Chapter 910: War Comes to an End

Wang Mengfen nodded and solemnly stated, "It's absolutely true. We've tested it multiple times, and it is indeed an uncommon wind spiritual root."

He briefly introduced Wang Xia's birth parents: Wang Yingxiong and Tang Keqing. Tang Keqing was a collateral descendant of the Tang family, a major cultivation clan in Yu Country. She shared a common ancestor with a Heavenly Spiritual Root member of the Tang family who had joined the Myriad Flowers Palace, though they were separated by dozens of generations. With over four thousand cultivators in the Tang family, Tang Keqing was not particularly prominent. By chance, Wang Yingxiong saved Tang Keqing, and mutual affection developed between them.

The Tang family hoped for more talented clan members to emerge, so they encouraged procreation and widespread marriage alliances with other cultivation families. Tang Keqing possessed a three-element spiritual root and was only at the Qi Refining stage when Wang Yingxiong proposed marriage.

Wang Mengfen's branch of the Wang family also had many artifact refiners, skilled at crafting puppet beasts, and were somewhat renowned in Yu Country. The Tang family was pleased to approve the marriage. With the two families allied, the Wang family would sell a certain number of puppet beasts to the Tang family each year. The Tang family would then use their own sales channels to transport and sell these puppet beasts elsewhere, simultaneously using this arrangement to secure the Wang family's loyalty and consolidate their own influence.

Wang Youshan suddenly realized, "No wonder Wang Xia possesses an uncommon wind spiritual root; it turns out his mother is from the Tang family."

"So his birth mother is a Tang family cultivator. The Tang family isn't aware, are they?" Wang Youshan asked nervously. The Tang family wielded significant power in Yu Country, and Yu Country wasn't particularly far from Qing Country. If the Tang family came to claim Wang Xia, the Wang family wouldn't be able to protect him.

"They're definitely not aware," Wang Mengfen replied. "Keqing's first two children didn't have spiritual roots. The Tang family recently had a new Core Formation cultivator, and Yingxiong and Keqing returned to the Tang family to celebrate. As soon as I detected that this child possessed an uncommon wind spiritual root, I immediately sent him and a group of other young children here. Aunt, please send this child to the South Sea as soon as possible. I'm worried the Tang family might find out if we delay."

The Tang family was not a minor clan, but a major cultivation clan. The Wang family's strength in the Eastern Barrens was insufficient to contend with them. For caution's sake, the child needed to be sent away as quickly as possible.

Wang Youshan nodded solemnly. "Coincidentally, there's a batch of cultivation resources being sent to the South Sea. Tomorrow—no, I'll send people to take him to the South Sea immediately." A potential Core Formation cultivator was of incalculable value.

Wang Mengfen picked up Wang Xia and said kindly, "Wang Xia, be a good boy and listen. Your uncles will take you to your Old Ancestor. You'll have much better prospects there, understand?"

"Old Ancestor? What about my mom and dad? Are they coming with me too?" Wang Xia blinked and asked curiously.

"Later, dear! You go first, and they'll follow a bit later. Don't worry, they'll take good care of you."

Wang Mengfen told a white lie, hoping that once Wang Xia got used to life in the South Sea, he wouldn't miss his parents as much. If his mother weren't a Tang family member, they could have lived in the South Sea with Wang Xia. Of course, if the Old Ancestor agreed, Wang Xia's parents could potentially be sent to the South Sea as well.

If the Tang family knew Wang Xia had an uncommon wind spiritual root, they would certainly not release him. The Wang family had to send Wang Xia away as quickly as possible to avoid complications.

Wang Youshan summoned the clan's Foundation Establishment cultivators and dispatched seven of them to personally escort Wang Xia to the South Sea.

"Mengfen, you go back first. You absolutely must not reveal any clues; don't let the Tang family track us down.""Understood, Aunt. You can trust me to handle things."

Wang Mengfen had sent off a group of young children, not just Wang Xia alone. Only three people knew Wang Xia possessed an uncommon wind spiritual root: Wang Youshan, Wang Mengfen, and Wang Xia himself. This was top secret.

