Chapter 2703: Friction, Entering Refining Void Level One and Two (No Update Today)

In the Celestial Lizard Mountain Range stood a magnificent golden palace. On its plaque, three large silver characters spelled out "Celestial Lizard Palace."

Yifeng sat on the main seat, flanked by hundreds of clan elders, all wearing solemn expressions.

"We must fight back, tit for tat!""Exactly, they've gone too far! We can't stand for this.""We need to show them what we're made of, otherwise, they'll think we're pushovers."The Lizard clan elders voiced their opinions one after another. It seemed as though the Human, Yaksha, and Fiery Spirit clans had coordinated their actions, as their vassal races had launched widespread attacks on the Lizard clan's vassal races.

Caught off guard, the Lizard clan's vassal races suffered heavy losses and severe casualties. In fact, skirmishes among minor races were common, usually involving one small clan fighting another for a time, with Formed Body cultivators rarely intervening. This time, however, was different; more than a dozen minor races had simultaneously attacked the Lizard clan's vassal races.

This was clearly a probing action. If they weren't taught a lesson, these minor races would become even more audacious.

"Enough! What are you arguing about? I called you here to discuss wartime strategy, not to quarrel!" reprimanded a well-built woman in a purple dress.

The woman in the purple dress had eyes like water, delicate lips and nose, and a hint of spiritedness in her brows. Her aura was slightly weaker than Yifeng's. This was Hu Yan, the Lizard clan's enforcement elder, at the mid-Integration stage.

The elders immediately fell silent, saying nothing further."If they want to fight, we'll oblige them," Yifeng said, his tone heavy. "You will go to the front lines to supervise the battle and ensure the invading enemies are repelled."

"Yes, Patriarch," the elders replied, agreeing to his command.

"Patriarch," a short, stout elder in a golden robe cautiously asked, a nervous expression on his face, "the Old Ancestor hasn't made an appearance in many years. Is he well?"

Many elders looked on with curiosity; most of them hadn't seen the Old Ancestor in years, as he had not made an appearance for a very long time.

"The Old Ancestor returned recently with injuries and is currently recuperating," Yifeng instructed. "Repel the invading enemies; we cannot let them disturb the Old Ancestor's recovery."

"Yes, Patriarch," the elders agreed, accepting Yifeng's arrangements before hurrying to the front lines.

Before long, only Yifeng and Hu Yan remained in the great hall.

"It seems the Human, Fiery Spirit, and Yaksha clans have discovered something, as they've successively sent minor races to attack us," Hu Yan said with a frown.

"This was bound to happen," Yifeng sneered. "The Old Ancestor hasn't appeared for years, so they're naturally suspicious. But as long as they don't have conclusive evidence, they won't dare to wipe out our Lizard clan."

"Let's hope so," Hu Yan replied, her face filled with worry. "If only one of Xuan'er or the others could reach the Mahayana stage, then all would be well."

"I hope so," Yifeng instructed. "I doubt they'll retreat that easily. Go contact the Golden Scale clan and see if they're willing to help. If they are, it won't be difficult for us to get through this."

Hu Yan shook her head. "According to the latest news, the conflict between the Golden Scale clan and the Silver Shark clan has intensified. Their vassal forces have already engaged in battle, so they have no time to pay us any attention."

The Silver Shark clan was originally a vassal force of the Golden Scale clan, but a Mahayana cultivator had emerged within the Silver Shark clan, so they naturally no longer needed to bow down. Both the Golden Scale and Silver Shark clans' territories were located in the sea. As a newly rising power, the Silver Shark clan sought to gain more benefits, which inevitably led them to confront the Golden Scale clan.

Yifeng's brows furrowed deeply. It seemed troubles came in succession; this was truly problematic. The Lizard clan would have to get through this ordeal on their own.

"Never mind," Yifeng said aloud, though his face was filled with worry. "If it truly comes down to it, we can cede some territory. As long as they can't prove the Old Ancestor has perished, our Lizard clan can continue to exist."

Whether an individual or a force, it was common for others to kick them while they were down once they started declining. It was normal for a power to experience ups and downs; the Lizard clan itself was once a minor clan that had slowly developed and grown strong, eventually becoming one of the more powerful races on the Profound Spirit Continent.

