Chapter 2647: Clan Assembly

They were treated like mere pawns, to be used when needed and discarded when not. After all, this was Su Qingheng's personal action. Unless Guangyuan Sect, like the An family, had formally pledged allegiance to the Cold Flame Sect and could act under the banner of a Cold Flame Sect affiliated cultivation family.

Guangyuan Sect had only one Void Refining cultivator, which was completely beneath the Cold Flame Sect's notice. If it hadn't been for the rumor that Qianyuan Sect was close to the Wang family, Su Qingheng and Liu Chuanting wouldn't have come looking for them.

They recruited Wang Mengshan not because they valued his abilities, but merely because he was at odds with Qianyuan Sect, nothing more.

Liu Chuanting flipped her right hand, and a white porcelain bottle appeared. She said, "Fellow Daoist Wang, you are injured. This is our Cold Flame Sect's unique healing elixir, the Ice Ganoderma Jade Dew Pill. Its healing effects are excellent."

With a flick of her wrist, the white porcelain bottle flew towards Wang Mengshan.

This was a gesture of goodwill. If Wang Mengshan did not appreciate it, there would be nothing more to discuss. If they couldn't be friends, they would be enemies, and enemies would be shown no mercy.

Given their status, eliminating Wang Mengshan and easily fabricating a reason for it would mean no one would dare to cross the Cold Flame Sect for him.

Wang Mengshan caught the porcelain bottle and pulled out the stopper. He poured out a snow-white pill that felt cool to the touch and emitted an unusual fragrance.

"Then many thanks, Fellow Daoist Su and Fellow Daoist Liu," Wang Mengshan said. "To be honest, I don't trust the Heavenly Tiger Sect; they have always targeted our Guangyuan Sect. I can cooperate with the An family, but they need to arrive as soon as possible. In my current state, if a Void Refining cultivator from Qianyuan Sect comes knocking, I won't be able to stop them."

Wang Mengshan expressed his gratitude, then poured out his grievances, effectively seeking help from Su Qingheng.

Su Qingheng's expression softened, and he said amicably, "You can spread the news of our visit externally. However, you are not permitted to act under the Cold Flame Sect's banner. The An family will send someone to contact you later; how to deal with Qianyuan Sect, you can discuss with them. Oh, and these are the materials I need to collect. If you find them, send someone to inform me at the Cold Flame Sect, and you will be well rewarded."

He took out a white jade slip and handed it to Wang Mengshan.

Wang Mengshan scanned it with his divine sense and agreed. After a brief thought, he cautiously said, "Fellow Daoist Su, could you sell me two Heavenscale Spirit Treasures? Most of my treasures were destroyed when I tried to escape. Otherwise, I wouldn't have activated the sect's protective formation and holed myself up inside."

"You can have this Cold Moon Blade!" Liu Chuanting said. "If you render great service, we will have further significant rewards for you."

Liu Chuanting took out a glittering white short blade and handed it to Wang Mengshan.

Words were hollow; tangible benefits were real.

Wang Mengshan received the white short blade with both hands, exceptionally pleased, and repeatedly expressed his thanks.

After chatting for about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, Su Qingheng and Liu Chuanting departed.

Wang Mengshan summoned Li Yu and instructed, "Send people to spread the news that Fellow Daoist Su and Immortal Liu of the Cold Flame Sect have visited our Guangyuan Sect. I want to see if Qianyuan Sect dares to make a move against us. Oh, and these are the items Fellow Daoist Su wants to collect; send someone to keep an eye out for them."

"Yes, Master."

Li Yu acknowledged, took the jade slip, and left to carry out the order.

"With the Cold Flame Sect's support, what are Qianyuan Sect and the Wang family?"

Wang Mengshan muttered to himself, his face beaming with pride, and strode out of the reception hall.

Upon returning to Guangyuan Peak, the smile on Wang Mengshan's face froze, and his gaze turned solemn.

He meticulously checked his entire body, finding no abnormalities. Only then did he enter a secret chamber, where Wang Qingshan had been waiting for a long time.

"What happened?"

Wang Qingshan asked with a frown.

Wang Mengshan did not conceal anything and recounted the events truthfully.

"This is also good," Wang Qingshan said. "We will increase our support for Qianyuan Sect. However, you must be very careful; they are merely using you as cannon fodder."

Wang Qingshan exhorted that the stronger Qianyuan Sect became, the more support Guangyuan Sect could gain, provided Wang Mengshan didn't die. If a major conflict truly erupted, Guangyuan Sect would likely be at the forefront.

