Chapter 309: Ye Zhanling Seeks Help

Wang Mingyuan and Liu Qing'er left with Wang Qingjing, who was clutching a tiger-shaped wooden puppet.

"Sister-in-law, I'm so sorry. Next time, if I'm not home, I definitely won't activate the array," Wang Changyue said apologetically.

"It's not your fault. Father and Mother just spoil Qingjing too much. Qingzhi can barely string ten words together in half a day, but Qingjing is more lively and can chat with them for a long time, so naturally, they favor her. You should set up arrays as needed. When we get back, I'll definitely discipline her more strictly."

"Qingjing is still young, so you don't have to be too harsh, sister-in-law. I can see that she genuinely loves the art of puppetry. Her future achievements might not be inferior to Brother's. Oh, by the way, Brother and the others have been gone for over a year now. They should have reached Taiyi Immortal Sect by now, right?"

"I don't know. Wei State is too far from Taiyi Immortal Sect, so communication is very inconvenient. We'll just guard our home and wait for them to return. By the way, Changyue, where have you been these past few days?"

Wang Changyue smiled slightly and replied, "I went to help Qingqi set up a fire-gathering array to assist him with alchemy. Qingqi can already refine Qingya Pills."

"That's excellent. Once Qingqi improves his success rate, we'll have another source of income."

After chatting for a while, Wang Ruyan took her leave.

In the Talisman Production Hall, Wang Qingyun sat cross-legged in front of a green wooden table. Her left hand held a silver jade brush, and she was concentrating intently on drawing something on a green paper crane.

Wang Changyu and Li Qiwen stood nearby, holding their breath, not daring to make a sound for fear of disturbing Wang Qingyun.

Green runes appeared one by one on the green paper crane, which was enveloped in a faint green glow.

After about half an hour, Wang Qingyun put down her talisman brush, not even bothering to wipe the sweat from her face.

She formed a hand seal, cast a spell on the green paper crane, and softly commanded, "Paper Crane Talisman Soldier, rise!"

The green paper crane glowed with a dazzling green light, its body expanding to about a *zhang* (approx. 3.3 meters) in size, covered in green runes.

She leaped onto the paper crane's back, formed another hand seal, and the paper crane spread its wings, soaring into the sky.

"It worked! It finally worked!" Li Qiwen's face flushed with excitement.

He had spent over twenty years researching the method for refining talisman soldiers. He and Wang Changyu had researched it together, with the Wang family providing strong support and various talisman-making materials.

After numerous experiments, Li Qiwen and Wang Changyu believed the problem lay with the talisman paper itself, so they began making their own.

Wang Qingyun inherited their talent in talismans, and after extensive practice, she finally succeeded in refining a first-tier low-grade flying talisman soldier.

Li Qiwen was the most excited. His ancestors from the Li family hailed from the Purple Cloud Sect and had once refined talisman soldiers. Unfortunately, by his generation, no one could replicate the feat. His daughter, Wang Qingyun, refining a flying talisman soldier finally made up for his lingering regret.

Wang Qingyun controlled the paper crane talisman soldier, flying a few circles above the Talisman Production Hall before landing in front of Wang Changyu and Li Qiwen.

"Father, Mother, I succeeded! I finally succeeded!" Wang Qingyun exclaimed excitedly, her eyes full of joy.

"Qingyun, well done! Father knew you were the best, and your mother thinks so too," Li Qiwen praised with a smile.

"This is great news. By refining a talisman soldier, Qingyun can create more benefits for the family. According to family rules, clan members who generate significant benefits for the family can apply for foundation-building spiritual items to achieve Foundation Establishment once they reach the ninth level of Qi Refinement."

Wang Changyu's face was beaming. Both she and Li Qiwen had poor aptitudes, but thankfully, they were skilled in talisman crafting. Li Yuehua had married out, and Wang Changyu didn't want Wang Qingyun to do the same. Therefore, she especially hoped Wang Qingyun would successfully achieve Foundation Establishment and stay by her side for life.

"Seventh Sister, Seventh Brother-in-law, congratulations! Qingyun can actually refine flying talisman soldiers now." Wang Ruyan walked in, smiling as she offered her congratulations.

