Chapter 559: Conflict over the Spiritual Land

This is the Turtle Scale Art, a defensive spiritual spell. The higher the caster's cultivation and the deeper their magic power, the stronger its defensive capabilities.

Wang Changsheng had already mastered the Spirit Slaying Palm, a spiritual spell that had helped him defeat many powerful adversaries. If he could acquire a defensive spiritual spell, it would give him an additional safeguard when facing enemies in the future.

Frankly speaking, the value of a spiritual spell is comparable to that of a magic treasure. This particular water-attribute spiritual spell could be cultivated by any Core Formation cultivator possessing a water spiritual root.

Wang Changsheng didn't believe in something for nothing; Wang Huashan must have had a request.

He pondered for a moment before politely asking, "Grandfather, this gift is too precious. What do you need me to do? We are family; please speak freely."

"You captured the Hundred Ghosts Gate, so you must have acquired a lot of resources, right? Do you have any spare magic treasures? Metal or fire attributes would be acceptable. If not a full magic treasure, a proto-magic treasure would also suffice."

Wang Huashan had been injured in the great battle, and his Natal Magic Treasure was destroyed. He had nearly depleted his savings on healing, so he couldn't afford the more than 500,000 spirit stones needed to purchase a new magic treasure.

He had obtained this spiritual spell by chance. Making a copy for Wang Changsheng in exchange for a proto-magic treasure seemed like a good trade.

The Wang family disciples he had brought to Chu State had fully integrated into the Three Immortals Sect. To acquire cultivation resources, they had to perform services for the sect, making it extremely difficult for them to gather over 500,000 spirit stones for him.

Upon hearing this, Wang Changsheng breathed a long sigh of relief. He had been bracing for a major request, but it turned out Wang Huashan simply wanted a magic treasure.

Recalling Wang Huashan's complexion, Wang Changsheng surmised that his Natal Magic Treasure must have been destroyed; otherwise, he wouldn't be trading a spiritual spell for another treasure.

Wang Changsheng possessed several fire-attribute magic treasures, so parting with one for Wang Huashan was no issue.

He took out a gleaming red flying dagger, handed it to Wang Huashan, and smiled, "This magic treasure was something I seized; its quality is quite good."

Wang Huashan accepted the red flying dagger, his face lighting up with joy. He put the dagger away and said earnestly:

"This spiritual spell is now yours. I am old, and in the future, the Wang family will need your continued care. My travel between here and Chu State is quite inconvenient."

"It is only right, Grandfather. Please rest assured."

Wang Changsheng readily agreed. He never forgot the kindness shown when Wang Ruyan borrowed a significant amount of spirit stones from her family to help him repay his debts.

Wang Changsheng stayed at Wangjiabao, where he chatted with Wang Huashan about the ongoing front-line battles and discussed the future development of their respective families.

Currently, Wangjiabao had seven Foundation Establishment cultivators, making them relatively strong among the cultivation families in Wei State. However, cultivating Core Formation cultivators remained quite challenging.

If any Wang family member were to reach the ninth level of Foundation Establishment in the future and require a Core Formation cultivator as a protector, Wang Huashan hoped Wang Changsheng could assist. In return, if Wang Huashan acquired any more spiritual spells, he would copy one for Wang Changsheng. Wang Changsheng, of course, readily agreed.

The two families were related by marriage, and a Core Formation cultivator in the Wang family would also be beneficial to Wang Changsheng's family.

Three days later, Wang Changsheng and his clansmen departed from Wangjiabao.

Upon returning to Qinglian Mountain Villa, Wang Changsheng immediately entered seclusion to cultivate the Turtle Scale Art.

The great war between humans and demons saw the demon race slaughtering numerous cultivators, while countless low-level demon beasts were killed or wounded. Ultimately, the conflict concluded with the demon race's retreat.

The demon race conceded a vast territory, allowing the Seven Great Immortal Sects to merge two smaller countries into a single large nation called Yuyao State, which would be directly administered by them.

Yuyao State comprised thirty-six states and three hundred seventy-five commanderies, to which a large population was subsequently relocated.

In Yuyang Commandery of Muzhou, Taoshan (Peach Mountain) was one of the six spiritual mountains. After the war, Wang Qingshan led his people to take over Taoshan from the Taiyi Immortal Sect, establishing it as the family's second development base.

Per the Taiyi Immortal Sect's directive, the Wang family was required to relocate 200,000 mortals to Yuyang Commandery.

