Chapter 2648: Wang Chuanming's Poisonous Plot

Crafting Level 6 puppet beasts is highly challenging. Wang Qingfeng, Wang Jiye, Wang Zongque, and Wang Liangyan are all Level 6 artifact refiners. Wang Qingfeng, Wang Jiye, and Wang Zongque, in particular, improved their refining skills rapidly after receiving guidance from Wang Changsheng.

Wang Qingfeng can independently craft Level 6 puppet beasts, though it takes a considerable amount of time. He usually gathers several Spirit Transformation cultivators to work together, which not only saves time but also provides training for clan members.

They have crafted numerous Level 6 puppet beasts. The family treasury currently holds ten such artifacts. Void Refinement cultivators can request to use these Level 6 puppet beasts when undertaking important missions, thereby enhancing the safety of clan members.

Major powers like the Cold Flame Sect, Zhenhai Palace, the Li Family, and the Long Family all possess Level 6 puppet beasts, though in varying quantities. For average forces, owning even one Level 6 puppet beast significantly boosts their strength and serves as a vital foundation.

Level 6 puppet beasts are equivalent to Void Refinement cultivators and are considered major strategic resources. Therefore, they are not typically auctioned for spirit stones, unless they are top-grade spirit stones.

Manifestation materials, Level 6 puppet beasts, and Five-Element Thundercloud Talismans are all significant strategic resources. They are primarily acquired through bartering, with very few being auctioned for spirit stones.

The Wang family has hosted numerous cultivation gatherings. Wang Moshan even organized a grand birthday celebration, inviting relatives by marriage and close friends, but the benefits reaped were not substantial.

Various major powers hold diverse celebrations, using them as pretexts to promote goods and gather high-level cultivators for resource exchange. Whether it's a birthday or another festive event, only by presenting valuable cultivation resources can they attract a large number of cultivators for trade.

Simply put, offering desirable items is key to attracting others.

Wang Moshan furrowed his brow. He had, of course, considered selling Level 6 puppet beasts. However, he found the idea too ostentatious. There were fewer than twenty factions on the Xuanyuan Continent that sold Level 6 puppet beasts. If the Wang family were to do so, it would be overly conspicuous and not align with their current development strategy.

"A tree that stands out in the forest will be destroyed by the wind." However, the benefits of selling them would indeed be significant. If the Wang family had Level 6 puppet beasts for sale, more factions would be willing to forge good relations with them.

Everything has its pros and cons; one cannot have both.

"Indeed! Selling one or two Level 6 puppet beasts in exchange for manifestation materials or other cultivation resources could also help us promote some of our goods."

"Exactly. The family treasury has too many puppet beasts stockpiled. Pricing them too low would result in a loss, but pricing them too high means they won't sell. With no major battles currently, the family's production of puppet beasts far exceeds sales."

Many clan elders expressed agreement. Their roles varied: some were responsible for acquiring materials to craft puppet beasts, others for selling them, and some were Level 5 puppeteers.

If a large number of puppet beasts could be sold, they too would benefit.

Wang Moshan pondered for a moment before shaking his head. "Our family does not have an Integration Stage cultivator. Selling Level 6 puppet beasts would be far too ostentatious. It's already quite impressive to craft a few Level 6 puppet beasts for our own use; selling them would be overly conspicuous. In the long run, the disadvantages would outweigh the advantages. Let's not bring it up again."

Selling one or two Level 6 puppet beasts would alleviate some of the Wang family's financial pressure, but it would only be a temporary solution, not a fundamental one. In the long run, the disadvantages would outweigh the benefits.

Wang Moshan had a long-term vision, but alleviating immediate financial pressure was paramount.

To relieve some of the pressure, they could either wage war against other factions for cultivation resources, acquire a secret realm rich in cultivation resources, or collaborate with a major trade guild to sell goods.

Although the Wang family had many Void Refinement cultivators, most had not experienced many life-and-death battles. Rashly engaging in war with other factions might not yield benefits. As for secret realms rich in cultivation resources, most valuable items from the Thousand Butterfly Ridge secret realm had already been extracted. Therefore, their only remaining option was to cooperate with a major trade guild and sell goods.

