Chapter 405: Exploration

Wang Changsheng gripped the Vajra Bracelet in his right hand, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

He infused spiritual power into the bracelet, and it pulsed with a strong light.

Wang Changsheng used his divine sense to inspect it meticulously. He discovered that the surface of the Vajra Bracelet was covered with intricate and mysterious runes of varying sizes, faintly forming twenty-four layers of restrictions.

When a magic tool incorporates third-tier materials, it can be upgraded to a life-bound magic tool. If enough third-tier materials are incorporated, it becomes a nascent magic treasure. For a nascent magic treasure to advance to a full-fledged magic treasure, it must incorporate spiritual objects.

Spiritual objects are mostly related to the five elements. They are categorized into four grades—Heaven, Earth, Black, and Yellow—based on their power. Each grade is further divided into lower, middle, and upper sub-grades.

A magic treasure incorporating twelve layers of Earth Fiend restrictions is a first-tier low-grade magic treasure. Twenty-four layers of Earth Fiend restrictions make a first-tier mid-grade magic treasure. Forty-eight layers of Earth Fiend restrictions signify a second-tier low-grade magic treasure, and seventy-two layers of restrictions signify a second-tier high-grade magic treasure. A spirit treasure combines seventy-two layers of Earth Fiend restrictions into a single layer of Heavenly Star restriction; six layers of Heavenly Star restrictions make a first-tier low-grade spirit treasure, and twelve layers of Heavenly Star restrictions make a first-tier mid-grade spirit treasure.

A Profound Spirit Treasure is formed when thirty-six layers of Heavenly Star restrictions merge into a single treasure restriction. It possesses a hint of sentience, can automatically protect its owner, and its power far surpasses that of a spirit treasure.

The Vajra Bracelet was a metal-attribute magic treasure with twenty-four layers of Earth Fiend restrictions.

Wang Changsheng projected the Vajra Bracelet into the air, then opened his mouth and exhaled a wisp of blue core-fire, enveloping the bracelet.

Only after refining this Vajra Bracelet would he be considered a true Core Formation cultivator.

The Wang family had a legacy spanning several centuries, and Wang Changsheng was their first Core Formation cultivator. Naturally, his Core Formation ceremony would be celebrated grandly.

Wang Qingkai, who had yet to take a Foundation Establishment Pill to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage, directed his clansmen in preparing the celebration. He oversaw every detail, no matter how small.

The Core Formation celebration was also a major event, so Wang Qingkai decided to hold an auction simultaneously, to be held on Qinglian Mountain.

With the emergence of a Core Formation cultivator, the Wang family, while still far behind the Five Sects of Wei, at least gained a certain degree of influence and no longer had to constantly defer to them.

A month passed quickly.

Wang Changsheng sat cross-legged on a futon, the Vajra Bracelet hovering before him. Its surface was enveloped in a layer of golden spiritual light, emanating potent spiritual energy.

He had spent a month finally refining the Vajra Bracelet.

Since he cultivated a water-attribute cultivation method, the Vajra Bracelet naturally could not be nurtured as his life-bound magic treasure. However, it was perfectly suitable for combat.

A sound transmission talisman suddenly flew in and stopped before Wang Changsheng.

He flicked his finger, and a blue light shot out, striking the talisman. The talisman automatically burned away, and Wang Changhao's voice suddenly rang out: "Ninth Brother, congratulations on your Core Formation! I have an urgent matter to report to you."

"Urgent matter?"

Wang Changsheng frowned, put away the Vajra Bracelet, and exited the secret chamber.

Seeing Wang Changsheng, Wang Changhao bowed respectfully and said solemnly, "Congratulations, Ninth Brother, on your successful Core Formation! By the blessings of our ancestors, our Wang family finally has a Core Formation cultivator."

Wang Changsheng smiled faintly and asked, "You mentioned an urgent matter? What happened?"

Wang Changhao recounted the entire incident in detail. Two years ago, Wang Changhao emerged from seclusion. Wang Qingshan was still in secluded cultivation, and with few spirit stones remaining, Wang Changhao took some clansmen to the White Dragon Mountains to hunt demonic beasts. They spent half a year there but only found one second-tier demonic beast, yielding very little.

Korea and Wei were neighboring countries, and the Wang family had business dealings with the Song family of Mount Taihua in Korea. Wang Changhao decided to take his group to Korea to hunt demonic beasts. By chance, he met a rogue cultivator at the Foundation Establishment stage named Su Longzhai. Several months ago, Su Longzhai sought out Wang Changhao, claiming to have discovered the secluded cultivation abode of a deceased Core Formation cultivator. However, the restrictions were too powerful, and he needed help.

