Chapter 25: Patriarch, You Must Be Cautious! |
"Senior, my magical artifact..."
The previously arrogant female cultivator was no longer so insolent, asking nervously.
After all, she had a discerning eye and broad experience.
Wang Xianmao possessed an otherworldly aura; he was clearly a seasoned Foundation Establishment cultivator armed with divine abilities.
The patriarch and elders of her own family were roughly at the same level as Wang Xianmao.
Facing Wang Xianmao, she had no right to act arrogantly.
Wang Xianmao chuckled. He manipulated the azure silk veil, slowly delivering the magic seal back to the female cultivator.
"Hahaha, this magic seal is quite good. It is a fine piece.
It is just a pity about this piece of Rehmannia Spirit Jade. It should have been able to accommodate two more layers of restrictions."
He managed to avoid offending either side, handling the matter beautifully.
However, as he looked at the bloodstains on the ground, he felt a complex mix of emotions.
Not a single person cared about the rogue cultivator who had just been beaten to death by Gao Jian.
Was he really a rogue cultivator?
Did he deserve to die just for violating the market's rules?
No one cared.
"Senior, this Rehmannia Seal has already been refined with twelve layers of restrictions. Can two more really be added?"
The Immortal Alliance female cultivator held the magic seal, asking in astonishment.
"Of course. It was refined using fire methods. If you can find an artificer with adequate proficiency in the Earth Nurturing Method, adding two more layers will absolutely not be a problem."
Yulou was dumbfounded—he had learned something new again!
The Patriarch was drumming up business!
"Senior understands the Earth Nurturing Method?" The female cultivator caught the underlying meaning.
"I know a little, just a little. To help you refine two more layers, I would charge about four hundred spirit stones. What do you think?"
This asking price was not low at all. Four hundred spirit stones could buy a decent mid-grade magical artifact.
The female cultivator looked at the magic seal in her hands, pondered for a moment, and then gritted her teeth with a pained expression.
"Alright. When will you have time?"
Paying four hundred spirit stones for a refinement service to add two restriction layers sounded foolish, but a handy magical artifact always earned its master's favoritism.
In this female cultivator's eyes, a Foundation Establishment senior would certainly not speak nonsense.
If the Rehmannia Seal could truly take two more restriction layers, it would be even smoother to use in the future.
Moreover, with a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator personally refining a mid-grade magical artifact, the probability of an accident would be low enough to ignore.
Therefore, four hundred spirit stones seemed expensive, but it was expensive for a good reason!
"Come pick it up at Fortune Source Residence in ten days. I will make time for it."
Wang Xianmao replied with a smile.
'I only needed to exert a little effort to first sell Gao Jian a favor, then display the bearing of a Wang Clan Foundation Establishment Ancestor, and finally, easily drum up some business.'
'Three birds with one stone!'
'The Wang Clan is destined to prosper day by day in my hands!'
—
"Anger? Confusion? Pity? Or rather, a desire to do something?"
In Fortune Source Residence, Wang Xianmao sat in his chair and began imparting his wisdom to the two youths.
Noticing that the brothers were about to defer to each other to answer first, he smiled and called on them by name.
"Yu'an, you go first."
Yu'an pondered for a moment. Instead of sharing his emotional judgment of the event itself, he analyzed the Patriarch's response.
"Patriarch, I understand why you helped Gao Jian, but why take action just for a favor?
Given Jiang Baobian's greedy nature, it is impossible for him to owe a favor over a mere named disciple's affair.
Furthermore, Gao Jian is an Outer Gate Disciple of the Red Lantern Illumination Sect. That Immortal Alliance female cultivator definitely wouldn't have killed him just because her robe was stained with blood.
To involve the esteemed Patriarch of the Wang Clan in such troublesome matters for petty gains...
I believe your actions were quite unwise!"
Yulou smiled faintly. 'Yu'an, oh Yu'an, you have grown!'
"It was not just a small favor; I also collected four hundred spirit stones." Wang Xianmao looked at Yu'an, still smiling.
"Patriarch, that was an unexpected fruit, an accidental result born from your rash action. It should not be factored into the post-event evaluation!"
The clan youth Yu'an clung tightly to the clan rules, analyzing the Patriarch's impromptu response.
"Good, hahaha, excellent!
Yu'an, the fact that you can identify my actions today as rash is very good.
Actually, this matter is simpler than you think—the responsibilities you shoulder at the Qi Drawing realm are different from the responsibilities I shoulder as the Patriarch!
During the Qi Drawing realm, your main focus should be on cultivating well. Reach Qi Refining early, and then we can talk about other things.
As Patriarch, the responsibilities I carry are heavier. I often need to actively seize opportunities!
In the future, when you have achieved success in Qi Refining and experienced enough of the world's affairs, you will be able to choose your moments to act independently."
Hearing the Patriarch praise him, Yu'an's grin stretched almost from ear to ear.
Right now, he wanted to hug Uncle Rongyuan's leg and cry.
