Chapter 413: Wang Qingyang Gets Married

In a hidden valley within the Tianquan Mountain Range of the Wu Kingdom, three men and two women were besieging a red centipede, twenty feet long with four wings on its back. The red centipede was a high-grade second-tier demonic insect capable of casting fire-element spells. Unable to withstand the combined assault of the five cultivators, the red centipede's body became covered in wounds.

With a mournful cry, the red centipede opened its mouth and spat out a dozen giant fireballs, launching them at the five cultivators. Feeling the astonishing heat radiating from the giant fireballs, they dared not take them head-on and swiftly activated their magic tools to defend.

"Boom!" A thunderous roar erupted as the dozen giant fireballs were shattered by their attacks. Seizing the opportunity, the red centipede spread its four wings and, with a gentle flap, took flight. Before it could gain much altitude, several "swoosh" sounds cut through the air as slender white spider silks shot out, entangling its sharp legs beneath its abdomen.

The red centipede turned its head to see that the silks had come from two giant black spiders. The spiders had a metallic luster, clearly indicating they were puppet beasts.

"Vile beast, don't you dare escape!" a middle-aged man over thirty years old bellowed. He conjured a blue porcelain bottle, which rapidly expanded dozens of times its original size. With a whistling sound, a surge of bone-chilling white cold air erupted from it, swiftly enveloping the red centipede. Wherever the white cold air touched the red centipede, ice quickly formed, making its body noticeably heavier.

Seizing this opportunity, a voluptuous beauty in a black dress, also in her thirties, conjured a black mirror. A flash of black light emitted a thick black beam that struck the red centipede's abdomen, while the other three cultivators simultaneously manipulated their magic tools to attack it.

Already heavily wounded, the red centipede could not resist. Its head was severed by two blue flying swords, and its lifeless body plummeted to the ground.

"A high-grade second-tier demonic insect! This is a considerable haul."

"Hehe, if Fellow Daoist Wang hadn't used his puppet beasts to momentarily entangle that demon, it almost would have gotten away." A young man in a green robe looked at the middle-aged man and said with a smile.

"That reminds me, the sheer number of second-tier puppet beasts Fellow Daoist Wang possesses is truly eye-opening for me. I've never seen a rogue cultivator with so many!"

The middle-aged man was indeed Wang Mingjiang. After arriving in the Wu Kingdom, having no other marketable skills, he returned to his old profession of hunting demonic beasts to acquire cultivation resources. Before he left the family, Wang Changsheng had given him five second-tier puppet beasts for self-defense. Initially unfamiliar with the area, he hunted demonic beasts alone. Later, he befriended several rogue cultivators, and they began hunting together.

"You all flatter me, fellow Daoists. If I hailed from a cultivation family, why wouldn't I simply team up with my clan members? Fairy Mo deserves significant credit for eliminating this demonic insect; I wouldn't dare claim all the glory." Wang Mingjiang replied modestly.

The Wu Kingdom possessed abundant cultivation resources, and there were many Foundation Establishment stage rogue cultivators. The beautiful woman in the black dress was a prime example: Mo Caiyun, a cultivator at the sixth layer of the Foundation Establishment stage, was two minor realms higher in cultivation than Wang Mingjiang.

"Alright, enough with the chatter. Let's process these demonic beast materials and head back quickly! It's getting late." Mo Caiyun's expression was calm as she urged them on.

Wang Mingjiang and the other four acknowledged her words, then proceeded to process the demonic insect's corpse and harvest the spirit herbs within the valley. Fifteen minutes later, Mo Caiyun summoned a black, cloud-shaped flying magic tool, and the five cultivators flew towards Tianquan Mountain.

At Green Lotus Villa, in a certain secret chamber.

