Chapter 441: Wang Changhao Gets Into Trouble

When the Lin family proposed marriage years ago, the Wang family didn't dare to openly refuse. Instead, they had Wang Changxue leave the State of Song and travel to the State of Wei. Strictly speaking, Wang Changsheng had also caused the death of a Lin family Foundation Establishment cultivator. Consequently, the Lin family only created covert obstacles, avoiding any direct confrontation with the Wang family.

To be honest, Wang Changsheng had long dismissed this matter from his mind. He was surprised, however, that the Lin family would proactively extend an olive branch and propose a marriage alliance with the Wang family. Wang Changsheng naturally wouldn't refuse. Marriage alliances offered numerous advantages, the most significant being the potential to produce powerful offspring.

Among millions of mortals in the secular world, a cultivator only emerges every few years, most possessing Four Spiritual Roots. Within the clan, those with Three Spiritual Roots typically have a cultivator as a parent. Despite being established for over seven hundred years, the Wang family had only produced one Dual Spiritual Root cultivator, Wang Mingren. Su Bingbing, strictly speaking, was not considered a direct member of the Wang family.

Disciples in cultivation sects come from all corners of the world. These sects encourage their members to marry, aiming to produce cultivators with superior aptitude. Wang Changsheng shared this view. He encouraged his clan members to marry into other cultivation families or with rogue cultivators to ensure offspring with good aptitude. Generally, the better the aptitude of both parents, the better the aptitude of their descendants. As the saying goes, "A dragon begets a dragon, a phoenix a phoenix; a rat's son knows how to dig."

As Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan both possessed relatively ordinary aptitudes, many of their descendants had Four Spiritual Roots, or even no spiritual roots at all. For instance, Wang Qingyang had Four Spiritual Roots, while his daughter possessed Five Spiritual Roots. Wang Changxing, who had Five Spiritual Roots, had several children with no spiritual roots. It was only after considerable effort that they finally bore Wang Qingze, a son with Three Spiritual Roots. This clearly demonstrated the critical importance of bloodline.

"Yes! Two years ago, Senior Lin successfully formed his Core. The Purple Cloud Sect even sent an invitation for our Wang family to attend the Core Formation celebration, which the Patriarch personally attended. After the celebration, the Lin family sent envoys expressing their desire for a marriage alliance with our Wang family. Since you hadn't returned, the Patriarch didn't dare to accept."

Wang Changsheng pondered for a moment before instructing, "Qingzhi, have Qingkai lead a group to the State of Chu to propose marriage to the Lin family. We should select a dual cultivation partner for Qiuhong."

Since Lin Yuxin had proactively extended an olive branch, Wang Changsheng naturally saw no reason to refuse.

"Understood, Father."

Just then, Wang Qingyang returned, his expression fraught with panic.

"Father, something terrible has happened. Eighteenth Uncle is in trouble."

Wang Changsheng's expression hardened. "What happened?" he asked in a low voice. "Explain yourself clearly."

"Eighteenth Uncle and his team were hunting demon beasts in Myriad Serpent Valley when they clashed with disciples from the Hundred Beasts Sect, a cultivation sect from Xiliang. A fight broke out, and Eighteenth Uncle's team was outmatched, suffering many casualties. Eighteenth Uncle sustained severe injuries and fell unconscious. Seventh Brother led the remaining clan members in fighting their way out. Including Eighteenth Uncle, only six returned. Five clan members were killed in battle, and four are now missing."

Wang Qingyang's face was etched with sorrow. The loss of six clan members in battle was a considerable blow.

Wang Changsheng's expression turned frigid. "Where are Eighteenth Brother and the others?" he demanded.

"They're all in the assembly hall. The Patriarch sent me to ask you to come and see them."

"Very well, I'll go at once."

In the assembly hall, Wang Changhao lay on the ground, his left arm missing, his body charred black, and his aura weak. Wang Qingshan knelt beside him, his face contorted with grief. Wang Qingshan's clothes were heavily stained with blood, clearly indicating he had been in a fierce battle.

"Qingshan, Qingjun, what happened? How did Eighteenth Brother get into such a state?" Wang Changsheng strode over, his expression severe.

Wang Qingshan dared not conceal anything and recounted the entire incident. While hunting demon beasts in Myriad Serpent Valley, they discovered the nest of two Tier 2 demon scorpions. Inside the nest were several two-hundred-year-old spirit herbs. They expended significant effort to kill the two creatures. However, just as they finished, a group of Hundred Beasts Sect disciples suddenly appeared. They claimed to have discovered the Tier 2 demon scorpion nest first and demanded that Wang Changhao hand over the spirit herbs.

Wang Changhao naturally refused. The two sides argued intensely and eventually came to blows. While the Wang family cultivators possessed a Tier 2 puppet beast, the Hundred Beasts Sect had more Foundation Establishment cultivators, almost each with a Tier 2 demon beast. Outnumbered, Wang Changhao was severely wounded by the Hundred Beasts Sect disciples and fell unconscious. Wang Qingshan led the clan members in fighting their way out of the encirclement, managing to escape back to safety.

