Chapter 344: Wang Ru Yue

In addition to spirit fish and spirit shrimp, the Wan family also sold blank talismans. The Qin family sold blank talismans as well, but on a much larger scale than the Wan family.

Wang Shuming slowly said, "Changsheng, the Qin family is quite powerful. They openly have six Foundation Establishment cultivators, but their actual number is certainly greater than that. Furthermore, with hundreds of immortal cultivators, completely eradicating the Qin family would be extremely difficult because their members are so dispersed. Unless the Yellow Saint Palace intervenes, it would be impossible for our two families alone to completely wipe out the Qin family. However, eliminating their Foundation Establishment cultivators and killing most of their clan members would not be a problem."

Wang Changsheng nodded and said, "Father-in-law, our Wang family feels the same way. As long as we eliminate the Qin family's Foundation Establishment cultivators, kill some of their clan members, and seize their assets, even if the Qin family seeks revenge, they will have the will but lack the strength."

"That's good. The Qin family has three clan members affiliated with the Yellow Saint Palace. Only one of them is a Foundation Establishment cultivator, at the fourth level of Foundation Establishment. She is a female cultivator, unmarried, and also the most challenging to deal with."

Wang Changsheng and Wang Shuming deliberated for three days and three nights, finally devising a comparatively sound plan.

Once the plan was finalized, Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan departed from Wanjiabao and returned to Wangjiabao, with both families then acting independently.

Chen Tai was one of the five Grand Deacons of the Yellow Saint Palace's Deacon Hall. He was responsible for assigning tasks to Foundation Establishment cultivators. The Yellow Saint Palace controlled a vast territory, including spiritual medicine gardens, spirit stone mines, metal mines, and markets, all of which required numerous Foundation Establishment cultivators to guard.

Chen Tai wielded the authority to assign external missions to Foundation Establishment cultivators, which was a highly lucrative position. Naturally, he couldn't force an assignment if a cultivator was unwilling. However, some missions offered significant benefits, while others yielded little. This created a lot of unspoken advantages. Consequently, all Foundation Establishment cultivators in the Yellow Saint Palace treated Chen Tai with utmost courtesy, with some even offering him favors.

Of course, Chen Tai dared not go too far, lest he incur the displeasure of the three Core Formation cultivators.

Early one morning, a sound transmission talisman flew into Chen Tai's residence.

Soon, Chen Tai opened his outer door and stepped out.

A tall, beautiful young woman in a blue dress stood outside. Seeing Chen Tai, she smiled slightly and said, "Senior Brother Chen, I hope I haven't disturbed your cultivation!"

"Junior Sister Wang, you jest," Chen Tai replied. "Not at all. Your visit graces my humble abode with brilliance. Please come in, Junior Sister Wang."

Chen Tai's tone carried a hint of flattery. The young woman in the blue dress was named Wang Ruyue, from the Wang family of Blue Moon Lake.

Wang Ruyue was Li Qingshan's granddaughter-in-law, and Li Qingshan was one of the Core Formation cultivators of the Yellow Saint Palace.

Wang Huashan was still alive; in other words, Wang Ruyue had two Core Formation cultivators backing her.

Wang Ruyue had two sons, of whom Li Qingshan was particularly fond.

Chen Tai invited Wang Ruyue into his residence, and the two sat down in the stone pavilion.

He brewed a pot of spiritual tea and brought out some pastries, inviting Wang Ruyue to sample them.

Wang Ruyue did not stand on ceremony, eating a spiritual pastry and drinking a cup of spiritual tea as they chatted casually.

Chen Tai couldn't quite discern Wang Ruyue's intentions, so he responded cautiously.

"Senior Brother Chen, do you have some conflict with Senior Brother Li Hao?"

Chen Tai frowned. Li Hao was one of the five Grand Deacons, and all five had the authority to assign tasks to Foundation Establishment cultivators. However, their specific areas of responsibility differed. Most importantly, every five years, their assigned territories would rotate. Those who performed well naturally managed more areas, while those who performed poorly managed fewer, leading to reduced profits. Chen Tai and Li Hao were rivals, and their relationship was quite strained.

"Junior Sister Wang, who told you that? My relationship with Senior Brother Li is quite good."

