Chapter 4920: Zhou Family

A vast, boundless azure sea stretched out, swept by constant sea breezes.

A streak of cyan light shot across the high sky at great speed.

Soon after, the cyan light halted above a desolate island over a thousand *li* in size. The light receded, revealing a shimmering cyan flying boat carrying Wang Yong'an, Wang Yi'er, and Wang Zongyao, all with solemn expressions.

To locate Immortal Chi Meng's former dwelling, Wang Yi'er had requested assistance from Wang Chang, who dispatched ten True Immortal cultivators from other branches to aid the Treasure Hunting Hall. Having been in the Immortal Realm for many years, Wang Yi'er's Treasure Hunting Hall had yet to make significant achievements. Now, tasked with a crucial mission, he desperately hoped to find Immortal Chi Meng's former dwelling. Wang Zongling had temporarily joined them to assist; currently a mid-stage True Immortal, she was capable of crafting True Immortal-level puppet beasts.

With a flick of his sleeve, Wang Yi'er released a yellow light that transformed into a tall young man in yellow robes, his eyes gleaming with cyan light. This was Wang Bao, a descendant of Wang Tun Tian, whose true form was a treasure-hunting rat at the early True Immortal stage. Each Wang family cultivator in the Treasure Hunting Hall possessed a spirit rat, each endowed with unique abilities: some had an acute sense of smell, others possessed mutated spiritual eyes, and some excelled at earth evasion.

Wang Bao's eyes glowed with a dazzling cyan light as he scanned the island. He then shook his head, indicating no discoveries. Wang Yi'er was not surprised. A Golden Immortal cultivator's former dwelling would hardly be easy to locate. Their clues were limited, only stating that Immortal Chi Meng's abode was on a desolate island, and that the island was not particularly large. He divided his personnel into multiple groups to investigate remote islands that matched this description.

Wang Bao's body glowed intensely with yellow light, transforming into a giant yellow rat with cyan eyes. He landed on the island, burrowed into the earth, and began his subsurface investigation. Wang Yi'er flicked his sleeve again, releasing hundreds of yellow butterflies. They fanned out and flew towards the island. If the island had any defensive restrictions, such as trapping or killing formations, the butterflies might trigger them.

Wang Zongyao produced a small, pale golden mirror. Upon infusing it with immortal elemental energy, the mirror surface immediately brightened, emitting a stream of golden light that enveloped the island and slowly began to move across it.

After the time it takes to steep a cup of tea, Wang Bao surfaced from underground, shaking his head. Neither the valuable items nor the spirit insects had detected any anomalies, suggesting the island was free of restrictions.

A deafening roar echoed, and a massive crimson fireball flared conspicuously in the distant sky. Wang Yi'er frowned. Wang Bao, understanding the silent command, flew towards the distance, his eyes blazing with dazzling cyan light.

"Two members of the Zhou family are being pursued," Wang Bao reported.

"The Zhou family? Which one?" Wang Zongyao asked skeptically, as there were countless cultivation families in the Heavenly Morning Sea Region, many of them named Zhou.

"The Zhou family from Jinhu Island," Wang Bao replied. "They hold some influence in the Zishan Archipelago." Wang Bao explained, stating that the Treasure Hunting Hall's extensive searches naturally required familiarity with the local geography. They were currently in the Zishan Archipelago, an area dominated by five major powers. The Zhou family was one of them, but not the strongest.

The Zishan Archipelago lay on the outermost fringes of the Nine Immortal Sect's domain. Its cultivation resources were sparse, incomparable to those of the White Deer Archipelago. However, as this sea region lacked any hostile forces of the Nine Immortal Sect, the five major powers in the Zishan Archipelago experienced less external pressure. Without common adversaries, these five powers frequently engaged in internal conflicts. The absence of external threats often led to internal strife, a pattern observable across the Immortal Realm.

Wang Yi'er had no interest in meddling; the Wang family shared no particular connection with the Zhou family.

