Chapter 3234: Blood Shadow Clan's Major Move

"Your cultivation level is quite high. I intend to give you a mission: to search for the Lizard Race overseas. Are you up to the task?" Wang Ruyan asked.

"As long as the Mistress commands, your subordinate will not flinch from any danger, even death itself," Wang Xiao said solemnly.

"The remnants of the Lizard Race are hiding overseas, and we haven't been able to find them. I want you to infiltrate foreign communities, or simply remain overseas, to gather intelligence on them. What do you think?" Wang Ruyan asked.

Wang Xiao leads a reclusive life, and when he does appear in public, he uses a disguise. So, if he goes overseas to operate undercover, he won't have to worry about being recognized. Furthermore, the Wang family has few undercover agents overseas, and their cultivation levels are generally low; only Wang Yongyue is slightly better, but the intelligence they gather is of limited value. Wang Xiao is at the late Void Refinement stage, making him quite powerful, so sending him overseas to gather information is also appropriate.

"Yes, your subordinate obeys your command," Wang Xiao readily agreed. He understood the importance of knowing one's place.

Wang Ruyan summoned Wang Moshan and instructed him to escort Wang Xiao off Green Lotus Island, providing him with intelligence on foreign races overseas to help Wang Xiao integrate into their communities. Wang Xiao could disguise himself as a remnant of the Golden Roc clan, but whether he could infiltrate the foreign communities would depend on his own capabilities. This was also a test for Wang Xiao. Wang Tun Tian and others had already proven their abilities, so if Wang Xiao's capabilities were too poor, Wang Ruyan naturally wouldn't allocate too many resources to him; it would be a waste.

***

The Soul Severing Ruins are located in the southwestern corner of the Bloodlight Realm, known as the realm's most perilous place. It is heavily restricted, and even Soul Transformation cultivators risk falling if they enter.

Deep within the Soul Severing Ruins, in a boundless red bamboo forest, a massive golden fireball shot into the sky, highly conspicuous. The ground shook violently, and countless red bamboo stalks were uprooted by powerful air currents, sent swirling high into the air.

A blood-red light glowed high in the sky, transforming into a pale-faced elder in a blood-red robe, whose left arm was missing, and whose eyes were filled with terror. No sooner had the blood-robed elder appeared than the void above him rippled, and a large, hazy golden hand materialized from thin air, striking the elder.

The blood-robed elder quickly plummeted towards the ground. Thick, green vines burst from the earth, wrapping around his body. He opened his mouth and spewed forth a pungent, blood-red flame, burning away the green vines.

A flash of golden light, and a shimmering golden brick materialized from thin air. A powerful gravitational force descended upon him. Just as the blood-robed elder was about to evade it, a man's loud shout rang out. He instantly felt dizzy and disoriented as the golden brick slammed down. With a colossal crash, the earth trembled.

Wang Pinbai flew over from a distance, his face pale, with a horrifying bloody hole in his left shoulder. A miniature Nascent Soul flew out of the body and was immediately captured by Wang Pinbai, who then performed a soul-search on it.

Wang Pinshen personally led the team, using a boundary-breaking treasure to open a spatial passage. Twenty Soul Transformation cultivators entered the Bloodlight Realm, bypassing other cultivators, and infiltrated the Soul Severing Ruins to search for the Divine Water of Creation. The Blood Shadow Race was also searching for the Divine Water of Creation, and had already obtained it first. On their way out, they encountered Wang Pinshen's group, and both sides engaged in a fierce battle.

The Blood Shadow Race had five Soul Transformation cultivators, possessing considerable divine abilities and mastering several powerful secret arts. After a skirmish, one person from the Wang family was severely wounded, before they managed to eliminate all five Blood Shadow Race Soul Transformation cultivators. It was also fortunate that their numbers far exceeded those of the Blood Shadow Race, otherwise the losses would have been much greater.

Wang Pinshen and the others flew over. Wang Pinji asked, "How was it? Did you find any useful information?"

"The Blood Shadow Race has actually controlled twenty-seven lower realms, nineteen of which they've gained control over in the past ten thousand years! They've killed many cultivators and collected their vital essence. It seems they are trying to refine some kind of treasure!" Wang Pinbai said, frowning.

