Chapter 2460

The leader was a Void Refinement cultivator named Li Long.

The Wang family's esteemed ancestors were, of course, Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan. Other figures, like Wang Qingshan, were referred to by their names; for example, younger family members called him "Ancestor Qingshan."

Wang Moshan dared not delay. He instructed, "Quickly invite them to the reception hall; I will be there shortly."

"Yes, Patriarch," came the reply.

Putting away his communication disk, Wang Moshan instructed, "You may return now! Report to me tomorrow; I have other matters to attend to."

The elders all agreed and stood up to leave.

Wang Moshan contacted Wang Qingcheng using his communication disk. Soon, a response came, carrying Wang Qingcheng's rich, magnetic voice: "Moshan, what's wrong?"

After Wang Moshan became the Patriarch, Wang Qingcheng no longer interfered with clan affairs, fully delegating authority and allowing Wang Moshan to operate freely. Wang Moshan had performed exceptionally well.

"Ancestor Qingcheng, Senior Li Long from Zhenhai Palace is visiting. He said he is looking for the esteemed ancestors, and I have already had them escorted to the reception hall."

Wang Moshan replied truthfully.

"Understood. I'll be right over."

Putting away his communication disk, Wang Moshan went to the reception hall, and Wang Qingcheng also arrived shortly after.

Not long after, a broad-shouldered, robust young man in a golden robe strode in, followed by a portly elder in a green robe and a strikingly beautiful young woman in a red dress.

Wang Qingcheng bowed, saying, "Disciple Wang Qingcheng greets the three respected seniors."

"Where is Junior Brother Wang? We have important matters to discuss with him."

The golden-robed young man's expression was serious.

"Respected Senior Li, my parents are in seclusion. May I ask what important matter brings the three of you to seek them? If it's a minor issue, I can handle it."

Li Long commanded in an unyielding tone, "We are here by the order of Martial Uncle Zhao. We need to speak with Junior Brother Wang face-to-face. Go and inform him immediately."

Wang Qingcheng paused, slightly taken aback. After a moment of thought, he said, "Please wait a moment, respected seniors. I will go and report to my father."

Having said this, he stood up and left the reception hall. Wang Moshan then attended to Li Long and the other two.

Upon reaching Qinglian Peak, which was largely enveloped in thick white mist, Wang Qingcheng sent a voice transmission talisman to Wang Changsheng.

After a moment, Wang Changsheng's voice suddenly rang out: "Qingcheng, come in!"

Wang Qingcheng acknowledged, transforming into a streak of light and flying into the white mist.

He felt his vision blur, then suddenly found himself in a crimson space. The wails of ghosts erupted, and he could see several grotesque specters.

Wang Qingcheng was startled. The scene before him abruptly changed, and he suddenly appeared above a vast, azure ocean. The roar of tsunamis was incessant, colossal waves surged, and gusts of sea wind blew fiercely.

"Father, please don't play tricks on me."

Wang Qingcheng said with a wry smile, knowing that Wang Changsheng kept a Mirage Dragon.

Wang Changsheng's joyful voice suddenly echoed: "I'm not playing tricks on you; it's trying out a new divine ability."

No sooner had the words faded than the scene before him transformed once more. Wang Qingcheng suddenly found himself in a tranquil courtyard, where Wang Changsheng sat in a green stone pavilion, his face beaming with smiles.

The Mirage Dragon had already advanced to the fifth-tier, currently a low-grade fifth-tier, and its illusion techniques were now even more formidable.

"Father, Respected Senior Li and the others are visiting. They say they are here by Martial Uncle Zhao's order and can only speak with you face-to-face."

Wang Qingcheng reported truthfully.

"I understand. I'll go immediately. You may return to your cultivation!"

Wang Changsheng agreed, transforming into a streak of light and leaving Qinglian Peak to arrive at the reception hall.

"Moshan, you can go attend to your duties! I will entertain Senior Brother Li."

Wang Changsheng waved his hand, dismissing Wang Moshan.

"Greetings, Senior Brother Li, Senior Sister Qin, and Senior Brother Liu."

Wang Changsheng looked at Li Long and the others, greeting them.

This was his first time meeting Li Long. The elder in the green robe was Liu Sen, and the young woman in the red dress was Qin Rong. Li Long was a late-stage Void Refinement cultivator, while Liu Sen and Qin Rong were mid-stage Void Refinement cultivators.

"Junior Brother Wang, Senior Brother Zhao has advanced to the Integration Stage and is now Martial Uncle Zhao. Martial Uncle Zhao has instructed us to accompany you on a trip to the Barbarian Lands to collect a 20,000-year-old Blood Kylin Ganoderma. After this task is completed, we will receive a Zhenhai Pearl. If it's our first time undergoing a major Heavenly Tribulation, the Zhenhai Pearl can weaken the power of the lightning tribulation."

"A 20,000-year-old Blood Kylin Ganoderma!"

