, bade farewell to his companions, and under their envious gazes, flew onto the back of the Qilin Tortoise.

The Qilin Tortoise let out a low roar, moving effortlessly across the sea at great speed. Before long, it vanished into the vast ocean.

Spring gave way to autumn, and four years swiftly passed.

At dusk, the lingering glow of the sunset cast its light upon the sea, making the surface shimmer as if draped in a golden robe.

Wang Liangchen was leading a patrol; a steady sea breeze blew, and periodically, flocks of seagulls flew overhead.

"Uncle Liangchen, look! What is that?" A clan member uttered a soft cry of surprise, pointing in a certain direction.

Wang Liangchen followed the clan member's gaze and was surprised to see the sea violently churning, raising a colossal wave over a thousand zhang high.

"A monster beast?" Wang Liangchen's face was filled with wariness.

As the colossal wave dispersed, it revealed an incredibly huge tortoise: the Qilin Tortoise.

Wang Changsheng stood on the Qilin Tortoise's back, looking completely at ease. Guided by Li Weiguang, Wang Changsheng successfully located the lair of the Rank Six Sea-Swallowing Clam. There were two such clams in total, and both were slain by Wang Changsheng and the Qilin Tortoise. He gave Li Weiguang a sum of valuables as a reward, asking him to prioritize the Wang family with any future news of Rank Six monster beasts.

"It's Honored Qilin and Old Ancestor!"

The cultivators recognized the Qilin Tortoise and Wang Changsheng; they were, relatively speaking, more familiar with the Qilin Tortoise. The Qilin Tortoise occasionally went out to sea alone to hunt monster beasts, so the clan members were very familiar with it. As for Wang Changsheng, he was in secluded cultivation year-round and rarely showed himself, hence many clan members had never actually seen him. Among tens of thousands of clan members, very few had ever seen Wang Changsheng in person.

"Greetings, Old Ancestor." Wang Liangchen and the others bowed respectfully, their expressions solemn.

Wang Changsheng waved a hand and said, "You may resume your duties!"

"Yes, Old Ancestor!" Wang Liangchen and the others acknowledged, then flew off to other areas.

Not long after, Wang Changsheng returned to Qinglian Island. He was surprised to discover a massive thundercloud floating high above Qinglian Island, with thick bolts of lightning striking down. Thunder roared, lightning snakes danced wildly, and strong winds whipped around.

"A Six-Nine Heavenly Tribulation! Another clan member is attempting to break through to the Void Refinement stage!"

Wang Changsheng was filled with a mix of surprise and joy. If he remembered correctly, the eligible candidates would be Liu Hongxue and Wang Qiuyu, both of whom were Rank Five alchemists. Judging by the direction of the thundercloud, it seemed Liu Hongxue was attempting her breakthrough to the Void Refinement stage.

Wang Changsheng transformed into a blue streak of light and descended onto a steep peak. Wang Yingjie stood at the summit, gazing at the thundercloud high in the sky, his expression solemn. After Wang Yingjie arrived in the Xuan-Yang Realm, he was stranded in the wilderness, enduring immense hardship. He and Liu Hongxue had faced life and death together, supporting each other through everything. When Liu Hongxue began her breakthrough to the Void Refinement stage, the clan members immediately notified Wang Yingjie; otherwise, he would still be in arduous cultivation.

"Don't worry, Hongxue will be fine." Wang Changsheng offered reassurance, saying, "Cultivation is like sailing against the current; if you don't advance, you fall back. Since ancient times, many cultivators attempting to break through to the Void Refinement stage have attracted powerful heavenly tribulations and perished beneath them, and not a few of those were geniuses."

A rumbling sound of thunder echoed from high above. After violently churning, the thundercloud produced blue electric arcs. The blue thundercloud then blurred and transformed into a massive, thick-bodied blue lightning python, its entire form enveloped in countless blue electric arcs, exuding a violent aura.

