Chapter 466: Three's Company

In a quiet courtyard within the Taiyi Immortal Sect, Leng Rumei sat on a stone chair, while Wang Mingren stood respectfully beside her.

"Nephew Wang," Leng Rumei began, "there are two high-grade second-tier demonic beasts in that area. That shouldn't be too difficult for you. As long as you can bring back those spirit herbs, I assure you, you will be well compensated."

Wang Mingren hesitated for a moment before replying, "My master also needs me to find some spirit herbs. I must first locate the ones my master requires before I can search for the herbs you need, Senior Aunt Leng."

Leng Rumei nodded with satisfaction. She took out a blue handkerchief and said, "No problem. This shows the location of those spirit herbs."

Wang Mingren took the blue handkerchief and agreed to the task.

A paper crane messenger flew in, circling Wang Mingren and Leng Rumei erratically.

Wang Mingren flicked his finger, and a magic art struck the crane. A man's voice suddenly rang out: "Junior Brother Wang, your relatives are here to visit and are waiting in the Guest Hall."

Hearing this, Wang Mingren's face lit up with joy.

Leng Rumei stood up. "I have other matters to attend to, so I won't stay any longer." Wang Mingren personally escorted her out.

After seeing off Leng Rumei, Wang Mingren summoned his flying magical artifact and flew towards the Guest Hall.

In a stone room within the Guest Hall, Wang Qingshan and Wang Qingjun sat by a tea table, both looking somewhat excited.

It was their first time visiting the Taiyi Immortal Sect. They had long heard it was one of the most renowned blessed lands, and indeed, upon their arrival, it fully lived up to its reputation.

"Seventh Brother," Wang Qingjun remarked with an envious tone, "if one could cultivate here, their cultivation speed would at least double. No wonder Uncle-Grandfather Twenty-One and the others have been here for over ten years."

Wang Qingshan smiled slightly. "The Taiyi Immortal Sect is, after all, one of the Seven Great Immortal Sects, so this is not surprising. Our clan has also developed well. After we deliver the items to Uncle-Grandfather Mingren, let's head back. The clan needs manpower right now."

Wang Qingjun was about to say something when hurried footsteps sounded from outside, making him swallow his words.

Wang Mingren walked in. He looked at Wang Qingshan and Wang Qingjun, slightly startled.

He had left home at a young age and had only returned twice; on both occasions, Wang Qingshan and Wang Qingjun happened to be away.

"Your nephews, Wang Qingshan and Wang Qingjun, greet Uncle-Grandfather Mingren," they said.

Wang Qingshan and Wang Qingjun stood up and bowed respectfully.

"Qingshan? I've heard Changsheng speak of you. You're truly remarkable for your age! How is the family doing?" Wang Mingren asked with a smile.

Speaking of which, Wang Mingren was actually younger than Wang Qingshan.

"Thanks to your good fortune, Uncle-Grandfather Mingren, everything is well," Wang Qingshan said with a few polite remarks. "These are the items the family head asked us to deliver to you. Ninth Aunt specifically instructed before her seclusion that they must be personally handed to you." He then took out a green storage pouch and handed it to Wang Mingren.

Wang Mingren swept his spiritual sense over the pouch, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes. The sheer quantity of items inside exceeded his imagination; there were as many as thirty thousand spirit stones alone, along with three fruits radiating an erratic red glow, clearly high-grade fire-attribute spirit fruits of considerable age.

He didn't ask further, accepting them with a smile. "You've traveled a long way and must be tired," he said. "Feel free to stay comfortably in the Guest Hall; I'll accompany you for a few days of sightseeing."

"Nephew appreciates your kindness, Uncle-Grandfather Mingren," Wang Qingshan politely declined. "However, there are still matters awaiting our attention back in the clan, so it's truly inconvenient for us to stay long."

"Alright then," Wang Mingren said. "Since that's the case, please return to the clan as soon as possible. Also, please convey a message to Changsheng for me: if I acquire any Tier 3 Heaven and Earth Spirit Water, I will definitely send it back to the clan."

"Yes, nephew has noted it," Wang Qingshan replied.

Wang Mingren inquired about the clan's situation and was greatly surprised to learn that the Golden Sun Sect ruins had appeared. However, he did not ask about the gains of Wang Qingshan and the other three.

