Chapter 2780: The Plan of the Spirit Tribe

Qīnglián Island, Council Hall.

Wang Moshan and over a hundred other elders were holding a meeting to discuss the family's current situation.

"Patriarch, we currently have over 132,000 cultivators, including two Integration-stage cultivators, thirty-five Void Refinement-stage cultivators, and 935 Soul Transformation-stage cultivators."

Wang Mofei, Wang Yimiao, Wang Yongyan, Wang Yimei, and Wang Moxin successively advanced to the Void Refinement stage. After the Wang family progressively secured the Forbidden Divine Stone, Lihuo Crystal, and Tianyue Cold Crystal ore veins, the number of high-level experts within the clan continuously increased.

"We currently possess 11,572 islands; three-fifths are under our direct control, while the remaining islands are managed by our affiliated forces for development. Additionally, we have 108 strongholds on the mainland."

"Our current assets include three sixth-grade ore veins, eighteen fifth-grade ore veins, seventy-five fourth-grade ore veins, one medium-sized spirit stone mine, and five small spirit stone mines. We also have sixty-five large spirit herb gardens on the mainland, 155 large spirit herb gardens overseas, and three secret realms."

Following Wang Ruyan's advancement to the Integration stage, numerous smaller forces sought refuge with the Wang family for protection. Consequently, the quantity of cultivation resources, such as spirit stone mines, metal ore veins, and secret realms, continued to grow.

"We currently have eighty-five strongholds on the mainland, nine of which possess sixth-grade spirit veins."

"We have 235 affiliated forces. Among them, fifteen possess Void Refinement-stage cultivators: the Yan family, Sun family, Xin family, Chen family, Ji family, Wang family, Taiyi Immortal Sect, Qian family, Liu family, Lu family, Yu family, Cao family, Ma family, and Su family. The Xin family and Ji family are the strongest, each with four Void Refinement-stage cultivators. Next are the Chen family, Sun family, Yan family, and Liu family, each with three Void Refinement-stage cultivators. Sixty-five of these forces have Soul Transformation-stage cultivators, allowing us to mobilize over a million cultivators."

The Sun family was founded by the rogue cultivator Sun Sihai. The Yan family was among the first to pledge allegiance to the Wang family. The Chen family is Chen Ruyi's family of origin, the Xin family is Xin Yuyuan's family of origin, the Ji family is Ji Yuwei's family of origin, and the Wang family is Wang Ruyan's maternal clan. All these families have intermarried with the Wang family.

The fifteen affiliated forces collectively contribute nearly forty Void Refinement-stage cultivators and over a thousand Soul Transformation-stage cultivators. The Wang family can deploy them at any time to lead charges and face challenges.

"We currently operate forty-eight markets. Seventeen of these are under our sole control, while the remaining thirty-one are jointly managed with our in-laws."

As the number of high-level cultivators in the family grew, so did their need for resources. To facilitate the collection of cultivation resources, the Wang family established numerous markets inland. These markets are not far apart, which makes mutual support convenient.

Wang Moxin is in charge of the family's merchant fleet and manages the family's businesses. Thirty-six Soul Transformation-stage elders assist Wang Moxin, each overseeing a different business sector, such as medicinal pills, puppet beasts, talismans, formations, and spirit beasts. Wang Moxin issues orders and provides direction.

Wang Moxin started as a mere errand runner and rose to become the head of the family's merchant fleet through his own efforts. More importantly, among the Wang family's Void Refinement-stage cultivators, he was the only one with an interest and talent for business.

"We need to strive harder to establish our family among the top ten human forces on Xuánlíng Continent."

Wang Moshan stated solemnly, his face filled with anticipation. This was his goal.

"Yes, Patriarch,"

The numerous elders responded in unison, their expressions excited.

Deep within the Barren Lands lay an endless expanse of verdant mountains.

A deafening roar echoed from within the mountain range, and a massive crimson mushroom cloud rose conspicuously into the sky.

Two streaks of light, moving with incredible speed, flew out from the depths of the mountains.

These streaks of light belonged to Li Tianhe and an elegantly proportioned woman in a yellow dress. The woman's face was pale, her left arm was missing, and her aura was weak.

Li Tianhe was panting, his expression tense.

They had traveled to the Barren Lands in search of tribulation transcending materials, but unexpectedly encountered two seventh-grade Six-Eyed Sand Spiders. One family member was killed, and after finally eliminating the spiders, they attracted a mid-seventh-grade Lihuo Owl, forcing them to flee.

