Chapter 4158: Ten Thousand Years

One hundred thousand years had passed in the blink of an eye. Tianchen Sea, Qinglian Island.

Qinglian Market, one of the two largest markets in the Tianchen Sea, was a bustling and lively place. The streets were crowded with people, and the clamor of carriages and horses filled the air. Many members of the Wang Family could be seen among the throngs.

Within the span of 150,000 years, four chaotic beast tides erupted consecutively. The Nine Immortal Sect, Snow Crystal Clan, Hundred Refinement Island, Hao Yue Alliance, Beast Spirit Gate, Lin Family, and Cangyun Palace all completely declined and never recovered. The Hao Yue Alliance, Beast Spirit Gate, Lin Family, and Cangyun Palace, in particular, saw their territories steadily shrink. In contrast, the Wang Family and Murong Family continuously expanded.

The Nine Immortal Sect, Snow Crystal Clan, and Hundred Refinement Island submitted to the Wang Family. The Murong Family, in turn, allied with the Hao Yue Alliance, Beast Spirit Gate, Lin Family, and Cangyun Palace. The ruler of the Tianchen Sea would now be decided between the Wang Family and the Murong Family.

Ning Hao could not single-handedly kill the Seven-Colored Chaotic Beast, but Wang Changsheng could. This difference in power forced the Nine Immortal Sect to submit.

The Wang Family integrated the cultivation resources of its subordinate forces. They first instructed the Nine Immortal Sect, Snow Crystal Clan, and Hundred Refinement Island to close their respective markets and jointly develop Qinglian Market. The Murong Family took similar action, closing other markets and dedicating all efforts to developing Chiyan Market.

Currently, Qinglian Market and Chiyan Market are the two largest markets in the Tianchen Sea. Qinglian Market is particularly popular, and for good reason. In addition to immortal puppets, Immortal-Slaying Cannons, and Immortal-Slaying Arrows, it sells immortal elixirs and wines that have cultivated true spirits, as well as immortal elixirs and wines refined with chaotic beast cores. These are all products the Murong Family lacks.

Beyond the comprehensive development of their markets, the Wang Family and its subordinate forces are diligently fostering talent and preparing for a major war with the Murong Family. The Murong Family is also preparing for a conflict with the Wang Family.

Superficially, the Wang Family and Murong Family still maintain an amicable relationship, with both families restraining their subordinate forces to prevent direct conflicts.

In a secluded manor, a plaque bore the three characters "Qinglian Garden."

Inside the courtyard were exotic flowers and plants, miniature rockeries, and fish ponds.

Wang Qingbai, Hua Ruxue, and Golden Silkworm Revered One sat in a blue stone pavilion, sipping tea and chatting.

Hua Ruxue had led the Seventh Moon Tower to pledge allegiance to the Wang Family, joining their faction. Wang Manlou had already advanced to the Golden Immortal stage and was now the deputy master of the Seventh Moon Tower. Golden Silkworm Revered One had also advanced to the Golden Immortal stage. Thanks to the Golden Sun Jade Yuan Pill provided by the Wang Family, he successfully overcame a bottleneck and advanced to the perfected True Immortal stage. Later, he obtained a Nine Marvelous Profound Yuan Pill, which allowed him to successfully open thirty-six immortal orifices and pass the thunder tribulation, entering the Golden Immortal stage.

"Fellow Daoist Wang," Golden Silkworm Revered One asked politely, "I have long heard of the renowned Nine Palace Divine Lord. Might I have the honor of meeting him?"

The Nine Palace Divine Lord he referred to was Wang Qiulin. After Wang Qiulin advanced to the Golden Immortal stage, he accurately divined opportunities for many Golden Immortal cultivators. His reputation spread, and he was hailed by many immortals as the Nine Palace Divine Lord.

"My apologies, Fellow Daoist Qin," Wang Qingbai said with a smile, "Qiulin is in secluded cultivation. Once he emerges, I can introduce you two."

Golden Silkworm Revered One was quite close to the Wang Family, and had Wang Qiulin not been in secluded cultivation, Wang Qingbai would have been glad to make the introduction.

"Secluded cultivation!" Golden Silkworm Revered One exclaimed, somewhat disappointed. He nodded and said, "That's understandable. Speaking of which, I haven't seen True Lord Taihao and Fairy Tianqin in a long time."

