Chapter 3146: Meng Bin's Clash and Integration

While a Spiritual Physique possessor from a small family or sect could cultivate to the Mid-stage Spirit Transformation, their cultivation speed would be nowhere near Wang Yulan's. Aptitude is certainly important, and cultivation resources are also crucial, but devotion to the Dao is paramount. The Wang family is now incomparably better than it was over ten thousand years ago. A considerable number of clan members are indulged in pleasure; for instance, the Wang family currently lacks a second Five Spiritual Roots Void Refinement cultivator. Most Five Spiritual Roots cultivators within the clan stop at the Nascent Soul stage, with the better ones reaching the Spirit Transformation stage, and that's it. Cultivators with unwavering devotion to the Dao would strive even harder in a different environment, like Wang Yingjie.

"If Qingqi has a spirit in heaven and knew he had a descendant like you, he would surely smile in the underworld," Wang Ruyan remarked with emotion. Wang Qingqi had contributed immensely to the family, and his personal biography was a mandatory read for clan members' enlightenment.

"It is all thanks to the family's cultivation and support; otherwise, this granddaughter would not have been able to reach the Mid-stage Spirit Transformation so quickly. Ancestor Guangyu, in particular, gave me much guidance in talisman crafting," Wang Yulan said humbly. She cultivated on a Fifth-tier spiritual vein, wore auxiliary spiritual treasures to accelerate her cultivation speed, and had access to top-tier elixirs, innate magical artifacts, spiritual beasts, and cultivation caverns. With such excellent conditions, it would be difficult for her not to excel. Among the six lower realms controlled by the Wang family, Wang Yulan's starting point was the highest, unmatched by anyone.

"You all have done very well. I said that as long as Yulan ascends to the Xuanyang Realm, you will be richly rewarded. Yihong, I leave this to you," Wang Changsheng praised and instructed. "Yes, Old Ancestor," Wang Yihong replied. A fair-faced man in a green robe stepped forward and respectfully said, "This is what your grandson should do."

"Merit goes to merit, fault goes to fault; the two cannot be conflated. If you render meritorious service, the family will reward you heavily; if you make mistakes, there are also family rules to punish you. Yulan's situation is our family's absolute secret; no leaks are allowed, understand?" Wang Changsheng's voice was stern. Whenever Spiritual Physique possessors emerged in forces like Zhenhai Palace, Xuanqing Sect, Lengyan Sect, or Jiuyan Gate, they would select Dao Protectors to prevent assassination. Li Tianhe from the Qingli Sea Region was an example of this. "Yes, Old Ancestor," Wang Yihong and the others replied in unison.

"Yulan, you can stay at Qinglian Peak! I will personally guide you in the art of talisman crafting," Wang Ruyan said kindly. Wang Yulan agreed, her expression respectful.

Wang Changsheng flipped his right hand, and a green-glowing formation disk appeared. Runes flickered on its surface, emanating astonishing spiritual energy. This was a Spirit Testing Disk, a low-grade Heavenly Connecting Spirit Treasure. Wang Changsheng was concerned that clan members from the lower realms might misidentify Wang Yulan's Spiritual Physique, as such a misunderstanding had occurred before on Xuanyin Continent. Many Spiritual Physiques possess some self-healing abilities, each unique. For example, the Myriad Wood Body also has excellent recovery capabilities. The Immortal Blood Body, however, has particularly strong recovery powers; it is said that upon reaching the Mahayana stage, even if only a single drop of essence blood remains, it can fully recover, earning it the moniker "essence blood never dries, immortal and indestructible." Wang Changsheng had only read about the Immortal Blood Body in ancient texts; he had never seen it firsthand nor heard of any cultivator in the Xuanyang Realm possessing it. He heard that the newly advanced Mahayana cultivator of the Tianyue Clan possessed the Myriad Wood Body.

"Yulan's conduct and demeanor are quite good, much better than Yidao's. To be honest, I was genuinely worried that Yulan's personality might also be eccentric," Wang Ruyan said with a smile. Wang Changsheng nodded. "Indeed! If both Spiritual Physique possessors in our family had eccentric personalities, that would be problematic. Frankly, if it weren't for the concern about True Monarch Bloodblade's clone descending to cause havoc, I wouldn't have wanted Yulan to ascend so quickly. She is too young and lacks experience. It's good that she has ascended to the Xuanyang Realm, where she can gain more experience. However, the first priority is to choose a powerful Dao Protector for her."

