Chapter 367: Cold as Charm

"My son! You're finally back! Your mother missed you so much!" Ye Li quickly walked over, helped Wang Mingren up, hugged him, and wept.

She was Wang Mingren's birth mother, but he had not spent much time with her.

Wang Yaolong's eyes welled up with tears. He held back his emotions and rebuked, "Why are you crying? Our son has finally returned after so long. There's no need for tears."

Wang Mingren wiped Ye Li's tears with his sleeve and smiled, "Mother, your son has been unfilial, not having returned for many years."

"It's good you're back, that's all that matters. Your mother has always worried about you, and so has your father."

"Alright, Mingren has just returned. Go prepare something for him to eat first. I have some questions for him."

Ye Li acknowledged with a sound and turned to leave.

"Father, how are you and Mother doing?" Wang Mingren quickly walked up to Wang Yaolong and asked with concern.

Wang Yaolong nodded and inquired about Wang Mingren's experiences over the years, to which Wang Mingren answered truthfully. Learning that Wang Mingren had become a disciple of a Core Formation cultivator and had already established his foundation, Wang Yaolong nodded with satisfaction.

"Father, these are things Brother Twenty-One and Changfeng asked me to bring back. I also brought some items myself," Wang Mingren said, taking out a blue storage bag and handing it to Wang Yaolong.

"How are Mingjiang and Changfeng doing? Why aren't they coming back? They've been away for over a decade."

"They don't want to come back for now; perhaps they have other plans. Oh, Father, is Changsheng here? Brother Twenty-One asked me to give Changsheng a message."

"Changsheng is still in seclusion, and Ruyan is too. By the way, how long can you stay home?"

Wang Mingren looked troubled and said with some guilt, "Your son cannot stay long, three days at most. Any longer would delay my mission."

"Three days is enough."

Soon after, Ye Li brought some food, and Wang Yaolong and Wang Mingren ate while chatting.

"Our clan currently relies mainly on puppet crafting for support. We have too few talents in alchemy and array formations. Qingqi and Changyue can only learn by poring over ancient texts, which is difficult!" Wang Yaolong sighed. Alchemy and array formations had always been the Wang family's weaknesses, especially the latter. Wang Changyue had no one to guide or exchange ideas with, so she had to learn everything by herself, resulting in a low level of array-laying skill. Similar to alchemy, many materials mentioned in array formation texts were now unobtainable, requiring practitioners to modify arrays. The power of a modified array depended on the array master's skill. Without guidance or exchange, it was hard to make progress.

Wang Mingren frowned and said, "I'll keep that in mind. I'll look out for alchemy and array formation texts. While texts are relatively easier to find, that's treating the symptoms, not the root cause. The best strategy is to bring in talents in those fields."

Wang Yaolong gave a wry smile and said, "These two types of talents are not easily recruited, especially array masters. The array-laying skills of array masters in cultivation families are generally not high, and those from major cultivation sects wouldn't look favorably upon our family. Never mind, let's not dwell on this. By the way, where are you heading for your cultivation journey? It won't be dangerous, will it?"

"To the South Sea, to a large market city. There's no danger. The market city is established by our Supreme Oneness Immortal Sect and another major power, with Nascent Soul cultivators overseeing it. It's very safe."

After chatting for several hours, Wang Yaolong told Wang Mingren to go rest.

News of Wang Mingren's return quickly spread among the high-ranking members of the Wang family.

The next day, Wang Changyue, Wang Qingzhi, and Wang Qingqi came to Wang Mingren's residence. Before Wang Mingren left home, Wang Changyue and Wang Qingqi had already established their foundations. Upon meeting again, Wang Mingren was at the second level of Foundation Establishment, as were Wang Changyue and Wang Qingqi, both feeling a touch of envy.

"Qingzhi, I know you enjoy farming. These two ancient texts contain cultivation insights from a spirit planter of the Supreme Oneness Immortal Sect. Perhaps they will inspire you." Wang Mingren took out two green jade slips and handed them to Wang Qingzhi.

Wang Qingzhi thanked him and accepted the two jade slips.

"Uncle Mingren, is the Supreme Oneness Immortal Sect very large? How many cultivators are there? Is it really a paradise on earth?" Wang Changyue was very curious about the Supreme Oneness Immortal Sect. As one of the Seven Great Immortal Sects of the Eastern Barrens, it was impossible for her not to be curious.

Wang Mingren smiled faintly and recounted his experiences and observations within the Supreme Oneness Immortal Sect. After listening to Wang Mingren's narration, Wang Changyue and the other two gained a lot of knowledge and broadened their horizons considerably.

