Chapter 4858

Upon returning to Qinglian Peak, Wang Qingcheng inquired about Peng Yishan's visit, and Wang Changsheng recounted the details truthfully.

"If we acquire the Dao Stone, with father's skill in artifact refining, he can certainly forge an Enlightenment Stele." Wang Qingcheng's face showed a look of longing.

"We must find this person to obtain the Dao Stone!" Wang Changsheng said in a deep voice.

The Dao Stone is extremely precious, surpassed only by the Primordial Dao Stone and the Supreme Dao Source.

"Peng Yishan voluntarily informed us about Xing Shen, yet he didn't seem afraid of us locating him," Wang Ruyan said, puzzled.

"Either Xing Shen is exceptionally strong, or Peng Yishan deliberately understated his power. Alternatively, Peng Yishan might not believe we can find Xing Shen, or that we are a match for him," Wang Changsheng analyzed.

Their immediate priority was to ascertain Xing Shen's true capabilities. If he was merely an early-stage Dao Venerable, Wang Changsheng resolved to seek him out. Without a Dao Source, relying solely on arduous cultivation to comprehend the Great Dao is excessively time-consuming. An Enlightenment Stele, refined from the Dao Stone, could significantly improve efficiency.

The Heavenly Dream Divine Palace once reigned supreme, not because of its dozens of Dao Venerables, but because its Palace Master had mastered two Supreme Daos. It was rumored that the Palace Master achieved this mastery through the Ten Directions Enlightenment Talisman, a single-use item. However, the Enlightenment Stele is even more precious than the Ten Directions Enlightenment Talisman.

"First, we must ascertain his situation and then act accordingly. This presents a rare opportunity for our family," Wang Ruyan stated.

Xing Shen represents an opportunity for many factions; acquiring it would depend entirely on their individual capabilities.

Wang Qingcheng produced a small, yellow-glowing mirror, channeled a spell into it, and Wang Qingshan's face appeared on its surface.

"Seventh Brother! What's wrong?" Wang Qingcheng asked.

Wang Qingshan replied, "We've looked into Xing Shen's background. He's a rogue cultivator with early-stage Dao Venerable cultivation... Rumor has it he fled into the Sea of Returning Ruins."

Wang Qingshan's account was identical to Peng Yishan's, suggesting Peng Yishan had not deceived them.

"Seventh Brother, how did you uncover his background so quickly?" Wang Qingcheng asked, puzzled.

"He snatched the Dao Stone from multiple Dao Venerables; such an event couldn't possibly be kept secret. I spent a sum of Dao Stones to purchase this information from Guiyi Pavilion," Wang Qingshan explained.

Guiyi Pavilion is the most formidable intelligence organization in the Chaos Realm. Its Pavilion Master, a late-stage Dao Venerable, is known to be impartial, valuing money over individuals. They exclusively deal in information and do not meddle in the conflicts of other factions.

"Guiyi Pavilion! Then there's no issue." Wang Qingcheng suddenly understood and handed the yellow mirror to Wang Changsheng.

"Qingshan, find a way to obtain this person's essence blood and hair. Ideally, ascertain his precise birth information as well," Wang Changsheng instructed.

"Understood, Ninth Uncle. I'll contact you immediately if I get any news," Wang Qingshan assented.

Wang Changsheng gave a few more instructions, then severed the connection. He then ordered Wang Qingcheng, "Contact Chuanming. Have him gather all relevant intelligence. Tell him I only care about the results, not the methods, but ensure it's done cleanly. If he secures the Dao Stone, he will be the third clan member to use the Enlightenment Stele for Dao comprehension, after only us."

While Wang Qingshan was not adept at gathering intelligence, Wang Chuanming excelled at it.

"Yes, Father." Wang Qingcheng agreed. With Wang Changsheng's explicit instruction, Wang Chuanming would have even less regard for conventional rules. He immediately contacted Wang Chuanming to convey Wang Changsheng's orders.

"With the Ancestor's words, I'm reassured. I'll need at least five Dao Venerables to assist me," Wang Chuanming stated.

"Who do you require?" Wang Qingcheng asked.

"The First and Second Ancestors, Ancestor Qiulin, Ancestor Qingfeng, and Ancestors Yulan and Haitang," Wang Chuanming replied.

