Chapter 422: Three-Level Spiritual Vein

In a secret room, Wang Ruyan was refining talismans. Her face was pale, clearly indicating that her spiritual power was overdrawn.

Just then, a rapid knocking sound echoed.

Wang Ruyan was distracted for a moment, and the spiritual energy of the talisman paper under her brush became chaotic. She quickly discarded the paper.

"Boom!"

With a loud bang, the talisman paper disintegrated into a large burst of flames and vanished.

At the same time, the stone door of the chamber shattered into pieces, and Wang Changsheng rushed inside.

Seeing Wang Ruyan safe and sound, Wang Changsheng let out a long sigh of relief.

"Husband, you're back?"

A look of intense joy spread across Wang Ruyan's pale face as she saw Wang Changsheng.

Wang Changsheng's gaze swept across the stone chamber, and he immediately understood: Wang Ruyan had set aside her cultivation to desperately refine talismans, which explained her overdrawn spiritual power.

When Wang Ruyan married into the family, she was already at the third level of Foundation Establishment. Decades passed, and she was only at the fifth level, while Wang Changsheng had already formed his Core. Aside from the cultivation method, Wang Ruyan had delayed her own cultivation by bearing him children and caring for his parents. Now, she was even neglecting her cultivation to earn spirit stones.

With such a wife, what more could a husband ask for?

Wang Changsheng walked to Wang Ruyan's side, took her hands, and sincerely said, "My dear wife, you've worked hard. Don't do such foolish things again. Cultivation is important. The spirit stones needed to upgrade the spiritual vein have been gathered. You can cultivate with peace of mind from now on!"

A relieved smile appeared on Wang Ruyan's pale face. "How can this be called foolish?" she said. "When husband and wife are of one heart, their combined strength can cut through metal. This is what I should do. If I, your wife, don't help you, then who else will?"

"Promise me you won't do this again. It pains my heart to see you like this. I've bought you some pills to enhance your spiritual power; they'll be useful for your cultivation. Get some good rest, then focus on your cultivation. You don't need to worry about anything else."

Wang Changsheng took the talisman-refining tools from Wang Ruyan's storage bag, ensuring she would rest properly.

The path of cultivation may be ruthless, but human bonds are precious. The immortal journey is long and arduous, and he hoped to support his beloved wife and walk this path together.

The next morning, Wang Qingkai arrived at Wang Changsheng's residence to offer his apologies.

"Ninth Uncle, my planning was insufficient. Please punish me."

"Though your intentions were good, your actions were indeed inappropriate. Let this be a one-time occurrence. Restore the clan members' stipends and return the outstanding amounts in monthly installments. Recall those who were sent to work for others; they are family cultivators, not rogue ones. The spirit stones for upgrading the spiritual vein have been collected, so you don't need to feel such immense pressure anymore."

Wang Changsheng stated that forcing clan members to abandon their cultivation and focus solely on earning spirit stones was akin to killing the goose that lays the golden eggs. He naturally would not agree to such a practice.

"Yes, Ninth Uncle."

Wang Changsheng made an exchange with Daoist Ziyang, acquiring first and third-tier silk. Combined with a small piece of third-tier spiritual wood he had left over, he now had the materials to refine a Natal artifact for Wang Ruyan.

After Wang Qingkai left, Wang Changsheng took out his artifact refining materials to forge a Natal artifact for Wang Ruyan.

He had previously attempted to refine a Natal artifact for Wang Ruyan, but it had failed. This time, he was confident of success.

A month quickly passed.

Wang Changsheng sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion. Before him lay a shimmering green guqin, five chi long and one chi wide. A pattern of a green lotus adorned the upper left corner of its body.

The Green Lotus Treasure Guqin, a high-grade magical artifact.

Wang Changsheng put away the Green Lotus Treasure Guqin and stepped outside.

After a month of recuperation, Wang Ruyan's complexion had significantly improved. She was currently chatting with Wang Qingshan.

Wang Qingshan was still at the fourth level of Foundation Establishment, having just emerged from his seclusion.

Seeing Wang Changsheng, Wang Qingshan immediately stood up, his face beaming. "Nephew congratulates Ninth Uncle on successfully forming his Core!"

"No need for formalities among family, Qingshan. Ninth Uncle has a set of sword cultivation techniques that can lead to a high realm. Are you willing to change your cultivation method?"

