Chapter 558: Second Spiritual Technique

He didn't die, but he couldn't advance to the Core Formation stage and was severely injured.

"Master, have you only just come out of seclusion?"

Su Cheng looked unwilling. If Guang Dongren had protected him during his breakthrough, he certainly wouldn't have failed to form his core.

"Your junior martial brother Ye is also attempting to break through to the Core Formation stage. His dwelling doesn't have a third-tier formation, and it's quite close to the Earth Fire Palace. When I woke up, he was nearly struck dead by the lightning tribulation. I thought with the protection of a third-tier formation, you would be fine. It's all my fault."

Guang Dongren felt a bit apologetic and fabricated a lie.

While both were important to him, Su Cheng was too closely connected to the Wang family. If forced to choose between Ye Tong and Su Cheng, Guang Dongren would choose Ye Tong.

Ye Tong had brought back many thousand-year spiritual medicines from the ruins of the Jinyang Sect. Without those, Guang Dongren wouldn't have advanced to the eighth layer of Core Formation so quickly.

"Junior martial brother Ye was also trying to form his core? Wasn't he at his residence? Did he succeed?"

Guang Dongren nodded and smiled, "He has successfully formed his core. From now on, you'll need to address him as Senior Martial Uncle Ye."

Su Cheng's gaze dimmed. He nodded and said, "This disciple understands. I know what to do."

Victory determines who is king, defeat determines who is a bandit. Ye Tong had already successfully formed his core; anything said now was useless.

Of course, Su Cheng didn't believe Guang Dongren. After much thought, he understood the real issue: Guang Dongren was wary of the Wang family.

If Su Cheng were to form his core, and Guang Dongren were to somehow meet with an accident, the Hundred Spirits Sect could very likely transform from a sect into a cultivation family. Such incidents were not unheard of in the cultivation world.

Within a cultivation sect with multiple cultivation families, balance must be maintained to prevent any single family from dominating. Originally, Guang Dongren had arranged for Su Cheng to marry Wang Changxue to counter another cultivation family. Now, years later, the Wang family had risen, and Guang Dongren had to guard against them.

"Rest well and recover from your injuries. I'll go check on your Senior Martial Uncle Ye."

Guang Dongren gave Su Cheng a white pill, then soared towards Ye Tong's residence.

Wang Changxue flew over, her face full of concern. "Husband, are you alright?"

Su Cheng looked at Wang Changxue, sighed deeply, squeezed her hand, and said with a smile, "I'm fine, my dear wife. I failed to break through to the Core Formation stage and damaged my foundation. I won't have another chance to attempt it in this lifetime."

"Husband, don't say such disheartening things. There must still be a chance."

Wang Changxue comforted him. She had long realized that while both Ye Tong and Su Cheng were attempting to form their cores, Guang Dongren clearly favored Ye Tong, ultimately due to his apprehension about the Wang family.

Su Cheng shook his head and sighed, "Let's give the Sect Master position to someone else! From now on, we won't concern ourselves with so many matters. We'll raise our children."

His foundation was damaged, significantly increasing the difficulty of forming a core.

Guang Dongren was wary of the Wang family, and Su Cheng didn't want to monopolize the Sect Master position either. Rather than waiting for Guang Dongren to speak, it was better for him to be sensible, abdicate voluntarily, and establish a family with Wang Changxue by raising children.

"Alright, I'll listen to you."

At Qinglian Villa, Wang Ruyan held a handsome boy in her arms.

The boy was named Wang Tianzhen, the son of Wang Qiuhong and Wang Ruyan's great-grandson.

Time flew by; she was now a great-grandmother.

The war was tense, so Wang Qingkai waved his hand, distributing a batch of Foundation Establishment Pills to suitable clan members who had cultivated to the eighth or ninth layer of Qi Refining, allowing them to attempt Foundation Establishment. Wang Qiuhong was fortunate and successfully entered the Foundation Establishment stage.

Wang Qiuhong now managed all of the family's businesses in Qingyue Square City, including restaurants, rice shops, weapon stores, and talisman shops.

Wang Tianzhen was Wang Qiuhong's third son. His first two sons had no spiritual roots and had already been sent to live in the mortal world.

Wang Qingzhi and Qi Shanshan sat nearby, each holding a baby. These were their grandchildren, as Wang Qiushuang had found a son-in-law to marry into the family and given birth to a pair of twins.

With children and grandchildren, their lives were complete and fulfilling.

