56: Chapter 56 Foundation Building Standoff

Hua Shaoyang took out a jade box from his arms and opened it with one hand.

Lying in the box was a fist-sized spiritual fruit, crimson all over, with fine golden patterns flowing endlessly across its skin. At the stem hung a few tender green leaves, with dew drops condensing on them, looking as fresh as if they had just been plucked from the tree.

A crisp fruity fragrance diffused through the air, and just a single sniff made one feel that the Meridians throughout the body had lightened quite a bit.

The entire hall was shocked.

Wang Yaozu suddenly stood up, his pupils shrinking abruptly.

Wang Yaowen's hand holding the teacup stopped mid-air, and he remained completely oblivious even as the tea spilled over the rim of the cup.

The few old fellows who knew their goods gasped deeply, blurting out, "A Lifespan Fruit!"

If consumed by a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, the Lifespan Fruit could increase one's Lifespan by ten years; if consumed by a Qi Refining Cultivator, it could prolong it by twenty.

This kind of spiritual fruit was only cultivated in the Baihua Sect's Hundred Flowers Valley, watered by millennium-old spiritual springs, and took a hundred years to ripen. No more than ten pieces flowed out of the entire Yue State each year.

Every single one that appeared at an auction could incite Sects and aristocratic families to fight until their heads were beaten bloody.

If Wang Chongyang could obtain this fruit, he would no longer need to bitterly endure that half-year countdown, and he could protect the Family for another ten years.

Hua Shaoyang took in the shocked expressions of the Family members, the corners of his mouth turning up slightly.

He snapped his folding fan open, shook it gently a couple of times, and his gaze swept past the crowd, landing in the direction of the bamboo building on the back mountain.

He knew that Wang Chongyang was there, and he knew even better what this old man lacked the most.

To a Foundation Establishment Cultivator whose Lifespan was nearing its end, the Lifespan Fruit was not a gift; it was life itself.

He did not believe the Family could refuse. As long as Wang Chongyang accepted the Lifespan Fruit, Wang Qingyan would be his person.

As for whether Wang Qingyan herself was willing—that was not important.

There was no woman in this world whose legs Hua Shaoyang could not pry open with Spirit Stones and power.

"Junior Hua Shaoyang of the Baihua Sect. My father is Hua Baichuan, who unworthily serves as an Elder of the Baihua Sect in the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment."

He cupped his fists slightly toward the back mountain. His tone was respectful, but his smile could not hide the arrogance in his bones.

"I have long heard of the great name of Master Wang, and today I have specially brought a Lifespan Fruit to ask for the hand in marriage of Young Miss Qingyan from your esteemed Family."

"If Master Wang is willing to grant this union, this Lifespan Fruit will be this Junior's betrothal gift. In addition, this Junior can also recommend Family disciples to the Sect to cultivate in the outer Sect of the Baihua Sect, and women to enter the Baihua Sect. With our two families marrying into each other, it is a sure-win and profitable business for the Family's century-old foundation. What does Master Wang think?"

Inside and outside the mountain gate, there was dead silence. Everyone's gaze looked toward that grey figure walking out slowly from the bamboo building on the back mountain.

Wang Chongyang was still in that grey cloth Daoist robe, still holding that iron sword that could not be more ordinary.

He stood still in front of the mountain gate. His gaze lingered on Hua Shaoyang's face for a moment, then fell upon that Lifespan Fruit.

When he looked at the Lifespan Fruit, there was no greed whatsoever on that deeply wrinkled face; there was only a faint understanding, as if he were looking at something very precious yet entirely unrelated to himself.

"Young Master Hua." Wang Chongyang's voice was aged and steady. "This old man has lived for nearly two hundred years, and some truths are only understood after living to this age. Lifespan is a good thing, and this old man lacks it more than anyone else."

"Yet I, Wang Chongyang, have lived my entire life without ever trading the lifelong happiness of a Family Junior for my own life. I haven't done so in the past, I won't today, and I never will in the future. This old man would rather live standing for half a year than kneeling for ten years. Young Master Hua, please take this Lifespan Fruit back."

The smile on Hua Shaoyang's face stiffened slightly for a split second.

He never expected that Wang Chongyang would directly refuse without even hesitating. How could there be someone in this world who would refuse a spiritual fruit that increased Lifespan by ten years, just to protect a collateral granddaughter?

Thinking that Wang Chongyang was merely putting up a facade in front of the crowd, he piled his smile back on, though his tone carried a few traces of an intangible chill.

