Chapter 2837: The Situation in the Yuchen Realm

In the Yu Chen Realm, the Purple Volcano Range served as the Fire Lizard clan's stronghold. The Fire Lizard clan, once an obscure minor group in the Yu Chen Realm with fewer than five Nascent Soul cultivators, experienced a sudden surge of powerful masters over several centuries. They quickly overcame other factions, establishing themselves as the dominant clan in the Yu Chen Realm.

The Yu Chen Realm was initially human-dominated. However, with the Fire Lizard clan's ascent, humans were reduced to slavery, with some non-human races even raising human cultivators like livestock.

Deep within the Purple Volcano Range, flames blazed skyward, and countless structures lay in ruins. Numerous lizardmen lay lifeless on the ground, their blood staining the earth crimson.

Inside a mostly ruined red palace, Wang Desheng sat on the main seat, his expression grim. Their sudden assault caught the Fire Lizard clan unprepared, resulting in devastating losses. All Soul Transformation cultivators stationed in the Purple Volcano Range were slain, though Xi Yan, the Fire Lizard clan's young master, managed to teleport away with a contingent of elite members.

The Fire Lizard clan's protective formation, enhanced by Lizard clan masters, was formidable. Despite their success, their own losses were substantial, akin to losing eight hundred for every thousand enemies defeated. Two Soul Transformation cultivators were killed, three had their physical bodies destroyed, and over a hundred Nascent Soul cultivators perished.

Wang Desheng captured the soul of a Fire Lizard clan Soul Transformation cultivator and, through a soul search, was astonished to learn that the Fire Lizard clan's rapid rise and expansion were due to support from the Lizard clan of the Xuanyang Realm.

The Yu Chen Realm contained a secret realm called the Yu Chen Grotto-Heaven, which had appeared suddenly. Its emergence timeline was notably close to that of the Immortal Flying Ruins in the Dongli Realm, though any connection between the two remained unknown. The Yu Chen Grotto-Heaven was abundant in cultivation resources, including numerous fifth-tier materials.

Lizard clan masters had descended to the lower realm using soul fragments, aiding the Fire Lizard clan in unifying the Yu Chen Realm. As a result, ninety percent of the human population in the Yu Chen Realm was slaughtered, their souls collected by the Lizard clan masters for purposes unknown. The Lizard clan masters had then instructed the Fire Lizard clan to develop their forces, prepare for war, and get ready to invade other realms, before returning to the Xuanyang Realm.

The Fire Lizard clan had dispatched members into the Yu Chen Grotto-Heaven to seek treasures, incurring significant casualties. During their exploration, they stumbled upon a Mysterious Nether Ghost Wood, over 200,000 years old. They reported this to the Lizard clan, who promised to send someone to the lower realm and ordered the Fire Lizard clan to protect the wood. However, before they could act, Wang Desheng launched his assault.

"A Mysterious Nether Ghost Wood over 200,000 years old," Wang Desheng muttered, his expression grim. "This is an exceptional material for constructing a formidable ghostly formation."

If he recalled correctly, Lizard clan masters had previously descended to the lower realm using soul fragments to confront Wang family cultivators in the Ice Sea Realm, but those attempts were swiftly thwarted by the Wang family. The Lizard clan was collecting vast numbers of souls and now sought the Mysterious Nether Ghost Wood. Were they planning to construct a grand ghostly formation?

Han Yuxiu entered, her face etched with concern. "They've established multiple teleportation arrays, and our forces can't keep pace," she stated. "There are very few humans left in the Yu Chen Realm, and even fewer Nascent Soul cultivators; they won't be of much assistance. What's our next move?" She continued, noting the lack of available personnel. Locating the Fire Lizard clan's young master would be challenging, posing a significant lingering threat.

"Gather our forces immediately," Wang Desheng commanded, "and proceed to the Yu Chen Grotto-Heaven to transplant the Mysterious Nether Ghost Wood. After that, we will depart from the Yu Chen Realm." The Lizard clan had already pledged to send cultivators to the lower realm to retrieve the Mysterious Nether Ghost Wood. They needed to act swiftly to transplant it and then evacuate the Yu Chen Realm.

"What?" Han Yuxiu frowned, displaying reluctance. "Leave the Yu Chen Realm? We sustained considerable losses to seize control of it."

