Chapter 530: West Gate Phoenix

Yan Country, Qingfeng Mountain.

Large quantities of spiritual wood were cultivated here, belonging to the Bloodfiend Sect.

More than twenty disciples of the Bloodfiend Sect lay dead in pools of blood. Alongside them were piles of white skeletons and dozens of large craters on the ground. Wang Qingshan and others were busy felling spiritual wood.

A blue pavilion stood on the mountainside. Inside one of its rooms, Wang Changsheng sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion.

Restrictions had been set up inside the room. The Soul-Devouring Golden Cicada was chasing dozens of black specters.

The Bloodfiend Sect disciples had raised many ghostly creatures. Wang Changsheng noticed that the Soul-Devouring Golden Cicada preferred devouring these creatures, which themselves enjoyed consuming the souls of demonic beasts or cultivators. One ghost general was equivalent to ten second-tier demonic beast souls.

After consuming a large number of demonic beast souls and ghostly creatures, the Soul-Devouring Golden Cicada had now reached mid-grade second-tier, its size having considerably increased.

Wang Changsheng's body was enveloped in numerous blue electric arcs, preventing the ghostly creatures from daring to approach him.

The Soul-Devouring Golden Cicada was like a wolf among sheep; none of the dozens of ghostly creatures escaped its grasp, each one devoured.

After devouring all the ghostly creatures, the Soul-Devouring Golden Cicada flew back to Wang Changsheng's side.

The higher its rank, the more spiritual sense it would return to Wang Changsheng. However, currently, it wasn't providing much. Still, even a tiny bit was better than none.

Wang Changsheng recalled the Soul-Devouring Golden Cicada into his spirit beast orb, then removed the restrictions and stepped out.

The entire mountain was covered with vast quantities of spiritual wood, with the youngest being over a decade old and the oldest more than three centuries old.

Wang Qingshan wielded a giant green sword to fell the spiritual wood.

Some spiritual wood was easy to cut, but others were extremely hard; ordinary artifacts would only leave faint white marks when struck against them.

Wang Qingjun controlled three glowing red flying knives, striking a green spiritual tree as thick as two people embracing. The knives left only a few shallow white marks.

A large swarm of golden ants flew over, landing on the green spiritual wood and furiously gnawing at it.

Soon after, a ring of holes appeared on the surface of the green spiritual wood.

Wang Qingjun turned to see Wang Changsheng walking towards him.

"Ninth Uncle!"

Wang Changsheng smiled and nodded, saying, "Cut down the spiritual wood as quickly as possible, then head to the next location."

"Yes, Ninth Uncle."

Wang Changsheng released all his gold-devouring ants to help Wang Qingjun and the others fell the spiritual wood. If they relied solely on themselves, it would take more than half a month to finish. Each spiritual tree was too large to be put whole into a storage bag; even when cut into small pieces, one storage bag could at most hold a single tree.

With Wang Changsheng's help, their felling speed significantly increased.

Finding their pace too slow, Wang Changsheng simply summoned the Nine-Curved Divine Sand, transforming it into a long yellow blade. He then cut all the spiritual wood into multiple sections, allowing them to be loaded into storage bags.

Due to the sheer volume of spiritual wood, Wang Qingshan and the others' storage bags could only hold about one-seventh of it. The remaining nine hundred-plus trees, even if thousands of gold-devouring ants ate continuously for three days and nights, would still not be completely consumed. Wang Changsheng was reluctant to burn them, as this batch of spiritual wood could be used to refine puppet beasts, enough to last the Wang family for several decades.

"You all go ahead and wait for me outside the mountain range."

Wang Qingshan and the others dared not delay. They controlled their artifacts and flew high into the sky, all departing.

Wang Changsheng released his Dual-Eyed Rat, pointed at the mountain of spiritual wood, and instructed, "Dig a large pit underground and hide this batch of spiritual wood."

He planned to hide this batch of spiritual wood now and retrieve it later.

A flash of yellow light illuminated the Dual-Eyed Rat's body before it burrowed into the ground and disappeared.

On a high peak at the edge of the mountain range, Wang Qingshan and the others stood at the summit.

"Seventh Brother, why do you think Ninth Uncle sent us away?" Wang Qingjun asked via spiritual transmission.

"Don't ask about things you shouldn't. Ninth Uncle must have a deeper purpose for doing this," Wang Qingshan explained via spiritual transmission, glancing towards the disciples of the Hundred Spirits Sect. The Hundred Spirits Sect disciples had gained many benefits by acting with Wang Changsheng, but they were outsiders after all, and some matters could not be revealed to them.

