Chapter 3165: Fuzu, Heguang

Over the years, using the Soul Fusion Technique, he had planted numerous spies among the subordinate races of the Goldscale and Silver Shark clans. Only two of these spies had performed exceptionally well, gathering a significant amount of useful information, while the others had been mediocre.

This was precisely why Wang Guangyue was able to obtain a Heavenly Thunder Spirit Transformation Talisman when attempting to break through to the Void Refinement stage. With over two thousand Soul Transformation cultivators in the family, acquiring a Heavenly Thunder Spirit Transformation Talisman or a Heavenly Thunder Primordial Transformation Array was quite difficult.

Wang Chuanming's application for the Heavenly Thunder Spirit Transformation Talisman also required multiple layers of approval to prevent him from embezzling or privately misusing it.

"I'm not certain," Wang Guangyue said slowly, "but He Guang was unremarkable before. He disappeared for over a hundred years, then his cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds. He claimed to have gone treasure hunting with someone and acquired a sum of cultivation resources. By coincidence, I learned from one of his descendants that He Guang obtained a set of Dongxuan Pearls, which are lower-grade Heaven-reaching Spirit Treasures. They might have been refined from the Divine Wood of East Yi, and they are highly effective at resisting lightning tribulations."

"He Guang, the Dongxuan Pearls, a set of Heaven-reaching Spirit Treasures... how did you find out? You won't be traced back, will you?" Wang Chuanming asked with a frown.

"His descendant was addicted to alcohol and women, possessing only a Nascent Soul cultivation. I had a female Nascent Soul cultivator seduce him and lure him to a market. On the way, I arranged for a fifth-tier demonic beast to kill them both. Through soul-searching, I discovered the existence of the Dongxuan Pearls," Wang Guangyue reported truthfully, as she was not a member of the Fu race and thus felt no moral burden.

Humans have strong reproductive capabilities and are skilled in crafting artifacts, concocting elixirs, and cultivating plants. Many foreign races capture lower-tier human cultivators to perform menial tasks and propagate offspring. Most human cultivators captured by foreign races are enslaved until death. Due to humanity's strong reproductive capacity, long borderlines, and internal traitors, lower-tier cultivators frequently disappear without explanation. Those from powerful factions fare slightly better, as foreign races would show some apprehension.

Having personally witnessed the tragic plight of enslaved human cultivators, Wang Guangyue felt no qualms about killing foreign cultivators.

"Investigate this person's divine abilities and treasures thoroughly. Uncover his network of connections, both enemies and friends. Of course, your safety is paramount. If you are exposed, withdraw immediately. The family will always be your strong backing," Wang Chuanming instructed.

If he could acquire this set of Dongxuan Pearls, his major heavenly tribulation would be significantly easier. While the Dongxuan Pearls might not necessarily have been refined from the Divine Wood of East Yi, that wasn't important. As long as there was a possibility they were, Wang Chuanming would not let He Guang go. It was better to kill a thousand innocents than to let one guilty person go. Years ago, Wang Chuanming had dared to kill and seize treasures for materials that *might* have been Nine-Light Divine Clay; now, for the Dongxuan Pearls, he would be even more ruthless with He Guang. As long as they were not members of the Wang family, Wang Chuanming would dare to kill them.

"Yes, Ancestor Chuanming," Wang Guangyue readily agreed.

"Oh, and your great-grandson has already advanced to the Soul Transformation stage. I will find him a good marriage and a lucrative position. You don't need to worry about them; I will help you take care of them," Wang Chuanming said kindly.

To ensure his subordinates devoted themselves wholeheartedly, it was essential to administer rewards and punishments clearly. As long as they performed their duties well, Wang Chuanming would certainly not treat them unfairly. If some clan members loved drinking, he would provide them with fine wine. If others valued loyalty and affection, he would approach them from that angle, showing more concern. If some were greedy, he would offer more benefits. Conversely, if their duties were poorly executed, Wang Chuanming would mete out severe punishments.

