Chapter 689: The News of the Heavenly and Earthly Spirit Fire

Leaving Sanxian Island, Wang Changsheng released the Nine-Cloud Sparrow and jumped onto its back. With a clear cry, the Nine-Cloud Sparrow spread its wings and soared towards the sky.

The Sun-Moon Palace had only traced the matter to Huang Fugui; once they traced it to Wang Huashan, it would be easy to connect it to Wang Changsheng. This was a hidden danger.

Wang Changsheng needed to quickly enhance his strength and refine his Natal Artifact. This was his top priority.

Of course, he would first go to the Red Moon Sea to help Wang Qingshan complete his mission.

Upon returning to Sea Cucumber Island, Wang Changsheng instructed Wang Qiuling to manage the clan members well. They could form demon-hunting teams to hunt demonic beasts, but should not venture too far. Wang Qingjing had already cultivated to the eighth level of Foundation Establishment, and Wang Changsheng intended to focus on cultivating his daughter, helping her form her Core as much as possible.

"Father, I will cultivate diligently. You don't need to worry about me."

Wang Qingjing patted her chest and agreed. Even without Wang Changsheng's prompting, she would cultivate diligently.

After giving a few more instructions, Wang Changsheng left Sea Cucumber Island and headed to the Red Moon Sea.

As soon as he returned to Red Lotus Island, Wang Qiuhong informed Wang Changsheng of a startling piece of news.

"Heaven and Earth Spiritual Fire? Are you certain?"

Wang Changsheng was slightly stunned, his eyes shining with excitement.

Heaven and Earth Spiritual Fire, like Heaven and Earth Spiritual Water, was a naturally formed spiritual object. Spiritual fires would take a thousand years to form and over ten thousand years to gain sentience, making them incredibly precious.

Heaven and Earth Spiritual Fire offered boons to both alchemy and artifact refinement, and also aided in combat. The Myriad Flames Palace, one of the Ten Great Sects of the South Sea, possessed two Earth Fire Pools that were over ten thousand years old. More than a thousand years ago, the Palace Master of Myriad Flames Palace, using Heaven and Earth Spiritual Fire, slew two powerful enemies, making his name renowned throughout the South Sea cultivation world.

"The news came from a rogue cultivator, but the reward he's asking for is too high. He wants a Core-Forming spiritual item. Qiuli couldn't make the decision and sent someone back to ask for instructions."

Wang Qiuhong recounted the whole story. He had opened two shops in Qingli Market, with Wang Qiuli managing the Hundred Weapons Pavilion. A rogue cultivator named Cheng Zhenyu had regularly sold demonic beast materials to Wang Qiuli, and their cooperation had been quite good. A few months ago, Cheng Zhenyu visited again, claiming to have information about a Heaven and Earth Spiritual Fire, which he wanted to sell to the Wang family in exchange for a Core-Forming spiritual item.

If it were spirit stones or other items, Wang Qiuhong could have made the decision. However, a Core-Forming spiritual item was different; Wang Qiuhong did not have the authority to decide. Obtaining a Core-Forming spiritual item was not easy. While cultivation resources in the South Sea were indeed abundant, and such items appeared in large-scale auctions, the competition was fierce, making it difficult to win a bid for one.

"He has quite an appetite. Do you know his background?"

"He is a rogue cultivator. His dual cultivation partner is named Zheng Nan. Cheng Zhenyu and Zheng Nan are always inseparable. This time, only Cheng Zhenyu appeared, likely to prevent our Wang family from killing him to silence him. If something were to happen to him, his wife would probably sell the information to other forces."

Wang Qiuhong did not intend to harm Cheng Zhenyu. Such an act, once committed, would lead to a second and a third time. Doing so would only ruin the shop's reputation and corrupt the atmosphere. If the higher-ups of the Wang family acted in such a manner, it would set a bad example for the lower-ranking clan members.

If all cultivators in a family only thought about killing others for their treasures, their demise would not be far off.

Wang Changsheng nodded. It was prudent to be cautious of others. Cheng Zhenyu's actions were not surprising; Wang Changsheng himself would have done the same.

"Where is this Cheng Zhenyu now? In Qingli Market?"

"He's currently on Red Lotus Island. This fellow has quite some nerve."

Wang Changsheng smiled and said, "Fortune is sought in danger. If he weren't bold, how would he dare ask for a Core-Forming spiritual item? Call him over and talk to him; I will give you prompts."

On the surface, Red Lotus Island only had one Core-Forming cultivator, so it was not appropriate for Wang Changsheng to show himself.

