Chapter 156: Tempering Wang Qingze

Within Canglan City, five shops enjoy the most prosperous business: Baixiang Tower, Tiangong Workshop, Lingfu Hall, Yudan Pavilion, and Tianyun Pavilion.

Baixiang Tower is a restaurant. Its signature spiritual wine, Azure Bee Jade Ginseng Wine, is renowned for its ability to purify meridians and cleanse marrow. Qi Refining cultivators who regularly consume this wine can improve their physical constitution and accelerate their cultivation speed. However, it is quite expensive at 300 spirit stones per pot and requires advance reservation.

Upon learning about the Azure Bee Jade Ginseng Wine's meridian-cleansing effect, Wang Qingze's eyes lit up.

Tiangong Workshop is a weapon shop that sells various spiritual artifacts and magic tools. Custom orders are accepted. The workshop is most famous for its protective robes, which are comfortable in both spring and summer while offering defensive capabilities. However, these robes are quite costly; a spiritual artifact-grade robe is 500 spirit stones, and magic tool-grade robes start at 1,000 spirit stones.

The Scarlet Sun Jade Scale Robe, Tiangong Workshop's ultimate treasure, is a prototype magical artifact. Priced at an exorbitant 200,000 spirit stones, it remains unsold.

Lingfu Hall sells first and second-tier talismans and accepts custom orders.

Yudan Pavilion offers a wide variety of high-quality first and second-tier pills. Customers can also provide their own materials and commission the pavilion's alchemists to refine specific elixirs.

Tianyun Pavilion specializes in various raw materials, including those for artifact refining, alchemy, talisman crafting, and formation arrays.

After eating and drinking their fill, Sun Qian led Wang Changsheng and his six companions on a stroll, providing them with detailed introductions to each shop.

It was evident that she was intimately familiar with Canglan City, knowing how long each shop had been established, its primary business scope, and its price points.

Three hours later, Wang Changsheng and his six companions arrived at the entrance of a two-story blue pavilion. A plaque above the doorway bore the three golden characters: "Management Office."

"Qingze, you and Little Friend Sun stay outside. Sixth Uncle and I will go in with the others."

Wang Changsheng instructed, then stepped inside.

Wang Qingze remained outside, chatting casually with Sun Qian.

Sun Qian blinked, asking curiously, "Fellow Daoist Wang, where are you from?"

Wang Changsheng had previously instructed them not to disclose their true origins.

"We are from the State of Han. Immortal Maiden Sun, do you live alone in Canglan City? Do you earn spirit stones to support yourself?"

"My parents are also here. I don't have any particular skills, so I can only work as a guide, barely making a living. Unlike you, who comes from a cultivation family and is already at the fourth level of Qi Refining at such a young age."

Sun Qian's tone was filled with envy.

Hearing this, a hint of pride appeared on Wang Qingze's face, though he humbly replied, "Not at all. If my father hadn't been so frugal, I wouldn't have reached the fourth level of Qi Refining so quickly."

He spoke the truth; everyone in the Wang family knew how frugal Wang Changxing was. He treated one spirit stone as if it were five, spending all his earnings on cultivation resources for Wang Qingze. Meanwhile, his peers were still struggling at the third level of Qi Refining.

"My parents also save money, but I'm still at the third level of Qi Refining."

Wang Qingze and Sun Qian were of similar age, and with no outsiders present, they quickly engaged in lively conversation. Wang Qingze, however, remained mindful of Wang Changsheng's instructions and did not disclose his true origins. Sun Qian, for her part, did not press further about his background, instead shifting the discussion to cultivation matters.

Coincidentally, both practiced water-attribute cultivation techniques, leading to a very enjoyable conversation.

"What are you two chatting about so happily?" Wang Changsheng's voice suddenly rang out.

Wang Qingze turned his head and saw Wang Changsheng and his five companions emerging.

"Nothing much, just talking about cultivation matters. Ninth Uncle, how was it? Are there any storefronts for rent?"

"Not at the moment. In a month, the leases of five shops will expire. We can only rent them if they don't renew. For now, let's find a place to stay. Little Friend Sun, I've rented a courtyard. Here's the token; you can lead us there!"

Wang Changsheng took out a square blue token and handed it to Sun Qian.

Carved on the token were the five large characters: "Three Hundred Seventy-Two."

A short while later, Wang Changsheng and his companions arrived at the entrance of a secluded courtyard. Carved on the wall to the left of the entrance were the same five large characters: "Three Hundred Seventy-Two."

"Little Friend Sun, we've arrived. You may go now."

"Yes, I live in courtyard number 285. If seniors need any odd jobs done, you can find me. The pay is negotiable."

Sun Qian offered a sweet smile, proactively volunteering her services, then departed.

The courtyard was modest, featuring a three-story blue pavilion with eight rooms. The interior was spotlessly clean, without a speck of dust, clearly indicating regular maintenance.

Wang Changsheng settled into the main seat, then looked sternly at Wang Qingze and asked, "Qingze, what did you talk about with her? Tell me truthfully, without omitting a single word."

He had deliberately arranged for Wang Qingze to interact with Sun Qian to observe his reactions, using it as a way to temper him.

The Yao-generation cultivators were growing old, and the Qing-generation needed to mature quickly.

Wang Qingze dared not delay and answered truthfully.

Wang Changsheng nodded with satisfaction. "Hmm, it seems you remembered what I told you. Since we can't rent a shop, we'll stay here for now. Qingze, tomorrow you'll find work. Your father has a hard life; you shouldn't just rely on him. You need to put in effort too."

"What? Ninth Uncle, you want me to find work? I don't know how to do anything!"

Wang Qingze's face was etched with misery.

"Little Friend Sun is younger than you, yet she earns spirit stones to support herself. You, on the other hand, only know how to rely on your father and the family. If one day the family were no more, wouldn't you starve? I've already discussed this with your father, and he agrees with my approach. You must learn to be self-reliant."

Wang Changsheng was planning ahead. With the war between the Wei and Song states, he couldn't guarantee the family's absolute safety. Wang Qingze was overly dependent on Wang Changxing; it wasn't just his lack of skills, but his inability to endure any hardship. Crucially, his aptitude wasn't outstanding. To progress further on the path of cultivation, Wang Qingze absolutely needed to become self-reliant.

At home, Liu Leyun had spoiled Wang Qingze, and Wang Changxing was rarely present. Consequently, Wang Qingze had never experienced any hardship growing up. His most severe punishment had been for causing trouble in the academy, resulting in a fierce beating from Wang Changxing that left him bedridden for over a month.

"Great-Sixth Uncle, I don't know how to do anything!"

Wang Qingze pleaded with Wang Mingzhan.

"This matter was discussed between your father and Changsheng. I can't help you with this. You just honestly go find a job and learn to be self-reliant."

Wang Changsheng nodded gravely. "Exactly. I don't expect you to earn many spirit stones; what I want is for you to be self-reliant. I'm giving you two months to find a job. Eleventh Brother, you will accompany Qingze in his search."

Wang Qingze's face was etched with misery, his eyes filled with sorrow.

"Sixth Uncle, Thirteenth Uncle, in half a month, go to the Management Office again and inquire if there are any shops for rent. Fifteenth Brother, spend more time strolling the streets and inquire about the prices of puppet beasts, spiritual artifacts, and magic tools."

After Wang Changsheng advanced to the Foundation Establishment stage, he no longer needed to personally handle many matters.

Wang Mingzhan and the five others unanimously agreed. After giving a couple more instructions, Wang Changsheng returned to his room to cultivate.