Chapter 1093: Haoyue Zhenren's Invitation

Zhang Wuchen knew her demands were unreasonable, but business is always open to negotiation.

Wang Changsheng naturally wouldn't agree to Zhang Wuchen's terms. The Myriad Sword Sect alone had requested fifty shops, and other factions had also secured some. Of course, in return, these factions would cede some shops to the Wang family in their respective markets, expanding the Wang family's influence and aiding in the collection of cultivation resources—a win-win situation.

Seven sea regions lay between the Five Dragon Sea Region and the Red Moon Sea Region. Wang Changsheng intended to establish a stable trade route connecting them.

Without cooperation from other factions, they could use large-scale teleportation arrays by paying a fee. However, these markets belonged to others, who could grant or deny access at will. Without such arrays, transportation time would increase, as would the associated risks. Wang Changsheng was unwilling to accept Zhang Wuchen's initial demands. Cooperation was feasible, but her specific request was indeed unreasonable.

After extensive negotiations, the Wang family conceded thirty shops to the Zhang family. In return, the Zhang family would provide the Wang family with fifty shops in their market in the Red Moon Sea Region. Additionally, Zhang Wuchen would help introduce Nascent Soul cultivators from other sea regions, assisting the Wang family in establishing a stable trade route.

This trade route would not be exclusive to the Wang family; all participating factions could use it. Spanning nine sea regions, it required at least one Nascent Soul realm faction from each region to join. The more Nascent Soul realm factions involved, the more stable the trade route would become, making it a truly mutually beneficial endeavor.

Zhang Wuchen's connections could only secure access through three sea regions, and the Wang family had already opened two. This left four more sea regions to connect before a stable trade route could be fully established.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, aren't you hosting a large-scale auction?" Zhang Wuchen suggested. "Make it grand to attract a multitude of cultivators. Perhaps Nascent Soul cultivators from those four regions will attend. It wouldn't be too late to discuss arrangements with them then. I will also do my best to help open up the trade route soon."

Zhang Wuchen smiled broadly. Once a trade route spanning nine sea regions was established, the Zhang family could open shops for business in all of them, gather intelligence, collect cultivation resources, expand their scope of activity, and perhaps even find spiritual items to repair her primordial spirit. Due to her incomplete primordial spirit, it was already remarkable that she had managed to re-enter the Nascent Soul stage. Advancing to the mid-Nascent Soul stage would be three or four times harder for her than for an ordinary Nascent Soul cultivator.

"Fairy Zhang, since you've made the rare trip to Qinglian Island," Wang Ruyan said warmly, "why not stay longer? It would give us the chance to properly extend our hospitality." Wang Ruyan spoke with enthusiasm. Zhang Wuchen had achieved the Nascent Soul stage relatively early, and the Zhang and Wang families were connected by marriage. For both public and private reasons, they hoped Zhang Wuchen would stay longer so they could consult her on various matters.

"Very well, I'll impose then," Zhang Wuchen agreed. With Zhang Wuchen's agreement, Wang Changsheng instructed Wang Mengfen to arrange accommodations for her, and Zhang Wuchen settled on Qinglian Island.

After seeing Zhang Wuchen settled, Wang Mengfen quickly returned and respectfully announced, "Ancestor, someone from the Ouyang family has arrived. They are outside."

"The Ouyang family? Please invite them in immediately."

Wang Mengfen acknowledged the order and turned to leave.

After the time it takes to steep a cup of tea, Wang Mengfen returned with a young woman in a green dress and another in a red dress.

"Junior Ouyang Yumin and Ouyang Yurou pay their respects to both seniors," the two young women said in unison, their expressions respectful. Both had cultivation levels at the seventh stage of Core Formation. The Ouyang family sending them personally surely indicated a matter of great importance.

"Please sit, young friends," Wang Changsheng said amicably. "May I ask what brings you to Qinglian Island?"