"It's all thanks to Father and Mother's teachings, and Aunt Nine's careful guidance, that I could refine a flying talisman soldier," Wang Qingyun said sweetly and humbly.

"That's right! It's largely due to Sister-in-law Nine's careful guidance that Qingyun could refine a flying talisman soldier."

"Exactly, Sister-in-law Nine deserves credit for this."

Wang Ruyan chuckled lightly and said, "You two don't need to flatter me. It's wonderful that Qingyun can refine flying talisman soldiers. Seventh Sister, Seventh Brother-in-law, keep up the hard work. I believe you can also refine flying talisman soldiers. If the family acquires a Foundation Establishment Pill in the future, Qingyun will definitely have a share."

"Then we thank you, Sister-in-law Nine. Qingyun, quickly thank Aunt Nine."

"Thank you, Aunt Nine. I will work hard and strive to refine high-grade flying talisman soldiers!" Wang Qingyun pledged with confidence.

Wang Ruyan offered a few words of encouragement, then turned and left.

On a towering peak in Hongye Ridge, the area above the mid-mountain was shrouded in a vast expanse of white mist.

After the Huang family withdrew from Ningzhou, they leased this spiritual mountain, Hongye Ridge, to the Wang family, and Wang Changhao led the defense.

There were fifty *mu* (approx. 8.2 acres) of spiritual fields on the mountain, all planted with spiritual grains, which could be easily relocated in case of an attack.

Wang Changguang, ranking fifteenth, was at the seventh level of Qi Refinement and was responsible for managing the fifty *mu* of spiritual fields. He had over twenty clan members under him. Normally, he wouldn't disturb Wang Changhao's cultivation unless there was an important matter.

On this particular day, he was in the spiritual fields, casting rain spells on the spiritual grains.

"Brother Fifteen, the Ye family has arrived. The leader is a senior named Ye Zhanling," a Wang clan member quickly approached and said to Wang Changguang.

Guangling Commandery originally had three immortal cultivation families: the Lin family of Hongye Ridge, the Zhu family of Wuhua Mountain, and the Ye family of Baiyun Ridge.

When the Three Sects of Medicine King Valley withdrew, the Ye family did not follow suit. However, after several subsequent battles, the Ye family suffered heavy losses, their strength greatly diminished, with only one Foundation Establishment cultivator remaining in the clan. Besides the Ye family, there was also a Chen family in Guangling Commandery, an immortal cultivation family founded by a disciple of the Hundred Spirits Sect.

Wang Changguang frowned slightly and asked, "The Ye family? We don't have any dealings with the Ye family. Did she say what the matter is? Is she alone?"

"She didn't say. She just said she had an important matter to discuss with our clan's Foundation Establishment cultivators. Besides her, there are a few Qi Refinement cultivators."

Wang Changguang pondered for a moment, then instructed, "You stabilize them first. I'll report to Brother Eighteen and see what he says."

With that, he quickly walked away.

A quarter of an hour later, he entered a secluded courtyard where a two-story green pavilion stood.

He took out a sound-transmitting talisman, whispered a few words, and tossed it into the green pavilion. Not long after, Wang Changhao pushed open the door and emerged.

"Brother Fifteen, out of the blue, why would the Ye family come to visit? Have they visited us before?"

Wang Changguang shook his head and said, "No, we've always kept to ourselves with the Ye family, with no favors exchanged. Ye Zhanling's sudden visit is truly strange. Brother Eighteen, will you see her or not?"

Wang Changhao thought for a moment, then nodded and said, "A visitor is a guest, so I'll see her. Only let her in; the others stay outside. Bring her to the reception hall."

The spiritual grains were about to mature, and Wang Changhao was wary that Ye Zhanling might have ulterior motives, so he had to be cautious.

"Alright, I'll go arrange it."

Soon after, Wang Changhao met Ye Zhanling in the reception hall.

Ye Zhanling was a red-robed young woman in her early thirties, plump in figure, with a cultivation base at the first level of Foundation Establishment.

"This humble one, Ye Zhanling, greets Fellow Daoist Wang. How may I address you, Fellow Daoist?" Ye Zhanling said with a smile, her tone sincere.

"I am Wang Changhao. May I ask what brings Madam Ye here today?" Wang Changhao politely inquired.