Chapter 338: Distant Alliances and Local Attacks of the Song Family

For the next few days, Wang Qingzhi remained indoors, while Wang Ruyan was busy contacting other immortal cultivation families. Wang Qingshan had free rein. The Song family had also invited the Wang family from Chu State to the birthday celebration, with Wang Shuguang, Wang Ruyan's eleventh uncle, leading their delegation.

Wang Shuguang introduced Wang Ruyan to several representatives from Chu State's immortal cultivation families. Although no formal cooperation was established, these introductions helped them become acquainted, which would facilitate any future collaborations.

Three days later, the birthday celebration for Song Hefeng, the Song family's Old Ancestor, officially commenced. Representatives from various families arrived, each presenting their congratulatory gifts.

Song Hefeng, dressed in a red robe, sat in the main seat with a broad smile on his face.

Guests offering birthday wishes stood on his left and right, while Song Qingxi, the Song family head, stood by Song Hefeng's side.

"Green Cloud Sect congratulates Senior Song on this joyous occasion. By order of Martial Uncle Li, we present a five-tael piece of gold essence."

"The Liu family of Peach Blossom Gully, Han State, congratulates Senior Song on his grand birthday and specially offers a four-hundred-year-old White Jade Ganoderma."

"The Mu family of Black Dragon Pool, Han State, wishes Senior Song a life as boundless as the Southern Mountains and specially offers a section of four-hundred-year-old Purple Gold Bamboo."

Representatives from each family stepped forward sequentially to present their gifts.

Apart from the Green Cloud Sect's representative, all other factions presented second-tier spiritual items as gifts.

After the Han State representatives presented their gifts, it was Wei State's turn.

Soon after, it was Wang Ruyan's turn.

She stepped forward and respectfully said, "The Wang family of Green Lotus Mountain, Wei State, congratulates Senior Song on his grand birthday and specially offers two second-tier, mid-grade puppet beasts."

Song Hefeng nodded and asked calmly, "The Wang family of Green Lotus Mountain? You must be Fellow Daoist Wang Huashan's grandniece! Why didn't young friend Wang come?"

Wang Ruyan dared not neglect and hastily explained, "To answer Senior Song, both my husband and my twenty-first uncle are in secluded cultivation and unable to attend. They specifically sent me to offer birthday wishes."

Song Hefeng nodded and said, "You've traveled a great distance to offer birthday wishes, which is very thoughtful. If you have nothing else to do, feel free to stay on Mount Taihua for a few more days."

"Yes, then this junior will impose."

Wang Ruyan agreed, though a sense of confusion lingered in her mind.

Even considering Song Hefeng's respect for Wang Huashan and Guang Dongren, there seemed no reason to ask her to extend her stay. Clearly, the Song family had a matter to discuss with the Wang family.

The Wang and Song families shared no particular connection, so was the Song family interested in the Wang family's puppet beasts? It seemed unlikely.

Unable to grasp the reason, Wang Ruyan stopped pondering it.

Once all guests had presented their gifts, Song Hefeng stood up, his gaze quickly sweeping over those present.

"Today is this old man's four-hundredth birthday. Most fellow daoists are cultivators from Han State, with a smaller number from other states. You've traveled thousands of miles to offer your birthday wishes to this old man, and for that, this old man thanks you."

"Senior Song is too kind, this is what we should do."

"Precisely, this junior has long wished to witness Senior Song's bearing. To be able to offer birthday wishes to Senior Song is our honor."

Listening to the guests' respectful compliments, Song Hefeng nodded in satisfaction.

"This old man has a very important announcement to make. My cousin, Song Hezhe, has successfully advanced to the Core Formation stage! He is still cultivating at Chongyang Academy and cannot return for now, which is truly a great pity."

Upon hearing this, the guests present were initially stunned but quickly recovered, offering their congratulations.

Wang Ruyan was not surprised; the Song family had clearly invested significant resources into Song Hefeng's birthday banquet, signaling an important announcement.

Chongyang Academy was one of the seven great immortal sects of the Eastern Barrens. With a Song family member, a disciple of Chongyang Academy, having formed a Core, cultivators not only from Han State but also from surrounding states would have to show deference to the Song family. Should a Song family member be fortunate enough to advance to the Nascent Soul stage, provoking the Song family would be tantamount to courting death.

