Chapter 3746: Opening the Fourth Orifice

The primary purpose of this ancestor worship ceremony was to formally introduce Wang Qingling to the other clan members, as most of them were unfamiliar with her. With Wang Changsheng's personal endorsement, the other clan members naturally showed Wang Qingling due respect. Wang Qingling was currently at the Nascent Soul stage. With the family providing cultivation resources, it was only a matter of time before she reached the True Immortal stage.

Wang Changsheng gave a few instructions, then dismissed them, allowing them to attend to their duties.

Back at Green Lotus Peak, Wang Changsheng, Wang Ruyan, Wang Qingling, Wang Qingcheng, and Wang Qingxiao sat in a blue stone pavilion, enjoying tea and light conversation.

"Qingling, this spirit beast egg is from the Immortal Realm fragment," Wang Changsheng said. "We're giving it to you as a congratulation on your revival. I tried soaking it in Green Moon Divine Milk, but it still wouldn't hatch." He produced a black spirit beast egg and handed it to Wang Qingling. This particular spirit beast egg had been acquired from Guanghanzi's cultivation cave. Wang Changsheng had steeped it in Jinhao Immortal Water, which only managed to strengthen its life force slightly, but it remained unhatched.

"An Immortal Realm fragment!" Wang Qingling exclaimed, a hint of surprise in her voice, as Wang Qingxiao had previously mentioned Immortal Realm fragments to her.

"Indeed!" Wang Ruyan said with a smile. "We already have quite a few spirit beasts. This egg is for you; it would be wonderful if you could hatch it."

"Thank you, Ninth Uncle, Ninth Aunt!" Wang Qingling said gratefully. She then accepted the spirit beast egg.

"From now on, if you need anything, you can speak directly with Yongqian, or even Qingcheng. Qingxiao will assist Qingling in managing the Spirit Control Hall," Wang Changsheng instructed.

"Tenth Sister, if there's anything, just tell me directly. It's the same if you ask Yuejiao," Wang Qingcheng added with a smile. "There's no need to be formal among family."

Wang Qingling nodded. Her immediate priority was cultivation.

After a while, Wang Qingling and the other two departed. Wang Changsheng then entered a secret chamber, where the Green Lotus Creation Cauldron stood at its center. He took out some refining materials, tossed a piece of black beast hide into the Green Lotus Creation Cauldron, and replaced the lid. Wang Changsheng opened his mouth and exhaled a stream of snow-blue flame, directing it to the bottom of the Green Lotus Creation Cauldron.

Nine Immortals Island, stretching 100,000 li east to west and over 50,000 li north to south, served as the main headquarters of the Nine Immortals Sect. In the island's northeast corner, a colossal valley encircled by mountains on three sides housed a sprawling manor. The estate featured green bricks, glazed tiles, lush wisteria, vibrant bamboo, and picturesque gardens adorned with unique rocks.

A striking young woman in a golden dress and a slightly hunched old man in a green robe were seated in a green stone pavilion, engaged in conversation.

"The recent rampage of chaotic beasts has claimed the lives of Junior Sister Liu, Junior Brother Sun, and Junior Brother Li," the woman in the golden dress said, frowning. "We've lost nine cities, and we need to dispatch personnel to fill the gaps, or other forces will seize them." She was Jin Yulan, a mid-stage Golden Immortal and Vice Sect Master of the Nine Immortals Sect.

"The casualties among True Immortal cultivators are also considerable," the old man in the green robe suggested. "We need to draw a contingent of True Immortals from our affiliated forces. Relying solely on the Nine Immortals Sect would place too much pressure on us." He was Jiang Changlin, an early-stage Golden Immortal and head of the Nine Immortals Sect's Intelligence Hall.

The Nine Immortals Sect controlled a territory on the Chaos Continent, which included two second-tier immortal mines—a crucial source of income. Recently, a wave of chaotic beasts had ravaged the region, killing many immortals. The nine cities under the Nine Immortals Sect's control were breached, resulting in the demise of five Golden Immortals and the loss of a hundred True Immortal cultivators. The sect had suffered heavy losses.

"We offer them protection precisely for situations like this," Jin Yulan stated. "I'll issue the order, but it's crucial to ascertain the cause of this chaotic beast tide. Even if many True Immortals perish, they can be replaced over time. Golden Immortal cultivators, however, are not so easily replenished." Jin Yulan's brows were tightly furrowed.

"I heard that a Golden Immortal cultivator named Xuanling Heavenly Venerate triggered the beast tide," Jiang Changlin replied. "Even chaotic beasts at the Grand Unity Golden Immortal stage were involved. I'm not entirely clear on the specifics yet, as the investigation is still ongoing."

"Xuanling Heavenly Venerate! I've never heard of this person," Jin Yulan remarked, her face filled with curiosity. "What exactly did they do to provoke even Grand Unity Golden Immortal-stage chaotic beasts into action?"

