Chapter 4856: The Stone of the Great Path

Jade Dragon Immortal Island, Jade Dragon Garden.

Peng Yishan and a curvaceous woman in a silver dress were seated in a cyan stone pavilion, engaged in conversation.

"Madam Xue, it's been a long time," Peng Yishan said with a smile.

"Fellow Daoist Peng, to be frank, I've come here hoping your Peng family can help me find someone. Here is their information."

The woman in the silver dress took out a blue jade slip and handed it to Peng Yishan.

Peng Yishan scanned it with his divine sense and frowned. "Xing Shen, merely an initial-stage Dao Venerable, yet Madam Xue is personally inquiring about him. Is there anything special about this person?"

"He possesses a Grand Dao Stone!"

A Grand Dao Stone is a very special cultivation material, usually refined into an Enlightenment Stele. Dao Venerables use it to comprehend the Grand Dao more efficiently. Some exceptionally insightful Dao Venerables can even comprehend a Supreme Grand Dao.

"What! A Grand Dao Stone? Isn't that something only found in the Land of Returning to Emptiness? Where did he get it?" Peng Yishan exclaimed in surprise.

"Gu Shan, the Grand Elder of the Bone Tribe, went to the Land of Returning to Emptiness to seek treasure and found a Grand Dao Stone. However, the news leaked, and he was pursued by several Dao Venerables. During the chaotic fight, Xing Shen managed to seize the item. He was also severely wounded and fled into the Sea of Returning to Emptiness to lay low. He has mastered a Supreme Grand Dao and possesses a Heavenly Dao Artifact. You are no match for him. Once you find him, it's best to notify me immediately," the woman in the silver dress said slowly.

"He mastered a Supreme Grand Dao and then seized the Grand Dao Stone? Is his strength really that formidable?" Peng Yishan asked, perplexed.

"He had been observing from the shadows. He launched a sudden attack using a flying-type Dao Talisman, seized the Grand Dao Stone, and immediately fled. Once the Dao Talisman's power was depleted, he escaped into the Sea of Returning to Emptiness," the woman in the silver dress continued.

"A flying-type Dao Talisman! No wonder!" Peng Yishan exclaimed, understanding dawning on him. He then thought of something and continued to ask, "Is he an artifact refiner? Why would he seize a Grand Dao Stone?"

"He isn't an artifact refiner, but he can exchange this item for resources with major powers! If worst comes to worst, trading it for a powerful Heavenly Dao Artifact would be no problem. Many Dao Venerables are looking for him. Your Peng family holds considerable influence in the Celestial Moon Immortal Realm; keeping an eye on his whereabouts shouldn't be difficult, right?"

"No problem, consider it handled. By the way, what about that matter I asked you about earlier?" Peng Yishan inquired.

"I haven't heard of the Wang family of Green Lotus. The Chaos Realm is vast, and it's impossible for me to know everything. However, it's quite astonishing that the Wang family has produced so many Dao Venerables and become the seventh largest force in the Celestial Moon Immortal Realm. Fortunately, their relationship with your Peng family is quite good."

The Wang family's sudden rise, producing multiple Dao Venerables within more than a billion years, was indeed shocking. However, since the Wang family hasn't had any major conflicts of interest with other factions and maintains a close relationship with the Peng family, other forces haven't taken it too seriously.

No force wanted to establish a powerful enemy for themselves. While most of the Wang family's Dao Venerables might not be exceptionally strong (relative to truly powerful ones), they could still easily eliminate cultivators below the Dao Venerable stage.

If pushed too far, the Wang family's Dao Venerables could disperse and specifically target cultivators below the Dao Venerable stage, which would be impossible to counter.

As for soul-searching the Wang family cultivators to investigate their origins? That's even more impossible. Only a small fraction of the Wang family members leave Green Lotus Immortal Island to operate, and those are at least Grand Unity Golden Immortals, mostly Dao Ancestors, who never venture out alone.

