Chapter 3697: True Spirit Formation

A thousand years have passed.

In the Xuan Yang Realm, on the Xuan Ling Continent.

In the Tianqin Market, the streets teemed with people, and the clamor of carriages and horses filled the air. Many cultivators from other realms were visible.

After enduring two major calamities—the struggle for the Qiankun Bottle and the True Spirit Rebellion—the Xuan Yang Realm and more than a dozen other realms were severely depleted, with over a hundred Grand Ascension cultivators perishing.

The Wang family sustained minimal losses during this calamity. During the struggle for the Qiankun Bottle, they were unremarkable and not a primary target for major clans. However, by the time of the True Spirit Rebellion, the Wang family's strength had significantly grown. Perhaps out of apprehension for their power, the true spirits did not trouble them.

While the Qian Ling Continent possessed rich cultivation resources, the absence of major clans deterred merchants from prolonged stays. In contrast, the Tianqin Market, located not far from Qinglian Island, was brimming with cultivation resources. Eight-rank ores, eight-rank talismans, and even top-grade Heaven-reaching spiritual treasures were available for sale, drawing numerous merchants to conduct business.

The Wang family acquired multiple Yuanji Stones from hostile forces. All seven subsidiary islands had their spiritual veins elevated to eighth-rank, with a Grand Ascension cultivator stationed on each, and eight-rank formations deployed.

The Xuan Ling Continent had become the center of the Xuan Yang Realm, and the Wang family had undeniably risen to become the foremost clan, their status unshakeable.

"I heard that the Azure Lotus Sword Venerable will be giving a lecture on Qinglian. This is a rare opportunity, occurring once in a millennium."

"That's right! The Azure Lotus Sword Venerable is the third most important figure in the Qinglian Wang family, second only to the Azure Lotus Immortal Couple. He is proficient in sword control techniques and possesses extraordinary divine abilities. It would be our honor to listen to his lecture."

"Oh, isn't that Fairy Ice Moon from the Ni family of the Guangyun Realm? She's actually leading a team to participate in the Qinglian event hosted by the Wang family! This must be the seventh Grand Ascension cultivator we've seen from another realm! The Wang family certainly has a lot of influence!"

"What's so strange about that? The Azure Lotus Immortal Couple jointly slew a late-Grand Ascension cultivator from a major clan. The Wang family is undeniably the foremost clan in the Xuan Yang Realm. It's only natural for Grand Ascension cultivators from other realms to attend the Qinglian event hosted by the Wang family."

Cultivators on the street engaged in lively discussions, each expressing their own opinions.

Individuals like Bi Yan had vanished without a trace, not appearing for many years. Cultivators from various realms gradually lowered their guard and returned to normal life. Trade fleets from different merchant alliances also began traveling to other realms to procure cultivation resources.

The Wang family's Qinglian event, offering top-grade Heaven-reaching spiritual treasures, eight-rank secret talismans, eight-rank pills, and eight-rank formations for sale, attracted numerous cultivators from other realms.

In a secluded manor, Wang Moxin was speaking with Li Qinghuan. Both of them had already advanced to the Grand Ascension stage.

"Fellow Daoist Li," Wang Moxin asked, "do you wish to see the Old Ancestor?"

"Precisely," Li Qinghuan replied politely. "I humbly request Fellow Daoist Wang to facilitate this. This matter is of great importance, and I wish to discuss it with either Fellow Daoist Wang or Madam Wang."

The Li family was related to the Wang family by marriage and now boasted two Grand Ascension cultivators. The Han family, however, was less fortunate; despite exchanging a large sum of cultivation resources with the Wang family for a Qiankun Demon Suppressing Talisman, they failed to produce a Grand Ascension cultivator.

"Alright," Wang Moxin agreed. "I am just about to return to Qinglian Island for official duty. You can come with me."

After leaving the Tianqin Market, Wang Moxin raised his right hand, and a golden, shimmering flying boat emerged, hovering before them.

"A top-grade Heaven-reaching spiritual treasure!" exclaimed Li Qinghuan, his face full of envy.

The Wang family was no longer what it once was. As the head of the Commerce Hall, it was not unusual for Wang Moxin to possess a top-grade Heaven-reaching spiritual treasure for travel; it was a mark of the family's status and respect for him.

