20: Chapter 20 Market

"Could Father and Sixth Uncle see through it?"

Wang Chongyang nodded slightly, stroked his beard, and said, "Good. Using it at a critical juncture of the Family's survival is a hundred times better than keeping it for private use."

He pondered for a moment and sighed with emotion.

"Shouren, you mustn't find it strange. How vast the Immortal Realm is! The Yue Kingdom is merely a tiny place; beyond the Yue Kingdom, there are the Great Jin and Great Chu, as well as the Thirty-Six Islands of the East Sea and the Myriad Buddha Kingdom of the Western Regions."

"When this old man traveled outside in my youth, I once heard people speak of the methods practiced by those eminent monks in the Buddha Kingdom, named 'Transformation', which can eliminate people's baleful Qi, dissolve their resentment and venom, and make heinous villains lay down their butcher knives and convert to Buddhism."

"Since the lotus seed you obtained can dispel hatred, perhaps it is a Buddhist legacy treasure left behind after some eminent monk passed away."

Wang Shouren was stunned, thinking, "I hadn't figured out how to explain the origin of this item yet, but Sixth Grandpa had already fabricated it for me. Did he have to be so considerate?"

Wang Yaozu also smiled and chimed in.

"Sixth Uncle is right, Shouren. You must not carry a psychological burden. We are all one Family, close flesh and blood; who would covet a clansman's Opportunity? Being able to use such a treasure for the Family's major affairs brings only gratification to your father's heart, absolutely without any other thoughts."

Wang Shouren felt his face burning slightly. He hurriedly stood up and bowed deeply to the two of them, "Thank you, Sixth Grandpa and Father, for your understanding."

What he said just now was actually half-true and half-false.

The lotus seed was indeed planted within Tian Zhen's Divine Soul, and it did indeed dispel that child's hatred toward the Wang Family, but the lotus seed was not used up once and for all, and the black lotus was by no means some Buddhist legacy treasure.

The Buddhist transformation method Wang Chongyang mentioned just now was fundamentally poles apart from the black lotus's methods of devouring Divine Souls and planting lotus seeds to control hearts.

But he could not say it.

It was not a lack of trust in Father and Sixth Grandpa.

There were simply too many methods in the Immortal Realm—Soul Searching, Mind Reading, Dream Entering. No one knew on which day an expert with heaven-defying cultivation would descend upon Baishan County.

By then, not only he, but the entire Wang Family would suffer a devastating catastrophe.

The secret of the black lotus could only rot in his own stomach. This was not concealment; it was protection.

Wang Chongyang picked up his teacup, took a sip, and steered the conversation elsewhere, "Yaozu, has the loot from this trip to the Dadao Sect been tallied?"

Wang Yaozu took a Jade Slip out of his sleeve and handed it over, a trace of a smile appearing on his face.

"It has been tallied: over three thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones, two hundred Mid-Grade Spirit Stones, more than twenty Magical Artifacts of various kinds, and a number of Medicinal Pills."

"Among them, Body Refining Medicinal Pills and medicinal herbs make up the majority. Most of the Disciples in this Dadao Sect followed the path of Body Refining, so they did accumulate quite a bit of wealth. This harvest is worth a year's income of spiritual fish for our Wang Family."

Wang Chongyang took the Jade Slip, swept his Divine Sense across it, and nodded.

"Body Refining is also a path. There are quite a few clansmen with Four Spiritual Roots and Five Spiritual Roots in the Family. The Immortal Dao is difficult to achieve; if they can make up for it through Body Refining, it might not be an alternative way out."

"These Body Refining resources—this old man has thought about it and intend to allocate them separately to specially nurture a batch of clansmen with slightly poorer Aptitude."

After listening, Wang Shouren pondered for a moment and said,

"Sixth Grandpa, Father, this grandson has a suggestion. Since it is specialized cultivation, why not set up a selection within the Family, choosing people not by the level of their Spiritual Roots, but emphasizing three things: Heart-Nature, perseverance, and loyalty."

"All descendants of the Shou generation and below, regardless of whether they are direct or collateral branches, may participate. Those who pass will be cultivated with resources, and those who fail can also use this to see their own shortcomings clearly. Only thus can resources be used on the most suitable people."

Wang Chongyang and Wang Yaozu exchanged a glance and both nodded with a smile.

