Chapter 913: Tang Family Strikes Back

In the Council Hall, Wang Qiuhong was holding a clan meeting.

Due to Wang Mingren's warning, Wang Qiuhong had primarily focused on three tasks over the past eight years. First, he encouraged childbirth to increase the number of cultivators. Second, he extensively purchased various strategic materials and raw ingredients; the Alchemy Hall, Artifact Forging Hall, Talisman Crafting Hall, and Formation Hall were fervently producing all sorts of cultivation resources like elixirs, talismans, magic tools, and puppet beasts, filling the Wang family's treasury with strategic supplies. Third, he increased the intensity of clan members' training, especially in puppet array drills.

The Wang family currently had over 1,500 cultivators from the Red Moon Sea region: 500 were from outside families, and 1,000 bore the Wang surname. Through marriage alliances and recruitment, cultivators from outside families had fully integrated into the Wang family. There were over 150 Foundation Establishment cultivators, more than 30 of whom were from outside families.

Cultivators from outside families were primarily responsible for hunting demonic beasts or engaging in external battles. Most important positions were held by direct Wang family descendants, but outside cultivators who mastered a skill enjoyed good treatment.

Over thirty Wang family cultivators were secretly placed within the Yunhai Sect, controlling various critical departments. Naturally, they did not use the Wang surname publicly. The Yunhai Sect also stockpiled a large amount of strategic materials, consolidating its forces and developing its own strength.

Using its powerful military strength as a deterrent, the Wang family leased over a dozen small islands from its neighbors to cultivate land, raise fish, and expand its sphere of influence.

A tremendous clap of thunder rang out. Wang Qiuhong was startled, then a joyous expression appeared on his face. Calculating the time, it was already due for a clan member to face the Core Formation lightning tribulation.

"That concludes our meeting for today," he announced. "Our clan has a new cultivator advancing to Core Formation. Ensure clan members are disciplined and do not disturb those attempting to break through to Core Formation." Wang Qiuhong gave a few instructions and quickly walked out.

When he flew into the sky, he was surprised to discover five massive dark clouds hovering high above.

"Are five clan members attempting to break through to Core Formation?" Wang Qiuhong was initially stunned, then his expression turned extremely excited. With five clan members attempting Core Formation, at least two were expected to successfully reach the Core Formation stage.

Boom!

A tremendous clap of thunder roared, and a silver lightning bolt shot out from one of the dark clouds, striking down towards a certain valley. Shortly after, the other four dark clouds also unleashed lightning bolts one after another.

It was extremely rare for five Foundation Establishment cultivators to simultaneously attract the Core Formation lightning tribulation. This day was recorded in the ancestral annals, ensuring all future generations would remember it.

At the same time, two massive dark clouds hovered above the Yunhai Sect, accompanied by lightning and thunder. On a certain mountaintop, Wang Qingqing stood at the summit, a hint of worry in her eyes. Over the years, she had diligently researched the art of puppetry and had successfully crafted many third-tier puppet beasts.

Those undergoing tribulation were Wang Qiuxin and Liu Yu. Wang Qiuxin was a member of the Wang clan, a descendant of Wang Changxing. Liu Yu was a disciple taken in by Fairy Ziyue; originally a rogue cultivator, she had been betrothed to a Wang family cultivator and trained very diligently.

Boom!

A deafening roar of thunder sounded as two thick silver lightning bolts shot out from the two dark clouds, striking downwards.

In the Golden Toad Sea region, on Zhoushan Island, a massive dark cloud hung over the island, with lightning flashing and thunder rumbling. This was a Wang family stronghold, primarily for guarding a secret realm. The family head, Wang Youyu, was attempting to break through to Core Formation.

In Yu State, at the Tang family, Wang Mengfen was tied to a wooden rack in a secret room, his limbs bound by iron chains. His body was covered in wounds, bleeding profusely. A middle-aged man with an indifferent expression stood nearby, holding a long whip stained with brown blood.

"Tell me, where did you send Xun'er?" the middle-aged man said menacingly. "If you don't speak, I'll break your fingers one by one." Before Wang Mengfen discovered Wang Xun had a wind-element special spiritual root, Wang Yingxiong and his wife had already tested him. Tang Keqing also discovered her son's spiritual root attribute, which was why she returned to the Tang family overnight to report the news. In any case, the Tang family's strength far surpassed that of the Wang family.

