Chapter 2713: Rear Guard (None Today)

At Qinggang City, within a vast estate, Wang Chuanming, Wang Chuanyun, and Xin Yuyuan were seated in a green stone pavilion, sipping tea and chatting.

"Hehe, this time it's all thanks to Brother Chuanming. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to earn this merit. I'll toast you with tea instead of wine, Brother Chuanming." Wang Chuanyun chuckled, raised his teacup, and toasted Wang Chuanming.

When Wang Chuanming brought him along to investigate the case of the murdered clansmen, he found an excuse to send Wang Chuanyun to the rear when action was required, preventing him from participating, as Wang Chuanyun's strength was not significant. After the matter was resolved, he requested commendation for Wang Chuanyun, who then received a reward.

"This time, it's also thanks to Brother Chuanming," Xin Yuyuan said, raising her cup in a toast. Throughout the entire process, Wang Chuanyun had merely been a bystander, dispensable. If Wang Chuanming hadn't requested commendation for him, Wang Chuanyun would not have received any reward. Wang Chuanyun was far from capable, but fortunately, he had Wang Chuanming's support.

"I told you there would be many opportunities to earn merit; don't rush," Wang Chuanming said confidently. "I'll follow your lead, no matter what," Wang Chuanyun replied with a simple smile. He had always obeyed Wang Chuanming since childhood.

Wang Chuanming took out a pale golden communication disk from his pocket, cast a spell, and a deep male voice spoke: "Chuanming, the patriarch has summoned you back to Qinglian Island, saying there's an important task." "An important task?" Wang Chuanming was slightly taken aback. "You'll know when you get back. Depart immediately!" After that, the glow of the communication disk faded.

"Brother Chuanming must have handled this splendidly, and the clan is giving out a big reward. When that happens, please help Chuanyun more, Brother Chuanming," Xin Yuyuan said sincerely, her face full of anticipation.

"I've always treated Chuanyun like my own younger brother, so I naturally wouldn't treat him poorly. All right, I'm returning to Qinglian Island now. Don't wander off; focus on your duties." After saying this, Wang Chuanming stood up and left.

"The next time we meet, Brother Chuanming will probably have advanced to the Void Refinement stage," Wang Chuanyun said excitedly. He was genuinely happy to see Wang Chuanming being given important responsibilities. Xin Yuyuan sighed softly, thinking that relying on oneself was better than relying on others. It was unfortunate that Wang Chuanyun lacked ability and had to depend heavily on Wang Chuanming's patronage.

At Guangyuan Sect, within a sprawling estate, in a secluded small courtyard with green tiles, Li Yu was reporting to Wang Mengshan.

"Keys? Why are they suddenly looking for keys?" Wang Mengshan asked, puzzled. "I don't know," Li Yu replied truthfully. "Major powers like the Wang family, Zhenhai Palace, the Li family, and the Long family have all issued bounties for keys to enter the Mysterious Spirit Grotto-heaven." Before this, major powers were also collecting keys, but not with such a large-scale effort. Clearly, something had happened to cause such a strong reaction from these factions, prompting them to offer high rewards for the keys.

Guangyuan Sect currently had over twenty Nascent Soul cultivators and one Void Refinement cultivator, indicating a good development trend. "Pass down the order for our disciples to keep an eye out," Wang Mengshan instructed. "If they can find them, great; if not, so be it." Li Yu acknowledged the order, bowed, and withdrew.

"Keys!" Wang Mengshan muttered to himself, a thoughtful expression on his face.

At Qinglian Island, in the council hall, over thirty Nascent Soul cultivators, including Wang Chuanming, Wang Yuanjiang, Wang Yimiao, Wang Yimei, and Wang Mofei, had gathered. Their expressions varied. Wang Moshan had suddenly summoned them back to the clan, and they wondered what had happened.

