Chapter 3595: Wang Xiangrong Arrives

About an hour later, the exchange concluded, and the cultivators began to chat amongst themselves.

"Immortal Ye, could you tell us about the Underworld?" Immortal Furong asked politely.

Ye Xuanji nodded and began to recount her general experiences in the Underworld.

"Grand Ancestor Xuanfu caused such a stir in the Underworld? He single-handedly annihilated two major clans there?" Wang Qingshan and the others were dumbfounded. They finally understood why Tong Shan was so wary of Grand Ancestor Xuanfu.

"I had previously suspected it was fake, just a rumor," Ye Xuanji said, her expression solemn. "Judging by Tong Shan's reaction, it's very likely true." She felt a sense of relief, fortunate that she had used the Illusory Spirit Orb to trap her enemies in an illusion. If they had been able to unleash the jade talisman refined by Grand Ancestor Xuanfu, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

"So, Grand Ancestor Xuanfu must have opened his apertures—at least two, right?" Chen Yueying asked curiously.

"At least two apertures, perhaps three," Ye Xuanji explained. "Even our ancestor only opened two back then."

Throughout history, Grand Ascension cultivators capable of opening two apertures have been exceptionally rare. Immortal Liuyun, with two apertures opened, could kill True Spirits; opening three would be even more terrifying.

"Opening two apertures is that powerful? Is it really that difficult?" Immortal Furong asked curiously. "Tong Shan seems to have only opened one as well."

Even with the vast resources of a major clan, are they unable to open two apertures?

"The difficulty in opening apertures lies in the materials, and there's a failure rate," Ye Xuanji explained. "It's not guaranteed success just because you find the materials. The aperture-opening secret arts originate from the Immortal Realm, and the required materials are relatively rare in the lower realms. Lower-grade secret arts were passed down because their materials are easier to find. It's not that there are no higher-grade secret arts; rather, those materials only exist in the Immortal Realm. Otherwise, major powers with connections to Immortal Realm patrons would have long since passed down even higher-grade secret arts." She added that besides these secret arts, some powerful cultivation techniques and secret arts, such as soul cultivation techniques, also require special materials as aids.

Liuyun has also established a Ye family in the Immortal Realm, and they possess soul cultivation techniques. However, these require auxiliary materials to cultivate, and the Ye family cultivators have consistently been unable to gather enough.

Wang Qingcheng and the others suddenly realized the truth. No wonder even Grand Ascension cultivators from major clans could only open one aperture.

"If Tong Shan opened two apertures, destroying us shouldn't be a problem, right?" Chen Yueying said with some worry. Heaven knew if Tong Shan would find a second-grade material and open a second aperture.

"If he opens two apertures, and we encounter him outside, we'll surely die," Ye Xuanji said, full of confidence. "But it's not necessarily the case in the Ice Soul Mountain Range. Our Ye family's trump card hasn't been used yet." The trump card left by Immortal Liuyun was very powerful, but unfortunately, it could only be used once. Unless absolutely necessary, the Ye family cultivators would not use it.

According to her plan, when there were few Grand Ascension cultivators left on both sides, she would feign defeat, flee to the Ye family ancestral hall, activate the trump card, and eliminate Tong Shan and the others. However, Tong Shan proved to be so cautious that he retreated directly.

"You don't need to worry too much," Ye Xuanji reassured them. "Materials for opening two apertures aren't that easy to find. Even the Cao family's Grand Ascension cultivators in the Azurewood Realm might not have anyone who has opened two apertures currently, though they might have in the past."

"Venerable Xuanling's cultivation grounds contain many rare treasures," Wang Qingcheng asked curiously. "Might there be materials for opening a second aperture there?"

"There should be," Ye Xuanji replied nonchalantly, "but it's too vast. Even Grand Ascension cultivators would find it hard to explore completely. Let alone materials for opening two apertures, I wouldn't be surprised if someone found an immortal artifact there."

"An immortal artifact! There's an immortal artifact in the cultivation grounds?" Grandmaster Miaode exclaimed in surprise.

