Chapter 2618

Qinglian Island was a secluded estate featuring pavilions, towers, and winding corridors built over water.

Wang Qingcheng, Sun Yuejiao, Cheng Zhenyu, and Zheng Nan were seated in a green stone pavilion, enjoying tea and conversation. It was apparent to Cheng Zhenyu and Zheng Nan that Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan were not on Qinglian Island; otherwise, they would have appeared to greet them. For any major power, the whereabouts of their patriarchs were always a secret.

“By the way, I heard your Wang family has the 'Immortal Yuwei,' skilled in the art of music. Is she on the island?” Zheng Nan asked curiously.

“Yuanwei is not on Qinglian Island; she has been transferred to the mainland,” Sun Yuejiao explained. Wang Yuanwei was currently the Wang family's most outstanding Soul Transformation stage musician. Her reputation preceded her, earning her the title 'Immortal Yuwei.' The Wang family was expanding its territory on the mainland, having acquired significant land. Working with other factions, they had opened five new market cities, requiring a large number of personnel to oversee them. Wang Yuanwei was therefore transferred to the mainland.

“That’s a real shame,” Zheng Nan said, a little disappointed, as she had hoped to meet Wang Yuanwei.

“We have imposed for many days; it’s time we took our leave,” Cheng Zhenyu reminded them. “Remember to prepare a generous gift. Martial Uncle Song is a descendant of the Sect Master’s senior lineage, so he must not be slighted.”

“Of course,” Wang Qingcheng agreed, personally seeing them off.

Sun Yuejiao suddenly remembered something. She said, “I recall Yuanwei was sent to guard Scorpion Valley, wasn’t she? I wonder how she’s doing.”

“Yuanwei and Yuanyuan are both at Scorpion Valley. It’s rich in monster beast resources and has a direct teleportation array,” Wang Qingcheng explained. “If they encounter any trouble, experts from other market cities can teleport over to provide support. There shouldn’t be any issues.”

Scorpion Valley was one of the market cities controlled by the Wang family on the mainland. In recent years, the Wang family had significantly increased its investment in the mainland, deploying a large number of experts to expand their territory. Scorpion Valley was located at the northwest corner of the Scorpion Mountain Range. The range was characterized by tall mountains and dense forests, abundant in venomous scorpions and poisonous herbs, attracting many cultivators who came to hunt venomous insects and gather herbs. The Wang family had established a market city here to collect poisonous herbs and elixirs. The Wang family's Void Refinement cultivators had explored the depths of the mountain range. They found no sixth-tier demonic insects but eliminated a number of fifth-tier ones.

In a secluded red-tiled courtyard, two women and one man sat chatting in a stone pavilion. Besides Wang Yuanwei, there was a fair-faced young woman in a red dress and a tall, slender young man in a golden robe. The young woman in red had a graceful figure, skin like snow, and a long red flute tied at her waist. This was Wang Yuanyuan, at the Mid Soul Transformation stage. The young man in the golden robe had regular, clean features and a green conch shell tied at his waist. This was Wang Yuanping, at the Early Soul Transformation stage. Wang Yuanwei was in charge of managing Scorpion Valley. There were usually no major incidents, and Wang Yuanyuan and Wang Yuanping served as her trusted aides.

“A high-grade fifth-tier Amethyst Scorpion? Are you certain?” Wang Yuanwei frowned. Several Soul Transformation cultivators had been killed. Rumors suggested a sixth-tier demonic scorpion had appeared deep in the mountain range. However, clan members patrolled year-round, and if a demonic scorpion were to attempt to reach the sixth tier, the phenomena of the lightning tribulation would surely alert cultivators. The Wang family had not received any such reports, but this didn't guarantee a sixth-tier demonic scorpion hadn't appeared, as demonic insects were known to migrate.

“Absolutely certain. Our clan members witnessed it with their own eyes. It’s likely it migrated from another area,” Wang Yuanyuan analyzed. After the Wang family established the market city, they had organized experts to eliminate high-tier demonic scorpions. There weren't many fifth-tier demonic scorpions left, so it was impossible for a high-grade fifth-tier Amethyst Scorpion to appear so quickly.

“Is there anything unusual with the Jiang family or the Sha family?” Wang Yuanwei pressed. The Jiang and Sha families held considerable influence within a hundred million li radius, and both had Void Refinement cultivators. The Wang family's arrival had indirectly encroached upon their living space. The Jiang and Sha families were originally rivals, but after the Wang family's arrival, they had allied to collectively oppose the Wang family, subtly and overtly creating obstacles.

Just as Wang Yuanping was about to reply, loud alarms blared, followed by continuous explosions.

