Chapter 826: Ten Thousand Swords Resound

The treasury contained several bottles of third-tier pills, including a bottle of Jade Ginseng Vein-Nourishing Elixir. This elixir was highly effective in repairing meridians.

Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan each selected some items. Wang Changsheng chose a golden gauntlet artifact, its surface covered with golden scales. This first-tier, high-grade artifact, the Spirit-Breaking Gauntlet, was specifically for body cultivators and could amplify strength by twenty percent.

Wang Ruyan selected a defensive artifact, the Jade Silkworm Armor, which could be worn close to the body.

A blue shell recorded the crafting method for an artifact from the Divine Armament Catalog: the Heaven-Escaping Shuttle. This flying artifact was incredibly fast, covering a hundred zhang in an instant.

Wang Changsheng had obtained the crafting methods for three treasures listed in the Divine Armament Catalog. Most of the materials for crafting the Profound Ice Ruler were gathered, with only three main materials missing: Millennial Cold Jade, Ice Glass Crystal, and Dry Ice Stone. As for the Ethereal Umbrella, its crafting materials were rarer, and only a portion had been found. Similarly, only some materials for the Five-Element Talisman Soldiers had been located.

The Cloud Sea Sect's treasury contained a piece of Ice Glass Crystal, meaning only the Millennial Cold Jade and Dry Ice Stone were still missing.

Meanwhile, on Silver Serpent Island.

The dark clouds shrouding Silver Serpent Island had also dispersed. Wang Qingqi sat cross-legged amidst a pile of rubble, his face filled with dejection.

His cultivation had been built up by consuming pills. Although he had followed the family's demon-hunting team for several years and his spiritual power had become somewhat purer, it wasn't of much use.

When attempting to break through to the Core Formation stage, Wang Qingqi failed to condense his core due to his insufficiently pure spiritual power, despite the aid of Core Formation spiritual items. His attempt ended in failure.

Wang Qingjun was ranked twelfth among the 'Qing' generation, while Wang Qingqi was ranked fourth. Wang Qingqi had less than ten years of lifespan remaining. Unless he obtained spiritual items or pills that extended life, he would grow old and die at the Foundation Establishment stage in this lifetime. However, life-extending spiritual items or pills were inherently rare, so Wang Qingqi didn't hold much hope.

"Never mind," Wang Qingqi sighed. "I'll focus on teaching Tianpei alchemy and refining more Foundation Establishment Pills for the family!" Before his demise, he had to teach Wang Tianpei how to refine Foundation Establishment Pills.

A streak of green light flew over, landing in front of Wang Qingqi. A concerned voice asked, "Fourth Brother, are you alright?"

Wang Qingqi shook his head with a bitter smile. "Tenth Sister, I'm fine. Congratulations on reaching the Core Formation stage! Where's Twelfth Brother?"

Seeing Wang Qingqi's failure to form his core, Wang Qingling felt a pang of sadness. She recalled how, in the past, she often asked Wang Qingqi to help refine Spirit-Feeding Pills for her spiritual beasts.

Wang Qingqi had entered the Foundation Establishment stage earlier than Wang Qingling. Yet, Wang Qingling had advanced to the Core Formation stage, while Wang Qingqi had failed.

"Twelfth Brother just drew his lightning tribulation, but it hadn't fully formed yet. The tribulation was disrupted by enemies, so he failed too."

"Where are Ninth Uncle and Ninth Aunt? Aren't they here?" Wang Qingqi asked with a frown.

"Ninth Uncle and Ninth Aunt have already eliminated the enemies," Wang Qingling replied. "Fourth Brother, our family's three strongholds—Qinglian Mountain Manor, Peach Mountain in the Demon Control Nation, and Sea Cucumber Island—were attacked. Our family suffered heavy losses." Wang Qingling's expression turned sorrowful as she spoke. Her husband and children had also perished. Fortunately, two great-grandchildren had escaped. Wang Qingqi's wife and children were also killed, but three great-great-grandchildren had escaped.

"What? Who did this?" Wang Qingqi's face tightened, and he exclaimed.

He had even planned to teach Wang Tianpei how to refine Foundation Establishment Pills, then return to Qinglian Mountain Manor to settle down, like fallen leaves returning to their roots. Now that the family had been attacked, he felt as if the sky had fallen.

