Chapter 300: Meeting Up

A subterranean cave in the White Dragon Mountain Range. The cave spanned several acres, and in its upper-left corner, several black flowers, about a foot tall, emitted a peculiar fragrance.

Wang Changsheng and three others were locked in a fierce battle with a gigantic, flat-headed monster bird. The bird had two bald, black heads, sparse feathers across its body, and a light gold beak, resembling a crow.

This monster bird was merely a low-grade second-tier beast, no match for them. Wang Changsheng stood by, observing. While it was said that four people were fighting the second-tier demon fowl, it was actually Wang Changfeng and the two others who were engaging it together.

Wang Changfeng, gripping a ten-foot-long red banner in both hands, lightly shook it. A large quantity of fire materialized out of thin air, transforming into crimson fireballs that hurtled towards the second-tier demon fowl.

The second-tier demon fowl flew at an extremely fast speed, evading the crimson fireballs. The fireballs subsequently struck the stone walls, creating a series of loud explosions.

Wang Qingshan swiftly formed hand seals with his fingers, sending hundreds of green flying swords in pursuit of the demon fowl. Wang Changyue held a blue formation disk, and a thick blue light barrier blocked the exit.

The red banner in Wang Changfeng's hand glowed brightly, and hundreds of crimson fireballs, the size of watermelons, surged forth, pelting the second-tier demon fowl.

The second-tier demon fowl hastily dodged, but there were too many crimson fireballs. More than a dozen of them struck its body, and raging flames enveloped its form.

With a loud sizzling sound, dense black feathers flew out from the crimson flames, which then flickered wildly before extinguishing.

The second-tier demon fowl flapped its wings and darted towards the exit.

Its speed was incredibly swift; with a single flash, it reached the exit, less than fifty feet away.

A slight smile played on Wang Changyue's lips as she channeled a spell into the formation disk in her hand. The surface of the blue light barrier illuminated with countless blue runes, rapidly freezing into a massive white ice wall that blocked the monster bird's path.

The monster bird fiercely flapped its wings, sending a large volley of black feathers hurtling forward. They struck the white ice wall in quick succession, creating a series of muffled cracks and leaving the ice wall's surface pockmarked with numerous fissures.

Wang Changyue formed a spell, and the blue formation disk emitted a dazzling blue light. With a flash of white light, the ice wall instantly restored itself.

Seizing this opportunity, a nearly invisible golden thread shot forth, coiling around the second-tier demon fowl's leg. Simultaneously, hundreds of green flying swords flew towards it.

"Giant Sword Art!"

Following Wang Qingshan's powerful shout, the hundreds of green flying swords rapidly converged into a ten-foot-long green giant sword, which cleaved down directly onto the second-tier demon fowl.

A mournful shriek echoed as the second-tier demon fowl was sliced in half by the green giant sword.

"It's finally dead. Second-tier demon fowls are truly troublesome. If Changyue hadn't used the formation to block the exit, that beast might have escaped."

Wang Changfeng said with a smile.

"Quickly, collect the materials, and let's head to the next location!"

Wang Changsheng urged. They had been in the White Dragon Mountain Range for over two months. Initially, they hadn't found any second-tier demonic beasts, but upon venturing into the deepest parts of the range, they finally encountered some.

In every battle, Wang Changsheng rarely intervened, preferring to observe while Wang Changfeng and the other two fought and killed the demonic beasts. This approach allowed their combat experience to grow significantly.

Wang Changyue deactivated the restriction, and with a wave of her right hand towards the exit, dozens of blue formation flags flew out from the stone wall and landed in her palm.

Wang Changfeng stepped towards the spiritual herbs, while Wang Qingshan was responsible for processing the second-tier demon fowl's corpse.

Just then, a piercing shriek echoed, and Wang Changsheng's storage pouch emitted a dazzling spiritual light.

Wang Changsheng frowned slightly and took out a palm-sized silver jade plate from his storage pouch, its surface covered in silver runes.

