Chapter 544: Tang Yunshang and the Phoenix Fruit Tree

Wang Changsheng nodded and said with a righteous expression, "Although I am injured, the demon race is our human race's great enemy. As a member of the human race, I cannot shirk my duty to fight them."

Song Delin, of course, did not believe Wang Changsheng was truly so righteous. Wang Changsheng must have reached an agreement with the Core Formation cultivators of Huangsheng Palace, but that was none of his concern. As long as Wang Changsheng was willing to go to the front lines, it would be easy to manage.

"Excellent!" Song Delin exclaimed. "Fellow Daoist Wang is truly a model for our human race. You should depart as soon as possible for Yunhu Grassland in Wu State and await orders from the Nascent Soul seniors. Since you have agreed to go, you are not permitted to back out. Otherwise, it will be considered cowardice, and our Taiyi Immortal Sect will punish severely without mercy. I have already dealt with two Core Formation cultivators who showed cowardice."

As he finished speaking, Song Delin's tone became severe, and a grim expression appeared on his face.

"Of course," Wang Changsheng replied. "Once I've finished my current duties, I'll depart as soon as possible. I trust Madam Lan will assist me in handling these matters." Wang Changsheng looked towards the middle-aged beautiful woman and spoke meaningfully.

"Of course," the middle-aged beautiful woman readily agreed. "Fellow Daoist Song, rest assured."

The middle-aged beautiful woman readily agreed. If Li Haifeng successfully advanced to the Nascent Soul stage, the things she had promised Wang Changsheng would be insignificant in comparison.

"That would be best," Song Delin said. "I still have other places to go. Fellow Daoist Wang, please depart soon."

After saying this, Song Delin left Qinglian Mountain Villa.

"Fellow Daoist Wang," the middle-aged beautiful woman said, "I will immediately send someone to deliver the items. Please finish your current duties as soon as possible and head to the front line! I will help look after your clansmen."

After seeing off the middle-aged beautiful woman, Wang Changsheng summoned Wang Qingkai and Wang Ruyan and recounted the events to them.

"Husband, I'm worried about Qingjing and the others," Wang Ruyan said. "Let me go with you!" Wang Ruyan volunteered, as her daughter, son-in-law, and grandson were all on the front line. Naturally, she could not rest easy staying in the rear.

"Ninth Uncle," Wang Qingkai said, "I will immediately send people to take over half a prefecture's territory and disperse the clansmen to different locations. Also, I will lead a group to remain and guard Qinglian Mountain Villa."

"I trust your handling of affairs," Wang Changsheng replied. "While I'm away, I'm entrusting the clan to you."

Over a month later, the middle-aged beautiful woman delivered the items. These included the Four-Symbols Earthen Guard Array, a low-grade third-tier defensive formation, and fifteen Foundation Establishment Pills. As for half a prefecture's territory, Wang Qingkai had already dispatched people to take over.

The middle-aged beautiful woman took out several low-grade first-tier magic tools for Wang Changsheng to choose from, but there were no defensive tools among them. Wang Changsheng chose a rope-type magic tool, the Demon-Binding Rope, specifically designed for binding demon beasts. Wang Changyue led seven formation masters to set up the formation.

After handling his current duties, Wang Changsheng took Wang Ruyan and hurried to the front line.

***

Yu State, a lush green mountain range.

Three streaks of light quickly streaked across the sky. There were two men and one woman. The one with the highest cultivation was a tall, slender young man in green robes, at the fourth layer of the Nascent Soul stage. The other two were half-demons at the Core Formation stage.

"I am too big a target," the young man in green robes transmitted. "You two take the Phoenix Cry Fruit tree and the fruits back. Make sure they are delivered back to the clan; do not entrust them to anyone else." He then handed each of them a yellow storage bag.

"Yes, Lord Mu," the two half-demons replied. They took the storage bags and dashed off in different directions.

The young man in green robes performed a hand seal, and countless green runes lit up on his body. He transformed into a hundred-zhang tall towering tree, rooting himself to the ground.

Soon after, five streaks of light pursued him.