"I'm not sure either," she said. "Your three great-great-grandchildren escaped and are currently in a safe place. I've already given instructions for the family to disperse and go into hiding, and financial support will be provided, so there won't be any problems in the short term. Please don't worry!"

"Eighth Sister, please tell me what happened with the family's attack. What exactly is going on?"

Wang Qingling sighed deeply and began, "Several years ago, a group of evil cultivators suddenly appeared in the Eastern Wasteland. Many forces were destroyed, including Qinglian Mountain Manor. It is said that..."

***

Taiyi Immortal Sect, Sword Peak.

A red-robed old man held an ancient book, reading it with great relish.

Suddenly, Sword Peak began to shake violently. An astonishing sword intent broke through the peak's restrictions, a monstrous sword intent surging straight into the sky. The red-robed old man looked up at Sword Peak, a look of disbelief on his face.

The sword core within him actually stirred restlessly, as if something was resonating with it. This was the first time such a situation had occurred.

In the Taiyi Immortal Sect's training ground, hundreds of disciples were sparring. Cultivators using flying swords were horrified to discover that their swords had lost control and were flying towards the sky.

Tens of thousands of flying swords flew out from various peaks of the Taiyi Immortal Sect, all heading towards Sword Peak.

This anomaly alarmed the high-ranking cultivators of the Taiyi Immortal Sect, who all flew out of their residences.

They saw colorful flying swords all heading towards Sword Peak. Behind the flying swords, thousands of panicked cultivators followed; their flying swords had suddenly lost control and were all flying towards Sword Peak. This was the first time such a situation had occurred.

Tens of thousands of flying swords gathered high in the sky near Sword Peak, emitting piercing sword hums, shimmering with spiritual light, and exuding an imposing aura.

"No one is to approach Sword Peak. Violators will be severely punished." A majestic male voice suddenly rang out. Zhang Zhanfeng flew in from a distance and landed near Sword Peak.

"Yes, Martial Uncle Sect Master (Grand Martial Uncle Sect Master)," the numerous Taiyi Immortal Sect disciples responded, then dispersed, leaving their flying swords suspended high in the air.

Five streaks of light flew in from various directions, heading straight for Sword Peak. Soon, five Nascent Soul cultivators gathered at Sword Peak, with Zhang Zhanfeng also present.

Zhang Zhanfeng asked with a somber face, "Junior Martial Brother Li, what happened? How were Sword Peak's restrictions broken?" Sword Peak was protected by numerous layers of restrictions; even several Nascent Soul cultivators working together might not be able to break them.

"I don't know either. I'm completely baffled," the red-robed old man replied, utterly bewildered.

"Wait," Zhang Zhanfeng suddenly remembered something and asked, "Isn't Senior Martial Brother Ye's registered disciple, Wang Qingshan, still on Sword Peak?"

"He's still here. That kid has been there for ten years," the red-robed old man confirmed. "But he's only in the Core Formation stage; there's no way he could break Sword Peak's restrictions!"

Zhang Zhanfeng took a deep breath and solemnly ordered, "Issue an order: the elder guarding Sword Peak neglected their duties, leading to the loosening of restrictions and the leakage of sword qi. Remove them from their position."

Sword Peak housed a replica of a Heaven-Penetrating Spirit Treasure, the Taiyi Sword. This was the Taiyi Immortal Sect's most prized treasure. It remained in slumber year-round, buried within Sword Peak, absorbing various sword qi to slowly nourish itself. After over three thousand years of nourishment from countless sword qi, its power was immeasurable. Fewer than three people knew of the Taiyi Sword's existence; Zhang Zhanfeng only learned of it after becoming Sect Master.

The Taiyi Immortal Sect's founding patriarch had left an instruction: the Taiyi Sword must not be used unless the sect faced a life-or-death crisis.

Wang Qingshan was merely in the Core Formation stage; he naturally couldn't break Sword Peak's restrictions. The Taiyi Sword, however, could. Zhang Zhanfeng speculated that Wang Qingshan must have awakened the Taiyi Sword, and the sword qi released by the Taiyi Sword was what destroyed Sword Peak's restrictions.

The Taiyi Immortal Sect had been established in the Eastern Wasteland for over three thousand years, yet this was the first time anyone had awakened the Taiyi Sword. What exactly had Wang Qingshan done to awaken the Taiyi Sword, the Taiyi Immortal Sect's most prized treasure?