CHAPTER 64: MING YUAN PILL TURNAMENT

Wang Luqi, Wang Nam, and Wang Luyi walked together into the main residence. Li Shen and Li Xun followed behind. They arrived at the main hall, which was spacious with large pillars towering over the place.

"There is a specific reason why my father fought him," replied Wang Nam, sitting on the throne with Wang Luqi and Wang Luyi standing on his right and left.

"What is it?" asked Li Shen.

"Because the Ming Zhao Kingdom wants to prevent the rise of a new power that is beyond their capabilities," replied Wang Nam.

’It seems that the problems of Qing Yan and Ming Zhao are similar. However, the impact is different,’ replied Li Shen.

"At first, the Wang family was one of the five great cultivator families in the Ming Zhao Kingdom. But the palace conspired with other cultivator families to bring down the Wang family," revealed Wang Nam.

"For 500 years, they tried to overthrow the Wang family by various means, which proved successful. We were defeated and forced to hand over our status to another family. We were banished to Zhoguang City in a distant corner of the Ming Zhao Kingdom," continued Wang Nam.

"Wang Zhao saw the Wang family’s dire situation. He tried to turn the tables and attacked several other cultivator families."

"At first, he succeeded. But slowly, the palace intervened again and sent Ming Gong to fight Wang Zhao. My father fought against him and 1,000 disciples of the Ming Yuan sect."

"He used various methods to win the battle. He defeated 800 disciples and crippled them all. But he was exhausted and couldn’t defeat Ming Gong."

"At that moment, Ming Gong cast a Blood Seal on Wang Zhao, causing Wang Zhao to suffer and be unable to cultivate. Now, he relies on his spiritual energy in that place to stay alive."

"Was there no help from other sects?" asked Li Shen. Wang Nam shook his head slowly.

"The Vermillion Fire Sect should have helped Wang Zhao, but they didn’t. I don’t know what made them refuse to help Wang Zhao. My guess is that they were bribed by the Palace not to interfere," explained Wang Nam.

Li Shen nodded. At least he was starting to understand who was right and who was wrong. With that, Li Shen would not hesitate to defend Wang Zhao because his friend’s side was in the right.

But this time, the problem was much more complicated than Li Shen had expected. The Palace was involved in this conflict. If Li Shen targeted Ming Gong to let him free Wang Zhao from the Blood Seal, then King Ming would target the Wang Family again.

It was truly a dilemma, Li Shen didn’t know what to do. The only way he could think of was to go visit Ming Gong and make him release the Blood Seal without King Ming’s knowledge.

If he succeeded, Wang Zhao would be free and the Wang family would not feel intimidated by the impact of Wang Zhao’s release.

"It seems that the only way is to meet Ming Gong," replied Li Shen.

"That’s right. I thought the same thing. However, at one point, I completely gave up on the idea," explained Wang Nam, making Li Shen curious.

"Why?"

"In addition to his high level of cultivation, he is also guarded by many elders from two places, the Palace and the Ming Yuan Sect.

"That makes it difficult for us to approach him," replied Wang Nam.

"He’s only a Soul Ascension cultivator, there’s nothing to be afraid of," explained Li Shen.

"But for Nascent Soul cultivators like us, we are no match for him," explained Wang Nam.

"He’s putting down his abilities to make me feel sympathetic. How miserable you are, Wang Zhao. You must be very angry to see the Wang Family’s current situation," replied Li Shen.

Li Shen fell silent, then sighed. Without saying a word to Wang Nam, he stepped out of the Wang Family’s main residence. Li Xun was seen following him.

Li Xun turned outside and saw Li Shen walking on the sky, with both hands behind his back. He seemed to be about to do something for the Wang family.

Not only Li Xun, but Wang Nam, Wang Luqi, and Wang Luyi also walked out. There, they saw Li Shen standing in the sky, flying a gem and forming a hand formation.

Li Shen pointed his hand downwards, allowing the gem to hit the ground where a large blue magic circle appeared and lit up brightly. Everyone in the front yard began to step back.

[Vermillion Sky Formation Activated!]

From within the formation, three medium-sized circles appeared, forming a separate portal. From it, condensed qi energy formed a medium-sized flaming vermillion bird, flying in the sky above the Wang family residence.

"A Legendary Vermillion Bird?!" Wang Nam was shocked.

