Chapter 4168

In Qinglian City, a secluded manor.

Wang Changsheng, Wang Ruyan, Qi Shuting, He Wang, Bai Yuanyuan, and Ning Hao were seated around a cyan tea table, sipping tea and chatting.

Qi Shuting had already advanced to the late Golden Immortal stage, but she couldn't deal with the six-colored chaos beasts alone. The Qi family followed the Wang family's lead, and now they had ten Golden Immortal cultivators.

The Ghost Spirit Sect had recovered some of its strength, and the number of Golden Immortal cultivators had increased. They also followed the Wang family's lead. Bai Yuanyuan was currently at the mid-Golden Immortal stage. Both the Snow Crystal Clan and the Nine Immortals Sect had become subordinate forces to the Wang family, a status determined by the strength of both sides.

Ning Hao had fully recovered. Knowing he was no match for the Qinglian Immortal Couple, he had submitted to the Wang family.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, Madam Wang, wasn't Fellow Daoist Yang supposed to come as well?" Ning Hao asked politely. Mixed emotions swirled within him. He had thought the Murong family was developing quickly, but he hadn't expected the Wang family to develop even faster, surpassing the Nine Immortals Sect and rivaling the Murong family.

"I was delayed by some matters and arrived late. My apologies," a man's apologetic voice rang out.

Just as the voice faded, a tall, golden-robed old man entered. The old man had a pale, beardless face and sharp, bright eyes. He was the Island Master of Balian Island, Divine Lord Balian, a late Golden Immortal.

"Long time no see, Fellow Daoist Yang. Haven't you resolved your bottleneck yet? I thought you had reached the Grand Completion Golden Immortal stage," Ning Hao said.

Divine Lord Balian had been stuck at his bottleneck for millions of years, still unable to break through.

Divine Lord Balian sighed deeply and said, "I, too, wish to reach the Grand Completion Golden Immortal stage, but alas, I'm stuck at this bottleneck."

He walked to the tea table and sat down, taking a steaming cup of immortal tea from Wang Ruyan, thanking her, and taking a sip.

"Fellow Daoist Yang, have you taken any second-tier immortal pills that resolve bottlenecks, like the Golden Silkworm Pill?" Wang Changsheng asked curiously.

During his trip to the Nine-Star Immortal Realm, he had acquired three Golden Silkworm Pills, which could resolve bottlenecks for Golden Immortal cultivators. The Wang family had a pill formula similar to the Golden Silkworm Pill. Liu Hongxue and Wang Qingbai could already refine it, but they were currently unable to refine second-grade Dao Pills, only first-grade Dao Pills.

"I have. However, I encountered a bottleneck in the mid-Golden Immortal stage and took a Golden Silkworm Pill to resolve it. Who would have thought I'd encounter another bottleneck in the late Golden Immortal stage?" Divine Lord Balian's face was filled with sorrow.

Every immortal encounters bottlenecks; it's just a matter of how many times. Divine Lord Balian encountered a bottleneck when he cultivated to the mid-Golden Immortal stage. After much effort, he managed to acquire a Golden Silkworm Pill to resolve it. However, after cultivating to the late Golden Immortal stage, he encountered another bottleneck, remaining stuck for millions of years.

"If Fellow Daoist Yang takes another Golden Silkworm Pill, he should be able to resolve his bottleneck!" Qi Shuting said.

"Madam Qi, you jest. The Golden Silkworm Pill is refined with pure six-colored crystal cores. How could it be so easy to acquire? Obtaining even one was a stroke of great luck," Divine Lord Balian said with a bitter smile. His tone then shifted as he added, "Fellow Daoist Wang is skilled in artifact refining and can forge mid-grade Chaos Armor and mid-grade Immortal-Slaying Arrows. I imagine acquiring a Golden Silkworm Pill wouldn't be difficult for you!"

"Fellow Daoist Yang thinks too highly of us. How could we easily obtain something as precious as the Golden Silkworm Pill?" Wang Changsheng naturally wouldn't tell the truth. The Wang family did possess such immortal pills, but not in large quantities, and they were currently reserved for their own family members. He used the Gourd of Time to accelerate the growth of immortal herbs for Liu Hongxue and Wang Qingbai to refine pills. Their pill refining skills were improving rapidly, and it was only a matter of time before they could refine second-grade Dao Pills.

After more than an hour of casual conversation, Qi Shuting and the others departed, leaving only Wang Changsheng, Wang Ruyan, and Divine Lord Balian.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, I'd like to trade the refining method for the Heavenly Mystery Box for a Golden Silkworm Pill. Anything that can resolve a Golden Immortal cultivator's bottleneck would suffice." Divine Lord Balian took out a golden jade slip and handed it to Wang Changsheng.