After half an hour of casual conversation, Wang Mingren personally escorted Wang Qingshan and Wang Qingjun as they departed.

***

In Ten Thousand Snake Valley, Wei State, inside a hidden underground cave, loud roars occasionally echoed.

Inside the underground cave, Zhao Zheng, Wang Qingjing, and Li Yan were jointly attacking a giant yellow bear approximately a zhang (about 3.3 meters) tall.

Zhao Zheng's earth-attribute magic arts were masterful, as he either released large yellow boulders or transformed a wide area into quicksand.

Li Yan and Wang Qingjing controlled five low-grade second-tier puppet beasts, which either cast spells or engaged in close combat.

The giant yellow bear, being merely a mid-grade second-tier demonic beast, was under immense pressure, facing attacks from three Foundation Establishment cultivators and five second-tier puppet beasts.

Wang Qingjing had encountered a bottleneck in her cultivation, having been stuck at Foundation Establishment Layer Two for many years. She had initially planned to hunt demonic beasts with Wang Qingshan and Wang Qingjun, but they were in secluded cultivation. Left with no alternative, Wang Qingjing invited Li Yan and Zhao Zheng to hunt demonic beasts together, hoping to break through her bottleneck amidst life-and-death situations.

Zhao Zheng and Li Yan readily accepted Wang Qingjing's invitation.

The giant yellow bear was no match for the three of them; its body was covered in wounds, and blood flowed profusely.

Seizing an opening in the giant yellow bear's defense, Wang Qingjing formed a hand seal, and a spider puppet sprayed a huge white spider web, trapping the bear.

Taking this opportunity, Li Yan formed a hand seal, and a giant python puppet opened its mouth, spraying a flurry of flying needles at the bear's head.

A sharp shriek rang out as the giant yellow bear's eyes were pierced and blinded. It let out an angry roar, grabbed the spider web with both arms, and ripped it to shreds.

It then lunged towards Li Yan with extreme speed.

"Oh no! Stop it quickly! Don't let it get close!" Zhao Zheng's expression changed, and he urgently warned.

He formed a hand seal, and his hands glowed with a yellow light. Squatting down, he pressed his hands to the ground. Two streaks of yellow light disappeared into the ground from his hands. The next moment, a muffled rumbling sound came from underground, and two giant yellow hands suddenly emerged from the earth, instantly seizing the giant yellow bear's legs and rendering it immobile.

Wang Qingjing changed her hand seal, and two ape puppet beasts sprayed thick beams of light, striking the giant yellow bear. Li Yan also directed his puppet beasts to attack it.

"ROAR!"

The giant yellow bear let out an angry roar, exhaling a hazy yellow sound wave.

"RUMBLE!"

With a loud bang, a powerful wave of air swept outwards.

The giant yellow bear's face became distorted, its veins bulging. The giant yellow hands holding its legs developed tiny cracks that rapidly expanded.

Just then, a streak of yellow light flew over and stopped above its head. The yellow light flashed, revealing a palm-sized yellow seal. The seal spun around, instantly growing hundreds of times in size, and swiftly smashed down.

A cry of agony erupted as the earth shook and a huge pit was smashed into the ground.

Zhao Zheng formed a hand seal, and the giant seal quickly returned to its original size, flying back into his hand, still stained with blood.

"Fellow Daoist Li," Zhao Zheng said, frowning. "Didn't I tell you? Either finish it off in one strike, or you won't kill it this way; you'll only anger it, which can easily bring trouble upon us." This situation had occurred many times; Li Yan liked to show off and didn't follow commands, causing the demonic beasts to go berserk several times, almost injuring people. Each time, Zhao Zheng had to clean up Li Yan's mess.

"I didn't expect this beast's defense to be so strong," Li Yan said with a laugh, his tone earnest. "It definitely won't happen next time."

Hearing this, Zhao Zheng sighed inwardly. Li Yan had made such promises many times, only to repeat the same mistake soon after. If it weren't for Wang Qingjing's sake, Zhao Zheng would have long since turned and left.

He had grown up in the Heavenly Soldier Sect, his parents both disciples there, and he had been spoiled rotten. If Wang Qingjing hadn't personally invited him, he would never have come out to hunt demonic beasts. With his parents to rely on and being a mid-grade second-tier artifact refiner himself, he had no need to hunt demonic beasts for spirit stones.