Chapter 537: Dark Underflow

Wang Changsheng's artifact refining skill was the highest in the family, so Wang Qiuxin was more than eager to receive his guidance.

Wang Qiuxin invited Wang Changsheng into his residence and prepared a pot of spiritual tea for him.

Wang Changsheng drank a cup of spiritual tea and began to instruct Wang Qiuxin on artifact refining, explaining the techniques for both artifact and puppet crafting. He lectured very earnestly, and Wang Qiuxin listened with equal attentiveness.

Suddenly, a communication talisman flew in; it was from Wang Changhuan.

Wang Qiuxin quickly went to invite Wang Changhuan inside. Wang Changhuan's face looked somewhat gaunt, and he had quite a few white hairs.

Wang Changhuan had established his foundation using True Malice Qi. He was not a body cultivator, and over the years, the malice qi had been damaging his physical body, which was the main reason he remained stuck at the fifth level of the Foundation Establishment stage.

"Eighth Brother, I'll see if I can find any spiritual items that can neutralize True Malice Qi and try my best to get them for you!" Wang Changsheng said with some concern. He had also established his foundation using True Malice Qi, and he was well aware of its drawbacks.

The longer True Malice Qi remained in the body, the more severe the damage to the physical body.

"Thank you, Ninth Brother. Spiritual items to neutralize True Malice Qi aren't that easy to find. Qingkai has been searching for years. It's best if we find it, but it's fine if we don't." Wang Changhuan sighed. True Malice Qi had many disadvantages, but without it, he wouldn't have been able to enter the Foundation Establishment stage and would have turned into a pile of bones long ago.

Wang Changsheng smiled and nodded. He also understood that obtaining a spiritual item to neutralize True Malice Qi was not easy.

After chatting for a while, Wang Changsheng returned to his residence to continue refining embryo-grade magic treasures.

***

Wu Nation, Cloud Swan Grasslands.

Inside a green pavilion in Pingyao City.

Wang Qingshan and seven others were discussing something. The war had been too brutal.

They had believed that with the protection of the city's defensive array, there would be no danger. However, the demonic beasts' attacks were fierce, breaking through the defensive array twice. Wang Qingtian unfortunately died at the mouth of a demonic beast, and Wang Qiuming and Wang Qingling sustained minor injuries.

Wang Qingshan unleashed his minor divine ability, "One Hundred Swords Returning to One," slaying several second-tier demonic beasts that had breached the city wall. Otherwise, the Wang family's casualties would have been even higher.

The higher-ups had assigned the Wang family a mission, specifically requesting Wang Changhao and Wang Qingshan to participate.

"The higher-ups, I don't know what they're thinking. They're not counterattacking; they've been in a standoff with the demonic beasts for seven years." Wang Qingjun said, frowning with a worried expression.

"I heard the demonic beasts' attacks are fierce; they've captured a lot of territory. Nascent Soul cultivators and Transformed Demonic Beasts are fighting, with losses on both sides. Qingjun, your twenty-first aunt, you'll be in charge of leading them while I and Qingshan go on this mission. Qingxiao and Qingtian unfortunately died at the hands of demonic beasts, so you all must take good care of yourselves." Wang Changhao's tone was full of helplessness. With Core Formation cultivators ordering them to go, how could they refuse?

There was a precedent where a disciple of an immortal cultivation family who refused to execute a mission assigned by the higher-ups was directly beheaded and publicly displayed. With this lesson learned, Wang Qingshan and Wang Changhao dared not refuse a mission assigned by Core Formation cultivators.

In comparison, Wang Qingqing was much luckier, staying in the Artifact Refining Hall. Unless the city fell, she would face no danger, as four Nascent Soul cultivators were stationed within the city, making it as stable as Mount Tai.

Since the war began, Nascent Soul cultivators and Transformed Demonic Beasts seemed to have reached some agreement, not directly engaging. The main combat forces were Core Formation cultivators and Core Formation half-demons, with Foundation Establishment cultivators assisting and dealing with lower-tier demonic beasts.

"You two can go, don't worry! I will take good care of them."

Half an hour later, Wang Qingshan and Wang Changhao appeared in a green hall.

Dozens of Foundation Establishment cultivators gathered in small groups, exchanging messages through sound transmission.