Chen Tai said with a smile. On the surface, the two remained amiable, but privately, they often slandered each other.

"Is that so? Some time ago, when Grandfather was lecturing Xian'er and Zhi'er, Senior Brother Li suddenly visited. I don't know what he said, but Grandfather's expression was very displeased."

Chen Tai frowned. Some time ago, Li Qingshan had summoned him and severely reprimanded him. Chen Tai had accepted a large sum of spirit stones from a fellow disciple and assigned him to guard a spirit stone mine. This individual had embezzled funds and was severely corrupt, having already been dealt with by the enforcement team.

This fellow disciple had been assigned by Chen Tai, who consequently also suffered misfortune.

"Damn it, Li Hao, how dare he slander me to Senior Uncle Li!" Chen Tai cursed inwardly. He remained outwardly calm and said to Wang Ruyue, "Junior Sister Wang, please speak directly. There's no need for us to be so formal."

Wang Ruyue smiled slightly and said, "Senior Brother Chen, it's like this: my good-for-nothing cousin spends spirit stones like water and is looking for a more lucrative assignment. Of course, if it causes you any difficulty, Senior Brother Chen, then never mind."

Chen Tai breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile, "This is easy to arrange. There are currently two relatively lucrative assignments available. One is guarding a certain metal mine, but according to the sect's regulations, the stationed person must have been initiated for at least ten years and be at least at the third level of Foundation Establishment. The other is serving as a patrol captain in Qingyue Market; this task is relatively simple and offers considerable free time."

Wang Ruyue looked troubled. After a long moment of contemplation, she said, "Senior Brother Chen, could you show me all the available tasks? I'd like to choose one that's suitable for my cousin."

Without much thought, Chen Tai took out a silver jade plate. After a series of gestures, he handed it to Wang Ruyue.

Wang Ruyue took the silver jade plate and examined it carefully.

"Senior Brother Chen, the task of guarding the Jiuhua Mountain Spiritual Medicine Garden is excellent. Has the candidate already been decided?"

Chen Tai looked troubled and said, "That task has already been claimed by Junior Sister Qin Yunyao. According to the sect's rules, it cannot be changed."

"Is Senior Sister Qin taking office immediately? If she is willing to voluntarily swap assignments, could my cousin take this task?"

"No, Junior Sister Qin won't take office until half a year from now. She has only claimed this task for now. If Junior Sister Qin is willing to change assignments, Junior Brother Wang can take on the task of guarding the spiritual medicine garden."

Wang Ruyue seemed to realize something. She pondered for a moment, then smiled and said, "Never mind. It wouldn't look good if word got out. Besides, my cousin isn't the type who can endure loneliness. It's better to let him patrol Qingyue Market."

"Junior Sister Wang, you're jesting. How about I speak with Junior Sister Qin and guarantee she'll voluntarily withdraw from guarding the spiritual medicine garden? She's actually just looking for a place with abundant spiritual energy to cultivate, and I can arrange another suitable location for her."

Chen Tai said enthusiastically, currying favor with Wang Ruyue, as he could use her to slander Li Hao.

"Senior Brother Chen, I appreciate your kindness. My grandfather often teaches my husband and me never to abuse our power for personal gain."

Seeing Wang Ruyue invoke Li Qingshan's name, Chen Tai said in a fawning tone, "Senior Uncle Li is truly far-sighted; what he says must be correct. Then Junior Brother Wang shall go to Qingyue Market to serve as a patrol captain!"

Wang Ruyue took out five mid-grade spirit stones, placed them on the table, and said, "Senior Brother Chen, this is a small token of my appreciation. Please don't decline."

Chen Tai repeatedly refused, but Wang Ruyue's attitude was very firm, so he accepted them with a smile.

"I have other matters to attend to, so I won't stay long. If Senior Brother Chen has time, you are welcome to visit my residence."

Wang Ruyue stood up to take her leave, and Chen Tai personally saw her off.

Watching Wang Ruyue's departing figure, Chen Tai took out a mid-grade spirit stone, wiped it on his clothes, and with a face full of joy, muttered to himself:

"These spirit stones are truly easy to earn."

What he didn't see was Wang Ruyue, with her back to him, revealing a hint of sarcasm at the corner of her mouth.