"My parents are on the Chaotic Continent," Wang Qingbai suggested, "though they might also be in secluded cultivation. Fellow Daoist Qin can visit the Chaotic Continent. Our family has eight Mystic Cities; you can visit Yunlang City. It's rich in cultivation resources. If you wish to make further progress, you should still go to the Chaotic Continent."

"Indeed!" Hua Ruxue strongly agreed. "I also plan to go to the Chaotic Continent. The Tianchen Sea is still a bit small."

Golden Silkworm Revered One nodded, saying, "I have the same intention. If Fellow Daoist Wang doesn't mind, I would like to operate from your Wang Family's Mystic Cities and perhaps assist you with some matters."

Many high-level rogue cultivators who go to the Chaotic Continent to develop their cultivation often seek out a powerful force to work for and earn cultivation resources.

"Fellow Daoist Qin, you jest," Wang Qingbai replied. "How could we possibly mind? I will give you a communication jade slip. When you arrive, hand it to Brother Qingcheng or someone else, and they will arrange everything for you."

Wang Qingbai took out a jade slip flickering with blue light, said a few words, and handed it to Golden Silkworm Revered One.

"Many thanks, Fellow Daoist Wang."

Golden Silkworm Revered One thanked him and accepted the communication jade slip.

After a short chat, Golden Silkworm Revered One and Hua Ruxue took their leave.

Wang Ruixue entered, bowed respectfully, and said, "Ancestor Qingbai, a cultivator from the lower realm has ascended and landed on the Ascension Platform in Qinglian Market. He possesses the Thousand-Eared Physique."

The Thousand-Eared Physique is an auxiliary spiritual body, and its innate divine ability is the Thousand-Eared Sound. It allows the possessor to hear the conversations of other cultivators; the higher their cultivation, the wider the range. Even treasures or restrictions cannot block it, provided the possessor's cultivation is sufficiently high.

As the Wang Family grew stronger, they now had nine Ascension Platforms distributed across multiple islands, with one also located in Qinglian Market.

"A Thousand-Eared Physique!" Wang Qingbai exclaimed. "That's quite rare. Bring him over!"

Wang Ruixue acknowledged and departed to carry out the order.

Not long after, she returned with a handsome young man in white robes. The young man had just passed the Nine-Nine Thunder Tribulation, and his spiritual power was severely depleted.

"Junior Song Junwu pays his respects to Senior Wang," the young man in white robes said, bowing respectfully and speaking cautiously.

He had already learned that the Wang Family had dozens of Golden Immortal cultivators, a multitude of experts, and that their two ancestors had cultivated into peak true spirits, possessing extraordinary strength. Pledging allegiance to the Wang Family meant he wouldn't have to worry about cultivation resources.

"Young Friend Song, which realm do you hail from?" Wang Qingbai asked casually.

"This junior comes from the Azure Sky Realm, part of the Eastern Profound Continent's realm cluster, and is from the Song Family. Our Song Family has a heritage of over 500,000 years, and this junior is the first family member to ascend to the Immortal Realm," Song Junwu said with a proud expression.

"Azure Sky Realm! I haven't heard of it," Wang Qingbai said. "Have you heard of the Profound Yang Realm?"

"No," Song Junwu replied truthfully, "this junior has visited many realms but has not heard of the Profound Yang Realm."

Wang Qingbai nodded. It seemed the Azure Sky Realm was very far from the Profound Yang Realm. The Eastern Profound Continent's realm cluster contained tens of thousands of realms; even Wang Qingbai had only heard of over a hundred names. For a lower realm cultivator, having visited a dozen or so realms was already impressive, let alone hundreds.

"Ruixue," Wang Qingbai instructed, "take him back to Qinglian Island, settle him in properly, and if there are no issues, let him join our family!"

Song Junwu hesitated slightly, then cautiously asked, "Senior Wang, can you send people to the lower realms?"

"Not at the moment. Why do you ask? You've only just ascended to the Immortal Realm with great difficulty; surely you don't intend to return?" Wang Qingbai asked, puzzled.

"Not at all," Song Junwu explained. "This junior merely worries that after my ascension, my family might face a major calamity that they cannot resolve."

"I didn't realize you cared so much about your family in the lower realm," Wang Qingbai said. "We currently lack the ability to send people to the lower realms, but perhaps it will be possible in the future. For now, go and rest, and convert your spiritual power into immortal elemental power."

Song Junwu agreed, bowed respectfully, and left with Wang Ruixue.