A crimson flying boat approached from a distance, carrying a short, stout man in red robes and a voluptuous young woman in a white dress. Their auras indicated they were only at the Mahayana stage. Their faces were pale, and the red-robed man's left arm was missing, his aura significantly weakened.

A burst of golden lightning flared, revealing a tall young man in golden robes, his body enveloped by countless golden electrical arcs. He possessed mid-Mahayana cultivation. His robes bore the insignia of a golden serpent, the emblem of the Deng family from Golden Snake Island. The Deng family was one of the Zishan Archipelago's five major powers. Following their marriage alliance with the Meng family, the Deng family had rapidly expanded, though they still lagged far behind the Wang family in strength. Sensing the formidable auras of Wang Yi'er and his companions, the three's expressions became strained.

"Junior Deng Yuwei of Golden Snake Island," the golden-robed youth stated politely, introducing himself. "I am here by my clan leader's command to apprehend a wanted criminal."

"Bullshit!" the red-robed man cursed. "What wanted criminal? Your Deng family clearly invaded our Zhou family's island and now you're trying to shift the blame!"

"I have no interest in your affairs. Go back where you came from!" Wang Yi'er stated. He had no interest in dealing with such matters.

"Senior," Deng Yuwei said cautiously, "the Meng family of Xuanhuo Island are our in-laws. These two are criminals we are pursuing, so we humbly ask for your convenience." Deng Yuwei was unwilling to let the Zhou family cultivators escape.

"What? Did you not hear me clearly?" Wang Yi'er's tone turned cold. "Do I need to repeat myself?" Wang Yi'er's tone chilled. Already in a foul mood from failing to locate Immortal Chi Meng's former dwelling, he was further displeased that a mere Mahayana cultivator dared to defy him—and, crucially, that Deng Yuwei attempted to leverage the Meng family's name against him.

Deng Yuwei shivered and quickly replied, "This junior wouldn't dare. I will take my leave." The lightning around his body intensified, and he vanished from the spot.

"This junior is Zhou Yisheng. Thank you for your intervention, Senior," the red-robed man said, bowing gratefully.

"I have no interest in meddling in your affairs. Take care of yourselves," Wang Yi'er stated. Wang Yi'er formed a hand seal, and the cyan flying boat flew away into the distance.

"Yunmeng Island has fallen to the Deng family," the young woman in white sighed. "The Golden Brilliance Jade Mine is also in their hands now. Our income will plummet."

"Hmph," Zhou Yisheng scoffed, "the Golden Brilliance Jade Mine frequently spawns powerful demonic beasts, sometimes even True Immortal-level ones. Even if the Deng family has it, developing it won't be easy."

"That's true," the young woman in white conceded, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Our patriarch organized multiple suppression expeditions, yet powerful demonic beasts still emerge there, making mining extremely troublesome. It would be ideal if a True Immortal-level beast appeared just as the Deng family cultivators begin mining."

At this moment, Wang Yi'er and his companions had not traveled far. Relying on his treasure hunter's keen intuition, Wang Yi'er sensed something amiss with this Golden Brilliance Jade Mine. He formed a hand seal, and the cyan flying boat immediately turned back.

"What's this about the Golden Brilliance Jade Mine you were discussing?" Wang Yi'er asked, speculating that since Immortal Chi Meng had been missing for many years, the island containing her former dwelling might already be occupied by cultivators.

Zhou Yisheng paused, slightly startled. Were True Immortals also interested in an eighth-tier mineral vein? Not daring to delay, he truthfully recounted the situation. The Golden Brilliance Jade Mine was one of the few eighth-tier mineral veins controlled by the Zhou family. Powerful demonic beasts frequently emerged from its tunnels, even True Immortal-level ones. Although the Zhou family patriarch had personally led multiple suppression campaigns, eighth-tier demonic beasts would inevitably reappear after a period.

"Alright, you two may leave," Wang Yi'er said. Wang Yi'er waved his hand, dismissing Zhou Yisheng and the young woman.