Wang Yaozu patted his son's shoulder, "This move is very appropriate. Father will discuss the detailed rules with your Second Uncle and Third Uncle later, and implement it as soon as possible while your Sixth Grandpa can still preside over the overall situation."

Wang Chongyang put down his teacup, swept his gaze over Wang Shouren, and suddenly said,

"Shouren, you have been running around repeatedly these past few days and experienced a life-and-death battle. Although your spiritual power is full, your aura is somewhat floating."

"As for that barrier-breaking pill, since you have obtained it, take it earlier. As for the drill of the Family's combined attack array and the matter of lecturing, your father and uncles will naturally manage them. Your most urgent matter right now is to raise your cultivation."

Just as Wang Shouren was about to reply, a sound transmission talisman in the Storage Pouch at his waist suddenly lit up with a faint glow.

He took it out and pressed it against his glabella. A moment later, he raised his head, a trace of a smile appearing on his face.

"Sixth Grandpa, Father, Shouxin just sent a message saying that the spiritual rice on Qinhu Mountain has fully ripened. He is too busy by himself and asked me to go back and help harvest it."

Wang Chongyang chuckled and waved his hand, "Go on, go on. Shouxin is also a good child. He has also performed meritorious service on Qinhu Mountain this time; remember to remind him to come back to receive the Family reward."

"Also, the Family has asked the Disciples within the clan to form Five Elements battle arrays with each other. Shouxin mainly Cultivates wood-attribute Cultivation Technique; you can let him come back to practice the battle array methods during his leisure time."

"This grandson understands."

Wang Shouren cupped his fists in a salute and turned to walk down the mountain.

In front of the stone table, Wang Chongyang picked up his teacup, watching the young man's receding figure, a faint smile emerging on his aged face.

Wang Yaozu also looked at his son's receding figure, his brow slightly furrowed.

"Sixth Uncle, you had Shouren responsible for exterminating the remnants of the Dadao Sect. If he could understand your profound meaning, things wouldn't have turned out the way they did later."

"Fledglings will eventually grow up. It doesn't matter if things are not done thoroughly; just temper him slowly."

At this moment, a figure flew over swiftly on a flying sword; the newcomer was none other than Wang Yaowen, who was in charge of the Law Enforcement Hall.

"Eldest Brother, Sixth Uncle."

After finishing his salute, Wang Yaowen first took a sip of the tea on the table. Judging by his dusty appearance, he had clearly traveled quite a bit.

Wang Chongyang nodded slightly, "Resolved?"

After finishing a large mouthful of water and feeling his throat a bit more comfortable, Wang Yaowen said, "They're all killed, not a single one left. All secret paths of the Dadao Sect have been inspected, and everyone associated with the Dadao Sect is dead. I even deliberately waited in that damn place for half a day to ensure there were no living people before hurrying back."

"Mhm, well done. Yaowen, Yaowu, and Shouren are all too kind-hearted and do not know this old man's profound meaning. Letting people leave was done for outsiders to see; once they entered the Dadao Sect, how could there be any innocents? They are all people who deserve to be killed!"

...

Qinhu Mountain Peak.

The mountain scenery grew richer. Two figures looked at the spiritual rice grain stack, which was as high as a mound of earth before them, smiling so broadly that they couldn't close their mouths.

Not far away, Wang Qingcheng, dressed in a cute yellow robe, was teasing Xiaotian. The person and the dog were playing to their heart's content.

When Wang Shouren returned, he was pestered by his younger sister, who insisted on following him to Qinhu Mountain to play.

Wang Shouxin wiped the sweat stains from his brow, "Brother Shouren, I estimated that this spiritual rice is a full seven or eight hundred catties. This is the first time we've harvested so much in so many years."

"Indeed, the spiritual rice ripens once a year, and in past years five or six hundred catties was the absolute limit. Thanks to you, Shouxin, tending to the spiritual fields day and night, we have today's bumper harvest. In a few days, when we go to the bazaar, we can exchange it for useful Cultivation resources!"

Wang Shouren meant these words sincerely. Shouxin was indeed dutiful and responsible, getting up early to tidy up the spiritual fields before dawn every day, often working the entire day and frequently forgetting to Cultivate.

Wang Shouxin scratched his head in embarrassment from the praise, while Wang Qingcheng sprang up like a cat that had smelled fish.

"Bazaar?"

"Brother, I heard there is a Loose Cultivator bazaar nearby. Take me with you."