Chapter 194: Chance Encounter with Wang Ruyan

More than two months later, in the Qingyang Mountain Range.

A blue light streaked quickly across the sky, heading straight for the depths of the mountain range.

Before long, the blue light suddenly halted and slowly descended, clearly having triggered an anti-air restriction.

The blue light was a blue flying boat, adorned with a blue lotus flower on its hull. Standing on it were Wang Changsheng and his group.

Wang Mingzhong gazed into the distance, remarking with emotion, "Is this the location of the Qingyang Sect's mountain gate? It truly lives up to its reputation as one of the Four Great Sects of Song."

Following his gaze, one could see thousands of peaks, large and small, lush and densely vegetated. Some areas were obscured by white mist, with glimpses of tall platforms and pavilions faintly visible within the clouds.

The mountain peaks were dotted with magnificent pavilions and palaces.

In the center of the mountain range lay a vast valley, teeming with numerous shops, where many figures could be seen moving about.

The Five Great Sects of Wei had not significantly altered the layout of the Qingyang Sect, transforming the entire area into a massive market city.

"There is no Qingyang Sect anymore," Wang Changsheng said. "According to the Five Great Sects of Wei, this place is now called Qingyue Market."

Wang Changsheng maneuvered the Blue Lotus Boat to land, and Wang Mingzhan and others disembarked one after another.

After putting away the Blue Lotus Boat, Wang Changsheng led everyone forward.

As they passed several peaks, Wang Changsheng noticed large expanses of spiritual fields. Strangely, the fields were empty, as if abandoned. However, mountains with spiritual fields were guarded by cultivators from Wei.

A quarter of an hour later, Wang Changsheng and his group entered the valley.

This market city was newly established, so there wasn't a large flow of people, and not many shops were open for business as it was still under expansion.

The Five Great Sects of Wei transformed the Qingyang Sect's mountain gate into a market city for two main reasons: firstly, to warn dissenting forces about the consequences of resisting the Five Great Sects of Wei; secondly, Qingyue Market would serve as a crucial stronghold for the Five Great Sects of Wei to govern the Song Kingdom.

As the first market city established by the Five Great Sects of Wei in the Song Kingdom, Wei would certainly manage it well. It was foreseeable that Qingyue Market would attract considerable popularity in the future, and renting a few shops there for business would definitely be profitable.

"Changsheng," Wang Mingzhan suggested, his eyes darting around, "There are still many empty shopfronts here. If we rent a few and do business, selling spiritual grains and spiritual fish, our business will surely thrive."

The Wang family had acquired an additional fifty acres of spiritual fields and cultivated a large amount of spiritual grain. Changping County couldn't consume all of it, so selling it in Qingyue Market would yield the highest profit.

"I have the same intention," Wang Changsheng replied. "Let's settle down first, then we can discuss it further."

Wang Changsheng found an inn and checked in, instructing Wang Mingzhong and the other eight to stay in their rooms and not wander around.

Wang Changsheng and Wang Mingzhan left the inn and found the market city management office. Wang Changsheng initially intended to rent a few shops, but the steward disciple at the management office informed them that shops were not currently available for external rental. Only after Wang Mingzhan slipped him ten spirit stones did the steward disciple reveal the inside story.

Currently, all the shops in the market city were opened by cultivation families from Wei who had earned merit during the previous war, thus allowing them to rent shops.

Returning to their lodging, Wang Mingzhan informed Wang Mingzhong of the matter.

"It's a pity they're not renting out shopfronts to outsiders," Wang Mingzhong said with some regret.

"Not necessarily," Wang Changsheng responded. "The Five Great Sects of Wei are holding a disciple recruitment assembly, clearly aiming to win over hearts. Qingyue Market is so vast; it's impossible for all the shopfronts to be rented exclusively to Wei people. That would surely dissatisfy cultivators from Song. If I'm not mistaken, these shops will definitely be rented out to cultivators from Song, though I'm unsure when. Sixth Uncle, when you have time, go inquire at the market city management office. You can treat the management staff to meals and tea; don't be afraid to spend spirit stones. As long as we can rent a few shopfronts, spending some spirit stones is nothing."

"No problem, I'll handle this," Wang Mingzhan promised, patting his chest.

The two clan members dispatched by the Zhao family were Zhao Yunshan and Zhao Yunyue, both at the fifth level of Qi Condensation.