Wang Changsheng frowned. It seemed Zhao Yunxiao had sustained severe injuries while attempting to break through to the Integration Stage.

Zhao Yunxiao was a Celestial Spirit Root cultivator and had been groomed by Chen Yueying to be the next leader of the Ascendant Faction, so his advancement to the Integration Stage was not surprising. The power of the Seven-Nine Lightning Tribulation was far greater than the Six-Nine Lightning Tribulation. Given that Zhao Yunxiao was a body cultivator and still suffered severe injuries, he must have attracted exceptionally powerful lightning energy.

"Senior Brother Li, why would Martial Uncle Zhao ask me to make this trip to the Barbarian Lands?"

Wang Changsheng asked curiously. Zhenhai Palace had plenty of experts; there seemed no need to send him.

"There's a sixth-tier Blood-Eyed Golden Ape guarding the Blood Kylin Ganoderma. It possesses the bloodline of a Mountain Giant Ape, and its strength is immense. Ordinary Void Refinement cultivators cannot defeat this beast. Martial Uncle Zhao said your body cultivation is excellent, so he wants you to join us on this trip. Junior Sister Qin is a lightning cultivator, and Junior Brother Liu is a formation master. This mission will benefit all of us."

Li Long stated truthfully. To be honest, he didn't understand why Zhao Yunxiao insisted on Wang Changsheng joining them. In his view, they were sufficient and Wang Changsheng was not needed at all. He had subtly suggested that a fellow Void Refinement cultivator replace Wang Changsheng, only to be severely reprimanded by Zhao Yunxiao.

This was Zhao Yunxiao's order, and Li Long dared not defy it, so he could only obey.

As is customary for a new official's initial displays of authority, Wang Changsheng naturally would not refuse Zhao Yunxiao's command.

"Senior Brother Li, please give me a few days to handle some miscellaneous clan affairs."

Wang Changsheng said politely.

"No problem. Finish your clan affairs as soon as possible, and we'll set off early."

Li Long agreed.

Wang Changsheng summoned Wang Moshan and instructed him to arrange accommodations for Li Long and the other two.

Returning to Qinglian Peak, Wang Changsheng sent a voice transmission talisman to Wang Ruyan.

Shortly after, Wang Ruyan emerged, her slender eyebrows furrowed.

She was still in the early Void Refinement stage, but her Dharma Idol was three-tenths solidified, and she also possessed a low-grade Heaven-reaching Spirit Treasure crafted from Heavenly Sound Divine Wood.

From two sections of Heavenly Sound Divine Wood, Wang Changsheng had fashioned a Heavenly Sound Pendant and a Heavenly Sound Flute. The Heavenly Sound Pendant was an auxiliary treasure, while the Heavenly Sound Flute was an offensive one.

"My dear, have you mastered those three musical compositions?"

Wang Changsheng asked with concern. The three compositions he referred to were pieces left behind by Superior Trueperson Xuanyin.

"I've mastered two of them. 'Lost Soul' has very high requirements for magical power and spiritual sense, so I can't perform it yet. But mastering two is already quite impressive."

Wang Ruyan said, full of confidence.

Wang Changsheng breathed a sigh of relief and explained the situation to Wang Ruyan. He wanted to make the trip with her.

Wang Ruyan naturally had no objections and agreed.

Wang Changsheng summoned Wang Moshan and gave him a few instructions.

"Esteemed Ancestor, should we call Ancestor Qingshan back?"

Wang Moshan suggested cautiously.

Wang Changsheng shook his head directly: "No need. We are enough. The Barbarian Lands are too dangerous, and Qingshan's cultivation is too low; he doesn't need to risk himself in the Barbarian Lands..."

Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly looked up at the sky.

A vast amount of spiritual light appeared high in the sky, shimmering in various colors. After blurring, it transformed into numerous five-colored auspicious clouds.

A sudden strong wind swept across Qinglian Island. These five-colored auspicious clouds seemed guided by something, converging towards a particular spot.

Tens of thousands of five-colored auspicious clouds gathered above a towering peak, colliding with each other and bursting apart, forming a massive spiritual energy vortex. A red light shot skyward, transforming into the phantom image of a colossal red blade, over a hundred zhang long.

The spiritual energy vortex suddenly churned violently, as dense five-colored raindrops poured down. The phantom red blade absorbed all of them, its spiritual light surging.

After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the spiritual energy vortex vanished, and the red blade disappeared along with it.

A rumbling sound of thunder echoed, reverberating throughout the heavens and earth.

A massive dark cloud suddenly appeared high in the sky, accompanied by lightning and thunder. The thundercloud churned violently, splitting into six parts, revealing countless flickering silver electric arcs.

A deafening peal of thunder erupted, and a silver lightning bolt tore across the sky, striking downwards.

A surge of crimson flames erupted from the mountain peak, and a sea of crimson fire enveloped the entire mountain.

The silver lightning bolt plunged into the sea of fire, vanishing without a trace. Soon, a second silver lightning bolt struck down.