Chapter 4317: Bring the Snake Out of the Hole (No More Today)

Ten thousand years passed in the blink of an eye.

At Wang Qingshan’s residence on Azure Bamboo Peak in Azure Lotus City, Wang Qingshan, Cao Mingjing, Jin Longzi, and Cang Yao sat in a blue stone pavilion, sipping tea and chatting.

“You’ve really come at an inopportune time,” Wang Qingshan said with an apologetic tone. “Ninth Uncle is in life-or-death seclusion and won’t be coming out anytime soon.”

After consolidating his realm, Wang Qingshan had followed Nangong Yulang to Chaos Continent to take Wang Ruyan’s place in Azure Lotus City. It had been over ten thousand years since Wang Ruyan left to support Wang Changsheng, and they still hadn't returned. Periodically, Grand Unity Golden Immortals would visit Azure Lotus City to see Wang Changsheng, and Wang Qingshan could only tell them that Wang Changsheng was in life-or-death seclusion and was not receiving guests.

“Alright then!” Cao Mingjing said politely. “If Fellow Daoist Wang comes out of seclusion, please notify me immediately. I have something urgent to discuss with him.”

He wanted to ask Wang Changsheng to help him refine a high-grade immortal artifact to enhance his strength as much as possible. The Nangong Immortal Clan also had Level-3 immortal artifact refiners, but they were accustomed to rare and valuable materials, making their services costly. Asking Wang Changsheng for help would be more affordable, and the quality would be just as good.

“Certainly. I’ll notify you immediately if Ninth Uncle comes out of seclusion.” Wang Qingshan promised.

After chatting for a while, Cao Mingjing and the other two took their leave. No sooner had they left than Wang Qingcheng arrived.

“Hongxue failed in her attempt to reach the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm,” Wang Qingcheng said with a tone of regret. “She couldn’t open all 108 immortal apertures.”

Liu Hongxue had taken two Level-3 immortal pills, but only managed to open 105 immortal apertures, not even triggering a lightning tribulation. This situation was not uncommon, and she could still attempt to reach the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm again, though it was not advisable to continue taking immortal pills for this purpose in the short term.

“What about Qingling?” Wang Qingshan asked.

“She’s still in seclusion,” Wang Qingcheng replied. “Qingbai and Xiahou Yao have already cultivated to the perfected Golden Immortal realm and are currently in seclusion in Azure Lotus City, attempting to reach the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm.”

Wang Qingbai and Xiahou Yao had only achieved minor mastery of laws, so their lightning tribulation wouldn't be too strong. As long as they opened all 108 immortal apertures, they would trigger the tribulation, and passing it wouldn’t be a problem.

“Qingcheng, you’ll be there soon too, won’t you?” Wang Qingshan said.

Wang Qingcheng was currently in the late Golden Immortal realm. He needed to cultivate to the perfected Golden Immortal realm before he could attempt to reach the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm.

“Not yet. I’m still some distance from the perfected Golden Immortal realm; I’ve only opened ninety-two immortal apertures so far,” Wang Qingcheng answered truthfully. Then, as if remembering something, he asked, “Is there any news about my parents?”

“Not yet. Ninth Uncle and Ninth Aunt said they had important matters to attend to. Ninth Aunt specifically told me they might be gone for a very long time,” Wang Qingshan said. “It just so happens that the Chaos Beasts are holding their Hundred Tribes Assembly, so they won’t invade in the short term. During this period, let’s strengthen our power as much as possible!”

After a few more casual remarks, Wang Qingcheng excused himself and left.

Wang Qingshan called for Wang Yixin and asked, “Yixin, is there still no news about those materials?”

The Nine Swords of Immortal Slaying required mastery of nine different laws working in conjunction. He had only refined four flying swords so far and had dispatched people to search for materials compatible with the other laws, but there was no news yet.

“Not yet. The materials you need are quite special. I’ve already asked Grand-Uncle Moxin to keep an eye out,” Wang Yixin replied.

The materials Wang Qingshan needed were indeed quite special, and there was still no news.

“If you encounter these materials, try to acquire them at all costs.” Wang Qingshan instructed.

“Yes, Ancestor Qingshan,” Wang Yixin agreed.

Wang Qingshan gave a few instructions, then dismissed Wang Yixin. He entered his secret chamber and began cultivating.

