Chapter 4307: The Influence of the Wang Family

The Cangqiong Realm, Cangqiong Continent.

A vast, rolling green mountain range stretched out, with numerous corpses of golden beetles scattered across the ground. These golden beetles had four wings on their backs, a pair of sharp mandibles exposed, and a pair of mantis-like forelegs.

From deep within the mountains, a deafening explosion resounded. A massive black light shot up into the sky, followed immediately by a golden light darting out from the depths of the mountains at high speed.

"You vile creature, stop right there!" a cold female voice rang out.

No sooner had the words fallen than a loud bell chime echoed, and the golden light slowed, revealing a gracefully built young woman in a golden dress. Her body was naturally adorned with golden patterns, and a pair of delicate golden wings sprouted from her back. Her right arm was gone, and her expression was one of terror.

A streak of green light shot forth, instantly appearing before the young woman in the golden dress.

The young woman's body flared with golden light, unleashing a burst of golden radiant mist that enveloped the streak of green light.

The green streak slowed, revealing itself to be a shimmering green flying sword. A miniature green lotus was carved into its hilt.

The green flying sword emitted a clear, resonant hum. Its light intensified greatly, and numerous cracks appeared in the golden mist.

The young woman's beautiful face changed drastically. Her body flared with golden light, transforming into a hundred identical figures that flew off in different directions.

Just then, a shower of green petals drifted down from high above. These green petals blurred, transforming into numerous green flying swords that streaked towards the young women in golden dresses. Simultaneously, a powerful gravitational force emanated from the ground. A giant yellow rat burst out from beneath the earth, opening its enormous maw and unleashing a torrent of yellow radiant mist that enveloped several of the golden-dressed figures.

Several of the young women were struck by the green flying swords and instantly disintegrated. The remaining figures, enveloped by the yellow mist, were drawn into the giant yellow rat's mouth and swallowed.

The giant yellow rat let out a satisfied burp. Its body glowed intensely yellow, transforming into a gracefully built young woman in a yellow dress. A green lotus was embroidered on her dress, and a formidable demonic aura surged from her.

A green light of escape flew from a distance, flickering to a stop. It revealed a strikingly beautiful young woman in a green dress, standing on a pair of shimmering green wheels. Her long, dark hair cascaded over her shoulders. A green lotus pattern was visible on her sleeves, and she carried an exquisite green sword casket on her back, with a green lotus carved into its surface.

This was Wang Yunfei, at the late Mahayana stage. She had descended to the lower realm by command to resolve the insect plague in the Cangqiong Realm.

"Return to scabbard!" Wang Yunfei changed her sword incantation, and the green flying sword transformed into a vast expanse of green light, flying back into its sword casket.

"Master, I'm stuffed this time," the young woman in the yellow dress said with a smile, patting her stomach.

This was Wang Shu, also at the late Mahayana stage. Her true form was an eighth-tier Sky-Devouring Rat. She was a descendant of Wang Tunian and Wang Yunfei's spirit beast.

"Send a message to Fellow Daoist Song and have him come clean up the mess!" Wang Yunfei instructed.

Wang Shu nodded. She took out a shimmering yellow magical disc and cast an incantation into it.

Less than fifteen minutes later, more than a dozen streaks of escape light flew from a distance, flickering to a stop. They revealed more than a dozen Mahayana cultivators, led by a burly man in a golden robe.

This was Song Yuxin, the Old Ancestor of the Song family.

"Fairy Wang, is it all resolved?" Song Yuxin asked with a hint of disbelief. An eighth-tier monstrous insect had appeared in the Cangqiong Realm, possessing immense power and devastating many cultivators. The insect plague had swept across most of the Cangqiong Realm. The Song family, having backing in the Immortal Realm, immediately used a grand formation to contact the Wang family, requesting their assistance.

The Wang family had only sent one Mahayana cultivator to the lower realm. Song Yuxin had harbored some reservations, feeling that the Wang family was too dismissive. Now, it seemed Song Yuxin had underestimated Wang Yunfei and the Wang family.

"Just twenty-odd eighth-tier demonic insects; they aren't true immortals," Wang Yunfei's tone was flat, as if speaking of a trivial matter.

