Chapter 3270: The Second Great Calamity

What others said didn't matter; Long Qingfeng cared about Wang Ruyi's attitude, as Wang Ruyi knew he had strong self-esteem and paid close attention to such things.

From time to time, Long Qingfeng would help the Wang family with various tasks. This included escorting goods, dealing with sixth-tier demonic beasts in certain areas that threatened the safety of the Wang family's in-laws or strongholds, or subduing rogue cultivators. He would take action, accumulating good deeds to exchange for cultivation resources, rather than receiving them for free from the Wang family.

Wang Ruyi never stopped him, quietly staying by his side. They were inseparable, and even though the Wang family hadn't publicly announced their relationship, anyone with discernment could see their bond.

The young man in green smiled awkwardly and said nothing more. This wasn't the first time Wang Ruyi had protected Long Qingfeng.

"The gathering ends here! Fellow Daoist Liu, we have other matters to attend to, so we'll take our leave."

With these words, Wang Ruyi and Long Qingfeng departed.

"I really can't understand why Fairy Wang would be interested in Fellow Daoist Long. His strength is indeed not weak, but in terms of background and aptitude, how can he compare to Fellow Daoist Liu?" the young man in green complained.

"Could Fellow Daoist Long be an illegitimate child of the Long family? Great strength doesn't necessarily guarantee Fairy Wang's favor. In terms of strength, can Fellow Daoist Long compare to True Monarch Qingyu?" someone speculated.

True Monarch Qingyu, a cultivator in the Integration stage, was a Heaven-Spirit Root of the wood attribute and one of Wang Ruyi's admirers. He had achieved fame early on, having killed several Void Refinement stage foreign cultivators during the racial wars, earning him a minor reputation.

Several centuries ago, True Monarch Qingyu had entered the Integration stage.

"It's possible. Perhaps he's the Long family head's illegitimate son. Otherwise, given Fairy Wang's status, why would she commit to Fellow Daoist Long?" someone echoed.

"Alright, less idle talk. Let's disperse!" The silver-robed young man waved his hand, dismissing them.

Wang Ruyi and Long Qingfeng strolled along the street. As they passed a street intersection, Long Qingfeng stopped, his brow furrowed, and looked towards a nine-story green pavilion.

"What's wrong? Is something the matter?" Wang Ruyi asked curiously.

"Nothing, it might just be my imagination," Long Qingfeng shook his head. He had suddenly felt a chill down his spine, as if he was being watched by something terrifying, a sensation he had never experienced before. However, the feeling quickly vanished.

Wang Ruyi paused slightly, following Long Qingfeng's gaze, and saw the three large golden characters "Yuquan Pavilion" on the green pavilion's plaque.

Yuquan Pavilion was a teahouse that had been established for many years.

They left the area. In a private room on the seventh floor of Yuquan Pavilion, a short, stout old man in a green robe sat beside a tea table. He had a round face, small eyes, and a kindly, approachable demeanor.

In his hand, the old man in green held a round pearl shimmering with green light. He murmured to himself, "I've finally found you. To think you'd be involved with a member of the Wang family. It seems the price was too low."

He took out a light-green magical disk, cast a spell into it, and instructed, "Go to Tianhai City and get in touch with Fellow Daoist Mu and the others. Tell them that Long Qingfeng is now a guest elder of the Wang family, and the original price is too low. We need more money, or this job can't be done. Also, tell them to send someone to support me; I can't do this alone."

"Understood," a calm male voice replied from the green magical disk.

"It's good to be under a big tree. This kid is quite shrewd; he actually joined the Wang family. He almost discovered me just now. Was it due to the Sky-Swallowing Dragon Beast? Or some other reason?" the old man in green muttered to himself.

On Purple Crystal Island, Wang Moshanshan stood atop a peak, looking up at the thunderclouds in the sky, where lightning flashed and thunder roared.

Loud rumbling thunder sounded, and thick silver lightning bolts struck down from the sky, heading directly for a small valley below.

The valley was filled with numerous green thorns, which intertwined to form a large green net, like a giant cage, protecting Wang Changsheng inside.

Wang Changsheng was undergoing his second Grand Heavenly Tribulation. Unlike last time, he had the assistance of a seventh-tier formation, making it much easier.

Dense silver lightning bolts struck the green net, easily tearing open a huge gap. However, large quantities of green thorns quickly burst from the ground, filling the gap.

Time passed, and the power of the lightning tribulation grew stronger. The green net's recovery speed couldn't keep up with the destruction.

After a quarter of an hour, the green net shattered into pieces, and a thick silver lightning spear swept across the sky, heading straight for Wang Changsheng.

Wang Changsheng conjured the Black Tortoise Shield, holding it in front of him.

The silver lightning spear struck the Black Tortoise Shield with a muffled thud, and dazzling silver lightning enveloped Wang Changsheng's figure. A powerful airflow kicked up a large amount of dust.

Soon, the second lightning tribulation struck.

Thunder echoed through the heavens and earth, and the lightning intensified. Dust rolled for dozens of miles around, obscuring the scene.

After a little less than fifteen minutes, the thunderclouds violently churned before transforming into a gigantic silver lightning dragon, which plunged down from the sky.

Before the silver lightning dragon even reached the ground, a tsunami-like roar erupted, and countless blue seawater surged forth, suddenly condensing into a vast, hazy blue water mountain that rose to meet it.

With a loud crash, the silver lightning dragon's body exploded, and a blinding silver sun soared into the sky. The ground trembled slightly, and dust filled the air.

A blue streak of light flew out from the silver sun and landed in front of Wang Moshanshan. It was Wang Changsheng, looking relaxed.

With the aid of a seventh-tier formation and other treasures, he had successfully passed his second Grand Heavenly Tribulation, though one mid-grade Heaven-Reaching Spirit Treasure was rendered useless.

After Bai Yuqi entered the Integration stage, Wang Changsheng's Grand Heavenly Tribulations became much easier. By preparing more treasures, he could easily pass the first three Grand Heavenly Tribulations. However, the fourth Grand Heavenly Tribulation would feature special lightning energy, making it much more difficult.

Seeing Wang Changsheng safe and sound, Wang Moshanshan breathed a sigh of relief.

"Ancestor, Ancestor Yuejiao, Ancestor Xueli, Ancestor Jiye, Zongyun, Ancestor Yingjie, and your clone have successively entered the Integration stage," Wang Moshanshan reported. The six individuals, including Sun Yuejiao, had successively entered the Integration stage. The cost was the Wang family sacrificing a set of Heavenly Thunder Transformation Array and multiple treasures. Sun Yuejiao and Wang Zongyun attracted four-colored divine lightning, while Wang Yingjie, Wang Jiye, Dong Xueli, and Wang Xiangrong attracted five-colored divine lightning.

Wang Yibing, Wang Defeng, Wang Yulan, and other sixth-tier talisman masters could refine Heavenly Thunder Spirit Talismans. Wang Zongque and Wang Qingfeng could assist in refining treasures. Wang Mousen and Liu Hongxue could refine seventh-tier elixirs, greatly easing the pressure on clan members attempting to reach the Integration stage.

The family's most difficult period was behind them. Now, all clan members had grown, and the number of skilled talents continued to increase. The Wang family now had excellent development prospects and formidable strength, second only to the Fiery Race, Yaksha Race, Profound Azure Sect, Zhenhai Palace, Golden Scale Race, and Silver Shark Race.

Wang Changsheng nodded. "Let's go! Let's head back!"

They left Purple Crystal Island and returned to Green Lotus Island.