Soon after, Wang Qiuhong summoned Cheng Zhenyu to the discussion hall, while Wang Changsheng listened from a side room.

Cheng Zhenyu was tall, with a shrewd expression, and cultivated to the ninth level of Foundation Establishment.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, have you made up your minds?"

Cheng Zhenyu asked in a deep voice, feeling somewhat nervous.

The information about the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Fire would fetch a high price if sold to any major force. However, Cheng Zhenyu's cultivation was too low, so major forces wouldn't offer him too many benefits. He had conducted many transactions with Wang Qiuli, and she had always given him good prices, which was why he chose to sell the information to her. If the Wang family were to kill him to silence him, Zheng Nan would avenge him.

The couple made a living by hunting demonic beasts, living on the edge of a knife, and had long since disregarded life and death. This time, by selling the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Fire to the Wang family, Cheng Zhenyu was prepared to die. Fortune was sought in danger, and for the sake of the Golden Core path, he intended to take the risk.

"Fellow Daoist Cheng, the reward you're asking for is too high. Can you change your request? How about one hundred thousand, no, one hundred and fifty thousand spirit stones? With spirit stones, you can still bid for a Core-Forming spiritual item."

Wang Qiuhong haggled.

"No, I only want a Core-Forming spiritual item. What you said is true, but I can't compete with those major forces."

Even if Cheng Zhenyu had three hundred thousand spirit stones, it would be difficult to win a bid for a Core-Forming spiritual item because there were too many cultivators competing.

A Core-Forming spiritual item typically cost around three hundred thousand spirit stones, and if the competition was fierce, it could even reach four hundred thousand.

"Agree to his terms. Ask where the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Fire is, preferably with a topographical map."

Wang Changsheng transmitted his voice to Wang Qiuhong.

"Where is the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Fire located? Do you have a topographical map?"

"The Myriad Ghosts Sea, one of the seven most dangerous places in the South Sea."

Hearing the words "Myriad Ghosts Sea," Wang Changsheng was somewhat surprised.

In ancient times, humans and demons fought fiercely over territory, resulting in countless casualties and rivers of blood. A sea region was destroyed, leaving behind countless vengeful spirits, which is the origin of the Myriad Ghosts Sea.

Another legend states that the Myriad Ghosts Sea was an ancient battlefield where many high-level cultivators perished.

Unlike the Heavenly Wolf Secret Realm, cultivators could enter the Myriad Ghosts Sea at any time, but it was extremely dangerous.

The Myriad Ghosts Sea was perpetually shrouded in ghostly qi, affecting cultivators' divine sense. Numerous ghostly entities and vengeful spirits haunted the area, along with various powerful restrictions. Even Nascent Soul cultivators could encounter trouble if they triggered these restrictions. Furthermore, the Myriad Ghosts Sea contained many spatial rifts, which had claimed the lives of numerous cultivators. Some of these rifts were invisible, making them impossible to guard against.

Due to its extreme danger and abundance of ghostly entities, the Myriad Ghosts Sea was ranked among the seven most dangerous places in the South Sea. Despite this, many cultivators still ventured there to seek treasures and slay demons, understanding that fortune was sought in danger.

The Myriad Ghosts Sea had dense Yin energy, fostering the growth of many Yin-attributed spiritual medicines. The Myriad Bones Sect and several major demonic sects had once united, intending to seal the Myriad Ghosts Sea and transform it into a small world. Unfortunately, they did not succeed. It was said that just as the sealing was nearing completion, several Nascent Soul level ghostly entities suddenly burst forth from the Myriad Ghosts Sea, causing heavy losses to the participating sects.

Since then, no force had attempted to monopolize the Myriad Ghosts Sea. Given its unique circumstances, the Ten Great Sects of the South Sea dispatched personnel to monitor it and established markets to purchase items from the region, encouraging low-level cultivators to seek treasures there.

Some people encountered heaven-defying opportunities, obtaining treasures left behind by ancient cultivators in the Myriad Ghosts Sea and rising to prominence, while others remained there forever, their bodies and bones never found.

Cheng Zhenyu had cultivated to the ninth level of Foundation Establishment. To form his Core, he and Zheng Nan ventured together to the Myriad Ghosts Sea. On a remote island, the couple discovered an Earth Fire Pool where a Heaven and Earth Spiritual Fire had formed. The troublesome part was that a Ghost King-level entity was guarding it.

"Fellow Daoist Cheng, mere words are not enough. How can we believe what you say is true?"