"It seems that going into Wanling Lake is not an option."
"I've gained enough from Wanling Blessed Land."
"I should wait patiently to leave!"
Qin Wang contemplated the intelligence he had received. The lake had over twenty third-tier Blood Spirit Jiao and Blood Carp Kings, and there was also the suppressed Demon Emperor. Going down there might leave nothing of him.
"Earth Dragon Beast King, take me to find the Thick Earth Dark Water!"
Qin Wang put away the intelligence panel and summoned the Earth Dragon Beast King. According to the information, the mutated dragon beast king had been to a hidden place in Wanling Blessed Land that might contain Thick Earth Dark Water.
Zhang Fujiang had already started packing his things the moment Qin Wang spoke.
"Squeak, squeak~~!"
As soon as the Earth Dragon Beast King appeared and received Qin Wang's command, it sped off into the distance, crushing trees and plants in its path.
"Hmm? Why is it heading towards Wanling Lake?"
Qin Wang followed behind the Earth Dragon Beast King and was surprised to see it heading towards the lake.
Through divine sense communication, Qin Wang learned that the Thick Earth Dark Water was at the bottom of Wanling Lake!
"Given my current strength, obtaining the Thick Earth Dark Water from there is too difficult."
Qin Wang decided to wait by the lake and gather more intelligence to see if there was a solution.
Three days later, near Wanling Lake, almost ten thousand cultivators had gathered, all looking at the lake and sighing.
The pillar of light at the lake's center was gradually dissipating. Over the past three days, more than thirty cultivators had been devoured by the Blood Spirit Jiao and Blood Carp Kings from the lake, prompting the others to stay a hundred feet away from the lake.
Qin Wang stood by the lake, realizing from the intelligence he had gathered over the past few days that there was no way around the Demon Emperor at the lake's bottom. He decided to give up and return when his cultivation was higher.
Boom! Suddenly, Qin Wang felt a tremor underfoot, and the sky showed a white light curtain with spiritual energy flowing.
"Wanling Blessed Land is closing, the time is up!"
"Sigh, my gains this time weren't great, and I lost an arm..."
"I agree. I managed to gather a few spiritual herbs only to be robbed and had to surrender everything to save my life..."
"That's not too bad. I heard the Eighteenth Prince of the Heavenly Chu Immortal Dynasty, Chu Ping, and the Seventh Prince of the Dayan Immortal Dynasty, Yan Wushuang, who are on the Potential Dragon List, both perished!"
"What? Figures on the Potential Dragon List perished? Didn't they have many guards?"
The changes in Wanling Blessed Land sparked heated discussions among the cultivators. Some were satisfied, others disappointed.
Listening to the surrounding discussions, Qin Wang began to ponder his next move outside Wanling Blessed Land.
He anticipated that people from the Heavenly Chu Immortal Dynasty would be waiting outside.
As far as he knew, after Wanling Blessed Land closed, all participating cultivators would be expelled by the array and scattered within a hundred miles around Wanling Blessed Land.
At this moment, Qin Wang had concealed his cultivation to the tenth level of the Qi Refining stage and used face-changing techniques to alter his appearance.
Throughout his journey, Qin Wang had perfected his face-changing technique, making it more seamless and mystical.
A wave of dizziness surrounded Qin Wang. He didn't know how long it lasted, but soon he felt solid ground beneath his feet.
Looking around, Qin Wang found himself on the edge of a cliff, next to a large river rushing below.
Within his line of sight were over twenty other cultivators who had also been transported there by the array.
"Within a hundred miles of Wanling Blessed Land!"
"Let's head to Wanling Market first!"
Qin Wang's eyes flashed as he used Wind Technique to head towards Wanling Market at the speed appropriate for a tenth-level Qi Refining cultivator.
Logically, after killing the Eighteenth Prince of the Heavenly Chu Immortal Dynasty, Chu Ping, and the Seventh Prince of the Dayan Immortal Dynasty, Yan Wushuang, who were on the Potential Dragon List, it would be prudent to leave as quickly as possible.
However, Qin Wang knew that people from the Heavenly Chu Immortal Dynasty would be waiting to inspect any cultivators hurriedly leaving.
In this case, the most dangerous place was the safest.
Moreover, flying away with a sword would definitely attract attention.
Being too fast was also problematic.
Moving at the speed of an ordinary cultivator was the most prudent approach.
The focus would be on those at the eleventh level of the Qi Refining stage and above, as well as those on the Potential Dragon List.
By concealing his cultivation at the tenth level of the Qi Refining stage, Qin Wang could reduce the Chu family's attention.
At this moment, Qin Wang sensed through soul blood that Zhang Fujiang was heading towards him.
Meanwhile, on the plains near the array entrance of Wanling Blessed Land, a middle-aged cultivator in his thirties, with a powerful aura, stood on a hill with a gloomy expression. Behind him stood dozens of strong cultivators.
If Qin Wang were present, he would recognize that these cultivators were all at the Foundation Establishment stage!
The leading middle-aged man's cultivation was unfathomable!
"This person killed the Eighteenth Prince. His cultivation must be exceptional among Qi Refining cultivators!"
"Thoroughly investigate those on the Potential Dragon List! We must catch the murderer!"
"Also, scrutinize suspicious individuals and those who hurriedly left Wanling Blessed Land!"
Chu Hanxing was furious. He had brought the Eighteenth Prince here for training, but before Wanling Blessed Land even closed, he received news that the Eighteenth Prince had died.
The Eighteenth Prince, Chu Ping, was the beloved great-grandson of the family patriarch, who had even given him a divine thought incarnation for protection.
Having led the Eighteenth Prince here, Chu Hanxing had to face the patriarch's wrath for his death.
The only way to mitigate his punishment was to capture the murderer.
"Yes!"
"Yes!"
More than a dozen Foundation Establishment cultivators bowed and scattered.
Simultaneously, Chu Hanxing extended his divine sense, cautiously searching for suspicious individuals, knowing the killer would try to escape quickly.
Qin Wang continued towards Wanling Market at the speed of a tenth-level Qi Refining cultivator.
Around him were nearly a hundred other cultivators, all heading towards the market to trade their gains for useful resources.
When they were thirty miles from Wanling Market, a voice called out from the sky.
"Fellow Daoists, apologies for the interruption. I am Chu Chuyang from the Chu family. The Eighteenth Prince, Chu Ping, perished in Wanling Blessed Land, angering the patriarch. We are here to investigate the murderer. Please forgive any inconvenience."
A Foundation Establishment cultivator with a black eyepatch landed before Qin Wang and the other cultivators, scanning them with his gaze.
"Senior Chu, please proceed with your investigation!"
"Senior Chu, no need to be polite. Please go ahead!"
"Please, senior!"
The gathered cultivators respectfully bowed, knowing resistance would draw suspicion and likely lead to being detained.
"How will he investigate?"
Qin Wang watched Chu Chuyang, tension rising. The Chu family seemed to have a special method.
"Qin Wang, don't worry. I'll shield your aura and cultivation with my divine sense. Their methods won't detect you!"
"Relax."
At that moment, Wu Su's voice echoed in Qin Wang's mind.
"Alright, now I'm reassured."
For extra safety, Qin Wang called out Wu Su.