To be a Dao Protector for a Spiritual Physique possessor, one must first be sufficiently powerful, and secondly, not too conspicuous. It's best if they are clan members with little public renown. If Wang Qingcheng, Wang Qingxiao, Wang Yingjie, Wang Huayue, and others were to act as Dao Protectors, their widespread fame would draw attention to Wang Yulan wherever they went, making her special nature obvious to anyone with discernment. Clan members skilled in certain crafts are also unsuitable, such as Wang Mousen, Wang Yibing, Wang Jiye, and Wang Zongque. Their aptitudes are good, and they are important talents within the family, so it's impossible for them to serve as Dao Protectors.

"Let's entrust this matter to Dianlong and Yueqin! They currently have little renown, but their strength is not weak. Occasionally, when they attend celebrations hosted by other major forces with the family, Yulan can accompany them to meet elites from other powers and engage in sparring and exchanges, which also counts as experience," Wang Changsheng said. Wang Changsheng had already considered candidates for the Dao Protectors. Once Wang Yulan reaches the Void Refinement stage, the protectors' task will be easier, and once she reaches the Integration stage, she will be able to act more freely. When Gongsun Yang first ascended to the Xuanyang Realm, he rarely made appearances, but after reaching the Integration stage, he dared to venture alone into the desolate lands.

"Counting the time, Mengbin and the others have been gone for nearly two thousand years now, haven't they? I wonder how they are doing," Wang Ruyan mused, thinking of Wang Mengbin and the other four. "Their soul lamps haven't extinguished, so they must be fine. Perhaps by the time they return, Mengbin will have advanced to the Integration stage," Wang Changsheng said with a smile. After chatting for a while, Wang Changsheng returned to his secret chamber to cultivate. If Wang Yulan had not ascended to the Xuanyang Realm, they would not have needed to emerge from seclusion at all. There were now few things that could alarm them; Wang Qingshan and the others could handle matters, and if not, it wouldn't be too late to inform them.

In a small valley surrounded by mountains on three sides, located in the northeast corner of the Tianwu Mountain Range on Qianyuan Continent, a massive thundercloud hung high in the sky, flashing with lightning and roaring with thunder as thick bolts of lightning struck down. Wang Yingjie, Grandmaster Hunyuan, Wang Long, Wang Zongyun, Liu Hongxue, and Bai Yuqi stood on a peak, their expressions grave. Qianyuan Continent was rich in cultivation resources. Wang Mengbin possessed three spiritual elixirs that aided in breaking through to the Integration stage; he would enter the Integration stage upon surviving the Seven-Nine Thunder Tribulation. For this purpose, Wang Yingjie brought out his Heavenly Thunder Transformation Array, Liu Hongxue provided a Golden Scale Armor Talisman, and Wang Zongyun offered an Eight Trigrams Qianyuan Talisman. If Wang Mengbin successfully entered the Integration stage, acquiring these items would be relatively easier. Before leaving Xuanyin Continent, Wang Mengbin and Bai Yuqi had used their merit points to exchange for a defensive middle-grade Heavenly Connecting Spirit Treasure, the Thunder Shark Umbrella, from the family. After arriving on Qianyuan Continent, Bai Yuqi had been collecting array materials. She personally set up the array, and with the addition of the items provided by Wang Yingjie and the other two, Wang Mengbin had a very high chance of surviving the Seven-Nine Thunder Tribulation.

Rumbling thunder sounded as thick bolts of silver lightning struck down from high above, heading straight for the small valley. Wang Mengbin stood on an open space, his expression grave. A small, silver-glowing umbrella floated above his head, its surface displaying a silver shark pattern, and a silvery glow enveloped Wang Mengbin's entire body. Bolts of silver lightning continuously struck the small silver umbrella, causing it to gently sway. Upon closer inspection, several small cracks could be seen. Wang Yingjie frowned and looked towards the distant horizon; Void Refinement cultivators were approaching, and quite a few of them. "I will go stop them; we cannot let them disturb my husband's breakthrough to the Integration stage," Bai Yuqi said solemnly, having long anticipated this possibility.