"Lizard clan masters could dispatch cultivators to the lower realm at any moment," Wang Desheng stated with solemnity. "Staying in the Yu Chen Realm would be a death trap. We will split our forces. You are to take the majority and leave the Yu Chen Realm. Use the communication array immediately to inform our ancestor about the situation here. We will proceed to the Yu Chen Grotto-Heaven to transplant the Mysterious Nether Ghost Wood. If transplantation proves impossible, destroying it will suffice. Whatever the Lizard clan is planning, we must thwart them and ensure they do not achieve their objectives."

Wang Desheng's expression was stern. The last time Lizard clan masters caused chaos in the Ice Sea Realm, the Wang family suffered significant casualties among their elites. This rare chance for retaliation against the Lizard clan meant they had to make them pay. Knowing Wang Desheng's resolute nature, Han Yuxiu understood that once he made a decision, he wouldn't change his mind, so she agreed. They then separated and got to work.

***

In the Xuanyang Realm, on the Xuanling Continent, Honglian Market's streets were bustling with the clamor of people and carriages, creating a vibrant atmosphere. Wang Shenfeng strolled along the streets, her face alight with curiosity as she observed her surroundings. She currently served in the Dark Hall, primarily responsible for intelligence gathering. Thanks to Wang Chuanming's protection, she was spared from tracking targets or infiltrating other factions. This afforded her ample time for cultivation, flexible work hours, and excellent remuneration. Indeed, having a benevolent ancestor made life quite comfortable.

After a short while, she arrived at a vast bluestone plaza where numerous rogue cultivators had set up stalls. The array of goods on display was diverse and eclectic. Wang Shenfeng browsed for a moment before stopping at a small stall. The vendor, a stout old man in a golden robe, had a variety of materials laid out for sale.

Wang Shenfeng's gaze landed on a piece of black jade. She had just picked it up and was about to inquire about the price when a faint breeze swept by, and a somewhat hoarse male voice declared, "I'll take this Profound Yin Jade." She turned to see a burly man in a green robe standing suddenly behind her. By his aura, he was unmistakably a Void Refinement cultivator.

"Senior," Wang Shenfeng stated, "I was here first." Despite only being at the Soul Transformation stage, she frowned, knowing this was Wang family territory and she had no reason to fear him.

"So what?" the green-robed man retorted with a cold expression, radiating killing intent. "Do you intend to dispute with me?"

"I am a Wang family disciple," Wang Shenfeng stated directly, producing her identity token. "Who do you intend to sell it to, fellow Daoist?" Born at the precise intersection of a Yin year, month, day, hour, and minute, she cultivated the Profound Yin Treasure Scripture. Profound Yin Jade, a sixth-tier material, could be refined into a treasure to significantly accelerate her cultivation speed.

The golden-robed old man naturally sold the jade to Wang Shenfeng. This was the Wang family's territory, and offending one of their cultivators would make it impossible for him to do business. The green-robed man frowned, then turned and left.

A short while later, the green-robed man appeared outside a secluded small courtyard with blue tiles and sent a sound transmission talisman. Soon after, a beautiful young woman in a golden skirt emerged and invited him inside.

"Well?" the green-robed man pressed. "Any leads?"

"We've found a target," the golden-skirted young woman replied, producing a blue scroll. "Take a look."

"It's her!" the green-robed man exclaimed, frowning. "I just encountered this woman in the market. She's a Wang family cultivator."

"Even if she's a Wang family cultivator, we'll kill her all the same," the golden-skirted young woman said carelessly. "Our superiors are pressing us; if we don't complete the mission soon, we'll face severe trouble."

"Are you certain it's her?" the green-robed man challenged. "You haven't made a mistake?"

"The nether beast I've raised has never reacted falsely," the golden-skirted young woman said gravely. "She was absolutely born at the intersection of a Yin year, month, day, hour, and minute. She is the person we need to find. If we don't deliver soon, we'll be in deep trouble."

"Alright then," the green-robed man conceded after a moment's thought. "Keep a close watch on her, find an opportunity to eliminate her, and ideally, pin the blame on one of the Wang family's rivals. Once the deed is done, leave this place immediately."

"Of course," the golden-skirted young woman replied. "We've already collected the souls of eighteen cultivators born at the exact Yin year, month, day, hour, and minute. Our superiors are still pushing us for more, though I have no idea what they're for."

"Don't ask questions you shouldn't," the green-robed man snapped, glaring at her. "Otherwise, you'll die without even knowing why." The golden-skirted young woman shivered and hastily agreed.