Chapter 729: War Ends

To quickly increase manpower, annexing other immortal cultivation forces is the best approach.

Sun Jialiang hesitated for a moment, then reluctantly said, "Senior Wang, we are willing to offer tribute to your family. How about an intermarriage between our two families?"

"I said, either merge into our Wang family, or die."

Wang Qingjun said coldly, without the slightest emotion.

A dozen second-tier puppet beasts moved, looking ready to attack at a moment's notice.

Sun Jialiang sighed deeply and respectfully said, "Our Sun family is willing to merge into the Wang family. Please allow us some time to pack our belongings, Senior."

"You have half an hour. If you are not ready after half an hour, I will assume you intend to resist our Wang family."

Sun Jialiang nodded with a bitter smile and agreed; half an hour was enough.

Sun Jialiang took the initiative to persuade them, and the other members of the Sun family did not object. Without the protection of Foundation Establishment cultivators, they could be annihilated at any time, and staying alive was more important than anything.

Wang Qingjun escorted the Sun family cultivators back to Red Lotus Island, and then proceeded to other immortal cultivation families.

Wang Qingjun visited five immortal cultivation families. Two families were unwilling to merge into the Wang family and were directly annihilated by Wang Qingjun. The other three smaller families merged into the Wang family, adding over 150 cultivators with different surnames to the Wang family.

Half a year passed quickly, and Wang Tianqi returned to Red Lotus Island, bringing back the latest news.

The Scarlet Moon Sea Domain had six major forces, each with Nascent Soul cultivators. The Zhang family, Whale Gate, and Hai Lan Sect engaged in war, suffering casualties on both sides. The other three forces took the opportunity to seize territory from these three forces, plunging the Scarlet Moon Sea Domain into chaos.

The Zhang family, Whale Gate, and Hai Lan Sect were forced to cease hostilities and unite to deal with the other three forces.

"There are no eternal enemies, nor eternal allies. The world bustles with activity, all for profit. The ancients truly did not deceive me."

Wang Changsheng sighed softly and said with a smile.

"Once the external threat is gone, the Zhang family, Whale Gate, and Hai Lan Sect will still clash. This is good; at least there won't be a major war in the short term. We can develop peacefully for a while, though I don't know which island we will be allocated."

Wang Changsheng pondered for a moment and instructed, "Tianqi, send someone back to the Eastern Barrens. Tell Qingkai to dispatch fifty clan members to the Coral Sea Domain, and you are responsible for bringing them to Red Lotus Island. Preferably, they should be unmarried."

There were too few Wang family cultivators on Red Lotus Island. The Wang family had suddenly absorbed over 150 cultivators with different surnames, and even if they were dispersed, there was still some risk. A batch of manpower had to be transferred from the Eastern Barrens.

It cost 8,000 spirit stones to teleport one cultivator from the Eastern Barrens to the Southern Sea, and including miscellaneous fees, it was nearly 10,000. Fifty cultivators would thus cost 500,000 spirit stones. If not for a significant gain, Wang Changsheng would not have transferred so many clan members from the Eastern Barrens.

"Yes, Grandfather. Are there any other instructions?"

"No. Once things settle down, you can send someone back again. By the way, do you know the situation with the Hai Lan Sect and Whale Gate?"

With the support of the Ten Thousand Sword Sect, the Hai Lan Sect must have suffered heavy losses. It was unknown if they had been annihilated.

"The Hai Lan Sect's main altar was besieged by a large number of cultivators, and both sides suffered casualties. It is said that True Monarch Huanglong from the Coral Sea Domain also participated in the siege of the Hai Lan Sect, but unfortunately, they failed to capture its main altar. I don't know the more specific details, but I have already sent people to monitor information regarding this."

Wang Tianqi did not have many people at her disposal, so the fact that she was able to gather so much information was already quite impressive.

The Scarlet Moon Sea Domain was in chaos. Five Qi Refining cultivators had lost contact, presumably killed. When there are major wars in the cultivation world, it is always the low-level cultivators who suffer.