'Uncle, those few slaps you gave me weren't just beatings.
'They were epiphanies, they were fortunate encounters, they are something I, Wang Yu'an, will be grateful for my entire life. You awakened my Wisdom Root!
'I am now proficient in the clan rules; I can recite all of them from memory!
'When we return to Wang Family Mountain in the future, I must take over from Big Brother Yuming and teach the clan rules to the other clan disciples!
'Since I've been caught in the rain myself, I definitely have to take away everyone else's umbrellas too!
'The clan rules are truly useful!
'Everyone must memorize them and study them well!'
"Yulou, what are your thoughts?" the Patriarch asked, looking toward Yulou.
Yu'an also looked at Yulou.
'Brother, I don't believe you can pretend to be better behaved than me this time!'
However, Yulou completely ignored this little brat.
Similar to Yu'an's choice, he didn't start by discussing his own emotions, but rather placed the focus of the topic on the broader picture.
"The Red Lantern Illumination Sect wants to squeeze us dry, and Gao Jian squeezes the rogue cultivators; these are actually cut from the same cloth.
"Under the Immortal Alliance's control, the structure of the Wunan Cultivation World appears far too rigid.
"The grand cultivators and True Persons with high cultivation bases suppress those below them so heavily that they have no choice but to submit.
"Our Wang Clan has no leeway to play the good guys.
"This particular system of order forces the majority of the people within it to only sweep the snow from their own doorsteps.
"I feel anger, but no confusion. I also sympathize with those rogue cultivators, but no one sympathizes with our Wang Clan.
"All I want to do is cultivate properly, quickly finish learning Hongmei's Fire Method Metal-Stone Artificing Way, and return to the family!"
The first half of his speech was penetrating and showed extraordinary insight.
The second half demonstrated self-awareness and unwavering ambition.
Wang Xianmao remained silent for a long time, his gaze toward Yulou filled with complexity.
'Yulou, Yulou... you should not just be a son of the Wang Clan.'
"How is the Red Lantern Illumination Sect oppressing our Wang Clan?"
The Patriarch knew Yu'an didn't understand, and he wasn't entirely sure how much Yulou understood either, so he decided to ask him.
"For small and medium Foundation Establishment Immortal Clans like ours, cultivation resources are earned through the production of spiritual materials or auxiliary path techniques.
"Among them, the production of spiritual materials is a baseline, while the auxiliary path techniques are the main source of income.
"By decentralizing their Merit Hall down to the Qi Refining markets, the Red Lantern Illumination Sect has already snatched away a portion of our market.
"Furthermore, they are exchanging large quantities of auxiliary techniques and secret spells with rogue cultivators, which will allow those rogue cultivators to snatch even more of our market.
"We can choose not to exchange for anything, but if we stay stagnant, we will suffer from boiling frog syndrome in the future. Gradually, we will lose our advantage in the competition between medium-sized families and small sects.
"Therefore, it seems like we have a choice, but in reality, we have none.
"The Red Lantern Illumination Sect is intentionally using the dissemination of secret methods to force vassal powers like our Wang Clan or Dripdrop Cave to willingly stick our necks out to be slaughtered.
"To make the butchering even smoother, they have even introduced a 'use first, pay later' model, taking the future profits of families and sects as collateral.
"Moreover, Ancestor Jingyi taking True Person Xuanzhuan as her master—was that intentionally engineered by them, or was it purely a coincidence?
"Patriarch, you must be cautious!"
After Yulou finished speaking, Wang Xianmao was finally certain: this child truly understood.
Yu'an: 'I am trash!'
The Patriarch pondered for a long while before waving his hand and laughing.
"It's too late now. We'll stop here for today.
"Yulou, hand over your Black Jade Oil Bead, and give me that turtle shell of yours too."
"It's a Golden Horn Mud Turtle Shell!" Yu'an emphasized with some reluctance.
Taking the two magical artifacts, Wang Xianmao only needed a single glance to know how to proceed with the refinement.
"It's too late today, so go back and rest. Tomorrow morning, I will take Hongmei to seek an audience with True Person Danri.
"In the afternoon, I will take you two to the Hundred Treasures Workshop and borrow the Huang Clan's artifact refining room to refine these two magical artifacts."
Patriarch Mangxiang, a Purple Palace Grand Cultivator, wanted to Attain Golden Core. Because he needed resources, the Red Lantern Illumination Sect began frantically harvesting them.
Xuanzhuan, a Purple Palace Grand Cultivator, was the master of Wang Jingyi, an ancestor of the Wang Clan who held the status of a Core Disciple within the Red Lantern Illumination Sect. This Xuanzhuan was also a disciple of Mangxiang.
Danri, a Purple Palace Grand Cultivator, was Xuanzhuan's junior martial sister and the specific person in charge of the Merit Hall. Guo Baichi was her disciple.
Because Wang Jingyi's master, Xuanzhuan, and Guo Baichi's master, Danri, were both disciples of True Person Mangxiang, Wang Jingyi was considered Guo Baichi's senior martial sister.
