Intensive Training

"Twin-Pupil Spirit Rat? Ninth Brother, when did you start raising a Twin-Pupil Spirit Rat? Last time, Second Sister and I saw someone selling one at the Market, but they wanted over a hundred Spirit Stones. Even if Second Sister and I emptied all our savings, we still could not scrape together a hundred Spirit Stones."

Wang Changyu blinked and asked curiously.

"Some time ago, a Ghost appeared in Wang Family Town. I went there and destroyed it. On the way back, I happened to encounter this rat deep in the mountains. I also discovered a Spirit Vein about two zhang in size there. The mortal clansmen said this rat was a Treasure Sniffing Rat. It probably made its nest near the Spirit Vein, and over time, it accidentally evolved into a Twin-Pupil Spirit Rat."

Wang Changsheng brought out his old explanation. It sounded perfectly reasonable.

"Ninth Brother, have you already bound it as your master?"

Wang Changyu looked at Wang Changsheng with anticipation and asked.

"I have."

At those words, disappointment could not help but appear on Wang Changyu's face.

Wang Mingyuan comforted her, "Changyu, it is only a Twin-Pupil Spirit Rat. Another day, I will have your First Uncle buy one for you. Although your father is gone, Third Uncle will take good care of you and your mother. You have grown up too. I will have your Third Sister-in-law arrange a good marriage for you and marry you off in grand style."

Wang Changyu felt warmth fill her heart upon hearing this. She shook her head and Said Seriously, "Third Uncle, thank you for your kindness, but there is no need to trouble First Uncle to buy me a Twin-Pupil Spirit Rat. I will save up and buy one myself. I have already made up my mind—I will not marry out. Grandfather is getting old, and my mother is in poor health. I want to remain by their side and fulfill my filial duty. Like Fifth Aunt, I want to serve the Lineage for the rest of my life."

"Silly girl, Third Uncle will take care of them. You need not worry yourself over it. Your Fifth Aunt stayed behind to serve the Lineage because she was wounded by love. Rest assured, your Third Sister-in-law will certainly find you a good family. We will never let you suffer any grievance. I swore a solemn oath before your father's grave that I would take good care of you all. When I, Wang Mingyuan, give my word, I keep it."

As Wang Mingyuan spoke, his expression became exceptionally grave.

Liu Qing'er nodded. "That is right! Changyu, your father may be gone, but you still have your First Uncle, Second Uncle, Third Uncle, and the other uncles to look after you. We will not let you suffer any grievance."

Wang Changyu was deeply moved by those words and said nothing further.

"Seventh Sister, I caught a Twin-Pupil Spirit Rat. Another day, I will take a walk through the mountains and catch one for you too!"

Wang Changsheng pulled the Twin-Pupil Spirit Rat from his clothes, holding it by the tail in his palm.

The Twin-Pupil Spirit Rat struggled desperately to break free from Wang Changsheng's restraint and pounce on the food atop the table.

"Spirit Rats are not so easy to catch. Oh, right, you do not have a Spirit Beast Pouch yet, do you? I have an old one here. It only has space of about one zhang, but it is more than enough for a Twin-Pupil Spirit Rat. If you do not mind it, I will give it to you."

Wang Changyu took out a yellow cloth pouch and handed it to Wang Changsheng.

The yellow cloth pouch had faded badly, and the embroidered patterns on it were nearly invisible. It was clearly quite old.

"No need, Seventh Sister. I have no use for a Spirit Beast Pouch yet."

Wang Changsheng shook his head and tactfully declined.

"This Spirit Beast Pouch is merely a Low-grade Spirit Tool, and an old one at that. It is not worth more than a few Spirit Stones. If you refuse it, you are looking down on Seventh Sister."

Wang Changyu said with a stern face.

"Seventh Sister, that is not what I mean. I..."

"Second Sister gave you a Spirit Egg, and you accepted it. I give you a Spirit Beast Pouch, and you refuse it. Yet you still say that is not what you mean."

Wang Mingyuan frowned slightly and nodded. "Since it is a gift from your Seventh Sister, accept it. If you catch another Twin-Pupil Spirit Rat in the future, do not forget to give one to your Seventh Sister—and your Second Sister as well. When you get something good, do not forget your clansmen."

Wang Changsheng agreed and accepted the Spirit Beast Pouch.

Half an hour later, the meal was finished. Wang Changxue and Wang Changyu rose to take their leave, and Wang Changsheng personally escorted his two female cousins out of the family courtyard.

