Chapter 3164: Qingcheng Closed Retreat

Wang Ruyan breathed a sigh of relief. The Wood Demon had recently perished under a Seven-Nine Lightning Tribulation, so she had genuinely worried about Wang Yidao's demise. He had actually attracted five streaks of eight-colored divine lightning; without the Nine-Light Bottle, he would surely have died.

"Excellent, you've entered the Integration Stage," Wang Ruyan praised, her face beaming with smiles. "This is wonderful! Our family has gained another Integration cultivator."

Wang Moshan was overjoyed.

Wang Yihong looked on with envy, smiling as he said, "Now you can go and marry Fairy Du." He had started cultivating earlier than Wang Yidao, but Wang Yidao had already reached the Integration Stage, while he was still lingering in the early Void Refinement Stage. The gap between the two brothers was remarkably large.

Wang Yidao nodded. They followed Wang Ruyan to Qinglian Peak. "Where is the Nine-Light Bottle?" Wang Ruyan asked.

Wang Yidao flipped his right hand, and the Nine-Light Bottle appeared. It was clear that the bottle had over a dozen tiny cracks on its surface, and its spiritual light was dim. This time, the damage was even greater than before.

"The destructive power of the five eight-colored divine lightning bolts was too strong; the Nine-Light Bottle is not lightly damaged. Ancestor, can it be repaired?"

Wang Yidao's expression was solemn. He knew the value of the Nine-Light Bottle; if it were rendered useless, other clan members attempting to reach the Integration Stage would face significantly higher tribulation difficulty.

"This is not something for you to worry about. Focus on recuperating and consolidating your cultivation!" Wang Ruyan said, putting away the Nine-Light Bottle. "Alright."

Wang Yidao agreed and turned to leave.

"Young friend Du is quite good. If you like her, have Moshan propose marriage. If not, don't string her along," Wang Ruyan added. Wang Yidao turned back and nodded, "Understood." With that, he left Qinglian Island and returned to his residence to recuperate.

"Moshan, send more people to search for Nine-Light Divine Clay," Wang Ruyan instructed. She explained that the Nine-Light Bottle was quite troublesome to repair; without Nine-Light Divine Clay, it would be very difficult.

"Yes, Ancestor," Wang Moshan replied. He then remembered something and said, "By the way, Ancestor, someone is spreading rumors that our Wang family possesses a Lightning Transformation Array formed from a seventh-tier Lightning Absorption Pearl. The Dark Hall sent people to investigate, but found no clues."

Those spreading the rumors naturally wouldn't appear in person, making it very difficult to trace the mastermind.

"Have Ruyue clarify it. Whether they believe it or not is up to them," Wang Ruyan instructed. "If we had a Lightning Transformation Array, powers of similar standing should already possess defensive supreme spirit treasures." Wang Ruyue was the head of the External Affairs Hall, responsible for publicity and, incidentally, for discrediting other forces.

With the Wang family's current strength, they had no fear of ordinary forces. A seventh-tier low-grade Lightning Absorption Pearl had a negligible effect on Mahayana cultivators. As long as forces with Mahayana cultivators didn't attack the Wang family, there would be no problem.

"Yes, Ancestor," Wang Moshan agreed. "You must cultivate diligently; cultivation is the foundation."

Wang Ruyan admonished, her tone heavy. The Wang family currently boasted over a hundred Void Refinement cultivators, which seemed impressive. However, as time passed, these cultivators undergoing their Grand Tribulations would become a significant burden. Not every Void Refinement cultivator could use the Heavenly Lightning Transformation Array to pass their Grand Tribulations; there were simply too many monks and too little porridge.

Elderly Void Refinement cultivators like Wang Moshan had already passed three Grand Tribulations, and the time difference between their tribulations was not long. For the fifth Grand Tribulation, Heavenly Lightning Spirit Charms would have little effect. If they had a sixth-tier high-grade Lightning Absorption Pearl, the Heavenly Lightning Transformation Array's effect on passing the Grand Tribulation would be much better.

Among the hundreds of Void Refinement cultivators, only those who had rendered great service to the clan were eligible to apply for the use of the Heavenly Lightning Transformation Array to pass their Grand Tribulations. It was the same for other forces; without significant merit, cultivators could only venture into dangerous places to seek treasures or participate in large-scale auctions. Some cultivators would even resort to killing and plundering to obtain high-grade tribulation-passing artifacts.

