Chapter 531: Returning Home

Eastern Barrens, Wei State.

Azure Lotus Villa.

A blue flying boat approached from a distance. Wang Changsheng stood at the front, his brows furrowed. He had led a group of Foundation Establishment cultivators to collect resources in Yan State, but he suddenly received news that the demon race was invading on a large scale. The Taiyi Immortal Sect had intervened in the conflict, forbidding cultivators from attacking each other, ordering everyone to return to their residences and await orders. Why would the demon race invade at this time? The timing was too perfect! After a moment of thought, he didn't find it surprising.

According to Wang Changsheng, this war between the righteous and demonic factions involved over a dozen states. The surrounding states were in chaos, and the demon race might have seized this opportunity to gain an advantage. Wei State was far from the front lines, separated by more than ten states, so the demon race should not be able to reach it. Wang Changsheng was more concerned about the two and a half commanderies. If the Taiyi Immortal Sect intervened, would Qin State's territory be returned to the Four Sects of Qin State? If it were, would the Yellow Saint Palace renege on their agreement? This was a very practical problem; if the Yellow Saint Palace went back on its word, Wang Changsheng might not be able to hold onto those two and a half commanderies.

Upon returning to Azure Lotus Villa, Wang Changsheng summoned Wang Qingkai.

"Qingkai, have we acquired the territory of those two and a half commanderies? Tell me about the situation."

"Ninth Uncle, those two and a half commanderies have a total of nine spiritual veins: six second-order and three first-order. Eight cultivation families live there. The Foundation Establishment cultivation families have already withdrawn, leaving five Qi Refining cultivation families. The strongest among them is the Han family, with eighty-two cultivators. After my persuasion, the Han family agreed to merge into our Wang family. Aunt has already set up two two-way teleportation arrays, allowing travel from Red Leaf Ridge to White Cloud Ridge."

Wang Changsheng knew well that a cultivation family would not easily merge into another. Wang Qingkai must have used other methods, but Wang Changsheng wasn't concerned with that. With a major war imminent and the demon race invading the Eastern Barrens, absorbing more fresh blood at this time would benefit the family's development.

"Qingkai, send three Foundation Establishment cultivators to Yan State to transport a batch of spirit wood back."

Wang Changsheng told Wang Qingkai the location of the spirit wood; everyone's storage bags were filled with other resources, leaving no room for the spirit wood.

"Excellent! With this batch of spirit wood, our family won't need to purchase spirit wood from outside for decades to come. I'll send people to bring it back right away."

A portion of the proceeds from this expedition would go to individuals, but the majority had to be submitted to the family. Of course, items submitted would be exchanged for merit points.

Wang Qingyuan was responsible for inventorying and accounting for the resources. Seeing the dazzling array of materials, his face lit up with a smile. Those who don't manage a household don't know the cost of necessities. With these resources, the Wang family could cultivate more Foundation Establishment cultivators.

The total value of the resources obtained from this war exceeded four million. Besides third-order materials and three third-order talismans, the most valuable items were fifty-seven Foundation Establishment Pills. Most of these pills were confiscated from the Hundred Ghosts Sect's treasury, with Wang Changsheng taking over forty, and the rest seized from other cultivation families. A horse does not grow fat without fodder at night; a man does not become rich without ill-gotten gains. The ancients truly did not deceive me.

In this war, there were no casualties among the Wang family's Foundation Establishment cultivators, but twenty-two Qi Refining clansmen died and seven were seriously injured. With the demon race invading, the Seven Great Immortal Sects would certainly not stand idly by. They would undoubtedly mobilize personnel to resist the demons, and perhaps Wang Changsheng would also have to go to the battlefield.

Wang Changyue had not yet returned. Her residence was still protected by a formation, and forcing entry would create too much commotion. Wang Changsheng felt uneasy about Ye Lin, so he left Azure Lotus Villa and headed straight for Red Leaf Ridge.

Red Leaf Ridge, basement.

Ye Lin sat on a futon, his brows deeply furrowed. Wang Changyue hadn't visited for over three months. Had something happened to the Wang family? Or was Wang Changyue going into seclusion for cultivation? Ye Lin missed Wang Changyue quite a lot after not seeing her for months.

Suddenly, faint footsteps came from outside, and Wang Changyue entered. Seeing Wang Changyue, Ye Lin breathed a sigh of relief and smiled, "Long time no see. Why didn't you teleport over? Could it be that you've set up a second set of teleportation arrays?"

"Long time no see. I'm exhausted; setting up teleportation arrays is such a hassle."

Wang Changyue had accompanied Wang Qingkai to Yun State. She was responsible for setting up teleportation arrays to connect the two spiritual mountains, facilitating support for the Wang family. She directed four first-order formation masters to set up the formations, but the engraving and arrangement of the array patterns required her personal involvement. To set up a two-way teleportation array, she had to travel back and forth.

"Couldn't you just train two more second-order formation masters? It's only a small teleportation array, not a medium-sized one."

Ye Lin was nonchalant; setting up small teleportation arrays was like child's play to him.

"Let's not talk about that. After all this time, how have you been?"

Ye Lin smiled and said, "I'm alright. What about you? Do you want me to explain formations, or just chat?"

"Formations! Can you explain defensive formations? I know too few of them."

"Alright, let's start with the simplest one: the Cloud Mist Formation!"

Taiyi Immortal Sect, Taiyi Hall.

Sect Master Zhang Zhanfeng sat on the main seat, his expression serious. Eight Nascent Soul cultivators sat on either side.

"Sect Master Senior Brother, what major event has occurred? You called all of us here." A green-robed old man with a goatee asked. It must not be a minor matter if Nascent Soul cultivators needed to be summoned.

"The demon race has launched a massive invasion, causing heavy casualties among cultivators. Three states have already been occupied by the demons. I have already contacted the Shangqing Monastery and Chongyang Academy; they have both sent people to the front lines to direct other cultivators in the assault. Junior Brother Liu and Junior Sister Chen have also led forces there. However, to be safe, I intend to send you all to the front lines. We must block the demon race's offensive." Zhang Zhanfeng's expression was grave, and his tone was heavy.

"What? The demon race is invading? When did this happen? Why would they suddenly invade?"

"A Nascent Soul cultivator appeared in Tang State. Her great-grandson died in the last war between the righteous and demonic factions, and unwilling to accept this, she teamed up with another Nascent Soul cultivator. Together, they united multiple states to attack territories controlled by demonic cultivators. Over a dozen states joined the conflict. Upon hearing this news, the demon race launched a large-scale invasion of the Eastern Barrens, already killing a large number of cultivators. Two Nascent Soul cultivators have died in battle. You must be extremely cautious."

"The timing of the demon race's attack is too coincidental! Could there be a connection between the two? The human and demon races have been in opposition for so many years; if we have spies among the demons, they surely have spies within our ranks as well."

Zhang Zhanfeng shook his head, saying, "I don't know, but I will send people to investigate. All of you, immediately select elite disciples and teleport them to the front lines. You absolutely must hold back the demon race's offensive. If manpower is insufficient, you can draw personnel from the states we control. As for the exact number of personnel to draw, that's up to your discretion."

"Yes, Sect Master Senior Brother." The eight responded in unison, transforming into eight streaks of light and flying out of the hall.

"Demon race! You've come at just the right time!" Zhang Zhanfeng muttered to himself, his gaze cold.