Chapter 2680: The Sacred Ground of Xuanling Tianzun Emerges

“Lin Tianfeng is quite a talent; he knows when to yield and when to stand firm,” Wang Ruyan commented. Lin Tianfeng, despite being the founding patriarch of the Qianyuan Sect, knelt directly before Wang Changsheng, adopting a very submissive posture.

“If I were an outsider, I would never guess that Guangyuan Sect is actually under our Wang family's influence,” Wang Moshan said with a smile. “The discord between Guangyuan Sect and Qianyuan Sect is already out in the open.”

“I have advanced to the Integration Stage, and the family's development will be smoother. However, precisely at this time, we must not become complacent,” Wang Changsheng said in a deep voice. “Instruct Qinglong to intensify efforts in punishing clan members who violate family rules and to keep our kin in check. If any forces are truly misguided, we should give them a lesson to prevent them from thinking our Wang family is easily bullied. We must contend for what is ours; we don't stir up trouble, but we also don't fear it.”

The family was on an upward trajectory, and precisely because of this, they had to strictly discipline their clan members. History had shown that during such times, clan members were more prone to recklessness. Before the Wang family had an Integration Stage cultivator, other Void Refinement forces would only ask the Wang family to resolve minor issues, engage in sparring matches with other Void Refinement cultivators, or settle disputes. After the Wang family acquired an Integration Stage cultivator, these forces sought to leverage the Wang family's power to severely damage or eliminate rival forces and expand their own influence. If they were so audacious, imagine the family's own clan members. With Wang Changsheng's advancement to the Integration Stage, clan members could boldly compete with other forces for cultivation resources, as fewer restrictions applied. What needed to be contended for, still must be.

Wang Moshan nodded. “I share the same sentiment, Grandfather. In recent decades, the number of clan members violating family rules has sharply increased.”

Since Wang Changsheng reached the Integration Stage, clan members had become much more emboldened. A minority had become extremely arrogant, committing many violations of family rules. Only after severely punishing dozens of clan members was this unhealthy trend curbed.

Wang Changsheng gave a few more instructions, then dismissed Wang Moshan.

“Husband, please focus on healing. I will have someone keep an eye out for the cultivation techniques,” Wang Ruyan said softly. Wang Changsheng's injuries had not fully healed, and he needed a period of quiet recuperation.

Wang Changsheng nodded. He had many things to do: healing his injuries, solidifying his Dharma Idol, cultivating secret arts, artifact refinement, and more. Entering his secret chamber, Wang Changsheng sat cross-legged on a blue futon and began circulating his spiritual power to heal.

In an expansive estate, Wang Chuanming, Wang Chuanyun, and Wang Chuanfeng sat chatting in a green stone pavilion.

“Brother Chuanming, just focus on your cultivation. Whatever you need, just tell us, and we'll get it for you,” Wang Chuanyun patted his chest and said. Wang Chuanming had made contributions but also committed mistakes. His merits and demerits could not cancel each other out, so he was confined for 500 years, during which he was forbidden from leaving Green Lotus Island. He had rehearsed with Wang Chuanming multiple times, but Wang Moshan was difficult to fool. Under repeated questioning, Wang Chuanyun revealed his blunder and admitted he had made no real contributions, though he adamantly insisted that Chen Chu was an evil cultivator. Wang Moshan merely reprimanded Wang Chuanyun a few times and let it go.

“That's right, Brother Chuanming! Just say the word. We still have some authority,” Wang Chuanfeng chimed in.

“I don't lack anything. Instead, you two need to keep yourselves in check,” Wang Chuanming warned. “If I'm not mistaken, the Enforcement Hall will be very busy. In the decades since the Old Ancestor entered the Integration Stage, the family head has severely punished dozens of clan members who violated family rules. This is a clear trend. I've read the family history; the better the family develops, the stricter the family rules become.” Ever since he was reprimanded by Wang Moshan for his advice, Wang Chuanming had been pondering. He wasn't thinking about his own mistakes, but rather the family's consistent development plans and Wang Moshan's character. Only by understanding the family's long-term development strategy and Wang Moshan's character could one make fewer mistakes.

“We'll listen to you. Oh, by the way, I heard Chuanlin was selected as a Pavilion Guardian,” Wang Chuanyun remembered something and mentioned it.

