Chapter 28: Intensive Training

"A double-pupiled rat? Ninth brother, when did you get a double-pupiled rat? Last time, second sister and I saw someone selling double-pupiled rats in the market, but they were asking for over a hundred spirit stones. Second sister and I couldn't even scrape together a hundred spirit stones if we pooled all we had." Wang Changyu blinked, asking curiously.

"A while ago, ghosts appeared in Wang Family Town. I went there, eliminated them, and on the way back, I was lucky enough to encounter this rat deep in the mountains. Coincidentally, I also found a spirit vein about two zhang in size there. I heard from the mortal clan members that this type of rat is a spirit-seeking rat, so it probably nested near the spirit vein and, over time, accidentally evolved into a double-pupiled rat!" Wang Changsheng offered his pre-prepared explanation, which sounded quite reasonable.

"Ninth brother, have you already bound it?" Wang Changyu looked at Wang Changsheng with anticipation, asking.

"Yes, I have."

Upon hearing this, Wang Changyu couldn't help but show a look of disappointment.

Wang Mingyuan comforted her, "Changyu, it's just a double-pupiled rat. Someday, I'll have your eldest uncle buy you one. Even though your father is gone, third uncle will take good care of you and your mother. You're grown up now, and I'll have your third aunt arrange a good marriage for you, so you can be married off splendidly."

Hearing this, Wang Changyu felt a warmth in her heart. She shook her head and said earnestly, "Third Uncle, thank you for your kindness, but there's no need to trouble eldest uncle to buy a double-pupiled rat. I'll save up and buy one myself. I've already decided I won't marry outside the family. Grandfather is old, and my mother isn't in good health. I want to stay by their side to fulfill my filial duties. I want to be like Fifth Aunt and serve the family for my entire life."

"Silly girl, Third Uncle will take good care of them; you don't need to worry. Fifth sister stayed to serve the family because she was hurt by love. Don't worry, your third aunt will definitely find you a good match and ensure you never suffer any grievances. I swore a solemn oath before your father's grave that I would take good care of you all, and I, Wang Mingyuan, always keep my word." As Wang Mingyuan spoke, his expression grew unusually serious.

Liu Qing'er nodded and said, "That's right, Changyu! Your father is gone, but you still have Eldest Uncle, Second Uncle, Third Uncle, and your other uncles to look after you. We won't let you suffer any grievances."

Wang Changyu was deeply moved by these words and said nothing more.

"Seventh Sister, I caught a double-pupiled rat. I'll go explore the mountains another day and try to catch one for you too!" Wang Changsheng pulled the double-pupiled rat from his embrace, holding it by its tail in his palm. The double-pupiled rat struggled to break free from Wang Changsheng's grip, eager to pounce on the food on the table.

"Spirit rats aren't that easy to catch! Oh, right, you don't have a spirit beast pouch yet, do you? I have an old one here. Although it only has about a zhang of space, it's perfectly fine for holding a double-pupiled rat. If you don't mind, I'll give it to you." Wang Changyu took out a yellow cloth bag and handed it to Wang Changsheng.

The yellow cloth bag was faded, and the embroidered patterns on it were almost invisible, clearly showing its age.

"No need, Seventh Sister. I don't really need a spirit beast pouch yet." Wang Changsheng shook his head, politely declining.

"This spirit beast pouch is just a low-grade spirit artifact, and it's old; it's not worth many spirit stones. If you don't take it, you're looking down on your seventh sister," Wang Changyu said with a stern face.

"Seventh Sister, I don't mean that, I..."

"Your second sister gave you a spirit egg, and you accepted it, but when I offer you a spirit beast pouch, you refuse. And you say you don't mean that?" Wang Mingyuan frowned, then nodded and said, "Since your seventh sister is giving it to you, just accept it! If you catch another double-pupiled rat in the future, don't forget to give it to your seventh sister, and your second sister too. When you get good things, don't forget the clan members."

Wang Changsheng acknowledged, then accepted the spirit beast pouch.

About half an hour later, the meal concluded. Wang Changxue and Wang Changyu rose to bid farewell, and Wang Changsheng personally escorted his two older cousins out of his courtyard.

"Sheng'er, you just returned, so get some good rest. Starting tomorrow, your mother will teach you about artifact refining."