Wang Qingcheng looked at Wang Changsheng, who nodded.

"No problem. I will dispatch them immediately to assist you," Wang Qingcheng agreed and terminated the connection. He contacted the five individuals, including Ye Haitang, instructing them to assist Wang Chuanming.

"Cousin Haitang, this Dao Stone is crucial for our family," Wang Qingcheng said solemnly. In terms of seniority, Ye Haitang and the other four ranked higher than Wang Chuanming.

"Understood. We will follow Chuanming's orders and ensure there are no delays," Ye Haitang agreed.

"Husband, you should proceed with artifact refining. I will inform you immediately if there's any news," Wang Ruyan said.

The Sea of Returning Ruins is far too vast. Searching for Xing Shen there without any clues would be like looking for a needle in a haystack—it's utterly unnecessary. Wang Changsheng nodded, then rose and walked towards Qinglian Pavilion. He entered a secret chamber, retrieved his artifact refining materials, and began forging a Heavenly Dao Divine Artifact.

Almost simultaneously, major factions dispatched personnel to the Sea of Returning Ruins in search of Xing Shen.

Within the vast, boundless blue expanse of the Sea of Returning Ruins, a deafening roar echoed, and a colossal golden light erupted in the distance. A streak of red light shot forth from the golden glow, traversing tens of millions of miles in an instant. Before the red light could travel much further, the seawater churned and surged, and a colossal blue water dragon emerged from the depths, soaring directly towards the red light.

The red light halted, revealing a tall, slender youth dressed in a red shirt. His skin bore intricate, flame-like patterns that appeared entirely natural. By his aura, he possessed early-stage Dao Venerable cultivation.

The red-shirted youth gripped a red short blade. With a swing, a colossal crimson saber light surged forth, shattering the blue water dragon into countless fragments. As seawater splashed, his surroundings blurred, and he found himself hovering above a vast, boundless swamp. From the void, countless tendrils of purple miasma billowed and writhed, coalescing into enormous purple venomous pythons that lunged at the red-shirted youth.

"A Dao Domain!" The red-shirted youth was greatly alarmed. He swung his blade again, unleashing another immense crimson saber light that tore through the attacking purple venomous pythons, obliterating them.

"Daring to challenge me with mastery over merely two hundred Great Daos? You're courting death," a cold male voice resounded. No sooner had the words faded than the golden light dissipated, revealing a tall, slender man in a golden shirt. He bore subtle purple spiritual patterns on his skin, and his eyes glowed with a violet hue.

It was Xing Shen, an early-stage Dao Venerable.

"Fellow Daoist, a misunderstanding, it's a misunderstanding!" the red-shirted youth hastily pleaded for mercy.

"That's not what you were saying earlier. Now you claim it's a misunderstanding? What were you waiting for? Do you truly believe I'm made of clay? I'll send you on your way." Xing Shen's tone was icy as he clenched a hand seal.

Within the Dao Domain, countless miasma tendrils emerged, morphing into various forms to assail the red-shirted youth. In less than fifteen minutes, he annihilated the red-shirted youth.

Xing Shen frowned, confiscated the red-shirted youth's belongings, and then withdrew his Dao Domain. He gazed northwest, frowning as he muttered, "This is truly a nuisance; it's endless. It seems I'll need to find a place to hide." With that, he transformed into a streak of light and departed.

Fifteen minutes later, a streak of green light flew in. It coalesced, revealing a green-glowing flying boat carrying two men and one woman. All three were Dao Venerables.

"Fellow Daoist Yan is unreachable. It appears something unfortunate has befallen him. I warned him not to be reckless, but he wouldn't listen," a portly man in golden robes said with a frown.

"His strength is considerable; he must have encountered a powerful creature, or perhaps Xing Shen himself. We should return first and dispatch more personnel. The Sea of Returning Ruins is simply too immense," a curvaceous woman in a white dress suggested. Three Dao Venerables are negligible here; even three billion cultivators scattered across the Sea of Returning Ruins would not be considered many. Dao Venerables have flown for millions of years without reaching its end, illustrating just how immense the Sea of Returning Ruins truly is.

"It's the only way. A pity about Fellow Daoist Yan," the golden-robed man sighed. He formed a hand seal, and the green flying boat immediately shone with an emerald light, turning back the way it came and departing from the area.