They remembered Zhao Ningxiang's instructions, adhering to Wang Changsheng's orders in all matters.

After settling his clan members, he left the inn alone and began to stroll through the streets.

Not many shops were open for business in the market city, nor were there many goods, which was not surprising as the market city was still under construction; merely a framework had been set up.

A quarter of an hour later, Wang Changsheng appeared at the entrance of a five-story, azure pavilion.

Heavenly Armory Pavilion—clearly a shop established by the Heavenly Armory Sect.

The Heavenly Armory Pavilion occupied a vast area. Its main hall could accommodate hundreds of people simultaneously without feeling crowded, and tall shelves displayed a wide variety of magical artifacts.

As Wang Changsheng entered, a middle-aged man resembling a steward quickly approached, a deferential smile on his face. "Welcome, Senior, to the Heavenly Armory Pavilion. May I ask what you wish to purchase? Magical artifacts are on the second floor, refining materials on the third, and if you wish to sell materials or commission spiritual artifacts, please proceed to the fourth floor."

"Alright, I understand. You can go about your business," Wang Changsheng replied.

Wang Changsheng intended to purchase some second-tier refining materials to craft a mid-grade defensive magical artifact.

The layout of the third floor was similar to the main hall, except that the shelves displayed refining materials.

Wang Changsheng's gaze quickly swept over the cultivators on the third floor. When he spotted a certain graceful figure, he was first surprised, then a broad smile quickly spread across his face.

"Fairy Wang, long time no see."

Wang Changsheng quickly walked over and greeted Wang Ruyan, who was purchasing materials at a counter section.

On his way to Qingyue Market, he had already learned that the Wang family had also withdrawn from Song. He hadn't expected to meet Wang Ruyan here.

"Fellow Daoist Wang," Wang Ruyan said with a smile, "After a few years, you've broken through again. This little sister is truly ashamed of her own progress." She was still at the third level of Foundation Establishment.

"It was just luck," Wang Changsheng quickly changed the subject. "Fairy Wang, are you here for business?"

Wang Changsheng quickly changed the topic, unwilling to elaborate on it.

He cultivated an Earth-grade cultivation method, possessed the Kuiyuan True Malice to improve his physique, and with the aid of spiritual items, he advanced a minor realm in just a few years. This speed was already very fast. He had also considered concealing his cultivation, but immortal cultivation sects strictly controlled the inheritance of cultivation methods. What he knew was merely the common Qi Concealment Art, which might deceive Qi Condensation cultivators but could not fool Foundation Establishment cultivators, let alone Core Formation cultivators.

His advancement of a minor realm every few years had probably already drawn the attention of those with ulterior motives.

During this recent war, some cultivation method manuals circulated on the market. Wang Changsheng had already dispatched clan members to acquire them, hoping to obtain cultivation methods for concealing aura.

Of course, he didn't have high hopes for this. An aura-concealing cultivation method capable of deceiving cultivators of the same rank would at least be a Profound-grade method. It was already quite remarkable for a cultivation family to possess even one Profound-grade method, as such methods were typically passed down as family heirlooms and not easily sold externally.

Wang Ruyan shook her head and explained, "No, not for business. The Five Great Sects are holding a disciple recruitment assembly this time, and our Wang family is also interested. I brought a few clan members to participate, hoping they can join an immortal cultivation sect!"

"Your Wang family is also participating in the disciple recruitment assembly? Didn't your Wang family withdraw from Song?" Wang Changsheng asked, puzzled. It was indeed strange for the Wang family to withdraw from Song yet send people to join the Five Great Sects of Wei.

"This isn't the place to talk," Wang Ruyan said. "How about we find a quiet spot to discuss this in detail?"

Wang Changsheng's face lit up with joy, and he agreed without hesitation.

A quarter of an hour later, Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan were in a private room at a teahouse.

The split of the Wang family was not a secret and would spread eventually. Wang Ruyan had no intention of concealing it and told Wang Changsheng the truth, as a sign of closeness.

Originally, the Five Great Sects of Wei were still disputing over the Wang family's third-tier spiritual vein. However, since the Wang family voluntarily offered the spiritual vein to the Huangsheng Palace, the dispute naturally ceased. Of course, Huangsheng Palace, upon receiving this third-tier spiritual vein, also conceded some benefits, which is why the other four sects agreed.