Chapter 316: Wang Ruyan's Plan

After leaving Ruyi Tower, Wang Changsheng and his two companions went to a large shop and sold all their demonic beast materials. They received over 10,000 spirit stones. After buying some crafting materials, they had just over 5,000 spirit stones left. Upon returning to their residence, Wang Changsheng divided the spirit stones: Wang Changsheng kept 3,000, while Wang Mingjiang and Wang Changfeng each received over 1,000.

Wang Changsheng received a larger share because he needed to repair his magical artifacts and puppet beasts. If the repairs were unsuccessful, he would have to re-forge them, which would be quite expensive. Therefore, it was natural for him to receive more.

Wang Changfeng could refine low-grade magical artifacts, but he could not refine puppet beasts, much less repair them.

Wang Changfeng put away his spirit stones and said with a smile, “We earned over 7,000 spirit stones in just a few months. If we stay here for ten or eight years, that will be enough for us to cultivate for a very long time.”

Wang Mingjiang cautioned them with a grave expression. “Spirit stones are not that easy to earn,” he replied. “We used up over 3,000 spirit stones worth of second-tier talismans, and Changsheng’s Ice Dragon Flag was damaged; we don’t even know if it can be repaired. Of course, overall, our gains are considerable, but the Taiyi Mountain Range has many demonic beasts. Didn’t you see that disciples from the Taiyi Immortal Sect also perished? These spirit stones are not easily obtained. A thousand spirit stones is already a significant amount. I plan to enter seclusion for a period of cultivation. Before I emerge from seclusion, do not venture out to hunt demonic beasts on your own. Especially Changfeng, you are not allowed to hunt demonic beasts alone. Cultivation level is the key.”

“Understood, Twenty-first Uncle,” Wang Changfeng replied without hesitation. “I’ve felt signs of my cultivation bottleneck loosening during this period of hunting demonic beasts. I will also enter seclusion for a period of cultivation to see if I can advance to the fourth layer of Foundation Establishment.”

The three of them had been sharing one guest room, which was quite inconvenient. Wang Changsheng and Wang Changfeng each rented an additional Class B guest room.

Closing the door to his room, Wang Changsheng took out a square token. He infused spiritual power into it, and a green light flew out from the token, disappearing instantly into the formation within the room.

A vast white light curtain appeared out of thin air, enveloping the entire guest room.

Having spent several months in the deep mountains, Wang Changsheng was quite tired. He stretched and lay down on the bed.

“I wonder how my wife is doing,” he thought, “and Qingqing and Qingzhi.”

He murmured his wife and children’s names and drifted off to sleep.

Wang Family Fort, Council Hall.

Wang Ruyan was discussing something with Wang Changyue and a few others.

“We acquired two Yellow-grade, second-tier cultivation techniques from the Ye family this time,” Wang Ruyan began. “The Ye family must harbor resentment. It is better to resolve enmities than to deepen them, so I plan to form a marriage alliance with them to eliminate this potential hidden danger. Otherwise, if we ever face difficulties, the Ye family might just kick us while we're down. What are your thoughts on this?”

With the two Yellow-grade cultivation techniques obtained from the Ye family, the Wang family now possesses seven Yellow-grade cultivation techniques, eighteen Black-grade cultivation techniques, and complete sets of array formations, talismans, artifact forging, and alchemy scriptures. The family is developing in a positive direction.

One Yellow-grade cultivation technique is enough to support an immortal cultivation family, so the Wang family acquiring seven Yellow-grade cultivation techniques is already quite remarkable.

Currently, the Wang family only has complete sets of Five-Element cultivation techniques. They lack cultivation techniques suitable for cultivators with dual spirit roots or special spirit roots.

“Ninth Sister-in-law,” Wang Changhao said with a frown, “the Ye family only has one Foundation Establishment cultivator. I don’t think there’s a need to form a marriage alliance with them! What benefits would we gain from it? Besides, a marriage alliance might not even resolve the Ye family’s resentment. If another family forced our Wang family to copy their ancestral cultivation techniques, I would also harbor resentment.”

