Chapter 369: Resolving the Energy of True Sha

"Of course, nothing is absolute in this world. I've heard that demon beasts in the Transformation Stage have appeared in other sea areas. However, the Coral Sea region has been developed for thousands of years and has always remained peaceful. Here, you must be cautious of cultivators. While safety is guaranteed within the market, it's not assured outside. Even Core Formation cultivators risk death when venturing out."

Li Xin said unhurriedly, his tone stern.

He took Wang Mingren and the others on a tour around the market, giving them a detailed introduction to its various aspects.

Wang Mingren noticed that all the elixirs in the market were refined from demon cores.

"Senior Brother Li, are all our sect's disciples stationed in Spirit Turtle Market?" Wang Mingren asked casually.

"Not exactly. Strictly speaking, Spirit Turtle Island serves as a branch of our Taiyi Immortal Sect, with various halls operating under it. These halls are spread across other markets. However, new disciples typically patrol the market to familiarize themselves with the area. Depending on their capabilities, they are either dispatched to other halls or remain here in Spirit Turtle Market."

Hearing this, Wang Mingren and the others were secretly surprised, realizing the sect had invested heavily in the South Sea.

After touring the market, Li Xin led them back to Taiyi Palace.

The next day, Mo Yishan sent someone to assign tasks to the new disciples. Wang Mingren was assigned to patrol with his fellow disciples for one year, followed by two years of rest. The daily patrol lasted four hours, a simple task that didn't interfere with their cultivation.

A team of ten Foundation Establishment cultivators patrolled for two hours in the morning and two hours in the evening, led by Li Xin.

Thus, Wang Mingren settled down on Spirit Turtle Island.

In the world of cultivation, time seemed to fly. Five years passed quickly.

***

Wei State, Wang Family Stronghold.

Inside a secret chamber, Wang Changsheng sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion, his eyes tightly closed. A large blue light enveloped his body, and his face was somewhat contorted, as if he were enduring intense pain.

After a while, the blue light around him dissipated, and he opened his eyes, a sharp glint quickly flashing within them. He let out a long, turbid breath, a thoughtful expression appearing on his face.

After twelve years of secluded cultivation, having used all the Profound Ice Cold Water, he advanced two minor realms, reaching the eighth level of Foundation Establishment.

It took him over twenty years to progress from the sixth to the eighth level of Foundation Establishment, with most of that time spent handling miscellaneous affairs. If he had focused solely on cultivation, he would have reached the eighth level much earlier.

Although the Wang family had many Foundation Establishment cultivators, their cultivation levels were generally not high. This was partly due to a lack of cultivation resources, but more importantly, it was due to the quality of their cultivation techniques.

Wang Changsheng had already reached the eighth level of Foundation Establishment and now needed to prepare for Core Formation.

The Kuiyuan True Fiend technique could improve his physique and accelerate his cultivation speed. His Water Spirit Root's affinity had already reached ninety, and combined with an Earth-grade cultivation method, his cultivation speed was no slower than that of someone with dual spirit roots.

However, everything has its pros and cons. While Kuiyuan True Fiend improved his physique, it also continuously ravaged his physical body. If he hadn't cultivated a body-refining technique, which inherently strengthened his physical body, his body would have long been destroyed by the true fiend energy.

Even with his relatively strong physical body, if he continued to ignore the true fiend energy, it would eventually become a major problem.

He had to resolve the side effects caused by the true fiend energy. There were many methods, such as using treasures or special elixirs. While these methods could indeed alleviate the side effects, they might also cause his physique to revert to its original state.

Among cultivators of the same stage, Wang Changsheng's cultivation speed was relatively fast. He clearly understood that his rapid progress was due to three indispensable factors: first, an Earth-grade cultivation technique; second, his continuously improving physique; and third, the assistance of spiritual waters.

Wang Changping was a disciple of the Hundred Spirits Sect. While he couldn't copy the cultivation techniques collected by the Hundred Spirits Sect for the Wang family, he could share information from other ancient texts with Wang Changsheng.

Early on, Wang Changsheng had asked Wang Changping to research ancient texts related to true fiend energy. The Hundred Spirits Sect had indeed collected many such texts.

There was one method that could both alleviate the side effects of true fiend energy and preserve its efficacy: guiding Heavenly Gang Qi.

Heavenly Gang and Earth Fiend represent Yang and Yin, respectively. In ancient times, the human race was relatively weak, and there were few methods for Foundation Establishment. Using Earth Fiend energy for Foundation Establishment was the most common approach. Cultivators would then use Heavenly Gang Qi to form their Golden Cores.

Earth Fiend Qi is Yin, and Heavenly Gang Qi is Yang. Through the alternation of Yin and Yang, a cultivator's true essence can solidify and form a Golden Core.

The troublesome part was that Earth Fiend Qi was generally found underground, while Heavenly Gang Qi resided in the heavens. Ancient cultivators either set up formations to draw down Heavenly Gang Qi, utilized rare treasures, or grand cultivators employed powerful divine abilities.

Formations capable of drawing down Heavenly Gang Qi were at least third-tier. The Wang family couldn't construct such a formation, nor did they know any grand cultivators they could invite to assist them. As for treasures, the Taiyi Immortal Sect, being one of the seven great sects of the Eastern Barrens, might possess such extraordinary items.

He would have to make a trip to the Taiyi Immortal Sect. If that proved impossible, he would have to find other ways to form his Golden Core.

He had been in secluded cultivation for twelve years and didn't know if Wang Ruyan had emerged from hers.

***

In the stone pavilion, the three siblings, Wang Qingqing, Wang Qingzhi, and Wang Qingyang, were drinking tea and chatting. Wang Qingzhi's brows were tightly furrowed.

"Big Sister, Father and Mother dote on you the most. Why don't you send them a voice transmission talisman?"

Wang Qingqing glared at him and scolded, "Nonsense! Before Father and Mother went into seclusion, they specifically instructed us not to disturb their cultivation unless there was a major clan event. If you were to affect their cultivation, could you live with yourself? I know you want to marry her soon, but you cannot disregard Father and Mother's safety."

Cultivators in secluded cultivation strictly forbid external interference. A single misstep could lead to complications in their practice, potentially even causing their cultivation to regress.

Wang Qingzhi frowned and said, "Big Sister, please don't misunderstand. I'm not thinking only of myself. Grandfather and Grandmother don't have much lifespan left; Aunt has also visited them and confirmed they only have a few years remaining. I want to marry soon so they can hold their great-grandchild. They've always longed for a great-grandchild and for four generations to live under one roof."

Wang Qingqing's delicate brows furrowed as she fell into a dilemma. Sending a voice transmission talisman to Father and Mother might disrupt their cultivation, but if she didn't send one and they remained in seclusion, Grandfather and Grandmother would pass away with regrets.

To be with her grandparents in their final years, she had already rushed back to the family, intending to accompany them for their remaining time.

"What are you three siblings talking about?"

Wang Changsheng's voice suddenly rang out as he walked towards them.

Upon seeing Wang Changsheng, joy simultaneously appeared on the faces of Wang Qingqing and the other two.

"Father, you've emerged from seclusion? Where's Mother? Has she emerged as well?" Wang Qingyang looked curiously at Wang Changsheng; it was his first time seeing his father.

"Your mother is still in seclusion. And he is?"

Wang Changsheng's gaze fell upon Wang Qingyang. Before his seclusion, his two sons had still been young. He didn't know which son this was or his name. After twelve years in seclusion, it was impossible for him to recognize him.

"Father, this is your seventeenth and youngest son, Wang Qingyang. Our other younger brother didn't have spirit roots and was sent to the mundane world."