Chapter 2236: Supporting the Sun Family, the Liu Family Endures

"We can intervene, but rescuing your grandson and granddaughter-in-law won't be simple!" Wang Changsheng looked troubled. There was no direct conflict between the Wang family and the Liu family, so confronting them without cause would be unreasonable and could potentially drag the Willow family into the dispute.

Wang Changsheng needed a legitimate reason to act; a good excuse was paramount. Major powers always found a suitable pretext for their actions, as the actual truth was often irrelevant. A pretext is easily found when one seeks to condemn; might makes right. Rescuing Sun Sihai's grandson and granddaughter-in-law was not difficult for Wang Changsheng.

"I... I am truly naive, Senior Wang, please enlighten me." Sun Sihai said sincerely. Unsure of Wang Changsheng's true intentions, he dared not speak rashly.

"If your family were an affiliated force of our Wang family, it would be much easier for me to intervene on your behalf. How about I provide you with an island and help you establish the Sun family?" Wang Changsheng asked pleasantly. The Wang family's affiliated forces were too weak and lacked any truly capable leaders. Whenever conflicts arose with the Willow family's affiliated forces, the Wang family's Nascent Soul cultivators had to lead the charge. While acceptable once or twice, it was crucial to cultivate several Nascent Soul cultivators to serve as vanguards. If the Wang family always had to be at the forefront, what purpose did affiliated forces serve?

Sun Sihai had single-handedly infiltrated the Liu family's metal mine to rescue his grandson and granddaughter-in-law, and this visit was also for their sake, clearly demonstrating his strong commitment to family. Furthermore, his deep animosity toward the Liu family was unlikely to dissipate, making him an excellent choice to lead the charge against them.

"Establish the Sun family?" Sun Sihai was momentarily stunned, though the thought had indeed crossed his mind before. In this region of the sea, after the Zhenhai Palace and the Cold Flame Sect, the Willow family possessed the most significant power. Sun Sihai had initially considered aligning himself with the Willow family, but they had dismissed him. The Willow family was a formidable power with no shortage of Nascent Soul cultivators. Given Sun Sihai's unremarkable spiritual abilities, they naturally saw no value in him.

"To be honest, Senior Wang, I have indeed considered it, but I lack the means to establish and sustain a cultivation family on my own," Sun Sihai sighed. A solitary cultivator enjoyed freedom and self-sufficiency, but establishing a family would be entirely different, requiring spirit stones for every aspect. Rogue cultivators, in pursuit of cultivation resources, either had to hunt demonic beasts or undertake perilous ventures unless they aligned with a major power. While establishing a family offered more stability, this particular sea region was prone to periodic beast tides, making it precarious for any family without strong backing. Such families could easily be wiped out. Sun Sihai was self-aware and recognized his own limitations.

"Just tell me if you're interested. I can provide you with an island and help you establish the Sun family, even offering initial financial support. However, whether your family thrives thereafter will depend entirely on your own efforts," Wang Changsheng said slowly.

Sun Sihai pondered for a moment, then knelt on one knee and respectfully declared, "I am honored by your consideration, Senior Wang. I am willing to serve you. I humbly ask that you save my descendants."

"Very well. From today, your Sun family will be an affiliated force of ours. Let's go! I'll take you to rescue your grandson and granddaughter-in-law. I hope they are still alive." Wang Changsheng waved his long sleeve, summoning the Azure Luan Boat. With envy in his eyes, Sun Sihai followed Wang Changsheng onto the boat. Wang Changsheng chanted an incantation, and the Azure Luan Boat instantly emitted a brilliant blue light, transforming into a streak of azure that shot through the air, disappearing into the horizon.

Golden Crane Island was the ancestral home of the Liu family. Their lineage history was even older than that of the Willow family, yet the Liu family had never truly flourished. However, after the Willow family established itself in this sea region, the Liu family became one of the first powers to align with them, receiving substantial support, and the two families intermarried. The Liu family currently had seven Nascent Soul cultivators. Liu Haiyang, with a cultivation at the Nascent Soul Great Perfection stage, was their most powerful clan member. Under normal circumstances, no one dared to disturb Liu Haiyang during his cultivation.

On this particular day, he was cultivating in his residence. The secret chamber where he was meditating suddenly began to shake violently, as if an earthquake had struck. Realizing something was amiss, Liu Haiyang quickly ceased his cultivation and rushed out of his dwelling. The island's alarms blared loudly, signaling a powerful enemy invasion. A colossal wave, thousands of *zhang* high, rose from the ocean, with Wang Changsheng and Sun Sihai standing atop it.