This development provided the Song family with a powerful safeguard, allowing their merchant caravans to freely enter and exit neighboring states.

"It's about time, let's begin the banquet. If there's any oversight in our hospitality, please be understanding."

After a hearty meal, guests began to depart.

Upon returning to their residence, Wang Ruyan convened a meeting for everyone to brainstorm.

Despite much thought, they couldn't deduce the Song family's reason for asking them to stay longer. Could it truly be for the puppet beasts?

"Never mind," she decided. "Come what may, we'll face it. Whether it's a blessing or a misfortune, it's unavoidable. Everyone is to remain in the residence; no one is permitted to go out."

The next morning, Song Qingxi, the Song family head, paid them a visit.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Song Qingxi stated his purpose. "Madam Wang, I've heard that your Wang family excels at crafting puppet beasts. Our Song family is also interested in them and would like to place an order. What are your thoughts?"

Wang Ruyan's face was full of confusion. "Order puppet beasts? Our Wang family is just a small clan. Fellow Daoist Song, if you wish to order puppet beasts, why not order from the Heavenly Soldier Sect? The Heavenly Soldier Sect certainly sells no fewer puppet beasts than our Wang family. Furthermore, among the surrounding states, our Wang family isn't the only immortal cultivation family capable of crafting puppet beasts. Why did your Song family choose us?"

"We would have liked to, but the Heavenly Soldier Sect's puppet beasts are already in demand. As for why we chose your Wang family, it's mainly out of respect for Senior Guang and Senior Wang. Does that answer satisfy you?"

With Song Hezhe's successful Core Formation, the Song family had entered a golden age of development. Their strategy was to form distant alliances while subduing nearby immortal cultivation families to bolster their strength. Simultaneously, befriending the stronger immortal cultivation families in neighboring states would be beneficial for the Song family's future growth.

While the Wang family's overall strength wasn't the highest among the surrounding immortal cultivation families, they had the crucial advantage of two Core Formation cultivators backing them, making them significantly stronger than others in that regard.

"I, representing the Wang family, am willing to sell puppet beasts to your Song family. However, what can you offer us in return?"

"Spirit fruits. Our Song family cultivates many spirit fruit trees. How about we sell you two thousand jin of spirit fruits annually?"

Wang Ruyan and Song Qingxi negotiated for most of the day before finally reaching an agreement.

Under the agreement, the Song family would annually sell the Wang family two thousand jin of first-tier spirit fruits, while the Wang family would sell the Song family one hundred puppet beasts and five hundred purple-scaled crucian carp each year. Additionally, the Song family would rent two shops at the Green Lotus Market, established by the Wang family, for their business operations.

Given the considerable distance between the two families and the historical animosity between Wei and Han states, a marriage alliance could potentially cause trouble for the Wang family. The Song family, for their part, had no intention of pursuing such an alliance, as it wouldn't offer substantial benefits.

"Madam Wang, this jar of Purple Cloud Brew was made by us using Purple Cloud Fruits. Its taste is quite good; please have a try."

Song Qingxi took out a jar of spiritual wine and gave it to Wang Ruyan.

Wang Ruyan thanked him and accepted the jar of spiritual wine.

Three days later, Wang Ruyan and her group departed Mount Taihua, riding Azure-Scaled Horses directly towards Wei State.

More than three months later, Wang Ruyan and her party returned to Wang Family Fort.

Upon their return to Wang Family Fort, Wang Ruyan summoned Wang Mingsen and briefly recounted their trip to Han State.

Wang Mingsen was delighted to learn that the Wang family had placed a large order for spirit beans with the Fang family.

"Excellent! This way, we can not only raise more spirit fish but also save on some costs."

Wang Ruyan asked with a solemn expression, "Uncle Twenty-Two, are Qingzhi and that Qi Shanshan particularly close? They haven't done anything out of line, have they?"

"They are quite close, but based on my understanding of Qingzhi, he isn't that kind of person. However, they've spent a considerable amount of time alone together, and in such situations, it's hard to say."

"Help me keep an eye on them. Don't let them do anything wrong. Also, assign more people to learn fish farming techniques from Qi Shanshan. Learn as much as possible of the techniques she knows. And by the way, don't let anyone else touch her. I will strictly discipline Qingzhi, and they cannot be allowed to stay together anymore."

Wang Mingsen nodded and said, "Okay, I know what to do."