Chapter 2695

Today you capture a stronghold, and tomorrow I'll organize people to take it back. The day after, you'll send forces to attack again. This back-and-forth has been continuous. While the disciples of the Five Sages Sect are strong, the Wang family has been preparing for years and arrived well-prepared, giving them the current upper hand.

The Wang family doesn't have many strongholds within a billion-li radius; their presence is primarily through shops. Apart from Qinghong Market, the Wang family also operates stores in other markets. Both sides maintain a tacit understanding, refraining from attacking these market towns.

Market towns are populated by individuals from various factions. Accidentally killing a cultivator from a major power would lead to significant trouble.

The primary conflict between the Wang family and the Five Sages Sect revolves around fifth-tier mineral veins and medium-sized spirit stone mines. As for the Qian family's occupied spiritual herb garden, all the herbs have already been harvested, making an attack unnecessary.

In the northeastern part of the Five Sages Mountain Range stood a towering peak, entirely black.

A tall, slender young man in a black shirt sat in a stone pavilion. His left arm was missing. In his right hand, he held a green token, which had a green lotus pattern on its front and the characters "Wang Chuanfeng" clearly inscribed on its back.

Years ago, at an underground auction in a market town, he acquired a Jade Soul Crystal. This caught the attention of a Wang family descendant, who secretly followed him, intending to kill him and steal the treasure. However, he ended up killing the descendant instead.

The Wang family's official reason for their current conflict with the Qian family was that Wang Chuanfeng had been killed by a Qian family descendant. However, no one knew that Wang Chuanfeng had actually died at his own hands.

"The Wang Family of Green Lotus Island! Hmph," the young man snorted.

The black-shirted young man snorted coldly, and a surge of black poisonous mist erupted from his palm. The green token began to emit a puff of green smoke, its spiritual light fading, until it slowly dissolved into a puddle of liquid.

He pulled out a gleaming communication disk from his pocket and cast a spell into it. A deep male voice resonated: "Brother Zhang Xu, things have escalated significantly. More and more factions are getting involved. You should send someone to negotiate with the Wang family soon and bring an end to this conflict!"

As time passed, the conflict grew increasingly uncontrollable, with numerous minor factions joining the fray.

A large portion of the Qian family's territory has been seized, and some forces have seized the opportunity to target the Qian family's affiliated factions. An increasing number of groups are spontaneously joining, all hoping to expand their own influence. The conflict is visibly escalating, and if it continues, it is very likely to spiral out of control.

The Qian family's medium-sized spirit stone mine holds the highest value, followed by several fifth-tier metal mines. These assets are simply not worth Refinement Void cultivators fighting to the death over. Such a fierce struggle would only be justified for seventh-tier mineral veins, large spirit stone mines, Dharma Aspect materials, or materials for transcending tribulations.

If the conflict is not brought to an end quickly, it will be difficult to contain once it spirals out of control.

"Alright, I will relay this to our Sect Master," Zhang Xu replied.

Zhang Xu agreed; this turn of events was within his expectations.

Of course, the Five Sages Sect wouldn't fight a death battle with the Wang family over a mere medium-sized spirit stone mine; it's not that they're afraid, but that it simply isn't worth it. The Five Sages Sect's involvement was primarily to curb the Wang family's growing influence. Furthermore, they needed to consider what their other affiliated factions would think if the Qian family were allowed to be bullied by the Wang family.

"End the conflict as soon as possible," Sun Feng urged. "I have urgent matters to attend to and cannot stay long."

"Alright, we will immediately send someone to negotiate with the Wang family," Zhang Xu agreed.

At Qinghong Market, within a sprawling estate, Wang Yimiao was reporting the current situation to Wang Lihe.

"Currently, we have suffered 45 casualties among our Soul Transformation cultivators," Wang Yimiao began. "Eighteen were killed in action, five were severely wounded, and one or two are missing. Additionally, three fifth-tier puppet beasts have been rendered unusable. Conservatively estimated, the Qian family and the Five Sages Sect have suffered over a hundred casualties among their Soul Transformation cultivators, with a higher number of deaths from the Qian family."

The Wang family was well-prepared, and with the assistance of fifth-tier puppet beasts, their losses were indeed smaller than those of the Qian family and the Five Sages Sect. However, some inherent issues were also exposed.

