Chapter 3137

Overseas, on the Spirit Realm Continent. On a desolate island, a thousand miles in circumference, deafening thunder echoed from high in the sky. Thick, blue lightning bolts struck down from above, highly conspicuous. With a loud boom, a massive crimson mushroom cloud shot skyward, causing more than half the island to tremble.

A sharp bird cry pierced the air as a blood-soaked, gigantic blue crane flew up from the center of the island. It was losing a large number of feathers, its aura was weak, and its right claw was missing.

The blue crane hadn't flown far when the void rippled, and a large purple hand materialized. The blue crane reacted quickly, opening its mouth to spew a thick blue lightning bolt that shattered the purple hand.

A whooshing sound announced the arrival of over a dozen small yellow flying needles. The blue crane's body erupted with blue light, unleashing countless blue electric arcs that disintegrated all the needles. It powerfully flapped its wings and soared towards the sky.

A powerful gravitational pull emanated from the ground, twisting and distorting the void. The blue crane felt its body weigh as much as a billion catties, bringing it to a halt mid-air.

With a flash of purple light, a large purple hand reappeared and struck the blue crane. The blue crane plummeted rapidly from the sky, crashing heavily onto the ground.

A gigantic, shimmering blue blade shot forth, severing the blue crane's head.

Two men and one woman flew over from a distance. Judging by their auras, they were all Integration cultivators.

Leading them was a corpulent elderly man in a yellow robe, with a round face, small eyes, and fair skin. His name was Yi Lei, an early-stage Integration cultivator.

"We finally managed to kill this demon. I wonder if it has a Lightning Absorption Pearl; I hope this wasn't all for nothing again," a graceful young woman in a green dress said with a smile, her face full of anticipation. Her name was Yi Ling, a mid-stage Integration cultivator.

"We'll know soon enough if there's a Lightning Absorption Pearl," a tall, thin man in a green shirt spoke weakly; his left arm was missing, and his face was somewhat pale. His name was Bu Feng, an early-stage Integration cultivator.

The three of them came from two different outposts, each guarded by two Integration cultivators. Yi Lei had discovered traces of a low-grade, rank-seven Blue Thunder Crane. Since his other companion had recently undergone his third great tribulation and couldn't leave, Yi Lei considered his options and invited Yi Ling and Bu Feng to join forces to eliminate the demon.

They successfully eliminated the Blue Thunder Crane, but Bu Feng had been severely injured. If there was no Lightning Absorption Pearl, it would be a huge loss.

Bu Feng took out a long blue blade, walked towards the Blue Thunder Crane's corpse, slit its abdomen, and dug out two pale blue spherical pearls.

"We have both a rank-seven Lightning Guiding Pearl and a rank-seven Lightning Absorption Pearl! Haha, we've finally obtained a Lightning Absorption Pearl!" Bu Feng said excitedly. They had been dispatched overseas by Yi Feng a long time ago, and over the years, they had killed a total of twelve rank-seven lightning-attribute demonic beasts. They had finally obtained a Lightning Absorption Pearl.

"That's wonderful! We'll take it back to Skycloud Island and have Fellow Daoist Bu refine it into a treasure. It will definitely be excellent for surviving tribulations," Yi Ling said excitedly.

Generally, a rank-seven Lightning Absorption Pearl incorporated into a rank-seven Lightning Transformation Array would yield the best results for surviving tribulations. However, none of the four of them were formation masters; they only had one rank-seven artifact refiner, so they could only have him refine it into a treasure for tribulation survival.

Yi Xin had a rank-seven formation master at his side. It was impossible for them to hand over the rank-seven Lightning Absorption Pearl. Even among close kin, clear accounts are essential; if they submitted the pearl, they wouldn't have control over its usage rights. After all, there were many Integration cultivators of the Lizard Tribe overseas. Should they prevent other Integration cultivators from using the Lightning Transformation Array? If others used it and the Lightning Transformation Array was severely damaged or destroyed, what would they do when their own great tribulations came?

To not let other Integration cultivators use the Lightning Transformation Array and watch as their Integration-stage clan elders perished under the great tribulation? As fellow Integration cultivators, why should they defer to others?

It was a matter of self-preservation. The Lizard Tribe had fragmented and gone into hiding; while this benefited concealment, its drawback was discord among the high-ranking members, each with their own selfish agendas. If a Mahayana cultivator were to emerge again within the Lizard Tribe, it would naturally reunite the clan. Without a Mahayana cultivator, their individual self-interests easily led to problems.