Not long after, a massive white cloud formation carrying Wang Changsheng flew over.

"Let's go! We're heading to the next location."

Once everyone had boarded the white cloud, Wang Changsheng guided it to fly into the distance.

Northern Territory, Fire Phoenix Mountain Range.

Inside a tranquil courtyard, Wang Mingren and seven fellow disciples were drinking tea and chatting.

"Thank you, Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters, for gracing me with your presence. I, your junior sister Ximen Feng, offer this tea as wine to toast you all," a fair-faced woman in red raised her teacup and drank it in one go. The woman in red wore a red ruqun, had snow-white skin and a captivating figure, with her prominent chest almost bursting from her clothes, inviting imagination. She was Ximen Feng, possessing a cultivation level of Foundation Establishment Stage Layer Seven.

"Junior Sister Ximen, you jest. We are fellow disciples, and celebrating your birthday is only proper. This four-hundred-year-old Fire Cloud Ganoderma is a small token of my regard, please don't dislike it," a fair-skinned, handsome young man in a green robe took out a red wooden box and handed it to Ximen Feng. The young man in green was Li Deqing, possessing a cultivation level of Foundation Establishment Stage Layer Eight and a devoted suitor of Ximen Feng.

"Junior Sister Ximen, please accept this Jade Phoenix Hairpin. It is a top-grade artifact, excellent for both offense and defense. Please don't find it lacking," Wang Mingren took out a red jade box and handed it to Ximen Feng.

The others also presented their gifts, which Ximen Feng gratefully accepted.

"Thank you all for your gifts, Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters. We should certainly keep in closer contact in the future."

Ximen Feng had invited six people, each possessing a cultivation level of Foundation Establishment Stage Layer Seven or higher. They were all elite disciples with a high probability of forming a core in the future, especially Wang Mingren.

As far as Ximen Feng knew, Wang Mingren's master was an elder in the Hall of Deacons of the Taiyi Immortal Sect, with extensive connections. Furthermore, Wang Mingren had achieved a commendable ranking in the Sect Grand Competition, reaching Foundation Establishment Stage Layer Seven at a young age, proving himself promising and capable.

"Junior Sister Ximen is right. As fellow disciples, we should indeed interact more often," Wang Mingren smiled and nodded. He had learned a great deal from Xu Zihua, especially regarding how to treat people, developing his own unique approach. Wealth, companions, techniques, and land – companions not only refer to partners in cultivation but also to family and friends. Xu Zihua had taught Wang Mingren that making more friends, even if only one could help him, would provide endless benefits.

A sharp, urgent whistling sound came from Wang Mingren's embrace. He took out his communication plate, cast a spell, and a man's voice suddenly rang out: "Nephew Wang, what are you doing?!"

"To answer Uncle Meng, your disciple is currently a guest at Junior Sister Ximen's residence. What are your instructions, Uncle?"

Wang Mingren recognized it as Meng Tianzheng's voice.

"Come to my residence later; I have something to tell you."

"Yes, Uncle Meng."

Wang Mingren put away his communication plate, noticing everyone looking at him with envy.

In the Northern Territory branch, Meng Tianzheng was the only Core Formation cultivator named Meng. He was also considered the foremost among the "Five Heroes of Taiyi" and had a high probability of advancing to the Nascent Soul Stage.

It seemed Wang Mingren was highly regarded by Meng Tianzheng, promising an immeasurable future.

"Senior Brother Wang, since Uncle Meng has something for you, please go ahead! Don't keep him waiting. We can gather again next time," Ximen Feng said sweetly and thoughtfully.

"Then I shall take my leave first. My apologies. I'll treat you all next time," Wang Mingren clasped his hands towards everyone, toasted them with a cup of tea, and turned to leave.

"Uncle Meng and Senior Brother Wang seem to have a good relationship. It looks like it's only a matter of time before Senior Brother Wang advances to the Core Formation Stage," Ximen Feng said with a smile, her bright eyes twinkling.

"He is merely at Foundation Establishment Stage Layer Seven, while I am already at Layer Eight. I can definitely enter the Core Formation Stage before him," Li Deqing stated confidently. If the Golden Flame Sect hadn't suddenly merged into the Taiyi Immortal Sect, rendering his previously hard-earned contribution points useless, he believed he would have already reached the Core Formation Stage.

"Then, junior sister wishes Senior Brother Li congratulations in advance," Ximen Feng smiled faintly, picked up her teacup, and drank it all.

Li Deqing did not delay and toasted her back.