Chapter 1775: Thirty Years

Time flies; thirty years passed quickly.

Qinglian Market, originally known as Jinlian Market, was later renamed. After news spread of Wang Changsheng advancing to the Soul Transformation stage, a large number of merchants flocked to Qinglian Market. With a Soul Transformation cultivator providing oversight, it became an exceptionally safe place.

The Wang family seized the opportunity to introduce numerous preferential policies, attracting more merchants. Furthermore, rare items frequently appeared in Qinglian Market, including complete sets of magical treasures, puppet beasts, and even dragon eggs. These factors, combined with the influx of cultivators, made Qinglian Market increasingly prosperous.

Qinglian Tower, the largest teahouse in Qinglian Market, had relatively high prices, meaning ordinary cultivators rarely frequented it.

In a private room on the third floor of Qinglian Tower, a refined, middle-aged scholar was speaking with Chen Yue.

Chen Yue, Chen Yilong's only daughter, had encountered Wang Changsheng in the Coral Sea. Consequently, many knew her father was acquainted with Wang Changsheng. Chen Yue deliberately traveled to Qinglian Market, aiming to align herself with the Wang family for a more promising future. After Wang Mengfen learned of her relationship with Wang Changsheng, he privately agreed to accept the Wooden Dragon Pavilion.

Officially, the Wooden Dragon Pavilion was a small sect in the Coral Sea, but it secretly collected cultivation resources for the Wang family.

With the Wang family's support, Chen Yue had thrived over the years, her cultivation steadily improving, and she had befriended many cultivators.

Soon after, a gentle knock came from outside the door, followed by a warm male voice saying, "Madam Chen, I've arrived."

"Fellow Daoist Wang, please come in!"

Chen Yue and the middle-aged scholar stood up. The door opened, and a handsome, tall, and slender young man in a golden robe entered. A faint smile on his face gave him an approachable demeanor.

This was Wang Mengxuan, Wang Youwei's son. He possessed both wood and fire spiritual roots, cultivated the sword dao, and had already formed his Core.

Wang Mengxuan was one of the Wang family's rising stars. Over the past thirty years, the family had produced many outstanding members, and Wang Mengxuan was just one of them. As a descendant of Wang Changsheng, he garnered particular attention and was sought after by various major powers for good relations.

"Fairy Chen, who is this fellow Daoist?"

Wang Mengxuan's gaze fell upon the middle-aged scholar, his face full of curiosity.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, let me introduce you. This is Fellow Daoist Lin from the Heavenly Wind Sea Region. Fellow Daoist Lin hails from the Guangyang Sect, of which he is the sect leader."

Chen Yue introduced with a smile. The Guangyang Sect was merely a small sect that had offended another major power. The Guangyang Sect hoped the Wang family could mediate, as otherwise, they faced the risk of annihilation. After all, being a small sect, if destroyed, no one would speak up on their behalf.

"I am Lin Guangyang. It's a pleasure to meet you, Fellow Daoist Wang."

Lin Guangyang bowed politely.

Wang Mengxuan merely nodded and sat down.

The three enjoyed tea and chatted idly, their conversation soon turning to the predicament faced by the Guangyang Sect.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, please help us. For your esteemed family, resolving this matter is as simple as a single word."

Lin Guangyang pleaded.

Wang Mengxuan frowned. Lin Guangyang had injured a Nascent Soul cultivator's disciple during a struggle for treasure, an all-too-common occurrence.

Given the Wang family's current standing, it was indeed a matter that could be resolved with a single word. However, Wang Mengxuan would not act without personal benefit; the world revolved around profit, and the Wang family could not concern itself with such trivial matters every day.

Chen Yue gave Lin Guangyang a look. Lin Guangyang then took out a golden jade box, pushed it toward Wang Mengxuan, and said, "This is a piece of Seven-Colored Glazed Gold. We fought over this very item."

"Seven-Colored Glazed Gold!"

