Wang Family Town

In addition to Wang Changsheng, there were ten mortals on the island. These ten mortals had been sent by the main family in Peaceful County to attend to Wang Changsheng's daily needs.

Wang Qiusheng was responsible for serving meals and clearing the dishes. By seniority, he should have addressed Wang Changsheng as Ninth Uncle-Grandfather.

Wang Changsheng sat down, picked up his chopsticks, and took a mouthful of white rice. The grains were crystalline in color, soft, glutinous, and delicious, but unfortunately, they did not contain the slightest trace of spiritual qi.

After breakfast, Wang Changsheng walked out of Azure Lotus Pavilion. His lips moved slightly, and a large swath of White Mist rose beneath his feet.

After the White Mist rolled and condensed, it transformed into a White Cloud about ten feet wide, hovering silently in the air as steady as level ground.

The Cloud Soaring Technique was a low-grade Basic Spell for flight. Its speed was not particularly fast, but without a flying Spirit Tool, most Qi Refining Stage cultivators would practice this technique.

Wang Changsheng stepped onto the White Cloud. It slowly rose into the air and flew toward the distance.

Before long, Wang Changsheng landed in a Valley. The Stone Walls on both sides were riddled with pits and hollows, while a great number of broken stones lay scattered across the ground. He often came here to practice spells.

Because Lotus Island's spiritual qi was sparse, cultivation yielded twice the effort for half the result. Most of his time was spent practicing spells.

Wang Changsheng let out a soft breath, began chanting under his breath, and continuously formed hand seals, creating one strange spell seal after another.

A moment later, a great amount of Blue Light emerged around Wang Changsheng's body, rapidly condensing into a crystalline Ice Spike over three feet long that emitted waves of cold air.

"Go."

Wang Changsheng lightly pointed at the Stone Wall and shouted softly.

The moment his words fell, the crystalline Ice Spike shot straight toward the Stone Wall.

With a cracking explosion, a hollow over three feet deep appeared in the Stone Wall, and a layer of frost covered the area around it.

"Success!"

Wang Changsheng witnessed the sight, and delight appeared on his face.

The Ice Spike Technique was a mid-grade Basic Spell. Its power was not especially great, but after more than half a year, Wang Changsheng had finally cultivated the Ice Spike Technique to Great Perfection.

Based on their power and casting time, spells were divided into three stages: Entry Level, Minor Accomplishment, and Great Perfection. Under normal circumstances, it took ten days to half a month to reach Entry Level with a Basic Spell. To cultivate a Basic Spell to Minor Accomplishment required at least two or three months. If one wanted to cultivate a Basic Spell to Great Perfection, it would take no less than half a year.

To be honest, when Wang Changsheng had first arrived at the godforsaken place that was Lotus Island, he had held quite a few grievances toward his father. However, after staying for three years, his state of mind had changed, and he gradually came to understand his father's difficulties.

Over those three years, his cultivation speed had been as slow as a crawling turtle, but his state of mind had become much firmer. In addition, he had cultivated five Basic Spells to Great Perfection and could cast Instant Spells. Had he remained in the Lineage cultivating, he might not have set aside so much time to practice spells.

The morning quickly passed as Wang Changsheng practiced spells all morning.

At noon, when he returned to Azure Lotus Pavilion, Wang Qiusheng had just brought over lunch.

Wang Qiusheng set down the food and left.

There were two dishes and a soup: steamed Azure Finch Egg, meatball tofu soup, and braised venison.

The ingredients had all been sent by the Wang Family's main branch. They were all top-quality ingredients, and the cook was first-rate as well. The only flaw was the lack of spiritual qi.

Wang Changsheng drank a bowl of soup and was just about to pick up his chopsticks when Wang Qiusheng hurried in. He held a letter in his hands, his face full of nervousness.

"Ninth Uncle-Grandfather, townsfolk in Wang Family Town have died one after another. It is rather strange. What do you think?"

Wang Changsheng raised a brow and asked, "Bring it here for me to see."

Wang Qiusheng did not dare delay and respectfully handed over the letter with both hands.

Wang Changsheng swept his gaze across it, pondered briefly, then instructed, "Do you know the mayor of Wang Family Town?"

"I do. By seniority, Wang Qingyun, the mayor of Wang Family Town, is this grandson's Third Uncle."

"Go back and pack up. Bring some dry rations, and come with me to Wang Family Town."