'Uncle, those heavy slaps you gave me were not just physical blows.'
'They were epiphanies, opportunities, and something I, Wang Yu'an, will be grateful for my entire life. You truly awakened my Wisdom Root.'
'I am now completely proficient in the clan rules! I can recite all of them!'
'When I return to Wang Family Mountain, I absolutely must take over Brother Yuming's job of teaching the clan rules to the other children!'
'Because I had to walk through the rain, I must make sure to take away everyone else's umbrella!'
'The clan rules are genuinely useful!'
'Everyone had better memorize them well and study them hard!'
"Yulou, what are your thoughts?" the Patriarch asked, looking toward him.
Yu'an also looked at Yulou.
'Brother, I refuse to believe you can act better behaved than me this time!'
However, Yulou completely ignored the little brat.
Much like Yu'an, he didn't start by discussing his own feelings. Instead, he focused on the broader picture.
"The Red Lantern Illumination Sect wants to exploit us, and Gao Jian exploits rogue cultivators. These two situations are actually cut from the same cloth.
"The landscape of the Wunan Cultivation World under the Immortal Alliance's control appears far too rigid.
"The highly cultivated grand cultivators and true persons suppress those beneath them, forcing their submission.
"Our Wang Clan does not have the luxury of playing the good guys.
"This particular system of order forces the majority of people within it to only sweep the snow from their own doorsteps.
"I am angry, but I am not confused. I also sympathize with those rogue cultivators, but no one sympathizes with our Wang Clan.
"All I want to do is cultivate diligently, quickly finish learning Master Hongmei's Fire Method Metal-Stone Artificing Way, and return to the clan!"
The first half of his speech was penetrating and showed extraordinary insight.
The second half demonstrated self-awareness and resolute ambition.
Wang Xianmao remained silent for a long time, looking at Yulou with complicated eyes.
'Yulou, Yulou, you shouldn't just be a son of the Wang Clan...'
"Where is the Red Lantern Illumination Sect oppressing our Wang Clan?"
The Patriarch knew Yu'an wouldn't understand, and he wasn't entirely sure how much Yulou had grasped, so he posed this question to him.
"For small and medium-sized Foundation Establishment Immortal Clans like ours, cultivation resources are earned through the production of spiritual materials or auxiliary Dao arts.
"Among these, the production of spiritual materials forms the baseline, while auxiliary Dao arts are the main source of income.
"By delegating the Merit Hall down to the Qi Refining markets themselves, the Red Lantern Illumination Sect has seized a portion of our market.
"They have also exchanged massive amounts of auxiliary Dao arts and secret spells with rogue cultivators, and these rogue cultivators will, in turn, take another portion of our market.
"We could choose not to participate in these exchanges. But if we do nothing, we will eventually suffer from boiling frog syndrome, slowly losing our advantage in the competition among mid-sized clans and small sects.
"So, while it seems we have a choice, in reality, we do not.
"The Red Lantern Illumination Sect's plan is to use the dissemination of secret methods to force vassal factions like our Wang Clan or Dripdrop Cave to willingly stick our necks out on the chopping block.
"To slaughter us more cleanly, they even introduced a 'use first, pay later' model, using the future revenues of clans and sects as collateral.
"Furthermore, regarding Ancestor Jingyi taking True Person Xuanzhuan as her master, was that intentionally designed by them, or simply a lucky coincidence?
"Patriarch, you must be cautious!"
Once Yulou finished speaking, Wang Xianmao was certain: this child truly understood.
Yu'an thought, 'I am useless!'
The Patriarch considered this for a long while before waving his hand and laughing.
"It is getting late. Let us stop here for today.
"Yulou, give me your Black Jade Oil Bead, and that turtle shell of yours."
"Golden Horn Mud Turtle Shell!" Yu'an emphasized with some reluctance.
Taking the two magical artifacts, Wang Xianmao examined them briefly and immediately knew how to continue refining them.
"It is too late today. You boys go back and rest. Tomorrow morning, I will take Hongmei to pay respects to True Person Danri.
"In the afternoon, I will take you to the Hundred Treasures Workshop to borrow the Huang Clan's artifact refining room and refine both of these magical artifacts."
Patriarch Mangxiang, a Purple Palace Grand Cultivator, needed resources to attain Golden Core, which was why the Red Lantern Illumination Sect was frantically harvesting them.
Xuanzhuan, a Purple Palace Grand Cultivator and the master of the Wang Clan's Ancestor Wang Jingyi—who held the status of a Core Disciple within the Red Lantern Illumination Sect—was also a disciple of Mangxiang.
Danri, a Purple Palace Grand Cultivator, junior martial sister to Xuanzhuan, and the specific person in charge of the Merit Hall, was the master of Guo Baichi.
Because Wang Jingyi's master, Xuanzhuan, and Guo Baichi's master, Danri, were both disciples of True Person Mangxiang, Wang Jingyi was considered Guo Baichi's senior martial sister.