Chapter 643: Joint Effort

The South Sea Immortal Cultivation World is rich in demonic beast resources. It is very common for high-level cultivators to hunt third-tier demonic beasts to refine magic treasures. Third-tier demonic beasts with lightning attributes are relatively rare, while those with water attributes are quite numerous.

"It's not for refining magic treasures," Wang Changsheng said. "I need a third-tier alchemist's help with something, and they require a third-tier lightning-attribute demonic core as payment. I only need the inner core; the rest belongs to you. In addition, I can offer you a sum of wealth as compensation. What do you think?"

Wang Changsheng's tone was sincere. Since he would be taking the most valuable third-tier demonic core from the beast, it was natural for him to offer some compensation.

Hearing this, Tian Jiong pondered for a moment and then asked, "Do you know the whereabouts of a third-tier lightning-attribute demonic beast?"

"No, I'm not very familiar with the South Sea Immortal Cultivation World," he replied. "That's why I wanted to ask for your help."

Wang Changsheng had asked Wang Qiufeng to send people to gather information. However, given the limited number of cultivators in the Wang family, they might not be able to find news of a third-tier lightning-attribute demonic beast. If it were that easy to locate one, Lin Ruoyi wouldn't have needed to ask Wang Changsheng for help.

"To be frank, Junior Brother Wang," Tian Jiong said, "I know a place where there are many third-tier demonic beasts. However, it's very chaotic there; even Nascent Soul cultivators could perish. It's a paradise for adventurers but also a graveyard for high-level cultivators."

Wang Changsheng frowned slightly and said with a solemn expression, "Brother Tian, are you referring to the Myriad Monster Sea?"

The Myriad Monster Sea is a region dominated by demonic races, home to numerous high-level demonic cultivators. Most of its islands are controlled by demonic forces. While large-scale auctions are frequently held there, and rare treasures often emerge, incidents of murder and robbery are endless. It is even said that Nascent Soul cultivators have been ambushed and killed, clearly demonstrating the extreme chaos of the Myriad Monster Sea.

"That's right," Tian Jiong confirmed. "To be honest, Junior Brother Wang, Qing'er and I are preparing to go to the Myriad Monster Sea to hunt for a top-grade, third-tier fire-attribute demonic beast and purchase some cultivation resources along the way. We could travel together. What do you think?"

"Purchase cultivation resources?" Wang Changsheng asked, somewhat surprised.

Tian Jiong cultivated a Heaven-grade technique called the "Blazing True Aura Art," so the cultivation resources he needed were undoubtedly extraordinary.

"No problem," Wang Changsheng agreed. "Let's venture into the Myriad Monster Sea together."

Wang Changsheng had mastered two spirit arts and possessed a flying magic treasure. With Tian Jiong and Tian Qing'er joining them, as long as they didn't encounter any Nascent Soul cultivators, they would have no problem retreating safely.

Fairy Ziyue smiled sweetly and said, "Alright, then let's go to the Myriad Monster Sea together."

The next day, Wang Changsheng, Tian Jiong, and Tian Qing'er departed from Purple Bamboo Island.

At Spirit Turtle Market, Wang Tianqi strolled along a wide street.

Wang Tianqi, Wang Changsheng's great-granddaughter, now possessed a cultivation level of Foundation Establishment Stage Four, having cultivated the "Cold Moon Tide Origin Art." She had studied artifact refining, talisman crafting, alchemy, and array formations, though her performance in these areas was mediocre. However, she was meticulous and skilled at discovering problems from subtle clues, making her responsible for intelligence gathering.

She commanded over twenty Qi Condensation cultivators whose primary role was intelligence gathering. Cultivation resources were distributed by the family, and significant contributions were met with generous rewards. Wang Changsheng had recently visited Spirit Turtle Market and given Wang Tianqi a sum of spirit stones. Wang Tianqi intended to use them to purchase pills from an elixir shop to accelerate her cultivation speed.

Not long after, she appeared at the entrance of a three-story green pavilion. This was the Thousand Elixir Pavilion, a thousand-year-old establishment known for the good quality of its elixirs, making it highly popular among cultivators. The hall was spacious and brightly lit, with dozens of Qi Condensation cultivators standing in front of the counter. Wang Tianqi did not linger in the hall but headed straight for the second floor.

