Chapter 407: Marriage Alliance

"A third-tier spirit fruit tree! This is quite an unexpected windfall. Brother Eighteen, you've rendered great service; you'll be handsomely rewarded once we return to the clan." Wang Changsheng gazed at the Golden Flame Fruit Tree, his eyes alight with eagerness.

Spirit fruits over five hundred years old but under a thousand years old are classified as third-tier and can be used to refine third-tier elixirs. These three Golden Flame Fruits would be highly potent supplements for Golden Core cultivators practicing fire-attribute techniques.

As Wang Changsheng cultivates water-attribute techniques, he had no use for the Golden Flame Fruits himself. However, he could sell them for cultivation resources. Wang Mingren, possessing dual metal and fire spirit roots, would likely find them beneficial.

This treasure resolved the family's immediate pressing needs. Had he discovered this immortal's abode earlier, he might not have agreed to Guang Dongren's terms.

What had already been acquired could not be relinquished.

He carefully picked eight Golden Flame Fruits, placing them securely into a wooden box. He and Wang Changhao then meticulously dug up the entire Golden Flame Fruit tree and stored it in a Dharma artifact-grade storage bag.

"Ninth Brother, what should we do with this underground fire spirit vein?" Wang Changhao asked excitedly. "Who should we assign to guard it?"

The Wang family had two Foundation Establishment cultivators who practiced fire-attribute techniques, Wang Changhuan and Wang Qingqi. However, they lacked significant combat experience and might not be able to hold the location. Assigning other Foundation Establishment cultivators to guard it would severely impact their own cultivation.

"This underground fire spirit vein has reached the upper second tier, and the fire spiritual energy is abundant," Wang Changsheng mused. "Unfortunately, it's too far from Qinglian Mountain. Let's seal it for now and decide what to do when we get back."

They collected all valuables from the bodies of Long Sudai and his two companions, then burned the remains.

Wang Changsheng had no formation flags or talismans, but Wang Changhao happened to be carrying a set of second-tier formation flags.

He took out dozens of yellow formation flags and placed them around the cave entrance. As he cast a spell on the formation plate, a dazzling yellow light erupted from the entrance, and a yellow stone wall materialized out of thin air. The heat waves vanished, and even Foundation Establishment cultivators scanning with their divine sense would detect no abnormalities.

A flicker of surprise crossed Wang Changsheng's eyes, and he smiled. "This second-tier formation array is quite impressive, Brother Eighteen. You must have spent at least tens of thousands of spirit stones on it!"

"Twenty-five thousand," he replied. "Qingshan and I bought it from a formation master named Wang Lin while hunting demonic beasts in Wu State. His formations are all quite good, but his temper is a bit strange."

Wang Changsheng nodded, saying nothing further.

Upon returning to the surface, Wang Changsheng released the Blue Lotus Boat, and they flew back the way they came.

When Wang Changsheng and Wang Changhao returned to Qinglian Mountain, fewer than three days remained until the Golden Core ceremony.

Seeing Wang Changsheng return safely, Wang Ruyan let out a long sigh of relief. She smiled and said, "Husband, Senior Song Hefeng from the Song family of Taihua Mountain has arrived! Last time, for his 400th birthday, Qingzhi and I went to Taihua Mountain to offer our congratulations. We sent an invitation to the Song family for our Golden Core ceremony, but I didn't expect Senior Song to come in person."

Wang Changsheng nodded and asked, "Where is Grandfather? Has he arrived?"

The grandfather he was referring to was Wang Huashan.

"Grandfather is in seclusion for cultivation and couldn't make it," she replied. "However, my Thirteenth Uncle and Fourteenth Aunt have arrived."

"Let's go meet Fellow Daoist Song first!"

Not long after, Wang Changsheng appeared outside a quiet courtyard with several green spirit bamboo plants growing at its entrance.

As soon as he reached the courtyard entrance, a hearty male voice called from within.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, you're back! Please, come in."

Wang Changsheng smiled faintly and stepped inside.