Ouyang Yumin flipped her hand, producing a lacquered gold invitation, and respectfully handed it to Wang Mengfen with both hands. "Juniors have been sent by our Third Grand-Uncle. In one year, it will be his nine-hundredth birthday. We are here by his command to deliver this invitation and specially invite both seniors to our Ouyang family to attend his birthday celebration."

"Young friend Ouyang, is the Third Grand-Uncle you speak of none other than True Monarch Haoyue?" Wang Changsheng asked, taking the invitation from Wang Mengfen, quickly scanning it, and passing it to Wang Ruyan.

"Precisely. Our Third Grand-Uncle specifically instructed us to sincerely invite both seniors to attend."

Wang Changsheng nodded. "Very well, we will certainly arrive on time. You two have worked hard. Please stay on Qinglian Island for now."

Ouyang Yurou politely declined. "Thank you for Senior Wang's kindness, but we have a mission to complete and cannot stay long."

"In that case, we won't insist. Mengfen, please see these young friends out for us." Wang Ruyan did not press the matter and had Wang Mengfen escort them.

"True Monarch Haoyue's nine-hundredth birthday," Wang Changsheng mused, frowning. "It seems he has an important matter to discuss." The Wang family only had two Nascent Soul cultivators, both of whom had settled on Qinglian Island. A Nascent Soul cultivator had to remain on the island, otherwise, they wouldn't feel comfortable traveling elsewhere.

True Monarch Haoyue, named Ouyang Hongsheng, was a late-Nascent Soul stage cultivator and the highest-ranked cultivator in the Ouyang family. For his nine-hundredth birthday, he specifically dispatched two Core Formation cultivators to deliver invitations to Qinglian Island, which certainly implied an important discussion was in order.

The Ouyang family was one of the Ten Great Noble Families of the South Sea, possessing profound heritage. Wang Changsheng had already planned to visit them. If they could leverage the Ouyang family's influence to open up the remaining four sea regions and establish a stable trade route, it would be highly beneficial. However, if only one of them attended, Ouyang Hongsheng might be displeased. If both of them went, Qinglian Island would be left unguarded by a Nascent Soul cultivator, which would be problematic if a powerful enemy attacked. Yet, sending only one risked displeasing Ouyang Hongsheng.

Just as they found themselves in a dilemma, a somewhat familiar voice suddenly rang out: "Haha, Fellow Daoist Wang, long time no see! I can't believe you've entered the Nascent Soul stage!"

A streak of light flew in and landed before Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan. It was none other than Guang Dongren. After decades apart, Guang Dongren had put on considerable weight, and his aura was stronger than both Wang Changsheng's and Wang Ruyan's.

"Master, it's been so long! How have you been?" Wang Changsheng exclaimed, his face lighting up with joy. Guang Dongren was his nominal master. If Guang Dongren could guard Qinglian Island, Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan could attend Ouyang Hongsheng's birthday celebration with peace of mind.

"We were just talking about you, Master," Wang Ruyan said with a smile. "After we formed our Nascent Souls, we sent people back to the Eastern Barrens, but there was no news of you."

"After I formed my Nascent Soul, I traveled to the Northern Frontier," Guang Dongren recounted. "I've just returned, and the moment I did, I heard of your deeds. I never expected your Nascent Soul formation would cause such phenomena! Your names, the Azure Lotus Immortals, have even spread to the Eastern Barrens after this great war. Oh, by the way, I returned with your nephew this time. By my calculations, he should be arriving soon!"

As his words fell, Wang Qingshan walked in, beaming with delight. When he was returning to the South Sea, he made a detour to Wei State, intending to bring some cultivators from the Wang family to the South Sea. Unexpectedly, he encountered Guang Dongren there. Upon learning that Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan had acquired two islands with fourth-tier spiritual veins, Guang Dongren decided to accompany Wang Qingshan to the South Sea. Wang Qingshan naturally wouldn't refuse.