Chapter 372: Wang Lin

Wu State is a large nation, serving as humanity's front-line defense against the demon race.

Humanity has developed the Eastern Wilderness for thousands of years, and the demon race has not invaded for a long time. Wu State, bordering the demon race, boasts abundant demon beast resources. Coupled with the occasional emergence of rare treasures, it attracts numerous cultivators who come to do business.

The Tianquan Mountain Range, located in northern Wu State, stretches for over a hundred thousand li. It is rich in demon beast resources and produces spiritual herbs rarely seen elsewhere, drawing a large number of cultivators to hunt demon beasts. Tianquan Mountain, one of the three major market cities in Wu State, is situated in this area.

Deep within the Tianquan Mountain Range, in a secluded valley, a massive azure light barrier enclosed over a dozen single-horned spirit deer. These large deer, covered in blue spots, were heavily wounded and bleeding profusely.

Around the azure light barrier, Wang Qingshan and over a dozen other members of the Wang family had formed a perimeter. Wang Qingshan and Wang Changhao each held a palm-sized azure formation disc, while the others gripped azure formation flags.

They had been away from their family for five years. Despite the assistance of puppet beasts, some family members still met tragic ends at the hands of demon beasts. Hunting demon beasts is inherently a perilous endeavor; great risks bring great rewards. Now, only fourteen of them remained. Most of their puppet beasts were severely damaged and unusable. Fortunately, the top-grade second-tier puppet beasts were still functional, though Wang Qingshan rarely deployed them, keeping them as a trump card. They had now upgraded their methods, using formations to slay demon beasts and actively avoiding direct combat to minimize casualties.

"Push harder!" Wang Changhao urged in a low voice. "This group of single-horned spirit deer won't last much longer. Let's finish this quickly." He frantically channeled spiritual power into his formation disc. The disc instantly flared with light, and an azure full moon pattern emerged on its surface. Hearing this, Wang Qingshan and the others promptly channeled vast amounts of spiritual power into their respective formation discs and flags.

Within the azure light barrier, a multitude of azure light blades materialized from thin air, transforming into thousands of foot-long azure wind blades. With loud "whooshing" sounds, dense azure wind blades shot out like an overwhelming tide towards the dozen single-horned spirit deer. The demonic power of the single-horned spirit deer was largely depleted, and their bodies were covered in wounds, rendering them utterly incapable of withstanding the concentrated onslaught. A chorus of agonized cries erupted as the dozen single-horned spirit deer successively collapsed into pools of blood, utterly lifeless, their blood staining the ground red.

After successfully dispatching the single-horned spirit deer, they deactivated the formation. Wang Qingjun and others then stepped forward to process the demon beast carcasses. The single horn of the spirit deer could be used in alchemy, and its meat was edible.

Once the demon beast materials were processed, Wang Qingshan raised a hand, and an azure flying shuttle shot forth. It expanded as it met the wind, hovering about a foot above the ground. After everyone had boarded, Wang Qingshan activated a spell. The azure flying shuttle intensified its glow, shot high into the sky, becoming a streak of azure light that vanished into the horizon.

A day later, the azure flying shuttle descended at the base of a towering, cloud-piercing peak. From the mountain's base to its summit, buildings of various sizes were scattered, and a large number of cultivators bustled in and out. At the foot of the mountain stood an azure stone monument, upon which the three golden characters "Tianquan Mountain" were engraved.

Wang Qingshan put away the azure flying shuttle and led his family members up the mountain. Soon after, they stopped before the entrance of a five-story azure pavilion. On its shimmering plaque, the three characters "Tianquan Pavilion" were written in an elegant, flowing script.

"Wait for us here for a moment," Wang Changhao instructed. "We'll be out soon." He gave the instruction and walked inside with Wang Qingshan, while Wang Qingjun and the other family members remained outside.

Shortly after, Wang Changhao and Wang Qingshan emerged, both with faint smiles on their faces. Wang Changhao tossed Wang Qingjun an azure storage pouch and instructed, "Qingjun, this is your share. With the extra, go buy some good wine and food. We'll have a nice meal and rest for a while."

"Alright, Uncle Eighteen!" Wang Qingjun's face lit up with a smile as he took the storage pouch and departed with the other family members.

Wang Changhao and Wang Qingshan walked cheerfully along the street, chatting and laughing. A quarter of an hour later, they arrived at the entrance of a general store, their smiles fading. It was Wang's General Store, owned by a young woman in a green dress, seemingly seventeen or eighteen years old. The shop, filled with only common materials, was rather inconspicuous.

