Chapter 3477: Dojo Closure

The massive Human-faced Dragon's corpse plummeted from the sky, carving a large crater into the ground upon impact. A miniature flood dragon, upon detaching from the corpse, was immediately enveloped by a blue aura and drawn into a blue jade bottle, vanishing from sight.

Wang Changsheng flew over, slit open the Human-faced Dragon's abdomen, and retrieved the golden rhino, which had been deceased for some time. Inner armor crafted from the Human-faced Dragon's hide would undoubtedly possess formidable defensive capabilities. Furthermore, its carcass could be preserved for Wang Qingxiao, allowing it to further strengthen her bloodline. Wang Changsheng stored both the Human-faced Dragon's and the golden rhino's bodies, intending to use them for artifact crafting.

The void vibrated and twisted, as a powerful suction force materialized out of thin air. "Oh no, the proving ground is closing!" Wang Changsheng's brow furrowed. He swiftly retrieved the Dragon-Subduing Axe and recalled Wang Xiuluo and Wang Naluo into his spirit beast bracelet. He and Wang Ruyan clasped hands, a measure to ensure they would reappear in the same location. Ye Yuhuan and Chen Yueying had both mentioned this: once the proving ground closed, all treasure seekers would be teleported out to random locations. This was one reason why Chen Yueying, Ye Xuanji, and others had managed to survive. If everyone were to be teleported to the same spot, there would be no need to even enter for treasure hunting. One could simply wait outside, kill all the treasure seekers as they emerged, and resolve everything once and for all.

A vortex, approximately ten feet wide, materialized from thin air. Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan felt a powerful suction pulling them into its depths. After a disorienting swirl, they found themselves hovering above a vast expanse of lush green mountains.

Wang Ruyan produced a communication disk, shimmering with blue light. She cast a spell into it, and moments later, Wang Qingfeng's voice resonated from the device: "Mother, Xue Li, Yingjie, and Hong Xue are all with me." Wang Changsheng released Wang Tunian, who activated his spiritual eyes to scan the surroundings. "'Forty thousand miles to the southeast.'" Wang Tunian pointed southeast as he spoke.

"'Wait for us there, and be careful. We'll be with you shortly.'" Wang Ruyan cautioned them. Wang Changsheng summoned the Azure Luan Boat, and they embarked, flying southeast.

In a small valley encircled by mountains on three sides, a golden light flared in the void, revealing Luo Xiao's figure. His face was pallid, clearly showing signs of severe exhaustion. Luo Xiao dared not linger. Sang Yu was dead, and an encounter with a human Mahayana cultivator would spell trouble. With a gentle flap of his wings, Luo Xiao transformed into a streak of golden light, tearing through the air and vanishing into the horizon within a few blinks.

Above a massive lake, ripples spread through the void, and a heavily damaged white colossal ship materialized. Ye Yuhuan and other cultivators of the Ye family stood on its deck, their expressions a mixture of emotions. During this treasure hunt, they had made some gains, though they hadn't acquired what they truly sought.

"'First, we'll rendezvous with Fellow Daoist Wang and his group.'" Ye Yuhuan spoke in a low voice. With a quick hand seal, the Ice Lion, glowing brightly, surged southwest, searching for other human cultivators who had exited the proving ground.

Wang Yingjie, Wang Qingfeng, Dong Xueli, and Liu Hongxue stood atop a cloud-piercing mountain peak. A streak of green light appeared on the distant horizon and soon came to a halt. It was the Azure Luan Boat, carrying Wang Changsheng, Wang Ruyan, and Wang Tunian.

"'Why are only you four here? Where are the other clan members? How did you get separated from us that day?'" Wang Changsheng inquired curiously. Wang Qingfeng briefly recounted the events. To fend off the Dragon-Devouring Ants, the seventh-tier puppet beast crafted by ancient giants had been destroyed; otherwise, they wouldn't have escaped so easily.

