Chapter 585: Qingyang's Passing

Wang Ruyan brewed a pot of tea and prepared some snacks. The three of them sat in the stone pavilion, sipping tea and chatting.

"I still remember the first time I saw you, you were only this tall. How time flies! In a blink of an eye, you've already reached the Core Formation stage," Wang Huashan remarked with a slight smile, sighing softly.

Wang Ruyan smiled gracefully and said, "My ability to reach this point is inseparable from Uncle Huashan's guidance and my husband's support."

"We are husband and wife; it's my duty to help you. Speaking of which, I should also thank Uncle Huashan for helping me cultivate such a capable wife," Wang Changsheng added.

Wang Huashan shook his head, saying, "I didn't help much. It's excellent that you two support each other. The family division back then was the right decision. The clan members who went to Chu State have completely integrated into the sect. Fortunately, your father's lineage remains."

"Uncle Huashan, what are your future plans? Have you considered returning to Wei State to develop?" Wang Ruyan asked. If Wang Huashan returned to Wei State, it would be another strong asset for the Wang family.

Wang Huashan shook his head immediately. "Your father has finally managed to build up some foundation; my return would only impoverish them. I'm doing quite well at the Three Immortals Sect. Fellow Daoist Hong and the others haven't restricted my freedom. However, the meager stipend the Three Immortals Sect provides annually isn't enough to sustain my cultivation. I plan to try my luck in Nanhai." Nanhai was rich in cultivation resources, and he was currently penniless. To accumulate spirit stones for cultivation, he had no choice but to hunt demonic beasts in Nanhai.

"Uncle Huashan, I remember you went to Nanhai before. Why did you stop going?" Wang Ruyan asked curiously.

"The abundance of demonic beast resources in Nanhai is a consensus in the cultivation world. However, Nanhai is very chaotic; killing and seizing treasures happen frequently, and even Nascent Soul cultivators can be ambushed and killed. Back then, while hunting demonic beasts in Nanhai, I inadvertently befriended a traitor from the Day and Night Palace and was pursued by their enforcement agents, almost losing my life. So many years have passed, it should be safe now," Wang Huashan recounted, a look of lingering fear on his face. Nanhai's demonic beast resources were plentiful, but it was also extremely dangerous; even Nascent Soul cultivators could perish there. If not for that, he would not have been willing to stay in the Eastern Wasteland.

"A remnant of the Day and Night Palace? What happened? Could you elaborate, Uncle Huashan?" Wang Ruyan inquired.

Wang Huashan nodded and pondered for a moment. "That was about two hundred years ago. At that time, I had just reached the Core Formation stage. I heard that Nanhai was rich in cultivation resources, so I went there. Everything was fine at first. During that time, I met two Core Formation cultivators, never expecting them to be targets of the Day and Night Palace. I nearly died at the hands of their enforcement agents."

"A traitor from the Day and Night Palace? It's said that the Day and Night Palace has a legacy of tens of thousands of years and is the most powerful cultivation sect in Nanhai. No wonder Uncle Huashan hasn't gone to Nanhai all these years. Uncle Huashan, my husband and I also plan to go to Nanhai. Why don't we travel together?" Wang Ruyan suddenly understood. She and Wang Changsheng were planning to go to Nanhai, firstly to search for Heavenly Spirit Water, and secondly to find the subsequent cultivation methods for the *Kui Water True Scripture*. Since Wang Huashan also intended to go to Nanhai, it would be convenient to travel together; an extra person meant an extra layer of security.

"You two are also going to Nanhai?" Wang Huashan was slightly surprised, but he quickly understood. The Wang family had developed very well over the years, especially after acquiring Taoshan, their income had steadily increased. Wang Ruyan had just reached Core Formation, so Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan going to Nanhai was likely to purchase magic treasures.

"Yes! Uncle Huashan, Ruyan doesn't have a suitable magic treasure yet. We plan to go to Nanhai to purchase one, hoping to succeed." Wang Ruyan's ideal magic treasure was, of course, a musical instrument. However, given Wang Changsheng's current refining level, he couldn't yet craft a magic treasure. He planned to first buy a few for Wang Ruyan to use, and then personally refine her life-bound magic treasure once his refining skills improved.