Upon receiving the information, the Tang family immediately dispatched people to the Wang family. Unfortunately, Wang Xun had already been sent away. The Tang family sent a large number of people to search, but they couldn't find Wang Xun's whereabouts. Out of desperation, they resorted to torturing Wang Mengfen to force him to reveal Wang Xun's location. A wind-element special spiritual root, with careful nurturing, would definitely lead to a Core Formation cultivator. How could the Tang family possibly allow such a talent to go to others?

Wang Mengfen refused to speak, even unto death. Apart from him, no other Wang family members from the Yu State branch knew Wang Xun's whereabouts.

"Even if you kill me, my answer remains three words: I don't know," Wang Mengfen roared loudly, his expression ferocious. "Just because your Tang family can dominate Yu State doesn't mean you can dominate the Eastern Wilderness. Our Wang family also has Core Formation cultivators. If you kill me, see if our Wang family won't retaliate against your Tang family." To be honest, he only knew that Wang Xun had been sent to the South Sea, but he didn't know the specific location.

"Core Formation cultivators? Hmph, are Core Formation cultivators so impressive?" the middle-aged man sneered. "Do you really think we won't find out if you don't speak? You are from the Qinglian Wang family. Our Tang family has already dispatched people to the Black Eagle Mountain Range in Qing State. If you don't hand over Wang Xun, don't blame us for acting ruthlessly." Hearing these words, Wang Mengfen's eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief.

"There are plenty of weak-willed people in this world. If you don't speak, it doesn't mean others won't," the man continued. "Think carefully. If you still refuse to speak, I will truly kill you." Had they not been wary of Wang Qingshan and the Taiyi Immortal Sect, the Tang family would have long since acted ruthlessly instead of resorting to torture.

"Even if you kill me, I still say the same thing: I don't know," Wang Mengfen declared. "I, Wang Mengfen, would rather die than betray my clan." He had narrowly escaped death years ago and had watched the family slowly recover its strength. He knew that once Wang Xun reached Core Formation, he could protect the family for several centuries. He would absolutely not hand Wang Xun over to the Tang family, nor would he reveal the family's stronghold in the South Sea, which, in fact, he didn't even know himself.

"Hmph, wait until your clan members from the Black Eagle Mountain Range are brought here. Then we'll see if you're still so stubborn."

In the Eastern Wilderness, Qing State, at the Black Eagle Mountain Range, a massive dark cloud hovered high in the sky, periodically striking down with thick silver lightning bolts. Wang Youshan stood inside a green stone pavilion, looking at the dark cloud in the sky, a hint of fear in her eyes. If the lightning were to strike her, she would likely be annihilated in just three strikes.

Over a dozen streaks of light appeared on the distant horizon and quickly flew towards the Black Eagle Mountain Range.

"Who dares trespass upon our Wang family's territory? Where are the patrol disciples!" Wang Youshan frowned and shouted loudly. Alarms blared, and a team of Wang family disciples rushed out of their residences and flew towards the area on their artifacts.

Not long after, the streaks of light came to a halt. Leading them were a green-robed old man in his early fifties and a young woman in a red dress. Both possessed cultivation at the third level of Core Formation.

"Oh, someone is attempting to break through to Core Formation," the green-robed old man said with a frown.

"Should we stop him?"

The green-robed old man pondered for a moment, then shook his head. "It's useless to act now; he's almost finished with his lightning tribulation." According to intelligence gathered by the Tang family, the Wang family had at least four Core Formation cultivators: Wang Changsheng, Wang Ruyan, Wang Qingshan, and Wang Qingqing. As long as these four were alive, the Tang family dared not slaughter Wang family cultivators. If the Tang family truly did so, their own annihilation wouldn't be far off. While Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan were not well-known in the Eastern Wilderness, Wang Qingshan's reputation was considerable. Wang Qingshan had forged an illustrious reputation in the South Sea, and the Tang family had heard snippets of this, so they naturally dared not act recklessly.

"Seniors, may I ask the purpose of your visit?" Wang Youshan politely said, while stopping the Wang family disciples.

"Wang Xun is with you, isn't he? Hand him over; we don't want to kill anyone," the green-robed old man said, his expression cold.

At this moment, the dark clouds dispersed, and the lightning tribulation vanished. A red streak of light flew out from a pile of rubble, stopping beside Wang Youshan. It was Wang Qingjun. After Wang Qingjun had repaired his meridians, he had cultivated in seclusion for over twenty years and once again attempted to break through to Core Formation. This time, he successfully advanced to the Core Formation stage.