"The Kui Water Divine Lightning!" Wang Yingjie's heart instantly leaped into his throat, and his breathing became rapid.

The blue lightning python swooped down from high above, and wherever it passed, the void vibrated and distorted.

In a small valley surrounded by mountains on three sides, Liu Hongxue sat cross-legged on the ground. She wore a dimly glowing green armor, her face was pale, and her aura was weak. She had already consumed multiple Rank Five pills to restore her spiritual power, but further consumption would have little effect. Consequently, even a Heaven-Connecting Spirit Treasure wouldn't be able to unleash its full power, making talismans the optimal choice.

Liu Hongxue took out a constantly shimmering golden talisman. She slapped it onto her body, and with a flash of golden light, a dazzling golden glow instantly enveloped her. The blue lightning python pounced, opening its gaping maw to tear at the golden light. Liu Hongxue opened her mouth, and a glowing red jade ruler flew out. Runes flickered across its surface, revealing it to be a Heaven-Connecting Spirit Treasure—her Natal Magic Treasure, the Lihuo Ruler. The red jade ruler gently swayed, releasing a hazy red light that enveloped Liu Hongxue's entire body. She formed a hand seal, and after the red jade ruler blurred, it manifested thousands of red ruler shadows. Like a crimson torrent, they struck the blue lightning python one after another.

After the rumbling sound of thunder, the blue lightning python transformed into a massive ball of blue lightning, engulfing an area several tens of li in radius. Smoke and dust flew everywhere. Wang Yingjie's face tightened; he held his breath, his gaze fixed on the blue lightning. He had read records of cultivators attempting to break through to the Void Refinement stage being struck down by the final heavenly tribulation.

After a while, the lightning dissipated, though the smoke and dust had not yet cleared. Wang Yingjie eagerly flew into the smoke and dust. He could clearly see Liu Hongxue lying on the ground, her body charred black, her hands bloody and mangled, and a burnt smell emanating from her, making her resemble a large piece of charcoal. She had successfully passed the Six-Nine Heavenly Tribulation, but she was severely injured. Fortunately, it had only been one bolt of Kui Water Divine Lightning; a few more would surely have turned her to ashes.

"Wife, quickly take this Golden Fungus Pill to heal your injuries." Wang Yingjie took out a Golden Fungus Pill and fed it to Liu Hongxue. The Golden Fungus Pill had always been stored in the family's treasure vault, intended for clan members who suffered severe injuries while attempting to break through to the Void Refinement stage.

After a while, Liu Hongxue gently exhaled a turbid breath and said with a smile, "I've finally advanced to the Void Refinement stage. It was truly not easy." As Liu Hongxue recalled her past, her heart was filled with a myriad of emotions.

"Don't speak yet. You need to rest and recuperate for a while before saying anything more!" Wang Yingjie formed a hand seal, and a blue cloud mass suddenly appeared, lifting him and Liu Hongxue as it ascended towards the sky.

Multicolored spiritual light suddenly appeared high in the sky. After blurring, it transformed into countless five-colored auspicious clouds. These dense clouds flew towards a certain direction, colliding with each other, and then forming a massive spiritual energy vortex. The spiritual energy vortex floated above a verdant peak, and a red light shot up into the sky, forming a massive humanoid phantom.

"Double blessings?" Wang Changsheng narrowed his eyes, his expression becoming solemn. If Wang Qiuyu also advanced to the Void Refinement stage, the Wang family would then have eight Void Refinement cultivators.

The spiritual energy vortex spun rapidly, and large raindrops poured down, falling onto the humanoid phantom, which then burst forth with dazzling spiritual light. After a while, the spiritual energy vortex dissipated, and the humanoid phantom also vanished. A deafening sound of thunder echoed from high above, the very heavens seeming to change color as a massive thundercloud suddenly appeared. Strong winds raged on the island, and lightning snakes danced wildly.