Chapter 632: Family Updates

The puppet shop sells first and second-tier puppet beasts. The raw material acquisition shop primarily deals with acquiring demonic beast materials. These acquired materials are temporarily stored in a warehouse; some are used to refine magical artifacts, while others are transported back to the Eastern Barrens for sale, following a strategy of small profits and quick turnover.

Wang Qiufeng wanted to open more shops, but conditions in the South Sea did not permit it. Firstly, the Wang family had too few Foundation Establishment cultivators. Transporting goods largely relied on them, with each shipment requiring at least five or six Foundation Establishment cultivators for escort. Secondly, the South Sea was a bustling commercial center with fierce competition among shops and high rents. Wang Qiufeng had to spend spirit stones to secure two relatively good storefronts. Thirdly, the Wang family’s main industry was puppet beasts, so they had a large number of artifact refiners. However, they lacked technical talent in other areas. While they could meet their own needs, opening shops specifically for selling other items was not practical.

Taking alchemy as an example, Wang Qiuyan was the only second-tier alchemist in the South Sea. He could barely meet the needs of the Wang family’s Foundation Establishment cultivators and had no spare energy to produce large quantities of second-tier pills for sale. Similarly, Wang Qingyun could craft second-tier talismans, but only enough for the family’s needs, not for external sales.

Wang Qingkai continuously sends more Foundation Establishment cultivators to the South Sea, especially skilled professionals. Currently, they have five alchemists (one second-tier, four first-tier), eight artifact refiners (two second-tier, six first-tier), and five talisman crafters (one second-tier, four first-tier).

“You’ve done very well. It’s tough on Qingkai to keep sending Foundation Establishment cultivators to the South Sea. And Qingqi, he’s the only one in the family who can refine Foundation Establishment Pills. We need to train more second-tier alchemists to ease his burden, as he also needs to cultivate or gain experience outside.”

Wang Changsheng had a deep impression of Wang Qingqi. The family once spent significant resources to invite Lu Zhong, a second-tier alchemist from Hundred Spirits Sect, to teach Wang Qingqi alchemy. Wang Qingqi started as an alchemy apprentice and showed talent in the field. Lu Zhong repeatedly offered him to stay at Hundred Spirits Sect, but Wang Qingqi insisted on returning to his family to serve them.

After reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, Wang Qingqi slowly improved his alchemy by independently practicing second-tier pills according to recipes. The situation only improved significantly after Wang Changsheng reached the Core Formation stage. Leveraging the influence of a Core Formation cultivator, Wang Qingqi communicated with many alchemists. As the family grew wealthier, they provided Wang Qingqi with abundant spirit herbs for refining pills, and his alchemy skills gradually improved.

After improving his alchemy, Wang Qingqi taught the younger generation. All current alchemists in the family were trained by him.

During the Righteous-Demonic War and the Human-Demonic War, the Wang family acquired many pill recipes. Many of these recipes were unusable and required improvement. Wang Qingqi spent decades improving them. Without exaggeration, Wang Qingqi filled the void in the Wang family’s alchemy knowledge and is considered the founder of their alchemy tradition.

If Wang Changsheng remembered correctly, Wang Qingqi still had about sixty years of life remaining.

“Ninth Uncle is right. The Patriarch is also aware of this issue. He has already selected several high-grade first-tier alchemists as key training candidates, helping them achieve Foundation Establishment, hoping they can become second-tier alchemists like Fourth Uncle.”

When Wang Qiufeng spoke of Wang Qingqi, his face was full of respect. Previously, second-tier pills were primarily purchased from other forces at high prices. Now, Wang Qingqi could refine commonly used second-tier pills, saving a significant amount of spirit stones each year.

Wang Changsheng nodded with satisfaction and instructed, “That’s excellent. You may go and attend to your duties.”

“Yes, Ninth Uncle.”

Wang Qiufeng agreed and bowed before leaving.

