Chapter 2739: Information about the Combined-Phase Ghosts

Formation masters are the most challenging to cultivate; even with comprehensive scriptures, progress is difficult without the guidance of a renowned master. The most challenging of all are the founding ancestors and pioneering patriarchs, who had to navigate unknown paths and figure things out for themselves. This is precisely how all ten major human forces on the Xuanling Continent established themselves.

While talismans are easy to pick up, mastering them is considerably harder.

Whether in the Dongli Realm or the Xuanyang Realm, Wang Ruyan encountered very few high-rank talisman masters. While they were more common during the Foundation Establishment and Core Formation stages, after reaching the Nascent Soul stage, high-rank talisman masters became exceptionally rare.

For many years after ascending to the Xuanyang Realm, Wang Ruyan had heard of Mahayana-stage sound cultivators and met several Integration-stage sound cultivators. However, among high-rank talisman masters, she had only encountered Grandmaster Miaode, who was a seventh-rank talisman master.

Grandmaster Miaode's ability to refine formation talismans made him far more formidable than an ordinary seventh-rank talisman master.

To this day, Wang Ruyan could only refine fifth-rank formation talismans; it would take a significant amount of time before she could refine sixth-rank formation talismans.

While getting started in artifact refinement is challenging, it becomes much easier once proficiency is gained. There are quite a few seventh-rank artifact refiners on the Xuanling Continent, with Zhenhai Palace, Nine Flame Sect, Xuanqing Sect, and Cold Flame Sect all having them. However, the number of seventh-rank talisman masters on the Xuanling Continent is significantly lower than that of seventh-rank artifact refiners.

Wang Yibing nodded in agreement. He sat cross-legged, closed his eyes to recuperate, and began meditating to regulate his breathing.

An hour later, Wang Yibing opened his eyes and resumed refining sixth-rank talismans.

In a secret chamber within the Earthfire Hall, Wang Changsheng sat cross-legged on a blue futon. Not far from him, an artifact refining furnace shimmered with green light. A green lotus pattern was carved on its surface, and it featured four legs and two handles.

This was the Azure Lotus Spirit Refining Cauldron, a mid-grade Sky-reaching Spirit Treasure, and the result of the combined efforts of Wang Qingfeng and dozens of other artifact refiners. The Azure Lotus was the Wang family's emblem, and this pattern was found on many treasures refined by the family.

From magic robes and flying artifacts to puppet beasts and merchant ships, the Azure Lotus pattern was ubiquitous. This emblem was etched into the very bones of the clansmen; they had seen it since they could remember, which indirectly strengthened their sense of belonging to the family.

Wang Changsheng formed a hand seal and cast a spell. The lid of the Azure Lotus Spirit Refining Cauldron flew open, and a red light shot out. It was a small shield shimmering with red light, bearing a flame pattern on its surface and exuding astonishing spiritual energy.

This was the Fire Crystal Shield, a mid-grade Sky-reaching Spirit Treasure, refined primarily from 50,000-year-old Fire Crystal Wood. With this treasure, combined with the Water Ripple Lock and a seventh-rank formation talisman, Wang Ruyan's chances of surviving the Seven-Nine Heavenly Thunder Tribulation would be significantly higher.

Of course, to be cautious, Wang Changsheng still intended to refine the Nine-Light Divine Clay into another treasure. The family had been continuously collecting rare artifact refining materials for this purpose.

A single treasure requires multiple materials to refine; thus, possessing the Nine-Light Divine Clay alone was insufficient. Other materials were still needed, and in considerable quantities.

Wang Changsheng took out a green communication disk and cast a spell into it. Wang Moshan's voice immediately responded, "Patriarch, what are your instructions?"

"Have the materials I requested not been found yet? How many are still missing?" Wang Changsheng asked.

"There are still a dozen or so items missing," Wang Moshan replied. "I have already dispatched more personnel to search for them." His voice was respectful.

"Alright," Wang Changsheng instructed. "Send more people. If the exact materials I need cannot be found, substitutes are acceptable. If all else fails, trade with Zhenhai Palace for them. Gather everything within three hundred years." Wang Changsheng gave his instructions. Having advanced to the Integration stage, he would not suffer a significant loss when exchanging items with Zhenhai Palace.

"Yes, Patriarch," Wang Moshan replied.

Wang Moshan put away the communication disk, knowing that three hundred years was ample time.

He then cast another spell into the disk, and Wang Mengbin's voice came through: "Moshan, a Rogue Cultivator named Jiang Feng, who is at the Void Refinement stage, wants to discuss something with you. He said he wants to exchange for a Heavenly Thunder Spirit Transformation Talisman and is currently waiting in the reception hall."

