Chapter 3092: Han Family's Scheme

In an area of azure sea, the water itself was azure. A closer look revealed numerous azure sea snakes swimming within.

A massive treasure ship was sailing swiftly across the sea.

Wang Xiangrong, Wang TunTian, Wang Huanyu, and dozens of other passengers stood on the deck, gazing at the distant waters.

"Fellow Daoist Han," Wang Xiangrong asked, "at our current speed, how much longer will it take to reach the Heavenly Star Archipelago?" Wang Xiangrong was currently at the Mid-Void Refinement Stage. Wang Changsheng's cultivation speed was remarkably fast because he had refined the Origin of a True Spirit. Wang Xiangrong, however, had not refined such an origin, and his cultivation progression was consequently slower, though he had already survived three great heavenly tribulations.

A lean, handsome young man in a blue robe stood nearby, his eyes sparkling with vitality. This was Han Changxiang, an Early-Void Refinement Stage cultivator and a descendant of Han Xuemei.

"Barring any unforeseen circumstances," Han Changxiang replied with a smile, "we should reach the Heavenly Star Archipelago in less than half a month." He only knew Wang Xiangrong was a cultivator from the Wang family and was unaware of his specific identity.

Wang Xiangrong nodded. Calculating the time, Wang Qingfeng should also be close to finishing the refinement of the treasure.

After chatting for a while, Wang Xiangrong left the deck and headed towards the cabins. He arrived at a cabin door, which opened to reveal Wang Qingfeng emerging with a joyful expression on his face.

"How is it? Is it refined?" Wang Xiangrong asked.

Wang Qingfeng invited Wang Xiangrong inside, closed the door, then with a flip of his right hand, produced a shimmering nine-colored calabash. This was the Nine Blaze Calabash, a Mid-Grade Heaven-Piercing Spirit Treasure. The clan's artifact refiners had already created a semi-finished product; Wang Qingfeng's task was simply to refine the Nine Blaze Jade into it, thereby transforming it into a true Mid-Grade Heaven-Piercing Spirit Treasure. This process significantly reduced the overall refinement time. If not for the considerable effort saved by his clansmen's assistance, Wang Qingfeng would not have been able to refine the Nine Blaze Calabash so quickly.

Wang Changsheng possessed a Vermilion Bird Vase, also a Mid-Grade Heaven-Piercing Spirit Treasure, which could easily collect rank-seven ice flames. However, that treasure was currently with Wang Changsheng. As Wang Changsheng was in secluded cultivation, he naturally carried his treasures with him rather than leaving them all in the family's vault. If the clansmen could obtain Nine Blaze Jade to refine a treasure for collecting rank-seven ice flames, there would be no need to disturb Wang Changsheng. They would only disturb him if they couldn't acquire the Nine Blaze Jade.

The Phantasm Moon Treasure Mirror was the family's guardian treasure, typically stored in the family vault and available for use at any time. Once refined, this Nine Blaze Calabash would become common property of the family. Clansmen on missions could apply to use the Nine Blaze Calabash if needed.

"Excellent!" Wang Xiangrong said happily. "With this treasure, collecting rank-seven ice flames will be much easier."

After a brief chat, Wang Xiangrong departed, returning to his own cabin to meditate and regulate his breathing.

Less than half a month later, the Cross-Spirit Treasure Ship docked near Seven Star Island. Han Changxiang sent someone to inform Wang Qingshan and others, instructing them to disembark. Wang Qingshan and the six others entered Seven Star Island. They then used a teleportation array to leave the island.

In a certain sea area lay a vast island. Viewed from high above, it was narrow at the top and wide at the bottom, resembling a massive calabash floating on the sea. This was the ancestral land of the Han family. In the southwestern corner of the island, a peak that was narrow at the top and wide at the bottom resembled a giant calabash from a distance. This was Calabash Peak, one of the Han family's important strongholds. On the peak's summit stood a magnificent palace, its plaque bearing three large golden characters: "Calabash Hall."

Inside the grand hall, a beautiful woman in a green dress with striking features sat on the main seat, her expression solemn. Han Xueyao and dozens of other clan elders were seated on either side. The woman in the green dress was Han Yiqing, a late-stage Body Integration realm cultivator.

