Chapter 3422: Broad Cloud Realm Golden Chi Clan

Xuan Yang Realm, Xuan Ling Continent.

The Myriad Flames Mountain Range, ancestral land of the Essencefire Race.

In a secret chamber, Yan Ya sat cross-legged on a red meditation mat, his eyes closed, his body enveloped in a crimson glow.

A sound transmission talisman flew in, landing before him. Yan Ya opened his eyes, a frown creasing his brow.

He grabbed the talisman and crushed it, a respectful female voice echoing: "Ancestral Master, a senior has come to visit. He claims to be from the Golden Chi Race of Guang Yun Realm, and says he is an old friend of yours."

"The Golden Chi Race!" Yan Ya's brow furrowed, a thoughtful expression on his face.

He took out a red-glowing communication disk, activated it with a hand seal, and asked: "What did he say his name was? Where is he now?"

He had indeed met a Golden Chi Race Mahayana cultivator during his early travels. The Golden Chi Race held significant power in the Guang Yun Realm, with numerous masters, including no fewer than five Mahayana cultivators, indicating potential to become a great clan.

"His name is Jin Lei! He said his cultivation was relatively low back then, so Ancestral Master might not remember him, but you would definitely remember his great-uncle, Jin Hong! He is accompanied by over a dozen Integration cultivators and is currently outside the Myriad Flames Mountain Range. This grandson did not dare to let him in."

A pleasant female voice responded.

"Jin Hong! So, he is a descendant of Fellow Daoist Jin." Yan Ya realized, and left his residence.

Outside the Myriad Flames Mountain Range, a golden-glowing flying boat hovered high in the sky, exuding astonishing spiritual energy. It was evidently a mid-grade Heaven-Reaching Spirit Treasure.

Over a dozen cultivators stood upon it. Leading them was a burly man in a yellow robe, with a golden horn on his head and golden spiritual紋 at the corners of his eyes. He radiated an aura as vast as the ocean, clearly a Mahayana cultivator. This was Jin Lei, an early-stage Mahayana cultivator.

A red light flew out from within the Myriad Flames Mountain Range, stopping with a flash to reveal Yan Ya's figure.

"Are you a descendant of Fellow Daoist Jin?" Yan Ya asked, somewhat uncertainly, as too much time had passed for him to be sure of the other's identity.

"Indeed. Back then, Fellow Daoist Yan met my grandfather on Xuanguang Continent and even praised my spiritual sense cultivation. Later, you even gave me a mid-grade Heaven-Reaching Spirit Treasure." As Jin Lei spoke, he took out a short yellow blade with flame-like patterns on its surface.

"Fellow Daoist Jin, please come in." Yan Ya breathed a sigh of relief. He could now be certain that the other party was indeed Jin Hong's descendant, as these details were unknown to anyone but the direct parties involved.

Yan Ya invited them into the Myriad Flames Mountain Range. Before long, they landed in a red stone plaza, where a red-glowing palace stood. Its plaque bore three large golden characters: "Guest Welcome Hall."

Yan Yun'er stood at the palace entrance, promptly coming forward to greet them.

"Yun'er, please properly settle Fellow Daoist Jin's clansmen. They are all honored guests of our Essencefire Race," Yan Ya instructed.

"Jin Tong, you all may follow young Fellow Daoist Yan down," Jin Lei instructed.

A burly young man in a golden robe acknowledged, and they departed with Yan Yun'er.

Yan Ya and Jin Lei entered the Guest Welcome Hall. After exchanging a few pleasantries, Yan Ya got to the point: "Fellow Daoist Jin, why didn't your great-uncle come?"

"My great-uncle is in secluded cultivation and couldn't leave. I had originally intended to search for treasures in the Thousand Spirits Secret Trove, but I arrived too late; it had already closed. I heard that two Mahayana cultivators perished in the struggle for treasures, and consequently, a racial war erupted on the Thousand Spirits Continent." Jin Lei's face was filled with regret as he finished speaking.

Mahayana cultivators from the Thousand Spirits Continent had entered the Thousand Spirits Secret Trove to search for treasures, leading to intense battles over them. Following the trove's closure, several races erupted into conflict.

