Family Rise: Beginning with Grandfather.

Chapter 740 Shadows Rise, Soul-Severing Blade
After taking their seats, Wan Jinshui immediately picked up the gift list that was placed beside him, handed it to Yang Zhengshan, and said, "My family has done some things wrong in the past, please forgive us, senior!"

They really came to apologize!
Yang Zhengshan took the gift list, glanced at it casually, and put it aside, saying with a smile, "These are all trivial matters, no need to be so polite!"

As for the items on the gift list, well...

It was already considered valuable to the Wan family, but to Yang Zhengshan it was nothing.

That is, something worth a dozen or so spirit stones.

Wan Jinshui was clearly relieved to hear Yang Zhengshan say that.

Yang Zhengshan didn't say much to him, picked up the tea and took a small sip, which was quite a gesture of seeing the guest off.

Wan Jinshui smiled somewhat awkwardly and said, "Actually, I have another request to make!"

"What is it?" Yang Zhengshan asked without looking up.

Wan Jinshui hesitated for a moment before saying, "Senior, the Zhang family of Luyuan has been harassing my family's sacred land many times recently, and they almost attacked my family's clan land a few days ago. Therefore, I would like to join forces with you to deal with the Zhang family!"

Yang Zhengshan's heart stirred slightly upon hearing this.

Five years have passed, and the Lu family's ban on annexing spirit fields has expired. These martial arts families are starting to get restless again!
The Zhang family of Luyuan was also the neighbor of the Yang family. In the past, when the Xiang family was powerful, the Zhang family of Luyuan was often oppressed by the Zhang family. However, after the Xiang family was wiped out, the Zhang family began to emerge. In the past five years, although the Zhang family has not expanded, its actions have become more and more domineering.

However, this still has nothing to do with the Yang family. With Lan Peng as their powerful figure, the Yang family has always remained outside of various conflicts.

Even if the surrounding families have some conflicts, they will not actively involve the Yang family out of respect for Lan Peng.

Of course, this is also because the Yang family didn't have anything worth coveting by those families. They had less than seven acres of low-grade spiritual land in total, which wasn't worth the risk of offending Lan Peng to seize.

“Senior, the Zhang family’s Luyuan Garden is a medium-sized spiritual field with more than thirty rock crystal persimmon trees. As long as you are willing to join my Wan family in destroying the Zhang family, my Wan family is willing to fully cooperate with you and will not take any of the Zhang family’s property afterward!” A ruthless glint flashed in Wan Jinshui’s small eyes.

This fat guy isn't exactly a kind person either!
It's possible that the Zhang family pushed the Wan family to the brink!

Yang Zhengshan silently carried the tea. The Zhang family's Luyuan Garden was indeed a good place. In this remote area, medium-grade spiritual fields were still rare.

The Zhang family's Luyuan Garden has nearly twenty acres of medium-sized spiritual fields, which not only have more than thirty rock crystal persimmon trees, but also many spiritual herbs.

That is definitely a rare and sacred place.

However, Yang Zhengshan did not have a great desire for spiritual lands. He already possessed a spiritual source land and did not need to occupy too many spiritual lands here.

As for the Rock Crystal Persimmon, it is an earth-attribute spiritual fruit that has long been cultivated in the Spirit Source Land, so it doesn't hold much appeal for him.

However, occupying Luyuan is not a bad thing. The Yang family of Lingxi should also acquire some property. They can't just keep guarding these few acres of inferior spiritual land forever.

Thinking of this, Yang Zhengshan glanced at Yang Xiangheng beside him. At this moment, Yang Xiangheng's eyes were flashing, clearly showing that he was interested in the Zhang family's Luyuan Garden.

However, we can't agree to this right away.

"My Yang family has always been kind to others and dislikes doing things that are unethical!"

"The Zhang family has no grudge against my Yang family, so how can my Yang family easily make a move?"

Yang Zhengshan looked at Wan Jinshui with a smile.

Wan Jinshui was taken aback at first, then a kind smile bloomed on his face again.