"Sheng'er, you have only just returned, so get some proper rest. Starting tomorrow, Mother will teach you Artifact Refining knowledge."

After Wang Changsheng returned to his residence, he first refined the Spirit Beast Pouch, fed the Twin-Pupil Spirit Rat twenty grains of Spirit Rice, then stored it in the pouch.

Early the next morning, after breakfast, Wang Changsheng began studying Artifact Refining knowledge under Liu Qing'er's guidance.

Liu Qing'er had been an Artifact Refining Apprentice for ten years. Though she could not refine artifacts herself, her theoretical knowledge was extensive.

If he could become an Artifact Refiner nurtured by the Lineage, he would no longer need to worry about cultivation resources. Thus, Wang Changsheng studied with great seriousness. Whenever he encountered something he did not understand, he asked his mother, and Liu Qing'er answered every question without holding anything back.

Three days later, following his mother's instructions, Wang Changsheng arrived at a quiet courtyard early in the morning.

Three men and one woman had gathered in the courtyard. At their head was a Middle-Aged Woman with delicate features, plainly dressed and lightly made up.

"Fifth Aunt, Tenth Uncle, Eleventh Uncle, Eighth Brother, good morning."

Seeing the four of them, Wang Changsheng obediently greeted them.

According to seniority, the four were Wang Mingmei, Wang Mingdong, Wang Mingcan, and Wang Changhuan.

Wang Mingmei was forty this year. Having been wounded by love in her youth, she had never married and had spent her life working for the Lineage. She was at the Qi Refining Seventh Layer.

Wang Mingdong was thirty this year and at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer. In his younger years, he had enjoyed traveling everywhere and had seen and learned much.

Wang Mingcan was twenty-seven this year and at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer. He could handle some simple materials, such as refining ores and making talisman paper.

Wang Changhuan was twenty-two this year. He was the only son of Wang Changsheng's Sixth Uncle and had been working for several years, often following the Clan Elders to escort goods.

"Changsheng, when did you return? Had your father not sent you to Peaceful County to serve as a Celestial Master? Could it be that you are the fifth candidate?"

Wang Mingmei nodded and asked curiously.

From her words, it seemed she did not know that Wang Changsheng had also been selected.

"Yes. Father transferred me back three days ago and said that I was to focus on studying the art of Artifact Refining."

"We were just guessing who the fifth person would be! Who would have thought it was you? Then again, ever since you were little, Third Sister-in-law made you memorize Artifact Refining knowledge by heart. You should indeed have been selected."

Wang Mingdong Said with a Smile.

"The Lineage's situation is not easy at present. Why are we suddenly training Artifact Refiners, and five at once? How many cultivation resources will that consume?"

Wang Mingcan frowned, his eyes revealing a trace of doubt.

"I believe Third Brother would not shoot an arrow without a target. Since he has done this, he must have his reasons."

Wang Mingmei did not think much of it.

"Old Fifth spoke well."

A vigorous voice suddenly rang out.

As the voice fell, a Red-Robed Elder in his sixties emerged from the house within the courtyard.

The Red-Robed Elder had white hair and beard, a goat beard about an inch long beneath his chin, and a ruddy complexion. His right sleeve hung empty.

"Seventh Uncle, why is it you, Elder?"

Wang Mingmei asked in surprise.

The Red-Robed Elder was named Wang Yaoxi. He was sixty-two this year and ranked seventh among his generation. In his early years, he had been trained as an Artifact Refiner. Regrettably, despite consuming a great amount of Refining Materials, he could only produce Low-grade Spirit Tools, and even then with a very low success rate. As the Lineage was short on funds, it had not continued investing resources in his training.

Several decades had passed, and Wang Yaoxi had become an old man well past fifty. Though he should have been enjoying grandchildren around his knees, the Lineage had entrusted him with the heavy responsibility of teaching the younger generation, striving to nurture its own Artifact Refiners and restore the glory of its ancestors.

Wang Yaoxi was caught between sorrow and joy. He sorrowed that he had consumed vast resources in his youth yet failed to become an Artifact Refiner, wasting a great many Spirit Stones from the Lineage. But he rejoiced that the Lineage still trusted him enough to place the burden of teaching the younger generation upon his shoulders.

From the moment he received this assignment, he had been too excited to sleep. He dug out every note and insight on Artifact Refining that he had retained from his studies, reading them page by page, hoping that when he taught the younger generation, they could take fewer detours and save some Spirit Stones.

The Lineage had to nurture its own Artifact Refiners and restore the glory of its ancestors. This was the shared conviction of every Clan Elder in the Wang Family.