Chapter 732: Settling the Clan Members

Wang Qingqi was in seclusion but emerged early due to an impending move.

Over two months later, Wang Changsheng and Wang Qingshan brought the clan members from Honglian Island to Yinshe Island.

The Zhang family also sent an envoy, Zhang Zhiqin. The last time they were ambushed, she and Zhang Zhiyang fought their way out and survived, though Zhang Zhiyang was seriously injured and is currently recuperating within the clan.

After a brief exchange of greetings, Zhang Zhiqin explained her purpose: "Fellow Daoist Wang, our Zhang family wishes to form a marriage alliance with your Wang family. What are your thoughts?"

The Zhang family’s subordinate forces are divided into immortal cultivation families and immortal cultivation sects. If it’s an immortal cultivation family, the Zhang family usually strengthens ties through marriage alliances, a common practice in the immortal cultivation world. With three Core Formation cultivators in the Wang family, and Wang Changsheng’s formidable strength, the Zhang family was keen on a marriage alliance with them.

"A marriage alliance?" Wang Changsheng’s expression remained calm. This was a topic he had discussed with Wang Ruyan. The Wang family also had subordinate forces in the Eastern Wilderness and used marriage alliances to strengthen relationships, so the Zhang family’s approach was not unusual. If they were to form an alliance with the Zhang family, it would undoubtedly be a Wang family daughter marrying out. Wang Changsheng was concerned that the married daughter might accidentally reveal the Wang family's true identity. A married daughter is like spilled water; once she marries into the Zhang family, her fate would be tied to theirs, making a leak entirely possible.

To increase their population, Wang Qiuhong encouraged procreation, and all age-appropriate Qi Refining cultivators in the clan were already married. If they were to select from Foundation Establishment cultivators, only Wang Qiuli would be suitable. Wang Qiuli managed the Wang family’s business in the Scarlet Moon Sea, and as Wang Changhao's granddaughter, she knew everything about the Wang family. If she were to leak information, the consequences would be unimaginable.

"Immortal Zhang, previously, to increase our population, our clan currently has no age-appropriate female members. Could the marriage alliance be postponed for a few years?"

Zhang Zhiqin was slightly taken aback, then smiled charmingly and said, "Age is not an issue. We can set the engagement and then hold the wedding when she reaches a suitable age." The Zhang family didn't place special emphasis on Qi Refining or Foundation Establishment cultivators; their main goal was to strengthen the relationship between the two families.

"Very well. I will select an outstanding female clan member. Oh, and regarding the tribute, what is the quantity?"

"Yinshe Island is suitable for cultivating lightning-attribute spirit herbs. We will provide you with a batch of lightning-attribute spirit herb seeds. Your Wang family simply needs to submit a batch of lightning-attribute spirit grasses every fifty years. Here is the list." Zhang Zhiqin took out a cyan seashell and handed it to Wang Changsheng.

The waters near Yinshe Island experience frequent thunderstorms, making it ideal for cultivating lightning-attribute spirit grasses. However, these grasses are not easy to cultivate, mainly due to the need for formations to guide lightning energy. If the formations are good, they benefit the spirit grasses' growth; if not, they might harm or even kill them.

Wang Changsheng's divine sense entered the seashell, and he frowned, saying, "Immortal Zhang, with so many lightning-attribute spirit grasses, our Wang family has never cultivated lightning-attribute spirit grasses before. It will be very difficult for us to fulfill this task. Reducing the quantity by half would be more feasible."

"Reduce by half? Fellow Daoist Wang, you jest. Five thousand lightning-attribute spirit grasses every fifty years is not a large quantity. The islands within a hundred thousand li radius of Yinshe Island are all your Wang family's subordinate islands. We have given you such a large territory; five thousand lightning-attribute spirit grasses are not an overly harsh condition. Many forces envy Yinshe Island's geographical location. Our Zhang family is leasing Yinshe Island to your Wang family because of your excellent performance in the great war. You cannot just take benefits without contributing, can you?"

"How about reducing it by a quarter? We probably won't be able to complete the task of five thousand plants. Our manpower is limited, and many cultivators have only recently pledged allegiance. Five thousand is truly too much." Wang Changsheng looked troubled, bargaining.

"Indeed, Immortal Zhang," Wang Ruyan suggested sincerely, "How about this: we will try our best to cultivate them. If we cannot submit five thousand, we can offer other things, such as third-tier demon cores."

Zhang Zhiqin hesitated for a long while before agreeing. As long as the Wang family leased Yinshe Island, the Zhang family could gradually increase the rent. After all, the territory belonged to the Zhang family, and the Wang family was merely temporary residents.

Wang Changsheng selected a female clan member from the younger generation, Wang Tianqing, his great-granddaughter, who was ten years old this year. Wang Tianqing grew up on Honglian Island; her father was Wang Qiuhong, and her mother was Chen Li. Wang Tianqing did not know much about the Wang family’s true history.

Zhang Zhiqin gave Wang Changsheng seeds of five kinds of lightning-attribute spirit grasses, and Wang Changsheng dispatched people to cultivate them.

After seeing Zhang Zhiqin off, the Wang family cultivators began to busy themselves.

Centered around Yinshe Island, there were 120 islands within a hundred thousand li radius, seventy-five of which had spirit veins, and twenty-one had second-tier spirit veins. Considering the number of clan members, the Wang family occupied three smaller islands relatively close to Yinshe Island. The remaining islands were leased out to other small families, who would then pay tribute to the Wang family.

The three small islands were Hailing Island, Hehua Island, and Jinyang Island. Jinyang Island was the largest among them. The three islands formed a triangle, enclosing Yinshe Island.

Ye Haitang was now capable of handling tasks independently. She could set up various second-tier formations. The island-protecting formations and teleportation arrays on the three small islands were all completed by her. Wang Qingjun led a team to stand guard to prevent anyone from interfering with Ye Haitang's array setup.

Ye Haitang was very meticulous in her work, repeatedly checking and confirming the formations were properly arranged before imbuing a spell into the array plate. Countless yellow mists rose from the ground, enveloping the entire Jinyang Island.

"Cousin Haitang, why did you set up an earth-attribute formation? The island is surrounded by sea; shouldn't it be a water-attribute formation?" Wang Qingjun asked, puzzled.

"Earth-attribute formations have the strongest defense. If someone attacks Jinyang Island, they're likely targeting our Wang family. An earth-attribute formation can hold out longer, allowing for requests for aid or escape. The other two islands are positioned further back, so water-attribute formations will suffice there." A formation master must know how to adapt to circumstances; formations are not rigid. This was Ye Lin's original teaching, and Ye Haitang kept it in mind.

"I see, that's how it is. I don't understand formations, so just go ahead and do your work! I was just asking casually." Specialization exists in every field. Ye Haitang was a formation master, and her actions undoubtedly had her reasoning, so Wang Qingjun would not object.

Ye Haitang nodded and set up a warning formation system on the outer perimeter of Jinyang Island. Jinyang Island had four sets of formations: one warning formation, one defensive formation, and two small teleportation arrays. The workload was considerable, but Ye Haitang did not feel tired. *The True Scroll of Ten Thousand Formations* achieves enlightenment through formations, including setting up and breaking them. Ye Haitang needed to set up more formations to improve her array-laying skills.

This was her first time setting up formations independently, and it was challenging. It took her seven days to finally complete the four sets of second-tier formations.

"Let's go, Cousin Qingjun. Let's head to Hehua Island and continue setting up formations." Wang Qingjun left ten people to guard Jinyang Island and flew with Ye Haitang towards Hehua Island.