Chapter 195: Master Recruitment Conference

Since the Wang family was so sensible, Li Haifeng did not make things difficult for Wang Ruyan and the other remaining Wang family members. He used a formation to relocate the Wang family's third-tier spiritual vein, while Blue Moon Lake remained their residence. He also allowed them to send representatives to the disciple recruitment assembly.

After the family split, Wang Shuyuan received a sum of spirit stones. However, the amount was not substantial, and relying solely on farming would not allow the family to develop and prosper.

Wang Ruyan hoped to collaborate with the Wang family. While she concealed some details, she shared a lot of information with Wang Changsheng.

Wang Changsheng was surprised, yet also somewhat pleased, upon learning that the Wang family had split and that Wang Shuyuan had offered the third-tier spiritual vein to Huangsheng Palace.

If Wang Ruyan were to withdraw from Song State, the two of them would likely have no further interactions in the future.

His eyes flickered, and he asked with a smile, "Fairy Wang, so your Wang family disciples are planning to join Huangsheng Palace? Do you know the requirements for the five major sects to accept disciples?"

If he could learn the requirements for the five major sects, he could prepare in advance.

"My father asked Senior Li from Huangsheng Palace," she replied. "He said that as long as one is willing to work for them, slightly inferior aptitude is acceptable. This disciple recruitment assembly serves several purposes for the five sects of Wei State: it allows them to replenish their ranks, win over local cultivators from Song State, and observe the attitudes of the local cultivators. If I'm not mistaken, all cultivation family disciples from Song State will be able to join the sects at this assembly, though the exact number is unclear. Of course, this is just my personal conjecture."

Wang Changsheng also held the same view. Wei State had recently conquered Song State, and stability was paramount. If the disciples from cultivation families joined the sects, they would naturally settle down, which would benefit the rule of the five sects of Wei State.

To put it plainly, this disciple recruitment assembly was essentially a formality. As for how many people would actually be able to join the five sects, that remained unknown.

"Fairy Wang, do you have any connections that could help us rent a storefront?"

Wang Ruyan shook her head. "No," she said, "I went to the market administration office, and they said the shops are not currently available for external lease. Fellow Daoist Wang, are you interested in cooperating with our Wang family, as we did before?"

Hearing this, Wang Changsheng showed hesitation. In the past, his cooperation with the Wang family was partly because they genuinely needed the partnership, and partly to get closer to Wang Ruyan. However, now that both the Lin and Wang families had withdrawn from Song State and Wang Changsheng's artifact refining skills had significantly improved, the Wang family honestly no longer needed to cooperate with the Wang family at all. They could achieve maximum profit by working independently.

"Fairy Wang," he asked, "you don't have a storefront in Qingyue Market, and we can collect raw materials ourselves. What can our Wang family gain by cooperating with your Wang family?"

Wang Ruyan smiled slightly and said seriously, "Diluted Dark Yin Spiritual Water, ten catties per year, just like before. How about that?"

The Blue Moon Mountain Range has a natural cave where a significant amount of Dark Yin Spiritual Water is stored. After the family split, Wang Huashan took most of it, but some remained, which, if diluted, would amount to several hundred catties.

"We can cooperate," he said, "but the profit split would be nine-to-one: nine for us, one for you. We can manage this ourselves, so giving up one-tenth of the profit for the Dark Yin Spiritual Water is already quite generous."

"One-tenth is too little," Wang Ruyan countered. "For two families to cooperate, both must dispatch clan members to oversee. One-tenth of the profit wouldn't even cover the labor costs. Furthermore, this time, we're not just opening a weapon shop, but a large-scale establishment. Our Wang family can provide talismans and spiritual fish for sale; weapons are just one aspect of the business. Our spiritual fish from Blue Moon Lake are renowned and will surely attract many customers. We can also offer promotional activities. A fifty-fifty split would be more appropriate."

When their own interests were involved, neither of them yielded, haggling over every detail.

"Spiritual fish?" Wang Changsheng scoffed. "If we're selling weapons, we should just sell weapons. The fishy smell might drive customers away. How about this: an eighty-twenty split. We'll jointly open a weapon shop, selling spiritual artifacts, magical artifacts, and puppet beasts. Then we'll open a separate spiritual fish shop, selling spiritual fish. Our Wang family also raises spiritual fish."