"The refining method for the Heavenly Mystery Box!" Wang Changsheng looked troubled and said, "Fellow Daoist Yang, you should know how precious these immortal pills are. The Heavenly Mystery Box isn't an extraordinary treasure. I really can't acquire a Golden Silkworm Pill."

Divine Lord Balian offered a higher price, but Wang Changsheng still didn't agree. He didn't want Divine Lord Balian to reach the Grand Completion Golden Immortal stage. If Divine Lord Balian were to advance to the Grand Unity Golden Immortal stage, the Wang family would naturally become a subordinate force of Balian Island. Wang Changsheng had no particular relationship with Divine Lord Balian. However, if Chen Yueying, Lan Fukong, Ni Tianlong, or others needed a Golden Silkworm Pill, Wang Changsheng could provide it.

Divine Lord Balian hadn't held much hope to begin with. He couldn't offer anything too valuable; if he could, he would have traded directly with the Cao family. Without anything truly precious, the Wang family wouldn't be interested in ordinary items.

After a brief chat, Divine Lord Balian took his leave.

No sooner had he left than Wang Yixin, Wang Qingling, and Wang Qingxiao approached. Wang Qingxiao had already advanced to the mid-Golden Immortal stage.

"Ninth Uncle, Ninth Aunt, we're here," Wang Qingling said with a smile. Wang Yidao had returned to Qinglian Island, while Wang Qingling and Wang Qingxiao had come to the Chaos Continent, bringing with them three hundred Immortal Armored Soldiers who had been training for a long time.

"Just you all?" Wang Ruyan asked.

"There are also over five hundred clan members, including three hundred Immortal Armored Soldiers," Wang Yixin said.

"You've finally arrived! Where's the Enlightenment Pagoda?" Wang Changsheng asked. Wang Qingling took out the Enlightenment Pagoda and handed it to Wang Changsheng.

"Qingling, Wang Meng came with you, right? Has she cultivated her laws to the minor accomplishment stage?" Wang Changsheng asked.

"After she advanced to the Golden Immortal stage, she has been cultivating her laws in the Enlightenment Pagoda and has already reached the minor accomplishment stage." Wang Qingling flicked her wrist lightly, and Wang Meng flew out from her spirit beast bracelet, landing in front of Wang Changsheng.

"I have an important matter that requires Wang Meng's assistance. Qingling, you come too," Wang Changsheng instructed. He walked towards a cyan pavilion not far away, with Wang Qingling and Wang Meng quickly following. Wang Ruyan began discussing the family's situation with Wang Yixin, who answered truthfully.

"Properly settle the Immortal Armored Soldiers. Instruct the Trade and Commerce Hall to purchase more Primordial Stones, and the Divine Weapon Hall to forge more Chaos Armor. Prepare fully for battle," Wang Ruyan instructed.

Wang Yixin agreed and departed to carry out the orders.

Less than a quarter of an hour later, the three of them—Wang Changsheng, Wang Qingling, and Wang Meng—emerged from the pavilion.

"Qingling, Qingxiao, you've worked hard. Yidao has returned to Qinglian Island, so you two will guard Dongli City now!" Wang Changsheng dismissed them.

"Husband, how was it? Did you find anything?" Wang Ruyan asked.

"The three Golden Immortal cultivators who attacked Yingjie are from the Yama Palace. They were ordered to intercept and kill Yingjie to seize the Heavenly Mystery Box. They didn't know what was inside the box; they were just following orders," Wang Changsheng explained. Wang Meng used the Law of Dreams to deal with two Nascent Souls, causing them to sink into a dream state where they revealed their identities and origins.

"Yama Palace! I haven't heard of that force before." Wang Ruyan furrowed her delicate brows, her face filled with confusion.

"Perhaps Yama Palace is just a false name, or merely an outer organization of a major force. Given that Yama Palace could send three Golden Immortal cultivators to intercept Yingjie, their strength must not be weak. They might even have a Grand Unity Golden Immortal." Wang Changsheng's expression was grave.

"Probably not! Even if they do, they don't know what's inside the Heavenly Mystery Box. Besides, how can they prove that our Wang family obtained the Heavenly Mystery Box?" Wang Ruyan analyzed.

"Even so, it's better to be cautious. We should be careful when we travel." Wang Changsheng's voice was heavy. Better safe than sorry, he hoped he was overthinking things.

Wang Ruyan nodded, in full agreement.