The Sacred Leaves Family's Wishes for Peace-Chapter 155: The Secret to Breaking Through

"How is the construction of our family’s marketplace coming along?"

After exchanging pleasantries with the Xia clan’s matriarch and seeing her off, Wang Qingshan stood at the entrance of the ancestral hall. His hands clasped behind his back, he gazed at the overcast sky. It looked like rain was coming again—a type of weather he loathed.

"Reporting to the patriarch, the marketplace should be completed in another half a month," Wang Chongtian replied respectfully.

"I hear the Yun clan’s marketplace has been getting livelier lately?"

"Yes. The Yun family has implemented a policy of waiving rent for shopkeepers for five years, which has drawn significant interest from numerous cultivation families and rogue cultivators.

Currently, the Yun family’s marketplace is thriving. Many of the families and cultivators who used to frequent our Wang family’s marketplace have now shifted their focus there."

"If this continues, even after our marketplace is repaired, it might fail to attract many rogue cultivators or families.

We might have no choice but to emulate the Yun family’s strategy and offer rent-free terms. However, such a move would severely impact the family’s income," Wang Chongtian said with a grave expression.

As someone tasked with managing one of the Wang family’s shops in the Yun clan’s marketplace, he had first-hand knowledge of its success. This knowledge left him increasingly uneasy about the Yun clan’s rapid rise.

"In the struggle for profit, one side inevitably suffers losses.

Were it not for the interference of the Three Great Families, who sabotaged our marketplace, how would the Yun family have seized this opportunity?"

Wang Qingshan’s gaze grew colder, his tone calm but firm.

"Pass down the order: once our family’s marketplace is restored, we will also implement a five-year rent-free policy.

The Wang family still has some reserves to lean on. Sacrificing a bit of profit is a small price to pay," he declared.

"Understood, Patriarch," Wang Chongtian responded with a bow.

"I’ve also heard of a cultivation family in Blue Scale County called the Sun Clan?"

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"Reporting to the patriarch, the Blue Scale Sun Clan no longer exists."

"Oh?"

"It’s true. About half a year ago, the Sun Clan fell apart due to internal strife.

Many of their members either perished or scattered.

Of their four spiritual root cultivators, Sun Fenglin and Sun Fengxuan have sought refuge with the Yun family, now aiding them in managing their marketplace.

Another, Sun Fengli, perished last year in the Dan Ding Sect ruins. His death was the spark that ignited the clan’s internal chaos.

The last remaining spiritual root cultivator was taken in by the Su family, a prominent household in Blue Scale County. He adopted their surname and was added to the Su clan’s lineage as a direct descendant," Wang Chongtian explained thoroughly. Stay updated with novelbuddy

As the family head, he made it a priority to stay informed of events and developments in the region. The fall of the Sun Clan was a matter he had investigated meticulously.

"The Su family… I recall hearing of them before," Wang Qingshan mused.

"Yes, Patriarch. Two years ago, your nephew Wang Chongfang, who serves in the imperial court, brought Su Yingsheng—a fellow official from the Su family—as a guest to our household.

Chongfang introduced him to you personally."

Wang Chongtian offered a faint smile.

"Now that you mention it, I do recall something about it. Su Yingsheng struck me as an ambitious man. And his elder brother, Su Yingwen, seemed to be quite resourceful, with aspirations to elevate their family into a cultivation clan," Wang Qingshan said thoughtfully.

"Exactly," Wang Chongtian affirmed.

"In that case, let’s lend the Su family some support," Wang Qingshan said decisively.

"Patriarch, may I ask why you’ve suddenly decided this?" Wang Chongtian asked, visibly surprised.

Two years ago, Su Yingsheng had approached the Wang family in hopes of gaining their support to transform his family into a cultivation clan. He had come bearing generous gifts, hoping to curry favor.

At the time, however, Wang Qingshan had shown little interest in the Su family, leaving the matter unresolved.

"Blue Scale County borders Yunzhang County. Back then, the Sun and Yun clans were natural rivals.

Now that the Sun Clan has crumbled, if we don’t act quickly to foster a new cultivation family in Blue Scale County to serve as a counterbalance, the Yun family will inevitably dominate the region.

