Chapter 625: Double Seclusion

Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan exchanged glances. Both were somewhat tempted.

Xuan-grade and Huang-grade cultivation techniques typically have many bottlenecks. Since establishing his foundation, Wang Changsheng's cultivation had been smooth sailing, encountering no bottlenecks. Wang Ruyan, however, had been stuck at the sixth layer of Foundation Establishment for over thirty years, clearly demonstrating the importance of a good cultivation technique.

The "Heavenly Sound Turning Sea Technique" was an Earth-grade cultivation technique, and it was a complementary art to the "True Scripture of Gui Shui." No wonder cultivating the "True Scripture of Gui Shui" required a powerful spiritual sense. The "True Scripture of Gui Shui" and the "Heavenly Sound Turning Sea Technique" were practically tailor-made for Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan.

"You just want me to help open the restriction? No other demands?"

Wang Changsheng found it a little hard to believe.

"Compared to the treasures left behind by the Zhenhai Sect, other things are insignificant. Besides, you wouldn't agree to overly excessive demands anyway, would you, Fellow Daoist Wang?"

Immortal Violet Moon smiled faintly, her gaze fixed on Wang Changsheng.

Wang Changsheng pondered for a moment, then said, "I can agree to go treasure hunting with you, but I'll need to bring my wife along."

"That's not a problem. Here are the cultivation methods for the first eight layers of the 'Heavenly Sound Turning Sea Technique.' Actually, opening the Zhenhai Sect ruins benefits all of us. As far as I know, the first nine layers of the Zhenhai Sect's three core cultivation techniques were scattered outside, but the subsequent methods are all within the Zhenhai Sect's Inheritance Hall. If Fellow Daoist Wang wants the later techniques, you must search for them in the Zhenhai Sect's Inheritance Hall."

As Immortal Violet Moon spoke, she took out a light blue seashell and handed it to Wang Ruyan.

In the South Sea cultivation world, seashells were commonly used to record cultivation techniques and ancient texts. It was said that some high-level cultivators would engrave the location of their meditation caves onto a seashell before their demise, waiting for a fated person to discover them.

Wang Ruyan's spiritual sense probed inside, and a look of deep joy appeared on her face.

"With the aid of the Worldly Spiritual Water, Fellow Daoist Wang should be able to cultivate to the fifth layer of Core Formation within forty years. At that time, I will invite you again to go treasure hunting."

Immortal Violet Moon stood up to bid farewell. Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan personally saw her off.

After seeing Immortal Violet Moon off, Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan returned to their residence to discuss their strategy.

Changing cultivation techniques was quite troublesome. Wang Ruyan was at the first layer of Core Formation, and switching techniques would take at least thirty to forty years. Since she cultivated sound-based techniques, the Lapis Lazuli Tide Moonstone wasn't very useful to her.

According to Immortal Violet Moon, the "Heavenly Sound Turning Sea Technique" and the "True Scripture of Gui Shui" were complementary techniques. Even setting aside their complementary nature, an Earth-grade cultivation technique alone was worth Wang Ruyan changing her current practice.

The "Thousand Sounds Treasure Scripture" she cultivated could only reach the third layer of Core Formation and had many bottlenecks, having stalled her for over thirty years during the Foundation Establishment stage.

Wang Changsheng was already at the third layer of Core Formation. With the aid of the Worldly Spiritual Water and the Lapis Lazuli Tide Moonstone, it was only a matter of time before he advanced to the fourth layer. In that case, a third-tier low-grade spiritual vein would no longer be sufficient. Wang Ruyan planned to return to the Eastern Wasteland to cultivate and would only return to the South Sea once she had cultivated the "Heavenly Sound Turning Sea Technique" to the seventh layer.

"Wife, are you really set on changing your cultivation technique? Thirty to forty years is a conservative estimate; it might take fifty or sixty years if it takes longer."

Wang Changsheng said with some concern.

Wang Ruyan smiled charmingly, took Wang Changsheng's hand, and said earnestly, "Husband, my mind is made up. I want to be your capable assistant, not a burden."

Her power was relatively weak; during combat, she needed Wang Changsheng to look after her, which made her feel uneasy.

Wang Changsheng sighed softly and said no more.

The next day, Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan left Sea Cucumber Island and headed for Spirit Turtle Market.

After purchasing a batch of supplies, Wang Ruyan teleported away.

Upon returning to his residence, Wang Changsheng gave a few instructions to Wang Qiuyan and others before entering his secluded cultivation chamber.

He took out the Lapis Lazuli Tide Moonstone, and a large number of blue light specks appeared in the room, surging towards the stone.

Before long, the water spiritual energy in the room became extremely abundant.

Wang Changsheng took out a white porcelain bottle and cast a spell on it. A large stream of piercingly cold blue liquid shot out, surging towards him and slowly seeping into his body through the pores on his skin.

Wang Changsheng's body glowed with a dazzling blue light, his muscles bulged, and cracking sounds occasionally emanated from within his bones.

In his dantian, a light blue inner core slowly began to spin, and wisps of blue mist surged into it.