"Excellent! Then let's travel together! In fact, even if you hadn't mentioned it, I would have wanted to invite Changsheng along. An additional Core Formation cultivator means greater safety."

"We won't be setting off just yet, Uncle Huashan. Let's meet at Chongyang Market one year from now!"

Wang Huashan agreed; one year was not a long wait.

The next day, Wang Huashan bade them farewell and departed.

Three days later, at Wang Qingyang's residence, Wang Qingyang lay on the bed, his face pale. Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan sat by his bedside, both looking deeply saddened.

"Father, Mother, your son will not be able to fulfill his filial duties by your side in the future. Please take good care of yourselves. Wang Yuwang, you must properly honor your great-grandparents, understand?" Wang Qingyang's voice was weak and faint as he instructed them with some apprehension.

"We will take good care of ourselves, don't worry!" Wang Changsheng replied.

"Great-Grandfather, your grandson will properly honor Great-Grandfather and Great-Grandmother," a twenty-year-old youth in golden robes knelt by the bed, sobbing.

Wang Qingyang's face showed a relieved smile upon hearing this, and he slowly closed his eyes. He passed away peacefully. Wang Ruyan and Wang Changsheng were heartbroken. Wang Qingyang was their youngest son, possessing four spiritual roots, but even after consuming a Foundation Establishment Pill, he could not achieve Foundation Establishment. He was a first-grade top-tier winemaker.

Half a month later, Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan held a funeral for Wang Qingyang.

After the funeral, Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan led a group of clan members to Taoshan. Taoshan generated significant profits for the Wang family annually, and Wang Qingshan had been stationed there for over a decade. Both for public and private reasons, Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan felt they should visit, also to show support for Wang Qingshan and facilitate the Wang family's future development.

Over four months later, Wang Changsheng and his party arrived at Taoshan. Taoshan was protected by the third-grade low-tier formation, the Thousand Woods Spirit Annihilation Array, set up by Wang Changyue and Ye Lin. This array required a large amount of wood spiritual energy to operate, so many spiritual trees were planted on Taoshan. The oldest was a five-hundred-year-old spiritual peach tree; spiritual peaches produced by thousand-year-old spiritual peach trees had some effects on extending life.

Upon learning that Wang Ruyan had reached the Core Formation stage, Wang Qingshan was delighted.

"Aunt Nine, this is a five-hundred-year-old Dark Cloud Spiritual Wood. Congratulations on reaching Core Formation, Aunt Nine," Wang Qingshan said, taking out a spiritual wood as black as ink and handing it to Wang Ruyan.

"Qingshan, you're thoughtful. You've already cultivated to Core Formation Stage Seven, that's excellent. Work hard. When you reach Foundation Establishment Stage Nine, your Uncle Nine and I will definitely help you break through to the Core Formation stage," Wang Ruyan said with a smile as she accepted the spiritual wood.

Wang Qingshan nodded and chuckled, "This is what your nephew should do. Oh, by the way, Uncle Nine, your timing is perfect. There's a matter that requires your intervention." The Chen family of Jiuyang Mountain and Bailian Temple, along with several other cultivation families, had jointly cleared the swampy area at the border of the two states. The Wang family had contributed some effort and received their share of the benefits. However, recently, the Chen family and Bailian Temple wanted to reclaim several shops, and Wang Qiuling's negotiations with them had yielded no results.

"Leave this matter to us. Your Aunt Nine and I will make a trip to the Chen family and Bailian Temple. Taoshan is very important, and the family will send more people here. Qingshan, you must take good care of Taoshan." Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan had specifically come to Taoshan because they were concerned about such issues arising.

"Your nephew understands. Uncle Nine and Aunt Nine, please rest assured!" Wang Qingshan patted his chest and promised.

"I trust you with tasks. Alright, we'll head to Jiuyang Mountain now. Taoshan is in your hands." Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan left Taoshan and headed straight for Jiuyang Mountain.