Chapter 734: Making a Good Connection

Seeing Wang Changsheng, they were slightly taken aback.

"Fellow Daoist Cheng, long time no see."

Wang Changsheng smiled sincerely. To be honest, he hadn't expected Cheng Zhenyu to reach the Core Formation stage, especially since Wang Changsheng had only provided one spiritual item for Core Formation. Perhaps Cheng Zhenyu had encountered other fortunate opportunities, but that was irrelevant to Wang Changsheng.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, long time no see. Please come in."

Cheng Zhenyu smiled, nodded, and invited Wang Changsheng into the house.

Zheng Nan brewed a pot of spiritual tea, its refreshing aroma filling the air. She poured a cup for Wang Changsheng and Cheng Zhenyu.

"Senior Wang," Zheng Nan said with a polite smile, "we don't have much to offer, just a simple cup of tea."

"Madam Cheng, you jest," Wang Changsheng replied. "There's nothing wrong with simple tea. We cultivators should focus on cultivation, not on worldly pleasures."

Wang Changsheng wasn't interested in fine food. He didn't stand on ceremony, picked up the spiritual tea, and took a sip. The tea had a subtle floral fragrance, a delicate texture, and rich spiritual energy.

"Excellent tea! This must be at least a third-tier spiritual tea. Very good." Wang Changsheng praised with a smile.

Cheng Zhenyu nodded and chuckled, "This is Jade Lotus Spiritual Tea, a third-tier spiritual tea. If cultivators below the Foundation Establishment stage drink it in large quantities, it has the effect of cleansing marrow and strengthening bones, accelerating their cultivation speed. It has little effect on cultivators above the Foundation Establishment stage."

"Fellow Daoist Cheng," Wang Changsheng said, "let's get straight to business. Could you please show me that Earth-grade cultivation method for a closer look?"

Cheng Zhenyu nodded. Zheng Nan took out a palm-sized golden seashell and handed it to Wang Changsheng.

Wang Changsheng's divine sense permeated it, and he withdrew it shortly after, his expression unchanged.

"Fellow Daoist Cheng, you haven't copied this Earth-grade cultivation method, have you? I hope this is the sole copy."

Wang Changsheng's expression was serious. If this cultivation method were widely circulated, it wouldn't be worth a high price to him.

"We haven't copied this cultivation method since we acquired it," Cheng Zhenyu replied. "As for whether the original owner copied it before that, I wouldn't know."

Wang Changsheng nodded. With a flip of his hand, a gleaming red flying sword appeared. The flying sword was two feet long, about an inch wide, and had a sun carved into its hilt.

"I wonder if Fellow Daoist Cheng likes this Sun-Rainbow Sword? If you do, it's yours."

Cheng Zhenyu took the Sun-Rainbow Sword and gave it a gentle swing. The blade swiftly cut through the air, emitting a clear sword hum.

"Excellent. It's a deal."

Cheng Zhenyu's face lit up with joy. This flying sword would enhance his strength.

Wang Changsheng's gaze shifted to Zheng Nan. With another flip of his palm, a light blue, ethereal orb appeared in his hand, radiating spiritual energy.

"This embryonic defensive magical treasure, the Qianli Orb, is a small token of my goodwill," Wang Changsheng said. "Congratulations to Fellow Daoist Cheng on reaching the Core Formation stage. Should you acquire any valuable items in the future, please give priority to our Wang family."

He had no idea which unlucky cultivator this embryonic defensive magical treasure belonged to. Wang Changsheng possessed over twenty embryonic magical treasures, so he didn't mind parting with this one to do a favor and foster a good relationship. Earlier, he had saved Ye Lang, who later, under orders to besiege Sea Cucumber Island, spared Wang Qingqing. It was always a good idea to cultivate more beneficial relationships as long as it didn't compromise his own interests.

Cheng Zhenyu was initially startled, but quickly recovered and agreed with a smile.

After a brief chat, Wang Changsheng bid farewell and departed.

"Senior Wang is quite generous," Zheng Nan remarked. "He actually gifted a magical treasure to my husband to congratulate him on reaching the Core Formation stage."

Cheng Zhenyu smiled faintly and said, "In the cultivation world, strength is paramount. Now that I've reached the Core Formation stage, my treatment is naturally different from before. Once I refine this magical treasure, we'll go out to sea to hunt demon beasts, and I'll do my utmost to help you reach Core Formation, my dear."

"Reaching Core Formation isn't that easy," Zheng Nan replied, "but your willingness is enough."

Cheng Zhenyu put his arm around Zheng Nan's slender waist and said tenderly, "The path of immortality is long. Without you by my side, even eternal life would be meaningless. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be where I am today."

