Chapter 3116: A Slash to Leave the Pass (None Today)

Wang Qingshan's wrist moved slightly, and a yellow light shot out, landing on the ground. It was the stone figure.

It patted its chest and scratched its head.

Wang Qingshan smiled, his wrist gave a slight flick, and a yellow crystal core shot out, flying towards the stone figure.

A dazzling yellow light illuminated the stone figure's surface, and the yellow crystal core visibly merged into its body.

It walked to the side and transformed into a yellow boulder, taller than a person.

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Duan."

Wang Qingshan expressed his gratitude.

"It was nothing. I didn't expect him to be able to produce the crystal core of a Void Refinement stage stone spirit. These things are even rarer than wood demon crystal cores."

Duan Tongtian sat down. He knew Wang Qingshan would like it, so he had specifically exchanged for this stone spirit crystal core.

He seemed to remember something and continued, "Oh, by the way, I heard that True Monarch Seven Swords has returned and will be giving a sermon at the Sword Discussion Assembly. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for you sword cultivators."

A sword cultivator at the Mahayana stage giving a sermon is a rarity, occurring perhaps once every ten thousand years.

"That's wonderful! Perhaps your wife can use this to break through her bottleneck and advance further in cultivation." Wang Qingfeng said excitedly.

"According to our information, True Monarch Seven Swords should have already survived his fourth Grand Heavenly Tribulation. This sermon of his is probably an attempt to build good karma. If anyone among the listeners advances to the Mahayana stage, they would owe him a favor." Duan Tongtian analyzed, stating that when a human cultivator advances to the Mahayana stage, a Mahayana celebration is definitely held. Even if the celebration is postponed by several millennia, the number of Grand Heavenly Tribulations can still be calculated.

Based on the intelligence gathered by the Dark Hall, even counting from the day True Monarch Seven Swords held his Mahayana celebration, he has already survived four Grand Heavenly Tribulations.

"Building good karma isn't surprising, but perhaps a race war is about to erupt. Is a Grade Seven mid-grade Nine-Colored Worm really that tempting?" Wang Qingshan frowned.

The Wang family possesses a Grade Six Nine-Colored Worm, a spirit insect they prioritize cultivating. Wang Changsheng had mentioned to Wang Qingshan that the sect master of the Myriad Spirit Sect has a Grade Seven Nine-Colored Worm.

"It's not about scarcity, but about imbalance. Other races don't have a Grade Seven Nine-Colored Worm, and since the Witch Clan acquired one, it naturally sparks envy. The Witch Clan is already skilled at cultivating spirit insects. If that Grade Seven mid-grade Nine-Colored Worm is cultivated to Grade Seven high-grade, the Nine-Light Divine Clay it excretes would be excellent for refining tribulation-withstanding treasures. Even if Mahayana cultivators don't need them, they would certainly be useful for their disciples and clansmen attempting to reach the Mahayana stage." Duan Tongtian explained.

If there were tribulation-withstanding treasures refined from Nine-Light Divine Clay, cultivators at the Integration stage attempting to reach the Mahayana stage would have an easier time facing the Eight-Nine Thunder Tribulation. Enduring a few extra bolts wouldn't be an issue.

All races highly value their lineage. Having successors ensures the longevity of a race or power; without them, even the richest foundation will eventually be depleted.

Wang Qingshan nodded, "That's true! If True Monarch Seven Swords gives a sermon, many Integration stage cultivators will surely attend. Perhaps we can acquire materials for crafting special puppets."

The "Thousand Puppet Tome" records various methods for crafting puppets, including Tribulation-Substitute Puppets, Flesh-and-Blood Spirit Puppets, Sentient Puppets, and Clone Puppets.

There's no need to elaborate on Tribulation-Substitute Puppets and Flesh-and-Blood Spirit Puppets. Sentient Puppets are puppets that develop intelligence. These are highly advanced puppet beasts, equivalent to living beings, capable of independent thought, though their crafting materials are extremely rare.

