Secret Deliberations

"Dare to kill members of our Wang Family? You're courting death!"

Just then, a voice brimming with fury suddenly rang out from the horizon.

As soon as the words fell, a black shadow appeared in the sky. Accompanied by a long cry, it emerged above the dense forest.

The black shadow was a massive Gray Giant Eagle with a golden beak. Wang Yaozong and Wang Yaozu stood on its back.

"Not good! A Foundation Establishment Cultivator! Retreat!"

Someone shouted, and the Black-Robed Cultivators scattered in all directions.

Yellow Light flared across the Black Giant Scorpion's body, and it vanished into the earth.

Wang Yaozong gave a cold snort and flicked his sleeve. Three streaks of Yellow Light shot out, flashing into the ground and disappearing. A scream soon rose from underground.

The fifteen Black-Robed Cultivators fled in every direction. Some used the Wind Riding Art, some used the Earth Escape Technique, and some used Talismans.

A glint of cold light flashed through Wang Yaozong's eyes. He summoned a gleaming yellow sickle and sent it slashing toward the Black-Robed Cultivators below.

Judging from the powerful spiritual aura emanating from the yellow sickle, it was clearly a Dharma Artifact.

Qi Refining Stage cultivators simply could not withstand the attacks of a Dharma Artifact. No matter how fast they were, they could not outrun one.

Several screams rang out. Four Black-Robed Cultivators fell one after another, their heads severed from their bodies. One Black-Robed Cultivator had his right leg cut off, and an Azure Rope shot over, binding his body.

Wang Yaozong killed eleven Black-Robed Cultivators in one breath and captured one alive. Three others narrowly escaped disaster as the Gray Giant Eagle slowly descended.

The White-Robed Youth took out a Spirit Tool, intending to pursue the Black-Robed Cultivators, but Wang Yaozong stopped him.

"Minghao, do not pursue desperate foes."

"Second Uncle, they killed Ninth Uncle, Eighteenth Brother, and Nineteenth Brother. I want to avenge them."

Wang Minghao's face was full of grief and indignation, his right hand tightly gripping a White Longblade.

"These people are definitely not Rogue Cultivators. Rogue Cultivators would never coordinate so well. They were all dressed in black, clearly trying to conceal their identities. If I'm not mistaken, they should be from Immortal Cultivation Families in Pingyang Prefecture. Do not pursue desperate foes. Killing eleven of them is enough."

Wang Yaozu formed a hand seal, and Yellow Light lit up over his body as he sank into the ground and disappeared.

After a while, he emerged from the earth, dragging the Yellow Giant Scorpion's corpse behind him.

Three yellow nails had pierced through the Yellow Giant Scorpion's head, and one of its massive pincers still clamped Wang Mingwei's corpse.

Wang Yaozu hurried forward, chopped off the Yellow Giant Scorpion's pincer, and removed Wang Mingwei's corpse. He found three Yellow Storage Pouches on the body.

After confirming that all the Mystic Gold Ore was inside the Storage Pouches, he heaved a sigh of relief. "Second Brother, everything is here."

Every time Wang Yaoliang escorted Mystic Gold Ore, he used three Spirit Tool-grade Storage Pouches.

Wang Yaozong nodded and looked toward the Black-Robed Cultivator bound by the Azure Rope. "Fourth Brother, take Minghao and escort him back. Interrogate him thoroughly. I'll go take a look at Green Stone Town."

With that, he leaped onto the Gray Giant Eagle's back. The Gray Giant Eagle beat its wings and flew into the sky.

Wang Minghao stored the corpses in his Storage Pouch, then returned to Azure Lotus Mountain with Wang Yaozu while escorting the captured Black-Robed Cultivator.

More than two hours later, Azure Lotus Mountain, Azure Lotus Pavilion.

The Wang Family's Clan Elders had gathered together. Every face was exceedingly grave, while Wang Yaozong sat in the seat of honor.

"Mingyuan, have you obtained the results of the interrogation? Who are these people?"

Wang Yaozong asked in a low voice.

"According to his confession, three families from Pingyang Prefecture joined forces against us. The Song Family discovered something unusual at the Quarry and inferred that it was some kind of mineral vein. The Song Family then joined forces with the Liu Family and Sun Family to attack us. Fortunately, they failed to seize the Mystic Gold Ore. For now, they are only guessing and do not know what kind of mineral vein is at the Quarry."

