Chapter 1083: Middle-of-the-Road Wang Mengbin

A secluded courtyard on Qinglong Island.

Inside a blue pavilion, Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan were entertaining two Nascent Soul cultivators.

One was a fair-faced young woman in a golden dress. She wore a golden jade hairpin in her hair, had snow-white skin, a captivating figure, and was at the early Nascent Soul stage.

Her name was Ye Yuwei, from the Ye family of Hongye Island in the Golden Clam Sea Region. The Ye family had three Nascent Soul cultivators and was an affiliated force of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect.

The other was a refined young man in a blue robe, wearing a scholar's headscarf, with handsome features, holding a white folding fan, and also at the early Nascent Soul stage.

His name was Liu Xinchao, from Fire Cloud Island in the Fire Dolphin Sea Region. Fire Cloud Island was a cultivation sect that originally had three Nascent Soul cultivators, but one had died in battle. Currently, only two Nascent Soul cultivators remained. Fire Cloud Island was also an affiliated force of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect.

Ye Yuwei and Liu Xinchao had come to discuss cooperation with Wang Changsheng. Since the Wang family was establishing itself in the Five Dragons Sea Region, the three forces could form an alliance to support each other, which would benefit the development of all parties.

Generally, friendly forces would set up large, two-way teleportation arrays in their controlled markets, while hostile forces would not. If the Wang family were to set up a large, two-way teleportation array with the Lu family, for example, once a conflict arose between them, the other side could easily send people to teleport into the market to pillage and destroy. Such incidents had not been unheard of.

Even between friendly forces, absolute safety could not be guaranteed.

Therefore, if major forces engaged in a large-scale conflict, market administrators would usually close most teleportation arrays, leaving only a few dedicated ones.

Ye Yuwei and Liu Xinchao had come to cooperate with the Wang family. In addition to business collaboration, they also hoped to form an alliance, so that if one party encountered trouble, the other two would provide swift assistance.

Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan naturally wouldn't refuse an alliance. They were all affiliated forces of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect with no significant conflicts of interest; cooperation would be a win-win situation.

"Fairy Ye, Fellow Daoist Liu, then it's settled," Wang Changsheng said with a smile. "Once the market is established, you can send people there, and we will send our people to negotiate with you. The specifics will be handled by the younger generation." He explained that they would be responsible for major decisions such as the scale of cooperation, the terms of engagement, profit concessions, and distribution. These specific details would be discussed by the younger generation.

"Of course, Fellow Daoist Wang," Ye Yuwei sincerely invited, "if you have time in the future, please visit our Hongye Island as a guest. We will be neighbors from now on, so we should interact more often." She intended to propose a marriage alliance with the Wang family, but since the Wang family members had not yet relocated, there was no rush.

"Our Fire Cloud Island also welcomes Fellow Daoist Wang to visit," Liu Xinchao said with a smile. "Once your family's base is established, we will certainly pay a visit." He explained that the island master of Fire Cloud Island, a mid-Nascent Soul cultivator, had died on the front lines, leaving Fire Cloud Island with only two Nascent Soul cultivators. They urgently needed allies, and the exceptional strength of the Azure Lotus Immortals made them excellent partners.

"Please rest assured, Fellow Daoists," Wang Ruyan readily agreed, "once we finish our current affairs, we will certainly pay you a visit." She understood that cultivation was not just about fighting and killing, but also about human relations and social etiquette.

With a large territory now under their control, the Wang family needed to rest and recuperate. The situation in the South Sea was complex, with intertwined interests among various factions.

As the saying goes, "He who has the Dao has many helpers; he who loses the Dao has few." Major forces all needed allies. After forming an alliance, if others wished to target the Wang family, they would have to consider the Ye family and Fire Cloud Island.

After a brief chat, Ye Yuwei and Liu Xinchao bid farewell and departed.

Wang Mengbin and Wang Youwei quickly walked in. Wang Mengbin took out a jade box and handed it to Wang Changsheng with both hands, then briefly explained what had happened.

To be honest, Wang Changsheng was not satisfied with Wang Mengbin's approach. If Xu Yi claimed he didn't have the Golden Dragon Token, did that mean he genuinely didn't? How could one guarantee Xu Yi was telling the truth?

If Wang Changsheng had handled it, he would have directly proposed a spar, limited to five moves. He would have first injured Xu Yi, then interrogated him about the whereabouts of the Golden Dragon Token. After obtaining it, he would have given Xu Yi some spirit stones as a payment for the token.

Wang Mengbin was not stupid, nor did he entirely believe Xu Yi. However, he felt he had no choice. If he had been too heavy-handed, Xu Yi might have been utterly destroyed, which would give others the impression that the Wang family was bullying people. For the Wang family, newcomers to the Five Dragons Sea Region, to kill a Core Formation cultivator would affect how other forces perceived them, hindering the Wang family's future development.

The main issue was that the power of his thunder techniques was too immense; Wang Mengbin truly couldn't control it. Even if he only severely injured Xu Yi, Xu Yi might harbor resentment, potentially leaving future troubles.

"Mengbin, you were worried about accidentally killing Xu Yi and affecting how other forces would view our Wang family, weren't you?" Wang Ruyan asked, her thoughts perceptive.

Wang Mengbin nodded and said with a wry smile, "A powerful dragon does not oppress a local snake. Our ancestors set the strategy to forge many good relationships and make few enemies. Severely injuring or killing him would be detrimental to our family's future development. If the Lu family were to use this as an excuse to unite with other forces and ostracize our Wang family, then we would be in trouble."

"You can think of that point," Wang Changsheng taught him earnestly, "why didn't you think of killing Xu Yi's spirit beast? Or destroying Fire Hawk Island's protective formation? Both could achieve a deterrent effect. Your approach was by the book, but there's room for improvement. Sometimes, you need to think more broadly and be more flexible in your ideas." He stated that he didn't care about the outcome; what he cared about were the issues Wang Mengbin had revealed.

Wang Mengbin was raised by Wang Qiuhong and Wang Qiuxin. To prevent him from becoming too arrogant, Wang Qiuhong had been very strict with him. Wang Mengbin acted strictly according to family rules, always by the book. His weakness was his inability to adapt flexibly. He was not suited to be a decision-maker; he was better suited as an enforcer.

"Yes, Ancestor," Wang Mengbin readily promised, "this grandson will keep it in mind." He had already thought of better methods on the way back, but the matter was already decided. Going back to Fire Hawk Island now would be of no use.

"Alright," Wang Changsheng instructed, "this trip wasn't for nothing. You can master another lightning-element spirit art. As for the pill recipe, take it back and give it to Qing Qi. See if he can refine the Golden Adamant Bone Forging Pill." Wang Changsheng gave a few instructions and then dismissed Wang Mengbin and Wang Youwei.

"Husband," Wang Ruyan suggested, "we should give Hua Xi more experience. Mengbin's character is probably hard to change now." She noted that Wang Mengbin had been personally taught by Wang Qiuhong. During that period, Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan were busy with other matters and had not paid enough attention to Wang Mengbin.

Wang Changsheng nodded and said, "That's the only way. I hope Mengbin can change in the future! We definitely need to give Hua Xi more experience; I hope he's a bit more flexible."

He suddenly sensed something, took out a communication plate, and channeled a spell into it. Wang Mingren's joyful voice suddenly rang out: "Changsheng, we're back! Senior Uncle Liu has something he wants to discuss with you, and it will benefit our Wang family too. We're just outside your residence."

Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan exchanged glances and smiled at each other. Wang Ruyan opened the courtyard gate and invited Liu Jin, Wang Mingren, and Ximen Feng inside.