The ground shook violently as hundreds of large trees erupted from the earth, striking towards the five streaks of light. A mass of crimson light suddenly flared and instantly expanded, blocking all the trees. A huge explosion rang out, scattering countless tree fragments everywhere. A powerful wave of air rapidly swept in all directions, kicking up a large amount of dust and rocks.

Soon after, countless black tree roots broke through the ground, forming a giant net hundreds of zhang wide, enveloping the five streaks of light.

A huge red flower flew out from within the streaks of light. The red flower spun, and countless red petals flew out. These seemingly fragile petals, acting like sharp weapons, sliced the giant net into pieces.

"Dare to steal from our Myriad Flower Palace?" a cold female voice rang out near the towering tree. "Don't you know how to write the word 'death'? If not, I'll teach you."

As the voice faded, specks of red light appeared in the void, revealing a beautiful woman in a red dress with skin like congealed fat and radiant beauty. There was a seven-colored flower mark on her forehead. She was Tang Yunshang, Vice Palace Master of Myriad Flower Palace, at the fourth layer of the Nascent Soul stage.

The moment Tang Yunshang appeared, the towering tree shook violently, and countless green leaves fluttered down, transforming into sharp blades that struck towards her. Countless thick tree roots emerged from the ground, quickly weaving into a giant net that enveloped Tang Yunshang. Whizzing sounds pierced the air as hundreds of sharp wooden spears assailed from all directions, also targeting Tang Yunshang.

Tang Yunshang remained unperturbed. She spat out an ancient red lotus lamp. With a slight opening of her jade lips, she exhaled a stream of red Infant Fire, lighting the wick. The red lotus lamp glowed brightly, and a large expanse of red flames flew out, forming a crimson wall of fire that protected her. The wooden spears, leaves, and tree trunks all turned to ash upon touching the crimson flames.

A thick red light beam flew out from the sea of fire, instantly striking the towering tree. Immediately after, the flames flickered wildly and then extinguished. Tang Yunshang appeared before the towering tree, holding a translucent red short knife in her hand, whose spiritual energy was astonishing.

A cold glint flashed in her beautiful eyes. She swung the red short knife in her hand at the towering tree, and a red light blade, over a hundred zhang long, flew out, slicing the towering tree into two.

A green light flashed, and the towering tree transformed into a piece of green wood.

"A Calamity Substitution Technique!" Tang Yunshang's delicate brows rose slightly as she said with a hint of surprise.

Four streaks of light landed beside her, revealing three men and one woman: one Nascent Soul cultivator and three Core Formation cultivators.

"Under no circumstances can the Phoenix Cry Fruit tree fall into the hands of the demon race," Tang Yunshang commanded. "You all use the Lotus Mirror to notify Senior Sister Li and the others on the front line. Have them organize a search party. The Phoenix Cry Tree absolutely cannot fall into the hands of the demon race. Offer a reward of one million spirit stones to apprehend this group of demon cultivators."

"Yes, Martial Aunt Tang," they replied.

***

In a certain endless dense forest, a blue flying boat swiftly glided across the sky. Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan stood in the flying boat. Calculating the time, they realized they were almost in Wu State.

Suddenly, a yellow streak of light flew from the distant horizon, moving extremely fast. Wang Changsheng frowned slightly. His spiritual sense detected that the approaching individual was a cultivator at the fourth layer of the Core Formation stage. He performed a hand seal, and the blue flying boat stopped.

The yellow streak of light was extremely fast. In no time, it stopped a hundred zhang opposite Wang Changsheng. As the light dissipated, it revealed a pockmarked man in yellow robes; it was indeed Huang Fugui.

"Oh, it's Fellow Daoist Wang," Huang Fugui exclaimed, wearing a fawning smile. "Fellow Daoist Wang, long time no see."

"Fellow Daoist Huang, I didn't expect us to meet again," Wang Changsheng said. "Last time, you almost got me killed." Wang Changsheng's tone was calm. The last time, he had indeed almost been killed by Huang Fugui.

"A misunderstanding, it was all a misunderstanding," Huang Fugui said with a fawning smile. "I didn't mean for it to happen. Here, take this arm from a third-tier puppet beast as compensation!" He took out a black iron arm and tossed it to Wang Changsheng.