“What’s going on? An enemy attack?” Wang Yuanwei’s expression turned cold. She had been stationed there for so long without incident.

Wang Yuanping took out a light blue communication disk, cast a spell, and made some gestures. “This is bad! A swarm of venomous insects is heading our way! Many cultivators have already been killed!” Wang Yuanping exclaimed, his expression tense.

“Don’t panic,” Wang Yuanwei commanded, her mind calm. “Yuanyuan, come with me to investigate. Yuanping, use the communication array to request family reinforcements. The market city is under martial law; no one is allowed in or out. Aside from our own people, everyone else must remain in their residences. Send someone to close the teleportation array and activate the grand formation.”

“Sister Yuanwei, with a fifth-tier formation, the demonic insects shouldn’t break in so quickly, right? Is it too hasty to directly request family reinforcements? Perhaps we can eliminate the insect tide ourselves,” Wang Yuanping asked, confused. There were no fewer than seven Soul Transformation stage cultivators from the Wang family within the market city.

“We cleared out high-tier venomous insects less than a century ago, yet an insect tide has erupted now. The last one was over five thousand years ago. This is completely abnormal; someone must be directing it. Even if it’s a false alarm, it’s better to be safe. The safety of the market city is paramount. Act now! If anything goes wrong, I will take responsibility.” Wang Yuanwei instructed in an unquestionable tone.

Wang Yuanyuan and Wang Yuanping agreed, each proceeding to their assigned duties.

Wang Yuanwei soared into the sky and looked outside the market city. Dense black specks were flying towards the city. On closer inspection, she could see that these specks were various venomous insects—scorpions, centipedes, snakes, and more. Their sheer numbers were enough to make one's scalp tingle. There were no fewer than thirty fifth-tier venomous insects, along with a vast number of fourth-tier ones.

“All, except Wang family disciples, return to your residences. Violators will be severely punished.” Wang Yuanwei’s voice, though not loud, echoed throughout the market city.

Numerous Wang family disciples emerged to maintain order. The market city's grand formation was activated, and a thick yellow light barrier appeared out of nowhere, enveloping the entire city. The barrier's surface bore a yellow lotus pattern.

With a thunderous roar, a palace in the northwest corner of the market city exploded, sending flames skyward. Three Soul Transformation cultivators attacked the cultivators within the market city.

“The Scorpion Five Evils! They dare to cause trouble in the market city!” Wang Yuanyuan frowned. The Scorpion Five Evils were five well-known rogue cultivators at the Soul Transformation stage in that region.

“They’re asking for death! Yuanyuan, control the formation. The rest, follow me to eliminate them.” Wang Yuanwei’s expression turned colder. She took out a blue pipa, and as her fingers swept across its strings, a melodious pipa tune began. Waves of blue sound surged out, heading directly for the three Soul Transformation cultivators.

Wang Yuanwei directed her clan members to use their treasures to eliminate the enemies. The enemies, while manipulating their own treasures to defend, also attacked other cultivators. They seemed to have no regard for their own lives, as if they were death warriors. At this moment, the insect tide also reached the market city and began assaulting it. They either sprayed poisonous flames or venomous liquids, attacking the grand formation.

The rogue cultivators had destroyed the main teleportation array, but the Wang family had several backup arrays. A large number of experts soon teleported in. The three Soul Transformation cultivators, knowing they were outmatched, intended to self-destruct. Their bodies rapidly swelled. A rapid pipa melody resounded, and the three rogue cultivators’ gazes became vacant, their expressions dazed. A vast expanse of colorful sound waves swept over them. They all let out miserable screams as their bodies still exploded. Their Nascent Souls detonated!

Fortunately, the Wang family experts intervened in time, preventing the market city from being completely destroyed. However, the aftermath of the explosion still damaged numerous buildings, and many low-tier cultivators were killed by the shockwaves from the battle, resulting in heavy casualties.

Wang Yuanwei's expression darkened. Since the family's expansion on the mainland, they had never encountered such a situation. These three Soul Transformation cultivators were clearly death warriors, controlled by someone. Seeing they were outmatched, the enemy directly activated a restrictive spell, forcing them to self-destruct. The Wang family's expansion had already provoked discontent among some factions, and this was a warning.

Wang Yuanwei directed her clan members to treat the wounded, while also leading a team to confront the insect tide and sending someone to report to the family. Over a dozen Soul Transformation cultivators took action, utilizing their complete sets of treasures, quickly repelling the insect tide and killing a large number of demonic insects.

Almost simultaneously, several of the Wang family's strongholds were vandalized by unknown forces, and many Wang family disciples mysteriously disappeared.