Chapter 3985: Mystical Celestial Sovereign

"Lin Tianfeng is quite a talent; he knows when to yield and when to stand firm," Wang Ruyan commented. Lin Tianfeng, as the founding patriarch of Qianyuan Sect, had knelt directly before Wang Changsheng, adopting a very humble posture.

"If I were an outsider, I would never have guessed that Guangyuan Sect is actually under our Wang family's influence," Wang Moshan said with a smile. The discord between Guangyuan Sect and Qianyuan Sect was already an open secret.

"Now that I've advanced to the Integration stage, the family's development should proceed more smoothly. However, precisely at times like these, we must not become complacent," Wang Changsheng stated gravely. "Instruct Qinglong to intensify efforts in punishing family members who violate clan rules and to keep everyone in line. If any short-sighted forces dare to provoke us, we should teach them a lesson, lest they think the Wang family is easy to bully. We must contend for what is ours; we don't cause trouble, but we don't fear it either." He added that as the family was on the rise, it was even more crucial to strictly manage its members.

History had proven that during such periods, clan members were more prone to recklessness. Before the Wang family had an Integration stage cultivator, Void Refinement forces would only seek their help for minor issues, sparring with other Void Refinement cultivators, or resolving disputes. After the Wang family acquired an Integration stage cultivator, these forces began to exploit the Wang family's power to severely damage or even destroy rival factions and expand their own influence. If even outsiders were so audacious, imagine the Wang family members.

After Wang Changsheng entered the Integration stage, clan members could more boldly compete with other forces for cultivation resources, with significantly fewer restrictions. What needed to be contested still had to be. Wang Moshan nodded, "Your grandson had the same thought. In the past few decades, there has been a sharp increase in clan members violating family rules."

Ever since Wang Changsheng advanced to the Integration stage, the clan members had become more emboldened. A small number of them had become excessively arrogant, committing many violations of clan rules. It was only after dozens of clan members were severely punished that this negative trend was halted. Wang Changsheng gave a few instructions, then dismissed Wang Moshan.

"Husband, please focus on healing! I will have someone keep an eye out for cultivation techniques," Wang Ruyan said gently. Wang Changsheng's injuries had not fully healed, and he needed a period of quiet recovery.

Wang Changsheng nodded. He had many tasks ahead: healing, condensing his Dharma Idol, cultivating secret arts, artifact refining, and so on. Entering the secret chamber, Wang Changsheng sat cross-legged on a blue futon and began circulating his energy to heal his wounds.

In a vast estate, Wang Chuanming, Wang Chuanyun, and Wang Chuanfeng sat chatting in a green stone pavilion.

"Brother Chuanming, please focus on your cultivation. Whatever you need, just tell us, and we'll get it for you," Wang Chuanyun said, patting his chest. Wang Chuanming had indeed contributed, but he had also made mistakes; merits and demerits could not cancel each other out. He was confined for five hundred years, during which he was not permitted to leave Qinglian Island. He and Wang Chuanming had rehearsed many times, but Wang Moshan was not easily fooled. Under repeated questioning, Wang Chuanyun exposed himself, admitting he had no real merit, though he stubbornly insisted that Chen Chu was an evil cultivator. Wang Moshan merely reprimanded Wang Chuanyun a few times and let it go.

"That's right, Brother Chuanming. Just say the word. We still have some authority," Wang Chuanfeng echoed.

"I don't lack anything. Rather, it's you two who need to keep yourselves in check. If I'm not mistaken, the Hall of Enforcement will be very busy. In the decades since our ancestor advanced to the Integration stage, the Patriarch has severely punished dozens of clan members who violated family rules. This is a clear trend. I've read the clan history; the better the family develops, the stricter the clan rules become," Wang Chuanming cautioned. Ever since he was reprimanded by Wang Moshan for his advice, Wang Chuanming had been pondering, not about his own mistakes, but about the family's long-term development strategy and Wang Moshan's character. Understanding these aspects would help him make fewer mistakes.

"We'll listen to you. Oh, by the way, I heard Chuanlin was selected as a Pavilion Guardian," Wang Chuanyun said, remembering something.