As Wang Moshan was his descendant, Wang Mengbin naturally didn't need to address him as "Family Head."

"Exchange for a Heavenly Thunder Spirit Transformation Talisman? Alright, I'll be right there," Wang Moshan replied. "By the way, Patriarch said that if you return from your travels, you should go find him; he's in the Earthfire Hall."

"Understood, I'll head to the Earthfire Hall right away," Wang Mengbin affirmed.

Putting away the communication disk, Wang Moshan went to the reception hall and met Jiang Feng.

"I am Jiang Feng, greetings, Fellow Daoist Wang," Jiang Feng said, rising quickly and cupping his hands.

Wang Moshan nodded. "Fellow Daoist Jiang, I heard you wish to exchange for a Heavenly Thunder Spirit Transformation Talisman? The Heavenly Thunder Spirit Transformation Talisman is a unique secret talisman of our Wang family, isn't it?"

Jiang Feng didn't waste any words. He took out a green storage ring, handed it to Wang Moshan, and stated, "A 20,000-year-old Heavenly Illusion Golden Lotus, a piece of Ice Soul Crystal, a shell from a mid-grade sixth-rank Blazing Fire Tortoise, and twenty top-grade spirit stones."

"Is that all?" Wang Moshan frowned. "Does Fellow Daoist Jiang believe the Heavenly Thunder Spirit Transformation Talisman is easy to refine?" He explained that the shell of a mid-grade sixth-rank Blazing Fire Tortoise could, at most, be refined into a low-grade defensive Sky-reaching Spirit Treasure. Only with a high-grade sixth-rank Blazing Fire Tortoise shell could he be confident in refining a mid-grade one. Among these items, only the Heavenly Illusion Golden Lotus held significant value.

"What if I add information about a seventh-rank wood demon?" Jiang Feng asked in a deep voice. "However, I cannot guarantee it hasn't transformed into human form or moved elsewhere." He knew it was no secret that the Wang family offered high rewards for high-rank wood demon cores; major forces also collected these cores to cultivate rare spiritual herbs.

"A seventh-rank wood demon? Where?" Wang Moshan pressed.

"In the Barren Lands," Jiang Feng explained. "At the time, it was undergoing a grand heavenly tribulation and had no time to pay attention to me; otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to escape." As he spoke, Jiang Feng took out a green jade slip and handed it to Wang Moshan.

Wang Moshan's brows furrowed deeply. He knew such information was unreliable; the Barren Lands were vast, and who could guarantee that a seventh-rank wood demon wouldn't change its lair? Furthermore, there was no telling if it had already transformed into human form. To verify this information, someone would need to be dispatched to investigate, but if a Void Refinement cultivator encountered a seventh-rank wood demon, escaping alive would be extremely fortunate. It would require Wang Changsheng to go personally. If the information proved false, Wang Changsheng would have made a wasted trip.

"Fellow Daoist Jiang, I apologize," Wang Moshan said after careful consideration, "but the whereabouts of wood demons are unpredictable. If it has left the location you mentioned, we would have made a wasted trip." He refused the offer. With the increasing number of Void Refinement cultivators within the family, the demand for Heavenly Thunder Spirit Transformation Talismans was growing, making it impossible to easily exchange them with outsiders.

Jiang Feng grew anxious. He had been full of hope, only for the Wang family to show no interest in his offer.

"An Integration-stage ghost's lair, and this piece of Heavenly Soul Stone!" Jiang Feng insisted, taking out a black jade box and handing it to Wang Moshan.

Wang Moshan opened the lid of the box, revealing a completely black stone. Heavenly Soul Stone was a sixth-rank artifact refining material, specifically harmful to the soul. When refined into Soul-Slaying Needles or Soul-Slaying Arrows, it was a potent weapon against Void Refinement cultivators; even Integration cultivators would be injured if they directly took a Soul-Slaying Arrow. Ghosts do not easily change their lairs, so this information seemed reliable.

Wang Moshan was somewhat tempted. He took out his communication disk and made several gestures.

"Deal!" Wang Moshan agreed. He then took out the Truth-Seeking Mirror to question Jiang Feng, and when no abnormality was detected, he dispatched someone to the treasury to retrieve the Heavenly Thunder Spirit Transformation Talisman.

Not long after, Wang Qinglong brought the Heavenly Thunder Spirit Transformation Talisman over.

Jiang Feng carefully inspected the talisman, and after confirming its authenticity, he took out a golden jade slip and handed it to Wang Moshan. Once both sides confirmed everything was in order, Jiang Feng departed with the Heavenly Thunder Spirit Transformation Talisman.