Chapter 592: Please Advise

Wang Changsheng immediately understood. It appeared the mastermind wished to remain anonymous. This made sense; even with an existing feud, a direct assault on an enemy's base would invite significant trouble if they couldn't be completely eliminated. If they could, it would be one thing, but failure to do so would lead to severe repercussions.

Hiring four Core Formation cultivators indicated a substantial investment by the enemy. The South Sea Immortal Cultivation World was indeed treacherous; even a sect like Wooden Dragon Pavilion, established for hundreds of years, could fall victim to an attack.

Sun Hongyu sighed with relief as the enemy retreated. The four attacking Core Formation cultivators were clearly mercenaries, unwilling to fight to the death, which explained their swift withdrawal.

Chen Yilong and his wife invited Wang Changsheng back to the island and dispatched someone to inform Wang Ruyan and Wang Huashan.

"Fellow Daoists, thank you for your assistance. This is a small token of our gratitude. Please remain at Wooden Dragon Pavilion for a few more days, and when you depart, I, Chen, will offer a more significant reward."

Chen Yilong presented three storage beads to Wang Changsheng and his companions. Each bead contained ten thousand spirit stones. Wooden Dragon Pavilion's power was not considerable; supporting the cultivation of their family of three, along with hundreds of low-level cultivators, was already a strain. Chen Yilong was keen to hire Wang Changsheng's group as guest elders but lacked sufficient funds for their compensation. Therefore, he requested them to stay on the island for a longer period to deter potential troublemakers. Until the enemy understood the relationship between Wang Changsheng's group and Chen Yilong, they were unlikely to return.

Wang Changsheng and his companions readily agreed without hesitation. They already had numerous questions they wished to ask Chen Yilong, so a refusal was out of the question.

"Fellow Daoist Chen, do you know the identity of the force that attacked your Wooden Dragon Pavilion? Can't you request intervention from the Cold Flame Sect? Furthermore, why haven't you established a teleportation array? Wouldn't that facilitate support?"

Wang Changsheng raised a series of questions, anticipating that the Wang family might face similar challenges if they were to establish themselves in the South Sea in the future.

"Recently, our Wooden Dragon Pavilion has experienced some friction with two factions, and they are likely responsible. However, asking the Cold Flame Sect to intervene is not feasible because we lack evidence. The Core Formation cultivators who attacked Wooden Dragon Pavilion all fled, so what grounds do we have? As for engaging the Cold Flame Sect, the cost is prohibitively high, beyond our means. The two islands are separated by over thirty thousand li. A second-tier teleportation array has a range of approximately ten thousand li, and only a third-tier array master can establish a third-tier array. Wooden Dragon Pavilion does not possess a third-tier array master; otherwise, we would have deployed a second-tier teleportation array long ago."

Although Chen Yilong could appeal to the Cold Flame Sect for intervention, the sect would not act without concrete evidence. Even if evidence existed, Wooden Dragon Pavilion had sustained no significant losses, so the Cold Flame Sect would at most issue a mild rebuke. When two subordinate factions engaged in conflict, both were expected to offer concessions to the Cold Flame Sect. Indeed, discord among their subordinate forces was precisely what the Cold Flame Sect desired, as it simplified their governance.

Wang Ruyan paused for a moment, then inquired with curiosity, "Fellow Daoist Chen, does the Cold Flame Sect truly allow others to act so recklessly? What if—and I emphasize 'if'—Wooden Dragon Pavilion were to be overthrown? What would happen then?"

Chen Yilong offered a wry smile and replied, "What else could happen? 'When the person leaves, the tea grows cold.' The Cold Flame Sect would simply reclaim the island. What else? However, it depends on the perpetrator. If it were an opposing force of the Cold Flame Sect, then they would certainly intervene on our behalf. The South Sea is far more intricate than you might imagine; I cannot fully explain it all at once. Please settle in comfortably, and I will elaborate gradually."

From Chen Yilong's explanation, it was clear that the mastermind was also a subordinate faction of the Cold Flame Sect.

Since it involved Wooden Dragon Pavilion's internal matters, Wang Changsheng chose not to press for more details.

"Fellow Daoist Chen, I wish to consult you on the methods for locating third-tier demonic beasts and subsequently eliminating them."

Wang Huashan sought Chen Yilong's advice on hunting demonic beasts. His primary objective in coming to the South Sea was to accumulate cultivation resources, a goal quite distinct from that of Wang Changsheng and his wife.

