Chapter 4918: Safety First Wang Yong'an

Red Lotus Market City, in the interior of the Xuang Ling Continent.

Red Lotus Market City, one of the five major market cities under the Wang family's jurisdiction, boasts an excellent geographical location that attracts a large number of merchants and travelers.

The streets were bustling with people and the clamor of carriages, creating a very lively atmosphere.

In a secluded courtyard with blue-tiled roofs, Wang Yongqian was speaking eagerly with Wang Yongan. Wang Yongqian held a shimmering spiritual orb in her hand, her expression filled with excitement.

"Brother Yongan, our opportunity has arrived!"

Wang Yongqian explained excitedly that clan members had discovered an ancient cultivator's cave dwelling. They had breached the outer restrictions but were unable to break through the core ones, and so, having no other choice, they had returned to report to her.

"An ancient cultivator's cave dwelling? Could it be a trap set by evil cultivators? Such situations are not unheard of; they often offer small initial gains to lure high-level cultivators into breaking the restrictions, only to capture them all at once."

Wang Yongan, being very cautious, raised his doubts.

"If we bring a few more clan members at the Soul Transformation stage and proceed carefully, it should be fine, right? This is likely the secluded dwelling of a Void Refinement cultivator, so there must be many good treasures inside."

As Wang Yongqian finished speaking, her eyes gleamed with excitement.

Wang Yongqian was at the mid-Soul Transformation stage, while Wang Yongan was at the late-Soul Transformation stage.

"It's better to be cautious. Let's report this to Ancestor Yier and the others. Safety comes first; while treasures are good, one must be alive to enjoy them. Don't let profit cloud your judgment."

Wang Yongan advised, intending to report the matter to Wang Yier.

"Brother Yongan, I know you're cautious, but if we report this to Ancestor Yier, even if there are treasures, we won't get much. How about we go together? That way, we can secure a larger share."

Wang Yongqian was reluctant to let go of the opportunity that had fallen into her lap.

"Eight Nascent Soul cultivators attacked it for almost half a month and couldn't even shake the core restrictions. It's most likely a sixth-tier formation. Let's not get involved. If there's danger, not only will we be unable to help, but we might also drag down Ancestor Yier and the others. Just report it to the clan elders; safety comes first."

Wang Yongan analyzed the situation. Since childhood, countless clan members had invited him on treasure hunts, but Wang Yongan had always refused.

One failure could mean death and the end of his cultivation path; he couldn't afford to lose. With the family's current promising development, capable of providing the resources even for Void Refinement cultivators, Wang Yongan saw no need to take such risks.

Unless it was an exceptionally valuable cultivation resource, in which case his intervention wouldn't even be needed.

"Well... alright! I'll listen to you."

Wang Yongqian hesitated for a moment before agreeing.

Wang Yongan immediately took out a green communication disk, cast a spell into it, and respectfully said, "Ancestor Yier, we have an important matter that requires a face-to-face report."

"Important matter? Come and report it!"

Ancestor Yier's voice came from the communication disk.

Wang Yongan agreed, and he and Wang Yongqian left the courtyard, arriving at the entrance of a sprawling estate. They pushed open the door and entered.

After passing through a long corridor, they stopped.

Wang Yier, Wang Zongque, and Wang Gonghu were seated in a red stone pavilion, discussing something.

Wang Yongan and Wang Yongqian were about to bow when Wang Yier stopped them, saying, "Dispense with the formalities. Just state what important matter you have!"

Wang Yongan acknowledged him and recounted the entire sequence of events.

"An ancient cultivator's cave dwelling?"

Wang Gonghu frowned, half-believing, half-doubting.

Some evil cultivators deliberately set up traps to lure cultivators into treasure hunts, then activate formations to kill them.

"Zongque, stay behind and guard the market city. Yier, Yongan, and I will go and investigate. I hope this isn't a trap set by evil cultivators. Yongan is a formation master, so he can guide us in breaking the restrictions. We'll leave behind soul-attachment talismans; if a talisman spontaneously ignites, Zongque, report it to the family immediately."

Soul-attachment talismans were similar in function to vital soul lamps; if they met with an accident, the talismans would spontaneously ignite, and Wang Zongque would know immediately.

If it was indeed the secluded dwelling of a Void Refinement cultivator, two Void Refinement cultivators could break the restrictions with some time, and if they encountered danger, they would have each other's support.

Wang Zongque nodded in agreement.

Wang Gonghu, Wang Yier, and Wang Yongan left Red Lotus Market City and hurried to their destination.

Over half a month later, they appeared above a vast, emerald mountain range stretching for tens of thousands of miles.

According to their intelligence, this was the Heavenly Mist Mountain Range, known for its heavy fog. There were not many fifth-tier demonic beasts, and no sixth-tier demonic beasts had ever appeared.

They flew northwest, not moving very fast.

After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Wang Yongan stopped and said, "Ancestor Gonghu, Ancestor Yier, for the sake of caution, let's set up a teleportation array here. It might come in handy, and safety comes first."

Wang Gonghu pondered for a moment before agreeing.

Wang Yongan soared down towards a small valley below and flew into a cave within it.

A short while later, Wang Yongan flew out of the cave and followed Wang Gonghu and Wang Yier deeper into the mountain range.

Along the way, Wang Yongan set up three teleportation arrays and three sets of fifth-tier defensive formations. Even if they encountered a powerful enemy, if the formations could hold for even a breath, they would have a better chance of escaping.

Wang Gonghu and Wang Yier said nothing, as Wang Yongan was notoriously cautious; his title as 'Safety Cultivator' was not without reason.

Over half an hour later, they appeared above a narrow, elongated valley. Vegetation was sparse within the valley, and the ground was strewn with numerous white fragments of stone.

Wang Yier descended into the valley and quickly approached a steep stone cliff. He took out a shimmering yellow formation flag, and with a slight flick of his wrist, the flag merged into the stone cliff and disappeared.

The stone cliff trembled slightly, then glowed with a dazzling yellow light, revealing an entrance about ten feet wide. Wang Yier stepped inside.

After walking for over a hundred steps, a spacious cave dwelling, about an acre in size, appeared before him. Inside were several blue stone stools. The stone wall to the left glowed with a dazzling golden light, and behind this light was a simple stone door.

Wang Yier activated his Dharma Idol and attacked the golden light.

After a series of thunderous roars, large amounts of shattered rock tumbled down from the stone wall, but the golden light remained completely undisturbed.

Wang Yier hesitated slightly, then sought help from Wang Gonghu.

Wang Gonghu entered, accompanied by Wang Yongan, who meticulously observed the golden light.

"This appears to be the Qianjin Spirit-Locking Formation. Once trapped by this formation, even a Void Refinement cultivator would find it difficult to escape."

Wang Yongan stated his observation.

"Let's break the restriction. Don't hold back."

Wang Gonghu said in a deep voice, activating his Dharma Idol to break the restriction.

The three of them jointly attacked the golden light, creating continuous explosive sounds as various spiritual lights intertwined.

Over an hour later, accompanied by a deafening roar, the golden light dissipated, and the stone door was blasted into fragments. A simple stone chamber, over a hundred *zhang* in size, appeared before them.

In the center of the stone chamber lay a human skeleton. On its left bony hand was a green storage ring. Upon closer inspection, more than half of the remains had turned black, and two ribs in the chest were broken.

Wang Gonghu expanded his spiritual sense and thoroughly investigated, finding no anomalies.

He released a humanoid puppet, which walked into the stone chamber and retrieved the green storage ring from the remains.

Wang Gonghu took the green storage ring, and with a gentle shake, a swath of green light swept past, revealing a pile of items on the ground.