"I see. So, you said you passed through Xuan Ling Continent, or is there something you need my help with?" Yan Ya asked. Jin Lei certainly had an agenda; no one visits without a purpose.

"I came to see you and catch up, and incidentally, to ask for your help in collecting some materials. I can trade items with you," Jin Lei said, taking out a golden jade slip and handing it to Yan Ya.

Yan Ya scanned it with his spiritual sense, his brow furrowing as he said: "Spiritual medicines are manageable; I can send more people to search in the desolate lands. As for the refining materials, I am powerless."

"Oh? Is there a difficulty?" Jin Lei asked, puzzled.

"A human Mahayana cultivator attacked the Myriad Flames Mountain Range while I was away, plundering the treasures in our vault, including a piece of Nine-Colored Jadeite Stone." Yan Ya sighed. The Golden Chi Race and the Human Race did not have a good relationship, which was one of the reasons for their acquaintance.

"What? Nine-Colored Jadeite Stone? When did this happen?" Jin Lei asked in surprise.

"It was thousands of years ago. She has likely already refined the Nine-Colored Jadeite Stone into a treasure or exchanged it with the Ye Family. Fellow Daoist Jin, please stay in the Myriad Flames Mountain Range for now; I will send people to search for these items," Yan Ya said sincerely.

"Then I'll trouble Fellow Daoist Yan," Jin Lei thanked him.

"It's no trouble at all, just a small matter. It's rare for you to visit the Xuan Yang Realm, so I should properly entertain you and fulfill my duties as a host," Yan Ya said warmly.

After chatting for about a tea's time, Jin Lei retired to rest.

Yan Ya summoned Yan Yun'er, handed her the golden jade slip, and instructed: "Send people to search for these items. Also, notify Fellow Daoist Luo about Fellow Daoist Jin's visit to our Essencefire Race, and see how many materials the Yaksha Race can offer in exchange."

"Yes, Ancestral Master," Yan Yun'er replied, accepting the order and departing.

***

Qinglian Island, a secret chamber.

Wang Changsheng stood in the corner. Beside him stood a burly young man in a red robe and a handsome young man in a golden robe, their gazes fixed on Su Hongshang, who was not far away.

Su Hongshang sat cross-legged on a red meditation mat, a red-glowing refining furnace placed before her, with a cluster of golden flames at its base. Some refining materials were laid out beside Su Hongshang, and she stared intently at the furnace. She was refining an artifact, while Wang Changsheng and two clan members watched from the side.

The young man in the red robe was Wang Yuayan, who had ascended from the lower realm over a hundred years ago. He was at the mid-stage of Nascent Soul cultivation and possessed a Fire Heavenly Spiritual Root. The young man in the golden robe was Wang Yuyu, who had dual Gold and Fire Spiritual Roots. He was at the late-stage of Nascent Soul cultivation, a descendant of Wang Zonglang, and also a refiner.

Wang Changsheng was guiding Su Hongshang, Wang Yuayan, and Wang Yuyu in artifact refining, intending to cultivate them as priority talents. While the clan had many fifth-tier refiners, Wang Changsheng chose Wang Yuayan and Wang Yuyu for intensive training not only because of their aptitude and refining skills but also because he wished to select a husband for Su Hongshang. After all, Su Hongshang was a cultivator with a different surname. If she were to marry a Wang family cultivator, Wang Changsheng would impart all his knowledge to her and allow her access to some of the family's secrets. If she did not marry a Wang family cultivator, she could only be groomed as a guest elder.

Before long, Su Hongshang formed a hand seal and struck it into the red cauldron. Its lid flew open, and three red-glowing spherical beads shot out, hovering in mid-air.

"Fairy Su succeeded! That's truly impressive," Wang Yuayan said, his face beaming with joy as he praised her.

As an outsider cultivator, the fact that Su Hongshang was personally guided by Wang Changsheng in artifact refining and resided on Qinglian Peak indicated that she was clearly no ordinary cultivator. Although Wang Changsheng hadn't explicitly stated his intentions, both Wang Yuayan and Wang Yuyu had discerned his plan and were actively pursuing Su Hongshang.