Chapter 2627: Song Yuchan Fusion Ceremony (No More Today)

Wang Qingshan breathed a sigh of relief. He took out a Cyan Marrow Pill and consumed it. The Golden Horned Thunder-Qilin Beast let out a low roar. Wang Qingshan's gaze swept over it, and he frowned.

Black blood flowed from the Golden Horned Thunder-Qilin Beast's body; it was clearly poisoned by corpse venom.

The corpse venom was so potent that even the Golden Horned Thunder-Qilin Beast couldn't withstand it. No wonder Lei Yuting had fled.

Wang Qingshan took out a pale green pill that emitted a faint lotus fragrance.

It was a Jade Lotus Pill, a sixth-tier detoxification pill.

He crushed the Jade Lotus Pill into powder and sprinkled it on the Golden Horned Thunder-Qilin Beast's wounds, then gave it another Jade Lotus Pill to consume.

He found four storage rings inside the cave, containing a considerable amount of wealth.

"What's this?"

Wang Qingshan took out an exquisite blue jade box. A pale golden talisman was affixed to it.

He removed the talisman and opened the lid. A blue fruit appeared before him.

The blue fruit was translucent and sparkling, as if carved from beautiful jade, and it emitted a peculiar fragrance.

"Ren Water Immortal Apricot Fruit!" Wang Qingshan exclaimed. Consuming this fruit could improve a cultivator's physique and accelerate their cultivation speed. Although not as potent as a True Spirit Origin, it could still significantly boost his cultivation.

He examined the contents of the storage rings and found a pale golden jade stone. Runes flickered on its surface, clearly indicating it was a Legacy Stone.

He injected spiritual power into it, and a golden light flew out, transforming into a landscape map. Some areas were marked with various colors: gold, red, blue, and green.

"Is this a secret realm map?" Wang Qingshan wondered. Before this, the other party had consistently mentioned the Beiming family.

Could this be a map to the secret realm left behind by the Beiming family? Where was the secret realm located?

He meticulously checked all the jade slips in the storage rings but found no other clues. It was a pity not knowing the secret realm's location, having only its map.

Wang Qingshan put away the treasures on the ground, including the ball of corpse flame. This corpse flame was highly corrosive and unsuitable for refinement by the Azure Lotus Karmic Fire. However, it could be exchanged with others.

This journey, spanning several centuries, had yielded over a hundred catties of Styx River Water and a Ren Water Immortal Apricot Fruit. The gains were considerable. He could now return to his family. He would send people to investigate the secret realm's location; if the secret realm was found, the Wang family would develop even faster.

With the Ren Water Immortal Apricot Fruit, Wang Qingshan's cultivation speed would significantly increase.

Wang Qingshan burned the bodies, put away the Golden Horned Thunder-Qilin Beast and the stone figure, and left the area.

He planned to return to Azure Lotus Island, enter secluded cultivation, and simultaneously send people to search for the location of this secret realm.

***

Floating Cloud Island, Zhenhai Palace Main Altar.

On a vast bluestone plaza, tens of thousands of cultivators had gathered. There were as many as seven Integration Stage cultivators and over two hundred Void Refinement cultivators.

Wang Qingcheng and Sun Yuejiao sat in the guest section, their expressions respectful.

They led a delegation to attend Song Yuchan's Integration Ceremony, presenting a substantial gift, hoping Song Yuchan would show more favor to the Wang family.

They had conversed with several fellow disciples from the Ascension Faction. In recent decades, the Sect Master had shown considerable favoritism towards the Ascension Faction.

Evidently, the local faction was too powerful. To maintain balance, the Sect Master had begun to support the Ascension Faction.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, has your esteemed father not come?" Song Huizu asked, feigning curiosity.

Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan not attending Song Yuchan's Integration Ceremony was indeed difficult to justify.

"My parents are in secluded life-and-death cultivation. We are here representing the Wang family," Wang Qingcheng explained.

"Life-and-death cultivation? In that case, your esteemed father will be holding his Integration Ceremony next," Song Huizu said with a half-smile.

"At that time, we will certainly invite Fellow Daoist Song to attend," Sun Yuejiao smiled sweetly.

Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan had not returned from their travels. Naturally, they couldn't say they were merely traveling; they could only claim to be in secluded life-and-death cultivation.