This wasn't their fault; Yi Xin controlled the most precious cultivation resources, so it was unlikely that other Integration cultivators would foolishly hand over their rare treasures.

"Let's go, we're heading back immediately." Yi Lei was overjoyed. He put away the Blue Thunder Crane's corpse, and the three of them departed from the area.

***

Green Lotus Island, Green Lotus Peak.

The door to a certain secret chamber opened, and Wang Changsheng emerged, a smile on his face.

He had successfully refined a Nine-Lotus Spirit Disk, which he had already taken into his body for nurturing. After several centuries of nurturing, it could be used to substitute for a tribulation.

Upon arriving at the stone pavilion, Wang Changsheng took out his communication disk to contact Wang Yihong, asking him to come to Green Lotus Peak.

Not long after, Wang Yihong appeared before Wang Changsheng.

"How are Long Qingfeng's injuries? Has he recovered?" Wang Changsheng asked.

"He's almost fully recovered. He wants to leave Green Lotus Island and make his own way," Wang Yihong reported.

Under the Wang family's careful attention, Long Qingfeng was mostly healed.

"Make his own way? Doesn't he know many people are looking for him outside?" Wang Changsheng asked, puzzled.

"He knows, but he said the Dragon Stabilization Disk is no ordinary treasure. It's already quite remarkable that the Nine Dragon Palace could refine two of them. Even if there were extra Dragon Stabilization Disks, they wouldn't all be given to human cultivators to find him. As long as he's careful, it shouldn't be an issue," Wang Yihong reported truthfully, then hesitated as if something else came to mind.

"Speak plainly if you have something to say," Wang Changsheng instructed.

"Ru Yi has been very close to him; it seems she has feelings for him, though perhaps it's just my imagination," Wang Yihong reported.

"Ru Yi has feelings for him?" Wang Changsheng was slightly taken aback. He thought of Wang Changyue and Ye Lin. Could it be that Wang Ru Yi and Long Qingfeng were their counterparts?

"Let them manage their own romantic affairs. Since he wants to make his own way, let him. Just tell him to be extra careful," Wang Changsheng mused for a moment, then instructed.

Forcing things won't yield good results. Since Long Qingfeng doesn't want to stay with the Wang family, then so be it.

"Yes, Honored Ancestor," Wang Yihong agreed.

"By the way, store these materials in the treasury," Wang Changsheng took out two blue storage rings and handed them to Wang Yihong.

During his trip to the Barren Lands, he and Gongsun Yang had destroyed two Lizard Tribe outposts and killed many Lizard Tribe cultivators, acquiring numerous items. These included over four hundred sets of Dharma Idol materials, along with a considerable amount of artifact refining materials, alchemy materials, and formation arranging materials.

Wang Changsheng kept what he needed and stored the rest in the treasury, where clan members could exchange for them using merit points.

Wang Yihong acknowledged, put away the storage rings, and turned to leave.

Wang Changsheng entered a secret chamber, sat down cross-legged, and began cultivating.

***

In a secluded manor, Wang Ru Yi and Long Qingfeng sat in a stone pavilion, sipping tea and chatting idly.

"Are you really leaving Green Lotus Island? Perhaps your enemies are still searching for you. Your luck can't last forever, and we might not be able to save you the next time you encounter danger," Wang Ru Yi said with a frown.

"I appreciate your kindness, Fairy Wang. Thank you for taking care of me during this time. If the opportunity arises in the future, I will repay you," Long Qingfeng said sincerely.

He took out a pale blue communication disk from his robes, infused it with a spell, and Wang Yihong's voice sounded: "Fellow Daoist Long, I've reported your wishes to the Honored Ancestor. He has agreed and advises you to be very careful."

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Wang. Please convey my thanks to Senior Wang." Long Qingfeng breathed a sigh of relief. He had truly worried that the Wang family would detain him on Green Lotus Island.

"Let Ru Yi see you off! I wish you a smooth journey."

Long Qingfeng nodded, put away the communication disk, stood up, and politely said, "I'm troubling you, Fairy Wang."

"Since the Honored Ancestor has agreed, I'll see you off!" Wang Ru Yi nodded and departed from Green Lotus Island with Long Qingfeng.