Chapter 679: The Exceptionally Intelligent Yellow Dragon Immortal

Lightning flashed and thunder roared incessantly as a vast expanse of silver light enveloped Wang Qingshan. The silver light continuously expanded, creating an astonishing spectacle.

A short while later, the dark clouds had shrunk to only a few tens of feet in size.

A deafening roar erupted as the dark clouds transformed into a thick silver pillar of lightning, plunging into the expanding silver light. The lightning flared immensely, and waves of energy surged.

Moments later, the silver lightning dissipated, revealing Wang Qingshan barely clothed, his skin somewhat charred. The small silver lock on his chest had vanished, and a powerful spiritual energy fluctuation emanated from him.

“I’ve finally formed my core,” Wang Qingshan murmured, letting out a soft breath, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

After years of arduous cultivation, he had finally formed his core. From this moment, he was a Core Formation cultivator.

“Congratulations, Seventh Uncle, on forming your Core!” Wang Qiuhong flew over, congratulating Wang Qingshan with a joyful expression.

Wang Qingshan smiled, nodded, and stood up, asking, “Was everything alright in the clan while I was in seclusion?”

“Not long ago, three minor families jointly attacked our Wang family. Great-Uncle used a formation to capture the invading cultivators. He then led Tenth Aunt and others to wipe out those three families. The three cultivating families, led by the Liu family, had previously destroyed five masters of Red Lotus Island. If Great-Uncle hadn’t been here this time, we would likely have had to ask Seventh Uncle to intervene.”

Wang Qingshan frowned. “An attack? Tell me exactly what happened!”

Wang Qiuhong did not dare to delay and truthfully recounted the events.

“Why bother Great-Uncle with such a minor matter?” Wang Qingshan knew about Ye Lin’s situation; he was aware that Ye Lin had once been a Core Formation cultivator.

“Great-Uncle himself suggested it,” Wang Qiuhong replied. “Perhaps he was worried about Qingling and the others. We simply have too few available people.”

“Let it pass this time, but don't let it happen again. Great-Uncle is an elder; minor matters like this should be handled by others. Now, I have just formed my core, and I need to go into seclusion for a period of intensive cultivation. Unless it's something important, do not disturb me.”

Wang Qiuhong readily agreed. Wang Qingshan had formed his core, and his status was now much higher than before.

“Oh, and send people to collect refining materials for flying swords,” Wang Qingshan added.

Wang Qingshan possessed a flying sword artifact, but it was one previously used by someone else, of low grade, and thus unsuitable for a natal artifact.

“Yes, Seventh Uncle,” Wang Qiuhong replied, then agreed and turned to leave.

About two weeks later, Wang Qingling and the others returned.

They had annihilated three cultivating families. Thanks to Ye Lin’s protection, the Foundation Establishment cultivators were unharmed, though seven Qi Condensation cultivators were either killed or injured.

They obtained a large amount of wealth, valued at over two million spirit stones. In addition, they found four Profound-grade cultivation techniques that could be cultivated to the Core Formation stage:

The “Profound Ice Secret Canon,” an ice-attribute technique, could be cultivated up to the sixth layer of Core Formation.

The “Grand Yang Great Law,” a fire-attribute technique, could be cultivated up to the ninth layer of Core Formation.

The “Myriad Waves True Scripture,” a water-attribute technique, could be cultivated up to the ninth layer of Core Formation.

And the “Azure Sea True Scroll,” another water-attribute technique, could be cultivated up to the seventh layer of Core Formation.

A cultivating family guarded by only three Foundation Establishment cultivators possessed such a deep foundation of wealth, not to mention other cultivating forces.

As soon as they returned to Red Lotus Island, they learned of Wang Qingshan’s successful Core Formation.

Wang Qingling and the others were overjoyed. With Wang Qingshan's advancement to the Core Formation stage, the Wang family now boasted three Core Formation cultivators.

Wang Qiuhong spread the news. Learning of Wang Qingshan’s Core Formation, Immortal Purple Cloud specifically came to congratulate him, presenting a nascent artifact as a congratulatory gift.

“Immortal Zhao, you are too kind,” Wang Qingshan said. “How is Ninth Uncle doing?”

“Fellow Daoist Wang is still in seclusion and has not yet emerged,” Immortal Purple Cloud replied. “Fellow Daoist Wang, why don’t you also come to our Thousand Puppet Sect to cultivate? The spiritual energy on Red Lotus Island might not be sufficient to support your cultivation.”

While Red Lotus Island was rich in fire spiritual energy, it wasn't suitable for Wang Qingshan.

“Thank you for your kindness, Immortal Zhao,” Wang Qingshan said. “Red Lotus Island is quite good as it is.”

Wang Qingshan politely declined. He planned to go into seclusion to cultivate the sword spiritual art given by Wang Changsheng; having such a spiritual art would greatly enhance his strength. As for spiritual veins, he could seize an island later and upgrade its spiritual vein to third-tier.

Collecting the array materials needed to upgrade the spiritual vein would also take time, which would not hinder Wang Qingshan’s cultivation.

Hearing this, Immortal Purple Cloud did not press the matter. After a few casual remarks, she bid farewell and left.

