Chapter 235: Lease of Spiritual Vein

Seven days passed quickly.

The family's home had been rebuilt, and clan members had returned to their posts. In this battle, the Wang family suffered minimal losses. Five Foundation Establishment cultivators were stationed at the Wang family compound, attracting many rogue cultivators and cultivators from other families to pledge allegiance. Additionally, numerous factions came to visit.

Most cultivation families in Ningzhou had been destroyed, leaving many second-tier spiritual veins vacant. Without the Hundred Spirit Gate's explicit permission, no one dared to occupy these empty spiritual veins. They hoped to leverage the Wang family's influence to contact the Hundred Spirit Gate and acquire a second-tier spiritual vein. Cultivation families whose Foundation Establishment cultivators died in battle sought to form marriage alliances with the Wang family for protection. Rogue cultivators, hoping for strong patronage, wanted to join the Wang family to secure their future.

For a time, Qinglian Mountain was exceptionally lively.

Inside the deliberation hall, Wang Changsheng was enjoying tea and chatting with Huang Deqi.

Huang Deqi and his brother Huang Delin had come to visit. Of course, Wang Changting had also returned and was in the backyard chatting with the female members of the Wang family.

"Brother Deqi, I hear you led people to break through the siege. That was truly courageous. You've really made an enemy of the Lin family. You should be more careful in the future," Wang Changsheng cautioned.

"We'll face challenges as they come," Huang Deqi replied. "Didn't your Wang family also offend the Yang family? Brother Changsheng, we plan to withdraw to Wolong Mountain. We can't take the high-grade second-tier spiritual vein at Hongye Ridge with us. Would your Wang family be interested in leasing it?"

In this battle, the Huang family lost three Foundation Establishment cultivators: one died on the front lines, and two died during the breakout.

The Huang family currently had five Foundation Establishment cultivators. Two were at the Hundred Spirit Gate and could not constantly guard the Huang family. Of the three remaining, one did not have much lifespan left. The Hundred Spirit Gate had rewarded a Foundation Establishment Pill for the cultivator who died on the front line. Even with an additional Foundation Establishment cultivator, the Huang family would only have three available for deployment.

Although the Taiyi Immortal Sect intervened to mediate, who could guarantee that hostilities wouldn't resume? If they left Foundation Establishment cultivators to guard the spiritual vein at Hongye Ridge and fighting broke out again, the clan members at Hongye Ridge would surely perish. Most importantly, the Lin family had produced a dual-spirit root cultivator, making that spiritual vein a hot potato.

If fighting resumed, the Lin family would certainly send people to attack it.

Huang Deqi had originally intended to exchange this spiritual vein with cultivation families in the rear, but no one would agree. Wei had ceded four prefectures to Chu, and Ningzhou bordered Chu. If fighting resumed, Ningzhou would undoubtedly be Chu's first target. Not just Hongye Ridge, but all spiritual veins in Ningzhou were hot potatoes.

After discussing with his clan uncle, he decided to lease this spiritual vein to the Wang family. After all, the spiritual vein at Hongye Ridge was primarily used for cultivating spiritual grains. Leasing it to the Wang family meant they wouldn't have to do anything themselves and would receive a sum of spirit stones annually, so why not?

"Withdraw from Ningzhou? Lease it? Brother Deqi, our two families are related by marriage. Give me the inside scoop: Is another war about to break out?" Wang Changsheng's expression tightened as he asked in a deep voice.

Huang Deqi gave an awkward smile and explained, "No, to be frank! Ningzhou borders Chu. If fighting resumes, Ningzhou will definitely be Chu's target. Our Huang family doesn't have enough strength to guard that spiritual vein, nor can we take it with us. Since our two families are related by marriage, it's better to keep the benefits within the family. If you're willing to buy it, that's fine; leasing it is also an option."

Although the two families were related by marriage, if he could have sold it, Huang Deqi wouldn't have come to them.

"Brother Deqi, this matter is of great importance. Allow us to consider it carefully. Please stay for now, and we'll give you our reply after we've discussed it. How does that sound?"

"No problem. Then, I will impose on you." Huang Deqi agreed without hesitation. After chatting for a while, he bade farewell and left.

Wang Changsheng, Wang Changfeng, and Wang Mingjiang discussed the matter repeatedly. After weighing the pros and cons, they decided to lease the spiritual vein at Hongye Ridge. Acquiring an additional high-grade second-tier spiritual vein would provide the Wang family with an extra source of income. Most importantly, Hongye Ridge bordered Yunzhou. If there were a war, the Wang clan members could withdraw to the second-tier spiritual vein in Yunzhou.

