Liu HuaiRen

After returning to his residence, Wang Changsheng mentioned joining an Immortal Cultivation Sect to Wang Mingyuan.

Wang Mingyuan pondered for a long while before asking solemnly, "Sheng'er, do you truly want to join an Immortal Cultivation Sect?"

Wang Changsheng thought for a moment and said, "It is not that I particularly want to, but Cousin Ningxiang is right. If I can join an Immortal Cultivation Sect, it will benefit our Wang Family as well."

"Benefit? It would be one thing if you could become an Inner Sect Disciple, but what use would an Outer Sect Disciple be? As far as I know, each of the Four Great Sects has more than a thousand Outer Sect Disciples alone. Those who rise from outside into the inner sect are few and far between. Calling them Outer Sect Disciples sounds nice, but they are really just menial servants. You have no backing, and your aptitude is ordinary. How will you stand out from among thousands? Of course, I am not saying you are inferior to others. But if you can become an Artifact Refiner, you will certainly become a key target of the Lineage's cultivation. There is no need for you to go to a sect and serve as someone else's drudge."

Wang Mingyuan sighed and continued, "Of course, if your heart is set on joining an Immortal Cultivation Sect, I will not stop you. When the Four Great Sects hold the Immortal Ascension Assembly, you can give it a try. If you can join an Immortal Cultivation Sect, I will be happy for you too."

"Sheng'er, your mother attended the Immortal Ascension Assembly before. The competition was extremely fierce, and people could die if things went wrong. I do not want you to attend it. If anything happens to you, how could I go on living? Besides, do not forget how your Ninth Uncle-Grandfather died. Wasn't the thing he defended with his life for the sake of giving the Lineage a better future? Don't you want to help your Ninth Uncle-Grandfather fulfill this final wish? I have said so much, but if you still want to join an Immortal Cultivation Sect, I will not stop you. I will personally take you to the City of Immortal Fate."

At this point, Liu Qing'er's eyes reddened slightly.

From the bottom of her heart, she did not want Wang Changsheng to attend the Immortal Ascension Assembly, fearing that something might happen to him. Yet she had to admit that Immortal Cultivation Sects offered many opportunities. If Wang Changsheng truly wished to join one, she would not stop him.

"Father, Mother, I was only telling you about it. I cannot bear to leave you either. I should stay in the Lineage and properly learn the art of artifact refining instead."

After hesitating for a moment, Wang Changsheng said this.

He had grown up in the Lineage and felt a strong sense of belonging toward it. After Wang Mingyuan and Liu Qing'er persuaded him, he no longer had much interest in joining an Immortal Cultivation Sect.

As long as he became an Artifact Refiner whom the Lineage focused on cultivating, his treatment would not be much worse than that of an Outer Sect Disciple in an Immortal Cultivation Sect.

Wang Mingyuan nodded in satisfaction and said, "All right, it is getting late. Go back and rest. Put away the White Scale Fish."

"Yes, Father."

After Wang Changsheng left, Wang Mingyuan sighed and said, "I never expected that girl Ningxiang to have such great ambition. No wonder Aunt did not agree just now. It seems this marriage proposal will not work out."

"If you ask me, it is best that it does not work out. That girl is so ambitious. If she truly married Sheng'er, he might not be able to keep her in check. Wouldn't she bully him mercilessly?"

Liu Qing'er said this indifferently. As though recalling something, she continued, "What happened today reminded me of something. Sheng'er is not that young anymore. We should arrange a marriage for him. Once he has a family, he ought to mature somewhat. He will not want to join an Immortal Cultivation Sect just because Ningxiang says a few words. Sheng'er is honest and dutiful, so overly forceful women are not suitable for him. Another day, I will have a proper talk with Second Sister-in-Law and see whether there is a suitable match."

"There is no hurry. Let us wait until the Immortal Ascension Assembly has passed. If he truly wants to join an Immortal Cultivation Sect, let him give it a try."

Liu Qing'er nodded in agreement.

The next day, after breakfast, Wang Changsheng went out to play with Zhao Ningxuan and his siblings, leaving Zhao Yuhui and the others behind.

"Yaozu, we can help you with this matter, but we cannot guarantee that the Liu Family will definitely back down. We can only say that we will do our best."

Zhao Yuhui said solemnly.

