Chapter 967: Strike First

The next morning, Wang Mingren and Ximen Feng woke up early, and Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan accompanied them to the ancestral hall.

On the long altar table, a large number of memorial tablets were arranged, both male and female. Most bore the surname Wang, while a smaller portion had different surnames.

According to the Wang family's rules, the names of cultivators who marry into the family are entered into the family genealogy. If they make significant contributions, their memorial tablets can be enshrined in the ancestral hall after their death, to be worshipped by future generations.

The ancestral hall represented their ancestors. After paying respects, Ximen Feng's name would be officially included in the family genealogy.

Under the gaze of Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan, Wang Mingren and Ximen Feng knelt before the altar table and solemnly kowtowed three times.

Wang Changsheng felt a pang of emotion, thinking that if Wang Mingren hadn't been sent to the Taiyi Immortal Sect back then, his fate would surely have been different. However, there's no medicine for regret in this world, and time doesn't flow backward.

“Uncle Mingren, Auntie, now that you’ve paid your respects to the ancestors, your names will be written together. If there’s nothing pressing, please stay on Silver Serpent Island for a while longer.”

Ximen Feng nodded with a smile and said, “Okay, the scenery here is quite beautiful. I really like it.”

“As long as Auntie likes it, please feel free to stay longer. If you need anything, just instruct the family members.” Wang Ruyan said with a smile. Ximen Feng had no airs and was very approachable; Wang Ruyan quite liked her. In contrast, Chen Xiang’er and Wang Mingren had been married for many years, but Wang Ruyan had never even met Chen Xiang’er.

“Changsheng, Ruyan, go about your business! Don't worry about us, we can take care of ourselves.” Compared to before, Wang Mingren's tone seemed more approachable.

Wang Changsheng nodded, chatted for a few more moments, and then left with Wang Ruyan.

Back at their residence, Wang Changsheng teleported to the Cloud Sea Sect and asked Wang Qingjing to notify Fairy Ziyue.

Half an hour later, Wang Changsheng, Wang Ruyan, and Ye Haitang quietly left Silver Serpent Island. Fairy Ziyue also secretly departed from the Cloud Sea Sect. The three of them changed their appearances and flew towards the Myriad Ghost Sea.

***

East Desolation, Taiyi Immortal Sect.

In a bamboo building situated within a large expanse of green bamboo forest, Sword Venerable Four Seasons looked at Wang Qingshan, who stood before him, with a satisfied expression.

Wang Qingshan's aura was restrained, no longer as sharp as it had been before. He had cultivated on Sword Peak for thirteen years and successfully advanced to the eighth layer of Core Formation. He had initially wanted to continue cultivating there, but no matter how hard he tried, he felt unable to advance to the ninth layer of Core Formation. Evidently, he had encountered a bottleneck.

Left with no choice, Wang Qingshan had to emerge from seclusion. As soon as he emerged, he learned that Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan had formed their Nascent Souls. Wang Qingshan was overjoyed; he wished he could immediately rush back to Silver Serpent Island to celebrate with them.

“Coincidentally, in a few years, the Seven Great Immortal Sects will launch an offensive against the demon race. This is an excellent opportunity for you to resolve your bottleneck. Time is limited, so don't go running back and forth. Stay within the sect and cultivate your sword techniques, practicing sword formations with other disciples. Many will die or be injured in this upcoming war; individual bravery alone is not advisable. The power of the collective is infinite, do you understand?”

Sword Venerable Xiaoyao earnestly advised him. Wang Qingshan's individual strength was relatively strong, but the scale of this war was unprecedented. To reduce casualties, disciples from various branches were practicing battle formations. The Thousand Swords Lineage was the most powerful lineage in the Taiyi Immortal Sect, and Sword Venerable Xiaoyao was its peak master, so Wang Qingshan would naturally practice within the Thousand Swords Lineage.

“Yes, Master.”

Wang Qingshan honestly agreed. In a few more years, the war between humans and demons would officially begin, so he indeed didn't need to rush back to Silver Serpent Island immediately.

“The one responsible for drilling you is Junior Martial Brother Chen Haibin. Hmm, Junior Martial Brother Chen's granddaughter, Chen Xiang’er, married your Uncle-Grandfather Mingren. However, your Uncle-Grandfather Mingren has already divorced her. You don't need to worry; Nephew-Master Chen won't cause trouble and still abides by the rules in his actions. But you yourself should be careful; if you encounter any problems you can't solve, you can tell me.” Sword Venerable Xiaoyao mentioned this briefly. After Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan advanced to the Nascent Soul stage, this matter had become very tricky. If not handled properly, both the Wang family and the Taiyi Immortal Sect would face trouble.

Wang Qingshan was slightly startled, then quickly understood. He bowed to Sword Venerable Xiaoyao and said, “This disciple thanks Master.”

“These are the cultivation resources your Ninth Uncle and Ninth Aunt entrusted Junior Martial Nephew Su to give you. They include two third-order puppet beasts and third-order talismans.” Sword Venerable Xiaoyao took out a string of storage beads and handed them to Wang Qingshan.