Peng Yishan nodded and said, "That's true, but the Wang family's rapid rise still makes me a bit uneasy. It's fine if they're friends, but I worry they might be sent by an enemy."

It wasn't easy for the Peng family to acquire Grand Dao Seeds, so it's truly perplexing where the Wang family obtained so many.

"For the Wang family to produce so many Dao Venerables, they must have acquired many Grand Dao Seeds. Perhaps they exchanged Heavenly Dao Artifacts and Dao Talismans for them. To my knowledge, the number of Heavenly Dao Artifacts sold in some major immortal realms has significantly increased, mostly through auction houses. The Wang family also saw the emergence of multiple Dao Venerables during this period," the woman in the silver dress analyzed.

"Where did he get so many Heavenly Dao Artifacts and Dao Talismans? They can't be that easy to refine! Just gathering the materials would be incredibly difficult," Peng Yishan questioned.

"Dao Venerable Xuanhuo, the Vice Palace Master of the Heavenly Dream Divine Palace, is skilled in artifact refining. It's not impossible that Fellow Daoist Wang obtained Dao Venerable Xuanhuo's legacy. In any case, Fellow Daoist Wang bears no ill will towards you, and befriending the Wang family is a good thing; at least it won't create another enemy for you."

"That's true. Never mind, let's find Xing Shen first." Peng Yishan said, taking out a shimmering golden disc. He cast a spell, gesturing for a moment.

Green Lotus Immortal Island, Green Lotus Peak.

Wang Changsheng, Wang Ruyan, and Wang Qingcheng were seated in a cyan stone pavilion, conversing.

"Father, Mother, we've been gathering information about the Sea of Returning to Emptiness for years. We heard that some encountered powerful mid-stage Dao Venerables there. The Sea of Returning to Emptiness harbors many special, powerful creatures."

Wang Qingcheng took out some crystal balls and jade slips and handed them to Wang Changsheng to examine.

The Dark Hall, led by Wang Chuanming, had collected extensive intelligence on the Sea of Returning to Emptiness, including sea charts, echo crystals, and information on restrictions, preparing for the arrival of other clan members.

Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan examined the items carefully, and Wang Qingcheng reported to them in detail.

"Even mid-stage Dao Venerables can perish there, Husband. Let's reconsider this for a while! Our strength is still too weak," Wang Ruyan advised.

It's better to be safe than sorry. Their arrival in the Chaos Realm was purely by chance and could not be replicated.

Wang Changsheng frowned deeply, a thoughtful expression on his face. The Sea of Returning to Emptiness was even more terrifying than he had imagined.

The restrictions and creatures varied depending on the entrance and route.

Wang Qingcheng took out a small yellow mirror, cast a spell into it, and Wang Chuanming's face appeared on its surface.

"Chuanming, have you found anything?" Wang Qingcheng asked.

"We've confirmed that the Heavenly Kui Tribe's Dao Venerable is searching for a Dao Venerable named Xing Shen. We heard he possesses something very valuable, but the exact item is unknown," Wang Chuanming said.

"How did you find that out?" Wang Qingcheng asked, puzzled.

"The Fiery Essence Tribe mobilized a lot of personnel. I killed several Dao Ancestors and soul-searched them, which is how I found out," Wang Chuanming said.

"What! You killed Dao Ancestors from the Fiery Essence Tribe?" Wang Qingcheng frowned.

"Rest assured, Ancestor Qingcheng. I followed them into the Sea of Returning to Emptiness and acted in a remote, uninhabited area. I also altered my appearance and aura, so they won't be able to trace it back to me," Wang Chuanming explained.

"You shouldn't do such things often. It's better to be safe than sorry; if something goes wrong, it'll be troublesome," Wang Qingcheng said.

Wang Chuanming was unscrupulous and only cared about results. While capable, he was also prone to causing trouble.

"I understand. I had no choice; it's too difficult to infiltrate the Fiery Essence Tribe with agents, so I had to resort to this," Wang Chuanming said.

"Alright then! Be careful and don't act recklessly again." Wang Qingcheng warned him, then cut the connection.