Chen Yilong responded candidly, withholding no information.

For cultivators, hunting third-tier demonic beasts largely depended on luck. Sea beasts of the third-tier and higher were agile. While beast-luring incense or specific items could be used to draw them out, this method was unreliable, sometimes only attracting second-tier creatures. Chen Yilong primarily relied on his disciples for searches, as an individual's power was finite; it was impossible for a high-tier cultivator to encounter third-tier demonic beasts simply by moving through an area. Instead, Chen Yilong dispatched numerous disciples to scout widely, reporting any signs of third-tier demonic beasts they discovered, which substantially increased the likelihood of finding them.

Wang Huashan greatly benefited from Chen Yilong's explanation. Had Chen Yilong not elaborated, he truly would have wasted time searching for third-tier demonic beasts indiscriminately.

"Oh, and by the way, you could also hunt second-tier demonic beasts. They are relatively easier to locate, and over time, you can still amass a considerable sum of spirit stones."

"Indeed! I've heard there's a Core Formation cultivator with a pockmarked face who exclusively hunts second-tier demonic beasts and doesn't even overlook first-tier ones."

Sun Hongyu chuckled in agreement.

"A Core Formation cultivator with a pockmarked face?"

Wang Changsheng and his companions exchanged glances, their immediate thought being that the description fit Huang Fugui.

Wang Changsheng had previously collaborated with Huang Fugui, and the description of this individual's conduct indeed aligned with Huang Fugui's known habits.

"That's right! Our Wooden Dragon Pavilion disciples have also encountered him. According to their accounts, his evasion speed is incredibly swift; even a third-tier mid-grade demonic bird couldn't keep up."

Upon hearing this, Wang Changsheng was certain that the Core Formation cultivator Chen Yilong described was indeed Huang Fugui. A Core Formation cultivator with a pockmarked face and astonishingly fast evasion speed was almost certainly Huang Fugui alone.

Wang Changsheng and his companions took up residence at Wooden Dragon Pavilion. Whenever time allowed, Wang Changsheng would seek out Chen Yilong for tea, conversation, and to exchange insights on artifact refining.

A month swiftly passed.

"Fellow Daoist Chen, we have trespassed for too long; it is time for us to depart."

Wang Changsheng bade farewell to Chen Yilong, stating that they could not reside at Wooden Dragon Pavilion indefinitely and that it was time to leave.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, have our subordinates somehow neglected you?"

Wang Ruyan offered a charming smile and replied, "Madam Chen, you've misunderstood; not in the slightest. We've enjoyed our stay immensely. However, we have pressing matters to attend to and cannot prolong our visit. We shall return as guests when we have the opportunity."

"Very well! Fellow Daoist Wang, I am presently occupied and cannot personally escort you to my friend. I will write a personal letter for you and provide a voice-transmitting seashell. You may visit him yourselves. Whether you obtain the Heavenly and Earthly Spiritual Water will be up to you."

Chen Yilong produced a blue seashell, spoke a few words into it, and then promptly wrote a personal letter, which he handed to Wang Changsheng.

Wang Changsheng expressed his gratitude and accepted both the blue seashell and the personal letter.

Chen Yilong and his wife personally escorted Wang Changsheng and his companions upon their departure, as a gesture of their sincerity.

Sun Hongyu watched Wang Changsheng and his companions walk away, then asked, "Husband, is Fellow Daoist Wang truly an artifact refiner?"

"Yes, his artifact refining skill surpasses mine. However, he seeks Heavenly and Earthly Spiritual Water, not necessarily for artifact refining. But that's not our concern; it's something Fellow Daoist Tian should consider. Let's move on from them. We must exercise caution during this period to avoid being ambushed. Things have been turbulent lately; Yellow Dragon Island and the Cold Flame Sect are in constant friction, and I've heard some subordinate forces have begun fighting. I hope the conflict ends swiftly and doesn't spill over to us."

As he spoke, a look of deep concern crossed Chen Yilong's face.

Should two major powers engage in open conflict, their subordinate factions would inevitably suffer the most.

"Let's hope so! It's a shame that Fellow Daoist Chen's companion is too old; otherwise, he might have been a suitable dual cultivation partner for Yue'er."

Sun Hongyu sighed, expressing a touch of disappointment.

Chen Yilong chuckled and said, "That girl has exceedingly high standards; I wonder who will ever truly impress her. Come, let's head back now!"