Chapter 192: Family Separation

"Let's hope so!"

With Huang Shengwen's cooperation, Wang Changsheng smoothly took control of the Huang family. Aside from a small number of Huang family members who left, most of the others remained. The Huang family occupied a second-tier mid-grade spiritual vein, twenty mu of spiritual fields, two first-tier tea trees, two second-tier spiritual fruit trees, two first-tier high-grade spiritual wells, and had ninety-seven family members. They also possessed over ten thousand spirit stones and various miscellaneous materials. However, there were no second-tier materials, second-tier talismans, or magical artifacts. It was clear that Huang Haiming had transferred the assets in advance, and certainly, some talented family members had left with most of the valuables.

"I wondered why it was so smooth," Wang Mingzhan suggested. "Huang Haiming must have kept something back. There must be some Huang family members hiding. Changsheng, Huang Shengwen might know the whereabouts of the others. Perhaps we should use torture; we might gain something."

"No," Wang Changsheng replied. "We can't be sure that the Huang family members who left haven't already reached Foundation Establishment. It would be bad if they returned to seek revenge on us. Furthermore, if I were Huang Haiming, I would never leave knowledgeable people in the family. Most of the escaping Huang family members have probably found a safe place to hide, just like Eldest Brother. We've already taken control of the Huang family's assets and territory, which is the greatest gain. Let's just forget about the escaped family members and their valuables. Sixth Uncle, send people to escort the Huang family's children and women back to Green Lotus Mountain and guard them closely. With these women and children in our hands, the Huang family members will not dare to rebel."

"Alright, I'll go take care of it now."

Huang Shengwen cooperated well with Wang Mingzhan's work, even proactively comforting his family members. It was chaotic outside now, and it was extremely dangerous for Qi Cultivation stage family members to leave their clans.

Wang Mingzhan, accompanied by ten family members, escorted a group of Huang family women and children back to Green Lotus Mountain. Because there were too many Huang family members, Wang Mingyuan dispatched an additional twenty family members. Wang Changsheng then left the Huang family with Huang Shengwen and headed to the Chen family.

The Chen family had a large number of members. When the four major sects conscripted forces, Chen Changsheng did not go to the battlefield. He secretly arranged for his family members to leave Changping County in succession, sweeping all the assets clean. By the time Wang Mingjiang arrived at the Chen family, only a few dozen elderly family members remained, along with a dozen or so young adults in the market town. Wang Mingjiang was both shocked and enraged. As long as Chen Changsheng was alive, he could potentially make a comeback. Unwilling to wipe them out completely, Wang Mingjiang dispersed the remaining Chen family members and occupied their family stronghold. They found a second-tier high-grade spiritual vein, thirty mu of spiritual fields, one second-tier low-grade spiritual well, and one first-tier high-grade spiritual well. There were no other valuable structures.

This was also good. Excluding women, children, and the elderly, the Wang family didn't have many young adults. Absorbing the population of two families would indeed be difficult, but absorbing one cultivation family's population was manageable.

"It's all my fault. I should have sent people to keep an eye on both the Chen and Huang families," Wang Mingjiang regretted deeply, blaming himself.

"Uncle Twenty-One, this isn't your fault," Wang Changsheng reassured him. "There weren't many family members left guarding the clan; where would we find extra hands to watch the Chen and Huang families? The situation was tense then; it was already good enough that we could protect our own territory. This way is also fine; with two additional second-tier spiritual veins and fifty mu of spiritual fields, we can support a larger population. Once things settle down, we can encourage our family members to have more children. Although the Chen family cultivators escaped, their mortals couldn't. We can arrange for Wang-surname mortals to intermarry with the Chen and Huang families' mortals, integrating them into our large Wang family collective as quickly as possible."

"That's the only way then," Wang Mingjiang conceded. "With matters handled, let's quickly return and work with Fellow Daoist Su to appease the other cultivation families! With the support of the Hundred Spirits Sect, we can establish ourselves firmly in the future."

The Wang family had been established for several hundred years. With the Wang and Zhao families stepping forward together, accompanied by disciples from the Hundred Spirits Sect, four cultivation families were willing to stay, while two remained undecided.

Blue Moon Lake, Wang Family Fortress.

In the assembly hall, the elders of the Wang family were holding a meeting.

"We bet on the wrong side. The four sects of Song State were defeated, and so quickly!" one elder exclaimed. "According to the agreement of the three sects, our Wang family can also withdraw from Song State, but the spiritual vein cannot be moved. Otherwise, the five major sects will wipe out our Wang family."

"What? We can't take the spiritual vein? Third Uncle, where would we go then? Without a third-tier spiritual vein, wouldn't it affect your future cultivation?" The cultivators present from the Wang family stirred, each frowning deeply. Without a spiritual vein, they would either have to set up formations to slowly cultivate one, or seize one from other cultivation forces. The former would require a significant amount of spirit stones and time, while the latter would result in casualties among family members.

Wang Huashan shook his head and explained, "The three sects of Medicine King Valley have decided to form an alliance, and our Wang family will join it. With three third-tier spiritual veins, it won't affect my cultivation. I've called you here because I have a very important decision to announce: we must divide the family. We can't put all our eggs in one basket. This time, I bet on the wrong side and almost caused the demise of the Wang family. Although joining the alliance formed by the three sects is out of necessity, considering past lessons, if I were to bet wrong again, the Wang family might cease to exist. I plan to leave some family members behind and offer the third-tier spiritual vein to the Yellow Saint Palace in exchange for an opportunity to make a living in Wei State. As long as I'm still alive, the cultivators of Wei State might not completely wipe out the remaining family members. Who among you is willing to stay behind?"

Although he said so, staying behind still carried high risks. The cultivators looked at each other.

"Third Uncle, can the five sects of Wei State not accommodate us? Why don't we pledge allegiance to them instead of continuing to cooperate with the three sects of Song State? They haven't suppressed us any less over the years," Wang Shuyuan frowned.

"Stay behind?" Wang Huashan countered. "If you were the leader of the five sects of Wei State, would you agree? Even if you did, if war broke out again, our Wang family would surely be at the forefront, becoming cannon fodder. It's better to stay with the three sects of Song State. The Qingyang Sect was annihilated, and the three sects of Song State are severely lacking high-tier cultivators. Of course, I'm also guarding against the three sects of Song State, which is why I plan to divide the family. The family members who stay behind will be another Wang family. All matters won't need to be reported to me; you will make your own decisions. Only three Foundation Establishment cultivators need to stay. Is no one willing to remain?"

Wang Huashan's gaze swept over each of the cultivators present. The Wang family now had eleven Foundation Establishment cultivators remaining.

Wang Shuyuan stood up and said, "This nephew is willing to stay."

"This grandson is also willing to stay."

Wang Ruyan stood up. Wang Shuyuan was her father. Among the Wang family members, Wang Ruyan's aptitude was not particularly outstanding; her ability to reach Foundation Establishment was entirely due to her father.

"Third Uncle, I am also willing to stay." A middle-aged man with a square face, dressed in a green daoist robe, stood up.

"Good. Then Shuyuan, Shuming, and Ruyan will stay," Wang Huashan announced. "Besides the three of you, leave thirty Qi Cultivation cultivators and a sum of assets for operations. This will be the second Wang family. For any matters, Shuyuan and Shuming should discuss and resolve them yourselves; there's no need to report to me, and do not contact me, so as not to displease the five sects of Wei State."

"Yes, Third Uncle."