Chapter 2210: Zhao Family's Provocation, The First Big Problem Faced by the Wang Family

In the northwest corner of the Xuanling Continent lay Azure Lotus Island.

At Green Bamboo Peak, there stood a simple green bamboo building.

Wang Qingshan sat cross-legged on a green meditation mat, his eyes closed tightly. His body was enveloped by a shimmering green aura, and dense green flying swords hovered around him, glowing with spiritual light as if solid.

After a while, a sound transmission talisman flew in. Wang Qingshan seemed to sense something, and the green flying swords around him instantly dissolved into specks of green light and vanished. He opened his eyes.

With a flick of two fingers, a streak of green sword energy shot out, piercing the sound transmission talisman. The talisman spontaneously combusted, and Wang Qingcheng's voice then rang out: "Seventh Brother, please come to the council hall. A very difficult problem has arisen, and we need your intervention to resolve it."

Wang Qingshan frowned. Anything that could make Wang Qingcheng feel so troubled was most likely related to the Liu family.

One mountain could not accommodate two tigers. As the Wang family gradually grew and expanded, it indirectly threatened the Liu family. Wang family disciples avoided direct confrontation with the Liu family, and vice versa. Their respective subordinate forces often engaged in private disputes, but these were kept within certain bounds, preventing matters from escalating too much. If the Wang and Liu families were to get directly involved, the situation would become difficult to control. Anyone with a discerning eye could see that the Wang and Liu families were bound to clash eventually, but both sides maintained restraint.

Stepping out of the bamboo building, Wang Qingshan whistled. The Golden Horned Thunder-Scaled Beast flew from afar, landing in front of him and kicking up a large quantity of bamboo leaves.

"Let's go to the council hall," Wang Qingshan instructed. The Golden Horned Thunder-Scaled Beast departed from Green Bamboo Peak and flew towards the council hall.

If he were to confront the Liu family, it would be better to bring the Golden Horned Thunder-Scaled Beast, as the Stone Golem and Three-Headed Fox were only Fourth-tier.

Not long after, the Golden Horned Thunder-Scaled Beast landed at the entrance of the council hall. Wang Qingshan dismounted and walked inside.

Wang Qingcheng was seated in the main seat. A graceful young woman in a green dress and a resolute-faced man in a green robe stood to the side. Both possessed Nascent Soul stage cultivation.

The young woman in the green dress had bloodshot eyes, as if she had been crying.

The young woman in the green dress was named Wang Tianhua. She was married to Yan Ruofeng, who was currently the patriarch of the Yan family and possessed late Nascent Soul stage cultivation. The Yan family was a subordinate force of the Wang family. They had a total of seven Nascent Soul cultivators and were a faction specifically supported by the Wang family.

The Yan family specialized in cultivation techniques. Periodically, they would offer a batch of spiritual herbs and fruits as tribute, which the Wang family used for alchemy and to cultivate alchemists.

The man in the green robe was named Wang Tianli, Wang Tianhua's biological brother. Both were descendants of Wang Qingcheng. Wang Tianli was in charge of intelligence gathering and commanded hundreds of spies.

"Greetings, Seventh Great-Uncle." Wang Tianli and Wang Tianhua quickly bowed, their expressions respectful.

Wang Qingshan's seniority was second only to Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan. He was skilled in the Way of the Sword and deeply respected by his clan members.

Wang Qingshan nodded, looked at Wang Qingcheng, and asked, "Qingcheng, what happened?"

"Tianhua, you tell him. You know the details best," Wang Qingcheng instructed Wang Tianhua.

Wang Tianhua acknowledged and recounted the incident in full detail.

The Yan family specialized in cultivation techniques. With the support of the Wang family, they gradually grew and prospered. As the number of cultivators increased, so did their expenses, so they naturally sought more ways to earn spirit stones.

The beast resources in this sea area were abundant, so the Yan family organized a team of clan members specifically to hunt demonic beasts.

During one of their demonic beast hunts, the Yan family encountered a team of cultivators from a family named Zhao. Both sides argued fiercely over the ownership of the demonic beasts and eventually engaged in a large-scale fight. The Yan family's Nascent Soul cultivators, utilizing the Fourth-tier puppet beast bestowed by the Wang family, injured and killed several Zhao family cultivators.

