Chapter 2712: Feng Family's Reinforcements

Within Tianhai City, a vast estate unfolded, adorned with exotic flowers and plants, pavilions, towers, and serene waterfront gardens.

Zhao Yunxiao sat in a stone pavilion, conversing with two men and one woman.

Huang Yun'er quickly approached and respectfully said, "Uncle-Master Zhao, Junior-Brother Wang has arrived and says he has urgent business."

"Bring him in! The rest of you, go back for now, and remember what I told you," Zhao Yunxiao instructed.

The two men and one woman agreed, bowed, and withdrew.

Not long after, Wang Qingcheng followed Huang Yun'er into the pavilion.

"Why have you come? Is Junior-Brother Wang's injury not yet healed?" Zhao Yunxiao asked, puzzled. Logically, Wang Changsheng should have almost fully recovered.

"Thank you for your concern, Senior-Uncle Zhao. Father has recovered quite well. I have come this time concerning the Profound Spirit Cave," Wang Qingcheng truthfully stated.

"The Profound Spirit Cave? You also wish to send people there? That won't be easy. Setting aside the quota issue, the key itself is a major problem." Zhao Yunxiao's expression showed difficulty. The Profound Spirit Cave was a secret realm opened by the Profound Spirit Celestial Venerable. It opened once every few millennia, and the ten major human forces on the Profound Spirit Continent would send people to search for treasures and temper their juniors.

The Wang family had an Integration Stage cultivator, but there were many forces on the Profound Spirit Continent with Integration Stage cultivators. Among them, three families supported by the Xuanqing Sect also had Integration Stage cultivators and similarly wished to send people into the Profound Spirit Cave to seek treasures. To enter the Profound Spirit Cave, one must possess a key.

"I have indeed come for this very matter. Might Senior-Uncle Zhao consider a solution? We have obtained a key to the Profound Spirit Cave; we only need a quota." Wang Qingcheng said sincerely. His idea was simple: if Zhenhai Palace proposed sending more cultivators into the Profound Spirit Cave to seek treasures, the surplus quotas could be allocated to the Wang family.

"To be frank, the Song family also wants to send people into the Profound Spirit Cave to search for treasures. Leaving aside other races, do you know why only the ten major forces are allowed to send people there?" Zhao Yunxiao said with a serious expression.

Wang Qingcheng thought for a moment and replied, "Strength!"

"It's not just strength, but also contribution. In every racial war, the ten major forces lead the charge, having eliminated numerous foreign races. They earned the right to enter the Profound Spirit Cave through their actual combat prowess, not merely overt strength," Zhao Yunxiao explained. He understood Wang Qingcheng's intention of having Zhenhai Palace propose an increased quota. However, this would also lead other forces to increase their quotas, resulting in too many cultivators entering the Profound Spirit Cave, which was not a good thing, and other forces might not agree.

Wang Qingcheng understood Zhao Yunxiao's meaning, and a look of disappointment appeared on his face.

"You don't need to be too disheartened. I will send someone to mention this to the sect master. If conditions permit, we can allow you to send people in, but you would need to exchange something for the quota. Otherwise, it would be difficult to explain to the local factions," Zhao Yunxiao comforted him. Fairness was key; if the Wang family wanted to send people into the Profound Spirit Cave, the Song family surely did as well.

"Then I will trouble Senior-Uncle Zhao," Wang Qingcheng bowed.

After chatting for the time it takes to steep a cup of tea, Zhao Yunxiao dismissed Wang Qingcheng.

***

In Zhenhai Palace, within a secret chamber, Song Yiming stood before a large communication array, with a spectral image of Qin Yufeng hovering above it.

"Double the quota? Why such a large increase, out of the blue?" Song Yiming asked, puzzled. The Profound Spirit Cave was due to open again soon. Qin Yufeng had contacted Song Yiming via the communication array, stating the need to dispatch more personnel, specifically more Deity Transformation Stage cultivators, to search for treasures in the Profound Spirit Cave.

"This is Uncle-Master Lin's order; I am not clear on the specifics," Qin Yufeng stated, directly citing Xuanqingzi.

The Lizard Tribe's Mahayana stage cultivator had not appeared for many years. The affiliated races of the Human, Yaksha, and Fiery Essence Tribes had launched attacks on the Lizard Tribe's affiliated races. The Lizard Tribe reacted swiftly, sending people to the front lines to direct their forces.

"Alright! I understand." Song Yiming could only agree; he dared not defy Xuanqingzi's order.

"That's all, then." After Qin Yufeng spoke, her spectral image dissipated.

"Could it be related to the Lizard Tribe?" Song Yiming put forth a bold conjecture.

If Xuanqingzi intended to initiate a racial war, sending more people into the Profound Spirit Cave meant that those who survived would be the elites. This reasoning seemed plausible. Of course, if a racial war truly erupted, Integration Stage cultivators would be the high-tier combatants. Sending more Deity Transformation Stage cultivators into the Profound Spirit Cave for treasure hunting would primarily be to gather cultivation resources, indirectly enhancing the strength of the Integration Stage cultivators.

All major forces had their own secret realms, which were their private property. The Profound Spirit Cave, however, was public property belonging to the human race of the Profound Spirit Continent, differing in nature.

Song Yiming turned and left the secret chamber to convey the orders.

***

On Golden Leaf Island, at the Li family estate, over a hundred clan elders had gathered in the deliberation hall, discussing something.

Li Yuqing had already advanced to the Integration Stage. After years of recuperation, the Li family had not only recovered its vitality but also significantly enhanced its strength.

"What major event has occurred, that we've suddenly been called for a meeting?""It can't be that a war is about to break out, can it? Otherwise, given our Li family's status, who would dare provoke us?""Perhaps the Xuanqing Sect has some important task for us! We'll know when the family head arrives."The Li clan elders debated spiritedly, with differing opinions.

Not long after, Li Yuetang and Li Yuqing entered, their expressions solemn.

"We just received news from Fellow Daoist Qin that they plan to double the personnel sent into the Profound Spirit Cave," Li Yuqing said in a deep voice.

The Li family originated from the Xuanqing Sect, so she had more information. A racial war might be imminent. This time was different from previous occasions; previously, the human race had passively responded to racial wars, but this time, the human race was actively initiating conflict, with the Lizard Tribe as their target.

If the Lizard Tribe's Mahayana stage cultivator were to appear, it would be one thing. But if they did not, it could very well turn into a war of annihilation.

"That's excellent! We can send more people in.""What? Double? We don't have that many keys!""Indeed! Will the Xuanqing Sect provide us with keys?"

Even with quotas, without keys, they had no way to send more clan members into the Profound Spirit Cave for treasure hunting.

"Send people to search for keys to the Profound Spirit Cave; offer a high reward," Li Yuqing instructed. She looked at a handsome young man in a golden robe and commanded, "Fengyang, you are the only one who has returned alive from the Profound Spirit Cave. You are responsible for training the clan members and explaining the conditions within the Profound Spirit Cave to them, to maximize their chances."

Since they were sending people to search for treasures in the Profound Spirit Cave, it was natural to train them thoroughly.

Li Fengyang acknowledged the order and agreed.

Almost simultaneously, all major forces began offering high rewards for keys to the Profound Spirit Cave.

Due to this, the Profound Spirit Continent once again plunged into a period of chaos and bloodshed, as some forces suspected of possessing keys were attacked.