Chapter 4766: Pause the Fighting (No More Today)

"Thank you for the reminder, Fellow Daoist Qing. We are confident in protecting ourselves, so there's no need for you to worry," Wang Changsheng said calmly.

Ancestor Qinghou changed the subject. "By the way, Madam Shan, where did you used to operate? I've never heard of you before."

Indeed, the sudden appearance of an Ancestor who had established four fundamental laws and condensed a Dao foundation was perplexing.

Shan Yao slowly replied, "I was also a member of the Ancient Immortal Court, mainly responsible for general affairs. During the last Great Dao War, I was in the rear guarding cultivation resources, which allowed me to survive. After the war, many fellow daoists were killed, so I found a place to hide. Later, I received Fellow Daoist Lei's inheritance, which is how I advanced to the Ancestor realm. I came to the Chaos Continent this time to visit Fellow Daoist Wang, but I didn't expect to encounter the Immortal-Chaos War."

"Without Madam Shan, I would have been in grave danger this time," Ancestor Xingchen said gratefully. "Madam Shan's strength is extraordinary; she killed two Ancestor-level Chaos Beasts and severely wounded Lei."

"Seeing the unfavorable situation, Lei fled," Shan Yao said confidently. "I've already severely wounded it, so it won't recover so easily."

"Fellow Daoist Lei? Which Fellow Daoist Lei?" Ancestor Qihong asked, puzzled.

Shan Yao's expression hardened. "Fellow Daoist Lei, one of the three great protectors of the Ancient Immortal Court, but he has already perished."

"Fellow Daoist Lei? Does Madam Shan have any proof?" Ancestor Qinghou asked.

"Are you suspecting me of being a pseudo-immortal, Fellow Daoist Qing? I suspect you too!" Shan Yao said with a cold face.

"Suspect me? What is there to suspect about this old man?" Ancestor Qinghou said dismissively.

"During the last Great Dao War, you were chased by two Ancestor-level Chaos Beasts, yet you escaped completely unharmed?" Shan Yao questioned.

"How do you know about that?" Ancestor Qinghou asked with a frown.

Shan Yao flipped her right hand, and a green jade vase appeared. "This is the essence of an Ancestor-level Chaos Beast I killed years ago. It knows about this matter. Fellow Daoist Qing, how do you explain yourself?"

"I encountered Fellow Daoist Zhou's disciple, Fairy Mo, which allowed me to escape that calamity," Ancestor Qinghou explained.

"Fellow Daoist Zhou? Do you mean Zhou Dian, Fellow Daoist Zhou?" Shan Yao continued to ask.

Ancestor Qinghou nodded. "Precisely. If not for Fairy Mo's timely assistance, I would no longer be alive."

"There's no proof for your words. How can I know if you're lying?" Shan Yao said with a frown.

"If I were a pseudo-immortal, I wouldn't have intervened," Ancestor Qinghou said with a cold face.

"Hmph, I helped you, and you suspected me of being a pseudo-immortal. Now you can't prove how you escaped, so I also have reason to suspect you're a pseudo-immortal," Shan Yao said with some dissatisfaction.

"Alright, let's stop this bickering," Ancestor Qihong interjected, trying to smooth things over. "It's not easy for all of us to gather here; there's no need for infighting."

"Fellow Daoist Qing, what about the powerful cultivators of the True Dragon and Primordial Phoenix clans? Have they all perished?" Wang Changsheng asked.

"I don't know," Ancestor Qinghou sighed. "I only know they are still alive, but I don't know their whereabouts. The powerful Chaos Beasts have been searching for them. After so many years, some are still holding on, while others might have defected to the Chaos Beasts. We must be wary; we've been betrayed by our own kind more than once."

In every Great Dao War, there were always traitors among the immortals. There was no way around it; the Chaos Beasts were too strong, and there were always those who lacked backbone. This led to mutual suspicion among the Ancestors. Most Ancestors who survived the Chaos Era maintained single-line contact and avoided gathering together.

"Since they're alive, do they not care about their clan members?" Wang Ruyan asked, puzzled.

"They certainly care, but they can't always stay by their side," Ancestor Qinghou explained. "As long as they live, their clans have a chance to revive. If they die, their clans will vanish into the river of history. In the Chaos Era, there were many great clans, super sects, and quite a number of Dao clans. Without Ancestors, most of these forces disappeared into the annals of history."

"Indeed!" Ancestor Qihong agreed. "To a certain extent, the Chaos Beasts won't exterminate them completely; they keep them as bait. This time, weren't we lured out?"