Zhao Ruihu, the Zhao family's Old Ancestor, personally came to their doorstep, injured and killed many Yan family members, claiming "blood for blood." He captured Yan Ruofeng and demanded that the Yan family cede territory and pay compensation.

Wang Tianhua naturally could not stomach this and immediately returned to Azure Lotus Island to report the news.

Wang Qingshan's eyes narrowed, and he asked, "What is the background of the Zhao family? What is Zhao Ruihu's cultivation level? And what are his divine abilities?"

"Replying to Seventh Great-Uncle," Wang Tianli stepped forward and slowly explained, "according to intelligence, the Zhao family controls over 2,300 islands. They have five Soul Transformation cultivators, and Zhao Ruihu is one of them, with early Soul Transformation stage cultivation. He cultivates fire-attribute techniques. His elder brother, Zhao Ruilong, has late Soul Transformation stage cultivation, cultivates water-attribute techniques, and possesses a complete set of Heaven-Reaching Spirit Treasures. The Zhao family is related to the Liu family by marriage."

"The Zhao family is clearly targeting our Wang family," Wang Qingcheng frowned. "If we back down this time, our subordinate forces might become disloyal, and it will likely be difficult to absorb other smaller forces in the future." This was one of the biggest challenges the Wang family had faced in over 500 years since its establishment.

The Yan family was a key force supported by the Wang family. If the Wang family did not help them reclaim their dignity, other subordinate forces would naturally not trust the Wang family and would become alienated from them.

"Qingcheng, how do you intend to handle this matter?" Wang Qingshan asked.

Wang Qingcheng smiled and said, "Seventh Brother, we'll handle it exactly as you say. Father and Mother both said that whenever they are in seclusion or away from Azure Lotus Island, we are to follow your lead."

Wang Qingshan nodded, looked at Wang Tianhua and Wang Tianli, and asked, "What are your thoughts on this? Speak freely."

He had already made a decision, but he wanted to see his clan members' reactions.

"Your granddaughter will abide by Seventh Great-Uncle's command. Whatever Seventh Great-Uncle decides, we will do," Wang Tianhua said respectfully, tears welling up in her eyes.

"We should give them a taste of their own medicine," Wang Tianli proposed. "Send people to infiltrate several of the Zhao family's islands, capture some of their Nascent Soul cultivators, and exchange them with the Zhao family."

Wang Qingshan nodded and said, "If we don't teach the Zhao family a severe lesson, the Liu family will likely be even more presumptuous next time. A good strike now prevents a hundred strikes later. I'll go there myself!"

"Seventh Brother, what do you plan to do? You should bring more people!" Wang Qingcheng suggested. "The Zhao family's influence is not weak. Let Qingfeng accompany you!"

"There's no need for such trouble. I alone will suffice," Wang Qingshan said gravely. "I'll make a trip to the Zhao family's main stronghold. Blood for blood, a tooth for a tooth."

"What? To the Zhao family's main stronghold? Seventh Brother, absolutely not!" Wang Qingcheng frowned. "The Zhao family has at least five Soul Transformation cultivators. Even if they aren't all at the stronghold, the Zhao family's protective clan formation is not to be trifled with." He felt Wang Qingshan was being too reckless. While this approach would indeed be a strong deterrent, Wang Qingshan would be taking a huge risk.

In his opinion, Wang Tianli's suggestion was good. Simply exchanging for Yan Ruofeng would suffice.

Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan valued Wang Qingshan greatly, and Wang Qingcheng certainly didn't want anything to happen to Wang Qingshan.

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing." Wang Qingshan was not being reckless. His lifebound flying sword had already advanced to a low-grade Heaven-Reaching Spirit Treasure, and he had the assistance of the Golden Horned Thunder-Scaled Beast and a Fifth-tier puppet beast. Furthermore, he possessed multiple low-grade Heaven-Reaching Spirit Treasures. Defeating the Zhao family's Soul Transformation cultivators would not be difficult.

"No, no, that won't do! If Father and Mother found out, they would never forgive me," Wang Qingcheng suggested. "How about this: let Qingfeng take Lin Zun and accompany you. That would be safer. The Zhao family must have come prepared, and they should not be underestimated."

Wang Qingshan thought for a moment and agreed. Since the Zhao family dared to provoke the Wang family, they must have made thorough preparations. It was better to be cautious.