More than ninety percent of Wang Family Town's residents were Wang Family clansmen. The townsfolk here were among those Wang Changsheng was most responsible for protecting.

Something had happened in Wang Family Town, so Wang Changsheng naturally did not dare be negligent.

A quarter of an hour later, Wang Qiusheng arrived at Azure Lotus Pavilion with a bundle on his back. Behind him stood a delicate-featured Blue-Robed Maiden.

Wang Changsheng looked at the Blue-Robed Maiden and instructed, "Qiuyue, while I am gone, Lotus Island is in your hands. If any letters arrive, immediately send someone to deliver them to Wang Family Town."

"Yes, Ninth Uncle-Grandfather."

After walking out of Azure Lotus Pavilion, Wang Changsheng's lips moved slightly, and a White Cloud appeared from thin air beneath his feet.

Although it was not their first time seeing Wang Changsheng cast a spell, envy still appeared on the faces of Wang Qiusheng and Wang Qiuyue.

The White Cloud carried Wang Changsheng and Wang Qiusheng slowly into the air, flying toward the distance. Before long, the two vanished beyond the horizon.

Wang Family Town was a small town with a population of over five thousand. A small river about thirty feet wide ran through the northern part of the town, with a vast stretch of farmland along its banks.

The people of Wang Family Town made their living through farming and hunting, living self-sufficient lives.

Wang Family Town had only one street, running north to south. At its southern end stood several hundred large and small wooden and brick buildings. One courtyard was the most imposing of all. Its vermilion gates, over six feet high, looked magnificent and majestic, their surfaces covered in gleaming bronze studs that sparkled under the sunlight.

A ferocious stone lion stood on each side of the courtyard entrance.

Above the gate hung a black Plaque over ten feet long, engraved with four large golden characters: "Wang Family Ancestral Hall." It was extremely conspicuous.

Inside the main hall, more than twenty elderly men over fifty had gathered together. A wealthy-looking old man in his fifties or sixties sat in the seat of honor. This wealthy old man was Wang Qingyun, the mayor of Wang Family Town.

Wang Qingyun was sixty-seven years old that day. He was the most senior member of Wang Family Town, respected for both virtue and prestige, and everyone had elected him mayor.

The elders seated on either side beneath him were representatives of every branch of Wang Family Town.

Notably, two Constables, one tall and one short, stood beside Wang Qingyun with solemn expressions.

The two Constables were also Wang Family clansmen. Originally, they were not qualified to attend a clan meeting of this scale, but now that murder cases had appeared, Wang Qingyun had allowed them to join today's meeting.

A tall, thin elder rose to his feet, cupped his hands toward Wang Qingyun, and asked, "Third Uncle, what exactly is going on? Has the murderer still not been caught? Tianhu, Tianlong, you are Constables. How have you still failed to catch the murderer after so many days?"

"Sixth Uncle, it is not that we brothers are incompetent, but that we are powerless. The victims had not a single wound on their bodies, and there were no signs of a struggle inside their homes. There are no outsiders in town either. This was clearly the work of a Ghost," the Short Fat Constable explained with a bitter smile.

Although the people of Wang Family Town had not become cultivators, they all knew that Cultivators existed in this world and believed that Ghosts existed as well. The Short Fat Constable's explanation won the agreement of many people.

"I said it! This definitely was not the work of a person. Just as I expected."

"Exactly, exactly. I guessed it too. So it really was a Ghost."

"Since we know a Ghost did it, what are we waiting for? I remember there is a Celestial Master stationed in Peaceful County, protecting our region. Fifth Uncle, quickly send someone to invite the Celestial Master from the main family to destroy the Ghost. Otherwise, we will not even dare sleep at night. We are afraid of dying in a muddle, so we only dare nap a little during the day."

Representatives from every branch spoke one after another, each voicing their own opinion.

Wang Qingyun waved his hand and instructed, "Enough. Quiet down. I have already sent a Carrier Pigeon to notify the Celestial Master of the main family. Before the main family's Celestial Master arrives, keep your clansmen under control. Do not go out alone at night, lest more clansmen be harmed."

Just then, a tall Middle-Aged Man hurried in, his face full of delight.

"Father, Cousin Qiusheng has brought the main family's Celestial Master."

Upon hearing this, Wang Qingyun immediately stood up and pressed, "Where is the Celestial Master? Lead the way quickly. Do not neglect the main family's Celestial Master."

After saying this, Wang Qingyun hurried outside, and the other Wang Family clansmen followed after him.