Wang Qingshan's face lit up with joy. With two third-order puppet beasts and third-order talismans, he should be safe as long as he didn't encounter any Nascent Soul stage demons.

“Qingshan, have you ever considered finding a dual cultivation partner?” Sword Venerable Xiaoyao asked casually.

Wang Qingshan shook his head immediately and said, “This disciple is solely devoted to the Dao. A cultivation partner, I’ll pass; it’s too much trouble.”

“Dare I ask what love is, that it can make people pledge their lives to each other? Strange, very strange!” Sword Venerable Xiaoyao let out a soft sigh, took a gourd from his waist, and took several sips of spiritual wine. “There's nothing else. Go report to the Thousand Swords Lineage and practice sword formations with the other Core Formation cultivators.”

“Yes, Master.” Wang Qingshan agreed, bowed, and withdrew.

***

On a towering peak that pierced the sky, there was a green stone pavilion at its summit. Two men and one woman were enjoying tea and chatting. Besides Old Ancestor Qinghua and Old Ancestor Black Tiger, there was also a fair-faced man in a golden robe.

All three were Spirit Transformation cultivators. The man in the golden robe was Old Ancestor Sky Fox, a newly advanced Spirit Transformation cultivator of the demon race.

“Old Sister, you called us here. Are we finally making a move on the Myriad Flower Palace?” Old Ancestor Black Tiger asked casually.

Over a hundred years ago, they discovered what was suspected to be True Monarch Sky Wolf's meditation cave, located near the Myriad Flower Palace's sect gate. If it hadn't been for the fact that someone among the demon race was coincidentally trying to break through to the Spirit Transformation stage, they wouldn't have dared to act recklessly, fearing retaliation from the cultivators that could affect Sky Fox's breakthrough to Spirit Transformation. Now, it seemed their decision was correct.

“No, the demon race from the South Sea sent someone to contact me. They said that human cultivators are planning to make a move against our demon race. They intend to strike first and invited us to join them: they will deal with the human race in the South Sea, and we will attack the territories of the Seven Great Immortal Sects in the East Desolation.” Old Ancestor Qinghua said slowly, her expression solemn.

“Hmph, it sounds good, but the East Desolation, Northern Border, and South Sea are all sandwiching our East Desolation demon race. We have nowhere to retreat, unlike the Golden Scale Race, who simply hide in the sea when they can’t win.” Old Ancestor Sky Fox dismissed it, saying with a frown.

“It's not the Golden Scale Race, it's the Flood Dragon Race. The Black Phoenix Race sent me a message: this time is different from before; it seems the human race wants to wipe us out. There haven't been major battles in the South Sea for over ten years, and the Northern Border and Central Plains have also been relatively calm, with nothing significant happening. I sent people to investigate, and it appears there's a strict order from above prohibiting minor factions from engaging in large-scale conflicts.”

“Even so, it doesn't prove that the human race intends to make a move against us. They can't destroy us at all. When True Monarch Sky Wolf disappeared, the East Desolation was in chaos, and they still couldn't wipe us out, let alone now. Even if the human race wants to deal with our demon race, why should we cooperate with the demons of the South Sea? They have always looked down on us, always thinking we're bumpkins. Last time we asked the Golden Scale Race for help, they made exorbitant demands.” Old Ancestor Black Tiger was unconvinced.

Old Ancestor Qinghua turned to Old Ancestor Sky Fox and asked, “Sky Fox, tell us your opinion.”

“As the saying goes, 'when the lips are gone, the teeth feel cold.' If the South Sea demon race suffers heavy losses, we will be the human race's next target. We cannot underestimate this. I suggest urging the South Sea demons to make the first move, and we'll seize the opportunity to cooperate. This will also be a good chance to explore True Monarch Sky Wolf's meditation cave. Let's not fall into the human race's cunning schemes like before. Back then, Sword Venerable Four Seasons of the Taiyi Immortal Sect used this method to trap and kill many Nascent Soul stage clansmen, severely wounding Lord Golden Eagle. Our own Old Ancestor of the Sky Fox Race also died in that catastrophe, and the East Desolation demon race was almost annihilated.” Old Ancestor Sky Fox's expression turned solemn. The Lord Golden Eagle he mentioned was a Spirit Transformation stage demon.

“That's what I was thinking too. First, issue orders: when the South Sea demon race makes their move, we will also act. Black Tiger and I will go explore True Monarch Sky Wolf's meditation cave, and Sky Fox, you will command our clansmen to attack the human race, drawing as much attention as possible.”

“Good, no problem.” Old Ancestor Sky Fox readily agreed. He hadn't been in the Spirit Transformation stage for long, so staying in the rear was the most suitable option for him. He also didn't want to charge to the front, remembering that thousands of years ago, Sword Venerable Four Seasons had designed a trap that killed a group of demons, and the Old Ancestor of the Sky Fox Race had also died in that catastrophe.