Chapter 2708: Breaking the Ban

On a steep peak in the northwest corner of the Scarlet Cloud Mountain Range, Wang Chuanming, Wang Chuanyun, Wang Yimiao, Wang Yibing, Wang Yimei, and Wang Yongyan gathered, discussing something.

Wang Chuanming's face was ashen. Wang Lihe was away on business and hadn't returned, leaving Wang Chuanming in charge of the market.

Wang Yongyue and others had only been transferred here for less than ten years when they perished during a beast hunt. The incident occurred not far from the Scarlet Cloud Market, which was a blatant provocation against the Wang family and a direct affront to Wang Chuanming.

Killing Wang family members near a market established by the Wang family was an act of utter lawlessness.

Over the years, many Wang family members had inexplicably disappeared. The Profound Spirit Continent was vast, and cases of rogue cultivators killing for treasure and then fleeing were all too common.

The Wang family's confrontation with the Qian family had been intended to make an example of them, to establish authority, and to deter petty criminals, especially since the Qian family had indeed killed Wang family disciples.

The Five Sages Sect quickly intervened, and out of respect for the Profound Green Sect, the Wang family took some resources from the Qian family, concluding the matter.

This time, with family members killed near the Scarlet Cloud Market, failure to severely punish the perpetrators would lead other factions to show even less regard for the Wang family.

Judging from the traces left at the scene, Wang Yongyue had almost no chance to resist; she was killed moments after crushing a warning talisman. The perpetrator was likely a Divine Transformation cultivator. If the assailant had been a Nascent Soul cultivator, Wang Yongyue, who possessed a fifth-tier escape talisman, could have fled even if she couldn't win. However, if the assailant were a Void Refinement cultivator, Wang Yongyue would not have had time to crush the warning talisman at all.

Wang Chuanming had questioned several family members; Wang Yongyue was known for her sincerity, fairness in handling matters, strict adherence to family rules, and care for younger family members. The likelihood of her having made enemies was very low. The area was remote, suggesting the assailant might have lured Wang Yongyue to her death. But what benefit was there in ambushing and killing a few Nascent Soul cultivators? Wang Yongyue was not a core Wang family member, held no secrets, and her status was not particularly significant.

“Could it have been the Qian family?” Wang Chuanyun speculated. “After all, we crippled them; perhaps some Qian family disciples hold a grudge and took this opportunity for revenge.”

“Precisely for that reason, it wouldn't be the Qian family,” Wang Chuanming immediately dismissed Wang Chuanyun's speculation. “Only brainless Qian family disciples would do something like that. They aren't rogue cultivators acting alone; if Qian family disciples truly did this, it would simply give the Wang family an excuse for war.”

“It might be rogue cultivators,” Wang Yimiao said, frowning. “They move around, making them very difficult to trace, especially since there were no eyewitnesses.”

“Perhaps there’s a secret realm or an ancient cultivator's cave dwelling in the Scarlet Cloud Mountains,” Wang Yibing suggested, “and Yongyue and her companions stumbled upon it or discovered someone breaking a restriction. I’ve already sent people to search the area thoroughly, hoping to find clues.”

A massive explosion suddenly reverberated, shaking the ground.

Wang Chuanming frowned, looking towards the source of the sound. Soon after, Wang Yong'an and Wang Yongqian flew over.

“Ancestor Yibing,” Wang Yong'an said, his eyes red and his expression sorrowful, “there’s an ancient cultivator's cave dwelling here. Sister Yongyue might have accidentally discovered someone breaking a restriction, and the person killed her and her companions to keep the treasure for themselves.”

“Blood for blood, tooth for tooth,” Wang Yongqian snarled, her face filled with fury. “We cannot let the perpetrator go!”

They had grown up with Wang Yongyue, who had always taken care of them. They were particularly close to her and shared a strong bond, unlike their more general relationships with other members of the 'Yong' generation. Their elder sister, with whom they had grown up, had been murdered by a villain; they wished they could tear the culprit to shreds.

“That’s right, blood for blood.” Wang Yong'an recalled his last meeting with Wang Yongyue, her smile indelibly etched in his mind.