The second floor was smaller, and all the customers there were Foundation Establishment cultivators.

"Get me three bottles of Ice Origin Pills," Wang Tianqi instructed the clerk at the counter.

The clerk acknowledged her request and turned to walk towards the shelves.

"I'll also take three bottles of Ice Origin Pills," a man's voice suddenly rang out. A middle-aged man in his early thirties, with a handlebar mustache and a fair complexion, and a cultivation level of Qi Condensation Stage Eight, walked to the counter. Wang Tianqi casually glanced at the middle-aged man, a hint of surprise flickering in the depths of her beautiful eyes.

"Senior, here are the Ice Origin Pills you requested."

Wang Tianqi paid the spirit stones and left with long strides. She did not immediately return to her residence but instead lingered near the Thousand Elixir Pavilion. Not long after, the middle-aged man walked out and began strolling along the street. Wang Tianqi discreetly followed the middle-aged man. The street was bustling with pedestrians, and the middle-aged man did not notice her. Half an hour later, the middle-aged man entered an inn.

Wang Tianqi took out a communication plate and made a series of gestures on it. Fifteen minutes later, two men and one woman arrived at the inn.

"Keep a close eye on him, and don't let him discover you," Wang Tianqi instructed. "I'll send people to relieve you. I need to know every place he visits, everyone he meets, everything he eats, and everything he uses. Understand?"

"Understood," they replied.

The three were all experienced members of the Wang family, specializing in intelligence gathering.

Upon returning to her residence, Wang Tianqi took out a green seashell, a thoughtful expression appearing on her face. As the head of the intelligence hall, she was responsible not only for gathering information on the whereabouts of third-tier demonic beasts but also for keeping abreast of the situations of the leaders of various major forces in the Coral Sea. Moreover, she was thoroughly familiar with the status of the Wang family's affiliated forces.

The middle-aged man was named Ye Xiaoyong and hailed from the Ye family on Octopus Island. The Ye family was an affiliated force of the Wang family, with only one Foundation Establishment cultivator, Ye Zhangdong, and fewer than fifty cultivators in total, making them quite weak. Ye Xiaoyong was a descendant of Ye Zhangdong and a key cultivation target for the Ye family. The intelligence hall had talents specialized in portrait drawing, and Ye Xiaoyong's portrait was also on file. The Wang family had previously considered annexing the Ye family but had not acted yet.

It was truly strange that the Ye family, being just a small family, suddenly purchased three bottles of Ice Origin Pills. Ice Origin Pills were second-tier, mid-grade elixirs, costing seven hundred spirit stones per bottle, meaning three bottles amounted to two thousand one hundred spirit stones. How had the Ye family suddenly become so affluent? The Ye family still had dozens of low-level cultivators to support; were they disregarding the well-being of these cultivators by spending over two thousand spirit stones on pills?

Three days later, her subordinates reported to Wang Tianqi.

"Hall Master," a subordinate reported, "he took five Qi Condensation cultivators to a weapon shop and purchased second-tier flying talisman soldiers."

Wang Tianqi remained silent. Second-tier flying talisman soldiers cost thousands of spirit stones. When had the Ye family become so extravagant? While Wang Tianqi could understand purchasing pills, buying flying talisman soldiers was puzzling. Had the Ye family become so wealthy that even their Qi Condensation cultivators were using second-tier flying talisman soldiers? Even the Wang family's Qi Condensation cultivators weren't that extravagant.

Wang Tianqi's intuition told her that there was something amiss with the Ye family. Either the Ye family had discovered an ancient cultivator's cave dwelling, or they had found some kind of cultivation resource.

"Have they left the market?" she asked.

"They have already left," her subordinate replied. "We were afraid of alarming them, so we didn't follow."

Wang Tianqi nodded and said, "Send a few people to guard the market entrance. If he appears again, send people to follow them and record their every move. Groups A, B, and C will rotate shifts for surveillance."

The intelligence hall had five teams, each consisting of five Qi Condensation cultivators. Wang Tianqi dispatched fifteen Qi Condensation cultivators to monitor Ye Xiaoyong, clearly demonstrating the importance she placed on him.

"Yes, Hall Master," they affirmed.