Chapter 4442: Various Changes Among All Parties (None Today)

Peripheral organizations are notoriously difficult to trace. All major powers maintain such groups to gather intelligence and collect cultivation resources.

Chaos Beasts are not so foolish as to immediately reveal their identities to immortals. Their peripheral organizations initially assign targets minor tasks, offering a small reward each time. By the time the target senses something is amiss, they are already deeply entangled and find it impossible to extricate themselves. Having assisted the Chaos Beasts with so many tasks, even unwitting accomplices would not be lightly pardoned.

After some casual conversation, Wang Yixin returned and handed a cyan storage bracelet to the Mystic Talisman Demon Lord. The Mystic Talisman Demon Lord scanned it with his divine sense, nodded in satisfaction, and then passed the agreed-upon item to Wang Qingshan.

“I have other matters to attend to, so I won't linger. Please be careful; the twelve great tribes of Chaos Beasts are becoming restless, and they might be planning something significant,” the Mystic Talisman Demon Lord cautioned.

“Fellow Daoist Wang, I’ll escort you out.” Wang Qingbai personally saw the Mystic Talisman Demon Lord off.

“It can’t be the Taiyi Creation Pot, can it?” Xiahou Yao frowned, saying, “If it were the Taiyi Creation Pot, the Chahar Tribe would surely clash fiercely with the Nangong Immortal Clan. However, hundreds of thousands of years have passed since then, and the Chahar Tribe has remained quiet.”

“It’s unlikely,” Wang Qingshan analyzed. “If it were the Taiyi Creation Pot, they would have made their move ages ago; there would be no reason to wait until now. Fellow Daoist Wang mentioned that the twelve great tribes of Chaos Beasts are growing restless, so it’s more likely to be a top-grade immortal artifact infused with a Grandmist Spirit Treasure.”

“Could it be a Dao artifact?” Bai Ling’er conjectured.

“What I’m more curious about,” Wang Qingshan mused with a frown, “is how the Chaos Beasts learned about this treasure. Did someone tip them off, or was it the Ten Directions Mother-Child Pagoda? If someone tipped them off, that person must hold a high position among the immortals. But if it was the Ten Directions Mother-Child Pagoda, could it truly be a Dao artifact?”

Wang Qingbai returned, his expression solemn. “Someone from the Nangong Immortal Clan arrived,” he stated, “asking for Qiulin to come to Tianfeng City. Elder Nangong wishes to see him, and Qiulin has already departed.”

“Which Elder Nangong?” Wang Qingshan asked.

“Nangong Dezhi!” Wang Qingbai replied. “It seems that treasure is extraordinary, given that Nangong Dezhi has emerged from seclusion ahead of schedule.”

“Send for Lihe and Huayue,” Wang Qingshan instructed. “Have Lihe take the Golden Prism Mirror to Hada Grassland to eavesdrop on the Hada Tribe’s high-ranking members and gather intelligence on the Chaos Beasts’ activities. Also, issue orders to heighten our defenses.”

Wang Qingbai took out a communication disk shimmering with green light, cast a spell into it, and gave an order: “Lihe, you and Huayue, come to Green Bamboo Peak. There’s a mission for you.” Both had already advanced to Grand Unity Golden Immortals, possessing immense power. The younger generation of the Wang family had matured, capable of bearing some of the family’s burdens.

In the central region of the Chaos Continent, within an immense, emerald-green mountain range where beast roars echoed endlessly, lay a vast bluestone plaza deep in the mountains. At its center stood a colossal black pagoda, its surface covered in profound runes.

Hai stood before the black pagoda, from which a majestic male voice emanated: “Its presence this time was prolonged, and I sensed it again. Considering previous occurrences, its owner’s strength is likely not very high. Its reappearance probably indicates that its owner has encountered great trouble. Send people to investigate any high-level immortals who are in serious trouble or heavily injured. Additionally, high-level immortals who have broken through powerful enemy encirclements are also suspects. Investigate whether any witch cultivators above the Grand Unity Golden Immortal stage have cast curses on anyone. Their target is likely to be its owner, and its appearance is meant to block the curse law.”