"It seems I returned at just the right time; Qiuhong is already a father."

Wang Changsheng walked in, a broad smile on his face.

He had already informed Wang Qingkai about taking over the spiritual mountain, and Wang Qingkai had sent Wang Qingshan to do so.

With the great war over and all industries in decline, Wang Changsheng had returned this time to help Wang Ruyan attempt to break through to the Core Formation stage. With three spiritual items to aid in core formation, Wang Ruyan's chances of success were quite high.

"Father, you're back."

Wang Qingzhi and Qi Shanshan stood up, and Wang Qiuhong followed suit, calling out "Grandfather."

Wang Changsheng looked Wang Qingzhi up and down, his brows slightly furrowed. He had three sons and one daughter. Wang Qingqing and Wang Qingzhi had both entered the Foundation Establishment stage, but their cultivation levels weren't high. Wang Qingzhi was only at the third layer of Foundation Establishment; he himself disliked cultivation and couldn't bear to stay inside meditating all day.

Wang Qingqing loved the art of puppetry but wasn't a diligent cultivator.

Wang Qingyang, with his four spiritual roots, failed to establish his foundation and became a winemaker. Wang Pingan had no spiritual roots and lived in the mortal world.

"Even while tending to the spiritual fields, you shouldn't neglect your cultivation. Dedicate more thought to it."

Wang Changsheng lectured earnestly. He knew very well that Wang Qingzhi was not a diligent cultivator, but as a father, he needed to urge his son to cultivate.

"I understand, Father. Your teachings are etched in my heart."

Wang Qingzhi readily agreed. Wang Changsheng had said such things countless times, and Wang Qingzhi always verbally agreed, but he simply couldn't bring himself to stay indoors cultivating all day.

In his view, cultivation was entirely a matter of fate and couldn't be forced.

Wang Changsheng knew his son's disposition and began playing with his great-grandson.

After dinner, Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan returned to their residence.

Wang Changsheng briefly described what he gained from his trip to the Taiyi Immortal Sect, and Wang Ruyan's face lit up with joy.

"My dear wife, you are already at the eighth layer of Foundation Establishment. You've worked hard these years. Now, you don't need to worry about anything else. Focus on cultivating diligently, strive to reach the ninth layer of Foundation Establishment as soon as possible, and then attempt Core Formation. I will protect you during the breakthrough. If you can enter the Core Formation stage, it will greatly benefit our family's development."

"I understand. Oh, and my grandfather sent someone over, saying he has something important to discuss with you."

The grandfather Wang Ruyan referred to was, of course, Wang Huashan.

During the war between righteous and demonic factions, Wang Huashan was in seclusion cultivating. In the war between humans and demons, Wang Huashan participated, but on a different battlefield.

"Important matter? Did Grandfather say what it was?"

Wang Ruyan shook her head. "He didn't say. He just told you to make a trip to Wang Family Fort. He's there now."

"Alright then! I'll make the trip to Wang Family Fort. You just focus on your cultivation."

The next morning, Wang Changsheng departed Qinglian Villa with ten clan members, while Wang Ruyan entered seclusion for cultivation.

Less than half a month later, Wang Changsheng arrived at Wang Family Fort and easily met with Wang Huashan.

Wang Huashan looked somewhat pale, his eyes dim, seemingly injured.

"Your grandson, Wang Changsheng, greets you, Grandfather."

Wang Huashan nodded and said kindly, "Changsheng, I heard that you and Fairy Zhao eliminated the leader of the Hundred Ghosts Sect. The younger generation truly inspires awe!"

It was no secret that Wang Changsheng and Zhao Yunrong had teamed up to eliminate the leader of the Hundred Ghosts Sect.

"It was mere luck," Wang Changsheng said modestly. "Eliminating that person was entirely thanks to Fairy Zhao's swordsmanship."

Wang Changsheng spoke humbly, unsure of Wang Huashan's true intentions.

"Changsheng, I acquired a water-attribute spiritual art. See if you can cultivate it. If you can, it's yours."

Wang Huashan took out a blue jade slip and handed it to Wang Changsheng.

"A water-attribute spiritual art!"

Wang Changsheng was slightly stunned. Generally, spiritual arts were part of cultivation techniques, but there were exceptions. As long as the spiritual art's attribute was suitable, a cultivator could practice it.

He took the jade slip, probed it with his spiritual sense, and his face lit up with joy.