The news that Red Lotus Island had gained another Core Formation cultivator quickly spread. Cultivating families belonging to the Thousand Puppet Sect’s rival forces began to relocate, fearing that they might be annihilated by the Wang family one day.

Coral Sea, Yellow Dragon Island.

True Monarch Yellow Dragon and two elders were discussing something, their expressions solemn.

“The ‘Nine Underworld Heavenly Illusory Canon,’ a Heaven-grade cultivation technique, is actually the foundational technique of the Nine Underworld Sect in the Northern Territory,” True Monarch Yellow Dragon said with a strange expression, smiling. “Tsk, tsk, it’s truly tempting!”

Yellow Dragon Island's foundation was not comparable to that of the Cold Flame Sect or Heavenly Sea Pavilion; they only possessed one Earth-grade cultivation technique as their foundational technique. Now, with a Heaven-grade cultivation technique suddenly appearing, it would be a lie to say that True Monarch Yellow Dragon and the two elders were not tempted.

The jade slip clearly stated that the “Nine Underworld Heavenly Illusory Canon” was the Nine Underworld Sect’s foundational technique and should not be cultivated.

From the information provided by Lin Zhong and others, True Monarch Yellow Dragon felt something was amiss. How could it be such a coincidence? His first reaction was that the technique was fake, but then he considered that creating a false technique seemed to offer no significant benefit, beyond perhaps causing the death of a few cultivators who practiced it.

They had never been to the Northern Territory, but they had heard of the Nine Underworld Sect’s reputation. After all, as Nascent Soul cultivators, their knowledge was far richer than that of low-tier cultivators.

Putting everything else aside, simply based on the phrase “foundational technique of the sect,” True Monarch Yellow Dragon would never allow anyone to cultivate it. If a cultivator not from Yellow Dragon Island were to practice their own foundational technique, he would surely annihilate them. So, if he allowed others to cultivate the “Nine Underworld Heavenly Illusory Canon,” wouldn’t that just be asking for trouble?

“Could this be a scheme by the Cold Flame Sect? Are they intentionally trying to trap us?”

True Monarch Yellow Dragon shook his head. “Probably not. If the Cold Flame Sect obtained this technique, even if they didn’t cultivate it, there would be no need to deliberately pass it to us. This is a Heaven-grade technique, and they certainly wouldn't explicitly state that it’s the foundational technique of the Nine Underworld Sect. This Ye Lin specifically warned anyone who found it not to cultivate the ‘Nine Underworld Heavenly Illusory Canon.’ If it truly were a trap, these words shouldn't have been left behind.”

“Fellow Daoist Yellow,” one of the elders, a red-robed man in his fifties, suggested, “Regardless of whether the technique has problems, we should not allow our disciples to cultivate it. I suggest sending people to the Northern Territory to investigate the Nine Underworld Sect’s foundational technique and Ye Lin. This isn't a difficult task, but we must be careful not to let the Nine Underworld Sect discover us. Otherwise, we won’t be able to clear our names, even if we jump into the Yellow River.”

“If the technique is real, even if it's only the first half, as long as we have enough illusionary materials, cultivating to the Core Formation stage should be no problem,” the other elder, an older man, offered. “We can divert this trouble. We’ll change the technique’s name, delete the Nine Underworld Sect’s information, and let the Heavenly Sea Pavilion disciples obtain it. Hmph, in recent years, third-party forces have frequently stirred up trouble, trying to incite conflict between our Yellow Dragon Island and the Cold Flame Sect. It’s always either Heavenly Sea Pavilion or Taiyi Immortal Sect. We can't afford to provoke Taiyi Immortal Sect, but Heavenly Sea Pavilion is different. If the technique is real, and the Nine Underworld Sect finds out that Heavenly Sea Pavilion cultivators are practicing the ‘Nine Underworld Heavenly Illusory Canon,’ there will definitely be a good show to watch.”

True Monarch Yellow Dragon nodded. “This plan is excellent; let’s proceed with it! First, send people to the Northern Territory to investigate the Nine Underworld Sect’s foundational technique and Ye Lin’s identity. As for the ‘Nine Underworld Heavenly Illusory Canon,’ seal it away for now. Instruct the disciples who found the technique to keep silent and not discuss this matter. Those who disobey will be punished as traitors to the sect.”

It would be false to say that True Monarch Yellow Dragon was not tempted by the “Nine Underworld Heavenly Illusory Canon.” However, he was not blinded by greed. Even if he were completely mad, he would never allow his disciples to cultivate this technique.

If Ye Lin had not warned anyone who found it not to cultivate the “Nine Underworld Heavenly Illusory Canon,” and also specified that it was the Nine Underworld Sect’s foundational technique, True Monarch Yellow Dragon would have suspected someone was setting a trap for Yellow Dragon Island. If it truly were a trap, it wouldn't have been stated so clearly. Regardless, he would not allow his disciples to cultivate the “Nine Underworld Heavenly Illusory Canon”; that would be seeking their own demise.

Whether it was a trap or not, he would not allow his disciples to cultivate it. It was far better to let others bear the burden.