Wang Changsheng returned to his dwelling. He first refined the spirit beast pouch, then fed twenty spirit rice grains to the double-pupiled rat before storing it in the pouch.

Early the next morning, after breakfast, Wang Changsheng began studying artifact refining under Liu Qing'er's guidance.

Liu Qing'er had been an artifact refining apprentice for ten years. Although she couldn't refine artifacts herself, her theoretical knowledge was extensive.

If he could become an artifact refiner trained by the family, he wouldn't have to worry about cultivation resources. Therefore, Wang Changsheng studied very diligently, asking his mother whenever he encountered a problem. Liu Qing'er held nothing back, explaining everything she knew.

Three days later, Wang Changsheng followed his mother's instructions and arrived at a quiet courtyard early in the morning.

In the courtyard, three men and one woman had gathered. Leading them was a beautiful middle-aged woman dressed simply with light makeup.

"Good morning, Fifth Aunt, Tenth Uncle, Eleventh Uncle, Eighth Brother." Seeing the four, Wang Changsheng greeted them honestly.

The four, in order of seniority, were Wang Mingmei, Wang Mingdong, Wang Mingcan, and Wang Changhuan.

Wang Mingmei was forty years old. She had been hurt by love in her early years and never married, dedicating her life to serving the family. She was at the seventh level of Qi Condensation.

Wang Mingdong was thirty years old and at the sixth level of Qi Condensation. He had enjoyed traveling extensively in his early years and was well-traveled and knowledgeable.

Wang Mingcan was twenty-seven years old and at the sixth level of Qi Condensation. He could process some simple materials, such as refining ores and making talismans.

Wang Changhuan was twenty-two years old, the only son of Wang Changsheng's sixth uncle. He had been working for several years, often accompanying the clan elders to escort goods.

"ChangSheng, when did you get back? Wasn't your father sending you to Ping'an County to serve as a Celestial Master? Could it be that you're the fifth candidate?" Wang Mingmei nodded, asking curiously. From her words, it seemed she wasn't aware that Wang Changsheng had also been selected.

"Yes, Father transferred me back three days ago, saying he wanted me to diligently learn the art of artifact refining."

"We were just guessing who the fifth person might be! I didn't expect it to be you. Well, it makes sense; even when you were very young, Third Sister-in-law made you memorize artifact refining knowledge. You're certainly qualified to be selected." Wang Mingdong said with a smile.

"The clan's current situation isn't good. Why are we suddenly training artifact refiners, and five at once? How many cultivation resources will that consume?" Wang Mingcan frowned, a hint of doubt in his eyes.

"I believe Third Brother wouldn't do something without a reason. He must have his reasons for doing this." Wang Mingmei dismissed the concern.

"Fifth's words are well-spoken." A strong, resonant voice suddenly rang out. Just as the voice faded, a red-robed old man in his sixties walked out from one of the houses in the courtyard. The red-robed elder had white hair and beard, a short goatee on his chin, a ruddy complexion, and his right arm hung limply.

"Seventh Uncle, why are you here?" Wang Mingmei said, a little surprised.

The red-robed elder was named Wang Yaoxi. He was sixty-two years old and ranked seventh among his peers. In his early years, he was trained to be an artifact refiner. Unfortunately, despite consuming vast amounts of refining materials, he could only produce low-grade spirit artifacts with a very low success rate. Due to the family's financial difficulties, they stopped investing resources in his training.

Decades passed, and Wang Yaoxi became an old man past his prime. He should have been enjoying retirement with his grandchildren, but instead, the family entrusted him with the vital task of instructing the younger generation, striving to cultivate their own artifact refiners and thereby restore the family's ancestral glory.

Wang Yaoxi felt a mix of sorrow and joy. His sorrow stemmed from having wasted vast resources and many spirit stones in his youth without becoming a proper artifact refiner. His joy came from the family still trusting him and entrusting him with the burden of teaching the younger generation.

From the moment he received this task, he was so excited he couldn't sleep. He dug out all the notes and insights from his past artifact refining studies, leafing through them page by page, hoping to help the younger generation avoid detours and save spirit stones during their training.

The family must cultivate its own artifact refiners to restore ancestral glory; this was the consensus among all the Wang family elders.