At this point, Wang Mingyuan hesitated briefly and said with some self-reproach, "It was my negligence. Ninth Uncle previously told me to send more men. I should have transferred a group there sooner."

Wang Yaozong shook his head. "This is not your fault. Everyone in the clan has their own duties, and we could not have mobilized so many people in such a short time. Besides, the root of the matter lies in the Song, Liu, and Sun Families coveting what we have. Even if you had sent more men, they could have sent even more people to attack Ninth Brother and the others. I went to the Quarry and saw that nothing had happened there, but this cannot go on forever. We need to find a way to resolve this. We cannot send dozens of clansmen to escort the Mystic Gold Ore every time, can we?"

"Why not ask the Huang Family and Chen Family for help? With their assistance, the Song, Liu, and Sun Families should not dare act recklessly. However, the Huang Family and Chen Family never rise early unless there is profit to be made, and their strength far surpasses ours. If we want their help, we will likely have to give up more than half the profits."

After pondering briefly, Wang Yaocong offered a simple suggestion.

"No. This Profound Gold Mine is the guarantee of our Wang Family's future. We cannot divide it among outsiders. Besides, the Chen Family and Song Family are joined by marriage. Who knows whether they might join forces to occupy the Profound Gold Mine? If that happens, taking it back would be harder than ascending to heaven."

Wang Yaochen disagreed.

"I think we should strengthen our defenses and seek help from our marriage alliances. Our Wang Family has stood for several centuries, and we have no shortage of such relatives."

Wang Yaozong nodded and looked at Wang Mingyuan. "Mingyuan, you are the Family Head. Tell us what you think."

Wang Mingyuan thought for a moment. "This nephew believes we should proceed on two fronts. The people from the Song, Liu, and Sun Families wore black, clearly because they did not want to make this matter too big. Since that is the case, we will deal with these thieves as Heretical Cultivators. At the same time, we should seek help from our marriage alliances. I recall that Second Sister-in-law's younger sister married the Sun Family Head. In that sense, Second Brother and the Sun Family Head are brothers-in-law. The Liu Family is joined by marriage to the Zhao Family of Guangyuan Prefecture, and the Zhao Family's old matriarch is my maternal aunt. We can seek the Zhao Family's assistance. As for the Quarry, we can publicly claim that it contains a First-Order Mid-Grade Spirit Vein and that our Wang Family intends to plant Spirit Grain there. We must insist that we are planting Spirit Grain. Without evidence, they will not dare act rashly."

"Mingyuan's idea is good. I agree."

"I agree as well."

After careful consideration, Wang Yaozong said, "Marriage alliances alone may not be enough to drive away the Song, Sun, and Liu Families. Here is what we will do. Mingyuan, you and Mingcai will bring your families and some gifts to visit the Zhao Family and Ye Family separately. Have them send word to the Liu Family and Sun Family: do not go too far in dealing with others. Even a rabbit will bite when driven into a corner. I will make a trip to Green Bamboo Valley. We will use both soft and hard measures and hope to make the Song, Liu, and Sun Families stop. If that fails, we can cooperate with the Huang Family. The Huang Family also has many marriage alliances. As for the Chen Family, forget it. The Chen Family has developed rapidly in recent years. Cooperating with them would only make them stronger and would harm our future development."

After thinking for a moment, Wang Yaozu added, "During this period, we still need to strengthen the Quarry's defenses. Mingyuan, immediately dispatch thirty clansmen to the Quarry."

"The clan is short on manpower. There is no need to send so many people. Azure Lotus Mountain still needs people to guard it, and mobilizing so many would make it difficult to keep this from the Chen Family and Huang Family's eyes and ears. Sending ten will be enough. I left the Golden Beak Eagle, the clan-protecting Spirit Bird, at the Quarry. Although the Golden Beak Eagle is a Second Grade Mid Rank Spirit Bird, our ancestor left behind a Beast Control Ring. Fifth Brother can use the Beast Control Ring to command the Golden Beak Eagle."

"Yes, Second Uncle. I will make the arrangements at once."

After the meeting ended, Wang Mingyuan and the others immediately began taking action.

The update time is temporarily set between five and seven in the afternoon. Thank you to Knife-Cut Steamed Bun Egg Yolk Custard Bun for the reward.