Wang Changsheng nodded and said, "It's quite chaotic outside recently. Don't run around recklessly. Stay on Red Lotus Island for a while. Wait until things completely calm down outside, then you can..."

Before he could finish speaking, a sharp whistling sound rang out. Wang Changsheng took out his communication plate, channeled a spell into it, and asked, "Qiuhong, what's wrong?"

"Grandfather, Senior Zhang Guangyang has arrived. He's with a team of cultivators, and Tenth Aunt and the others have returned with him."

"Please invite them to the discussion hall. I'll be right there."

Wang Ruyan's expression shifted, and she said, "Husband, could it be that the Zhang family is renting us a new island? But the war just ended, and Zhang Guangyang is visiting so soon. Would the Zhang family be so kind?"

"We'll meet them head-on. We'll know once we meet him."

Not long after, Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan met Zhang Guangyang in the discussion hall.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Zhang Guangyang explained his purpose: "Fellow Daoist Wang, didn't you ask me to find you a better island before? After I returned and reported to the Old Ancestor, I spoke many good words on your behalf. The Old Ancestor greatly appreciates you and is giving you three choices: East Sika Island, Golden Gourd Island, and Silver Serpent Island. Here is the information on these three islands; you can take a look."

He took out three shells of different colors and handed them to Wang Changsheng.

Wang Changsheng took the shells and examined them with Wang Ruyan.

East Sika Island was 1,200 li long and 780 li wide. It was named for its resemblance to a sika deer and possessed a mid-grade third-tier spirit vein.

Golden Gourd Island was 1,300 li long and 530 li wide. It resembled a giant golden gourd and had a mid-grade third-tier spirit vein.

Silver Serpent Island was 1,400 li long and over 400 li wide. Numerous silver fir trees grew on the island, and from high above, it looked like a long silver serpent resting on the sea, hence its name. It had a mid-grade third-tier spirit vein.

Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan exchanged glances, both frowning slightly. These three islands were all excellent choices in terms of size and spirit veins, even better than the island where the Thousand Puppet Sect was located.

Would the Zhang family be so kind as to rent such good islands to the Wang family?

Unsolicited favors often hide ulterior motives.

As if sensing the doubts in Wang Changsheng and his wife's minds, Zhang Guangyang began to explain, "These three islands were previously occupied by our Zhang family's affiliated forces. During the recent major war, these three affiliated forces were attacked and suffered heavy losses. They were unable to defend these three islands and abandoned them. These three islands are currently in the hands of other forces. If you wish to occupy any of these islands, you will have to seize them. Our Zhang family will fully support you. Rest assured, our Zhang family has already formed an alliance with the Whale Gate and Hai Lan Sect to collectively resist external threats."

Wang Changsheng sneered inwardly. The Zhang family was playing a clever game; while seemingly offering a choice to the Wang family, they were actually assigning them to seize an island. If successful, the Wang family would offer regular tribute, and if they failed, the Zhang family would incur no loss.

Wang Changsheng was not surprised by the Zhang family's actions; on the contrary, he felt a certain sense of ease. If the Zhang family had directly given the islands to the Wang family, Wang Changsheng would have found it strange.

"Fellow Daoist Zhang, so that means we have to attack the island ourselves if we want to rent it? What about the affiliated islands of these three islands?"

"You can deal with the affiliated islands of these three islands as you see fit. You can keep them for yourselves to live on, or rent them to smaller families. However, you must act quickly. There are many forces now looking to rent islands. If it weren't for the fact that we fought side by side, I wouldn't have spoken good words for you before the Old Ancestor."

Wang Changsheng didn't take it seriously but agreed with a smile.

"I have other matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave now. If you capture an island, remember to send someone to Blue Carp Island to inform us."

Wang Changsheng agreed and personally saw Zhang Guangyang off.

"Husband, which island do you plan to attack?"

"Silver Serpent Island. The sea area where that island is located experiences more thunderstorms, so we can use the Thunder Apricot Spirit Fruit Tree as the core of a formation. It's suitable for setting up a lightning-attribute formation, which my brother-in-law has highly praised."