Wang Qingshan had originally intended to severely damage Qianyuan Sect. But now that Su Qingheng had arranged for the An family, Heavenly Tiger Sect, and Guangyuan Sect to jointly deal with Qianyuan Sect, the Wang family had to intensify its support for Qianyuan Sect.

If Qianyuan Sect were destroyed, Guangyuan Sect would lose its purpose, either being annexed by the Heavenly Tiger Sect or destroyed by the An family. The Cold Flame Sect would never value Guangyuan Sect, and their recruitment of Guangyuan Sect was likely Su Qingheng's personal action.

Wang Mengshan agreed. Cooperating with the An family and Heavenly Tiger Sect was a necessary evil. His future situation would be even more difficult; he would have to guard against both the Heavenly Tiger Sect and the An family, while also confronting Qianyuan Sect.

Wang Qingshan gave a few more instructions, then teleported away from Guangyuan Sect.

At Qinglian Island, in the council hall, Wang Moshan sat in the main seat, with hundreds of clan elders seated on either side. A clan meeting was being held today.

With the increasing number of Void Refining cultivators in the Wang family, it was naturally impossible for all of them to stay on Qinglian Island.

After Zhao Yunxiao was transferred to this sea region, the Wang family's status soared. They controlled tens of thousands of islands, eighteen of which possessed Sixth-grade spiritual veins, and Qinglian Island itself had a section of a Seventh-grade spiritual vein.

Wang Gonghu, Wang Zonglang, Wang Zongyun, Wang Qingxiao, Wang Mengbin, Bai Yuqi, and Wang Lihe were stationed respectively on Tianshu Island, Tianxuan Island, Tianji Island, Tianquan Island, Yuheng Island, Kaiyang Island, and Yaoguang Island. These seven islands all possessed Sixth-grade spiritual veins, and each had thousands of cultivators stationed there, guarding Qinglian Island.

Wang Moshan, Wang Qingcheng, Sun Yuejiao, Wang Zongque, Wang Qinglong, and Wang Liangyan remained on Qinglian Island. The family also had many territories inland, with Qinglian Valley being of paramount importance. Wang Yingjie, Liu Hongxue, Wang Qingfeng, and Dong Xueli were stationed in Qinglian Valley. Jinglin Lake and Hongye Ridge both had Sixth-grade spiritual veins, with Wang Lihe and Wang Mousen stationed at Jinglin Lake, and Wang Huayue and Wang Jiye at Hongye Ridge. Wang Qingshan could be stationed anywhere.

The family adopted a rotation system: Void Refining cultivators would be stationed in one place for a period, after which they could apply to return to Qinglian Island for cultivation or go out to travel, or they could apply to be stationed at other strongholds.

Generally, newly advanced Void Refining cultivators would first cultivate in seclusion on Qinglian Island. Even if they were dispatched, they would not be stationed too far from Qinglian Island. Only after their magical power advanced or their strength increased would they be transferred to the mainland.

The Wang family currently controlled six Fifth-grade mineral veins, including one medium-sized and four small ones, along with eighteen Fourth-grade mineral veins. Their primary sources of income were puppet beasts and weapons, followed by elixirs and talismans.

The family had nine merchant caravans that traveled between the mainland and overseas, led by several Spirit Transformation cultivators. The Wang family controlled tens of thousands of islands, where they collected demonic beast materials. These materials were transported by the caravans to the mainland for sale. They would then purchase mainland ores and spiritual herbs, transport them back to the outer seas for sale, and refine them into puppet beasts, weapons, and elixirs. A portion was used by the family, and a portion was sold.

As the number of Void Refining cultivators steadily increased, the Wang family faced significant financial pressure. Fortunately, several Void Refining cultivators possessed specialized skills and could refine puppet beasts, Heavenscale Spirit Treasures, and elixirs for sale, thereby earning cultivation resources and alleviating the family's burden.

With an increasing number of high-level cultivators, the Wang family needed new sources of income. Due to the lack of major wars, the sales of puppet beasts were not high, and high-level puppet beasts piled up like mountains in the treasury.

Even large beast tides couldn't consume many high-level puppet beasts. The Wang family already had over four hundred Spirit Transformation cultivators, most of whom were artifact refiners, and they had crafted a vast number of puppet beasts.

"If you ask me," Wang Gonghu proposed, "our strength is considerable now. We could hold a large-scale auction, offering a Sixth-grade puppet beast to exchange for Dharma Idol materials or Tribulation Transcending materials. Incidentally, we could also promote the items in the family's treasury; letting them sit in storage indefinitely is not ideal."