Chapter 208: Chapter 97: A Stolen Moment of Leisure

Wang Ping wasn’t overly concerned about the issue of the clans. However, he couldn’t let them grow too powerful. In his territory, at least, he wouldn’t allow anyone to become a source of turmoil.

After the luncheon ended, Liu Chang pulled Wang Ping aside for two games of Go. Wang Ping treated the matches like a game, and the two were evenly matched, with both games ending in a draw.

While Guangxuan and Liu Chang played their game, Wang Ping glanced over at the younger generation before turning to Guangxuan. "You should have just about finished absorbing the Spirit Vein by now. Are you preparing to advance to the Second Realm?"

"It’s all thanks to Liu Chang’s help. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have absorbed the integrated Spirit Vein so quickly." Guangxuan’s gaze shifted from the game board to Wang Ping. "As for the Second Realm, I plan to take the path of Spirit Vein development and slowly nurture a Spirit Vein Soul within my body."

"Do you have a specific plan?" Wang Ping asked.

"In his youth, my father obtained a Secret Technique called the *Spirit Water Technique*," Liu Chang interjected. "It’s considered a Superior Secret Technique, and it details how to use one’s internal Water Spirit Vein to seed a soul. I brought it with me when I last returned home. I was planning to use its method for my own Soul Refining. If you’re interested, Guangxuan, we could practice it together."

Wang Ping was taken aback. He looked at Liu Chang but said nothing, as it was Guangxuan’s place to respond.

"Oh?"

Guangxuan was tempted. "How would I learn it?"

He was asking about the cost.

"It’s simple. Come to my Dao Field when we return to Sanhe Prefecture, and you’ll find out," Liu Chang replied generously.

This left Guangxuan at a loss for how to respond.

Wang Ping smoothly picked up the conversation. "Something that belongs to your father... surely it’s not appropriate for an outsider to study it?"

At this, Liu Chang looked up at them. Seeing their serious expressions, he chuckled. "My father collected many Secret Techniques for Water Spirit Cultivation. This is a small matter, and one I have the authority to decide."

He then added, "Just consider it rent for my Dao Field."

He said it with sincerity.

After a moment’s thought, Wang Ping understood. To Liu Chang, he and Guangxuan were lifesavers. A mere Cultivation Technique probably didn’t mean much to him in comparison.

The matter was not discussed further, as the details were for Guangxuan and Liu Chang to sort out privately.

The three then tacitly turned their focus back to the game board. When the match reached a stalemate, Wang Ping quietly withdrew and sat down on the roots of a nearby Spirit Wood Tree.

Yu Lian, who had been napping in the old pagoda tree, immediately rode a cloud over and landed on Wang Ping. "What were you all just talking about?" she asked. "Why were the emotional fluctuations so intense?"

"Something interesting."

"What interesting thing?"

As Yu Lian pressed him, Wang Ping stood up, walked over to where the wine was kept, and picked up a jar of aged vintage. He then quietly recounted what had just happened.

"You’re just being paranoid. Liu Chang’s spirit is righteous, and his heart is pure. I’m sure he just genuinely wants to help Guangxuan."

"I’ve dealt with too much recently. It’s made me suspicious."

"Your cultivation still isn’t profound enough."

"You’re right about that."

Wang Ping picked up the wine jar, poured himself a cup, and ended the conversation.

Yu Lian glanced up at the sun, wrapped herself around Wang Ping’s left arm, and prepared to go back to sleep. But then her eyes darted to the side, and she saw Shen Xiaozhu standing awkwardly in the distance. She zipped over on a cloud and pulled Shen Xiaozhu along toward Hu Qianqian.

Wang Ping watched this unfold with great interest. Then, he cleared his mind, relaxed his body, leaned back against the trunk of the Spirit Wood Tree, and closed his eyes. Soon, he felt a wave of relaxation wash over him, and even the circulation in his Qi Sea seemed to slow.

He had actually fallen asleep.

He slept very soundly, but woke up less than two hours later.

Liu Chang and Guangxuan were still engrossed in their game. Somehow, Liu Ling, Zhao Yu’Er, Su Sea, and Wang Li had gathered together and were chatting quietly among themselves.

At some point, Yu Lian had returned and was now napping on him. At the edge of the garden, Hu Qianqian and Shen Xiaozhu were brewing tea. They must have been having a pleasant conversation, as both of them were smiling.

Yu Lian opened her eyes the moment Wang Ping woke. "You rarely sleep that soundly," she said. "Even your soul was completely still."

"I was suddenly exhausted."

"Then why not sleep a little longer?"

"My body woke up on its own."

Wang Ping picked up the wine jar beside him, walked over to where Guangxuan and Liu Chang were playing, and set it down next to them. Then, he headed for his small courtyard.

He had barely sat down when Liu Ling entered respectfully.

"Grandmaster."

"Is something troubling you?"

"I plan to attempt Foundation Establishment again in half a month!"

"Are you confident?"

"Yes."

Wang Ping nodded. He reached out, drew a Talisman in the air, and sent it into Liu Ling’s body. "This time," he said, "you will certainly succeed."

It was a Blessing Talisman.

"Thank you, Grandmaster."

"Maintain this state of mind. If the Heaven and Earth Rules permit mere mortals like us to cultivate for longevity, then every one of us must have a chance at success."

"Yes!"

After Liu Ling bowed and departed, Zhao Yu’Er entered the courtyard. Due to her background, she had always struggled with feelings of inferiority, but that had also fostered a defiant spirit in her. After succeeding in Foundation Establishment before Liu Ling, however, she had become rather self-indulgent. Now, she seemed to have returned to her former quiet state.

"Grandmaster, will my Master be able to break through to the next realm?"

Wang Ping was surprised by Zhao Yu’Er’s question. He replied softly, "With me here, she will not fail."

"Can I break through?"

"Are you confident?"

"No..."

"Then you must first cultivate your state of mind. Perhaps you could take on a disciple. By watching them grow, you might learn something new." 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

After listening, Zhao Yu’Er bowed respectfully. "Thank you, Grandmaster. I will try that."

With that, she took her leave.

Next, Su Sea and Wang Li came in to report on their cultivation progress. Su Sea had finished nurturing his Demon Soldiers and was ready for advancement at any moment. Wang Li had also prepared the materials to advance as an Artifact Cultivator and planned to enter closed-door cultivation sometime this year.

Finally, Hu Qianqian came to see him alone.

"Our surveillance of Ningzhou Road continues," Hu Qianqian reported. "Their activities have become more frequent lately, and I suspect something is about to happen. However, that Alchemist still hasn’t made a move."

"There’s no need to rush."

"Yes!" Hu Qianqian acknowledged, then changed the subject. "Many members of the Demon Race with unknown origins have appeared in Wudao Prefecture recently. Should we organize a sweep of the mountains?"

"Are there any powerful opponents among them?"

"Not particularly," Hu Qianqian said bluntly. "But it would result in a great deal of bloodshed. And if great chaos one day engulfs the world, we might earn the enmity of certain Demon Race factions."

"Do you have a better idea?"

"We could, in the name of the Court, enfeoff some easily controlled Mountain Gods and have them eliminate the superfluous members of the Demon Race." Hu Qianqian proposed her solution. In doing so, she was also leaving an opening for some of her own kin.

"Go find Yang Hou and have him handle it."