Chapter 111: Cooperation

Wang Changsheng pushed open the door and saw Wang Yaozu standing outside.

"Grandpa, did the Wang family say what they wanted to see me about?"

Wang Yaozu shook his head. "No, they didn't say. I've asked Mingzhong to entertain them. The Wang family is a prominent cultivation clan; we shouldn't offend them. Let's go out and meet them."

Upon entering the main hall, Wang Changsheng saw a man and a woman. The woman was Wang Ruyan, and the man was a middle-aged scholar.

Wang Changsheng cupped his hands towards Wang Ruyan and the middle-aged scholar, politely saying, "I am Wang Changsheng. May I ask what brings you two fellow Daoists here?"

"Fellow Daoist Wang, I am Wang Shuhan. Ruyan mentioned that you are an experienced puppeteer?" The middle-aged scholar introduced himself briefly before getting straight to the point.

"I am indeed a puppeteer, though 'experienced' might be an overstatement." Wang Changsheng replied modestly.

Wang Shuhan glanced at Wang Yaozu and Wang Mingzhan, seemingly hesitant to speak.

"Please speak freely, Fellow Daoist Wang. My grandfather and Sixth Uncle are not outsiders."

"It's like this: Ruyan is quite interested in the art of puppetry. I'd like to ask Fellow Daoist Wang to teach Ruyan how to refine puppet beasts. Regarding compensation, I assure you it will be satisfactory."

Wang Changsheng frowned. He had taught Liu Yuerong how to refine puppet beasts because her father was the Sect Master of Medicine King Valley, and he would later need to prepare spiritual water, requiring the assistance of a second-tier alchemist. That's why he was willing to teach her. As for the Wang family, he had no desire to. He didn't believe Wang Ruyan was genuinely interested in puppetry; it was clearly an excuse. If Wang Ruyan learned to refine puppet beasts, it would only be a matter of time before the Wang family began selling them on a large scale. Puppet beasts were the Wang family's primary source of income and had a definite market presence. Although the Qingyang Sect also sold puppet beasts, they mainly distributed them elsewhere. If the Wang family started mass-producing and selling them, it would undoubtedly impact the Wang family's revenue. Medicine King Valley was renowned for its alchemy in the cultivation world of Great Song, and elixirs yielded much higher profits than puppet beasts. It was unlikely Medicine King Valley would abandon its main pursuit.

Hearing Wang Shuhan's words, both Wang Yaozu and Wang Mingzhong frowned simultaneously.

Wang Changsheng shook his head, politely declining, "I apologize, Fellow Daoist Wang. My humble skills are insufficient to teach Lady Wang. I suggest you seek a more qualified master."

Wang Shuhan, not surprised by the refusal, smiled and continued, "How about this, Fellow Daoist Wang? We provide the materials, and you help us refine the puppet beasts. For every four sets of materials, you provide us with one low-grade Tier 2 puppet beast, and for each low-grade Tier 2 puppet beast, we'll pay you 200 spirit stones. Tier 1 puppet beasts will be priced separately. Don't rush to refuse; let me explain the benefits. Your Wang family only has two Foundation Establishment cultivators and merely the spiritual vein at Qinglian Mountain, so your strength is limited. The puppet beasts you refine can only be sold within the Song Kingdom, and with few storefronts, you won't sell many. However, if the puppet beasts are handled by our Wang family, we can secure better prices, and you can also reduce your labor costs." He added, "Fellow Daoist Wang, our Wang family sincerely wishes to cooperate with you. By us providing the materials, you save on labor costs. It's a win-win."

Wang Ruyan gave Wang Changsheng a slight smile and slowly spoke.

It was true that the Wang family was the foremost cultivation clan in the Song Kingdom, but the four major sects privately ostracized them, restricting their development and seizing every opportunity to weaken them. All four major sects had tried to win over the Wang family, but the Wang family played both sides, unwilling to offend anyone and lacking a clear stance. This violated the taboos of the four major sects. Unable to win them over, the sects began to exclude the Wang family. The Wang family had over four hundred cultivators, but only twenty-plus Foundation Establishment cultivators, incurring significant monthly expenses. As long as a business generated spirit stones, the Wang family wanted a piece of it. The Wang family was just a small clan, and Wang Shuhan believed Wang Changsheng had no reason to refuse his proposal.

Wang Changsheng was somewhat moved and showed a thoughtful expression.