The two stepped onto the golden flying boat. Wang Moxin made a hand seal, and the boat immediately glowed brightly, soaring into the sky.

As they neared Qinglian Island, still ten thousand li away, they were intercepted by a team of Wang family disciples.

"What's going on?" Wang Moxin wondered. "Has something happened at Qinglian Island?"

"The Old Ancestor has given an order," explained the leading Wang family cultivator. "Without his permission, no one is temporarily allowed to enter Qinglian Island. We were dispatched here to stand guard."

Wang Moxin frowned but said nothing, waiting patiently where he was.

On Qinglian Island, Wang Changsheng, Wang Qingfeng, Wang Yongqian, Bai Yuqi, Wang Zongpiao, and Wang Chuanming stood atop a high peak.

"I hope this time we succeed!"

Bai Yuqi, holding a shimmering formation disk, sent several hand seals into it. Qinglian Island violently shook as sixteen thick azure stone pillars successively broke through the earth, encompassing more than half of the island.

The surfaces of the thirty-six thick azure stone pillars were each carved with a lifelike demon beast pattern, with shimmering runes and astonishing spiritual energy.

After a loud beast roar echoed, the Qilin pattern on the surface of one azure stone pillar glowed with blinding red light. The fiery Qilin seemed to come alive, flying out from the stone pillar and hovering high in the sky.

The fiery Qilin was wreathed in intense flames, and the void itself warped and deformed under the immense heat.

"It finally succeeded."

Wang Qingfeng was overjoyed.

This True Spirit Grand Formation was a modified version of the first-rank Immortal Formation, the True Spirit Immortal Slaying Formation. It incorporated the essence souls of thirty Grand Ascension stage demon beasts and six true spirits.

Prior to this, Wang Changsheng and three others had refined the corpses of the Nine-tailed Celestial Fox, Fiery Qilin, Azure Serpent, Nine-headed Ice Lion, and Ying Fish into eight-rank puppet beasts, which had already been stored in the family's treasury to further enhance their foundation.

Wang Chan and Wang Chan, after hundreds of years of slumber, finally awoke and advanced to the mid-Grand Ascension stage, indicating that the soul power of Guanghanzi's remnant soul was exceptionally potent.

Of course, prior to this, they had devoured the nascent souls of several Grand Ascension cultivators; relying solely on an immortal's remnant soul would not have allowed for such rapid advancement to the mid-Grand Ascension stage.

This also indirectly illustrated the immense gap in divine souls between immortals and Grand Ascension cultivators, let alone their magical power and divine abilities.

Wang Tun Tian devoured the corpse and demon core of a Heaven-devouring Rat. After hundreds of years of slumber, he successfully advanced to the mid-Grand Ascension stage, with his bloodline purity reaching seven—a significant improvement.

Without major tonics, Wang Lin, Wang Xiao, Wang Rong, Wang Mengli, and Wang Huanyu remained at the early Grand Ascension stage.

"It finally succeeded," Bai Yuqi said, her face full of pride. "With this True Spirit Grand Formation and multiple true spirit puppets, even if that group of true spirits comes knocking, they shouldn't expect to leave unscathed."

"To attack Qinglian Island, they would first have to get past the Old Ancestor," Wang Zongpiao said proudly. "The seven subsidiary islands are not to be underestimated either; each is equipped with powerful eight-rank formations. If strong enemies truly attack, perhaps the seven subsidiary islands alone could stop them, without even needing to activate the True Spirit Grand Formation."

"From now on, this True Spirit Grand Formation will be our clan-protecting formation," Wang Changsheng instructed. "No one is allowed to disclose this to outsiders."

He had deliberately dispatched most of the cultivators from the island, concerned that activating the True Spirit Grand Formation in their presence might lead to accidental leaks, causing significant trouble.

As the saying goes, knowing oneself and one's enemy guarantees victory in every battle. If enemies knew that the Wang family's clan-protecting formation could materialize true spirits for attack, they would undoubtedly prepare treasures to counter true spirit essence souls before daring to confront the Wang family, which would not be beneficial for the clan.