Golden Cloud Island was a small island, two hundred and thirty li long and one hundred and twenty-one li wide, inhabited by a Chen family of cultivators.

The highest-ranking cultivator in the Chen family was Chen Wenming, who was at the sixth layer of Foundation Establishment.

The Chen family had four Foundation Establishment cultivators, over a hundred Qi Refining cultivators, and more than three hundred thousand mortals.

The Chen family rented five islands: two small islands and three tiny islands.

Generally, unless it was a major event, other family members would not disturb Chen Wenming's cultivation. However, on this day, a sound transmission talisman flew in.

"Seventh Uncle, three Foundation Establishment cultivators are outside. They claim to be from the Wang family of Sea Cucumber Island and wish to discuss important matters with us."

"The Wang family of Sea Cucumber Island?"

Chen Wenming frowned. He knew of Sea Cucumber Island; it seemed to have been leased by a senior cultivator.

The South Sea cultivation world operated on a system of layered tributes in exchange for protection. It seemed the Wang family was there to collect their due.

He quickly walked out and met two men and one woman in the reception hall.

Zhao Zheng, Wang Qiuyan, and Wang Qingyun were responsible for consolidating the cultivating families near Sea Cucumber Island. They would collect protection fees before offering protection.

"I am Chen Wenming, greetings to the three Fellow Daoists Wang."

Chen Wenming forced a smile and spoke politely.

"My surname is Zhao, and I am a son-in-law of the family. Fellow Daoist Chen, you must know why we're here, right?"

Zhao Zheng briefly introduced himself and got straight to the point.

"Yes, I know. Our Chen family is small and weak, and we don't have much to offer. Please understand our situation, Fellow Daoists."

Chen Wenming said with a forced smile. This was the rule in the South Sea cultivation world, but being approached to collect protection fees made him very uncomfortable.

"One thousand spirit stones per year. If you encounter any trouble that requires our assistance, that will be an additional charge. If you discover any cultivation resources and report them to our Wang family, we will reward you. Do you understand, Fellow Daoist Chen?"

Zhao Zheng said with a smile.

"What? One thousand spirit stones a year? That's too expensive! We only pay eight hundred spirit stones annually to rent Golden Cloud Island. Fellow Daoist Zhao, please consider our difficulties."

Chen Wenming said with a frown.

In fact, one thousand spirit stones wasn't much. The South Sea was rich in cultivation resources, and demon beasts were countless.

"Uncle, I see Fellow Daoist Chen and his family are not having an easy time. One thousand spirit stones is indeed a bit much. Uncle, how about this? The Chen family will provide six thousand jin of first-tier low-grade spirit grain annually."

Wang Qiuyan interceded for Chen Wenming.

Chen Wenming's mouth twitched. He wished he could cleave Wang Qiuyan with a sword. In the market, one spirit stone could buy five jin of first-tier low-grade spirit grain, so six thousand jin of first-tier low-grade spirit grain could be sold for twelve hundred spirit stones. However, first-tier low-grade spirit grain wasn't easy to sell, as many cultivation powers cultivated their own.

"What? Fellow Daoist Chen isn't willing? Then it's one thousand spirit stones annually!"

Chen Wenming realized that Zhao Zheng and Wang Qiuyan were playing good cop, bad cop.

"We'll provide six thousand jin of first-tier low-grade spirit grain annually! Our Chen family can manage that."

As long as they cultivated more spirit grain, they could fulfill the task. Besides, first-tier low-grade spirit grain was difficult to sell and was mostly kept for their own consumption.

"Alright, then it's settled. Words alone are not enough; let's draw up a contract. We'll send someone to collect the spirit grain every year."

Zhao Zheng took out a contract, and both he and Chen Wenming signed it, formally establishing a subordinate relationship.

"Well, we have other matters to attend to, so we'll take our leave now."

Chen Wenming dared not be neglectful and personally saw the three of them off.

"Seventh Uncle, six thousand jin of first-tier low-grade spirit grain is no small amount."

A middle-aged man said with a worried expression.

"The Wang family wants six thousand jin from us, so we'll ask the Zhao, Li, and Sun families for three hundred jin each. We'll still make a profit of three thousand jin."

The Chen family couldn't compare to the Wang family, but the Chen family also had subordinate forces.

"These three cultivating families occupy tiny islands, and they don't have much spiritual farmland to begin with. Asking them for three hundred jin of spirit grain annually will be somewhat difficult."

"They have difficulties, but does our Chen family not have difficulties? This is how it will be. We'll keep our spiritual fields for cultivating spirit herbs, and the three families will provide the spirit grain. Anyway, these six thousand jin of spirit grain cannot be shouldered by our family. I can't be bothered with their lives or deaths; our Chen family members cannot go hungry. Hmph, I'm already being quite polite to them. The Li family of Blackwood Island is even more ruthless; every subordinate force has to hand over five hundred jin of spirit grain annually. The Coral Sea Region has no shortage of cultivators."

The Wang family demanded six thousand jin of first-tier low-grade spirit grain as protection fees from the Chen family. In turn, the Chen family demanded nine thousand jin from its subordinate forces. This layered exploitation was the reality of a cultivation world where strength reigned supreme.