The Han family currently had twelve Body Integration cultivators. While this appeared impressive, only the Han family themselves understood the immense pressure behind it. The more Body Integration cultivators they had, the greater their demand for tribulation-crossing materials. Within two thousand years, three Body Integration realm clan elders would face their fifth great heavenly tribulation, a trial that would be very difficult to pass. Han Yiqing herself would also face her fourth great heavenly tribulation.

The Han family's ancestors had saved True Monarch Wanhai and greatly assisted him. After True Monarch Wanhai advanced to the Mahayana stage, he protected the Han family from harm, allowing them to develop so rapidly. The Han family had spent vast amounts of wealth and time to refine a Cross-Spirit Treasure Ship. However, its combat power was inferior to the Ye family's Ice Lion, as could be seen from the routes of the two Cross-Spirit Treasure Ships. The Ice Lion traveled widely across the Xuanyang Realm, while the Han family's Cross-Spirit Treasure Ship only traveled between the Azure Glaze Sea and the Profound Spirit Continent. This difference was not only due to the ships' combat power but also related to the influence of True Monarch Wanhai and the Ye family. To put it plainly, the Han family essentially worked for True Monarch Wanhai, whose influence was limited to the Azure Glaze Sea and the Profound Spirit Continent.

"The Myriad Spirit Ruins are about to open," Han Yiqing stated gravely. "I will personally lead the team. We hope to capture the rank-seven Nine-Colored Worm, or at the very least, obtain some Nine-Light Divine Clay." The Han family had discovered a rank-seven Nine-Colored Worm in the Myriad Spirit Ruins over ten thousand years ago. So many years had passed, and it was uncertain whether the Nine-Colored Worm was still alive. The Han family planned to dispatch five Body Integration cultivators to the Myriad Spirit Ruins to search for treasures.

"We have made ample preparations," Han Xuemei said confidently. "As long as the Nine-Colored Worm is still alive and we locate it, we will certainly be able to capture it." She had already survived four great heavenly tribulations. Her fifth great heavenly tribulation would descend within two thousand years, and without high-grade tribulation-crossing materials or treasures, she would not be able to survive it.

"Let's hope so! Yilong, you and your group will remain to guard the family. We hope this expedition succeeds in capturing that Nine-Colored Worm." Han Yilong agreed, his expression solemn.

Sky Crow Archipelago, Golden Crow Island. In a quiet small courtyard with green tiles, Wang Yonghao was reporting to Cui Yao. Ever since Wang Qingfeng issued the order, Cui Yao had mobilized all available personnel to secretly gather information about the Myriad Spirit Ruins, as well as any maps of it. After over two hundred years of effort, she had indeed collected a good deal of information about the Myriad Spirit Ruins, as well as some maps. However, their authenticity was difficult to verify and would only be known upon entering the Myriad Spirit Ruins personally.

Cui Yao took out a pale blue communication plate, and after activating it with a spell, Wang Qingfeng's voice echoed: "We're back; we're just outside."

"Excellent!" Cui Yao exclaimed. "Ancestor Qingfeng, please wait a moment. I'll be right out."

Cui Yao put away the communication plate, hurried towards the courtyard gate, opened it, and seeing Wang Qingshan and the six others, quickly invited them inside.

"Tell me about the Myriad Spirit Ruins," Wang Qingshan instructed as he walked to the bamboo pavilion and sat down. Cui Yao did not dare to delay and reported truthfully, producing several jade slips and maps for Wang Qingshan and the others to examine.

"Within ten years, the Myriad Spirit Ruins will enter a period of weakness," Cui Yao explained, her expression serious. "At that time, we will be able to enter to search for treasures. However, every time the Myriad Spirit Ruins open, other races also send people in to seek treasures, including the Barbarian, Witch, and Azure Carp tribes. The most troublesome are the Witch tribe; their curses kill invisibly and are impossible to guard against." This place was very far from the Myriad Spirit Ruins, and it would take considerable time to travel there.

Wang Qingshan nodded and asked several questions, to which Cui Yao answered truthfully. "You've done an excellent job," Wang Qingshan said. "We plan to go to the Myriad Spirit Ruins to search for treasures. You all should remain in the market city and keep an eye on all kinds of news." After giving a few instructions, Wang Qingshan departed with Wang Qingfeng and the others.