Hu Yan nodded, saying nothing.

In the northwest corner of Green Lotus Island lay a valley surrounded by mountains on three sides. Within the valley was a manor spanning over a hundred *mu*, featuring pavilions, towers, waterside terraces, and long corridors.

The door of a secret chamber opened, and a handsome young man in a green shirt with lively eyes walked out. This was Wang Yong'an, who had already advanced to the Nascent Soul stage.

Many years ago, he had developed a strong interest in formations after listening to clan elders explain them. He studied diligently, passed the family's assessment, and was currently a fourth-rank formation master.

His elder brother, Wang Yongyan, had already advanced to the Spirit Transformation stage. The two hadn't seen each other in over four hundred years; though they were full brothers, their relationship was akin to strangers, as they lived completely separate lives. His relationships with his other siblings were similarly distant; their affections weren't particularly strong, and they had once argued furiously over inheritance.

Wang Yong'an never considered relying on his siblings; his own life was quite comfortable.

Stepping out of his residence, Wang Yong'an stretched and muttered to himself, "It's time to report for duty."

He had applied for a transfer to Qinggang Market, a territory newly acquired by the family, where formation masters received relatively good compensation.

Wang Yong'an's spirit boots flared with light, transforming him into a streak of escape light that shot through the air, soaring high into the sky.

He hadn't flown far when a spiritual light shot into the sky, forming a giant phantom figure of a man.

"Hahahaha!" The phantom figure laughed heartily towards the sky, his boisterous laughter echoing across most of Green Lotus Island.

"Ancestor Yi'er!" Wang Yong'an's face showed an envious expression.

Wang Yi'er was renowned as the Wang family's resident optimist, always cheerful and constantly laughing, earning him the title "True Monarch of Heavenly Laughter."

Without dwelling on it, Wang Yong'an accelerated his escape speed.

A rumbling thunder sounded, as thick streaks of silver lightning successively struck down, creating an an astonishing display of power.

The Wang family cultivators on the island were already accustomed to such sights; each performed their duties, and their daily routines remained undisturbed. They simply carried on with their tasks.

On a steep peak, Ji Yuwei stood on the mountaintop, gazing at the thunderclouds in the sky, her delicate brows tightly furrowed.

Wang Yi'er had married Ji Yuwei, and they had a son and a daughter, living a rather comfortable life. Wang Yi'er was currently attempting to break through to the Void Refinement stage.

Before this, Wang Yi'er's paternal cousin had failed in his attempt to reach the Void Refinement stage and had perished, which inevitably caused Ji Yuwei some worry.

Amidst deafening thunderclaps, streaks of thick silver lightning tore through the sky, striking downwards.

Lightning flashed, and energy waves surged like a tide.

After a short while, the thundercloud had shrunk to only tens of feet in size. After churning violently, blue and red arcs of electricity surged out, and the thundercloud gradually took on a blue and red hue.

A blue and red lightning python flew out from within the thundercloud, heading straight for Wang Yi'er below.

Wang Yi'er was panting, his face pale, with shattered formation disks scattered across the ground around him.

As the blue and red lightning python lunged down, Wang Yi'er showed no fear. After a dazzling blue light flared from his chest, he laughed heartily towards the sky, sending out waves of sound that swept through the air.

The dense sound waves collided with the blue and red lightning python, causing its body to explode.

With a tremendous boom, a ball of blue and red lightning rose, engulfing Wang Yi'er's figure.

After a while, a streak of escape light flew out from within the lightning and landed in front of Ji Yuwei. It was indeed Wang Yi'er.

Wang Yi'er's clothes were tattered, his body was covered in blood, and his wounds were charred. His aura was weak, yet a smile still adorned his face, a testament to his persistent optimism.

"I've finally reached the Void Refinement stage, haha!" Wang Yi'er exclaimed, ecstatic and laughing heartily.

Ji Yuwei, accustomed to his ways, took out a Green Marrow Pill and had Wang Yi'er take it. The two then returned to their residence.

Wang Yi'er needed to enter seclusion to recuperate and consolidate his cultivation.