***

Jinxiao City. The streets were bustling with crowds and the clamor of carriages and horses, creating a lively scene.

Jinxiao Pavilion, the city's largest teahouse and also its biggest intelligence trading hub. On the fifth floor, cultivators gathered in small groups, sipping tea and chatting.

Wang Mengshan entered. His gaze swept around, but finding no empty tables, he started to head upstairs.

“Fellow Daoist Wang, long time no see! If you don’t mind, why don’t you join my table?” A pot-bellied man in a golden robe greeted Wang Mengshan.

Wang Mengshan smiled slightly and replied, “Long time no see, Fellow Daoist Xu.” He walked over and joined the golden-robed man at his table.

“What have you been busy with lately, Fellow Daoist Wang? I haven’t seen you around in a while,” the golden-robed man asked casually, pouring a cup of immortal tea for Wang Mengshan.

“I was in Earth City on some business. Oh, by the way, have you heard?” Wang Mengshan took a sip of tea and said, “The Joyous Union Palace’s caravan was robbed. I heard there were Sun-Moon Immortal Fruits involved.”

“What? Sun-Moon Immortal Fruits? Is that true?” the golden-robed man exclaimed in surprise.

At his words, many cultivators turned their heads to look.

“I only heard about it myself. The perpetrators were a man and a woman,” Wang Mengshan said. “They had mastered soul laws and possessed Grand Unity Golden Immortal cultivation. Their divine abilities were extraordinary. If not for Senior Du and a few friends passing by, no one would have known about this incident.”

“Senior Du, are you referring to the Celestial Talisman Fairy from the Immortal Talisman Pavilion?” the golden-robed man asked curiously.

“Precisely. If not for Madam Du having a life-preserving secret talisman, she would have met a terrible end too. Two Grand Unity Golden Immortals who have mastered soul laws are now killing and plundering treasures. You must be careful when traveling outside,” Wang Mengshan sighed.

“Fellow Daoist Wang, do you have portraits of those two? I’d like to buy them from you,” the golden-robed man transmitted his voice, then took out a golden storage bracelet and handed it to Wang Mengshan.

Wang Mengshan swept his divine sense over it, nodded with satisfaction, then took out a blue storage bracelet and handed it to the golden-robed man.

Many Golden Immortal cultivators purchased this information from Wang Mengshan. He had sold many truthful pieces of information before, making him quite reliable, and his prices were not expensive, so he sold quite a lot of the news. Soon, a piece of news spread rapidly: two Grand Unity Golden Immortals who had mastered soul laws were killing people and plundering treasures, having robbed the Joyous Union Palace, slain several Grand Unity Golden Immortals, and even injured the Celestial Talisman Fairy.

The high-ranking members of the Joyous Union Palace admitted that their caravan had been robbed. They recalled their personnel and strengthened their defenses. They did not offer a high reward for the two Grand Unity Golden Immortals. It was a joke; which Grand Unity Golden Immortal would dare confront two Grand Unity Golden Immortals who had mastered soul laws? Even if someone dared to act, the Joyous Union Palace couldn't afford the price. There were rumors that the Joyous Union Palace’s high-ranking members had been capturing female cultivators from minor families for Yin-Yang cultivation. These female cultivators had been indebted to the two Grand Unity Golden Immortals, which was why the Joyous Union Palace’s caravan was robbed. The Joyous Union Palace did not deny this, implicitly acknowledging the matter.

***

At Azure Hedge Pavilion, Wang Changsheng sat in the main seat, while Wu Yan reported to him.

“As per your orders, Senior Wang, we have spread this news, and multiple Earth Cities and Heavenly Cities have received it,” Wu Yan reported.

“Very good. Keep an eye on the follow-up developments of this matter, and notify me immediately if you discover anything new,” Wang Changsheng instructed.

“Yes, Senior Wang.” Wu Yan agreed, bowed, and withdrew.

Wang Changsheng flipped his right hand, and a golden horn about a foot long appeared. Its surface was covered with profound runes, emitting terrifying immortal energy fluctuations.

The two Grand Unity Golden Immortals who had mastered soul laws were, of course, Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan. This was a false rumor they had deliberately fabricated to lure Daoist Mo Yun into revealing himself.