But in his mind, he was already ranting and raving.

What does it mean to be kind to others?

Senior, what you said makes me blush!

The key isn't that we have no grudges against each other, it's that we won't easily take action!

That old man is truly insatiable.

He hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and said, "My Wan family is willing to offer twenty spirit stones to ask for your help, senior. After the matter is accomplished, Luyuan will still belong to the Yang family!"

Yang Zhengshan said lazily, "As I just said, I have always been kind to others!"

To expect him to take action for a mere twenty spirit stones is an insult to him.

Although he had some interest in the Zhang family's Luyuan Garden, he wouldn't agree to it outright, no matter how much he wanted it.

He still needed to investigate the Zhang family's background first. If the Zhang family had any connections, it would be better not to cause trouble.

Upon hearing this, Wan Jinshui's face instantly fell, his previously smiling expression turning into one of deep resentment.

"Senior, it's not that I don't understand your concerns, but I really have no other choice. The Zhang family is going too far. They not only demand that we hand over the Golden Pool, but also that we submit to them!"

"Senior is kind and righteous. Please help me out of my sincere desire. If you are willing, I am willing to give you all my family's wealth as a token of my respect!"

Seeing his expression, Yang Zhengshan couldn't help but laugh to himself.

This is the start of playing the victim!

Not only did they play the victim, they also offered bribes. All of the Wan family's wealth—well, that must be a considerable sum.

"Hehe, Patriarch Wan, please don't be in a hurry. Let me consider this for a moment, and I'll give you an answer after I've made my decision!" Yang Zhengshan didn't completely refuse, leaving room for discussion and deciding to see how things went first.

Wan Jinshui hesitated for a moment, then could only nod and say, "Then please make a decision as soon as possible, senior!"

"Yes, yes, sure!"

Yang Zhengshan gave a few perfunctory replies before seeing Wan Jinshui off.

After Wan Jinshui left, Yang Zhengshan arrived at the west side of Lingxi Mountain, which was the Yang family's training ground. Wang Lei was training the young and strong members of the Yang family there.

In five years, this young man has made great progress, and his cultivation has improved. Although he is not as outstanding as those chosen ones, he is at least presentable.

"What are your thoughts?" Yang Zhengshan asked Yang Xiangheng beside him as he stood on the hillside, looking at the training ground.

Yang Xiangheng hesitated for a moment before saying, "This junior believes we can take over the Zhang family's Luyuan! Our Yang family's assets are too few to support the cultivation of our clan members."

"Logically, the clan should be responsible for supporting our great-uncle and all the elders, but over the years it has been our great-uncle who has been subsidizing the household expenses. I feel truly ashamed!"

He knew that Yang Zhengshan had no connection with the Yang family, but he was unaware of Yang Zhengshan's purpose in occupying Lingxi Mountain.

Regardless of Yang Zhengshan's motives, he has been helping the Yang family all these years.

He not only had people train the young and strong men in the tribe, but also used his own money to subsidize the tribe's expenses.

To be honest, sometimes he even doubted whether Yang Zhengshan was really his great-uncle.

If Yang Zhenghe hadn't said before his death that the Yang family didn't have such a great-uncle, he would have really thought that Yang Zhengshan was his great-uncle.

Yang Zhengshan smiled and looked at Li Chang beside him, "What's the situation with the Zhang family and the Wan family?"

Li Chang said, "There's nothing particularly special about it, it's just that the Zhang family wants to swallow up the Wan family's assets!"

"Does the Zhang family have any connections?" Yang Zhengshan asked again.

Li Chang chuckled, "Master, you've forgotten, the county magistrate took a concubine last year!"

Yang Zhengshan was taken aback: The county magistrate was taking a concubine!

It seems there really is such a thing.

He received the news from Lan Peng, and he even prepared a small gift to send to the county government.

"Is she from the Zhang family?" Li Chang nodded and smiled, "That's right, she's the youngest daughter of Zhang Quan, the head of the Zhang family. It's said that this aunt of the Zhang family is incredibly beautiful, and everyone who sees her feels affection for her!"