Wang Mingsen had already transplanted the spirit fruit trees to Wang Family Fort, and Wang Qingshan was in charge of guarding Red Leaf Ridge.

“Blood is thicker than water; it can alleviate some of the resentment,” Wang Ruyan explained. “Forming a marriage alliance with the Ye family serves two purposes: firstly, to resolve their resentment. Secondly, I plan to collaborate with both the Ye family and the Chen family to establish a market and hold a grand trade fair. We can call it the Green Lotus Minor Gathering. What do you all think?”

In recent years, continuous wars have occurred, and Ningzhou's immortal cultivation forces have undergone multiple reshuffles, leading to a significant drop in their strength. Most markets have closed, with only one small market remaining.

Ningzhou has fewer demonic beast resources, making it difficult to attract rogue cultivators. Establishing a market is quite costly, and given Ningzhou's current situation, a single family cannot support a market on its own.

The original Tianhe Market had long since closed down, and most cultivators in Ningzhou traveled to neighboring states' markets to purchase cultivation resources.

Previously, the most powerful immortal cultivation family in Ningzhou was the Lin family, and the Tianhe Minor Gathering was jointly organized by the Lin family and two other families. Wang Ruyan plans to unite with two smaller families to establish a market and hold regular trade fairs.

The spirit grains and puppet beasts produced by the Wang family could be sold within Ningzhou, saving some manpower. Currently, most of the family's products are transported to Qingyue Market, requiring Foundation Establishment cultivators for escort each time. Establishing a market would first allow them to sell their own products directly, saving manpower. Secondly, it would help establish the Wang family’s standing and facilitate their collection of materials. Thirdly, using the market as bait, they could form an interest group, with the Wang family as the central distributor for this group. This is a common practice not only among immortal cultivation sects but also among larger immortal cultivation families.

“Green Lotus Minor Gathering? That’s not bad! I agree,” Wang Changhao exclaimed. “However, to hold an auction, we would need to present some second-tier items, wouldn’t we?”

“Naturally,” Wang Ruyan replied. “A few second-tier talismans and a second-tier puppet beast would be enough to draw a crowd. Anyway, there aren’t too many cultivators in Ningzhou. Establishing a market would, first, allow us to sell our own products directly, saving some manpower. Secondly, it would help us collect materials and also draw in other immortal cultivation families for our use. Aren't the markets in neighboring states all led by a stronger immortal cultivation family? We can do the same. With our second-tier puppets and second-tier talismans, our popularity will definitely be higher than theirs.”

Wang Ruyan was full of confidence. With Wang Mingjiang and the other two not at home, she not only had to manage the family well but also consider its future.

In fact, she had this idea long ago. She had mentioned it to Wang Changsheng before, and Wang Changsheng had agreed. However, they were busy hunting down Chen Qingshu, so it had been delayed.

After hearing Wang Ruyan’s words, Wang Changhao no longer objected. Wang Qingqi and Wang Changyue also had no objections.

“Sister-in-law,” Wang Changhao asked, “if we form a marriage alliance, who do you intend to have marry a daughter of the Ye family? It wouldn’t be Qingzhi, would it!”

Cultivating a cultivator is not easy. Given the Wang family's current strength, in a marriage alliance with the Ye family, it would naturally be the Wang family taking a bride, and the Ye family giving a daughter.

“How could that be?” Wang Ruyan retorted. “Your brother isn’t here, so I wouldn’t unilaterally arrange a marriage for Qingzhi. Besides, that child is still young. The Ye family has a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Thirteenth Brother and Seventeenth Brother are both of the ‘Chang’ generation; having them marry a daughter of the Ye family would save face for both sides. Let them form marriage alliances with the Ye family and the Chen family! What do you all think?”

Although they were of the same generation, the significant marriage affairs of Qi Refining stage clansmen were decided by Foundation Establishment cultivators.

“Let’s do it this way!” Wang Changyue and the others agreed. “Let’s name the market the Green Lotus Market! We can build it near our family fort for easy oversight.”

Wang Changyue and the others all expressed their agreement, and the matter was thus settled.