Chapter 815: Hidden Identity, Enduring Hardship

Eastern Barren Lands, Taiyi Immortal Sect.

In the deliberation hall, Zhang Zhanfeng sat in the main seat, his expression solemn, as two men and one woman reported to him.

The Taiyi Immortal Sect had an Intelligence Hall dedicated to gathering information. Leveraging its vast influence, the sect had woven an extensive intelligence network, continuously funneling information from various regions for the reference of its decision-makers.

Rogue cultivators had been spotted in the Eastern Barren Lands, annihilating several forces. The Seven Great Immortal Sects dispatched envoys to discuss countermeasures.

The Eastern Barren Lands were the territory of the Seven Great Immortal Sects. Regardless of their internal conflicts, those were domestic matters, not for outsiders to meddle with. With such incidents now occurring, they naturally united against a common enemy to apprehend the perpetrators.

Several annihilated forces shared a common trait: they had risen recently and made rapid advancements in array formations. The biggest suspicion centered on the Wang family. The successive attacks on Green Lotus Manor, Taoshan in the Monster-Subduing Nation, and Sea Cucumber Island suggested that someone was targeting the Wang family, with the destruction of other forces merely serving as a distraction.

Shortly after the Taiyi Immortal Sect hired Wang Qingshan as an Elder of External Affairs, a force annihilated the Wang family, which was akin to a significant affront to the Taiyi Immortal Sect.

Multiple forces, each with Core Formation cultivators stationed, were annihilated. The attacked forces showed no resistance. In one case, a cultivation sect with three Core Formation cultivators guarding its mountain gate was left with bodies strewn everywhere, and not a single person escaped. Only cultivators at the Nascent Soul stage could achieve such a feat.

If it were a local force from the Eastern Barren Lands, even with a blood feud against the Wang family, destroying only the Wang family would suffice; there would be no need to eliminate other forces, as that would easily provoke public outrage. If it were done by demon beasts, it would undoubtedly instigate a major war, and demon beasts were not so foolish, nor would such actions hold much significance for them.

From various signs, several conclusions could be drawn: the perpetrators included Nascent Soul cultivators; they were not local forces from the Eastern Barren Lands; they likely harbored a grudge against the Wang family; and most importantly, this force showed no fear of the Taiyi Immortal Sect or the other Seven Great Immortal Sects.

This last point narrowed down the possibilities. Not many forces were unafraid of the Seven Great Immortal Sects of the Eastern Barren Lands: the Ten Great Sects of the South Sea, the Five Great Dynasties of the Central Plains, and the Ten Great Sects of the Northern Frontier.

The Five Great Dynasties of the Central Plains, where Confucianism flourished and the virtues of gentlemen were extolled, were unlikely culprits. They also had no significant conflicts of interest with the Eastern Barren Lands. However, in the South Sea and Northern Frontier, the Seven Great Immortal Sects faced considerable exclusion, managing only to establish footholds but struggling to expand their territory.

Similarly, forces from the South Sea and Northern Frontier could only establish footholds in the Eastern Barren Lands without expanding their territory. In essence, this was merely the local powers marginalizing external forces.

“Sect Master Uncle, Wang Qiuming from the Wang family wishes to borrow the Haotian Mirror to attempt breaking through to the Core Formation stage, but he cannot afford the five hundred thousand spirit stones. What do you think?”

Zhang Zhanfeng pondered for a moment, then instructed, “Let him owe it for now. It won't be too late to inform Nephew Wang when he emerges.”

“Yes, Sect Master.”

“If there’s nothing else, you may withdraw! Oh, and please assist Wang Qiuhong as much as possible in advancing to the Core Formation stage. Provide him with two prototype defensive magic treasures and arrange for a third-tier defensive array formation to be set up. All these expenses will be charged to Nephew Wang’s account.”

Zhang Zhanfeng’s tone was deep as he gave these instructions. These expenses were negligible for the Taiyi Immortal Sect.

“Yes, Sect Master.”

The three replied in unison, bowed, and withdrew.

“Nine Underworld Sect, could this be your doing?”

Zhang Zhanfeng murmured to himself, a hint of doubt in his eyes.

The Taiyi Immortal Sect had capitalized on the Nine Underworld Sect’s internal strife to establish a foothold in the Northern Frontier, frequently allying with other forces to target the Nine Underworld Sect.

If the Nine Underworld Sect were to retaliate using this opportunity, it would be understandable, as it aligned with their usual modus operandi.

What Zhang Zhanfeng couldn’t comprehend was what deep-seated hatred the Wang family had with the Nine Underworld Sect to warrant such actions.

