80: Chapter 80 Initial Assumption of Power

Wang Chongyang pressed his hands against the armrests and slowly stood up.

A few years ago, this movement would have been very fluid, but now it was so slow as if he were moving a mountain.

His gaze swept across the faces of Wang Yaozu, Wang Yaowen, and Wang Yaowu one by one, finally landing on Wang Shouren.

"Since it has come to this, this old man shall make a decision."

His voice was not loud, but it carried an unquestionable weight, "Starting tomorrow, Yaozu will put aside all miscellaneous chores in his hands and concentrate on preparing for the Foundation Establishment Breakthrough, and the miscellaneous matters within the Family will be distributed to the second and third to handle."

"Whatever cannot be finished will be handed over to the Juniors below; they should also gain some real-world experience. If everyone were like Shouren, would you still need to worry so much?"

Wang Shouren smiled slightly and calmly accepted this praise.

Wang Yaowu touched his nose and smiled awkwardly, "Sixth Uncle, a sapling like Shouren only appears once every few generations in the Wang Family; your standards are simply too high."

Wang Chongyang ignored his interruption, with his hands clasped behind his back, looking at that gray sky outside the hall. After being silent for a good while, he slowly spoke.

"These past few days, this old man needs to go out on a trip to find an old friend."

He paused, and a trace of extremely faint bitterness appeared in his aged voice.

"This old man has never begged anyone in his entire life, and even unto death, I still have to cast aside this old face. Forget it, it is for the Family."

The hall quieted down.

Wang Yaozu's lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but Wang Chongyang raised his hand to stop him.

The old man turned his head, and his gaze landed on Wang Shouren. Deep within those turbid eyes, something was glowing faintly.

"Shouren, the matter of spiritual testing among the Mortals will be taken over by you. Since your father will be holding down the Family in the future, you should slowly learn to take over his position."

Wang Shouren bowed with cupped fists, his expression solemn, "Shouren will definitely do his utmost."

"Good." Wang Chongyang nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping across everyone present, "Since it has been decided, let us disperse and go about our respective business. This old man will return at the latest in ten days."

Early the next morning, Wang Shouren summoned all the young disciples of the Shou generation whose cultivation was at or above the Qi Refining Middle Stage to the side council hall.

Seventeen young people filled the hall, both male and female, ranging in age from fifteen or sixteen to early twenties.

"So many people! Compared to before my seclusion, the number has increased by seven or eightfold." Seeing the number of arrivals truly surprised Wang Shouren; sure enough, besides hard work, resources were also very important for Cultivators.

With resources distributed, the saplings shot straight up.

Among these faces, there were some that Wang Shouren had not seen for two years. Before his seclusion, they were just hot-headed boys at the third or fourth layer of Qi Refining, but now their auras were much steadier, and standing there, they faintly possessed the bearing to hold their own.

He unfolded a map around Baishan County and used a cinnabar brush to circle more than ten towns and villages where Mortals gathered.

Each location was marked with population size and distance, from Baishan Town in the suburbs near Lotus Pier to the most remote Qingniu Hollow, a radius of a hundred miles was completely included within it.

According to the size of the settlements and the distance of the journey, he divided the manpower into groups of two, with each group responsible for three to four towns and villages, and distributed a batch of newly made communication talismans from the Family one by one.

"Shouxin, you pick one person to be responsible for the six towns and villages around Qinhu Mountain. You are familiar with that area."

Wang Shouxin raised his head and strode out, "Yes, Brother Shouren."

Afterwards, he circled a spot in the south of the map.

"Shouyi, Qingling Town, Pubo Town, and Daliu Town are close to Xiaoshan County. You and Shoudong can look out for each other."

Wang Shouyi's injuries had long since recovered, and he directly accepted the order.

"Shouren, you can rest assured. If those little bastards from the Ning Family dare to come and cause trouble, we'll hack them to death."

"Hahaha."

Everyone burst into laughter. The decline of the Ning Family was already a foregone conclusion; apart from the head of the Family, Ning Shengli, they truly were not afraid of anyone else.

"This spiritual testing is a major event for the Family to expand its Foundation. We must strive to test everyone possible and not miss a single child with a Spiritual Root. Every household must be asked; if there are any omissions, the Family will make another trip later to make up for it."

He looked around at everyone, softening his tone a bit, "Look out for each other on the road, and do not try to act tough when encountering trouble. If you encounter areas occupied by Loose Cultivators, just report the name of the Wang Family, and they will naturally grant convenience. Report with the communication talismans once every three days. If there are any abnormalities, immediately ask for reinforcements and do not delay."