Yang Zhengshan gave Yang Xiangheng a helpless look, "Fine, let's forget about Luyuan then!"

Lu Jianghua is the fourth young master of the Lu family, and even Lan Peng treats him with great respect, so naturally he doesn't want to antagonize him.

Although a concubine is not a respectable person, she is still someone who shares your bed and is very good at whispering sweet nothings in your ear.

It's not worth risking offending Lu Jianghua for the sake of Luyuan Garden.

Yang Xiangheng said somewhat awkwardly, "It was my oversight!"

"It's alright. Just learn more in the future and broaden your horizons. Don't just focus on the immediate benefits!" Yang Zhengshan said nonchalantly.

Yang Zhengshan didn't take this matter to heart. Compared to the Zhang family or the Wan family, he naturally valued improving his own cultivation more.

After returning to the Spirit Source Land, Yang Zhengshan put the matter out of his mind and focused on cultivation.

He has just broken through to the Heavenly Gang stage, and his cultivation level has not yet stabilized. He needs to cultivate diligently for a few days to stabilize his cultivation.

At the same time, the practice of the "Wood Transformation Nourishing Method" should be accelerated.

Although he slowed down his cultivation of the Body Nourishing Technique in recent years because he was eager to break through to the Heavenly Gang stage, he has now cultivated the Body Nourishing Technique to the third level, which is the stage of body fusion with wood spirit.

Yang Zhengshan first stabilized his cultivation level, and then began to cultivate the "Wood Transformation Body Nourishing Method".

However, he only practiced for a short while before stopping!
"Body merging with the wood spirit?"

"Refine the Golden Body?"

As Yang Zhengshan flipped through the cultivation method of the third stage of "The Wood Transformation Body Cultivation Method," he suddenly remembered the method of condensing the golden body that Lan Peng had mentioned.

Tempering the golden body involves guiding spiritual energy like a surging tide, washing over every inch of skin, every bone, and every meridian of the body again and again, as if being sliced ​​by a thousand knives.

The process of merging with the Wood Spirit involves guiding the Wood-attribute spiritual energy to deeply integrate with every cell of the body, achieving a perfect unity between the spiritual wood and the body. At this point, the cultivator's body is completely imbued with the power of the Wood Spirit, and every cell contains powerful vitality and life force.

These two stages seem to have a similar effect.

However, after careful consideration, Yang Zhengshan felt that the two stages seemed to be different.

The body becomes more gentle when infused with the Wood Spirit. Its essence is to nourish the body, allowing every part of the body to be imbued with the Wood Spirit, making the whole body full of vitality and life.

The tempering of the golden body is even more ferocious; its essence is tempering, which enhances the body's resilience and strength.

The two are not the same thing, but they seem to complement each other!
"If I can master the 'Wood Transformation Body Cultivation Method' before breaking through, wouldn't it be easier to complete the tempering of the golden body?"

With this in mind, Yang Zhengshan practiced his health cultivation method even more diligently.

While Yang Zhengshan was focused on his cultivation, the Wan and Zhang families started fighting each other.

In fact, the Wan family is not as weak as imagined. Although the Wan family is just a small family on the edge of the Lingxiu Sea, it has been passed down for more than two hundred years and still has some foundation.

Although the Zhang family is powerful, they are not powerful enough to arbitrarily destroy a family. Otherwise, the Zhang family of Luyuan would not have been forced to the point of being unable to raise their heads by the Xiang family of Nanqing.

Although the conflict between the two families has not yet been made public, a battle has already taken place in secret.

Both sides suffered casualties.

In the Wan family, Wan Jinshui sat at the table, his face filled with undisguised exhaustion. He was also a Qi Sea stage martial artist in the Innate Realm. Logically speaking, even if he didn't sleep for several days and nights, he wouldn't feel tired. However, he had been dealing with too many troubles these days, which had left him mentally and physically exhausted.

"There's still no movement from the Yang family?"

Wan Jinshui looked up at his two brothers beside him, Wan Jinshi and Wan Jinhuo.

