Chapter 574: New Era

Wang Changsheng teleported back to Red Maple Ridge. Seeing him, Ye Lin eagerly asked, "Have you thought it through?"

“I don’t know what kind of spell you’ve cast on my sister, but she likes you. Otherwise, I’d be here to kill you right now.”

Hearing this, Ye Lin's face lit up with joy, and he pressed, "What did she say? Tell me quickly!"

“That's between the two of you. You can ask her about it another day. I only have one sister, and because of your sensitive identity, she can't have a grand ceremony or public announcement when she becomes your dual cultivation partner. That's very unfair to her, but my sister is still willing to be with you. I hope you treat her well. If I ever find out you're mistreating her, I won't go easy on you.”

Wang Changsheng’s tone was cold. Then, as if remembering something, his expression softened, and he asked, "My sister has agreed to become your dual cultivation partner. Now, can you tell me the Earth-grade cultivation method and the forging method for the Heavenly Spirit Treasure?"

“Not yet. We'll discuss it after we get married. Those are my betrothal gifts.”

“If you can't tell me the forging method for the Heavenly Spirit Treasure, at least tell me what kind of magic treasure it is!”

Ye Lin nodded and said, "It's a sword: the Seven Star Demon-Slaying Sword. The materials required for its forging are extremely rare, making it almost impossible to gather them all. Some materials can be substituted, but the power of the resulting flying sword will depend on the skill of the forger."

Wang Changsheng felt a bit disappointed. He wasn't a sword cultivator, so to him, flying swords and flying daggers were much the same.

“Besides this Heavenly Spirit Treasure, do you have forging methods for any other magic treasures?”

Ye Lin shook his head and explained, "No, I'm not an artifact forger. If it weren't a Heavenly Spirit Treasure, I wouldn't have bothered remembering it!"

“How do you have the forging method for a Heavenly Spirit Treasure? Is it a legacy from the Nine Nether Sect?”

“No, my father obtained it from the Upper Realm Ruins. Don't worry! If I become your brother-in-law, I definitely won't hide anything. I have many valuable things in my mind; knowledge is far more precious than physical objects.”

By the end, Ye Lin's face showed a proud expression.

“Treat my sister well; that’s more valuable than anything. Get some rest and don't wander around.”

After saying this, Wang Changsheng teleported back to Green Lotus Manor.

Wang Qingkai sent someone to inform Wang Changsheng that Wang Qingyuan had also passed away.

In the past, the family was impoverished, and eligible clansmen who cultivated to the ninth layer of Qi Refining found it difficult to acquire Foundation Establishment Pills. Now, the family could refine Foundation Establishment Pills themselves, and their treasury held a good supply of these pills and other spirit items for Foundation Establishment. Eligible clansmen who reached the ninth layer of Qi Refining had one opportunity to apply to the family for a Foundation Establishment Pill. Wang Qingyuan, however, missed that window. He cultivated to the ninth layer of Qi Refining before turning sixty, but at that time, the family couldn't provide him with a Foundation Establishment Pill or spirit items, nor could he accumulate enough spirit stones to buy them himself, thus preventing him from achieving Foundation Establishment.

By the time the family became prosperous, Wang Qingyuan had already missed the optimal age for Foundation Establishment. Even if he were to attempt Foundation Establishment by taking a pill, the success rate would be very low.

There were many clansmen like Wang Qingyuan. In their era, the family was struggling financially. They either fought and died for the family or quietly performed their duties, dedicating their entire lives, only reaching the Qi Refining stage by the time they died of old age. It was precisely through their dedication that the Wang family achieved its current prosperity. As the saying goes, 'one generation plants the trees, another enjoys the shade' – that is the essence of a family.

Wang Changsheng attended Wang Qingyuan’s funeral. At the ceremony, he encouraged the younger generation to learn from Wang Qingyuan and strive to contribute to the family, citing Wang Qiuyin and Wang Tianle as negative examples.

After Wang Qingyuan’s funeral, Wang Qingkai reported on the situation in the cultivating world of Wei State to Wang Changsheng.

During the Righteous-Demonic War and the Human-Demon War, the Wang family acquired immense wealth, and the Five Sects of Wei State also gained considerable riches.

As the saying goes, 'talent emerges in every generation, and the waves behind push the waves ahead.' The Wang family had developed well, and other factions were also progressing significantly.

The Hundred Spirits Sect, Heavenly Weapon Sect, and Yellow Sage Palace successively produced Core Formation cultivators. Neighboring states also saw new Core Formation cultivators emerge, though no Nascent Soul cultivators had appeared yet.