"Alright, let's conclude our discussion for today. You may all return. If you have any good ideas, you can report them to me."

Wang Moshan waved his hand, signaling the end of the meeting.

Shortly after he returned to his residence, Wang Chuanming arrived.

"Patriarch, I have a strategy that can solve the family's urgent problem."

Wang Chuanming was brimming with confidence.

"Tell me."

Wang Moshan became interested. Wang Chuanming was eloquent and well-versed in human affairs, earning praise from many clan elders who held high hopes for him.

"If this sea region were to descend into chaos, with a few small-scale racial conflicts breaking out, why would we ever worry about selling our puppet beasts?" Wang Chuanming carefully stated.

Wang Moshan nodded, gesturing for Wang Chuanming to continue.

"I suggest we dispatch Void Refinement cultivators to the territory of the Golden Scale Clan to slay demonic beasts or attack their allied races, thereby instigating conflict between the two clans. Of course, the clan members executing this mission must use treasures to alter their true appearance and must not employ our clan's unique cultivation techniques or divine abilities," Wang Chuanming suggested.

The Golden Scale Clan is an established power on the Xuanyuan Continent, with most of their territory being islands. After the human race repelled the Golden Roc Clan, they began to expand relentlessly. The Golden Scale Clan then initiated a large-scale beast tide as a warning, which finally prompted the human race to cease their expansion.

In Wang Chuanming's view, as long as racial conflict erupted, there would be no shortage of buyers for the puppet beasts.

Wang Moshan's expression darkened. "Have you considered what would happen to our Wang family if this plan were exposed?"

If a major racial conflict truly broke out, leading to heavy casualties for humanity, the Wang family would be held squarely responsible and become the target of public scorn.

"We wouldn't intend to start a racial conflict; we would merely be seeking cultivation resources and accidentally stumble into conflict with an allied force of the Golden Scale Clan. Even if the truth came out, as long as Zhenhai Palace didn't pursue the matter, there would be no problem, since humans and other races are mortal enemies after all," Wang Chuanming said dismissively.

"This matter concerns the safety of over a hundred thousand clan members; we cannot be careless. Do not entertain such ideas again in the future," Wang Moshan chastised him bluntly. Even if Zhenhai Palace didn't pursue the matter, other factions would resent the Wang family because of it.

If powers like Zhenhai Palace or the Xuanqing Sect instigated racial conflict, it could be seen as expanding territory for humanity, and other factions wouldn't comment much, given the established strength of Zhenhai Palace and the Xuanqing Sect.

However, if the Wang family caused a racial conflict leading to heavy casualties, other factions would hold them accountable. Even with Zhenhai Palace's protection, the Wang family would offend many forces, hindering their future development.

Wang Chuanming's scheme was indeed clever, but it was a poisonous one. If it remained undetected, there would be no issue, but once exposed, it would sow the seeds for the Wang family's destruction.

Simply dealing with cultivators of other races was fine, but Wang Chuanming's plan was specifically to provoke racial conflict, not just to deal with individual foreign cultivators. This fundamentally changed its nature.

Wang Moshan had initially held Wang Chuanming in high regard and intended to cultivate him thoroughly. Now, however, it was clear that Wang Chuanming absolutely could not be allowed into the family's decision-making body, or he would lead the Wang family into an abyss.

If Wang Chuanming were to become the patriarch, the Wang family would eventually be ruined by him.

Wang Chuanming shivered and repeatedly agreed.

"Alright, go and be stationed at Qinggang Mountain Range! They need manpower there. You've recently advanced to the Spirit Transformation stage, so it's time you gained some experience outside," Wang Moshan said, his expression softening.

Wang Chuanming acknowledged him, bowed, and withdrew.

Wang Moshan took out a pale golden communication disk, cast a spell into it, and gravely stated, "Shanyue, from now on, do not mention allowing Chuanming into the decision-making body. Furthermore, he is not to govern any region, nor should he be given any managerial power, not even as an assistant. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Patriarch," a respectful male voice replied from the communication disk.