Chapter 40: Liu Huairen

Back at their residence, Wang Changsheng mentioned to Wang Mingyuan his interest in joining an immortal cultivation sect.

Wang Mingyuan pondered for a moment, then asked seriously, "Chang'er, do you truly wish to join an immortal cultivation sect?"

Wang Changsheng thought for a moment and replied, "I'm not particularly keen on it, but Cousin Ningxiang is right. If I could join an immortal cultivation sect, it would also benefit our Wang family."

"Benefit?" Wang Mingyuan asked. "It would be one thing if you could become an inner disciple, but if you're an outer disciple, what good would that do? As far as your father knows, any of the four major sects has thousands of outer disciples, and very few of them manage to be promoted to inner disciples. They're called outer disciples, but in reality, they're just glorified servants. You have no strong background and your aptitude is ordinary. How would you stand out among thousands? Of course, your father isn't saying you're inferior to others, but if you could become an artifact forger, you would definitely become a key cultivation target for the family, and there would be no need for you to go to a sect to be a servant for others."

Wang Mingyuan sighed and continued, "Of course, if you're determined to join an immortal cultivation sect, your father won't stop you. When the four major sects hold the Immortal Ascent Assembly, you can give it a try. If you manage to join an immortal cultivation sect, your father will be happy for you."

"Chang'er," Liu Qing'er began, "your mother participated in the Immortal Ascent Assembly before. The competition is extremely fierce, and people can die. Your mother doesn't want you to participate. If anything were to happen to you, how could your mother live? Moreover, don't forget how your Ninth Uncle died. Didn't he fight to the death to protect something for the family's better future? Don't you want to help your Ninth Uncle fulfill that last wish? After all your mother has said, if you still want to join an immortal cultivation sect, your mother won't stop you. I'll personally take you to Xianyuan City."

As she spoke, Liu Qing'er's eyes reddened slightly.

Deep down, she didn't want Wang Changsheng to participate in the Immortal Ascent Assembly; she was simply worried that something might happen to him. However, she had to admit that immortal cultivation sects offered many opportunities, and if Wang Changsheng truly wanted to join one, she wouldn't stop him.

"Father, Mother," Wang Changsheng said, "I was just mentioning it. I'm actually reluctant to leave you. I'd rather stay with the family and diligently learn the art of artifact forging!"

Wang Changsheng hesitated for a moment before speaking.

Having grown up in the family, he had a strong sense of belonging. After Wang Mingyuan and Liu Qing'er's persuasion, he lost interest in joining an immortal cultivation sect.

As long as he became an artifact forger cultivated as a key talent by the family, his treatment wouldn't be much worse than that of an outer disciple in an immortal cultivation sect.

Wang Mingyuan nodded in relief and said, "Alright, it's getting late. Go back and rest! Make sure to put away the White-Scaled Fish."

"Yes, Father."

After Wang Changsheng left, Wang Mingyuan sighed and said, "I never thought Ningxiang had such great ambition. No wonder Aunt didn't agree just now. It seems this marriage won't happen."

"If you ask me, it's better that it won't work out," Liu Qing'er said. "This girl has such great ambition. If she really married Chang'er, he might not be able to handle her and would be completely dominated." She seemed to remember something and continued, "Today's events reminded me that Chang'er is not young anymore. We should arrange a marriage for him. After he settles down, he should mature a bit and won't be so easily swayed by a few words from Ningxiang into wanting to join an immortal cultivation sect. Chang'er is honest and dutiful; overly assertive women aren't suitable for him. Another day, I'll have a good talk with Second Sister-in-law and see if there are any suitable candidates."

"There's no rush for this," Wang Mingyuan said. "Let's talk about it after the Immortal Ascent Assembly. If he truly wants to join an immortal cultivation sect, let him try."

Liu Qing'er nodded in agreement.

The next day, after breakfast, Wang Changsheng went off to play with Zhao Ningxuan and his sister, leaving Zhao Yuhui and the others behind.

"Yaozu," Zhao Yuhui said seriously, "we can help you with this. However, we can't guarantee that the Liu family will definitely stop. We can only say we'll do our best."

