Chapter 2457: Wang Qingxiao's Challenge to the Refining Void Stage

At Green Lotus Island, dawn had just broken. Golden sunlight spilled over the island, and as three loud chimes rang out, a new day began. The Wang family members were already busy.

In a spacious academy, thousands of young children were learning the fundamental knowledge of immortal cultivation, taught by a clan elder over fifty years of age.

"Today, we will discuss metal ore veins," the elder announced. "They are not easily formed. The higher the grade of the metal ore vein, the more difficult the conditions required for its formation. The most common is Profound Iron Stone, a first-tier material for artifact refining."

The clan elder took out a dark, black ore and spoke loudly.

Wang Changsheng stood outside the academy, observing the young clan members as they learned the fundamental knowledge of immortal cultivation. Most of the children listened attentively, though a few stared blankly out the window.

"Yingsheng, Yingli, Yingguang, what are you three doing?" the elder called out. "After class today, you will go back and copy the clan rules three times. I will personally speak with your parents."

The three distracted children immediately looked miserable, while the others took this as a warning and focused on listening.

Wang Changsheng nodded with satisfaction. Wang family members with spiritual roots are sent to this academy to learn fundamental immortal cultivation knowledge. Clan elders help them choose cultivation techniques, guiding them to avoid unnecessary detours. If a technique proves unsuitable, they can switch to another, and the elders will provide advice. This is unlike rogue cultivators, who are fortunate to even possess one cultivation technique and have no luxury to be selective.

Most rogue cultivators' techniques are incomplete, requiring them to switch once they reach a certain realm. This is time-consuming and often leads to detours. Wang family members, however, do not face this concern. The cultivation techniques collected by the family can at least be cultivated up to the Nascent Soul realm. With elders providing guidance and regular sermons, the family minimizes the chance of members taking detours.

Wang Changsheng's figure blurred, transforming into specks of blue light before vanishing.

The next moment, Wang Changsheng appeared above a steep peak. A cloud of white mist surged around him, enveloping his entire body. At the peak's summit was a vast bluestone plaza. In its center stood a massive azure lotus platform, where a golden-robed elder, over ninety years old, sat. Thousands of Qi Cultivation stage clan members were seated around the platform.

After Wang family members begin cultivation, they are not required to perform any chores before the age of twenty. The family provides a monthly allocation of cultivation resources, with more resources given as their cultivation level increases. Elders regularly give sermons covering a wide range of topics, including artifact refining, cultivation, beast handling, talisman crafting, formation arrangement, combat, breeding, brewing, and more. Those interested are welcome to attend.

The white cloud carried Wang Changsheng swiftly. A moment later, he appeared above a vast spiritual medicine garden, where dozens of clan members were performing rain spells on the spiritual herbs and fruit trees.

After turning twenty, clan members below the eighth level of Qi Cultivation must perform one chore each month to receive their basic stipend. This is when the skills they learned earlier come into play, as they receive tasks based on their strengths. Those skilled in planting become spiritual planters, cultivating spiritual grains or reclaiming barren islands, while those who understand artifact refining can apply to become artifact refining apprentices. Clan members who perform exceptionally well receive more cultivation resources. If they are particularly outstanding, they become key individuals nurtured by the family, exempt from chores so they can focus solely on cultivation.

A large number of multicolored spiritual lights suddenly appeared in the void, swiftly condensing into five-colored auspicious clouds. Tens of thousands of these clouds gathered over Green Lotus Island.

"A clan member is attempting to break through to the Void Refinement stage!" a voice exclaimed. Some clan members recognized the origin of this phenomenon. Over a decade ago, Liu Hongxue had advanced to the Void Refinement stage, and the memory was still fresh for many.

Tens of thousands of auspicious clouds suddenly converged in one direction, colliding and shattering to form a massive spiritual energy vortex.

A dragon's roar, echoing through heaven and earth, resounded. A beam of white light shot skyward, transforming into the massive illusion of a five-clawed true dragon. The true dragon illusion was entirely white, circling unsteadily high in the sky and emitting loud roars.

"Qingxiao!" Wang Changsheng murmured, his eyes narrowing. Wang Yingjie, Wang Mengbin, and Wang Qingxiao had all reached the Great Perfection of the Nascent Soul stage during the racial war. However, Wang Qingxiao had been severely injured and had been healing for years; otherwise, he would have already advanced to the Void Refinement stage. Fifth-tier flood dragons were rare in this sea region, let alone sixth-tier ones. Flood dragons are treasures from head to tail, and high-tier ones are usually prime targets for high-tier cultivators.

The spiritual energy vortex slowly rotated, and large raindrops poured down, falling onto the true dragon illusion and making it even more dazzling. The Wang family had cultivated some third and fourth-tier flood dragons. They all prostrated themselves on the ground, emitting low roars, seemingly in submission—an effect of bloodline suppression. Wang Qingxiao possessed a flood dragon body, and Wang Changsheng believed he could overcome the Six-Nine Heavenly Tribulation.

After the time it takes to steep a cup of tea, the spiritual energy vortex dissipated, and the true dragon illusion vanished.

Rumbling thunder echoed from high above. The previously clear sky suddenly became overcast with dark clouds, accompanied by lightning and thunder. Within the dark clouds, countless silver electric arcs pulsed, and dense streaks of silver lightning serpents slithered, creating a powerful sense of oppression.

The dark clouds churned violently, forming six thunderclouds of roughly equal size. With a loud clap of thunder, a thick bolt of silver lightning struck down, heading straight for Wang Qingxiao. On a completely white peak, Wang Qingxiao stood at the summit, his expression solemn. Cold air surged from his body, forming a white battle armor that protected him. His right fist transformed into a massive dragon claw, which he slammed towards the silver lightning bolt.

With a thunderous crash, the silver lightning bolt was shattered by his strike, and dazzling silver lightning engulfed Wang Qingxiao's figure. Soon after, the silver lightning dissipated, revealing Wang Qingxiao completely unharmed. Soon, an even thicker bolt of silver lightning struck down, heading straight for Wang Qingxiao. Wang Qingxiao was merely testing the power of the lightning tribulation; he did not intend to endure all of them with his physical body alone. He took out a shimmering white formation plate, infused it with several incantations, and a cold wind suddenly swept through. A massive white light barrier appeared out of nowhere, enveloping the entire mountain peak. Rumbling thunder resounded, and thick bolts of lightning tore through the sky, striking the peak where Wang Qingxiao was.

Wang Changsheng returned to Green Lotus Peak, where the Mirage Dragon rushed towards him. It had hatched over a decade ago, and under Wang Changsheng's meticulous care, its size had more than quintupled. The Mirage Dragon let out a loud roar and opened its cavernous mouth. Wang Changsheng took out a batch of Green Jade Spirit Peaches and tossed them into the Mirage Dragon's mouth. The Mirage Dragon chewed a few times before swallowing them. Green Jade Spirit Peach trees blossom every eight hundred years, bear fruit eight hundred years later, and the fruit ripens after another eight hundred years. The peaches are sweet and juicy, and the Mirage Dragon loves them. The Mirage Dragon looked towards the thunderclouds high in the sky, with a hint of fear in its eyes.

Wang Changsheng entered a secret chamber. A hole in the chamber's ceiling allowed sunlight and moonlight to shine through. In the center of the chamber lay a shimmering azure jade bottle. Its surface was engraved with floral patterns; it was the Thousand Spirit Bottle. Wang Changsheng pulled open the stopper and poured out a section of blood-red thorny vine. The Wood Demon had been recuperating in the Thousand Spirit Bottle but had not yet fully recovered.