Chapter 658: Sneak Attack

“Dry Ice Flag! A replica of a Heaven-reaching Spirit Treasure?”

Wang Changsheng’s eyes gleamed with fervor, but he quickly shook his head, a wry smile spreading across his face. He knew he could only look at it; there was no way this replica of a Heaven-reaching Spirit Treasure would ever fall into his hands.

“Starting bid one million spirit stones, with each increment no less than two hundred thousand.”

No sooner had Lu Yang’s voice faded than a resonant male voice suddenly rang out, “This old man bids one and a half million. We hope fellow Daoists will show some deference to our Mysterious Ice Island.”

The previous spirit treasure sold for two and a half million. This Dry Ice Flag would likely fetch an even higher price.

“Mysterious Ice Island?”

A hint of surprise flashed in Wang Changsheng’s eyes. The Nanhai Cultivation World was a place of many talented individuals, with numerous Nascent Soul rogue cultivators. The Five Immortals of Nanhai were five well-known Nascent Soul cultivators.

Old Man Beihan was the leader of the Five Immortals of Nanhai, incredibly powerful. It was said that Old Man Beihan had once slain a cultivator at the fourth layer of the Nascent Soul stage. Mysterious Ice Island was Old Man Beihan’s residence.

“Heh heh, Old Man Beihan’s reputation may be considerable, but our Ten Thousand Bone Sect is not to be trifled with. One point seven million.”

A slightly disdainful female voice rang out. From her tone, she clearly didn’t hold Old Man Beihan in high regard.

Wang Changsheng narrowed his eyes, following the source of the voice.

The speaker was an old woman in her early sixties, dressed in a white robe, with a cold expression. She held a white bone staff topped with a large skull. This was a Nascent Soul cultivator, with cultivation at the fifth layer of the Nascent Soul stage.

The Ten Thousand Bone Fiends sat respectfully behind the white-robed old woman.

“So, it's Madam Bai, the Vice Sect Master of the Ten Thousand Bone Sect. Two million.”

“Two point two million.”

Many Nascent Soul cultivators were bidding for the Dry Ice Flag, and the price continued to climb.

The white-robed old woman from the Ten Thousand Bone Sect seemed determined to win, directly shouting an exorbitant price of three and a half million. Others stopped bidding.

The black-robed man from the Ten Thousand Bone Fiends flew onto the high platform, paid the spirit stones, and returned to his seat with the Dry Ice Flag.

“The auction concludes here. Thank you, fellow Daoists and seniors, for gracing us with your presence. Next time, we will prepare even better items.”

With the auction over, the cultivators began to leave.

After exiting the golden pagoda, Wang Changsheng headed straight for the Palace of Many Treasures. He bought some third-grade artifact refining materials, intending to refine an ice-attribute banner magic treasure using the hide of an Ice Carp Beast.

As Wang Changsheng walked out of the Palace of Many Treasures, the black-robed man from the Ten Thousand Bone Fiends brushed past him.

A peculiar glint flashed in the black-robed man’s eyes as he gave Wang Changsheng’s retreating back a meaningful look.

The Soul Devouring Golden Cicada became agitated, transmitting various emotions—excitement, fear, and thrill—to Wang Changsheng.

The Ten Thousand Bone Sect was a demonic sect skilled in controlling ghosts and manipulating monsters. The black-robed man must have raised a ghost king-level ghost, which was why the Soul Devouring Golden Cicada became so restless.

Returning to his residence, Wang Changsheng took out his refining materials, ready to begin.

He retrieved the Ice Carp Beast’s hide, used a magic treasure to cut off a piece about a *zhang* in size, then opened his mouth to release his alchemical flames, enveloping the hide…

Time flew by, and a year passed quickly.

Wang Changsheng sat cross-legged on a futon, a shimmering white banner floating before him, emitting astonishing spiritual energy fluctuations.

Around him lay a pile of scattered artifact refining materials.

The embryonic form of the Ice Carp Banner was complete. If not for the lack of time, Wang Changsheng might have already refined a complete magic treasure.

A sound transmission talisman flew in. It was from Immortal Zi Yue, urging Wang Changsheng to depart.

Having been away for several years, Wang Changsheng also wanted to return; this trip had yielded considerable gains.