Seeing Wang Changsheng, Liu Haiyang's expression changed. He immediately dispatched someone to notify the Willow family, while simultaneously flying out to confront him. "Senior Wang, I'm unaware of how our Liu family has offended you. Please enlighten me," Liu Haiyang spoke cautiously, fully aware that Wang Changsheng was clearly there to cause trouble, most likely on behalf of Sun Sihai's descendants.

"Your Liu family captured Daoist Sun's descendants. Daoist Sun is now a member of our Wang family. What do you propose we do about this?" Wang Changsheng's tone was cold and indifferent.

"I understand, Senior. We will release them immediately." Liu Haiyang swiftly yielded, immediately dispatching men to bring out Sun Sihai's grandson and granddaughter-in-law. The Liu family had brought Sun Sihai's grandson and granddaughter-in-law to Golden Crane Island after Sun Sihai's escape, as a precaution against him taking desperate measures. Had they managed to eliminate Sun Sihai, they would naturally not have spared his descendants.

"Grandfather!" A dirt-stained young man in a green robe and a graceful young woman in a red dress flew toward them, their faces alight with emotion. The Liu family had not physically abused Sun Sihai's descendants, not out of benevolence, but because they wished to avoid excessive actions before Sun Sihai himself was eliminated.

Wang Changsheng frowned. He had intended to use this opportunity to make things difficult for Liu Haiyang, but with Sun Sihai's descendants seemingly unharmed, he had no legitimate reason to unleash his fury. "You are now members of our Wang family. If you have suffered any grievances, do not hesitate to tell me," Wang Changsheng said in a deep voice.

Understanding Wang Changsheng's intent, Sun Sihai quickly added, "Did the Liu family mistreat you? Senior Wang here will stand up for us, so speak freely."

"They forced us to work in the mines, and our magical power was slowly drained away. We nearly died in those tunnels," the young man in the green robe stated truthfully.

"Young Daoist Liu, what do you propose we do about this?" Wang Changsheng looked at Liu Haiyang, his voice cold as ice.

"We are prepared to offer three million spirit stones as compensation. We humbly request Senior Wang to overlook our transgression," Liu Haiyang said politely, his expression tense. He knew Wang Changsheng was looking for trouble. As a new power, the Wang family, recently established, would undoubtedly seek to assert its authority by targeting a few unlucky individuals. The Zhao family had already incurred their displeasure, and he had no desire to share their fate.

"Three million is insufficient. I demand ten million." Wang Changsheng demanded an exorbitant sum, hoping Liu Haiyang would refuse, thus giving him a clear pretext to target the Liu family.

Liu Haiyang frowned, a look of displeasure crossing his face. Just as he was about to speak, a stern male voice echoed in his ear: "Agree to his demand. Give him ten million."

"No problem. The cultivation resources in this storage ring are worth over ten million. Please accept them, Senior Wang." Liu Haiyang produced a pale blue storage ring and tossed it to Wang Changsheng.

Wang Changsheng caught the blue storage ring, his divine sense sweeping over it. He then turned his head to the northwest and stated, "This matter is settled. I do not wish for a repeat incident. Distant relatives are less helpful than nearby neighbors; harmony brings prosperity." With these words, Wang Changsheng departed with Sun Sihai and the other two, as the colossal wave dissipated.

Liu Haiyang let out a long breath, a cold sweat breaking out on his brow. A moment later, Willow Tianxiao flew over from the northwest, his gaze grim. Back on Golden Crane Island, Liu Haiyang stood before Willow Tianxiao, barely daring to breathe.

"In the future, avoid conflicts with the Wang family. Try to yield to them whenever possible," Willow Tianxiao instructed, his tone severe.

"Yes, Senior Willow," Liu Haiyang agreed instantly, without voicing any objections.

"I know you harbor resentment, and so do I. The Wang family doesn't control any significant cultivation resources, so it's not worth engaging in a direct conflict with them over trivial matters," Willow Tianxiao explained that with several Void Refinement cultivators currently guests on Green Lotus Island, he wouldn't be foolish enough to directly confront Wang Changsheng at this moment. "Don't worry, the Wang family won't be able to act so arrogantly for long. Just you wait and see," Willow Tianxiao said gravely, his eyes gleaming with a cold light. They had already devised a plan to deal with the Wang family. A large-scale beast tide would present the perfect opportunity. For now, they would allow the Wang family to revel in their arrogance.

Liu Haiyang repeatedly assented. Losing money to avert disaster was acceptable; ten million spirit stones was no small sum, but they could always impose additional levies on their affiliated forces. In any case, the Liu family could not afford to suffer a loss.

"Within five hundred years, a large-scale beast tide is certain to erupt. Your Liu family must reinforce its defenses and minimize losses as much as possible." With a few final admonitions, Willow Tianxiao departed from Golden Crane Island.