Chapter 3644: Leaving the Cao Family

The Soul-Sculpting Array is a supplementary grand array used for cultivating true spirits. Soul-Sculpting Divine Crystals are the core material for setting up this array. The Wang family had been searching for Soul-Sculpting Divine Crystals for years, but without success.

The silver crystal had some patterns on its surface, resembling a monster's image. It glowed faintly, making it quite striking.

"I'm looking to exchange for materials of equal value, with refining materials being prioritized," said Venerable Master Jade Buddha.

Upon hearing this, the cultivators one by one took out their materials for Venerable Master Jade Buddha to inspect. Wang Changsheng produced an exquisite golden jade box and a green jade box, handing them to Venerable Master Jade Buddha. He had acquired a significant amount of refining materials from the treasuries of several major clans, including the Chiyong Clan, the Ancient Li Clan, and the Yinmei Clan, some of which were suitable for crafting Buddhist treasures.

Venerable Master Jade Buddha opened the jade boxes, glanced inside, and then closed them. After inspecting the other cultivators' items, he pondered for a moment and then sent a voice transmission to Wang Changsheng: "Fellow Daoist Wang, if you wish to exchange for the Soul-Sculpting Divine Crystal, these two materials are not enough. If you can provide a few of the materials listed here, the Soul-Sculpting Divine Crystal will be yours."

He then took out a golden jade slip and handed it to Wang Changsheng. Wang Changsheng swept it with his divine sense, then produced three materials, which he gave to Venerable Master Jade Buddha, successfully exchanging for the Soul-Sculpting Divine Crystal.

All the items he traded were refining materials. Of course, Venerable Master Jade Buddha might not necessarily use them for refining; perhaps they were for 'opening apertures,' as different aperture-opening secret techniques require different materials.

Similarly, the aperture-opening materials Wang Changsheng collected might be seen by others merely as refining materials, but to him, they were aperture-opening materials.

Acquiring the Soul-Sculpting Divine Crystal was the biggest gain; once the other materials were gathered, the Soul-Sculpting Array could be set up.

Given the Wang family's current influence, they could directly negotiate with the Cross-Realm Merchant Alliance to gather the remaining materials, which would only be a matter of time.

Master Miaode exchanged several materials with Venerable Master Jade Buddha, and Wang Ruyan obtained talisman-making materials.

After Venerable Master Jade Buddha concluded his exchanges, Ye Xuanji stood up. She presented over a hundred types of materials, including four broken Heavenly Artifacts, demonstrating immense wealth.

Not all Mahayana cultivators present possessed complete Heavenly Artifacts; most wielded broken ones, as even a single broken Heavenly Artifact could enhance one's strength.

Wang Changsheng's gaze swept over them; two of the broken Heavenly Artifacts were unfamiliar to him. Had Ye Xuanji exchanged them with other Mahayana cultivators? Or had she crafted them herself?

He leaned towards the latter. Ye Xuanji's refining skills were indeed exceptionally high; she could even forge complete Heavenly Artifacts, let alone broken ones.

Previously, other Mahayana cultivators had offered broken Heavenly Artifacts for exchange, but at most two. Ye Xuanji's display of four broken Heavenly Artifacts at once was truly eye-catching.

Ye Xuanji raised her right hand, and a pale golden orb flew out, hovering in mid-air. After she cast a spell, the golden orb emitted dazzling golden light, revealing numerous illusory images in the air. These images depicted refining materials, accompanied by textual descriptions.

"I'm offering these broken Heavenly Artifacts in exchange for these refining materials, and other items for materials of equal value," Ye Xuanji stated.

Several Mahayana cultivators sent voice transmissions to Ye Xuanji and presented items for her inspection.

After less than half an hour, Ye Xuanji completed her exchanges. Most of the items she had offered were traded, and all four broken Heavenly Artifacts were exchanged.

Ye Xuanji sat down, and Wang Changsheng stood up, immediately drawing hundreds of pairs of eyes that focused intently on him.