One set of materials for refining a Tier 2 puppet beast cost several hundred spirit stones, meaning ten sets would be several thousand. The Wang family always had to send people to large market cities to purchase them, and the quantities were never large, which was extremely inconvenient and also risky during travel. Furthermore, the Wang family was a small clan; if they sold large quantities of Tier 2 puppet beasts, it would surely attract unwanted attention. Selling the Tier 2 puppet beasts to the Wang family for them to resell would reduce these risks. Of course, this would mean the Wang family would lose some profits, but in the long run, it was the best strategy.

Wang Changsheng pondered for a moment before saying, "Fellow Daoist Wang, this matter is significant. Please allow me to consider it carefully. How about this? Once I've thought it through, I'll contact you, and we can then discuss the specifics."

"Very well," Wang Shuhan said with a smile. "We are staying next door, and Fellow Daoist Wang is welcome to visit anytime. We have other matters to attend to, so we will take our leave now." He then took Wang Ruyan and departed.

After seeing the two off, Wang Changsheng casually cast a sound-insulating barrier, enveloping Wang Yaozu and Wang Mingzhong.

Wang Yaozu frowned and asked, "Changsheng, with four sets of materials, can you refine one Tier 2 puppet beast?"

"Currently, I can't. It would take at least five, and at most seven, sets of materials to refine one. We can negotiate slowly with the Wang family, and if we can't agree, then so be it. What I want to ask is, should we cooperate with the Wang family? I personally lean towards cooperation, but I'd like to hear your opinions."

"If we cooperate with the Wang family, we will certainly reduce some profits, but we can also reduce labor costs. In the short term, we might be at a disadvantage, but in the long run, cooperating with the Wang family could benefit our development. The Wang family is the foremost cultivation clan in the Song Kingdom, making it easier to gather materials. It would also be easier to ask the Wang family to help us inquire about the whereabouts of Heavenly and Earthly Spiritual Water. Since you reached Foundation Establishment, Mingyuan has sent many people to various market cities and even to Wei Kingdom, but they haven't found any news of it. This isn't because our clansmen aren't diligent, but because our foundation is insufficient, and Qi Refining cultivators have limited access to information."

Wang Yaozu's analysis was clear and logical.

Wang Mingzhong pondered for a moment, then said, "Cooperation between two families involves too many interests. I think we should return to Qinglian Mountain and discuss it with Second Uncle. We need to gather everyone's ideas and not act too hastily."

Wang Changsheng nodded. "Seventh Uncle is right. How about this: I'll visit Wang Shuhan another day and schedule a time for discussion."

"Oh, by the way, Changsheng," Wang Mingzhong said, taking out a blue gourd. "Yesterday, while Fourth Uncle and I were strolling, we found someone selling a century-old Darkwater Gourd. Its flesh is edible, and it can also be used to refine water-attribute magical artifacts. I heard from Fourth Brother that you're using a magical artifact left by Third Granduncle. Fourth Uncle and I pooled some spirit stones and bought a Darkwater Gourd for you. You can use it to refine a new magical artifact!"

"Your Seventh Uncle spent all his savings to buy you this Darkwater Gourd," Wang Yaozu said with a smile. "Make sure you return the spirit stones to Mingzhong later; it's not easy for him to save up."

"Fourth Uncle, you're being too formal," Wang Changsheng replied. "We're all family; it's what we do. Besides, I only contributed the spirit stones I had on me, unlike you, who sold your only two spiritual artifacts! Your storage pouch is probably left with only the desserts you bought for Changyue..."

Hearing this, Wang Changsheng was deeply moved and thanked them, "Thank you, Grandpa, Seventh Uncle."

He accepted the Darkwater Gourd and returned the spirit stones to Wang Mingzhong. He also offered to buy back Wang Yaozu's spiritual artifacts, but Wang Yaozu refused. "I'm already old; how many more times can I come out? Whether it's spiritual artifacts or talismans, I won't need them anymore. After the Yutian Dharma Assembly, I'll return to Qinglian Mountain to retire and don't plan to leave again. Changsheng, Mingzhong, the future of our family depends on you two. I'm old now and can't help you much."

Wang Mingzhong patted his chest and assured him, "Fourth Uncle, look at you talking! Just enjoy your retirement from now on. We'll bear the responsibility for the family."

"That's right, Grandpa! Just enjoy your days of leisure from now on!"

"Fourth Granduncle, Seventh Uncle, Ninth Brother, breakfast is ready," Wang Changyu said, walking over with a smile.

Wang Changsheng and the other two acknowledged, then went together for breakfast.