Chapter 642: Tian Jiong

“Fellow Daoist Wang, please have a taste of this Purple Bamboo Spirit Tea I just acquired,” Immortal Violet Moon said, picking up the teapot and pouring Wang Changsheng a steaming cup of spirit tea.

The tea was purple and emitted an unusual fragrance, with some purple tea leaves floating on the surface.

Wang Changsheng took a sip from his teacup and praised, “Excellent, Immortal Violet Moon. Last time you mentioned that only Gold Core cultivators practicing the three principal cultivation techniques of Zhenhai Sect, when united, can open the seals of the Zhenhai Sect ruins. I wonder if you could introduce them to me?”

“Introduce them?” Immortal Violet Moon shook her head and said, “I’m afraid that’s not possible. To be frank, Fellow Daoist Wang, those two don’t know each other. Unless we are going to break the seals of the Zhenhai Sect ruins, they won’t appear.”

“You must know the Fellow Daoist who appeared on Sea Cucumber Island last time, right? We’ll be working together to retrieve treasures in the future, so it’s good to get acquainted beforehand. That way, we can look out for each other if anything comes up.”

A somewhat loud male voice suddenly rang out: “Fellow Daoist Wang is right. It’s good to get acquainted beforehand, so we can look out for each other if anything comes up.”

No sooner had he spoken, a kindly-faced old man in a red robe walked out.

Upon seeing the red-robed old man, a flicker of surprise passed through Wang Changsheng’s eyes.

The red-robed old man was at the eighth layer of the Gold Core stage, yet he chose to hide in the shadows, not showing himself in public.

He remembered Immortal Violet Moon mentioning that the three principal cultivation techniques of Zhenhai Sect were the *True Blazing Aura Technique*, the *Heavenly Sound Overturning Sea Technique*, and the *True Kui Water Scripture*. Could the red-robed old man be cultivating the *True Blazing Aura Technique*?

The *True Blazing Aura Technique* was a Heaven-grade cultivation art. With the red-robed old man’s strength at the eighth layer of the Gold Core stage, he should be able to sweep aside all Gold Core cultivators!

Since achieving the Gold Core stage, Wang Changsheng had only once fought against a rogue cultivator who practiced an Earth-grade cultivation art. He had needed Ye Lin’s help to kill that opponent. Cultivators of Heaven-grade arts were likely even stronger.

“I am Wang Changsheng. May I know your esteemed name, Fellow Daoist?”

Wang Changsheng stood up, cupped his fists respectfully towards the red-robed old man, and spoke with a polite tone.

“This old man is Tian Jiong.”

“Tian? Fellow Daoist Tian, are you related to Immortal Violet Moon?” Wang Changsheng said meaningfully, remembering that Immortal Violet Moon’s surname was Tian.

Tian Jiong didn’t seem worried about Wang Changsheng discovering his relationship with Immortal Violet Moon; he appeared quite at ease with Wang Changsheng.

If Wang Changsheng were a lone cultivator, Immortal Violet Moon would naturally not be at ease.

The Wang family had been continuously dispatching personnel to the Coral Sea for years. With a little attention, it could be deduced that Wang Changsheng hailed from the Eastern Barrens and was not a cultivator from the South Sea cultivation world. From this, it could be determined that Wang Changsheng was not a spy for the Sun and Moon Palace.

Wang Changsheng came from a cultivation family, with his family to consider. As the saying goes, ‘a monk may flee, but the temple remains.’ Thus, Tian Jiong and Immortal Violet Moon naturally felt reassured about Wang Changsheng.

Those with families have many concerns and won’t act too ruthlessly. Unlike rogue cultivators who roam freely, with no ties or obligations, they can simply flee if trouble arises, improve their cultivation, and return later for revenge. Many powers prefer not to provoke rogue cultivators.

“Qing’er is my great-granddaughter. Our ancestors were Elder Propagators of Zhenhai Sect.”

Wang Changsheng narrowed his eyes slightly and said, “Fellow Daoist Tian, you’ve spoken so frankly. Aren’t you afraid I’ll report you? Or does this mean you’ve already investigated me?”

Wang Changsheng wasn't surprised that Immortal Violet Moon had sent people to investigate his background; if it were him, Wang Changsheng would have done the same.

The Wang family’s continuous deployment of personnel to the South Sea indeed made it difficult to hide their activities from those who paid attention.

