Chapter 922: The Power of Nascent Soul Cultivators

A flicker of surprise appeared in Tang Tianyou’s eyes, and his brows furrowed slightly. He naturally knew why the Wang family had arrived.

The Tang family had produced a clan member with a Heavenly Spirit Root. In less than six hundred years, the Tang family transformed from a small group with fewer than fifty cultivators into a major cultivation clan boasting over four thousand immortal cultivators, including five Core Formation cultivators. Consequently, the Tang family placed great importance on talented clan members. To this end, they extensively intermarried with other immortal cultivation families and absorbed rogue cultivators.

The Tang family currently had a Dual Spirit Root cultivator. Wang Hua possessed a rare wind-attribute spirit root, and naturally, the Tang family hoped to bring Wang Hua back and have him change his surname to Tang.

The Tang family was in the wrong in this matter, but what did it matter? In the cultivation world, the strong are respected, and might makes right. If not for their apprehension about the Wang family's Core Formation cultivators, the Tang family would have been even more aggressive.

Tang Tianyou had never imagined that the Wang family would have two Core Formation Stage Nine cultivators. Besides his surprise, he also felt a bit fortunate that the Tang family hadn't gone for a killing blow.

"Wang family cultivators? Do you need help?" Shangguan Qing asked casually, her tone flat. Even a Core Formation Stage Nine cultivator was no match for her.

Tang Tianyou hesitated briefly, then simply recounted the entire sequence of events. The Wang family was backed by the Taiyi Immortal Sect, so Tang Tianyou had to explain clearly.

Shangguan Qing's brows furrowed slightly as she asked, "The Qinglian Wang family? So it involves them. This could be tricky. A named disciple of the Carefree Sword Venerable comes from the Wang family. One must consider the Buddha's face, not just the monk's. What do you intend to do?"

"Our Tang family and the Wang family are already related by marriage. We also don't wish to escalate the matter. We simply hope to bring Wang Hua back and have him change his surname to Tang. Our two families can then strengthen cooperation. A win-win outcome is the ultimate path, and mutual benefit is eternal."

Tang Tianyou had already devised a countermeasure: the two families could strengthen cooperation, but Wang Hua had to change his surname to Tang and be included in the Tang family's ancestral records.

Shangguan Qing nodded in satisfaction and instructed, "Bring them here. I doubt they'd dare to cause trouble."

"Yes, Senior Shangguan."

Tang Tianyou's face lit up with joy. He spoke into his communication disk, "Please invite them in and bring them to Senior Shangguan's residence."

Not long after, Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan appeared before Shangguan Qing.

Seeing Shangguan Qing, Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan were slightly taken aback. When did the Tang family acquire a Nascent Soul cultivator? If the Tang family had gained a Nascent Soul cultivator, they should have been spreading the news everywhere; there was no reason to hide it.

"Junior Wang Changsheng (Wang Ruyan) greets Senior."

Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan dared not delay, quickly bowing to Shangguan Qing.

Shangguan Qing's gaze swiftly swept over Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan. Her face showed approval as she said, "Your divine sense is quite strong, nearly catching up to mine. My surname is Shangguan. I hear you have a slight misunderstanding with Senior Sister Tang's family. I'd like to help mediate. If you hand over that rare spirit root clan member, the Tang and Wang families can strengthen their cooperation. What do you think?"

"So it's Senior Shangguan. The Carefree Sword Venerable of the Taiyi Immortal Sect is also aware of this matter, so I'm afraid this junior cannot comply."

Wang Changsheng could only invoke the Carefree Sword Venerable. He also didn't want to escalate the situation, but Wang Hua could absolutely not be handed over; he knew the Wang family's circumstances.

"That child Hua is quite remarkable," Wang Ruyan added. "Uncle Mingren is also very fond of him. Uncle Mingren even said that if this child could enter the Taiyi Immortal Sect, he would help him become one of the Taiyi Five Prodigies." These words were, of course, false. With the Wang family's current strength, there was no need to send Wang Hua into the Taiyi Immortal Sect.

Upon hearing this, Shangguan Qing's brows furrowed. If the Taiyi Immortal Sect knew of the child's existence, it would indeed be difficult for the Myriad Flowers Palace to intervene, especially since the child's surname was Wang and he had grown up in the Wang family. Of course, if she backed down now, where would her reputation stand?

"Hmph, are you trying to pressure me with the Taiyi Immortal Sect? Do you truly believe I'd be afraid of them?"

A powerful spiritual pressure erupted from Shangguan Qing, surging directly towards Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan.

Brilliant blue light shone around Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan. Wang Changsheng's aura surged, advancing from the Core Formation stage to the Nascent Soul stage. An astonishing spiritual pressure burst forth from him, meeting the incoming force.

*Boom!*

The two spiritual pressures collided, unleashing a tremendous roar. Powerful air currents overturned the stone pavilion, the entire courtyard collapsed, and vegetation was swept high into the air.

Soon, the Tang family alarms blared loudly, and numerous Tang family cultivators rushed over. Tang Tianyou quickly intercepted them.

"Your secret technique bears some resemblance to our Myriad Flowers Palace's 'Flower Grafting.' How about this: if you can withstand two of my moves, I'll no longer interfere in this matter."

Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan exchanged glances, nodding to each other. They had no choice but to agree; if they showed weakness, Shangguan Qing would likely become even more unreasonable.