“Everyone, calm down,” Wang Chuanming advised. “I know you had a strong bond with Yongyue, but don't let hatred blind you or make you act foolishly.” He understood Wang Yongqian and Wang Yong'an's feelings; he too had been furious upon learning of Wang Chuanfeng's death. Wang Yong'an and Wang Yongqian held higher generational seniority, but their age and cultivation levels were both lower than Wang Chuanming's.

“An ancient cultivator's cave dwelling? Let’s go see.”

Wang Yibing and the others followed Wang Yong'an to an underground cave, where Wang Fanghua stood before a stone wall, her expression solemn. A five-colored light barrier covered the stone wall, featuring a five-colored lotus pattern on its surface.

“Fanghua, what kind of restriction is this?” Wang Yibing asked.

“This appears to be a scaled-down version of the Seven-Lotus Spirit Lock Restriction,” Wang Fanghua analyzed. “Its defensive power is exceptionally strong.” The Seven-Lotus Spirit Lock Restriction boasted formidable defenses and self-healing capabilities; even Void Refinement cultivators would find it extremely difficult to break.

“Let’s break the restriction and see!” Wang Yibing raised her right hand, and a small white seal flew out, instantly expanding in size before smashing into the five-colored light barrier. Wang Chuanming and the others also attacked the five-colored light barrier. It took them most of the day to finally break the restriction, their magical power severely depleted.

A cavern several hundred feet wide appeared before them. On its wall hung a portrait depicting a tall, thin old man in a green robe gazing into the distance. Below the portrait was a green offering table, on which lay a green storage ring and three shimmering treasures, all enveloped by a faint blue light curtain.

“Heaven-reaching spirit treasures!” Wang Chuanyun's eyes gleamed with excitement, and he started walking towards the offering table, but Wang Chuanming pulled him back.

“What’s the rush?” Wang Chuanming said. “The treasures are right in front of us; they’re not going anywhere.” Wang Chuanming's expression was grim. He raised his right hand, and hundreds of scarlet fireballs shot out, disappearing into the cavern. After a series of thunderous roars, the cavern was engulfed in flames, yet nothing unusual occurred. Wang Yimiao then released several puppet beasts, sending them into the cavern, and still, there was no anomaly.

“Brother Chuanming, you’re overthinking this,” Wang Chuanyun said excitedly. “This is our opportunity! This time, he felt he had contributed significantly.”

Wang Chuanming flicked his sleeve, and dozens of scarlet fireballs flew out, striking the portrait. The portrait spontaneously combusted, and a golden light suddenly shot out from within it, heading directly for them.

“Not good, be careful!” Wang Chuanming pulled Wang Chuanyun behind him while simultaneously summoning a golden flying saber, which he hurled towards the golden light. Immediately, Wang Yimiao conjured a small green umbrella, which floated above their heads, emitting a protective shroud of green light. The golden light easily pierced through the green aura, heading straight for Wang Yibing. A white light burst forth from Wang Yibing's body, and the golden light stopped upon touching it. She flipped her right hand, and a shimmering silver talisman flew out, transforming into a ball of silver flames that enveloped the golden light.

A tragic male scream echoed, and the golden light evaporated, vanishing without a trace. Wang Chuanming and the others simultaneously broke into a cold sweat; they had nearly been possessed by an ancient monster. Wang Chuanyun swallowed hard; had Wang Chuanming not held him back, he would likely have been possessed.

They meticulously searched, confirming multiple times that there were no further anomalies before proceeding to break the final restriction. They found four Heaven-reaching spirit treasures, all offensive types, over ten million spirit stones, various miscellaneous materials, and several jade slips. Wang Chuanming and the others examined the jade slips, whose contents were varied, but contained nothing to prove the owner’s identity; it was presumed to be a rogue cultivator’s dwelling.

A beautifully crafted golden jade box caught Wang Chuanming’s attention; inside were three crescent-shaped golden jade pendants, glimmering with spiritual light.

“Are these tokens?” Wang Chuanming wondered.