Or perhaps, the culprits were demon beasts?

Unfortunately, the head of the Wang family was absent; Wang Qingshan had not yet left Sword Peak. Otherwise, Zhang Zhanfeng would have liked to inquire.

In Yu Nation, the Purple Maple Mountain Range, spanning tens of thousands of miles, was located in the northwest. Here, spiritual energy was sparse, and a cultivation family named Ye resided.

Superficially, the Ye family comprised only a few dozen cultivators, with only one Foundation Establishment cultivator. In reality, this was a branch hall of the Wang family, specifically responsible for training intelligence agents and gathering information. The original Ye family had long since been replaced by the Wang family, but due to the remote location of the Purple Maple Mountain Range, no one was aware of it.

Yu Nation was thousands of miles away from Wei Nation, so no one would suspect that the Ye family was a branch hall of the Wang family.

In the deliberation hall, Wang Youshan sat in the main seat, her face filled with grief and indignation. A dozen cultivators sat on either side, dressed in mourning attire, their expressions sorrowful.

With Green Lotus Manor annihilated, all of them had lost loved ones in the calamity.

“The Old Ancestor has given an order: powerful enemies are lurking in the shadows, so we must not return to Green Lotus Manor. We are to disperse and develop our branch here in Yu Nation. I will serve as the family head, and everyone will change their surname to Ye. Our family's generation names will also be altered. We must intermarry with local cultivation families in Yu Nation and send our clansmen to join cultivation sects there, doing everything we can to integrate into Yu Nation. But remember this: blood for blood! We were forced to leave our homeland. One day, we will surely return to our ancestral land and rebuild Green Lotus.”

By the end of her speech, tears glistened in Wang Youshan’s eyes. Her parents and siblings had all perished in this calamity.

“Yes, Family Head. One day, we will surely return to our ancestral land and rebuild Green Lotus.”

Everyone spoke in unison, their eyes red-rimmed.

Wang Youshan had previously been responsible for escorting goods and dealing with various forces, known for her shrewdness and familiarity with the cultivation world across multiple nations. When Green Lotus Manor was attacked, she was transporting valuables worth three hundred thousand spirit stones back to the manor. Though Green Lotus Manor was destroyed by powerful enemies, these three hundred thousand spirit stones were preserved and would serve as the Ye family’s future development funds.

“Mengguang, select two clansmen for special training and teach them artifact refining. This is the foundation of our family and must not be lost.”

Wang Youshan looked at a middle-aged man in his early thirties and instructed.

“Family Head, our family excels at crafting puppet beasts. Should we teach them puppetry?”

“No. The Ye family did not possess this skill before, and a sudden appearance of numerous puppet beasts would easily arouse suspicion. Keep puppetry reserved for now; crafting a few to guard the family will suffice, but it’s not advisable to be too flamboyant.”

The Ye family currently had over fifty cultivators, including two Foundation Establishment cultivators. Wang Mengguang was their only second-tier artifact refiner. They also supervised a population of a hundred thousand mortals, who were descendants of the Ye family and not related to the Wang family lineage.

“Yes, Family Head.”

In Xi Nation, the Profound Moon Mountain Range was located in the northeastern part, serving as the mountain gate of the Profound Water Sect.

The Profound Water Sect was the largest sect in Xi Nation, boasting seven Core Formation cultivators and a legacy of over two thousand years. Behind the Profound Water Sect stood the Supreme Purity Temple, one of the Seven Great Immortal Sects.

A streak of blue light appeared on the horizon, rapidly flying towards the Profound Water Mountain Range.

As soon as the blue light entered the Profound Water Mountain Range, a team of patrolling cultivators appeared on the horizon and intercepted it.

The blue light retracted, revealing a young man in blue robes, in his early twenties. He had handsome features and a tall, slender build, exuding a comfortable presence.

“This is forbidden ground of our Profound Water Sect. Uninvited guests, halt!”

The leading Profound Water Sect disciple said in a deep voice.

The young man in blue robes smiled faintly and took out a square blue token. It bore a pattern of rivers and faintly visible, two large blue characters: ‘Profound Water’.

“The Profound Water Token!”

The Profound Water Sect disciples’ expressions changed, and they exclaimed.

The Profound Water Token was a special token issued by the Profound Water Sect to meritorious individuals. Only those who had performed great deeds could obtain it. Regardless of a person's background, cultivation level, or origin, anyone holding the Profound Water Token could join the Profound Water Sect. This was an ancestral decree of the Profound Water Sect.