A moment later, Wang Moshan walked in, his expression grave. "Greetings, Patriarch," Wang Chuanming and the others stood up and bowed in unison. Wang Moshan sat in the main seat and motioned for them to sit as well.

"The Mysterious Spirit Grotto-heaven is about to open. Zhenhai Palace has granted us five spots," Wang Moshan said slowly. "I plan to select five people from the clan to enter the grotto-heaven to seek treasures. Your strengths are not weak, so for fairness, we will hold a drawing and a duel to choose the five. We only have three keys on hand. If we can't collect two more keys, we'll only be able to send three people in. Therefore, the top three ranked clansmen will definitely enter the Mysterious Spirit Grotto-heaven to seek treasures." He explained that the spots were not free; they had to exchange a sixth-tier puppet for them and provide their own keys. Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan had previously killed many Nascent Soul cultivators and obtained some keys, but these were confiscated after they left the Mysterious Spirit Grotto-heaven.

"What? Seeking treasures in the Mysterious Spirit Grotto-heaven?" "I remember our ancestors entered the Mysterious Spirit Grotto-heaven to seek treasures! Do we also have a chance?" "That's strange, why would Zhenhai Palace give us spots?" The clansmen's opinions varied, filled with confusion.

"I exchanged a sixth-tier puppet beast for these spots. We only have the spots; currently, we only have three keys, so only three people can enter," Wang Moshan explained.

"Go back and prepare yourselves. In three days, we will hold a competition to select five people," Wang Moshan instructed. When the keys were discovered, Wang Chuanming, Wang Chuanyun, Wang Yimiao, Wang Yibing, Wang Yimei, and Wang Yongyan were all present. Directly granting them spots would be too unfair, and there weren't enough spots anyway. Holding a competition to select five people would be the fairest and most efficient method. For clansmen who were too weak, entering the Mysterious Spirit Grotto-heaven to seek treasures would be suicidal; it was not good to designate specific individuals, so a competition would be fairer.

"Yes, Patriarch," Wang Chuanming and the others replied in unison, then left one after another.

The Ice Flame Mountain Range stretched for thousands of miles, serving as the main headquarters of the Cold Flame Sect and perennially covered in snow. In the northwest corner of the Ice Flame Mountain Range, Deng Tianqi stood on a low mound. He had already advanced to the Void Refinement stage.

He gazed at a thundercloud high in the sky, where lightning flashed and thunder roared, as silver bolts struck down one after another. After a while, the thundercloud churned violently, emitting some blue-red electrical arcs, transforming into a two-colored thundercloud. The blue-red thundercloud suddenly rolled and morphed into a gigantic lightning wolf, its body enveloped in blue and red electrical arcs. The lightning wolf plunged from the sky like a falling meteor, moving incredibly fast.

A slender young woman in a white dress stood on a large boulder. Her face was pale, and scattered around her were fragments of magical artifacts. In front of her floated a dimly glowing white shield. This was Deng Xueyi, Deng Tianqi's great-granddaughter.

Watching the plunging lightning wolf, her face tightened. She formed a hand seal, and the blue shield glowed intensely, rising to meet the attack. She also slapped a white talisman onto her body, which transformed into a white light barrier protecting her entire form. After a deafening roar, dazzling lightning enveloped Deng Xueyi's figure, and a wave of air swept out like a tide. A moment later, a streak of light flew out from the lightning and landed before Deng Tianqi. It was Deng Xueyi, her face devoid of color, emitting astonishing spiritual pressure, having clearly advanced to the Void Refinement stage.

"Xueyi, you've finally advanced to the Void Refinement stage; this is wonderful," Deng Tianqi said excitedly. "If Great-Grandfather hadn't sent me to join the Cold Flame Sect, I wouldn't be where I am today," Deng Xueyi said gratefully.

"Let's not talk about that now. First, focus on healing your injuries. We must not forget the revenge for our annihilated clan." Deng Tianqi and Deng Xueyi then left the area.