"The cultivation grounds are just what the three major clans call it publicly; in reality, it's a fragment of the Immortal Realm," Ye Xuanji explained. "As for why it fell into the Xuanyang Realm, I'm not clear. Furthermore, based on what I know, there are some anomalies with the Immortal Realm fragment. Its appearance time has changed, and the duration of each appearance has also changed." As Ye Xuanji spoke, her expression grew solemn. This was not good news, at least for the cultivators of the Xuanyang Realm.

The time before last the Immortal Realm fragment appeared, Ye Xuanji entered to seek treasures. Last time it appeared, Ye Yuhuan and others entered. Comparing the two instances revealed the anomalies.

"Some anomalies... Does that mean the Immortal Realm fragment is going to collapse?" Wang Qingshan asked curiously.

"It shouldn't come to that, though I can't be certain," Ye Xuanji analyzed. "We'll have to see when it appears next."

After chatting for over two hours, they gradually departed. As they left Ye Xuanji's residence, Chen Yueying called out to Wang Qingshan. "Fellow Daoist Wang," she said, "could we speak at your residence?"

"No problem," Wang Qingshan agreed, and they returned to his residence together.

"Fellow Daoist Wang," Chen Yueying asked, "do you intend to stay here, or return to the Xuanying Continent?"

"We plan to return to the Xuanying Continent after a while. What about you?" Wang Qingshan replied truthfully.

"I intend to stay here for a short period," Chen Yueying replied. "Could you please give this transmission jade talisman to Junior Martial Sister Song for me? Tell her to consult more with Junior Martial Brother Wang if any issues arise." She then took out a green jade talisman and handed it to Wang Qingshan.

"No problem," Wang Qingshan agreed. "Do you need me to take anything else?"

"Please take these cultivation resources back and hand them over to Junior Martial Sister Song," Chen Yueying said, "and tell her to use them to cultivate the sect disciples." She took out a yellow storage bracelet and handed it to Wang Qingshan.

Wang Qingshan agreed; this was just a small favor for him.

After chatting for a while, Chen Yueying departed.

Wang Qingshan handed the golden thunder spear to Wang Mengbin. "Mengbin," he said, "this treasure is yours. Take it and refine it!"

"Thank you, Ancestor Qingshan!" Wang Mengbin was overjoyed. With a Profound-Heaven remnant treasure, his strength would greatly increase.

A transmission talisman flew in. Wang Qingcheng grabbed it, crushed it, and a joyful male voice resounded: "Qingshan, Qingcheng, Mengbin, I've arrived."

"Ninth Uncle!" Wang Qingshan recognized Wang Xiangrong's voice. He already knew that Wang Xiangrong had advanced to the Grand Ascension Stage.

Wang Qingcheng quickly walked out and invited Wang Xiangrong inside.

"The Jiuyuan, a ship of the Jiuyuan Merchant Guild, passed through the Northern Icy Plains, and I came here on their inter-realm spirit treasure ship," Wang Xiangrong explained, noticing their confusion.

"Ninth Uncle, are you returning to the Xuanying Continent?" Wang Qingshan asked.

Wang Xiangrong nodded. "I'm heading back to help set up formation arrays," he said. "Knowing you were here, I came over first."

"I acquired a Primal Aperture Stone; it can upgrade another spirit vein to the eighth-tier," Wang Qingshan said, taking out the stone and handing it to Wang Xiangrong.

Wang Xiangrong nodded. "Excellent!" he said. "We can upgrade the spirit vein on Canghai Island to eighth-tier. This way, Yingjie's secluded cultivation there won't be too slow."

"Should we head back now?" Wang Qingcheng asked curiously.

"A bit later," Wang Xiangrong said slowly. "I've just advanced to the Grand Ascension Stage, and my mastery of eighth-tier formation arrays isn't as good as Ye Yunfei's. I plan to properly consult him and also exchange for auxiliary materials from the Ye family to upgrade spirit veins."

Wang Qingshan nodded, agreeing that this was the most secure approach.

And so, Wang Xiangrong settled down in the Ice Soul Mountain Range.