"Master Wang need not rush to refuse. Lifespan Fruit is something met by chance and not sought; if missed today, it may not exist in the future. Master is advanced in years; having ten more years of Lifespan means being able to protect the Family for ten more years. Without Master, you are clearer in your heart than this Junior what kind of fate awaits the Family."

Wang Qingyan suddenly spoke up.

She stepped forward and bowed to Wang Chongyang. Her voice was as cold and aloof as ever, yet it trembled slightly.

"Sixth Grandpa, Qingyan is merely a collateral descendant. There are still many people in the Family with better Aptitude than me. If trading my life's happiness can exchange for Sixth Grandpa's ten years of Lifespan and ten years of stability for the Family, it is worth it."

Wang Chongyang did not look at her.

He raised his hand, and an extremely fine red light flew out from his fingertips, striking Wang Qingyan's mute acupoint directly.

Wang Qingyan's lips quivered, but she could no longer emit any sound. Her eyes widened, tears streaming out of her sockets, yet not even a single sob could be choked out.

Wang Chongyang gently pulled her behind him. When those turbid eyes turned toward Hua Shaoyang, the calmness in them had transformed into a chilling, freezing glare.

"Young Master Hua, was this old man's words not clear enough? Listen well." His voice suddenly rose, every word like an iron hammer smashing onto a chopping board. "The women of the Family are not for sale."

The smile on Hua Shaoyang's face finally vanished completely.

He put the Lifespan Fruit back into the jade box, slowly closed the lid, and raised his head to look straight at Wang Chongyang. The amiable and gentle disguise in his eyes was torn to shreds, leaving behind only an arrogant and gloomy malice.

"Master Wang, have you thought this through? If you do not accept this Lifespan Fruit today, there will still be plenty of ways for me to win the beauty over in the future. It's just that by then..."

He glanced around, his gaze pausing on Wang Qingyan for a moment before sweeping across the pavilions and towers of Lotus Pier, the corners of his mouth hooking into a cruel smile. "By then, it won't be a betrothal gift, but a trophy."

Just as his voice fell, a Foundation Establishment Spiritual Pressure descended from the clouds.

"Young Master Hua, what bold words."

This voice wasn't loud, but it steadily suppressed the lingering echo of Hua Shaoyang's threat.

Everyone looked up and saw a cyan light fleeing down from the horizon. After landing, it revealed an old man wearing a cyan official robe—none other than the Magistrate of Wanshan County, Hu Shan.

Hua Shaoyang's brows furrowed slightly, then smoothed out again as he cupped his fists and said, "Magistrate Hu, this is a private matter between my Baihua Sect and the Family. Does the Magistrate intend to meddle as well?"

Hu Shan stood with his hands behind his back, wearing the usual smile of the officialdom on his face, yet his tone was neither humble nor overbearing.

"Young Master Hua speaks well. Since it is a private matter, this official naturally cannot interfere. However, this is ultimately under the jurisdiction of Wanshan County, and the taxes paid by the Family every year make up the bulk of Wanshan County's revenue."

"Young Master Hua uttered wild words in Lotus Pier, saying things about turning someone into a trophy. If this official turns a blind eye, I'm afraid it won't be easy to explain to the other families."

"Furthermore, Wanshan County is the territory of the Spirit Sword Sect, not the Hundred Flowers Valley of the Baihua Sect. How Young Master Hua acts in the Hundred Flowers Valley is none of this official's business. But threatening this county's taxpayers right in front of this official—Young Master Hua, you are making it very difficult for me."

Hua Shaoyang's expression finally changed.

He looked down on Hu Shan's cultivation—merely a Middle Stage Foundation Establishment. Standing behind him was the entire Baihua Sect.

However, his father Hua Baichuan had given him repeated instructions before he left home to restrain himself outside and avoid any direct conflict with the Spirit Sword Sect at all costs.

Although the Baihua Sect was strong, the Spirit Sword Sect was not weak either. The two Sects were interconnected; a single move could affect the whole body, and he wasn't stupid enough to cause trouble for the Sect just for a momentary impulse.

He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the surging anger, and put on a composed smile once more. "What the Magistrate says is true; this Junior spoke rashly, and asks the Magistrate to forgive him." He paused, shifting his gaze back to Wang Chongyang, his smile carrying a bit more playfulness.

"However, Master Wang, today's matter must have some conclusion. This Junior has come from afar, and I certainly cannot return empty-handed." He suddenly turned his head and crooked his finger at Ning Liandie, who was standing stiffly behind the crowd.