Chapter 3248: The Power of Role Models

Within a stretch of rolling mountains, a streak of azure light streaked across the sky and swiftly landed on the ground.

With a flash of azure light, the streak transformed into an elderly man in an azure robe with a weathered face. A talisman, glowing with azure light, fell from his body.

This Azure Phoenix Spirit Transformation Talisman was a fifth-tier talisman. It allowed him to temporarily transform into a fifth-tier demonic beast, enabling him to utilize some of its divine abilities for a quick escape.

Escaping with a puppet beast would have been safer, but that would have been tantamount to revealing to other factions that the Wang family had seized the Profound Heaven Blood Vine.

Just then, a ripple appeared in the void. A massive, black, palm-shaped hand, seemingly without origin, materialized out of thin air and slammed down.

Wang Pinzhen reacted quickly. He lightly stomped his right foot on the ground, and countless thick azure vines burst from the earth, weaving themselves into a vast, azure hand that rose to meet the attack.

The azure hand collided with the black hand, emitting a muffled thud. A wave of black flames spread, incinerating the azure hand to ashes. Wang Pinzhen seized the opportunity to dodge.

Countless yellow mists surged from the ground, covering an area of a hundred miles. Wang Pinzhen was not alone; Wang Pinfeng had already set up an array here, waiting to provide support. According to their plan, if the main demonic force pursued them, they would use the array to hold them off for a while before teleporting away.

Within the yellow mist, Wang Pinzhen flew into an underground cave about an *mu* in size. The cave walls were covered with mysterious runes, emitting strong restrictive fluctuations. Wang Pinfeng stood before a magic array, his expression grave.

"Quick, retreat! Demonic cultivators at the late Soul Transformation stage are pursuing us..."

Before Wang Pinzhen could finish speaking, the underground cave violently shook and began to split apart. A thousand-zhang-long azure wind dragon lunged at them.

To be able to break a fifth-tier array so quickly, it must have been a sixth-tier talisman.

Wang Pinzhen raised his right hand, and an azure-glowing shield shot out. Simultaneously, he lightly stomped his right foot on the ground, and countless azure vines burst from the earth, rapidly weaving into a massive azure cage that enveloped them.

"Take the item back. I'll stay behind to cover your retreat."

Wang Pinzhen took out an azure storage ring and handed it to Wang Pinfeng, speaking via a voice transmission. Knowing the urgency of the situation, Wang Pinfeng said nothing more. He strode onto the teleportation array, cast a spell, and a dazzling spiritual light shot into the sky, engulfing his figure.

The azure wind dragon crashed into the azure shield, producing a muffled thud. The azure shield wobbled, cracks appeared, and its spiritual light dimmed.

A giant, pitch-black palm then struck the azure shield. A wave of black flames spread, and the cracks on the azure shield's surface multiplied, causing it to shatter into pieces.

The azure wind dragon easily tore through the azure cage and pierced through Wang Pinzhen's body.

An azure light glowed in the void a dozen miles away, revealing Wang Pinzhen's figure. He had used a Substitute Talisman to escape certain death.

His divine sense detected more than a dozen Soul Transformation cultivators approaching.

He looked at Gu Lin, a reminiscent expression on his face.

In the Lecture Hall, a slightly hunched elder in an azure robe was teaching over a thousand young Wang family children. This was their first and most important lesson in cultivating immortality.

"When True Immortal Huanglong attacked Qinglian Island, many clan members were killed. At that critical moment, Old Ancestor Xiancheng used Spirit Attachment to merge with his spirit beast, the Wind-Chasing Tiger, holding off True Immortal Huanglong for a brief time. Before Old Ancestor Xiancheng sacrificed himself, he left behind the dying words: 'I recommend my clan with my blood.' You must remember these words. I hope you never have to use them."

"Uncle, our clan now controls six realms. Enemies won't attack our stronghold anymore, right? Even if powerful enemies come to our doorstep, we can handle them, right? Do we still need to fight to the death against enemies at the cost of our lives?"

An azure-robed boy with clear eyes and delicate features asked curiously.

"The phrase 'I recommend my clan with my blood' represents a spirit. I hope you can learn from Old Ancestor Xiancheng. If our clan faces a major crisis or powerful enemies, I hope some of you can stand up and fight to the death against the enemy. Let them know that because of our existence, our clan is incredibly strong and will not tolerate humiliation. Even if we are defeated, we must die breaking one of their teeth." As he spoke, the azure-robed elder's expression grew solemn.

"You must remember how many clan members our family sacrificed to achieve its current standing. Many of the clan's foundations were forged by our ancestors with their lives. They made significant contributions during times of crisis or crucial development periods for the clan. Their deeds will forever be passed down in our clan; no one must ever forget them. The first lesson for all clan members entering the Lecture Hall is to learn about the heroic deeds of these martyrs. Buddhas have their Nirvana, Immortals have their ascension, but only our Azure Lotus Wang Clan will endure for generations to come."

"Yes, Elder! Only our Azure Lotus Wang Clan will endure for generations to come!" the thousand-plus young Wang family children said in unison, their tender voices echoing continuously throughout the Lecture Hall. "I recommend my clan with my blood, and the clan will endure for generations!"

Wang Pinzhen mused to himself, his gaze growing increasingly resolute. He took out the Azure Phoenix Spirit Transformation Talisman and slapped it onto his body. A clear, resounding phoenix cry rang out, and a ball of azure light shot into the sky, engulfing Wang Pinzhen's figure. He transformed into a colossal azure phoenix.

The azure phoenix spread its wings and flew towards Gu Lin.

He hadn't expected his conversation with the clan elder all those years ago to become reality. Now that it was truly time to sacrifice his life for the clan, Wang Pinzhen didn't hesitate for a moment. He would emulate his ancestors; this was the power of example.

Gu Lin's expression turned cold, and he flicked his sleeve. A small, ink-black mirror flew out, emitting a stream of black mist that enveloped the azure phoenix. With a flash of azure light, the azure phoenix vanished from its spot.

The next moment, a gust of wind swept through, and a colossal azure phoenix reappeared.

The azure phoenix's body rapidly expanded, transforming into a dazzling ball of azure light that engulfed an area of several dozen miles.

Wang Pinzhen knew he couldn't defeat Gu Lin, who possessed a sixth-tier talisman that had directly broken the fifth-tier array. Only by dying would he prevent the enemy from tracing it back to the Wang family.

With a thunderous roar, a colossal azure sun appeared in the sky, standing out prominently.

Soon after, the azure sun dispersed. Gu Lin was covered in dust and ash, with several small wounds on his body, his face filled with shock.

He had expected his opponent to fight to the death, but instead, the opponent had directly self-destructed. Such a suicidal attack was truly insane. What conviction supported this person in performing such a self-destructive attack? His divine sense swept across the ground, searching meticulously, but found nothing of value.

At this moment, Lin Tianlong and others also arrived. They didn't find any other cultivators, only Gu Lin. Mistaking Gu Lin for having obtained the Profound Heaven Blood Vine, they launched an attack.

Gu Lin naturally wouldn't sit idly by and await death. He cast spells to defend himself.

For a time, various spiritual lights illuminated the sky, and a continuous roar resounded.