Song Hefeng was drinking tea in a stone pavilion, with a man and a woman standing respectfully by his side.

The spiritual vein of Qinglian Mountain was only lower second-tier, making cultivation there for Golden Core cultivators remarkably inefficient, almost to the point of being counterproductive.

Song Hefeng was a fifth-layer Golden Core cultivator with only a few decades of lifespan remaining. Fortunately, a Song clan member who had joined Chongyang Academy had recently formed a Golden Core. However, if no other Golden Core cultivators emerged in the Song family within the next century, their situation, while not reducing them to a minor family, would still become precarious.

For this reason, Song Hefeng had selected two of his most outstanding clansmen for vigorous cultivation, while also extensively forming marriage alliances with other cultivation families.

When Song Hefeng received the Wang family's invitation, he was still somewhat incredulous. Decades ago, Wang Ruyan had visited to congratulate him on his birthday, mentioning Wang Changsheng was in seclusion for cultivation, which he hadn't thought much of. Yet, in less than fifty years, Wang Changsheng had actually formed a Golden Core.

To his knowledge, Wang Changsheng was already over a hundred years old. This meant that, barring any mishaps, Wang Changsheng could oversee the Wang family for four hundred years, making him an excellent prospect for a marriage alliance.

"I've long heard of Fellow Daoist Wang's outstanding appearance and talent," Song Hefeng began. "Seeing you today, your reputation is indeed well-deserved."

"Fellow Daoist Song, you jest," Wang Changsheng replied sincerely. "You have been famous for many years, and for you to personally attend my Golden Core ceremony, I am immensely grateful."

The Golden Core ceremony was not merely to announce Wang Changsheng's formation of a Golden Core; it was also an opportunity to display the Wang family's network. The more Golden Core cultivators who attended the celebration, the wider the Wang family's connections would appear, thus enhancing their prestige.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, you are too polite," Song Hefeng said with a chuckle. "Decades ago, your wife brought your son to my 400th birthday celebration. It is only right for me to attend your Golden Core ceremony." His tone then shifted as he pointed to the man and woman beside him. "Fellow Daoist Wang, these are my great-great-grandchildren, Song Yongsheng and Song Yongyue."

"Juniors greet Senior Wang," the siblings said in unison.

Wang Changsheng appraised Song Yongsheng and his sister, a look of approval on his face. "Fellow Daoist Song, you are truly blessed," he said. "They've already reached Foundation Establishment at such a young age, unlike my good-for-nothing son, who still hasn't achieved Foundation Establishment."

The Song family held considerable influence in the State of Han, and Wang Changsheng was keen on forming a marriage alliance with them.

Given the family's current circumstances, it would be very difficult for Wang Qingyang to obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill. However, if a marriage alliance were formed, then for the sake of both families' prestige, Wang Qingyang would certainly be able to secure one.

"As the saying goes, a tiger begets no dog," Song Hefeng chuckled. "Your son's Foundation Establishment is just a matter of time, Fellow Daoist Wang, there's no need to worry. I've heard your esteemed daughter is exceptionally intelligent, and already a lower second-tier puppet master at such a young age—much better than Yongsheng. I wonder if it would be convenient for her to come over? I'd like to meet her."

Both families desired a marriage alliance, but neither wished to marry off their own clan members.

The Wang family had invested heavily in cultivating Wang Qingjing to her current level and naturally wouldn't marry her off lightly.

Wang Changsheng smiled faintly. "It's a small matter, but there's no rush for that. I have a very important matter I'd like to discuss with Fellow Daoist Song."

Hearing this, Song Hefeng waved his hand. Song Yongsheng and Song Yongyue bowed respectfully to Wang Changsheng and withdrew.

That upper second-tier underground fire spirit vein was too far from Qinglian Mountain. If the Wang family were to assign people to guard it and something went wrong, they wouldn't have time to intervene, as evidenced by the previous underground cave incident. The best course of action was to sell the underground fire spirit vein.