The three Vermillion Legendary Birds were merely a protective and offensive formation for a single location. They could be used to protect a place from threats from cultivators below Soul Ascension, and could also injure cultivators in the Nascent Soul realm.

With that formation, Li Shen did not need to feel anxious or worried about the Wang Family’s situation. He entrusted everything to the formation.

Li Shen turned his head and looked at Li Xun and Wang Nam. In an instant, Li Shen appeared in front of them. Wang Nam immediately responded, as if asking Li Shen why he had activated the formation.

"What I am about to do may have consequences for the Wang family. Before Wang Zhao is freed, you will be protected by this formation."

"Not a single member of the Wang family is to leave the Wang family residence. This formation only protects this place and everyone within it," Li Shen explained.

Wang Nam understood. He continued to look up and watched the three Vermillion Fire Birds circling in the sky. Li Shen turned, handing the emergency token to Li Xun.

"If anything goes wrong here, press the emergency token. I’ll return immediately," Li Shen explained. Li Xun cleared his throat and nodded.

"Alright. I understand, Father."

"Take care of yourself. We must return home safely," Li Xun pleaded, a look of anxiety appearing on her face when she realized that Li Shen was going to challenge the Ming Zhao Palace.

"Don’t worry, Xun’er. I’ll return safely."

After finishing protecting the place, Li Shen took his leave. Wang Nam and the others joined hands, paying their respects and expressing their high hopes for Li Shen.

"May Master Li always be blessed with safety and ease!" Wang Nam said firmly, followed by the other family members.

Li Shen nodded flatly, turned around, and flew quickly away from the Wang family residence. Li Xun still felt uneasy, her heart pounding as she clutched the token.

She knew that this was something only Li Shen could do. Li Xun understood. However, she did not know the power of the Ming Zhao Palace.

"I hope you’re okay, Father."

After a few minutes, Li Shen had disappeared from the Wang family residence. Wang Luqi and Wang Luyi walked over to Li Xun, trying to calm the woman’s anxiety.

"You are safe with us, Lady Li Xun," said Wang Luyi with a friendly smile.

"Thank you, Madame Wang."

Elsewhere, Li Shen continued to fly across the city with the help of the map of the continent he had. According to information from Wang Nam, the Ming Yuan Sect was located in Hutao City, about 1,000 miles away from Zhoguang.

The reason Li Shen went there instead of Ming Zhao’s palace was because he wanted to prevent Ming Zhao from interfering directly. Li Shen’s business was with Ming Gong, not the palace.

Every time Li Shen flew fast and powerfully across the urban sky, he was accompanied by a blue trail of spiritual energy and a powerful rumbling sound.

With his abilities, it was not difficult for Li Shen to arrive in Hutao City.

After about 15 minutes of flying at high speed, Li Shen finally arrived above the city. He stood up and stepped onto the ground, landing softly.

There was no suspicion from the cultivators and city residents. They considered such things normal, especially since Li Shen was only a cultivator at the Middle Stage of Nascent Soul.

Arriving in the city center, Li Shen immediately sensed the crowd of people. They were walking around with their friends and loved ones, paying no attention to others, including Li Shen.

"According to Wang Nam, the Ming Yuan Sect is near Hutao City," explained Li Shen.

The man continued walking in the crowd. Li Shen saw that the crowd had stopped in front of the city square. They were watching a cultivator who was speaking loudly on a podium.

"Come! Join the Ming Yuan Sect Pill Tournament! The winner will be awarded the title of honorary elder of the Ming Yuan Sect and have the opportunity to marry the daughter of Prince Ming Gong, Ming Yue," replied the cultivator.

"Only those above Core Formation are eligible to register."

"The daughter of Prince Ming Gong? Ah, why does this feel so easy?" asked Li Shen.

Li Shen stepped forward and entered the crowd, took a form and filled it out. After filling in his identity, Li Shen received an initial registration token.

"Here you go."

"I don’t know where the Ming Yuan Sect is," said Li Shen.

"Don’t worry, Fellow Daoist. You can go with us later, that is, if you are willing to wait until all the registrations are complete," said someone in a blue and white robe, the uniform of the Ming Yuan Sect.

The man nodded, not minding the delay. To avenge Wang Zhao’s suffering, Li Shen had already thought of the best way to make Ming Gong powerless.

"Of course, Sect Elder. I am willing to wait."