Green Lotus Peak

Wang Guangyue repeatedly expressed her gratitude, her face full of thanks. Wang Chuanming gave her a few final instructions before she departed. "Dongxuan Pearls... I hope they were refined from the Divine Wood of East Yi," Wang Chuanming murmured to himself, his face filled with killing intent.

***

Green Cicada Island belonged to the Fu race. The Fu race members were slightly larger than humans, with long arms, high noses, and small ears, and they were skilled at breeding spirit beasts and insects.

Green Cicada Island's terrain was higher in the east and lower in the west, filled with abundant spiritual energy. In the vast spiritual fields, several Fu cultivators were leisurely sipping tea and chatting by the fields, most of them holding long whips. Over a hundred human cultivators were toiling in the spiritual fields, their bodies marked with visible bloody welts. Numerous spirit herbs were planted in the fields. Human cultivators either irrigated the herbs or recorded their growth. The Fu race enforced a collective punishment system: a certain number of human cultivators were formed into a team, responsible for a specific spiritual field. If any mistake occurred, the entire team would be massacred. One person's error meant disaster for the whole team.

A clear and resonant crane cry echoed as a colossal red giant crane with two heads flew overhead. A shrewd-looking man in a red shirt stood atop it.

"It's Lord Lou," one of the Fu cultivators recognized the man in the red shirt. "Looks like Lord Lou got something good again to present to Elder He," another Fu cultivator said with a smile. The man in the red shirt was Lou Yan, a Mid Soul Transformation cultivator and a subordinate of He Guang.

A human cultivator glanced up at Lou Yan, and several long whips immediately lashed out. With a scream, the man's body bore several terrifying bloody welts.

"What are you looking at? Get back to work! If the spirit herbs don't grow well, all of you will die!" a Fu cultivator barked. The human cultivators, enraged but dared not speak, dutifully resumed their labor.

The red giant crane landed on a ten-thousand-acre bluestone plaza. On the plaza were over a dozen buildings of varying sizes, including a cyan palace over ten zhang tall, with "Green Cicada Hall" inscribed in large golden characters on its plaque. The main gate was tightly shut.

Lou Yan put away his red giant crane, then quickly approached the entrance of Green Cicada Hall and sent out a sound transmission talisman. After a moment, the gate opened, and a dignified male voice came from inside: "Come in and report!"

Lou Yan acknowledged, then strode inside.

The main hall was spacious and brightly lit. A short, corpulent elder in a cyan robe sat on the main seat, his expression grim. This was He Guang, an early Void Refinement cultivator who had survived one major heavenly tribulation. "How is the investigation proceeding? Was Hao'er truly killed by a fifth-tier demonic beast?" He Guang asked.

"My subordinates have investigated from multiple angles. It appears young master was indeed killed by a fifth-tier demonic beast. He was heading to the market with a few clan members to buy things when a fifth-tier demonic beast suddenly appeared on the road. There were two survivors. I investigated the circumstances of the other victims and discovered that a female cultivator named Sheng Rong had recently become quite close to the young master, though they had no previous association," Lou Yan reported.

"Sheng Rong? What is her background?" He Guang asked, frowning. He had been feeling unsettled recently, with a persistent premonition of trouble. The timing of one of his descendants being killed made it difficult for him not to overthink the situation.

"She is a descendant of Elder Sheng, but many dozens of generations removed, so Elder Sheng probably isn't even aware of her existence. Her aptitude is ordinary, but she often uses her moderate looks to entice wealthy cultivators and demand cultivation resources," Lou Yan reported.

"Investigate our own people to see if we've offended anyone recently, or if any of the human cultivators we've captured are from major factions. Strengthen our defenses and strictly guard against enemy sneak attacks," He Guang commanded.

Green Lotus Peak

"It's better to be safe than sorry; caution is always wise," He Guang instructed. "Yes, Elder He," Lou Yan agreed, bowing before he withdrew.