Everyone responded in unison, each taking their tasks from the map and leaving in pairs.

Soon the side hall emptied out, leaving only Wang Shouren lowering his head to add a stroke to the last blank area on the map.

That was the most remote village in the southeast corner, closely bordering the territory of Funiu County. Walking three miles further east would be the sphere of influence of the Yan Family.

Although the population in that area was not dense, there were a few scattered hunter villages that relied on the mountains for a living. The location was remote, and the road was difficult to walk; it was the hardest route to run across the entire map.

He put away the cinnabar brush, rolled up the map, and placed it on the table.

Before he could speak, Wang Qingcheng, who had been silently fidgeting with the Puppet Rat by the door all along, suddenly raised her head. A bit of crystal debris was stained on her round bun, and her blinking eyes seemed to have a premonition of something.

Wang Shouren looked at her and said, "Why aren't you coming over yet? Come with me. That route is close to the Yan Family's territory, and I wouldn't feel at ease leaving it to others."

Wang Qingcheng was stunned for a moment, tucked the Puppet Rat into her bosom, pattered over, raised her face, and asked, "Just the two of us?"

"Just the two of us."

Wang Shouren reached out and plucked the bit of crystal debris stained on her temple, "What, you aren't willing?"

Wang Qingcheng shook her head like a rattle-drum, the corners of her mouth already curling up uncontrollably. She grabbed his sleeve and pulled him outward, "Then let's go quickly! I want to ride Xiaotian!"

"Riding a dog will ruin your pants."

"I don't care."

"Xiaotian is an unranked Yao Beast and cannot carry you."

"I don't care!!!"

Wang Shouren looked at his younger sister's justified and brazen, act-like-a-rogue appearance, shook his head helplessly, and raised his hand to whistle.

Xiaotian dashed out from the base of the courtyard wall, circled around Wang Qingcheng twice, its tail wagging like a windmill.

Wang Qingcheng joyfully pressed down on Xiaotian's head and climbed onto the dog's back.

"Xiaotian, get bigger for me."

Xiaotian snorted in dissatisfaction, but still obediently grew a circle larger, about the size of a small calf. This was already its limit.

After all, it was just an ordinary earthly dog. Being able to open a shred of spiritual intelligence and absorb Spiritual Qi was entirely due to staying year-round in this blessed land of Lotus Pier.

Xiaotian trotted away toward the outside of the mountain gate with Wang Qingcheng on its back. Wang Shouren found it embarrassing and slowly packed some things without following immediately.

The young disciples of the Shou generation watched the receding figures of the person and the dog. Unknowing who laughed first, a wave of good-natured laughter suddenly erupted.

Mangdang Mountain, Qingfu Market.

The origin of this market was something every Loose Cultivator in the Three Counties could talk about for a bit.

Mangdang Mountain was located at the intersection of the Three Counties of Baishan, Xiaoshan, and Funiu, ignored by heaven and earth. More than a hundred years ago, it was a bandit den occupied by wicked Cultivators.

Later, a Cultivator came from somewhere unknown, took a fancy to this piece of land, and came into conflict with that group of wicked bandits. In a fit of rage, he slaughtered the entire nest of wicked bandits clean.

Afterwards, this Foundation Establishment Cultivator opened a market on the spot, named it Qingfu, and became the market master himself.

Unconvinced Loose Cultivators came to cause trouble, but upon seeing the market master himself, they left crestfallen.

Over a hundred years passed, and Daoist Qingfu had long since stopped showing his face, but the market was still operating steadily.

The Loose Cultivators of the Three Counties all said that this Daoist Qingfu had lived for at least nearly two hundred years, and his cultivation was unfathomable.

That batch of wicked bandits back then was also unlucky; of all territories to occupy, they just had to occupy this one.

Deepest within the market, an inconspicuous old Daoist temple was hidden behind a few old locust trees.

The temple gates were half-closed, and there wasn't even a plaque on the lintel. Only an ever-lit lamp hung under the corridor, its flame swaying slightly in the afternoon wind.

An old man wearing a gray cloth Daoist robe stood in front of the temple gate. His beard and hair were completely white, his figure was withered and thin, and the aura around his body was retracted completely clean.

Several Loose Cultivators passed by him, but none of them glanced at him twice, simply assuming he was some down-and-out old Daoist coming to the market to make a living.

Wang Chongyang clasped his hands behind his back and looked at that ever-lit lamp. His aged voice carried a bit of emotion and a bit of melancholy.

"Qingfu, it has been a long time since I came. If this old man doesn't come to find you, will you not come to find me either?"