Now Qiu Lingshan stood but a single step from the Mystic Stage, and if she were to marry into the family, it would be an absolute boon for the Yu family! Moreover, the Song family's martial arts only revealed their greater power after dual cultivation, and both man and woman reaped the benefit!

By then, Qiu Lingshan's rise to Mystic Stage expert would be unstoppable, and his son too could advance further, becoming the peak of the mid Mystic Stage — perhaps even late Mystic Stage, who could say? Then the Yu family would shine in glory once more! And in time, with Qiu Lingshan's dual cultivation to aid him, his son would break through to Earth Stage expert, and then truly there would be nothing left to fear!

Wei Zhao and his like could be cut down on the spot; before an Earth Stage expert, a Mystic Stage expert was nothing but dregs! Yu Shuixing had heard, true enough, that certain ancient sects possessed orthodox cultivation methods that let one fight across ranks, but those were legends only — who knew whether such things truly existed?

So in Yu Shuixing's dictionary, the Earth Stage stood for an existence invincible within the mundane world!

"Congratulations, Elder Song!" At the thought of an alliance with the Song family, Yu Shuixing's tone turned respectful as well, and he addressed Song Xiangwen directly as Elder Song. He took on the bearing proper to a junior, no longer calling him Head of the Song family with that cool, businesslike formality.

"Heh, well enough..." Song Xiangwen feigned modesty, not without a touch of pride, then said: "Only, she is a girl after all — in the end she will be a boon to some other family!"

"Haha, Elder Song, you exaggerate!" Yu Shuixing laughed. "The times have moved on, and we scions of the noble houses must keep pace with them! There is a saying nowadays, and a good one: a boy or a girl, it is all the same! When Qiu Lingshan marries, does she cease to be your granddaughter? She is still your granddaughter!"

"Haha!" Song Xiangwen laughed too. "That is true, but in the end the seat of family head must go to a man! We cannot let it fall to an outsider's name, can we?"

"That is true enough — our noble houses are a different case!" Yu Shuixing smiled. "Speaking of marriage, something has come to mind. Your granddaughter is not so young now, is she? Time she had a husband, no?"

"That is so, but Shanshan is a stubborn child. She declared long ago that her future husband must be stronger than she is!" Song Xiangwen said, somewhat helplessly yet not without pride — for anyone else would have no right to say such a thing! Now that Qiu Lingshan had grown so formidable, he could speak of it so freely.

"Heh, outstanding girls are all like that!" Hearing that Qiu Lingshan had no candidate for a husband, Yu Shuixing was naturally delighted, and said: "Still, I would say Qiu Lingshan must be the most outstanding among all the noble house scions? How could anyone be stronger than her? So far as I know, among the younger generation of the other noble houses, there are none left at the peak of late Yellow Stage."

"Yes, and that is just what troubles me!" Song Xiangwen sighed. "Now Shanshan grows stronger and stronger, and any day she will break through to the Mystic Stage. By then she will have no rival at all. Surely she cannot go a lifetime without marrying?"

For the Song family to gain a Mystic Stage expert was a good thing, to be sure, but if Qiu Lingshan did not marry, she could not win greater benefits for the Song family; nor did he wish his granddaughter to grow old alone. So everything had its two sides.

On one hand Song Xiangwen wished Qiu Lingshan to grow stronger; on the other, he did not wish her to be left without a husband.

"Heh, Elder Song, what do you think of my son?" This was the very word from Song Xiangwen that Yu Shuixing had been waiting for, and so he raised his own proposal at the opportune moment.

"Oh? Your son?" Song Xiangwen was startled, and asked.

"Yes!" Yu Shuixing said. "As things stand, the only ones among the noble houses who could be stronger than Qiu Lingshan are the scions of our Yu family! If you are willing, Elder Song, we might join our two families in marriage!"

"Ah!" Song Xiangwen was stunned. He had never expected that even the Yu family would extend him an olive branch! In the past, an alliance with the Yu family had been beyond Song Xiangwen's daring to imagine, but now, with Qiu Lingshan's strength risen, all of it had become reality!

"What, Elder Song? By the look of it, you seem less than willing?" Yu Shuixing asked with a smile.

"How could I be? I was merely startled! By the way, your son has never appeared before anyone's eyes — he is now...?" Song Xiangwen thought an alliance with the Yu family was good indeed, but if the Yu family's scion were too worthless, Qiu Lingshan would certainly refuse; so he must first ask clearly.

"My son is at present a mid Mystic Stage expert!" Here Yu Shuixing could not help but feel proud! Among all these noble houses, it was only the Yu family's younger generation who had reached such a height!

"What! Your son is already a mid Mystic Stage expert!" Hearing Yu Shuixing's words, Song Xiangwen could not help but be greatly startled!

If that were so, a mid Mystic Stage was more than a match for his own granddaughter — and at this thought, Song Xiangwen was overjoyed! Not only would he find a rare and excellent grandson-in-law, but he would also draw in the Yu family as a top-tier support!

"Heh, I daresay he is about to break through as well!" Yu Shuixing began to boast.

"So young, and already a Mystic Stage expert!" Song Xiangwen could not help but exclaim. "This old man truly has grown old!"

"Well then, Elder Song, what do you think of my proposal?" Yu Shuixing asked.

"Not bad! I have no objection!" Song Xiangwen could not have been more satisfied — this was a blessing dropped from the heavens!

The Song family's troubles were resolved at a stroke. With the Yu family at their back, the Song family could go on flourishing among the noble houses; and Yu Feng's strength fully met his granddaughter's standard for a husband, so she ought to be well satisfied with it too!

"Very well then. If you have no objection, Elder Song, let us settle the matter thus for now!" Yu Shuixing settled it outright, then said: "In a few days I shall bring my son to pay you a visit, Elder Song, and we shall fix the matter then."

Though Yu Shuixing was head of the Yu family, he was after all of the younger generation, and now that he was forming an alliance with the Song family, Elder Song was in name and in truth his elder; naturally he must still pay the visit.

Song Xiangwen did not refuse either. "Good. When the time comes, I shall do the honors of a host!" he said cheerfully.

Qiu Lingshan did not yet know that her marriage had been settled just like that by her grandfather. Had she known, she would likely have died of fury! How could she possibly marry into the Yu family? Yet Song Xiangwen still believed his granddaughter would be perfectly content with it!

And Yu Shuixing, after finishing his talk with Song Xiangwen, once again dialed his son Yu Feng's number. He had decided to tell his son about the matter, and to ask after his progress while he was at it.