Given the Yun family’s current trajectory, it’s only a matter of time before they surpass us, especially if they gain control of Blue Scale County’s resources."

"Since the Su family wants to become a cultivation clan, let the Wang family secretly support them, turning their family into our vassal.

First, this benefits our family by allowing us to extract cultivation resources through them.

Second, they can act as our proxy to covertly target the Yun Cang Yun Clan, hindering their development," Wang Qingshan said, his voice cold and measured.

With the mysterious elder supporting the Yun family, the Wang family couldn’t risk taking overt action. However, by fostering a puppet family to act on their behalf, the Wang family could remain in the shadows, focusing on its own growth.

Moreover, the Wang family was already dealing with pressure from the Three Great Families, the internal rivalry among the Seven Clans, and the ever-present threat of the imperial court. They couldn’t afford to be distracted by direct confrontations with the rising Yun Clan.

"I understand, Patriarch," Wang Chongtian said with a bow.

"In a few days, I’ll discreetly send the Su family some cultivation techniques, spells, and other resources."

"Good. Make sure the materials aren’t of high quality. Provide incomplete or damaged manuals for techniques and spells.

Within three years, I expect the Su family to be fully established.

Additionally, arrange for a few rogue cultivators to infiltrate their family and act as overseers for us.

I don’t want to see the Wang family raising a tiger that could turn on us in the future."

"Yes, Patriarch. I will see it done," Wang Chongtian affirmed.

Under the pouring rain…

Under the eaves of the house, Yun Yanshui sat crouched on the doorstep, savoring a steaming bowl of pig’s trotter noodles prepared by his mother.

Every now and then, he tossed a bone toward the Gold-Eyed Beast lounging nearby. The creature lazily opened one eye, glanced at the offering, and let out a huff of disdain. It turned away as if to say, I may look like a dog, but I’m not one. Throw me spirit stones if you dare!

"Brother! Eating alone again?"

Yun Yanshuang returned from outside, pouting as she saw her elder brother enjoying his meal alone.

Rain poured down in heavy sheets, but an invisible shield of spiritual energy deflected the water, leaving her dry as she approached.

"I thought you were training with the old Daoist."

"Hmph! That doesn’t mean you can’t save me a bowl!"

"Check the kitchen. I told Mother to leave you some."

"Hehe! Now that’s my good brother!"

She darted into the kitchen, returning moments later with her own bowl of pig’s trotter noodles. Without any care for decorum, she plopped down beside her brother, happily slurping her meal.

"By the way, I spoke to our master about how to absorb the Solar Essence and Lunar Rising energies," she said between bites, knowing her brother had been stuck at the peak of the Qi Refining stage, unable to break through due to a lack of understanding of these principles.

"Oh? Let’s hear it," Yun Yanshui said, sipping his broth and casually tossing another bone to the Gold-Eyed Beast.

"Our cultivation manual, the Three Purities Meditation Sutra, has detailed instructions on how to transition from Qi Refining to Foundation Establishment by harnessing these energies."

"It does?!"

Yun Yanshui blinked in surprise. He had barely paid attention to the sutra since he hadn’t needed to actively cultivate.

"Master explained that to advance to Foundation Establishment, a cultivator must refine the ambient spiritual energy they’ve absorbed.

Qi Refining practitioners take in all kinds of spiritual energy indiscriminately—like Lake’s Water, Autumn’s Breeze, or Thunder’s Fury.

However, when progressing to Foundation Establishment, it’s crucial to expel these ’impurities’ and retain only the energy that aligns with one’s cultivation method.

Failure to do so not only limits future growth but could even lead to self-inflicted harm, damaging one’s foundation."

"And for us, that means focusing on Solar Essence and Lunar Rising?"

"Exactly. These two energies—one drawn during daylight hours and the other under the full moon—are what the Three Purities Meditation Sutra is designed to harmonize with."

"Sounds troublesome," Yun Yanshui muttered, frowning.

"It is," Yun Yanshuang admitted, her tone serious.

"Master said that the further one advances, the harder cultivation becomes. Gathering compatible energies during Foundation Establishment is already a daunting task.

If you’re impatient and choose to absorb impurities, you might progress faster, but the long-term consequences… well, I already mentioned those."