Wang Mengxuan's expression shifted. This material was one that Wang Changsheng was trying to collect.

He opened the lid of the box, revealing a crystal with a dull spiritual glow.

"This Seven-Colored Glazed Gold is tainted? Its value for artifact refining is greatly reduced. I wonder if the impurities can be removed."

Wang Mengxuan said with a frown, "If the impurities can't be removed, its value will certainly be severely diminished."

Lin Guangyang frowned slightly, then took out a golden wooden box containing two high-grade spirit stones. High-grade spirit stones had a wide range of uses.

"Alright, I'll try to help. However, it's a fact that you injured the other party, so you must prepare a generous gift. I will act as a mediator and accompany you to apologize in person."

Wang Mengxuan instructed.

"Apologize!"

Lin Guangyang frowned. He had hoped the Wang family would directly resolve the matter. Given their standing, wasn't it just a matter of a single word? Surely that Nascent Soul cultivator wouldn't dare utter a complaint.

"Our Wang family has very strict rules," Wang Mengxuan stated. "I've accepted your offering, and I will do my best to help resolve this matter, but we do not use our power to bully others."

Wang Mengxuan was somewhat displeased. Ever since Wang Changsheng returned from the Immortal Suppressing Pagoda, the Enforcement Hall had continuously disciplined hundreds of clan members who violated family rules. Regardless of their lineage, anyone who broke the rules was severely punished without exception. He certainly wouldn't dare to act against such strict enforcement.

His willingness to accompany Lin Guangyang to apologize in person was already quite generous, primarily because no lives were lost. If a life had been taken, Wang Mengxuan would not have intervened. Just last month, the family had disciplined twelve clan members for abusing their power, one of whom was even a Core Formation cultivator.

"Fellow Daoist Lin," Chen Yue interjected meaningfully, "Fellow Daoist Wang is kindly helping you; many would envy such an opportunity."

Lin Guangyang suddenly understood. Spending a few more spirit stones didn't matter; the key was forging a connection with Wang Mengxuan. With this relationship, future endeavors would be much more convenient, which was more important than anything else.

"Fellow Daoist Wang is right. I was foolish," Lin Guangyang said, "I will do as you say."

Lin Guangyang readily agreed.

"I have other matters to attend to. I'll contact you again after some time," Wang Mengxuan said. "Rest assured, I will send someone to greet Senior Sun, so there should be no issues."

Wang Mengxuan instructed, adding that he would send someone to verify the matter. He couldn't simply believe Lin Guangyang's one-sided account; he certainly didn't want to be used as a pawn.

Lin Guangyang naturally dared not say anything in protest, repeatedly assenting.

After chatting for a while, Wang Mengxuan excused himself and left.

Qinglian Market had a direct teleportation array back to Qinglian Island, but only high-ranking members of the Wang family were permitted to use it.

Wang Mengxuan was naturally permitted to use it. He approached the teleportation array and quickly entered the secret chamber where the direct array was located. He stepped onto it, and after a dazzling flash of spiritual light, his figure was engulfed.

When the spiritual light dissipated, Wang Mengxuan appeared in a spacious and brightly lit hall. Inside, over a dozen teleportation arrays saw people continuously teleporting away and arriving, creating a bustling scene.

Walking out of the hall, Wang Mengxuan transformed into a streak of light and sped through the air. He hadn't flown far when a deafening roar echoed from high in the sky. A fierce wind picked up, and countless multicolored spiritual lights emerged in the void, remarkably conspicuous.

Spiritual energy from a hundred-mile radius converged toward a certain direction, causing Wang Mengxuan to nearly fall from the sky.

"This is the phenomenon of Nascent Soul formation!" Wang Mengxuan exclaimed. "A clan member has drawn the Nascent Soul lightning tribulation!"

Wang Mengxuan was first startled, then quickly broke into a joyful expression. The stronger the family became, the better his own standing and treatment would be.