This was precisely why the Wang family was relatively powerful. If it were rumored that the Lan family or a small sect had obtained a seventh-tier Lightning Absorption Pearl, high-level cultivators would surely come knocking. Those with a better attitude might attempt to trade, while those with a poor attitude would simply attack.

It was not uncommon for clans and sects to be annihilated for high-grade Lightning Absorption Pearls.

The Human, Fiery, and Yaksha races had allied to deal with the Lizard race. Bai Xuan discovered that a certain minor clan had obtained a seventh-tier mid-grade Lightning Absorption Pearl and led his people to destroy this minor clan, officially igniting the racial war.

Wang Moshan and Wang Yihong agreed, bowed, and withdrew. No sooner had they left than Wang Qingcheng arrived.

His aura was significantly stronger than before; he had evidently reached the Great Perfection of the Void Refinement Stage. Wang Qingcheng had a Heavenly Spiritual Root, so this cultivation speed was not slow. He was about to undergo his fourth Grand Tribulation.

After chatting for a while, Wang Qingcheng explained his purpose: "Mother, I plan to enter seclusion to attempt to reach the Integration Stage."

"You want to enter seclusion to attempt the Integration Stage?"

Wang Ruyan frowned. The Nine-Light Bottle was heavily damaged. If Wang Qingcheng entered seclusion to attempt the Integration Stage now and attracted eight-colored divine lightning, he would surely perish. She took out the Nine-Light Bottle and voiced her concerns.

"You should wait a bit!" Wang Ruyan advised. "Once the Nine-Light Bottle is repaired, passing the Seven-Nine Lightning Tribulation will be much easier."

"Mother, I understand what you mean, but if I don't attempt to reach the Integration Stage soon, I'll have to face my fourth Grand Tribulation. My younger brother and Yuejiao are also close to undergoing their fourth Grand Tribulation." Wang Qingcheng said with a bitter smile, knowing it was risky.

There were many elderly Void Refinement cultivators, and the earliest group of clan members who entered the Void Refinement Stage were now close to facing their fourth Grand Tribulation. This itself was a serious burden. If Wang Qingcheng could reach the Integration Stage, he could help find high-grade materials for tribulations, significantly reducing the family's burden.

Passing his fourth Grand Tribulation wouldn't be difficult for him, but he wasn't confident about the fifth. Without the Nine-Light Bottle, Wang Qingcheng was not confident he could pass his fifth Grand Tribulation relying solely on the Heavenly Lightning Transformation Array set up with a sixth-tier low-grade Lightning Absorption Pearl.

The more times elderly Void Refinement cultivators underwent Grand Tribulations, the greater the burden on the family. If these elder Void Refinement cultivators could advance to the Integration Stage, the family's pressure would be significantly alleviated.

"Alright! You go into seclusion first, and keep the Nine-Light Bottle with you. I will try to find high-grade tribulation-passing materials, hoping to repair the Nine-Light Bottle before you attempt to reach the Integration Stage!"

Wang Ruyan sighed softly, agreed, and handed the Nine-Light Bottle to Wang Qingcheng.

Wang Qingcheng accepted, put away the Nine-Light Bottle, chatted for a while, then took his leave. Wang Ruyan walked towards Wang Yulan's courtyard to continue teaching Wang Yulan the art of ultimate talismans.

******

On a desolate island, over a hundred miles in size, within a hidden underground cave, Wang Chuanming and a graceful woman in a white dress were speaking, their expressions solemn.

The woman in the white dress was ostensibly Tong Yue, a cultivator of the Fu Clan. The Fu Clan was a vassal race of the Golden Scale Clan, with an Integration cultivator overseeing them, but their overall strength was not great. In reality, Wang Guangyue, a female cultivator from the Wang family, had used the Spirit Fusion Great Art to merge with Tong Yue, the Fu Clan cultivator. Hundreds of years ago, when she was only at the Nascent Soul Stage, the lightning tribulation she faced to reach the Void Refinement Stage was much stronger than that of ordinary Fu Clan cultivators. Fortunately, the family provided Heavenly Lightning Spirit Charms, allowing her to successfully pass the Six-Nine Lightning Tribulation.

At Qinglian Peak, "The Eastern Profound Pearl! Are you sure it's refined from Eastern Yi Divine Wood?" Wang Chuanming's expression was grave.