Wan Jinshi said nonchalantly, "Brother, the Yang family is completely unreliable. Instead of begging them for help, we might as well fight the Zhang family head-on!"

This Wan Jinshi had thick eyebrows and big eyes, and a strong build, unlike Wan Jinshui who was obese.

Wan Jinhuo, standing to the side, was even thinner with a square face, giving him the appearance of a frail scholar.

They are three brothers, but they look and have different builds.

"Second brother, we should be more cautious about this matter. The Zhang family has connections with the Lu family. If we confront them head-on, they might use the Lu family's power to intimidate us!"

"Once the Lu family gets involved, our Wan family will likely face annihilation!"

Wan Jinhuo said in a deep voice.

Wan Jinshui nodded slightly. "That's right. The Zhang family has connections with the Lu family, and the Yang family also has connections with General Lan. Originally, I wanted to drag the Yang family into this and let them fight with the Zhang family. However, no matter how they fight, we can still reap the benefits! But now it seems that the Yang family knows about the relationship between the Zhang family and Young Master Lu, and obviously does not intend to take action!"

He went to ask Yang Zhengshan for help not with sincerity, but with malice.

He knew about the relationship between the Zhang family and Lu Jianghua, as well as the relationship between Yang Zhengshan and Lan Peng. He dragged the Yang family into the fray, letting them fight against the Zhang family. No matter the outcome, the Wan family could sit back and watch the two sides fight.

He originally thought that the Yang family of Lingxi was poor and destitute, and would definitely covet the Zhang family's Luyuan Garden. He thought that as long as he mentioned it, the Yang family would be unable to restrain themselves.

Unfortunately, he didn't know that Yang Zhengshan didn't value Luyuan at all, nor would he act rashly out of greed.

"Then what should we do? We can't fight, but if we don't fight, the Zhang family won't let us go! Are we just supposed to sit here and wait to die?" Wan Jinshi said somewhat irritably.

Wan Jinhuo lowered his eyes slightly and said in a deep voice, "Since the Yang family is unwilling to get involved, we can only find a way ourselves!"

Wan Jinshui looked up at him, "What's your idea?"

"Please use the Soul-Severing Blade!" A ruthless look appeared on Wan Jinhuo's face.

The moment he said those words, the atmosphere in the hall fell silent.

Both Wan Jinshui and the irritable Wan Jinshi changed their expressions.

The Soul-Severing Blade is not a single blade, nor is it a single person; rather, it represents a force, an assassin organization.

A shadow suddenly rises, the Soul-Severing Blade is drawn, the sharp blade returns to its sheath, and the vengeful life is extinguished.

The Soul-Severing Blade is a taboo in the Sea of ​​Spiritual Beauty, and is hated by the three sects and twelve families. No one dares to mention the Soul-Severing Blade in public.

However, the Wan family was able to contact Duanhundao and knew that Duanhundao had a contact point in Shanggu County.

"Using the Soul-Severing Blade might bring even bigger trouble!" Wan Jinshui said in a low voice.

Wan Jinhuo's eyes sharpened. "Big brother, do we have any other options?"

Wan Jinshui frowned and pondered for a moment, "Perhaps I can go and ask Patriarch Yang again to help out by putting in some face for Young Master Lu!"

“Hehe, Fourth Young Master Lu, you should understand that Fourth Young Master Lu doesn’t care about our lives at all,” Wan Jinhuo said.

Lu Jianghua has been in Nanxia County for five years, and everyone has figured out his temperament.

This fourth young master is not a person who can uphold justice at all; his favorite thing to do is to incite conflict among the various families.

Even if you don't want to fight, he'll find ways to make you fight.

Now that the Wan family and the Zhang family are fighting, he certainly won't step in to mediate; on the contrary, he might support the Zhang family in destroying the Wan family.

Wan Jinshui was caught in a dilemma. "I should ask my father about this!"

He found it difficult to make a decision and decided to ask his elderly father for his opinion.

(End of this chapter)