The Wang family also cultivated artifact refiners and alchemists, but they all left with Wang Huashan.

Wang Shuming was a second-tier low-grade talisman master, capable of crafting two types of second-tier talismans.

Wang Ruyan chatted with Wang Changsheng for three hours, and the two families agreed to jointly open three shops: a weapon shop, a spiritual fish shop, and a talisman shop.

The weapon shop would have a seventy-thirty profit split. In the spiritual fish shop, each family would sell their own spiritual fish. The talisman shop would have a thirty-seventy profit split. Wang Changsheng would teach two Wang family members artifact refining, while Wang Shuming would teach two Wang family members talisman crafting.

The Wang family had magical artifacts, puppet beasts, and spiritual fish, while Wang Ruyan's family had spiritual fish and talismans.

Magical artifacts and puppet beasts were the Wang family's strengths, while talismans were their weak point. Spiritual fish and talismans were the Wang Ruyan's family's strengths. The cooperation between both parties was primarily aimed at expanding their storefronts to attract more customers, while also saving costs.

Of course, this was all contingent on them being able to rent storefronts.

Striking while the iron was hot, for the next half-month, Wang Changsheng either invited Wang Ruyan for tea and meals or for sightseeing. Wang Ruyan did not refuse, but if Wang Changsheng paid once, she would pay the next time, ensuring she didn't take advantage of him in any way.

Wang Ruyan's actions greatly increased Wang Changsheng's affection for her; he was genuinely falling for her.

During this period, Wang Changsheng found a disciple of Huangsheng Palace and handed Zhao Yunshan and Zhao Yunyue over to Chen Lian, Li Haifeng's disciple. They were already official disciples of Huangsheng Palace.

Half a month later, the disciple recruitment assembly was held on schedule. All five, including Wang Minglong, had signed up, and Sun Junyan personally presided over the assembly.

Thousands of cultivators had gathered in a very spacious bluestone square.

Sun Junyan wasted no time. He conjured a small yellow pagoda, which grew against the wind to over a hundred zhang tall and landed on the square. The colossal pagoda's surface was carved with many lifelike demonic beasts, exuding overwhelming spiritual energy.

"This Demon Suppressing Pagoda is the treasured artifact of our Heavenly Soldier Sect," Sun Junyan announced. "It can conjure demonic beasts to attack enemies. Those participating in the disciple recruitment assembly will enter the Demon Suppressing Pagoda in order. The pagoda will conjure first-tier demonic beasts to attack the challengers. If you clear three consecutive layers, you can join a cultivation sect upon reaching the fourth layer. You can decide which sect you wish to join. But don't blame this old man for not warning you: the conjured demonic beasts possess seventy percent of their original strength. Each challenger will receive a teleportation talisman. If you cannot defeat the beast, immediately crush the talisman to teleport out. If you're too slow, you'll die inside, and we won't be responsible."

Sun Junyan's voice, amplified by a sound-amplifying stone, spread throughout the entire square, and everyone heard it clearly.

Hearing this, the cultivators present stirred.

"Challenging a trial? Conjured demonic beasts?"

Wang Changsheng frowned slightly. According to Sun Junyan, challenging the trial carried a certain risk, and it was possible to die inside the Demon Suppressing Pagoda if one was not careful.

This method seemed relatively fair and could also filter out cultivators with insufficient cultivation levels.

Wang Minglong and the other four looked somewhat nervous. None of them had combat experience, and even with the assistance of puppet beasts, they might not be able to clear the fourth layer.

Wang Changsheng sent a voice transmission to Wang Minglong, saying, "Uncle Thirty-five, you go and take the challenge. It definitely won't be too difficult at first. There is danger, but it won't be too great. If people start dying right away, other Qi Refining cultivators won't dare to take the challenge."

Wang Minglong hesitated briefly, then agreed. He quickly walked towards the Demon Suppressing Pagoda, shouting loudly, "I'll go first, I'll go first!"

At the entrance of the Demon Suppressing Pagoda, two Foundation Establishment cultivators were responsible for registration.