Wang Qingshan meticulously noticed that these cultivators were at least at the fifth level of Foundation Establishment, with the highest at the eighth level.

Foundation Establishment cultivators continued to enter, all at least at the fifth level, and even a ninth-level Foundation Establishment cultivator appeared.

Half an hour later, six Core Formation cultivators entered. Leading them was a middle-aged man wearing a purple Daoist robe, a purple jade crown, and a white jade belt tied around his waist. He was at the seventh level of Core Formation.

The purple-robed Daoist's stern gaze swept over the Foundation Establishment cultivators. He spoke solemnly, "This humble Daoist is Daoist Ziyang of the Thousand Mechanism Sect. I am ordered to lead you on a major mission. Those who perform great deeds will be heavily rewarded; those who flinch in battle will be executed without mercy. Do you all understand?"

"We understand, senior!" Wang Qingshan and the other Foundation Establishment cultivators responded in unison, their expressions grave.

Daoist Ziyang flicked his Daoist robe, and a golden sphere the size of a water vat flew out. Amidst the sounds of mechanisms, it transformed into a golden python over ten *zhang* long.

The golden python was over one *zhang* tall, its size terrifying.

He activated a spell, and a dozen stone doors appeared on the golden python's body.

"You all go inside. We will leave on this high-grade third-tier puppet beast. Once we reach our destination, we will let you out."

Wang Qingshan and the others entered one by one. The interior decoration was somewhat simple.

Daoist Ziyang and the six Core Formation cultivators followed them in. Daoist Ziyang activated a spell, and all the stone doors closed. The golden python flicked its tail and flew out of the green hall.

***

A certain lush green mountain range, a hidden cave.

Twenty-five half-demons gathered inside the cave, discussing something.

Before them lay a beast hide with a topographical map clearly displayed on it.

"Listen closely. We are responsible for attacking important human strongholds. The bigger the commotion, the better. After we succeed, retreat immediately. Understood?"

"Understood."

The twenty-five half-demons scattered and vanished without a trace.

***

Taiyi Immortal Sect, the summit of a peak that pierced the sky. Three men were drinking tea and chatting.

"Are the demonic beasts plotting something? Why did they suddenly invade our human territory? Do you have any information?" A benevolent-looking old man in white robes asked, his tone serious.

A gaunt-faced old man in black robes shook his head and said, "No. This old man personally acted, destroying two transformed demonic cultivators. Even soul-searching revealed no useful information."

"Mobilizing millions of demonic beasts and dozens of transformed demonic cultivators must be the work of those two old fellows. Their arrival is perfect; it gives us an excuse. Three sects in the South Sea have already agreed to stab the demonic beasts in the back." A green-robed Daoist with the face of a child and hair like a crane's plumage said in a deep voice. He pondered for a moment, then looked at the white-robed old man. "Daoist Chen, what is the attitude of the Northern Frontier cultivation world? The demonic beasts are invading and harming our human cultivators; we absolutely cannot tolerate this."

The demonic beasts' offensive was truly fierce. Of course, they hadn't intended to immediately repel the demonic beasts. Their primary goal was to acquire a peculiar fruit tree belonging to the demonic beasts, as the strange fruits would aid their cultivation.

They intentionally yielded some territory to entangle the demonic beasts in a war and, at the same time, portray themselves as victims to facilitate seeking aid from other forces.

"The Northern Frontier cultivation world has also agreed to help, but they require us to make the first move to attract the demonic beasts' attention."

"Good. With a three-pronged attack on the demonic beasts, this time we must deal them a painful blow and expand our territory in the process. Of course, the most important thing is still that peculiar fruit tree. To coordinate with our actions, it's also time for us to counterattack. However, we still can't grasp the demonic beasts' true intentions, so we must remain cautious to avoid following the fate of the Jinyang Sect."

The Jinyang Sect was annihilated by demonic beasts leading a large army of beasts back then. With this precedent, they had to be wary.

The green-robed Daoist smiled slightly and said, "It's agreed then. When we get the fruits, you must give one to this old man."

"Of course. We will proceed according to the plan. This old man and Daoist Zhao will go to the demonic beast heartland. Daoist Li, you will remain here to guard against any tricks from the demonic beasts."