Wang Changhao naturally did not readily believe him, but he also didn't refuse. He said he would invite a fellow cultivator, and Su Longzhai agreed.

Wang Changhao had originally intended to return home and invite a Foundation Establishment clansman. If Su Longzhai had no ill intentions, they would share the treasures. If Su Longzhai harbored greed, they would capture him entirely.

"He didn't know you were from a cultivation family? Wasn't he afraid you'd have ill intentions?"

Wang Changsheng felt somewhat puzzled.

"He knew. That's why he only asked me to bring one Foundation Establishment clansman. He must have some backing, perhaps even accomplices, or he might possess a talismanic treasure."

The Core Formation celebration was scheduled in just over two months, and the timing might not work out. If they delayed, and Su Longzhai and his companions learned that the Wang family had a Core Formation cultivator, they would likely have fled already.

"Anyway, I don't have much to do, so I'll go with you. I hope it truly is the secluded abode of a deceased Core Formation cultivator!"

Wang Changsheng informed Wang Ruyan, asking her to tell Wang Qingkai that the Core Formation ceremony would be postponed for three months.

Upon learning that Wang Changsheng was going on an adventure, Wang Ruyan expressed some concern: "Husband, let me go with you! An extra person means an extra helper."

"No need," he replied. "They're just a few Foundation Establishment cultivators; they can't cause much trouble. I'll be back soon. If Fellow Daoist Guang asks, just say I went out to handle some affairs."

Wang Changsheng gave a few instructions, then departed Qinglian Mountain with Wang Changhao.

Blackwater City, Korea.

In a certain secret chamber, two men and one woman were discussing something.

"Big Brother," said a petite woman in a blue dress with a frown, "isn't it too risky to invite a Wang family cultivator? The Wang family has a deep background and many Foundation Establishment cultivators. What if they become greedy? Wouldn't our ancestors' legacy fall into outsider hands?"

"Su Yu, you worry too much," a round-faced, short-browed middle-aged man said confidently. "Since I dared to invite a Wang family Foundation Establishment cultivator, I naturally have something to rely on. I'm already at the sixth layer of Foundation Establishment. As long as you buy me some time, no matter how many Foundation Establishment cultivators the Wang family sends, they'll just be seeking death."

He flipped his hand, revealing a yellow talisman with a seal pattern on it—it was clearly a talismanic treasure.

A green-robed man with thick eyebrows and large eyes nodded. "Speaking of which, if our ancestor hadn't left such powerful restrictions, Big Brother wouldn't have sought outside help. When the three of us forced our way through the formation, Big Brother's second-tier spirit beast, which he had raised for many years, died under the restrictions. Inviting the Wang family cultivators is just to have them scout ahead for us. Our ancestor's legacy must never fall into the hands of others."

The Su family once had a Core Formation cultivator among its ancestors, but later, for various reasons, the family declined. Fortunately, a Su family ancestor left behind a treasure. After the three of them reached Foundation Establishment, they found the treasure's location. Unfortunately, the restrictions were too strong, killing the second-tier spirit beast on the spot. They tried many times without success and decided to seek cooperation from other cultivators.

They dared not invite local Korean Foundation Establishment cultivators, fearing they would kill them for their treasures. The Wang family was a cultivation family from Wei, and it was impossible for them to send their entire force; at most, four or five Foundation Establishment cultivators would come. With a talismanic treasure in hand, he truly wasn't afraid of the Wang family's cultivators.

Just then, a sound transmission talisman flew in. Su Longzhai crushed it, learning that Wang Changhao had arrived.

"Su Yang, open the door and let them in."

Su Yang acknowledged, removed the restriction, and opened the door.

Wang Changsheng and Wang Changhao stood outside the door. As it opened, Wang Changsheng's gaze swept over the three people inside, and he felt a sense of certainty.

One cultivator at the sixth layer of Foundation Establishment and two at the second layer. Since all three were unable to break through the restrictions, it was very likely the secluded cultivation abode of a deceased Core Formation cultivator.

"Let me introduce you," Wang Changhao said. "This is my Ninth Brother. Ninth Brother, these three are the Fellow Daoist Sus I told you about."

Wang Changsheng employed the Qi Concealment Art, suppressing his aura so that to outsiders, he appeared to be merely a sixth-layer Foundation Establishment cultivator.