"Qingshan, even you weren't their match? Was the Hundred Beasts Sect disciple leading the group truly that strong?" Wang Changsheng asked curiously. Wang Qingshan was a sword cultivator, and with a Tier 2 high-grade puppet beast, even if he couldn't win, he shouldn't have been so thoroughly defeated.

"He's at the sixth layer of Foundation Establishment and proficient in lightning-elemental spells. Their destructive power is immense. He destroyed our Tier 2 high-grade puppet beast with two artifact-grade lightning orbs. He also wields a natal artifact. If we hadn't fled quickly, we probably wouldn't have made it back."

At this point, Wang Qingshan's expression was grim. Since reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, even when facing cultivators of the same realm and being outmatched, he had never been forced to flee so utterly.

"Proficient in lightning-elemental spells? A Lightning Spiritual Root cultivator? It seems he's an elite disciple of the Hundred Beasts Sect. Your defeat was not without reason." Wang Changsheng immediately understood. Based on Wang Qingshan's description, he could conclude that the Hundred Beasts Sect disciple leading the group possessed a Lightning Spiritual Root.

"If I could cultivate the 'Azure Nether Sword Scripture' to the fifth layer, he might not be my match. Ninth Uncle, how should we handle this? Eighteenth Uncle is still unconscious."

Wang Changsheng frowned slightly. The Hundred Beasts Sect was the largest sect in Xiliang, boasting three Core Formation cultivators. The Wang family could only swallow this insult; they certainly couldn't declare war on the Hundred Beasts Sect over this incident. The Wang family simply didn't possess that kind of strength yet.

He squatted down and carefully examined Wang Changhao's body. Wang Changhao was still alive, but his aura was extremely weak, and his skin was blackened as if by charcoal. According to Wang Qingshan, Wang Changhao was injured by lightning-elemental spells. His defensive artifact had absorbed most of the damage, but Wang Changhao himself had fallen unconscious.

At that moment, Wang Qingqi quickly entered the hall. Upon seeing Wang Changsheng, Wang Qingqi's face lit up with joy. "Ninth Uncle, you've returned?" he exclaimed.

"Qingqi, quickly examine Eighteenth Brother and heal him as soon as possible." While Wang Changsheng was skilled in artifact refinement, treating illnesses and injuries still required the expertise of an alchemist.

Wang Qingqi carefully examined Wang Changhao's injuries. "Ninth Uncle," he said, "Eighteenth Uncle was struck by lightning, but the delay has exacerbated his condition. I recall there's a bottle of Tier 2 Snow Toad Elixir in the storeroom, which might be useful. However, it would be best to invite a Tier 2 alchemist from the Hundred Spirits Sect to examine him. My alchemy skills are limited, and I've never treated such a specific type of injury."

The path of alchemy is vast and profound. Elixirs possess numerous effects: enhancing cultivation, healing injuries, restoring spiritual power, stimulating potential, and aiding in breaking through bottlenecks, among others. Aside from Spirit-Feeding Elixirs, Wang Qingqi only knew how to refine Tier 2 elixirs for increasing cultivation base. This was due to the strict control other forces maintained over elixir formulas. While the Wang family possessed a considerable number of Tier 2 elixir formulas, many were ancient recipes listing spirit herbs that had long become extinct.

"I've already sent Twelfth Brother to invite a Tier 2 alchemist from the Hundred Spirits Sect. By my estimation, they should be arriving shortly. For now, give Eighteenth Uncle the Snow Toad Elixir."

Wang Changsheng nodded. He then instructed Wang Qingkai to retrieve the Snow Toad Elixir from the family storeroom and administer it to Wang Changhao.

"Qingshan, for now, do not hunt demon beasts in Myriad Serpent Valley. Go to other areas instead. We are currently no match for the Hundred Beasts Sect. For now, swallow this insult and do not act rashly. If an opportunity arises, you may seek some retribution, but it must be executed cleanly and decisively."

"Understood, Ninth Uncle. Your nephew will bear it in mind."

Two days later, the Tier 2 alchemist from the Hundred Spirits Sect arrived. It was none other than Lu Zhong, the very person who had taught Wang Qingqi the art of alchemy. Lu Zhong was now a Tier 2 high-grade alchemist. Had Wang Changxue not personally sought him out, he might not have been willing to make the trip. He also had his own duties, primarily teaching alchemy to the younger generation of the Hundred Spirits Sect. Wang Changxue returned as well, bringing two bottles of Tier 2 elixirs. She had previously borrowed extensively from her fellow sect members, raising a substantial sum of spirit stones for the family, and still owed tens of thousands more. The Wang family had nearly repaid the spirit stones it owed its own clan members, but this left the family with very little in savings.

Lu Zhong carefully examined Wang Changhao's injuries and administered a Clarity Spirit Pill to him. Wang Changhao regained consciousness three days after taking the elixir, though his aura remained very weak.

"Besides the lightning damage, Fellow Daoist Wang also inhaled some fire poison. The delay in treatment has been too long, so to clear it, he'll require careful recuperation. For the next ten years, he should avoid combat and focus on gradually eliminating the fire poison."