Tian Jiong nodded and said sincerely, “Let’s be frank. We naturally investigated your background, Fellow Daoist Wang. The Sun and Moon Palace has never given up on apprehending us. My kin fell into a trap set by Sun and Moon Palace spies and died at the hands of their Law Enforcement Elders. As the saying goes, ‘once bitten by a snake, one fears a rope for ten years.’ Fellow Daoist Wang, please understand. We mean no harm; it’s merely a means of self-protection. In fact, we should stick together. The Sun and Moon Palace, when dealing with cultivators who practice the Zhenhai Sect’s principal techniques, would rather kill three thousand innocent people than let a single one escape.”

Immortal Violet Moon nodded in agreement.

Wang Changsheng remained silent for a moment, then asked Tian Jiong, “Fellow Daoist Tian, you cultivate the *True Blazing Aura Technique*, don’t you?”

“That’s right. The technique I cultivate is indeed the *True Blazing Aura Technique*. There’s also someone who cultivates the *Heavenly Sound Overturning Sea Technique*, but she isn’t here. She rarely shows herself on ordinary days, so you’ll probably only meet her when we’re retrieving the treasures.”

Wang Changsheng nodded and said sincerely, “I am from the Eastern Barrens, and my ancestors were disciples of Zhenhai Sect. My ancestors repeatedly warned not to easily display the secret arts of the *True Kui Water Scripture* in the South Sea, to avoid being recognized and causing unnecessary trouble. I apologize for the previous misunderstandings.”

Since Tian Jiong had spoken so frankly, Wang Changsheng felt it was inappropriate to continue concealing things. In fact, the information he revealed wasn’t a major secret, and he was here to ask Immortal Violet Moon for help anyway.

He finally understood why Immortal Violet Moon could possess the *Heavenly Sound Overturning Sea Technique*. It turned out their ancestors were Elder Propagators of Zhenhai Sect.

“No problem, it’s pretty much as we suspected. During the internal strife within Zhenhai Sect back then, several disciples from the Scripture Pavilion went missing. Those must have been your ancestors, Fellow Daoist Wang. If Zhenhai Sect were still around, we would be fellow disciples.”

Tian Jiong’s tone was filled with warmth and familiarity. Wang Changsheng’s family background was quite clean, and Tian Jiong genuinely wanted to befriend him, to facilitate treasure hunting in the future.

Wang Changsheng’s eyes glinted, and he smiled, “How about this: from now on, I’ll privately address you as Senior Brother Tian and Senior Sister Tian.”

He also wanted to foster a good relationship with Tian Jiong and his granddaughter, which would also benefit the development of the Wang family.

Tian Jiong and Immortal Violet Moon exchanged glances, then nodded to each other.

“Then this old man won’t stand on ceremony,” Tian Jiong said. “Junior Brother Wang, since we are all descendants of Zhenhai Sect, we should interact more often.”

The smile on Tian Jiong’s face deepened, and his tone became warmer.

“Senior Brother Tian, there’s something I don’t understand,” Wang Changsheng said. “Why did the Sun and Moon Palace continue to hunt down Zhenhai Sect disciples after annihilating Zhenhai Sect? Was it truly to eradicate them completely? So many years have passed, yet the Sun and Moon Palace still hasn’t given up apprehending Zhenhai Sect disciples. Why is that?”

Wang Changsheng felt that there must be another reason why the Sun and Moon Palace had issued a heavy bounty for Zhenhai Sect disciples and still hadn’t given up on apprehending them after centuries.

“It might be related to Zhenhai Sect’s foundational treasure,” Tian Jiong mused. “According to our ancestors, Zhenhai Sect’s foundational treasure, the Sea-Suppressing Bell, restrains the Sun and Moon Palace’s foundational treasure, the Sun and Moon Wheel. There are other rumors, but I believe our ancestors’ conjecture is closer to the truth.”

Wang Changsheng nodded thoughtfully, chatted for a few more moments, then got straight to the point: “Senior Brother Tian, Senior Sister Tian, to be frank with you, I came this time to ask for your help in hunting a third-tier lightning-attribute demonic beast. This matter will assist us in retrieving the treasures.”

If Ye Lin consumes a large quantity of Blood Essence Pills, he can recover some of his lifespan. Then, when it’s time to retrieve the treasures, Ye Lin can also assist.

“A third-tier lightning-attribute demonic beast? Are you planning to refine a magic treasure?” Immortal Violet Moon asked, a hint of confusion in her voice.