Wang Qingqing was in the process of refining a puppet beast, while Wang Changsheng watched silently from the side. Wang Qingqing gazed intently at the wooden spider puppet before her, manipulating a mass of silver liquid to envelop it. As time slowly passed, the silver liquid gradually seeped into the wooden spider, and mysterious silver runes began to appear on its surface. Fifteen minutes later, the spider puppet's body emitted a dazzling silver light, transforming into a sparkling silver spider covered in intricate runes.

Wang Qingqing took a deep breath, then picked up the Soul-Collecting Bottle and removed its stopper. An egg-sized green orb of light flew out, slowly drifting towards the silver spider, guided by an unseen force. She formed a hand seal, and the silver spider opened its mouth, swallowing the green orb. Immediately, its two eyes began to move, as if it had come to life. She then inserted spirit stones into the spider puppet and formed another hand seal, causing the silver spider to begin moving.

"That's wonderful, Father! I succeeded! A mid-grade second-tier puppet beast!" Wang Qingqing exclaimed excitedly, her face beaming with joy.

Wang Changsheng smiled and praised her, "That's excellent. To be able to refine a mid-grade second-tier puppet beast at the second layer of the Foundation Establishment stage is more impressive than your father could do. However, you mustn't grow arrogant. Humility leads to progress, and there are many cultivators far more skilled than you. Never become complacent."

"I understand, Father. If it weren't for your meticulous guidance and my extensive practice, I wouldn't have succeeded in refining a mid-grade second-tier puppet beast." Wang Qingqing nodded, her beautiful face still alight with excitement.

"Qingyang is getting married in a few days. As his elder sister, what do you plan to give him?"

Wang Qingqing thought for a moment, then smiled. "It's somewhat challenging for my younger brother to reach the Foundation Establishment stage. I'll give him two thousand spirit stones as a wedding gift! Oh, and I'll also give him this mid-grade second-tier puppet beast. What about you, Father?"

"I'll give him a Foundation Establishment Pill, but it will be deducted from his merit points. I'll also give him a sum of spirit stones. Whether he can successfully establish his foundation will depend on his personal destiny." Wang Qingyang possessed four spirit roots, and even with a Foundation Establishment Pill, it was uncertain if he could successfully enter the Foundation Establishment stage.

"He will. My younger brother will definitely reach the Foundation Establishment stage."

Wang Changsheng nodded. "I hope so. All right, you should go back and rest now. Your father has matters to attend to."

"Understood, Father. Your daughter takes her leave." Wang Qingqing acknowledged his words and departed, taking the newly refined mid-grade second-tier puppet beast with her.

Five days later, the Wang family was filled with joyous celebration. Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan sat in the honored main seats as Wang Qingyang, dressed as a groom, led his bride to kowtow before them. After the ceremony, Song Yongyan was escorted back to the bridal chamber. Wang Qingyang then toasted the guests, drinking numerous cups of spirit wine until his face was flushed. Though Wang Qingyang was tipsy from the wine, he managed to remain clear-headed enough to walk into the bridal chamber on his own.

Early the next morning, Wang Qingyang brought Song Yongyan to pay their respects and offer tea to Wang Changsheng and his wife.

"After getting married, you are adults now and can no longer be as reckless as before. Yongyan, you are aware of Qingyang's situation. I have three sons, and Qingyang is the youngest. Since you have married him, you must strive together. When a couple is united in heart, their strength can cut through metal. Your dowry included a bottle of Purple Jade Spirit Water; I've had your mother keep it for you. When you both reach the ninth layer of Qi Condensation and need to attempt breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage, then I will give you the Foundation Establishment spiritual items." After finishing the tea offered by his daughter-in-law, Wang Changsheng spoke earnestly.

Wang Qingyang and Song Yongyan naturally did not object and agreed repeatedly. Wang Changsheng gave a few more instructions before dismissing them.

"Wife, please keep a close eye on the family while I'm away." Wang Changsheng intended to first repay the spirit stones owed to the Taiyi Immortal Sect, so as not to burden Wang Mingren.