He put away the Ice Carp Banner and the refining materials on the ground, then walked out.

Less than an hour later, they left Wanxian Island and flew northeast.

Soon after, the Ten Thousand Bone Fiends also departed from Wanxian Island, pursuing Wang Changsheng and his two companions.

The Ten Thousand Bone Fiends were Lu Xuan and Chen Ying, who had long set their sights on the trio.

Lu Xuan possessed a ghost king-level ghost. He had expended a vast amount of energy and resources to cultivate it to the ghost king stage. However, for some unknown reason, whenever he approached Wang Changsheng, the ghost would become agitated and uneasy, as if it had encountered its nemesis.

This situation was extremely rare, and Lu Xuan was curious, intending to uncover the secret behind Wang Changsheng.

Wang Changsheng and his two companions were flying swiftly when Wang Changsheng suddenly frowned and whispered, “Senior Brother Tian, two Core Formation cultivators are following us, and they seem to be heading for us.”

Wang Changsheng’s divine sense was naturally stronger than that of cultivators at the same level. He didn’t know why, but despite being at the fourth layer of the Core Formation stage, his divine sense was no worse than that of a seventh-layer Core Formation cultivator.

They had been in seclusion for a year and had not interacted with other cultivators during this period. Either it was a coincidence, or the other party had been premeditating. Wang Changsheng immediately thought of the Ten Thousand Bone Fiends.

“Two people! Never mind, there are cultivators from the Sun Moon Palace lurking around here. Let’s find a place to hide. There’s no need to seek trouble.”

Tian Jiong frowned. They had encountered cultivators from the Sun Moon Palace at the auction a year ago, and Tian Jiong didn’t want to engage in conflict with other cultivators, fearing discovery by the Sun Moon Palace.

“Alright then! We’ll hide.”

Wang Changsheng also didn’t want to invite trouble. They accelerated their escape speed and soon vanished into the sky.

A day later, they landed on an oval-shaped desolate island.

Immortal Zi Yue took out a white banner and gently waved it. Countless white mist flew out, enveloping their three figures.

Soon after, the white mist dispersed, and Wang Changsheng and his two companions vanished.

Less than an hour later, two streaks of light appeared in the sky, soon arriving above the desolate island.

“Where are they? How did they suddenly disappear?”

Chen Ying frowned, her divine sense swiftly sweeping across the desolate island, but she found nothing.

Lu Xuan’s eyes darted around. He cupped his hands toward Wang Changsheng’s hiding spot and said, “Fellow Daoists, we mean no harm. This Lu has something to ask for your guidance and hopes you will grant us this courtesy.”

“No ill intent? Following us all this way? If you had something to ask, why didn’t you do it in the market? Do you take us for three-year-olds?”

With a flash of spiritual light, the figures of Wang Changsheng and his two companions appeared in an empty space.

Their expressions were grave, looking ready to fight at the slightest disagreement.

Lu Xuan and his wife had been following them, clearly harboring malicious intentions.

“This Lu truly means no harm, fellow Daoist. May I ask, presumptuously, if you are raising a ghost?”

Lu Xuan spoke politely. He was full of confidence, but Tian Jiong’s cultivation at the eighth layer of the Core Formation stage made him somewhat wary.

“No. If there’s nothing else, please return to where you came from, Esteemed Sir.”

Wang Changsheng shook his head, his tone cold.

“I am willing to exchange a magic treasure for it, how about that?”

Lu Xuan flipped his hand, revealing a green flying dagger, and spoke politely.

“Not interested. You…”

Wang Changsheng’s words were cut short as spatial fluctuations appeared behind Immortal Zi Yue. A green ghost claw suddenly shot out from the void, swiftly grabbing at Immortal Zi Yue’s head like lightning.

“Watch out!”

Wang Changsheng shouted loudly. A thunderous roar erupted as countless blue electric arcs appeared on his body, transforming into a massive blue thunderball that slammed into the ghost claw.

“Boom!”

A deafening explosion sounded, accompanied by a faint, piercing shriek.

Wang Changsheng’s eyes were filled with killing intent. Lu Xuan had clearly never intended to let them go; his previous actions were merely to lull them into a false sense of security. If not for the Soul Devouring Golden Cicada’s sudden warning, he wouldn’t have even detected the ghost’s presence.