“What's the situation with the Hundred Flowers Sect? And the Hundred Beasts Sect?”

“Senior Chen Yuhua of the Hundred Flowers Sect has disappeared; it's rumored she died in the Human-Demon War. The Myriad Flowers Palace has sent two Core Formation cultivators to oversee it. As for the Hundred Beasts Sect, there's been no movement. However, the Heavenly Weapon Sect and the Spirit Control Sect have been clashing constantly recently, engaging in several private battles, resulting in casualties among their disciples.”

Wang Changsheng was somewhat surprised and asked, "What happened between the Heavenly Weapon Sect and the Spirit Control Sect? Why are they fighting amongst themselves?"

While there was competition within the cultivating world of Wei State, factions usually maintained restraint, so this kind of internal conflict was rare.

“It's all about territory. Senior Tong Tianqi of the Spirit Control Sect died in the Righteous-Demonic War, leaving them with only one Core Formation cultivator. The Heavenly Weapon Sect, having three Core Formation cultivators, set their sights on the Spirit Control Sect. Ninth Uncle, your nephew believes we could ally with the Hundred Spirits Sect and the Spirit Control Sect to counter the Heavenly Weapon Sect. The Spirit Control Sect is in need of assistance right now, so we could appropriately ask for some benefits. The Spirit Control Sect is renowned in the cultivating world of Wei State for taming demons and controlling beasts; even acquiring a collection of their ancient texts would be advantageous for us.”

Wang Qingkai suggested, looking somewhat excited.

If it were merely a conflict between cultivating families, he wouldn't need to consult Wang Changsheng. However, since Core Formation cultivators were involved, Wang Changsheng's approval was essential, and he would need to handle the matter personally.

The Heavenly Weapon Sect now had three Core Formation cultivators, significantly increasing their strength. Collaborating with them wouldn't yield much benefit; it would be better to join forces with the Hundred Spirits Sect and the Spirit Control Sect to oppose the Heavenly Weapon Sect.

“The Spirit Control Sect recently hosted a Spirit Control Conference and invited our Wang family to attend. I was just preparing to send someone there.”

Wang Changsheng nodded in satisfaction and said, "Your foresight is excellent; it was correct to make you the patriarch. Select twenty clansmen to accompany me on a trip to the Spirit Control Sect. We'll go to the Hundred Spirits Sect first, then the Spirit Control Sect."

Three days later, Wang Changsheng departed Green Lotus Manor with twenty clansmen, heading for the Hundred Spirits Sect.

In the Hundred Spirits Mountain Range, a team of Hundred Spirits Sect disciples was on patrol.

Wang Tianfu was thirty-five years old and at the seventh layer of Qi Refining. He was the great-great-grandson of Wang Minglong, who had already passed away. Strictly speaking, Wang Tianfu was no longer considered a direct descendant of the Wang family. He grew up in the Hundred Spirits Sect and, thanks to the care of Wang Changxue and Wang Changping, lived a decent life.

After Su Cheng failed his Core Formation attempt and automatically stepped down, Wang Tianfu's life took a turn for the worse.

The Hundred Spirits Sect had a new sect master, Li Ruyue, a sixth-layer Foundation Establishment cultivator. Li Ruyue's Li family was a newly rising cultivating family within the Hundred Spirits Sect. Due to Su Cheng's involvement, Wang Tianfu was reassigned to patrol the sect's entrance, and he naturally harbored resentment.

One day, as usual, he was patrolling near the sect's entrance with his fellow disciples.

“Look! Someone's coming.”

Over a dozen streaks of red light suddenly appeared on the distant horizon, swiftly approaching Wang Tianfu and his companions.

The red lights moved extremely fast, and before long, they arrived in front of Wang Tianfu and the others.

The red lights were, in fact, giant crimson eagles, each carrying over twenty cultivators on its back. These cultivators wore robes adorned with a green lotus pattern, and their faces exuded confidence. On the foremost crimson eagle stood a man in blue robes, who was none other than Wang Changsheng.

“Junior Li Yi greets Senior Wang.”

The leading Foundation Establishment cultivator bowed to Wang Changsheng and spoke.

“The Wang family of Green Lotus Manor!”

A flicker of surprise crossed Wang Tianfu's eyes, and his face was filled with envy. His ancestors originated from the Wang family, but after he joined the sect, his connection with the Green Lotus Wang family dwindled. He doubted the Wang family even knew of his existence.

Seeing the Wang family cultivators riding spirit beasts and gaining experience under a Core Formation cultivator, while he, also named Wang, had to patrol the sect entrance, exposed to the elements, truly irked him.