Shangguan Qing flipped her jade hand, and with a flash of green light, an ancient-looking azure lotus lamp appeared in her grasp. She opened her apricot-shaped mouth, and a stream of green flame shot out, igniting the lampwick.

The azure lotus lamp instantly swelled in size, and a strange floral fragrance permeated the air. As the lotus lamp spun, countless azure petals flew out, whistling loudly. These azure petals, like sharp blades, shot directly towards Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan.

Wherever the azure petals passed, a piercing tearing sound echoed through the air.

Wang Changsheng's expression grew solemn. He opened his mouth and spat out a Mountain Sea Pearl, which landed in his hand. His right arm glowed with dazzling blue light, and countless blue specks of light appeared, quickly transforming into a blue water dragon over ten zhang long. It bared its fangs and brandished its claws as it lunged forward to meet the attack.

*Boom!*

The blue water dragon shattered a large expanse of azure petals, unleashing a powerful wave of energy.

Shangguan Qing let out a soft snort. The remaining large portion of azure petals blurred, merged, and transformed into a colossal, misty azure sword that slashed towards the blue water dragon.

With a muffled "shhhk" sound, the blue water dragon was sliced in half by the colossal sword. The colossal sword then lunged directly at Wang Changsheng, looking as if it intended to cleave him in two.

A low zither melody resounded, and an invisible sound wave swept out, meeting the colossal sword.

*Boom!*

The colossal sword shattered the invisible sound wave. Wind and clouds surged, and a powerful air current swept across a distant lake, causing the water to be lifted into the air. All the spirit fish in the lake died instantly, without a single external mark, as the powerful sound wave had directly shattered their internal organs.

The colossal sword, reduced by one-third in size, continued to slash towards Wang Changsheng.

A sharp glint flashed in Wang Changsheng's eyes. He punched towards the colossal sword with both fists, and numerous blue fist shadows, each over ten zhang large, flew out, smashing the colossal sword to pieces.

Roaring sounds persisted, air currents surged, and dust flew everywhere.

After a while, the smoke and dust dispersed. The walls of the surrounding courtyards had all collapsed and were in scattered pieces, and a patch of spirit bamboo was broken in half.

"Indeed, you have some skill. There's one more move, and I will use a spiritual art. You can still surrender now." Shangguan Qing said meaningfully, her tone indifferent.

"Senior, please enlighten us."

Wang Changsheng replied neither humbly nor arrogantly, but he was somewhat shaken inwardly. The gap between Nascent Soul and Core Formation cultivators was truly immense! If they hadn't cultivated a combined attack technique, Shangguan Qing could have annihilated them with a single move. Indeed, the vast disparity between the Nascent Soul and Core Formation stages could not be compensated by mere spiritual power.

Shangguan Qing's expression turned cold. Her right hand glowed with a dazzling azure light, and she chopped it horizontally towards Wang Changsheng. With a flash of azure light, an azure lotus flower, roughly ten feet in size, flew out, carrying a tearing sound as it shot directly towards Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan.

Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan dared not be slow. A flash of blue light enveloped them both in a pale blue orb, which was the Water Moon Profound Light, capable of reflecting most attacks.

Wang Ruyan's ten fingers swiftly swept across the zither strings. The zither music blared, and a large expanse of invisible sound waves flew out, striking the giant lotus.

The giant lotus spun rapidly, and countless azure sword energies shot out, shattering the sound waves.

Dense azure sword energies struck the blue orb, bouncing off and flying backward.

Soon, the giant lotus suddenly burst apart, transforming into a colossal, misty azure sword light that slashed towards Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan.

The colossal sword light pressed against the blue orb, causing it to indent. The blue orb flickered incessantly.

*Boom!*

The blue orb shattered. While the Water Moon Profound Light could reflect most attacks, it did not mean it could reflect all attacks. If the attack power was too high, the Water Moon Profound Light could not withstand it.

Countless blue electrical arcs illuminated Wang Changsheng's body. His fists blurred, transforming into a dense flurry of fist shadows that smashed into the colossal sword light.

*Boom!*

A tremendous roar resounded as the colossal sword light was shattered. The golden gauntlets Wang Changsheng wore on his hands broke apart, and some bloody marks could be seen on his hands. Had he not been a body cultivator with a relatively strong physique, his hands would have been ruined.

A flicker of surprise appeared in Shangguan Qing's eyes. She looked at Tang Tianyou and said, "I will no longer involve myself in this matter, Young Friend Tang. You may handle it as you see fit!"

After saying this, she transformed into specks of azure light and vanished.

Tang Tianyou swallowed hard, his gaze filled with apprehension.

"Fellow Daoist Tang, how do you think this matter should be handled?" Wang Changsheng's tone was indifferent.

Tang Tianyou forced a smile and said, "Fellow Daoist Wang, Wang Hua can be entrusted to your care for cultivation. Our Tang family can provide him with Earth-grade cultivation techniques. Additionally, his parents must remain living with our Tang family. Our two families are related by marriage, so we can strengthen our cooperation, and our clan members can intermarry more often. What are your thoughts?"

This was the second option; Tang Tianyou had long been prepared. Wang Changsheng and his wife were too powerful; they had easily withstood two moves from a Nascent Soul cultivator. Once they advanced to the Nascent Soul stage, their divine abilities would likely be even stronger. There was no need for the Tang family to offend the couple for Wang Hua.