Life-and-death battles are vastly different from sparring. While participating clan members had experience hunting demonic beasts of the same tier, demonic beasts employ relatively singular methods. Cultivators, however, possess a wider range of techniques. Even with the assistance of puppet beasts, quite a few clan members still died in battle.

In such life-and-death combat, even a single mistake could cost a life.

During the assaults on the Qian family and Five Sages Sect strongholds, some clan members performed exceptionally well, demonstrating both courage and strategic acumen, thus standing out.

Wang Lihe nodded. While securing cultivation resources was the primary objective, the conflict also served as a valuable opportunity to train their forces.

The family had enjoyed peace for too long, and clan members had participated in too few life-and-death battles. Dealing with demonic beasts was a vastly different matter from dealing with cultivators, and in the long run, this lack of experience was not beneficial.

"Send more people to search for Yi'er," Wang Lihe instructed. "That boy is a joy to be around; if he's gone, we'll lose a lot of fun." Wang Lihe issued the order, explaining that Wang Yi'er was considered the family's "happy charm." His optimistic and positive outlook on life had influenced many clan members, and he was held up as an example.

"Yes, Elder Lihe," Wang Yimiao responded.

Just then, Wang Yuanjiang entered and solemnly announced, "Elder Lihe, the Sect Master of the Five Sages Sect has sent a messenger, stating their wish to negotiate with you for a peaceful resolution to the dispute."

"Only now do they want to talk peace? What were they doing before?" Wang Lihe scoffed. He pondered for a moment, then said, "No problem, let's negotiate in Jinhong Valley. With so many clan members dead and wounded, it's time for this to end."

The Wang family's strategic objectives had largely been achieved. Continuing the conflict would only lead to more casualties. It was wise to stop while they were ahead and know when to be content. This was a strategy of gradual encroachment.

Previously, the focus was on territorial disputes; now, it was about contending for cultivation resources such as metal mineral veins, spirit stone mines, and secret realms. One cannot become fat with a single bite; the Wang family needed to proceed slowly.

"Yes, Elder Lihe," Wang Yuanjiang replied. Wang Yuanjiang acknowledged, then turned and left.

In a hidden underground cave, the air was damp and the interior was dark.

Ji Yuwei sat cross-legged on the ground, her hands forming seals, resting with her eyes closed.

"Finally, the poison has been completely purged," Wang Yi'er said, stepping out of a simple stone room, his face pale but smiling. "The Five Sages Sect's poison techniques truly live up to their reputation."

"You can still smile?" Ji Yuwei frowned. "You were unconscious for eight days and nearly lost your life!" Ji Yuwei frowned as she spoke. They had been pursued by Chen Lang of the Five Sages Sect, and Wang Yi'er, in an effort to save her, had been severely wounded by Chen Lang. Ji Yuwei and Wang Yi'er then fought desperately to break through the encirclement.

"Aren't I perfectly fine now?" Wang Yi'er said dismissively, a genuine smile spreading across his face. "A smile helps you recover faster." Wang Yi'er didn't mind, a genuine smile appearing on his face as he said: "Fairy Ji, thank you. If it weren't for you, I probably wouldn't have a chance to smile again."

He had been afflicted by a potent toxin; had Ji Yuwei chosen to kill him and blame Chen Lang, no one would have known the truth.

"You saved me first; I merely returned the favor," Ji Yuwei said, shrugging it off. "There's no need to thank me."

"No, no, that won't do!" Wang Yi'er said earnestly. "How about we become dual cultivation partners instead? What do you say?"

A blush crept onto Ji Yuwei's cheeks, and she playfully chided, "Smooth talker!"

"Heh heh, you didn't object, so that means you agree!" Wang Yi'er chuckled, his face beaming with triumph. "Once this conflict ends, I'll go to your Ji family to propose."

From his perspective, suffering severe injuries but gaining a dual cultivation partner was a net gain, no matter how one looked at it.

"You should recuperate for a while longer, then we can leave this place," Ji Yuwei quickly changed the subject. "I wonder how the war is progressing."

"Our family has deployed seven Refinement Void cultivators, so there shouldn't be any major issues," Wang Yi'er said, his expression turning serious, a lingering fear on his face. "However, Chen Lang's poison techniques are indeed formidable; he almost killed me."