"Who knows?" Jiang Changlin mused. "The Beast Spirit Sect's territory was the epicenter of the beast tide, so their losses are surely far greater. We only suffered five Golden Immortal casualties from being affected by the tide; imagine the scale of damage for the Beast Spirit Sect."

The Beast Spirit Sect was one of the nine major powers in the Sky Dawn Sea, boasting over twenty Golden Immortal cultivators and considerable strength. They specialized in controlling insects and beasts. The Beast Spirit Sect was allied with the Hao Yue Alliance, and their relationship with the Nine Immortals Sect was strained.

"First, let's redeploy forces to reclaim those nine cities," Jin Yulan declared. "Those two second-tier immortal mines absolutely cannot fall into the hands of other powers. Activate our informant within the Beast Spirit Sect to ascertain their losses. If they've suffered too greatly, then all the better." As Jin Yulan finished speaking, a cold glint flashed in her phoenix eyes. Her two disciples had died at the hands of Beast Spirit Sect cultivators, and she had long harbored a desire to strike against them, only restrained by the Beast Spirit Sect's formidable power.

Jiang Changlin nodded. "I've already activated our informant for the investigation; there's no news yet," he said.

Soon after, the Nine Immortals Sect issued a conscription order. Affiliated forces such as the Zhang, Bai, Meng, and Xia families, along with the Ice Yuan and Water Charm clans, all received the summons. In total, over a hundred True Immortal cultivators were mobilized. This move by the Nine Immortals Sect naturally didn't escape the notice of major powers like the Hao Yue Alliance. However, a hundred True Immortal cultivators was not a significant number for the Nine Immortals Sect, and the Beast Spirit Sect also conscripted True Immortals from its own affiliated forces. Cultivators in the Sky Dawn Sea were accustomed to such occurrences. Consequently, the strength of both the Nine Immortals Sect and Beast Spirit Sect's affiliated forces was weakened, as a contingent of True Immortal-stage experts was conscripted and dispatched to the Chaos Continent.

Time flew by, and three hundred years elapsed.

White Deer Archipelago, Green Lotus Island.

At Green Lotus Peak, the door to a secret chamber opened, and Wang Changsheng emerged, a smile on his face. He took out his Immortal Transmission Plate and contacted Wang Yongqian, asking her to come to Green Lotus Peak. Shortly thereafter, Wang Yongqian appeared before him.

"These are the five Immortal Artifact Sky Ghost Banners that Sun Qiang requested," Wang Changsheng said, producing five ink-black banners and handing them to Wang Yongqian. "Give them to Moxin, and make sure to negotiate a good price with Sun Qiang. Don't let him get them for cheap."

"Understood, Old Ancestor," Wang Yongqian replied. She accepted the banners and put them away, then produced an exquisite green jade box. Handing it to Wang Changsheng, she announced, "Ancestor Hongxue has successfully refined the Hao Yue Pill."

"She refined it!" Wang Changsheng exclaimed, his face lighting up with joy. He took the jade box, opened it, and found a shimmering silver-white pill inside. With this Hao Yue Pill, he could now open his fourth aperture.

Liu Hongxue had refined twelve Hao Yue Pills, and naturally, Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan each received a share. If other True Immortals provided Hao Yue Immortal Fruits for Liu Hongxue to refine into Hao Yue Pills, they would naturally receive a share upon successful refinement. Otherwise, they would have to exchange for them using merit points. It wasn't merely a matter of seniority determining access to the Hao Yue Pill, though this rule, of course, did not apply to Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan. Without their contributions, the Wang family would not be where it was today, ensuring they would certainly receive the Hao Yue Pills.

"Is there any news yet regarding Immortal Flame or the Hao Yue Immortal Fruit?" Wang Changsheng inquired. Possessing an Immortal Flame would significantly enhance the efficiency of both alchemy and artifact refining.

"Not at the moment," Wang Yongqian replied. "I've already instructed people to keep an eye out. Oh, and the Seventh Month Tower's Master, Wang Manlou, is also in the Sky Dawn Sea. Moxin met with him and exchanged a few words." The Sky Dawn Sea also housed a branch of the Seventh Month Tower, which was another powerful intelligence organization, boasting Golden Immortal cultivators among its ranks.

"The Seventh Month Tower! Wang Manlou!" Wang Changsheng mused. "If the opportunity arises, invite him to Green Lotus Island as a guest. We can catch up; who knows, we might need his assistance someday."

"Chuanming has already made contact with him," Wang Yongqian reported truthfully. "Wang Manlou said he would visit you, Old Ancestor, another day when he has time."

Wang Changsheng nodded, then dismissed her.

Entering a secret chamber, Wang Changsheng sat cross-legged and began meditating to regulate his breathing. An hour later, he opened his eyes, took out the Hao Yue Pill, and placed it in his mouth. The pill dissolved instantly upon contact, and a powerful surge of energy rose within his abdomen. He had previously given Hongxue Immortal Fruits for refinement; the first attempt had failed, and the second batch was still in production.