Of course, that spiritual vein originally belonged to the Lin family. If hostilities resumed, the Lin family would certainly contend for it. There were definitely risks, but the benefits outweighed them, so the Wang family decided to lease this spiritual vein.

Just then, Wang Mingzhan quickly walked in. "Junior Brother Twenty-One, Changfeng, Changsheng, someone from the Wang family is here. Wang Shuming himself has come, saying he has important matters to discuss."

The three of them—Wang Changsheng, Wang Changfeng, and Wang Mingjiang—looked at each other, utterly bewildered.

"The Wang family coming at this time... could it be related to Wang Ruyan?" Wang Mingjiang speculated.

Hearing this, Wang Changsheng's heart tightened. Could something have gone wrong?

"A visitor is a guest. Please quickly invite Fellow Daoist Wang in."

Soon after, Wang Shuming walked in.

After a round of pleasantries, Wang Shuming smiled slightly at Wang Changsheng and said, "Fellow Daoist Wang, you left too hastily last time. You saved my fourth brother and my niece Ruyan, and we wanted to properly thank you, but you left. My purpose for coming this time is to invite you to my fourth brother's birthday celebration. There will be no outsiders, just people from our Wang family and your Wang family. Fellow Daoist Wang, you really must come. Niece Ruyan wants to thank you in person!"

"Birthday celebration? When is it?"

"In three months. If you don't have any pressing matters, please come to Wangjiabao as early as possible and stay at our Wangjiabao for a while, so that we can fully extend our hospitality and also express our gratitude for saving lives." Wang Shuming cupped his fists and said gratefully.

"Alright, once I've finished my current affairs, I will set off immediately." Wang Changsheng agreed without hesitation. The Wang family was clearly showing goodwill; it seemed promising.

Wang Mingjiang's eyes darted around, and he said with a beaming smile, "Fellow Daoist Wang, you must be tired after traveling so long! Changfeng, please arrange a quiet courtyard for Fellow Daoist Wang and ensure he is well-received."

Wang Shuming did not decline, agreed, and left with Wang Changfeng.

"Uncle Twenty-One," Wang Changsheng began, "What does the Wang family mean by this? Has Fairy Wang agreed to be my dual cultivation partner, or is she merely expressing gratitude for saving her life?"

Wang Mingjiang chuckled lightly and said, "Silly boy, didn't you hear what Fellow Daoist Wang just said? 'No outsiders'—isn't that hint enough? You can start preparing the betrothal gifts. Forming a marriage alliance with the Wang family would greatly benefit our Wang family."

Wang Changsheng's face was flushed with joy. However, he suddenly thought of something else and asked anxiously, "What if we've misunderstood? What if the Wang family is just purely expressing thanks?"

"Let me ask you: Do you like this Wang Ruyan?"

Wang Changsheng nodded seriously, "Yes, I do."

"If she were to marry someone else, how would you feel?"

"If she married someone else, I would feel very uneasy, a sense of emptiness in my heart, as if I had lost something."

Wang Mingjiang smiled calmly and said, "It's natural for men and women to marry when they come of age. Since you like her, then propose marriage. If you keep delaying, there's no guarantee she won't marry someone else."

Hearing this, Wang Changsheng no longer hesitated. He nodded seriously, "Alright, then I will go propose marriage. However, I need to make a trip to the Hundred Spirit Gate. Senior Guang promised to grant me a request, and I plan to ask him to be the matchmaker."

He asked Guang Dongren to be the matchmaker, firstly, to show his seriousness about Wang Ruyan, and secondly, to elevate his own status. Although Wang Ruyan's family had declined, it was still not comparable to Wang Changsheng's family. Wang Huashan might need to approve Wang Ruyan's marriage, as Wang Ruyan was a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

If he proposed himself, Wang Huashan might not agree. With Guang Dongren's intervention, the chances of success would be higher.

"Ask Senior Guang to intervene? That's a good idea. When do you plan to leave?"

"Strike while the iron is hot! After seeing off Wang Shuming, I'll depart immediately. Don't tell anyone about this yet. We'll talk about it once it's done."

That evening, Wang Changsheng hosted a banquet for Wang Shuming and Huang Deqi. Wang Changfeng and Wang Mingjiang joined them, and the four exchanged toasts.

Wang Shuming's tone was notably familiar. He continuously praised Wang Changsheng, calling him a paragon of talent. He said that anyone who married Wang Changsheng would have immense good fortune and that no one had ever caught Wang Ruyan's eye before.

If Wang Changsheng still didn't understand, he would have lived in vain.

The next morning, after seeing off Wang Shuming, Wang Changsheng immediately departed for the Hundred Spirit Gate. Wang Mingjiang and Wang Changfeng were responsible for negotiating the spiritual vein lease with Huang Deqi.