Zheng Nan smiled sweetly and leaned into Cheng Zhenyu's embrace.

After leaving the inn, Wang Changsheng headed straight for the Hundred Refinements Pavilion.

The Scarlet Moon Sea region was in chaos, and various factions were taking advantage of the turmoil. Many cultivation resources, such as cultivation methods, pill formulas, and secret techniques, had fallen into circulation. Wang Changsheng had already instructed Wang Qiuli to keep an eye out for such items, emphasizing that as long as they were genuine, the price was not an issue.

"Ninth Uncle-Grandfather! What brings you here?"

Wang Qiuli's face lit up with joy when she saw Wang Changsheng. She was Wang Changhao's granddaughter, and according to seniority, she had to address Wang Changsheng as Uncle-Grandfather.

"To see you, Qiuli," Wang Changsheng said. "You've done very well, and you'll be credited for your work this time. You don't need to do everything yourself; some minor tasks can be delegated to your subordinates. Don't neglect your own cultivation; it is the fundamental principle."

Seeing Wang Qiuli reminded Wang Changsheng of Wang Qingyuan. Wang Qingyuan hadn't had good fortune; otherwise, he wouldn't have died of old age in the Qi Refining stage.

"Your teachings, Ninth Uncle-Grandfather, I will engrave in my heart," Wang Qiuli responded. "By the way, Ninth Uncle-Grandfather, your granddaughter has collected two third-tier pill formulas and the seeds of three third-tier spiritual fruits."

The Bone Tempering Pill is refined using the shell of a third-tier demon turtle as the main ingredient, supplemented by several three-hundred-year-old spiritual herbs. It has the effect of enhancing physical strength.

The Three-Essence Spirit Transforming Pill is a detoxification pill, refined using the venom sac of a third-tier starfish beast as the main ingredient, supplemented by several three-hundred-year-old spiritual herbs.

The Azure Glaze Fruit blossoms in a hundred years, bears fruit in another hundred years, and matures after three hundred more. It has the effect of cleansing marrow and strengthening bones. Qi Refining cultivators who consume it can improve their physique and accelerate their cultivation speed.

The Snow Cloud Fruit is a spiritual fruit that grows in snowy mountains, maturing in five hundred years. It can be used to refine third-tier ice-attribute pills.

The Violet Thunder Fruit grows in areas with frequent thunderstorms, maturing in five hundred years. It can be used to refine third-tier pills, and cultivators practicing thunder-attribute cultivation methods can consume it to accelerate their cultivation speed.

Wang Changsheng's face showed delight. He praised, "Excellent, Qiuli. Continue to collect them. After the recent war, many good items have appeared. Offer high prices for them."

"Yes, Ninth Uncle-Grandfather."

After giving a few instructions, Wang Changsheng led his people away from Qingli Market and returned to Silver Serpent Island.

Upon returning to Silver Serpent Island, Wang Changsheng handed the spiritual fruit seeds and cultivation method to Wang Qiuhong, instructing him to arrange for the spiritual fruits to be planted.

In a quiet courtyard, Ye Haitang was busy setting up a formation, while Ye Lin, Wang Changyue, and Ye Yutong were enjoying tea and chatting in a stone pavilion.

To train Ye Haitang, Ye Lin had her independently complete all formations below the third tier.

Besides Ye Haitang, there was another second-tier formation master on the island, Wang Tianmi. Wang Tianmi was Wang Changhuan's great-granddaughter, at the first level of Foundation Establishment. Her formation-setting skills barely reached the second tier; she was decent at setting up first-tier formations.

The new home required numerous formations: warning formations, defensive formations, illusionary formations, and so on. Wang Tianmi was responsible for setting up the first-tier formations, while the second-tier formations were assigned to Ye Haitang.

Within the courtyard stood a two-story azure pavilion, constructed from Azure Cloud Wood, exuding a subtle herbal fragrance.

Near the pavilion were seventy-two century-old Everlasting Bamboos. These bamboos served as the core of the Azure Wind Bamboo Sea Array, a high-grade second-tier formation. Cultivators practicing wood-attribute cultivation methods could cultivate here, accelerating their progress and achieving results with half the effort.

Ye Haitang took out various formation materials, buried them in their corresponding positions, and checked them repeatedly.

After burying the materials, Ye Haitang took out a misty azure formation disk and channeled a magic incantation into it. The seventy-two Everlasting Bamboos swayed simultaneously, and a large expanse of pure wood-attribute spiritual energy surged from beneath each one.

Ye Haitang wiped the sweat from her face and smiled, "It's finally set up, little brother. You can cultivate here from now on. You'll definitely achieve twice the results with half the effort."