A piercing bird cry came from behind them, startling Li Tianhe and the young woman in yellow.

The young woman in yellow conjured a yellow-glowing banner, unleashing a yellow hurricane over a thousand zhang tall to protect them.

The sky suddenly darkened, and as the void rippled, a gigantic red bird claw materialized out of thin air, striking towards the yellow hurricane.

Following a thunderous roar, the red bird claw shattered the yellow hurricane into dust, sending clouds of smoke billowing.

A massive red owl, its body covered in blood, flew out from the depths of the mountain range. Its left wing appeared unnatural, numerous feathers had fallen off, and its aura was weak.

Spreading its wings, the giant red owl flew towards the northwest.

After it had flown over 100,000 li, a powerful gravitational force suddenly emanated from the ground, causing the void to twist and deform.

The red owl's body became uncontrollable, plummeting towards the ground.

A fierce wind whipped up, sending countless yellow grains of sand flying from the ground. With a swirling motion, they transformed into a gigantic yellow sand curtain, enveloping an area spanning tens of thousands of li. Runes flickered on the surface of the yellow sand, radiating astonishing spiritual energy, clearly indicating it was a treasure.

Within the yellow sand curtain, tremendous explosions reverberated, shaking the earth and mountains, but to no avail.

After the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, accompanied by a deafening boom, a large hole ripped open in the yellow sand curtain. The red owl flew out from the opening, its body largely charred black, and its aura weak.

Three golden-glowing spears pierced its body. Golden flames enshrouded the surface of the spears, emitting astonishing heat.

The red owl let out a mournful shriek and plunged from the high sky. The opening on the surface of the yellow sand curtain then healed.

After a while, the yellow sand curtain dissipated, the red owl vanished, and the ground was left in ruins.

In a hidden underground cave, arcane formation patterns were carved into the stone walls, emanating strong restrictive fluctuations.

A tall, slender old man in a green robe sat cross-legged in the center of the underground cave. The old man had some green spirit patterns on his face, and his eyes were emerald green, unmistakably identifying him as a Spirit Race member.

This was Mu Sen, an Integration-stage cultivator in the mid-phase.

A powerfully built young man in a yellow shirt and a beautiful young woman in a red dress entered. Both also bore spirit patterns on their bodies, indicating they were also Spirit Race members.

The young man in yellow was Shi Qing, an Integration-stage cultivator in the mid-phase, and the young woman in red was Huo Tong, an Integration-stage cultivator in the early phase. They were part of the Spirit Race's covert forces.

Every few millennia, or even tens of thousands of years, whenever the Spirit Race gained more high-level experts, the Blazing Fire Race would conscript their own experts to carry out tasks, such as seeking treasures in the Barren Lands or confronting the Human Race. This was done to weaken the Spirit Race's strength, prevent their growth, incite internal conflicts, and install puppets to seize power, thereby preventing the Spirit Race from uniting.

With the weaker unable to contend with the stronger, the Spirit Race could only endure. Several smaller clans that directly defied the Blazing Fire Race's orders had already been eradicated, serving as gruesome examples.

"Where have you two been?" Mu Sen frowned. "Our mission is to protect Ci Lei; he is the hope of our Spirit Race."

The Spirit Race had obtained a Primordial Magnetite Stone from the Xuánlíng Grotto-Heaven. Using divine blood and formations, they nurtured a clansman from it, naming him Ci Lei. He was born with the innate ability to wield the great divine ability of Primordial Magnetic Divine Light and has now advanced to the Void Refinement stage.

To ensure Ci Lei's smooth growth, the Spirit Race Patriarch, Mu Yu, sent him to the Barren Lands under the care of three Integration-stage cultivators. Keeping him within the Spirit Race was too dangerous, as betrayal by an internal spy would lead to significant trouble.

"We went to search for Dharma Idol materials for him to condense his Dharma Idol," Shi Qing explained. "We discovered a wounded mid-seventh-grade Lihuo Owl and dealt with it."

Shi Qing explained that he too was part of the Spirit Race's covert forces, mostly remaining in the Barren Lands. The elder who had protected him had already perished under the Great Tribulation.

"Let this be the last time!" Mu Sen reprimanded without reservation. "Have you forgotten how you were chased by that ancient giant last time and nearly perished? Important matters take precedence; we bear a heavy responsibility."

Shi Qing and Huo Tong readily agreed, not daring to argue.