“Pavilion Guardian? Hmph, how boring. It's basically just cultivation; there's no chance to earn merits and rarely any opportunity to engage with other cultivators. Both one's strength and experience would fall behind,” Wang Chuanming said with disdain. “However, with his personality, it suits him well to be a Pavilion Guardian. By the time I enter the Void Refinement Stage, he'll probably still be at the Spirit Transformation Stage.”

“Of course, he's no match for Brother Chuanming,” Wang Chuanfeng flattered.

“Hehe, Brother Chuanming, when you reach the Void Refinement Stage, please uplift us often,” Wang Chuanyun chimed in.

“You two have been with me since childhood. If I'm doing well, when have I not taken care of you? When you've gotten into trouble, when have I stood by idly?” Wang Chuanming chuckled, teasing them. Among the "Chuan" generation clan members, he was widely considered the most outstanding.

“Hehe, of course we know Brother Chuanming will look after us. If you need our help, don't be a stranger, we're brothers,” Wang Chuanyun chuckled and patted his chest.

“Alright, enough with the flattery. Cultivation is the fundamental path. Don't neglect your training. You saw the Old Ancestor's Integration Ceremony, with myriad cultivators coming to offer congratulations.” Wang Chuanming's face showed a look of yearning. He had found his goal: to become a grand cultivator like Wang Changsheng, revered by myriad cultivators, no matter the cost.

Wang Chuanyun and Wang Chuanfeng agreed. After chatting for a while, they bid farewell and returned to their posts, each attending to their duties.

On Profound Light Continent, the Profound Shadow Mountain Range is located in its central region, serving as the territory of the Blood Shadow Tribe. The Blood Shadow Tribe was originally a vassal of the Shadow Tribe. However, after two of the Shadow Tribe's Mahayana cultivators successively died at the hands of Celestial Venerable Xuanling, other races united against the Shadow Tribe, allowing the Blood Shadow Tribe to rise to power. Currently, the Blood Shadow Tribe is one of the seven strongest races on Profound Light Continent.

Deep within the Profound Shadow Mountain Range, explosions echoed ceaselessly, and airwaves surged like tides. Ye Xuanji stood on a low earthen slope, her face slightly pale, with numerous fragments of treasures scattered on the ground. Two Blood Shadow tribesmen lay on the ground, lifeless, each with a fist-sized bloodied hole in their heads. Shangguan Tianhong stood beside her, his face ashen, his back bleeding profusely.

“Finally dealt with. The Blood Shadow Tribe is truly persistent,” Ye Xuanji muttered to herself.

Shangguan Tianhong wanted to say something, but swallowed his words before they could escape.

“Just say what you want to say; don't hold back,” Ye Xuanji's tone was indifferent.

“Miss, why must we remain on Profound Light Continent?” Shangguan Tianhong asked, puzzled. They had spent thousands of years on Profound Light Continent, traveling extensively. No fewer than ten Integration Stage cultivators had died at Ye Xuanji's hands. The other races were like madmen, dispatching a large number of experts to capture Ye Xuanji. Ye Xuanji's strength was formidable; crossing the seas was not an issue, but she simply refused to leave Profound Light Continent.

“I consulted Divine Monarch Xuanji for a divination,” Ye Xuanji explained. “He said my destiny is related to ‘light,’ and Profound Light Continent is the only place in the Profound Yang Realm with ‘light’ in its name. It's very likely here.”

“Divine Monarch Xuanji?” Shangguan Tianhong's face was full of curiosity; he had never heard of this person before.

“He is the undisputed foremost diviner in the Profound Yang Realm, and his whereabouts are unpredictable. I paid a considerable price to get him to perform a single divination,” Ye Xuanji patiently explained.

Just as Shangguan Tianhong was about to speak, a loud clap of thunder echoed from high above. The void twisted and distorted, sending out ripples. The sky suddenly darkened. A nine-colored gate, over ten thousand zhang tall, slowly emerged from the void. On its surface, true spirits like true dragons, celestial phoenixes, qilin, and black tortoises could be seen, an astonishing sight.

“Celestial Venerable Xuanling's Dao field!” Ye Xuanji exclaimed, her expression filled with excitement.