Wang Yaozu was instantly greatly delighted and agreed, "No problem. With those words from Elder Sister, I am relieved. Mingyuan, give the Sericulture Art to Elder Sister."

Wang Mingyuan took an Azure Jade Slip from his sleeve and handed it to Zhao Yuhui.

Zhao Yuhui swept it with her divine sense and nodded in satisfaction. After hesitating for a moment, she said, "Mingyuan, could you send someone to personally guide them? Some parts of the Jade Slip are rather vague."

Wang Mingyuan smiled slightly and said, "Aunt, Qing'er is responsible for raising Spirit Silkworms. My mother taught her hand in hand. We brought a pair of young silkworms as well as Spirit Mulberry Tree saplings. Qing'er can teach Cousin's Wife hand in hand how to raise Spirit Silkworms. She will not hold anything back."

Wang Mingyuan had made thorough preparations. He had expected Zhao Yuhui to agree to mediate, since Zhao Family had no reason to refuse merely passing along a message.

"Yuting is not home. Ziheng, immediately call over the wives of Fifth and Sixth. Have them learn the Sericulture Art from Qing'er. Qing'er, the wives of Fifth and Sixth are rather slow-witted, so Trouble yourself to teach them carefully. Yesterday, I wrote a personal letter and sent someone to deliver it to the Liu Family Head."

Zhao Ziheng answered and left after receiving his orders.

"Aunt, you are too courteous. This is what I, your niece-in-law, should do."

Liu Qing'er said modestly.

Three days later, Liu HuaiRen, the Liu Family Head, arrived at Butterfly Valley with two Clan Elders.

Liu HuaiRen was fifty-three this year. In his early years, he had been responsible for transporting goods and was a shrewd, calculating man. From Song Ziyang, he learned that the Wang Family had discovered a mine. They hit it off at once, and together with the Sun Family, the three families joined hands to deal with the Wang Family, preferably seizing this mine for themselves.

However, several days earlier, the clansmen sent out had returned to report that Wang Yaozong had personally come to the rescue and killed one of the Liu Family's clansmen.

Not long afterward, Wang Yaozong rode a Second Grade Mid Rank Golden Beak Eagle to Green Bamboo Market and circled Green Bamboo Valley several times, frightening those Qi Refining Cultivators badly. They thought someone was about to attack the Market.

Wang Yaozong threw down several corpses, claiming they were Heretical Cultivators he had killed, and left behind harsh words: "If others do not offend me, I will not offend them. But if others offend me, I will certainly offend them. The Wang Family is not a soft persimmon for others to knead as they please. Whoever wishes to humiliate the Wang Family, I, Wang Yaozong, will be the first not to agree."

Clearly, this was Wang Yaozong warning the three families not to go too far.

If it were only Wang Yaozong, the other three families would not be afraid. But with a Second Grade Mid Rank Golden Beak Eagle added to the equation, things were different.

Spirit Birds flew extremely fast and were more agile than Spirit Beasts. If things truly came to a fight to the death, with fish dying and nets tearing, a single family might not be able to withstand the Wang Family.

Of course, if all-out war broke out, the Wang Family would certainly be no match for them. But if it truly came to that, the other three families would also suffer considerable losses.

The crux of the matter was whether the Quarry in Green Stone Town contained a Metal Ore Vein. It had to be at least a Medium Metal Ore Vein. If it was a Small Metal Mine, each family would not receive much wealth. Yet there was currently no proof that the Quarry contained a Medium Metal Ore Vein. What if the Song Family had fabricated the whole thing, intending to borrow the Liu Family's and Sun Family's strength to deal with the Wang Family? Liu HuaiRen would not accept that.

Just then, Liu HuaiRen received Zhao Yuhui's personal letter, asking him to visit Butterfly Valley and sit down for a proper discussion with Wang Mingyuan. After all, everyone was related.

The Zhao Family and Liu Family were connected by marriage, and the Zhao Family and Wang Family were also connected by marriage. It was only reasonable for the Zhao Family to step forward and mediate.

Liu HuaiRen's younger brother had married Zhao Yuhui's niece, and the two families interacted frequently. Liu HuaiRen was not worried that Zhao Yuhui would harm him, so he came to visit with two Clan Elders.

Thank you to Shou He for the reward. I am Salted Fish Mo, and I am late again.