Yuyang Commandery comprised eleven counties, which were distributed among six cultivation families. Having made significant contributions, the Wang family immediately secured three of these counties, and the 200,000 mortals were successively relocated to them.

Previously, Yuyang Commandery had been under the control of the demon race and remained largely undeveloped. There was a possibility that other cultivation resources might still be undiscovered there.

After Wang Qingshan and his clansmen took possession of Taoshan and the three counties, he immediately dispatched people to explore the territory for cultivation resources, such as metal mines.

No metal mines were found, but a small valley was discovered containing a first-tier mid-grade spiritual vein. Unfortunately, this valley was situated at the border of two counties, which were administered by the Wang and Han families, respectively.

Wang Qingshan preemptively sent people to occupy the valley, which the Han family naturally disputed. With the great war having just concluded and humanity needing to recuperate, the Seven Great Immortal Sects had repeatedly emphasized resolving disputes through discussion. Therefore, Wang Qingshan arranged a meeting with the Han family cultivators to discuss the valley's ownership.

At Peach Blossom Valley, Wang Qingshan stood outside, his hands clasped behind his back, wearing a calm expression. As a gentle breeze swept through, his robes swayed, giving him an air of an immortal being.

Wang Qingjun and more than a dozen other cultivators stood behind Wang Qingshan, their faces radiating confidence.

As Wang Qingshan was unrivaled among cultivators of his level, they had absolute confidence in him.

Not long after, a red streak of light appeared in the sky, descending from a distance to land on the ground.

The red light emanated from a long red silk ribbon, upon which stood over a dozen cultivators. Leading them was a young woman in her early thirties, dressed in a red gown, who was at the seventh level of Foundation Establishment.

The young woman in the red dress looked at Wang Qingshan and said politely, "My name is Han Yuxin. How should I address fellow Daoist?"

"I am Wang Qingshan. Let's skip the pleasantries. Our two families shall each send one Foundation Establishment cultivator to spar. The winner claims this valley."

"Alright, no problem. I will represent the Han family in this challenge. How about this: Fellow Daoist Wang, if you can withstand five of my moves, I will immediately take my people and leave. If you cannot, then you and your people shall leave."

"No need for such trouble. If you can withstand just three of my moves, I will immediately leave."

Sword cultivators are known for their offensive prowess, not their defensive capabilities.

"Alright, it's a deal."

Wang Qingshan stepped forward and waved his hand, prompting Wang Qingjun and the others to disperse and retreat to a safe distance.

The Han family disciples also moved aside, allowing Wang Qingshan and Han Yuxin to begin their duel.

Han Yuxin flipped her hand, and a dozen gleaming yellow formation flags appeared. She swiftly planted the flags into the nearby ground, then took out a yellow formation disk and channeled a spell into it. A pale yellow light barrier shimmered into existence, encasing her within.

This was a second-tier mid-grade defensive formation; not only would it withstand three moves, but even ten moves from a Foundation Establishment cultivator would be insufficient to break it.

A hint of mockery appeared at the corner of Wang Qingshan's mouth. He took a step forward, his aura surging. A vast expanse of green spiritual light manifested before him, transforming into hundreds of green flying swords that swarmed towards the yellow light barrier.

He shrugged his shoulders, and nine green flying swords shot forth, merging into a single, massive green long rainbow that slashed directly towards Han Yuxin.

A deafening roar resounded as the hundreds of green flying swords shattered the yellow light barrier.

Han Yuxin was terrified out of her wits. She hastily brought out two high-grade defensive magic artifacts and two second-tier defensive talismans. Although these new defenses were quickly destroyed by the hundreds of green flying swords, the swords themselves vanished, leaving a single, fifteen-meter-long green flying sword hovering directly above Han Yuxin's head. With just a thought from Wang Qingshan, the massive green sword could sever her head.

Witnessing this, Wang Qingjun and the other Wang family members all wore smug expressions, while the Han family disciples were left utterly dumbfounded.

In the blink of an eye, Han Yuxin was defeated.

Han Yuxin's face flushed crimson as she gnashed her teeth and declared, "Let's go. This place belongs to your Wang family now."

Han Yuxin dejectedly led her clansmen away, while Wang Qingjun and the others burst into laughter.

"Qingjun, send people to guard this place, and we'll set up the teleportation array later."

Wang Qingshan instructed, then with a single hand gesture, the massive green sword transformed into a streak of green light and flew back into its scabbard.

"Yes, Seventh Brother."