“Lord Teng,” Hai inquired, “why has it been appearing so frequently lately?”

“I do not know,” the male voice from the black pagoda replied, “but it is most likely related to its owner. Low-level immortals cannot wield a Dao artifact unless the artifact possesses a spirit that acts on its own. I am more inclined to believe the latter.”

“Yes, Lord Teng,” Hai affirmed. He acknowledged the command and departed. Compared to the previous two instances, the scope of the search had been narrowed this time. Following these clues would very likely lead to the Dao artifact’s whereabouts.

In Ancestral Dragon City on the Chaos Continent, figures bustled about, most of them belonging to the demon race. Within a tranquil manor, the Ancestral Dragon sat in a cyan stone pavilion, while a burly man in a golden robe stood respectfully at his side.

“Xiaotian,” the Ancestral Dragon instructed, “deploy more personnel. Its recent appearance lasted longer than usual, which could mean it intervened to help its owner ward off significant trouble. Investigate high-level diviners or witch cultivators to see if they have assisted in deducing or cursing any high-level immortals. The target is very likely its owner.”

“Yes, Ancestral Dragon,” the burly man in golden robes replied. “Could it be that its owner was being hunted down or trapped by a powerful restriction, and it intervened to help resolve the situation?”

“That possibility cannot be excluded,” the Ancestral Dragon stated. “Investigate whether any high-level immortals have recently been hunted, or if any high-level immortals have entered ancient battlefields for treasure and emerged unscathed.”

“Understood, Old Ancestor,” the burly man in golden robes affirmed. He accepted the order and departed.

Tianfeng City, Tianfeng Hall.

Nangong Dezhi sat on the main seat, his gaze dark, while Nangong Yuwei stood anxiously by his side.

“Old Ancestor, Fellow Daoist Wang has arrived,” Nangong Yunxin’s voice came from outside.

“Come in,” Nangong Dezhi instructed.

Nangong Yunxin and Wang Qiulin entered. As Wang Qiulin was about to bow, Nangong Dezhi stopped him.

“Dispense with the formalities,” Nangong Dezhi pressed, “what’s the result? Have you deduced anything?” The Chaos Beasts seemed to be searching for a significant treasure, and upon receiving this intelligence, the Nangong Immortal Clan immediately informed Nangong Dezhi. With the twelve great tribes of Chaos Beasts stirring, the treasure was certainly no ordinary item.

“No,” Wang Qiulin replied. “There’s not even a name for it, nor any associated items. Without knowing its specific appearance time, a deduction is impossible.” He explained that he hadn’t used the Law of Destiny, relying only on the Nine Palace Plate and the Bagua Divination Immortal Array for his deduction, which yielded no results. Nangong Dezhi had asked him to deduce the whereabouts of a treasure, but the only clue was that it was likely a top-grade immortal artifact. Beyond that, no other information was provided. As the saying goes, even the cleverest cook cannot make a meal without rice. Even if Wang Qiulin had employed the Law of Destiny, he still couldn't have deduced it. There was simply too little information available to make a deduction.

“No deduction is possible,” Wang Qiulin concluded.

Nangong Dezhi was deeply disappointed, having assumed Wang Qiulin would be able to pinpoint the treasure’s location.

“Indeed, I made numerous attempts, but to no avail. The information is simply too sparse. If I had concrete details such as the treasure’s name, function, appearance date, or grade, the deduction would be far simpler.”

“Very well. You have worked hard. Yunxin, please escort young friend Wang out. This matter is strictly confidential and must not be divulged.”

Wang Qiulin readily agreed and departed with Nangong Yunxin.

“If even young friend Wang cannot deduce its whereabouts, then finding this treasure appears to be no easy feat,” Nangong Yuwei sighed.