If the Chaos Beasts truly wanted to wipe out the True Dragon clan, they could send powerful beings who had established three fundamental laws. Ancestral Dragon City wouldn't be able to withstand them. However, the Immortal Realm is vast, and True Dragon clan members are scattered throughout it. Even if they annihilated all True Dragons on the Chaos Continent, they couldn't destroy the entire clan. Besides the Immortal Realm itself, there are multiple subordinate realms, and True Dragon clan members also reside there.

"That's true, but judging by their stance, they don't seem to intend to ignite a Great Dao War right now. It appears the Chaos Beast Progenitor hasn't fully recovered yet," Shan Yao said.

"It's hard to say," Ancestor Qinghou said. "We are not the strongest. Killing us would merely reduce the number of Ancestors among the immortals. We also don't know how Fellow Daoist Zhou Dian is doing. If he could establish a ninth fundamental law, his strength would be even greater."

After more than an hour of conversation, Wang Changsheng, Wang Ruyan, and Ancestor Qihong departed, returning to Qinglian Immortal Island and arriving at Qinglian Peak.

"Fellow Daoist Jin, why did you claim responsibility for killing those two Chaos Beasts?" Wang Changsheng asked, puzzled.

"You've established two supreme fundamental laws, indicating great potential. I hope you will grow," Ancestor Qihong explained. "Whether I killed them or not, the Chaos Beasts wouldn't spare me anyway."

"Fellow Daoist Jin, there are no outsiders here. If you need our help, please don't hesitate to ask," Wang Ruyan said seriously.

Indeed, as Ancestor Qihong said, the Chaos Beasts wouldn't spare him regardless of whether he killed them, but there was no real need for him to claim responsibility.

"It's easy to talk with intelligent people," Ancestor Qihong said. "I'd like to ask Fellow Daoist Wang to help me refine a set of medium-grade Dao artifacts, or high-tier immortal talismans."

"A set of medium-grade Dao artifacts? Can you acquire so many fifth-tier immortal materials?" Wang Changsheng asked, perplexed.

"Not at the moment, but there's hope for the future," Ancestor Qihong cautioned. "If not for the fifth-tier immortal pills you provided, I would still be in secluded cultivation recovering from my injuries. Helping you this time is also helping myself, isn't it? Remember, don't let other Ancestors know that you've established two supreme fundamental laws. Everyone is suspicious."

"Fellow Daoist Jin, are you implying that Fellow Daoist Qing, Madam Shan, and the others are problematic?" Wang Changsheng asked.

"That possibility cannot be ruled out," Ancestor Qihong explained. "Of the Ancient Immortal Court's three great protectors, Fellow Daoist Lei was ambushed by a pseudo-immortal. Given this past lesson, we must be on guard."

"Thank you for the warning, Fellow Daoist Jin. We will be careful," Wang Changsheng said gratefully.

"Once I find enough fifth-tier immortal materials, I'll ask for your help with refining artifacts and making talismans. In the meantime, focus on your cultivation and strive to establish a third fundamental law as soon as possible!" Ancestor Qihong reminded them.

"That's precisely our intention," Wang Changsheng nodded.

"I have other matters to attend to, so I won't stay any longer," Ancestor Qihong said, then left Qinglian Immortal Island. "You two knowing my hiding place is enough; don't tell anyone else."

"In this great war, we annihilated two more large tribes," Wang Ruyan said with a tone of regret, "It's a pity that Ancestral Dragon and Primordial Phoenix perished."

"Our current territory is vast enough," Wang Changsheng said. "Next time a great war breaks out, the Chaos Beasts will surely target us."

After this battle, the True Dragon, Primordial Phoenix, and Qilin clans were severely weakened and couldn't recover their vitality in a short time. The Wang family became the most powerful immortal force on the Chaos Continent.

Wang Changsheng was well aware that the Wang family was merely a visible force. Given the existence of reclusive sects like the Sky-Treading Sect, there must be hidden great clans or Dao clans. To put it plainly, the many forces on the Chaos Continent were just the tip of the iceberg; more masters and powerful individuals were hidden in the shadows, accumulating strength in preparation for the next Great Dao War.

Wang Changsheng flicked his sleeve, and the Azure Lotus Creation Cauldron flew out, from which Qing Xuan emerged.

"I've devoured two more sub-pagodas, so I need to go into slumber for a while," Qing Xuan said with a satisfied burp.

Wang Changsheng took out two low-grade Dao artifacts he had seized and handed them to Qing Xuan. "These are Dao artifacts from Chaos Beast Ancestors. Take them and devour them to enhance your strength."

"Low-grade Dao artifacts won't help me much; you can keep them for your own use," Qing Xuan politely declined.

It was currently a high-grade Dao artifact, and the Ten Directions Mother-Sub Pagoda was also a high-grade Dao artifact. Qing Xuan could increase its power by devouring sub-pagodas, but devouring low-grade Dao artifacts wouldn't be very effective.