"Madam Wang, you jest. How could the Integration Stage be so easy? Most Void Refinement cultivators aspiring to the Integration Stage must overcome five major heavenly tribulations before there's a chance of advancing. Your esteemed father has only been in the Void Refinement Stage for just over four thousand years. There's no hope within ten thousand years, unless he encounters a significant fortuitous opportunity. But for anyone here to have cultivated to the Void Refinement Stage, who among us hasn't had some fortuitous opportunity?" Song Huizu said with a light chuckle, his words laced with veiled criticism.

"Exactly. If you ask me, the next Integration Ceremony will be Fellow Daoist Song's."

"That's right. With Senior Song's guidance, Fellow Daoist Song will surely find it easier to advance to the Integration Stage."

Cultivators from the local faction echoed these sentiments. In recent years, they had been living very well, profiting immensely.

Song Huizu was somewhat pleased, yet humbly said, "Fellow Daoists, you flatter me. The Integration Stage is indeed not easy to reach."

"It's rare for you to have such self-awareness, knowing your own limitations," Zhao Yunxiao spoke, his tone cold.

The interests of the Ascension Faction had been steadily diminishing. Though there had been a slight improvement with the Sect Master's support, the cultivation world prioritized strength. The Ascension Faction had fewer Integration Stage cultivators than the local faction. Chen Yueying and Yang Qinglong were also away on travels. Naturally, when it came to distributing benefits, the local faction claimed a larger share.

Seeing Zhao Yunxiao speak, Song Huizu wisely shut his mouth.

"Junior Brother Zhao, why bother stooping to the level of a junior? What he said isn't entirely wrong. Junior Nephew Wang and Junior Niece Wang have been in the Void Refinement Stage for less than ten thousand years. It's not so easy to advance to the Integration Stage. Even I, after consuming a Ren Water Immortal Apricot Fruit, took over seven thousand years to reach the Integration Stage. Let alone them," Lin Youxin chuckled and said meaningfully.

"Aptitude isn't everything. Fortuitous opportunities are hard to predict. Most Mahayana cultivators in the Xuanyang Realm possess ordinary aptitude. Which one of them hasn't encountered a great fortuitous opportunity? Throughout history, there have been many geniuses who died young," Zhao Yunxiao retorted.

"That's true. However, only with sufficient strength can one seize opportunities. Without enough strength, an opportunity becomes a crisis," Lin Youxin chuckled lightly.

Zhao Yunxiao frowned. Just as he was about to speak, a loud bell rang out: "Presenting Senior Martial Uncle Song."

A golden rainbow appeared in the distant sky. Soon after, the golden rainbow halted. It was a dazzling golden four-sided beast carriage, and Song Yuchan stood within the carriage.

"Greetings, Senior Song (Senior Martial Uncle Song)."

Wang Qingcheng and the other cultivators bowed. Zhao Yunxiao, Lin Youxin, and the other Integration Stage cultivators rose to their feet.

Song Yuchan landed gracefully on the main platform and took a seat.

"We are all family; there's no need to be formal. Please, be seated!" Song Yuchan instructed.

The cultivators gradually settled down, and guests, representing their respective powers, presented their congratulatory gifts.

The Wang family presented ten millennium spirit herbs, twenty sixth-tier demonic cores, and five types of seventh-tier refining materials. This was a substantial gift, as Song Yuchan was not their direct superior. Wang Qingcheng and Sun Yuejiao had consulted with Zhao Yunxiao and only offered such a generous gift after receiving his approval.

The Song family's gift was even more valuable, consisting of twenty millennium spirit herbs, thirty sixth-tier demonic cores, and twenty types of seventh-tier refining materials, clearly outshining the Wang family's offering.

Song Yuchan accepted them all, raised a wine cup, and drained it. The cultivators present all reciprocated the toast.

"I hope that some of you present today will one day advance to the Integration Stage, strengthening the power of our human race," Song Yuchan said with a smile.

The cultivators readily agreed, echoing Song Yuchan's words.

The ceremony was largely a formality and an opportunity to receive congratulatory gifts.

Over two hours later, the banquet concluded, and guests began to depart. Song Yuchan, however, called out to Wang Qingcheng and Sun Yuejiao.

"Junior Nephew Wang, Junior Niece Sun, please stay behind for a moment. Come to my residence; I have something to ask you."

Wang Qingcheng and Sun Yuejiao were perplexed. They looked towards Zhao Yunxiao, who nodded, and the two immediately assented.