Chapter 116: Ye Fan Recovers From His Injuries
The elders exchanged puzzled glances. Their initial skepticism began to wane as they observed the spark of ingenuity in their Patriarch’s eyes.
“I have an acquaintance,” Wang Li began, a mischievous glint in his eyes, “a skilled alchemist named Ning Yue. We have a mutually beneficial arrangement. She produces unique pellets that can significantly enhance one’s cultivation.”
He paused for dramatic effect, then continued, “These include Core Strengthening Pellets for Core Formation cultivators, Nascent Soul Condensation Pellets for those seeking to break through to the Nascent Soul Realm.”
“Furthermore,” Wang Li continued, his voice low and thrilling, “I possess another recipe – the Core Condensation Pellet. This pill allows cultivators at the peak of Foundation Establishment to take that critical leap into the Core Formation Realm.”
A collective gasp escaped the elder’s lips. These were not ordinary pellets; they were cultivator’s dream come true! The potential implications were staggering.
“Ning Yue,” Wang Li continued, “would be more than happy to produce a large number of these pellets upon my request. We can offer them as incentives to these male cultivators if they choose to join the Wang Family through marriage. Imagine, a young, ambitious cultivator, offered a chance to advance their cultivation rapidly, combined with the potential to build a future within a growing family – it’s a compelling proposition.”
The elders erupted in a flurry of enthusiastic agreement. This was a brilliant plan! The prospect of such powerful pills would surely entice talented cultivators, even if the Wang Family itself wasn’t at its peak.
“But Patriarch,” Wang Zhenzhu interjected, her voice laced with a hint of caution, “how can we be sure these men will be genuinely interested in our daughters and not just the pills?”
Wang Li chuckled, a self-assured air radiating from him. “Esteemed elders,” he said, “leave the selection to me. I possess a certain… knack for discerning talent and good character.”
The elders, trusting in his leadership qualities and strategic mind, readily agreed. After all, hadn’t he already proven himself a master of maneuvering through difficult situations?
The council continued, filled with renewed energy and a clear direction for the future.
The elders, energized by Wang Li’s strategic plan, dispersed, each tasked with a specific responsibility. Wang Li, a satisfied smile playing on his lips, wasted no time. He retrieved a handful of shimmering communication talismans, each imbued with his spiritual energy.
With a flick of his wrist, he activated one talisman, his voice resonating across the inscribed surface. “Qingwu,” it boomed, “I require your assistance in securing the Wang Family’s immediate safety. We need defensive array formations, boundary fields, and barrier formations to surround our territory. Additionally, we could use some experts in setting up these formations and resources to maintain them for a few months.”
The talisman pulsed with a warm light before dissipating, carrying his recorded message to the Xia Family Manor. He repeated the process, his voice resonating within another talisman addressed to Song Jingyan, the shrewd Matriarch of the Song Family. The message conveyed the same requirements, highlighting the Wang Family’s dire need for immediate protection.
With a final flourish, Wang Li activated the last talisman. This one, unlike the others, wasn’t his voice but Wang Xiangyi’s. Her voice, imbued with a touch of urgency, echoed within the talisman. “Ning Yue,” she addressed the enigmatic alchemist, “we have delivered on our promise. Ye Fan’s reputation is in tatters, and he is a fugitive. It’s time for you to fulfill your end of the bargain. Come to the Wang Family Manor.”
She further added, “We are aware that your sales of the pills formulated from Wang Li’s recipe have generated a substantial amount of spirit stones. As per our prior agreement, a portion of the profits belongs to the Wang Li. We want you to contribute Wang Li’s share to the Wang Family’s treasury.”
The message continued, subtly hinting at a more long-term arrangement. “Furthermore,” Wang Xiangyi continued, “the Wang Family can provide a steady stream of resources you require for your alchemy. We can even handle the sales and distribution, ensuring you a significant profit margin.”
The talisman pulsed once before dissolving, carrying Wang Xiangyi’s enticing offer across the vast expanse.
Meanwhile, within the opulent confines of the Xia Family Manor, Xia Qingwu received Wang Li’s message. A flicker of worry crossed her features, replaced by steely resolve. She understood the urgency of the situation and immediately dispatched a team of trusted array formation experts along with the necessary materials. These were individuals sworn to secrecy, their loyalty to the Xia Family unquestionable.
Across the city, in the imposing Song Family Mansion, a similar scene unfolded. Song Jingyan, upon receiving Wang Li’s message, wasted no time.
