Chapter 3915: Zhou Family

A vast, boundless azure sea stretched to the horizon, swept by gusts of sea breeze.

An azure streak of light sped across the sky.

Before long, the azure light stopped above a desolate island over a thousand li in size. The light receded, revealing an azure-glowing flying boat. Wang Yong'an, Wang Yi'er, and Wang Zongyao stood upon it, their expressions grave.

To find Immortal Chi Meng's secluded cave dwelling, Wang Yi'er had requested assistance from Wang Chang, who dispatched ten True Immortal cultivators from other halls to aid the Treasure Hunting Hall in its search.

Having been in the Immortal Realm for many years, the Treasure Hunting Hall, where Wang Yi'er was based, had not achieved any significant accomplishments. Now that they had finally received a major mission, he hoped to find Immortal Chi Meng's secluded cave dwelling.

Wang Zongling had temporarily come to assist. She was currently at the Mid-True Immortal stage and capable of crafting True Immortal-stage puppet beasts.

Wang Yi'er flicked his sleeve, and a yellow light flew out, transforming into a tall, yellow-robed young man whose eyes gleamed with a faint azure light.

This was Wang Bao, whose true form was a True Immortal-stage treasure-hunting rat, a descendant of Wang Tun Tian.

Each Wang family cultivator in the Treasure Hunting Hall possessed a spiritual rat, each with unique abilities. Some rats had keen senses of smell, others possessed mutated spiritual eyes, and some were skilled in earth evasion.

Wang Bao's eyes flared with dazzling azure light as he gazed towards the island, but he shook his head, indicating no discoveries.

Wang Yi'er was not surprised. A Golden Immortal cultivator's secluded cave dwelling would not be easy to find. They had limited clues, knowing only that Immortal Chi Meng's dwelling was on a desolate island that was not particularly large.

He divided his team into multiple groups to investigate remote islands that matched this description.

Wang Bao's body glowed intensely with yellow light, transforming into a giant yellow rat with azure eyes. He landed on the island, burrowed into the ground, and began to investigate beneath the surface.

Wang Yi'er flicked his sleeve again, releasing hundreds of yellow butterflies. They fanned out and flew towards the island.

If the island contained restrictions, such as trapping or killing formations, the butterflies might trigger them.

Wang Zongyao took out a small, pale golden mirror. Upon injecting immortal essence into it, the mirror surface immediately brightened, emitting a golden mist that enveloped the island, slowly moving across it.

After a quarter of an hour, Wang Bao emerged from the ground, shaking his head.

Neither the treasure-hunting rat nor the spiritual insects had found anything unusual. It seemed there were no restrictions on the island.

A deafening roar echoed, and a massive crimson fireball lit up the distant horizon, exceptionally conspicuous.

Wang Yi'er frowned. Wang Bao understood immediately, his eyes blazing with dazzling azure light as he flew towards the distance.

"Two cultivators from the Zhou family are being pursued," Wang Bao reported.

"The Zhou family? Which one?" Wang Zongyao asked, perplexed. There were countless cultivation families in the Sky Morning Sea, and many of them were named Zhou.

"The Zhou family of Jinhu Island. They have some influence in the Zishan Archipelago," Wang Bao replied. The Treasure Hunting Hall, constantly searching for treasures, naturally had to be familiar with the terrain.

They were currently in the Zishan Archipelago, which comprised five major powers. The Zhou family was just one of them, and not the strongest.

The Zishan Archipelago was located on the outermost fringes of the Nine Immortals Sect's territory. Its cultivation resources were scarce, inferior to those of the White Deer Archipelago. However, this sea area lacked hostile forces to the Nine Immortals Sect, which meant less pressure on the five major powers of the Zishan Archipelago. With no external enemies, these five powers frequently engaged in internal conflicts.

Without external enemies, internal strife was common, a pattern that applied to many places in the Immortal Realm.

Wang Yi'er was disinclined to meddle; the Wang family had no ties with the Zhou family.