Wang Yaozu was immediately overjoyed and agreed, "No problem. With Elder Sister's words, I'm at ease. Mingyuan, hand over the silkworm rearing technique to Elder Sister."

Wang Mingyuan took out a green jade slip from his sleeve and handed it to Zhao Yuhui.

Zhao Yuhui swept her divine sense over it and nodded with satisfaction. After a moment's hesitation, she said, "Mingyuan, could you send someone to provide personal guidance? Some parts of the jade slip are a bit vague."

Wang Mingyuan smiled faintly and said, "Aunt, Qing'er is responsible for raising spirit silkworms. My mother taught her personally. We brought a pair of young silkworms and also spirit mulberry saplings. Qing'er can personally teach Cousin-in-law how to raise spirit silkworms, without holding anything back."

Wang Mingyuan had made thorough preparations. He was certain that Zhao Yuhui would agree to mediate, since it was just a matter of passing a message, and the Zhao family had no reason to refuse.

"Yuting is not at home," Zhao Yuhui instructed. "Ziheng, immediately ask Fifth and Sixth's wives to come over and have them learn the silkworm rearing technique from Qing'er. Qing'er, Fifth and Sixth's wives are a bit slow, so please teach them diligently. I wrote a personal letter yesterday and sent someone to deliver it to the Liu family head."

Zhao Ziheng acknowledged and left to carry out the order.

"Aunt, you're too kind," Liu Qing'er said humbly. "This is what your niece-in-law should do."

Three days later, Liu Huai'ren, the head of the Liu family, arrived at Butterfly Valley with two clan elders.

Liu Huai'ren was fifty-three years old. In his early years, he was responsible for transporting goods and was known for being shrewd and calculating. When he learned from Song Ziyang that the Wang family had discovered a mineral vein, he immediately agreed to team up with the Sun family, forming a three-family alliance to deal with the Wang family, ideally seizing control of the mineral vein.

However, a few days prior, the dispatched clansmen returned to report that Wang Yaozong had personally come to the rescue and killed one of the Liu family members.

Not long after, Wang Yaozong rode his second-tier mid-grade Golden-Beaked Eagle to Qingzhu Market City, circling Qingzhu Valley several times, frightening the Qi Condensation cultivators badly. They thought someone was attacking the market city. Wang Yaozong left behind several corpses, claiming they were evil cultivators he had slain, and issued a stern warning: "If others don't offend me, I won't offend them. But if others offend me, I will surely offend them. The Wang family is not a soft persimmon to be kneaded by anyone. Anyone who wishes to bully the Wang family will find Wang Yaozong to be the first to refuse."

Clearly, this was Wang Yaozong's warning to the three families not to go too far.

If it were just Wang Yaozong alone, the other three families wouldn't be afraid. But with a second-tier mid-grade Golden-Beaked Eagle as well, things were different.

Spirit birds fly extremely fast and are more agile than spirit beasts. If it truly came to a no-holds-barred conflict, no single family might be able to withstand the Wang family. Of course, if it escalated into a full-scale war, the Wang family would certainly not be a match. However, if it truly reached that point, the other three families would also suffer significant losses.

The crux of the matter was that the Qingstone Town quarry had a metal vein, but it needed to be at least a medium-sized one. If it were a small metal vein, each family wouldn't gain much wealth. However, there was currently no evidence to prove that the quarry contained a medium-sized metal vein. If the Song family had fabricated this, intending to use the power of the Liu and Sun families to deal with the Wang family, then Liu Huai'ren would certainly not agree.

Just then, Liu Huai'ren received a personal letter from Zhao Yuhui, asking him to come to Butterfly Valley and sit down for a good talk with Wang Mingyuan, as they were all relatives, after all.

The Zhao family and the Liu family were in-laws, and the Zhao family and the Wang family were also in-laws. It was perfectly reasonable for the Zhao family to mediate.

Liu Huai'ren's younger brother had married Zhao Yuhui's niece, and the two families had frequent dealings. Liu Huai'ren wasn't worried that Zhao Yuhui would scheme against him, so he brought two clan elders and headed to their residence.