"Seniors, how may I help you?" the young woman in green asked with a welcoming smile.

"Young friend Wang," Wang Changhao politely inquired, "is your grandfather available to meet now?"

"Yes, he's available," she replied. "Grandfather is in the backyard; you can go find him yourselves."

Wang Changhao thanked her, and he and Wang Qingshan proceeded to the backyard.

In the backyard, a white-haired old man in a green robe lay on a grandmaster's chair, engrossed in an ancient book. Wang Changhao forced a smile and politely said, "Fellow Daoist Wang, long time no see."

"Just say what you need to say," the old man in green said coldly. Unperturbed, Wang Changhao gave Wang Qingshan a subtle glance. Wang Qingshan then took out an azure wooden casket and two azure wooden boxes, placing them on the tea table beside the old man in the green robe.

The old man in the green robe set aside his book and opened the azure wooden casket and the azure wooden boxes. Inside the azure wooden casket was a palm-sized, blood-red spiritual ganoderma, its surface faintly marked with golden spirit patterns and emitting an unusual fragrance. The two azure wooden boxes held two foot-long, blood-red ginsengs.

The old man in the green robe's expression softened. With a sweep of his sleeve, he put away the azure casket and the wooden boxes, then stated indifferently, "The items are good; I've accepted them. Now, tell me what you want."

"We would like a set of mid-tier second-grade enemy-trapping formations," Wang Changhao explained. "Of course, the Scarlet Blood Golden Ganoderma and Scarlet Blood Ginseng alone aren't enough; this is the remaining balance." Wang Changhao took out an azure storage pouch and handed it to the old man in the green robe with both hands.

The old man in the green robe swept it with his spiritual sense, then nodded in satisfaction. He took out dozens of yellow formation flags and two yellow formation discs and tossed them to Wang Qingshan. "This formation is called the Wind-Sand Formation!" the old man stated. "Even a top-grade second-tier demon beast would find it difficult to escape once trapped. As for cultivators, it's hard to say."

Wang Qingshan was overjoyed and said with a smile, "Thank you, Fellow Daoist Wang."

"If there's nothing else," the old man said, "you can leave." The old man in the green robe picked up his book and began reading, no longer paying any mind to Wang Changhao and Wang Qingshan.

Wang Qingshan and Wang Changhao weren't offended. The old man in the green robe was named Wang Lin, an expert in formations who sold formation flags and discs. The formations Wang Lin sold were superior to those found on the market. However, he had an notoriously bad temper; he would only sell his formations if presented with items that satisfied him. If you couldn't produce such items, he wouldn't sell you any formation flags or discs, no matter how many spirit stones you offered. Wang Changhao and Wang Qingshan had dealt with Wang Lin numerous times, which allowed them to ascertain his preferences. Perhaps due to his advanced age, Wang Lin had a particular fondness for alchemy ingredients that replenished vital energy and blood. He hardly valued any other materials.

A short while later, Wang Qingshan and Wang Changhao found themselves in a tranquil courtyard, which featured a three-story azure pavilion.

"Uncle Eighteen," Wang Qingshan said, taking a sip of spiritual tea, "this Wang Lin is so proficient in formations. It would be excellent if he could join our Wang family; hunting demon beasts would be much more convenient for us in the future."

"He's definitely not a rogue cultivator," Wang Changhao cautioned with a serious expression. "Given his abilities, no power would turn him away. If he hasn't joined any other forces, there must be a hidden reason. It's better to avoid unnecessary complications. Don't mention this in front of him; he might not even think highly of our family, and if we anger him, it would be a huge loss." While the large shops in the market city also sold second-tier formations, their quality couldn't compare to Wang Lin's, and they were more expensive. Though Wang Lin's temper was indeed foul, he was more lenient with spirit stones if presented with alchemy materials that replenished vital energy and blood. Angering him, however, would result in a significant loss.

Wang Qingshan nodded and chuckled. "I know," he said. "I was just speaking casually. With his mastery in formation arrangement, it's indeed unlikely he'd join our Wang family."

An enticing aroma wafted from the pavilion, and Wang Qingjun emerged, smiling as he said, "Uncle Eighteen, Seventh Brother, the food is ready! Come and eat; we were just waiting for you." Wang Changhao and Wang Qingshan acknowledged him and stepped towards the azure pavilion.