Clone Puppets are a special type of puppet beast, different from common clones. A Clone Puppet's strength is fixed; whatever realm it is crafted at, that is its realm. It doesn't have a Dharma Aspect. However, Clone Puppets are impervious to swords and spears, difficult to harm with treasures, and require a portion of the main body's vital essence to be refined into them.

Clone Puppets cannot cultivate. To increase their strength, one can only refine more precious materials into them, improving their grade and thus their power.

Furthermore, Clone Puppets have a significant advantage: they are not subject to Grand Heavenly Tribulations. However, their drawback is also obvious: they become inert if they exhaust the spiritual energy from their spirit stones. They are typically powered by supreme-grade spirit stones or spirit-gathering stones, which allow them to slowly recover their activity.

A Clone Puppet's specific strength depends on the crafting materials and its grade. It cannot be crafted from demon beast corpses.

While a high-level cultivator's divine sense can attach to a puppet beast to control it, this requires the main body's control and the divine sense must be withdrawn afterward. A Clone Puppet, however, does not require the main body's control; it is controlled by a sub-soul, which can permanently reside within the Clone Puppet's body, existing as an independent entity.

When a Mahayana cultivator gives a sermon, many high-level cultivators will surely attend. They can meet more immortal cultivators and exchange more cultivation resources.

Wang Qingfeng nodded. He thought of something and said, "I wonder how things are back in the clan. I don't know if Yidao has emerged from seclusion yet."

"With Ninth Uncle and Ninth Aunt there, nothing serious will happen. Don't worry! We'll rush back as soon as the Han family's inter-spirit treasure ship sets sail."

Wang Qingshan's voice was solemn.

After chatting for a while, they each returned to their rooms to rest.

Xuanling Continent, Azure Lotus Island.

Azure Lotus Peak, a certain secret chamber.

Wang Changsheng sat cross-legged on a blue futon, his gaze fixed on the Azure Lotus Spirit Refining Cauldron in front of him. Beside him were various artifact-refining materials.

He used the Azure Lotus Creation Cauldron to purify materials and the Azure Lotus Spirit Refining Cauldron to refine artifacts. The former was his personal fortuitous encounter, while the latter was an artifact refining furnace crafted with Wang Qingfeng's help. The two were not of the same grade.

After a moment, Wang Changsheng made a hand seal, and the cauldron lid flew up. A blue, shimmering shield flew out; it was the Black Tortoise Shield.

This Black Tortoise Shield was refined from a Grade Seven low-grade tortoise shell. It was quite effective at blocking ordinary attacks, but due to the destructive power of thunder tribulations, damage was inevitable.

If a treasure were refined from a Grade Seven mid-grade or Grade Seven high-grade demon tortoise shell, its defensive capability would certainly be stronger, similar to the difference between an Integration stage mid-phase and an Integration stage early-phase cultivator.

The defensive capabilities of treasures refined from demon tortoise shells of different grades vary.

Wang Changsheng possessed many treasures. The Nine-Light Bottle, Sky Lizard Pendant, and Black Tortoise Shield were most effective at withstanding thunder tribulations. The Nine-Light Bottle, in particular, could be used multiple times, while the Sky Lizard Pendant was a single-use item. Wang Changsheng had saved it for Wang Yidao to use when attempting to reach the Integration stage.

By calculation, Wang Yidao had been cultivating for over five thousand years. He wondered what realm he had reached.

He put away the Black Tortoise Shield, took out his communication disk, and contacted Wang Yihong.

"Yihong, has Yidao emerged from seclusion?"

"Reporting to Honored Ancestor, Yidao has emerged from seclusion. He has already advanced to the late-Void Refinement stage."

"Is he on Azure Lotus Island, or has he gone somewhere else?" Wang Changsheng pressed.

"I'm at his residence, chatting with him! We'll come over and report to you." Wang Yihong's voice was respectful.

"Good, you two come to Azure Lotus Peak." Wang Changsheng instructed.

"Yes, Honored Ancestor, we'll be right over."

Putting away the communication disk, Wang Changsheng stood up and walked out.