"With such abundant cultivation resources at the Supreme Oneness Immortal Sect, Uncle Mingren, you should be able to advance to the Core Formation stage, right?"

Wang Mingren shook his head and said, "Forming a Core isn't that easy. However, the Supreme Oneness Immortal Sect does have rich cultivation resources and more opportunities. Honestly, if the family hadn't sent me to the Supreme Oneness Immortal Sect, I wouldn't be where I am today. I can't stay with the family for long, so I'll leave the family's affairs in your capable hands. I believe that as long as our Wang family members unite, diligently fulfill their duties, and cultivate assiduously, our Wang family will surely prosper."

"We will work hard," Wang Changyue and the other two agreed in unison.

Wang Mingren stayed at Wang Family Fortress for three days, spending most of his time with Wang Yaolong and Ye Li. This departure would be their final farewell.

Three days later, on the city walls of Wang Family Fortress, Wang Changyue and others saw Wang Mingren off.

"Father, Mother, you don't need to see me off anymore. I'm leaving. Please take care of yourselves." Wang Mingren raised his hand, and a palm-sized green paper crane flew out. After countless green runes lit up on its surface, its size rapidly increased. He leaped onto the green paper crane. With a spread of its wings, the paper crane carried him high into the sky.

Wang Yaolong and Ye Li watched Wang Mingren's departing figure, reluctant to leave for a long time, their eyes filled with reluctance.

Chongyang Market City, a large market controlled by Chongyang Academy, was a bustling commercial hub with a high volume of traffic, as it had a large teleportation array that could transport people as far as the South Sea.

A streak of green light flew from a distance. As it approached within ten li of Chongyang Market City, its speed slowed, and it gradually descended to the ground. The green light was indeed a green paper crane, with Wang Mingren seated on it. He put away the green paper crane and quickly walked towards Chongyang Market City.

Half an hour later, he appeared at the entrance of a five-story green pavilion. Three large golden characters, "Taiyi Pavilion," were carved on its plaque. Two disciples of the Supreme Oneness Immortal Sect guarded the pavilion entrance. A young woman in a blue skirt, appearing to be in her early thirties, emerged from within Taiyi Pavilion.

"Oh, Junior Brother Wang, you've finally arrived! Senior Uncle Yang was just talking about you!" From the young woman's words, it was clear she knew Wang Mingren.

"I delayed a bit longer than expected to visit my parents. Senior Sister Liu, please take me to see Senior Uncle Yang." Wang Mingren forced a smile and spoke politely.

"Come with me!" Wang Mingren followed the young woman in the blue skirt to the fifth floor, where a scholarly-looking man in his early thirties was enjoying tea and conversing with a young woman in a white lotus-patterned dress. The young woman had striking features, snow-white skin, and a cold expression, giving off an aloof aura. This woman was Leng Rumei, one of the Five Prodigies of Taiyi, and a second-level Core Formation cultivator.

"Disciple Wang Mingren respectfully greets Senior Uncle Yang and Senior Uncle Leng." Wang Mingren bowed deeply to both of them and spoke respectfully.

"Nephew Wang, are your parents well?" The scholarly man asked kindly. His relationship with Xu Zihua was good, and he was quite caring towards Wang Mingren, his junior.

"Thanks to Senior Uncle Yang's blessings, my parents are well. I was delayed for a while on the road, which has held up important sect matters. I ask Senior Uncle Yang to punish me."

The scholarly man smiled faintly and said, "You joined the sect at a young age. After establishing your foundation, it's only natural to visit your parents. Besides, we're departing earlier, so no important sect matters have been delayed. However, I must remind you that we are heading to the South Sea, where various factions mingle. You must work diligently and not bring disgrace to your master."

"Yes, disciple understands."

The scholarly man nodded, looked at Leng Rumei, and said with a smile, "Junior Sister Leng, do you have anything to add?"

"By my calculations, it's time for us to depart. Arriving at the South Sea a day earlier would be beneficial, otherwise, if Senior Uncle Li blames us, none of us will be able to bear it." Leng Rumei said indifferently, not even glancing at Wang Mingren.

"Junior Sister Leng is right. Nephew Liu, notify the others to prepare for departure. Nephew Wang, stay here for now; you'll travel with us shortly."

"Yes, Senior Uncle Yang." Wang Mingren and the young woman in the blue skirt replied in unison. Wang Mingren remained in place, while the young woman in the blue skirt turned and left.