Wang Changsheng spoke plainly. Wang Qingshan was already at the fourth level of Foundation Establishment, and changing his cultivation method would mean it would take at least ten years to reach his current level again.

Wang Qingshan hesitated slightly, then nodded in agreement.

It was still relatively easy to switch now. If he were to reach the eighth or ninth level of Foundation Establishment before changing, that would be a complete waste of time.

"These are the cultivation methods for the first three levels of the 'Azure Underworld Sword Art'. Once you've memorized them, destroy the jade slip, and absolutely do not transmit them to others."

Wang Changsheng's expression was solemn as he handed Wang Qingshan a green jade slip.

"Yes, Ninth Uncle."

Wang Qingshan agreed without hesitation.

After the three chatted for a while, Wang Changtai quickly entered.

"Ninth Brother, Ninth Sister-in-law, Qingshan, Senior Guang has arrived with dozens of disciples. They're just outside."

Wang Changsheng's eyes lit up. "Invite them in quickly," he instructed. "No, I'll go myself."

Soon after, Wang Changsheng met Guang Dongren.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Wang Changsheng took out 320,000 spirit stones and handed them to Guang Dongren.

Guang Dongren swept his divine sense over them and nodded in satisfaction.

"Nephew Li, take your people and start setting up. When it's almost complete, come and inform me."

Guang Dongren instructed a tall, thin middle-aged man.

Wang Changsheng had Wang Qingkai arrange for clan members to accompany and assist the Hundred Spirits Sect's formation masters in setting up the array.

Upgrading a spiritual vein was a major undertaking, requiring all cultivators on it to be relocated.

Wang Changsheng instructed Wang Qingkai to organize the relocation of the clan members. The Hundred Spirits Sect's formation masters then buried various array materials near Green Lotus Mountain. Even a slight positional deviation would prevent the array from activating, so it took dozens of Hundred Spirits Sect disciples over a month to set it up properly.

"Martial Uncle Guang, it has been calibrated and there are no issues. We can proceed with upgrading the spiritual vein."

Upon hearing his disciple's report, Guang Dongren nodded in satisfaction and flew above Green Lotus Mountain.

He conjured a dazzling white command flag that expanded dozens of times against the wind, revealing itself to be a magic treasure-grade array flag. It transformed into a beam of white light and sank into Green Lotus Mountain.

Simultaneously, dozens of Hundred Spirits Sect disciples each produced a yellow array flag and infused it with a large amount of spiritual power.

Guang Dongren produced a translucent yellow array disk and cast several incantations upon it.

"Rumble!"

The ground shook violently as two spiritual mountains slowly moved towards Green Lotus Mountain and collided.

The violent tremors caused some buildings on the mountain to collapse, and thick smoke billowed into the air.

After the time it takes to steep a cup of tea, the three spiritual mountains merged into one. Green Lotus Mountain rose by fifty to sixty zhang and began emitting pure spiritual energy. This was merely the fusion of three second-tier spiritual veins; it was not yet considered a true third-tier spiritual vein.

Guang Dongren then produced a white array disk. Dozens of Hundred Spirits Sect disciples put away their yellow array flags and took out white ones.

Guang Dongren formed a hand seal, and several incantations struck the white array flag, causing it to emit a sharp whistling sound.

Countless thick white mists surged from the ground near Green Lotus Mountain. Guided by the array, the white mists flowed into Green Lotus Mountain and vanished.

Upgrading a spiritual vein using an array required a vast quantity of spirit stones and spiritual materials. Simply put, it involved using the array's power to extract and seal the spiritual energy from numerous spirit stones and materials within the mountain, thereby accelerating the spiritual vein's upgrade. This method shortens the time for the spiritual vein's promotion but consumes significant resources.

Guang Dongren's incantations changed constantly, as did those of the dozens of Hundred Spirits Sect disciples. Large swathes of thick white mist surged from the ground near Green Lotus Mountain and poured into it.

As time passed, Green Lotus Mountain absorbed more and more white mist, and its spiritual energy grew increasingly abundant.

A day later, Green Lotus Mountain was covered in weeds several zhang tall, and vines crawled over all the buildings, emitting a pure spiritual energy.

Feeling the pure spiritual energy emanating from Green Lotus Mountain, a look of profound joy spread across Wang Changsheng's face.

With the spiritual vein now upgraded to the third tier, he would be able to cultivate on it.