Chapter 973: Beast Tide

Silver Snake Island, Red Moon Sea.

A cyan spirit horse with wings hovered high in the sky. Wang Tianwen sat on its back, his face filled with disbelief.

Wang Tianwen had cultivated to the ninth layer of Foundation Establishment and was ordered to return to Silver Snake Island. The family had provided him with Core-forming spiritual objects to help him attempt to break through to the Core Formation stage.

He had known the family had a stronghold in the South Sea, but arriving at Silver Snake Island still left him profoundly shocked.

Amidst the shock, he also felt a surge of excitement.

"Uncle Tianwen, you've finally arrived!" Wang Mengfen's hearty voice drifted from the horizon. A streak of light shot towards them and landed before Wang Tianwen.

"Greetings, Patriarch." Wang Tianwen quickly bowed. Having spent many years in the Central Plains cultivation world, he was deeply influenced by Confucian etiquette and valued proper decorum. Though Wang Mengfen was of a junior generation, he was the family patriarch.

Among cultivators in the Central Plains cultivation world, respect was primarily shown based on official rank. Even a Core Formation cultivator would bow to a Foundation Establishment cultivator of higher rank. Only secondary was cultivation level.

"Uncle Tianwen, you're too polite. Your grandson wouldn't dare accept such a grand bow from you. Let's talk inside." Wang Mengfen spoke courteously. Wang Tianwen had spent nearly a century in the Central Plains cultivation world, venturing alone, which was no easy feat. His chances of advancing to the Core Formation stage were relatively high.

Not long after, they appeared in the council hall, where a group of elders had been waiting for some time.

There were few remaining family members of the 'Tian' generation. The family on Silver Snake Island had already proliferated for nearly ten generations, and after the 'You' generation came those with the generational characters 'Meng, Ji, Jun, Rong, Xian, Ying, Hua, Yun, Sheng, Rong, Hong, Cai, Sheng, Bo, Yan, Mao, Tu, Li, Quan, Gong'. Currently, the lowest generation in the family was the 'Rong' generation.

Wang Mengfen introduced the elders to Wang Tianwen, none of whom Wang Tianwen recognized.

"Patriarch, this is a set of Confucian cultivation methods I obtained. I wish to present it to the family." Wang Tianwen took out a cyan jade slip and handed it to Wang Mengfen.

According to family rules, presenting cultivation techniques and scriptures not only earned a substantial amount of contribution points, but also allowed the contributor to view and copy them at any time without expending any points.

Wang Tianwen had received the legacy of the Painting Saint and his natal magic treasure, the 'Rivers and Mountains Brush'. The Painting Saint's cultivation method, the 'Vast Righteousness Art', could be cultivated all the way to the Spirit Transformation stage; it was a Profound-grade technique. Besides the 'Vast Righteousness Art', there was also an Earth-grade technique that could be cultivated to the Nascent Soul stage, and five spiritual arts. The Painting Saint had spent the latter half of his life deducing cultivation methods, but the Earth-grade technique was only fully deduced up to the Nascent Soul stage. One could create cultivation methods at the Core Formation stage; the higher one's cultivation, the more powerful the created method would be, and the longer it would take.

Wang Mengfen swept his divine sense over it and gasped. After a long moment, he reacted, smiling as he said, "Uncle Tianwen, your grandson has already arranged your accommodation, and the Core-forming spiritual objects are prepared. These items, converted into contribution points, are more than enough for you to exchange for Core-forming spiritual objects. You can now rest assured and enter secluded cultivation to attempt Core Formation."

Five spiritual arts, one Earth-grade technique, and one Profound-grade technique were more than enough to exchange for two sets of Core-forming spiritual objects. Unfortunately, these were Confucian cultivation methods, and besides Wang Tianwen, no other family member cultivated Confucian techniques.

Wang Mengfen issued a magic robe and an access token to Wang Tianwen, then dispatched someone to escort him to his residence.

Currently, the family members attempting to break through to the Core Formation stage were Wang Qiuli, Wang Tianqi, Wang Qiuyan, and Wang Tianwen. Among them, Wang Tianqi and Wang Qiuyan were making their second attempt; if they failed again, they would have no more chances.