"Five Soul Transformation cultivators of the Blood Shadow Race are dead, and there are still three more at their stronghold. Should we go and wipe out their base?" a clan elder suggested. This was the best time to deal with the Blood Shadow Race in the Bloodlight Realm, an opportunity not to be missed.

Wang Pinshen pondered for a moment and said, "First, let's send the Divine Water of Creation back to the East Lih Realm. It won't be too late to return and eliminate the Blood Shadow Race next time." If anything happened to the Seven Gourd Vine, obtaining any more treasures would be useless.

They left the Soul Severing Ruins and returned to the East Lih Realm.

***

Xuan Yang Realm, Green Lotus Island.

Green Lotus Peak, a secluded manor.

Wang Ruyan was guiding Wang Yuanwei in cultivation. Wang Yuanwei was currently at the late Void Refinement stage, one of the Wang family's few high-level sound cultivators.

Wang Ruyan took out a blue communication disk, infused it with a spell, and frowned. She instructed, "Moshan, bring them over!"

"Yes, Ancestor," Wang Moshan's voice came from the communication disk. Wang Yuanwei discreetly withdrew.

Soon after, Wang Moshan, Wang Pinbai, and Li Yuxin appeared before Wang Ruyan.

"Greetings, Ancestor!" Wang Pinbai and Li Yuxin quickly saluted.

"Has the Seven Gourd Vine's growth recovered?" Wang Ruyan asked.

"With the Divine Water of Creation, it's much better, but the Divine Water of Creation will eventually run out. Brother Pinshen suggested bringing the Seven Gourd Vine up here?" Wang Pinbai suggested.

"No, without our command, no one is allowed to move the Seven Gourd Vine." Wang Ruyan's stance was firm. Over the years, three clan members had perished during their ascension, encountering spatial storms. Even with the Flying Spirit Array, there was still a certain risk for clan members ascending from the East Lih Realm to the Xuan Yang Realm. Given the Seven Gourd Vine's value, it absolutely could not be risked.

"We also share this view. Brother Pinshen merely made a suggestion. Please rest assured, Ancestor, he would not dare move the Seven Gourd Vine without a command," Wang Pinbai quickly explained.

"What happened in the Bloodlight Realm? Tell me in detail," Wang Ruyan continued to ask.

Wang Pinbai dared not conceal anything and recounted everything truthfully.

"What? The Blood Shadow Race controls twenty-seven lower realms, and they've taken control of nineteen new realms in the past ten thousand years! They're killing high-level cultivators and refining their vital essence—what are they trying to do?!" Wang Ruyan said, perplexed.

"I'm not sure. We originally intended to eliminate the Blood Shadow Race in the Bloodlight Realm, but Brother Pinshen said the Seven Gourd Vine's safety was paramount, so we returned to the East Lih Realm first," Wang Pinbai explained.

"I understand. I will send someone to handle this matter. You all did very well. Moshan, take them and arrange their proper accommodation," Wang Ruyan instructed.

Wang Moshan acknowledged and led them away.

"The Blood Shadow Race controls so many lower realms and has killed a large number of cultivators. Could they be imitating the Lizard Race by setting up some grand array?" Wang Ruyan murmured to herself, her face full of confusion.

The Blood Shadow Race is one of the seven great clans of the Xuan Guang Continent, with a Mahayana cultivator presiding over them. She truly did not want to provoke the Blood Shadow Race unless absolutely necessary. The Xuan Guang Continent was too far from the Xuan Ling Continent. If the Blood Shadow Race targeted them, it would be a considerable problem. The Lizard Race was different; they had always been ancestral enemies of the human race.

Wang Ruyan pondered, then instructed Wang Moshan to inform the clan members in the lower realm to strengthen their defenses and strictly guard against Blood Shadow Race cultivators, ensuring the absolute protection of the Seven Gourd Vine.

After completing these tasks, Wang Ruyan entered a secret chamber, sat cross-legged, took out talisman-making materials, and began crafting talismans. There were not many seventh-rank talismans left in the family's treasure vault. She planned to refine more seventh-rank talismans so that if clan members undertook important missions, they could request one for protection, increasing their survival rate.