"A Pavilion Guardian? Humph, it's quite boring. It's mostly just cultivation, with few opportunities to earn merit or engage in combat with other cultivators. One's strength and experience won't keep up. However, given his personality, it suits him quite well to be a Pavilion Guardian. By the time I advance to the Void Refinement stage, he'll probably still be at the Spirit Transformation stage," Wang Chuanming said with a look of disdain.

"Of course! He's nowhere near comparable to Brother Chuanming," Wang Chuanfeng flattered.

"Heh heh, when Brother Chuanming advances to the Void Refinement stage, you must help us out a lot," Wang Chuanyun echoed.

"You two have grown up playing with me. If I'm doing well, when have I not looked after you? When have I stood idly by when you got into trouble?" Wang Chuanming said with a teasing smile. Among the "Chuan" generation of clan members, he was widely acknowledged as the most outstanding.

"Heh heh, of course, we know Brother Chuanming will take care of us. If you need our help, don't be a stranger, we're family," Wang Chuanyun chuckled, patting his chest.

"Alright, enough flattery. Cultivation is the foundation. Don't neglect your training. You saw how tens of thousands of cultivators came to congratulate our ancestor at his Integration Grand Ceremony," Wang Chuanming said, a look of longing on his face. He had found his goal: to become a grand cultivator like Wang Changsheng, worshipped by countless cultivators, no matter the cost.

Wang Chuanyun and Wang Chuanfeng agreed. After chatting for a while, they bid farewell and returned to their posts, each performing their duties.

On Xuanguang Continent, the Xuanying Mountain Range is located in the central part of the continent, serving as the territory of the Blood Shadow Clan.

The Blood Shadow Clan was originally a vassal of the Shadow Clan. However, after two Grand Ascension cultivators of the Shadow Clan successively died at the hands of Celestial Venerable Xuanling, other races united against the Shadow Clan. The Blood Shadow Clan seized this opportunity to rise and is now one of the seven strongest races on Xuanguang Continent.

Deep within the Xuanying Mountain Range, continuous explosions echoed, and energy waves surged like tides. Ye Xuanji stood on a low dirt mound, her face slightly pale. Numerous fragments of treasures were scattered on the ground. Two Blood Shadow clansmen lay dead on the ground, completely lifeless, each with a fist-sized blood-hole in their heads. Shangguan Tianhong stood to the side, his face bloodless, his back dripping with blood.

"It's finally resolved. The Blood Shadow Clan truly is relentless," Ye Xuanji murmured to herself.

Shangguan Tianhong started to say something, but swallowed his words.

"Just say what's on your mind. Don't hold back," Ye Xuanji said, her tone indifferent.

"Miss, why must we stay on Xuanguang Continent?" Shangguan Tianhong asked, puzzled. They had spent the past few millennia on Xuanguang Continent, traveling extensively. No fewer than ten Integration stage cultivators had died at Ye Xuanji's hands. The foreign races were like madmen, dispatching a large number of experts to apprehend Ye Xuanji. Ye Xuanji was powerful enough to cross the seas without issue, yet she refused to leave Xuanguang Continent.

"I consulted Divination Lord Xuanji for a prophecy," Ye Xuanji explained. "He said my destiny is related to 'light,' and among all the realms, only Xuanguang Continent has the character 'Guang' (光, meaning light). So it's highly probable my opportunity is here."

"Divination Lord Xuanji?" Shangguan Tianhong asked, his face full of curiosity. He had never heard of this person before.

"He is widely recognized as the top diviner in Xuanyang Realm, and his whereabouts are unpredictable. It took a significant effort and cost for me to persuade him to perform a divination even once," Ye Xuanji explained patiently.

Just as Shangguan Tianhong was about to speak, a loud clap of thunder boomed from high above. The void twisted and warped, sending ripples across the air. The sky suddenly darkened. A nine-colored light gate, over ten thousand feet tall, slowly emerged from the void. The surface of the gate depicted true spirits like dragons, celestial phoenixes, Qilin, and Xuanwu, creating an astonishing spectacle.

"Celestial Venerable Xuanling's Dao field!" Ye Xuanji exclaimed, her expression filled with excitement.