***

South Sea, Coral Sea Region.

At White Sand Island's council hall, Liu Jin sat in the main seat, with Wang Mingren and other Core Formation cultivators standing respectfully to the side.

Wang Mingren had been stationed on White Sand Island for over half a year. After being severely reprimanded by Liu Jin, he no longer dared to act without permission and diligently remained on White Sand Island.

The Sun Moon Palace began to intervene, and the Grand One Immortal Sect stopped fighting. Yellow Dragon Island also ceased its retaliatory actions. Both sides mutually restrained their disciples.

This war had started quickly and ended just as swiftly.

"Nephew Wang, Nephew Su, you two will accompany me to negotiate with the Sun Moon Palace. If you handle this well, you will certainly be rewarded."

The Grand One Immortal Sect had been fighting on three fronts, aiming to expand its territory. Since this objective had been achieved, there was no need to continue the war. A full-scale conflict would be unsustainable for the Grand One Immortal Sect.

Upon hearing this, Wang Mingren and Su Bingbing were overjoyed. The war had stopped, and if they could accompany Liu Jin to the negotiations, they would surely gain some merit after the matter was concluded.

"Yes, Martial Uncle Liu," Wang Mingren and Su Bingbing said in unison, their hearts filled with delight.

"Everyone else may leave! I have something to discuss with Nephew Wang."

Su Bingbing and the others agreed, bowed, and withdrew, leaving only Liu Jin and Wang Mingren.

"Nephew Wang, do you know why I'm taking you with me to negotiate with the Sun Moon Palace?" Liu Jin asked.Wang Mingren's heart tightened. He shook his head and cautiously asked, "This disciple doesn't know. Please enlighten me, Martial Uncle Liu."

He had acted on his own previously, causing Wang Qingshan to be severely injured. There was no reason for Liu Jin to include him in the negotiations, especially since the Grand One Immortal Sect wasn't short on personnel.

Liu Jin sighed softly, tossed a green jade slip to Wang Mingren, and said with a cold face, "If your master hadn't interceded on your behalf, do you think you'd be a squad leader? Do you think I would have let you off lightly? For two hundred years, that stubborn mule has spoken to me for the first time for your sake. You two, master and disciple, are exactly alike, making mistakes because of personal affections. One thing is one thing; I'll take you to the negotiations out of consideration for him. But you must prove yourself. If you make a mistake and jeopardize our sect's important affairs, no one's plea will matter."

Wang Mingren was slightly stunned. He had never imagined that Xu Zihua was the one who helped him. No wonder he was appointed captain during the attack on Yellow Maple Sect, responsible for all matters related to it. Yet, he had never heard Xu Zihua mention anything about Liu Jin. Listening to Liu Jin, it seemed Xu Zihua knew her, and his influence was considerable.

"Yes, Martial Uncle Liu," Wang Mingren readily agreed. He suddenly remembered something and cautiously asked, "Martial Uncle Liu, why are we stopping and making peace with the Sun Moon Palace? With our sect's strength, if we allied with other sects, the Sun Moon Palace might not be our match."

"Hmph," Liu Jin scoffed. "Our sect initiated conflicts in the South Sea, Northern Frontier, and Central Plains, and we still need to leave people to guard the Eastern Barrens. Engaging in a full-blown war doesn't serve our sect's interests, nor can we sustain it. It's good enough that we've taken a few bites of territory. One must learn to be content. The Sun Moon Palace is no pushover. Even if our sect were fighting only in the South Sea, one-on-one, we might not be their match, as the Sun Moon Palace has a legacy of over ten thousand years and deeper foundations than our sect. As for forming alliances, do you think those other forces are easy to fool? They'll simply stand by if it doesn't concern them directly. Without immense benefits, they won't engage in a full-scale war with the Sun Moon Palace; at most, they'll cheer from the sidelines."

Wang Mingren understood then, feeling a slight disappointment. It seemed he would need to work harder if he wanted to accumulate 400,000 contribution points.

A quarter of an hour later, Wang Mingren and Su Bingbing followed Liu Jin as they departed, heading straight for the Sun Moon Palace.