A crimson flying boat approached from a distance, carrying a stout, red-robed man and a curvaceous woman in a white dress. Judging by their aura, they were only at the Mahayana stage.

Their faces were pale. The red-robed man’s left arm was missing, and his aura was weak.

A burst of golden lightning illuminated the scene, revealing a tall, golden-robed young man. His body was enveloped in countless golden electric arcs, and he possessed a cultivation of the Mid-Mahayana stage.

On his clothes was a golden snake emblem, the symbol of the Deng family of Jin Snake Island. The Deng family was one of the five major powers in the Zishan Archipelago. After forming a marital alliance with the Meng family, the Deng family had developed rapidly, but compared to the Wang family, they were still far inferior.

Sensing the powerful auras of Wang Yi'er and his two companions, the trio's expressions became tense.

"Junior Deng Yuwei from Jin Snake Island," the golden-robed young man said politely, introducing himself. "I am here by my clan leader's order to apprehend criminals."

"Nonsense!" the red-robed man cursed. "What criminals? Your Deng family obviously invaded our Zhou family's island, and now you're trying to turn the tables!"

"I have no interest in meddling in your affairs. Go back to where you came from!" Wang Yi'er stated. He had no interest in getting involved in such matters.

"Senior," Deng Yuwei said cautiously, "the Meng family of Xuanhuo Island and our Deng family are in-laws. These two are the criminals we are tasked to apprehend. Please, senior, grant us this convenience."

Deng Yuwei spoke carefully, unwilling to let the Zhou family cultivators escape.

"What? Did you not hear me clearly? Do I need to repeat myself?" Wang Yi'er's tone turned cold. He was already in a bad mood from not being able to find Immortal Chi Meng's secluded cave dwelling. How dared a mere Mahayana cultivator defy his will, and, more importantly, try to use the Meng family to pressure him?

Deng Yuwei shivered and quickly said, "This junior would not dare. This junior bids you farewell."

His body glowed intensely with lightning, and he vanished from his spot.

"Junior Zhou Yisheng offers his thanks for your assistance, Senior," the red-robed man said, bowing gratefully.

"I have no interest in meddling in your affairs. Handle them yourselves!" Wang Yi'er said.

Wang Yi'er formed a hand seal, and the azure flying boat sped off into the distance.

"Yunmeng Island has been taken by the Deng family, and the Gold Jade Ore Vein has also fallen into their hands," the woman in the white dress sighed. "Our income will plummet."

"Hmph," Zhou Yisheng scoffed dismissively, "the Gold Jade Ore Vein frequently produces powerful demonic beasts, even True Immortal-stage ones. Even if the Deng family acquired it, it won't be easy for them to develop."

"That's true," the woman mused. "Our clan leader organized multiple eradication efforts, but powerful demonic beasts still emerge there, making mining extremely troublesome. Hopefully, True Immortal-stage demonic beasts will appear when the Deng family cultivators are mining it."

At this moment, Wang Yi'er and his two companions had not gone far. Relying on his treasure-hunter's intuition, Wang Yi'er sensed something amiss with this Gold Jade Ore Vein. He formed a hand seal, and the azure flying boat turned around, flying back.

"What is this Gold Jade Ore Vein you spoke of?" Wang Yi'er asked. Immortal Chi Meng had been missing for many years, and the island where her secluded cave dwelling was located might already be occupied by cultivators.

Zhou Yisheng was slightly taken aback. Were True Immortal cultivators also interested in eighth-tier ore veins? He dared not delay and truthfully recounted the details.

The Gold Jade Ore Vein was one of the few eighth-tier ore veins the Zhou family possessed. Powerful demonic beasts frequently appeared in the mine shafts, and even True Immortal-stage demonic beasts had emerged. The Zhou family's ancestor had personally led eradication teams, but eighth-tier demonic beasts would reappear after a period of time.

"Alright, you may leave," Wang Yi'er said.

Wang Yi'er waved his hand, dismissing Zhou Yisheng and the woman.