"Fairy Wang's powers are truly vast; I, Song, am impressed," Song Yuxin said, puzzled. "Fairy Wang, do you know the origin of these demonic insects? Such creatures have never appeared in the Cangqiong Realm before; it's truly strange."

"These are Golden Mire Worms, unique creatures to the Immortal Realm," Wang Yunfei explained. "By rights, they shouldn't appear in the lower realms; perhaps they accidentally fell down here!"

"Accident? If any remnants escaped, wouldn't that be trouble?" Song Yuxin remarked.

"Do you think all Golden Mire Worms are this powerful?" Wang Yunfei instructed. "Only the mother worm was particularly powerful due to a mutation; it's impossible for other Golden Mire Worms to undergo the same mutation. However, what you said makes sense; we can't be careless. First, send people to clear the battlefield. I will remain in the Cangqiong Realm for a period to help you eliminate any hidden dangers. Also, have people build temples and worship the effigies of the Divine Mechanism Immortal Lord. Our Wang family ensures peace and safety."

Dealing with the mother worm was a minor matter; her primary mission was to place a batch of Divine Mechanism Immortal Lord effigies in the lower realms to encourage more beings to worship them.

"Yes, Fairy Wang," Song Yuxin agreed, and they parted ways to carry out their tasks.

The news of the mother worm's demise quickly spread throughout the Cangqiong Realm. All factions rejoiced, holding grand celebrations. The phrase, "Worship the effigies of the Divine Mechanism Immortal Lord, and the Green Lotus Wang family ensures peace," quickly spread. Temples were erected in many parts of the Cangqiong Realm, dedicated to the Divine Mechanism Immortal Lord effigies, and their incense offerings flourished.

The Jinyun Realm, a directly subordinate realm of the Xuanyang Realm, contained the Jinyun Continent.

Jinyue Mountain was the sacred mountain of the Zhao Kingdom. It was said that an immortal was worshipped there. Each year, the King of Zhao would lead his civil and military officials to Jinyue Mountain to worship, praying for the immortal's blessing for favorable weather and national peace and prosperity.

This day marked another annual sacrificial ceremony.

At the summit of Jinyue Mountain, a vast circular altar stood. At the center of the altar was a humanoid statue. Zhao Junwei, the King of Zhao, stood before the statue, with his civil and military officials arrayed behind him, all bearing expressions of deep piety.

"Divine Mechanism Immortal Lord above, this humble king leads his civil and military officials in prostration. We implore you to bless the Zhao Kingdom with favorable weather, and its subjects shall offer incense generation after generation." Zhao Junwei knelt, striking his head three times heavily against the ground.

It was known among the subjects of Zhao that anyone who worshipped the Divine Mechanism Immortal Lord's effigy, provided they were not criminals and their wishes were not overly excessive, would have their wishes fulfilled by the Immortal Lord. This was common knowledge among the people of Zhao.

"Bless the Zhao Kingdom with favorable weather, and its subjects shall offer incense generation after generation!" The civil and military officials followed suit, kneeling and kowtowing heavily.

Over ten miles away, a man and a woman stood atop a high peak. A green lotus pattern was visible on both their garments.

"They want favorable weather every single year; it's quite bothersome," a man in green robes remarked.

"Wanting just favorable weather is fine; that's easy enough to grant," the woman said with a smile. "It's the ones who ask for great fortuitous encounters that are troublesome."

The Wang family considered the number of worshippers of the Divine Mechanism Immortal Lord's effigy as a performance metric. The more worshippers, the better the performance; the greater the contribution of the elders in the Incense Hall, the greater the merit attributed to their respective branches.

"That's true. Mortals' wishes are easier to fulfill," the man in green robes said. "Cultivators' wishes, however, are not so easily granted."

In the Immortal, Spirit, and Mortal Realms, wherever there were a large number of Wang family members, effigies of the Divine Mechanism Immortal Lord would be enshrined. The family members of the Incense Hall would help fulfill the wishes of some believers, thereby attracting more to worship.

Old Wang, at the Golden Immortal stage, sparred with the disciples of the Taibai Sword Sect, with Murong Yilong also present. The news of Old Wang's mastery of the Great Dao was impossible to conceal and had long since spread.