"'Dragon-Devouring Ants... Never mind. You four, enter the Ten Thousand Souls Banner for now. We will announce to the outside world that you have died.'" Wang Changsheng stated gravely. They intended to dismantle the Blazing Fire Clan's stronghold. Since Yan's life-bound soul lamp had not extinguished, if he didn't return soon, the Blazing Fire Clan's leadership—assuming they possessed sound judgment—would realize something had happened to Yan and would undoubtedly relocate some of their assets and elite members. Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan could directly eradicate the Blazing Fire Clan's stronghold. However, that would create the false impression that they had acquired powerful treasures within the proving ground, significantly boosting their strength, and that this was the sole reason for targeting the Blazing Fire Clan.

It wasn't that certain actions were impossible or beyond their capabilities; rather, there were invisible constraints. They had a family to consider, unlike lone cultivators who needn't worry about anyone else. They couldn't act without scruples. Given the Ye family's power, it would be effortless for them to help the human race in the Xuanling Continent or Qingli Sea Region annihilate other races. However, this would inevitably infringe upon the interests of the three major clans. The three major clans could not afford to idly watch humanity grow too powerful. While they certainly had their own rivalries and conflicts, they would never permit the human race to continuously expand and threaten their established status.

The Ye family had powerful backing in the Immortal Realm, which made the major clans wary of them, but this wariness did not extend to all of humanity. It is conceivable that if the human race in the Xuanyang Realm continued to grow stronger, conflicts with the three major clans would inevitably erupt sooner or later. The Ye family and the three major clans had an agreement not to directly interfere in racial conflicts. Naturally, this agreement would be overridden if powerful treasures were involved; the Xutian Clan, for instance, was annihilated precisely because they acquired a Xuantian Treasure.

Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan both possessed incomplete Xuantian Treasures, and with Wang Xiuluo and Wang Naluo by their side, not only the Blazing Fire Clan but also the Yaksha Clan, Silver Shark Clan, and Golden Scale Clan would be unable to stop them. The Wang family now possessed the resources and power to unify the Xuanling Continent. However, they wouldn't attempt it for the time being. As the saying goes, 'an innocent man is guilty only of possessing a treasure.' If the Wang family truly unified the Xuanling Continent, even a fool would discern that they had acquired immense treasures. At that point, not only the three major clans but also other Mahayana cultivators might target the Wang family.

With cultivation methods from the Spirit Realm, the Myriad Spirit Dao Fruit, and incomplete Xuantian Treasures at their disposal, what the Wang family truly needed was time. Once they grew powerful enough to contend with the Mahayana cultivators of the great clans, they could unify the Xuanjing Continent. For now, however, they were not ready.

While they couldn't unify the Xuanling Continent just yet, eliminating the Blazing Fire Clan and expanding their territory was feasible. This would allow the Wang family to nurture more Integration-stage cultivators, but it required an exceptionally plausible pretext. If the Blazing Fire Clan were to kill Wang Qingfeng and the other three, Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan's direct assault on the Myriad Blazing Mountain Range would be entirely justifiable.

Naturally, the major clans might not entirely believe this pretext. Wang Changsheng intended to have Wang Qingfeng and the others take some treasures and cultivate in seclusion elsewhere. The Wang family needed to conceal part of its strength to ensure they had the means to recover, even in the face of a true catastrophe, as one should never put all their eggs in one basket.

"'Dead? Father, what do you mean?'" Wang Qingfeng paused, slightly taken aback, while Wang Yingjie and the other two also looked utterly bewildered.

"'We intend to eliminate the Blazing Fire Clan and seize their territory. This requires a plausible excuse, and simultaneously, we need to conceal part of our strength.'" Wang Changsheng explained. Wang Qingfeng then understood and agreed. Wang Changsheng summoned the Ten Thousand Souls Banner and drew them inside.

"'Husband, you go dismantle the Blazing Fire Clan's stronghold. I'll remain here to search for our other clan members.'" Wang Ruyan stated. With Yan already deceased, it would be an effortless task for Wang Changsheng, Wang Xiuluo, and Wang Naluo to eliminate the Blazing Fire Clan's stronghold.

Wang Changsheng nodded, and they split up, heading in different directions.