Wang Changsheng presented over a hundred materials of various types, then stated the materials he wished to exchange for.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, how about I exchange my Golden Scale Stone for your Chiyong Gold?"

"Fellow Daoist Wang, would you be willing to trade your 60,000-year-old Snow Orchid for my Dark Nether Divine Milk?"

"Fellow Daoist Wang, this is the demon core of an eighth-rank high-grade Blood Chi Beast, which can be used to refine eighth-rank healing elixirs. How about I exchange it for your Five-Colored Gilded Crystal?"

Several Mahayana cultivators sent voice transmissions to Wang Changsheng and presented materials for his inspection. The materials they offered were all excellent and diverse.

After a period of communication via voice transmissions, Wang Changsheng had traded away most of his materials, acquiring the necessary items to open his third aperture. He was now just one material short of achieving this.

With the exchanges concluded, Wang Changsheng returned to his seat.

Two days later, the exchange session finally ended. Most Mahayana cultivators showed expressions of delight, having obtained the items they sought.

"The Grand Dao Discussion has now concluded," Cao Yichen announced. "If you don't mind, fellow Daoists, you are welcome to stay at our Cao family residence for a while. We extend our warmest welcome." With that, he raised his wine cup and drained it.

Wang Changsheng and the others raised their wine cups in return, drinking a toast.

The Grand Dao Discussion thus came to a close. Most Mahayana cultivators departed the Cao family residence, while a small number, including Wang Changsheng, chose to remain temporarily.

He wouldn't stay long at the Cao family residence. Many Mahayana cultivators coveted the Thunder Apricot Jade Immortal Fruit, and while they couldn't directly trouble Wang Changsheng, they might target the Wang family. Therefore, Wang Changsheng had to return to his clan as quickly as possible.

This trip yielded significant gains. He was only one material short of opening his third aperture. He also collected materials for opening the second aperture, which would allow Wang Ruyan to open hers. Additionally, Wang Yidao, Liu Hongxue, and Bai Yuqi could all open their first apertures.

Liu Hongxue and Bai Yuqi were skilled talents who had contributed greatly to the Wang family. Naturally, Wang Changsheng would not be stingy and would provide them with the materials to open their first apertures.

Wang Yulan was of a younger generation, and in terms of divine abilities, Wang Yidao surpassed her. She could only be ranked after Wang Yidao. Any future aperture-opening materials would be given to her then.

Of course, Wang Yulan could also gather materials to open her apertures herself; she wasn't solely reliant on Wang Changsheng. The same applied to other clan members. The Grand Dao Discussion merely facilitated material exchanges, and Wang Changsheng had the discretion to distribute the aperture-opening materials he acquired. Clan members who gathered their own aperture-opening materials could proceed independently.

As soon as Wang Changsheng and his companions returned to their lodging, Ni Tianlong came to visit.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, when do you plan to leave the Azurewood Realm? Would you be interested in traveling with us?" Ni Tianlong asked directly.

"I'll leave a bit later," Wang Changsheng replied. "Yes, that sounds good! I was just thinking of that." He agreed, as having more Mahayana cultivators accompany them would be safer. "Then it's settled. Please inform me when you intend to depart from the Cao family residence," Ni Tianlong reminded them.

After a brief chat, he bid them farewell and departed.

"It seems many Mahayana cultivators have set their sights on us. We'll need to be careful on our journey," Wang Ruyan advised.

Wang Changsheng nodded, fully aware of the situation. With his current strength, he had no fear of encountering Mahayana cultivators who had opened two apertures. Even if a Mahayana cultivator who had opened three apertures made a move, Wang Changsheng dared to contend with them, relying on the several Heavenly Artifacts he possessed.

Seven days later, Wang Changsheng bid farewell to Cao Yuzhen. He, Ni Tianlong, Ye Xuanji, Xuan Qingzi, and others departed from the Cao family residence. Qin Hao had matters to attend to and had left the Cao family earlier.