Wang Qiuyan was an alchemist. He received a second chance at Core Formation primarily because of the impending major war in the South Sea and his status as a high-grade second-tier alchemist. Wang Tianqi's greatest contribution was successfully turning Ye Bing, with whose assistance the Wang family effortlessly took over the Cloud Sea Sect.

The Cloud Sea Sect alone had three thousand disciples, controlled dozens of islands, and possessed significant cultivation resources. When converted into merit points, these assets naturally amounted to an astronomical figure.

Wang Tianqi's contributions were more than enough to justify not just two, but even ten attempts at Core Formation.

Of course, if she failed again, her lifespan would not be able to support a third attempt.

After settling Wang Tianwen, a sharp, urgent whistle sounded from Wang Mengfen's embrace.

He took out a communication conch, infused it with a magic formula, and a somewhat hurried male voice suddenly spoke: "Patriarch, this is Xiansheng. Something terrible has happened! A beast tide! Multiple third-tier demonic beasts have triggered a beast tide, and the three outer islands were instantly breached. Some family members have been killed or injured. Please send reinforcements quickly!"

Wang Mengfen's face fell. A beast tide, for no apparent reason? And led by multiple third-tier demonic beasts? Could another force be targeting the Wang family? Crocodile Island? Or Whale Gate?

It shouldn't be! The Grand Unity Immortal Sect, Myriad Swords Sect, and Myriad Beasts Island all sent representatives to attend the Wang family's Nascent Soul Grand Ceremony. It would be incredibly foolish for them to target the Wang family at this time.

"I understand. Come to the council hall immediately. I will notify Grand Aunt and the others."

Almost simultaneously, alarms blared across Silver Snake Island. The Wang family activated parts of their clan-protecting formations and strengthened their defenses.

Wang Qingling rushed to the council hall immediately. Wang Mengbin, Wang Qiuming, Wang Xiansheng, and Wang Qiuhong also arrived shortly after.

"Patriarch, what happened?" Wang Qingling frowned, saying that if it were a minor matter, they wouldn't have activated parts of the clan-protecting formations.

"A beast tide. Several third-tier demonic beasts have triggered it, which is highly unusual. We cannot rule out the possibility that someone is targeting our Wang family." It was Wang Mengfen's first time encountering such an event, and he felt a surge of panic, but he maintained a calm expression on the surface.

"A beast tide? That shouldn't be happening! How about this: the three of us will go deal with these third-tier demonic beasts. Patriarch and Fourth Brother will remain here. If we need support, we'll send you communication talismans." Wang Qingling suggested, a cold glint in her eyes. If someone truly was targeting the Wang family, she wouldn't mind letting her Ice Wind Flood Dragon feast.

"Alright, Grand Aunt. Please be extra careful, and take the third-tier puppet beasts with you." Wang Qingling, Wang Mengbin, and Wang Qiuming left Silver Snake Island with two third-tier puppet beasts. The third-tier puppet beasts were all refined by Wang Qingjing, and their numbers were few, with some needing to remain to guard Silver Snake Island.

Less than half an hour later, Wang Qingling and the other two arrived at the scene. A red octopus, thirty to forty zhang in size, sprayed out giant fireballs the size of water vats, which crashed into the buildings, igniting roaring blazes. A massive golden giant shrimp wielded its two pincers, smashing houses into rubble. A gigantic walrus rampaged through the complex of buildings, its trunk wrapped around a Wang family member, whom it slammed heavily to the ground. The family member immediately died, blood pooling on the ground. More than a dozen bodies of Wang family members lay on the ground. Flames soared into the sky across the island, and besides the three third-tier demonic beasts, there were dozens of second-tier demonic beasts.

"Killing my family members is courting death!" Wang Qingling's expression turned cold. She released her Ice Wind Flood Dragon and Earth Dragon Earthworm.

The Ice Wind Flood Dragon shook its head and tail, lunging towards the red octopus, while the Earth Dragon Earthworm's body glowed with a dazzling yellow light before it burrowed into the ground and disappeared.