Wang Changsheng looked at Zhao Zheng and Wang Qingjing, asking about their cultivation progress. They answered truthfully. Wang Changsheng was a bit worried to hear that Wang Qingjing had been attacked by an evil cultivator, but relieved that she was safe.

“It seems the South Sea is truly chaotic. By the way, where’s Auntie Twenty-One? Is she still at Foundation Establishment Stage Eight?”

Wang Qingjing smiled and nodded, saying, “Yes, Auntie Twenty-One has been leading teams to hunt demonic beasts for years. Her beast-hunting team has made quite a name for itself in this sea region.”

“Zhao Zheng, you lead the next demonic beast hunt. Let Auntie Twenty-One cultivate in seclusion on the island. She’s already reached Foundation Establishment Stage Eight. Once she reaches Stage Nine, she can attempt to break through to the Core Formation stage.”

Zhao Zheng was at Foundation Establishment Stage Seven and had always hunted demonic beasts with Mo Caiyun, so it was fine for him to lead.

“Yes, Father-in-law.”

“Qingjing, contact Auntie Twenty-One and ask her to come over. I have something to tell her.”

Regardless, Mo Caiyun was an elder, and she had led the Wang family cultivators in hunting demonic beasts for years. Both personally and professionally, Wang Changsheng felt he should meet her and say a few words of concern.

Wang Qingjing nodded, took out a communication disk, and tried to contact Mo Caiyun, but there was no response for a long time.

“Auntie Twenty-One might be busy. When she’s free, I’ll bring her to see Father.”

“Yes, you both need to cultivate diligently, especially Qingjing. Don’t get too engrossed in puppet techniques; cultivation is the foundation, understand?”

Wang Changsheng instructed them earnestly.

“Understood, Father.”

After chatting for a while, Wang Qingjing and Zhao Zheng left.

Leaving his residence, Wang Changsheng arrived outside a valley shrouded in thick fog. He took out a communication disk, cast a spell, and said, “Changyue, it’s me. Open the barrier and let me in.”

“Understood, Brother.”

The thick white fog in the valley churned, revealing a passage. Wang Changsheng strode in. In a blur, Wang Changsheng found himself in a serene courtyard. A cluster of crabapple trees grew in the courtyard. Ye Lin and Wang Changyue sat in a stone pavilion, dotingly surrounding a ten-year-old girl. Their faces were filled with affection.

The girl was delicately beautiful, with fair skin and refined features, and wore a pink dress. She was clearly a future beauty.

“Uncle, this is red bean pastry my mother made.”

This was Ye Haitang’s first time meeting Wang Changsheng, but she wasn’t shy. She picked up a piece of red bean pastry and ran towards him.

“In the blink of an eye, Haitang is ten years old. Let Uncle give you a hug.”

Wang Changsheng smiled faintly, knelt down, and picked up Ye Haitang. She then put the red bean pastry into his mouth.

“Brother-in-law, congratulations! You’ve reached Core Formation Stage Four.”

Ye Lin felt the powerful aura emanating from Wang Changsheng and congratulated him with a smile.

Wang Changsheng nodded, then looked at the heavily pregnant Wang Changyue and asked with a smile, “Changyue, are you pregnant? The child isn’t actually going to be named Ye Hongdou, is it?”

“Of course not. Don’t listen to his nonsense.” Wang Changyue said, blushing.

Ye Haitang smiled sweetly and said, “I think Ye Hongdou sounds quite nice! I also like red bean pastry.”

“Exactly!” Ye Lin said earnestly, unperturbed. “Even Haitang, her big sister, agrees. We’ll listen to my precious daughter. If it’s a girl, she’ll be named Ye Hongdou. If it’s a boy, he’ll be named Yu Tong.”

“By the way, what cultivation technique is Haitang practicing? We need to give her a good one.” Wang Changsheng suddenly remembered something and asked. Ye Haitang had spiritual energy fluctuations, so she was naturally a cultivator. He just didn’t know which technique she practiced.