She readily dispatched skilled personnel familiar with maintaining and managing herb gardens and ore mines. These individuals, bound by a strict code of conduct, wouldn’t divulge sensitive information about the Wang Family’s resources.
Meanwhile, hundreds of miles away, the communication talisman addressed to Ning Yue landed with a soft thud in a secluded courtyard. Nestled within a bustling marketplace, this hidden haven served as Ning Yue’s private laboratory. The air hummed with the faint scent of exotic herbs and the subtle crackling of a potent alchemical furnace.
Ning Yue, a woman with a sharp intellect and an even sharper tongue, retrieved the talisman with a curious frown.
As Wang Xiangyi’s voice filled the air, her eyes narrowed in appraisal. Tarnishing the reputation of her hated enemy, Ye Fan, had indeed been a boon. And the prospect of a steady supply of resources and a lucrative sales network was undeniably attractive.
A sly smile curved her lips. The Wang Family, once scorned and ostracized, was going to prove itself to be a good strategic ally.
With a flick of her wrist, she sent a reply talisman back, her voice laced with amusement.
“Wang Xiangyi,” it echoed, “consider it done. I shall arrive at your doorstep within a fortnight.”
The Wang Family’s network, once fractured, was slowly mending. With strategically placed messages and promises of mutual benefit, Wang Li and Wang Xiangyi were setting the stage for a future filled with growth and influence.
The embers of the Wang Family’s legacy were rekindled, and the flames of their resurgence were about to engulf the cultivation world.
~~
Within the bustling city of Tianlong, nestled amongst the snow-capped peaks of the Western Kingdom, Ye Fan nursed his wounds. The once bright-eyed young cultivator, heralded as a genius, was now a hunted fugitive.
The revelation of his demonic cultivation had shattered his facade, turning him into public enemy number one.
The Azure Peak Sect, his former sect, led the relentless pursuit. Elders, fueled by righteous fury, unleashed a torrent of attacks – powerful techniques, enchanted treasures, and explosive talismans.
Even with his formidable Five Elemental Spiritual Physique and the Demonic Body Cultivation Technique, Ye Fan was overwhelmed by their sheer numbers.
Days passed within the secluded cave provided by King Haoran, a wise ruler who had taken a gamble on the fallen cultivator.
The King, aware of the treacherous cultivation world, understood the value of a powerful ally. In exchange for protection, Ye Fan promised the King a unique cultivation technique and his expertise in dealing with rogue cultivators who plagued the kingdom.
The silence of the cave was broken only by Ye Fan’s labored breaths as he channeled his demonic energy. Days of focused healing restored his vitality, mending the physical and spiritual wounds inflicted by the Azure Peak Sect. However, a different kind of fire burned within him – the fire of vengeance.
A surge of demonic energy coursed through his veins, a testament to his progress. The Demonic Body Cultivation Technique, hardened by adversity, had achieved a minor breakthrough. His strength and healing speed had demonstrably improved.
With renewed power, Ye Fan’s mind raced. He recognized the faces of his downfall – the beautiful disciples of the Stone Mountain Sect, whom he had once ruthlessly violated.
But he wasn’t a fool. He saw the strings pulling their actions.
Liu Xue, the seemingly innocent core disciple of the Jade Lotus Palace, was the one who initiated this domino effect against him. Her public declaration, denouncing his fabricated accusations against the Wang Family, had set the stage.
Then came Mao Caiwei, a former beauty of the Stone Mountain Sect, now an outer disciple of the Jade Lotus Palace. Her revelation, branding him the murderer of the Stone Mountain Sect’s leader and elders, fueled the righteous fury.
But behind these women, Ye Fan saw the true puppeteers – Wang Li and Wang Xiangyi. The siblings, once his targets, had become his most formidable enemies.
They had cleverly exploited the situation, leveraging the women’s suffering to not only prove their own innocence but also paint him as a diabolical villain.
A dark chuckle escaped Ye Fan’s lips, escalating into a chilling laugh that echoed through the cave. The laughter, devoid of any humor, spoke volumes of the simmering rage within.
Revenge. It was a cold, consuming fire that now fueled his every thought.
“Liu Xue,” he hissed, his voice dripping with venom. “Mao Caiwei. Wang Li, Wang Xiangyi. You will all pay!”
He slammed his fist against the cave wall, the force leaving a deep imprint. The seclusion had provided respite, but it was over. Ye Fan, the fallen prodigy, would rise from the ashes, darker, more potent, and fueled by an insatiable thirst for vengeance.