It was a communication disk, a type of communication artifact. Such disks typically came in pairs, with a minimum cost exceeding five thousand spirit stones.

To facilitate communication, Wang Mingjiang had ordered two such communication disks. Wang Changsheng carried one, and Wang Mingjiang had the other. The medium-grade communication disks they used could transmit messages within a range of three thousand li.

Wang Changsheng channeled a spell into the communication disk, and Wang Mingjiang's urgent voice suddenly rang out: "Changsheng, where are you? Come back quickly; I'm waiting for you in White Dragon Valley. Qingyuan has found someone suspected of being a traitor wanted by the Taiyi Immortal Sect."

"Understood. We're heading back now."

Wang Changsheng agreed, severed the connection, and then told Wang Changfeng and the two others: "Brother, we need to return as soon as possible. Qingyuan has found someone suspected of being a traitor from the Taiyi Immortal Sect."

Leaving the cave, Wang Changsheng released the Blue Lotus Boat, which carried them flying into the distance.

The Blue Lotus Boat was still a medium-grade flying artifact. It wasn't that Wang Changsheng didn't want to upgrade it to a high-grade one, but high-grade flying artifacts were much more difficult to refine and required rarer materials. He hadn't found suitable materials for refining a high-grade flying artifact yet.

Wang Changsheng frantically infused his magic power into the Blue Lotus Boat, causing it to glow intensely and more than double its speed.

He traveled at full speed. A day later, Wang Changsheng and the three others returned to White Dragon Valley, Wang Changsheng's face pale from exertion.

Ignoring his need for rest, he headed directly to the inn owned by the Wang family.

In a private room on the third floor, Wang Changsheng met Wang Mingjiang, who, without preamble, recounted the full story.

"An accent alone doesn't prove anything, but in cases like this, it's better to accidentally kill than to let go. Uncle Twenty-one, my elder brother and I will accompany you to Qingyue Market. Changyue and Qingshan will return to guard the family estate."

"I'll go too! I might be able to help. Uncle Eight and Qingqi can oversee things within the clan."

Wang Qingshan volunteered, "I'll come along too. There's strength in numbers, and I can definitely be of some help."

"Alright! Then let's all go. That traitor is at the eighth level of Foundation Establishment, and even if injured, won't be easy to deal with. Let's buy some self-detonating artifacts, just in case."

Wang Changsheng went to the Divine Weapon Tower and bought two Fire Thunder Orbs. It wasn't that he didn't want to buy more, but only two were available. Additionally, they purchased several second-tier attack talismans.

After leaving the market, Wang Changsheng released the Blue Lotus Boat, which carried them towards Qingyue Market.

Qingyue Market, Wang Family General Store.

Wang Qingyuan was reviewing the account books when Chen Qingshu walked in.

"Shopkeeper Wang, it's been four months, hasn't it? Why haven't the houttuynia cordata arrived yet?"

Chen Qingshu asked with a frown.

Wang Qingyuan, with a deferential smile, explained, "Senior, please don't be impatient. They'll arrive in a few days. To be honest, I'm even more anxious than you! Who would ever turn away spirit stones delivered right to their doorstep, wouldn't you agree?"

Chen Qingshu's expression softened, and he nodded, saying, "Very well. I'll come back in three days. I hope the goods will have arrived by then."

"Certainly, Senior. Please take care."

After seeing Chen Qingshu off, Wang Qingyuan showed no unusual reactions and continued to examine the account books.

At You Shi (between 5 and 7 PM), a clan member arrived to take over his shift. After handing over his work, Wang Qingyuan left the Wang Family General Store.

About a cup of tea later, he appeared in a quiet courtyard and reported the situation to Wang Ruyan.

"Aunt Nine, he came to the shop today. He's a bit anxious because we don't have the goods. He'll be back in three days, and if we still don't have them then, he might become suspicious."