Why wasn’t Wang Hao taking the Flying Cloud Boat?

The journey wasn’t far, so there was no need. Besides, these low-level demon beasts would be good practice for Wang Wenmei and the others. Gaining combat experience would help them stay calmer when dealing with the main beast tide.

Indeed, along the way, Wang Wenmei and the others had already eliminated four first-order demon beasts. Each had harvested a fair amount of materials. While Wang Hao looked down on such meager scraps, they were precious resources for his younger kin.

As Wang Hao and his party advanced, the clansmen in Ling Lake Town were also making tense preparations.

A middle-aged cultivator, only at the second layer of Qi Refining, hurriedly entered a luxurious mansion. Seeing an elderly man, he quickly bowed. “City Lord, the family has notified us that they will dispatch one Foundation Establishment elder and six Qi Refining cultivators to deal with this beast tide!”

“Good!” The old man sitting in the main hall clapped his hands and exclaimed.

His name was Wang Longling. Like Wang Hao, he was a cultivator with five Spiritual Roots. Now nearly eighty years old, he had only reached the sixth layer of Qi Refining. It was uncertain whether he would ever reach the late stage in this lifetime.

With no future in cultivation and no talent for the various arts, the family could only assign people like him to guard the mortal cities. Marrying many wives and taking concubines to produce offspring was his primary contribution to the clan.

Mortals faced many difficulties surviving in this world. They had to contend with natural disasters like floods and landslides, as well as man-made calamities. A single conflict between cultivators could easily destroy an entire village.

Especially dangerous were evil cultivators and ghostly entities—sinister beings that would slaughter mortals in large numbers, using their flesh and blood for cultivation.

Then there were mountain spirits and wild monsters. Though considered worthless trash by cultivators, they meant utter disaster for mortals. Therefore, mortals could only thrive and multiply under the protection of cultivation forces.

The distance between Ling Lake City and Ruojun Mountain was carefully calculated. It couldn’t be too far, or aid wouldn’t arrive in time; nor too close, as the noise of mortal life would disturb the cultivators’ meditation.

Generally, a small mortal city would only have three cultivators stationed there: one at mid-stage Qi Refining and two at the early stage. These were individuals with poor Spiritual Roots and no hope on the path of Dao. They would patrol the areas around the city, drive away wild beasts, and promptly report any situations they couldn’t handle.

Furthermore, there were corresponding protective formations. Even if they encountered a second-order demon beast, they could hold out for a short while, awaiting support from Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Wang Longling asked, “What is the situation with the demon beasts? Have we gathered clear intelligence? The Foundation Establishment elder will certainly inquire when he arrives.”

The messenger cultivator replied, “We don’t know about the beast tide itself. Presumably, the elders have more reliable information than we do. However, first-order demon beasts around Ling Lake have already begun gathering—roughly several hundred of them. Whether there are second-order demon beasts among them, this subordinate does not know.”

“There is another situation,” the messenger added. “The water level of Ling Lake has begun to rise. We suspect it is related to the beast tide.”

Wang Longling pondered for a moment. “Let’s make some preparations first. Go and block all the waterways connecting the city to Ling Lake. Also, notify the city defense team to conscript mortals for constructing fortifications and raising the city walls. Especially those catapults and powerful crossbows capable of injuring first-order demon beasts—they must be prepared.”

Wang Longling had been a City Lord for over fifty years and was experienced. Otherwise, the Wang Family wouldn’t have transferred him to the newly developed Ruojun Mountain area.

It was hard on these mortals. Having just migrated here not long ago, they had no moment’s rest between building houses, constructing the city, and reclaiming land. Now, they also had to face a beast tide.

After hunting demon beasts along their journey, Wang Hao’s group arrived at Ling Lake City by evening.

Ling Lake City backed against Ling Lake itself. The water surface spanned thousands of li wide, connected via rivers to both the sea and the deep regions of the Severed Origin Mountains. Demon beasts lived within the lake, making it a key defensive direction for Wang Hao.

The Wang Family’s establishment of a city here also included plans to develop Ling Lake. If it could be utilized for spirit fish farming—whether for internal consumption or external sale—it would be highly profitable.

Wang Hao looked at the shimmering lake surface under the setting sun. He could see several large fish leaping out of the water and birds flying against the crimson sky to hunt.

He thought to himself, “Sunset clouds fly with lonely ducks; Autumn river shares one hue with the vast sky.” This poetic line actually depicted the real scene before him.

Upon entering the city, Wang Hao found it bustling with activity.

Many common people were carrying stones on shoulder poles or by hand up to the city walls. Various large machines were piled on the streets. While an individual mortal’s strength was small, with machinery, they could still inflict damage on low-level demon beasts.

Among mortals, there were also martial artists, categorized into the innate and acquired realms. It was said that martial artists at the innate realm could generate true qi within their bodies; in close-quarters combat, they could fight evenly with a fifth-layer Qi Refining cultivator.

However, Qi Refining cultivators were at the lowest tier in the cultivation world, while the innate realm was considered the absolute peak for mortal martial artists.

Wang Wenyan sighed as she watched the bustling crowd. “It seems our family places great importance on this place.”

“Just now, when we passed by Ling Lake, I noticed spiritual energy emanating from within it,” said Zhu Shan.

Zhu Shan had pursued Wang Wenyan for nearly ten years before finally winning her heart. He had now married into the Wang Family as a son-in-law.

“There might be a second-order or higher spirit vein at its bottom,” Zhu Shan continued. “It would be most suitable for farming spirit fish or cultivating aquatic spirit grasses. The family probably values this point.”

Wang Hao glanced at them both. “Brother-in-law has experience farming spirit fish. Why not investigate this matter? After this beast tide passes, you two can manage a fishery here!”

Zhu Shan’s entry into the Wang Family wasn’t solely due to winning Wang Wenyan’s affection, but also his skill in aquaculture.

Zhu Shan quickly bowed. “Respectfully following Elder’s command. This subordinate will definitely conduct a thorough investigation!”

Zhu Shan always took etiquette seriously. Despite being told off by Wang Wenyan several times, he never dared overstep boundaries. This pleased clear-minded individuals like Wang Hao.

Wang Hao nodded approvingly and led everyone into the town.

From afar, Wang Longling came rushing forward hurriedly, followed by the two other stationed cultivators. Seeing the leading figure, he bowed deeply and announced loudly, “Ling Lake City Lord pays respects! Greetings, Senior Elders!”

Wang Hao gestured, lifting him up with invisible qi. “We are all one family. No need for such formalities, City Lord.”

“Thank you, Senior,” Wang Longling said, rising respectfully. “Seniors have traveled all day. Please follow me to rest at the manor.”

Though Wang Longling was like a local emperor here, before Wang Hao, he wore a fawning expression. Despite his hopeless path, he was still a cultivator. If his wives and concubines produced offspring with Spiritual Roots, those promising descendants would need to be sent back to the main family for training. They would need favors and connections; hence, his humble demeanor was necessary.

The Ling Lake City manor was located atop a first-grade upper-tier spirit vein. The spiritual energy was relatively abundant—enough for several Qi Refining cultivators to use, but insufficient for restoring True Essence during a crisis.

Wang Longling led them through the grand hall to the rear courtyard, pointing to a row of side rooms. “Senior, these are the most spiritually dense rooms. The protective formation core is here, too.”

“City Lord is thoughtful,” Wang Hao said, nodding with satisfaction. He let the others assign rooms themselves.

After everyone had settled, Wang Longling returned. “Senior, I have prepared a welcoming banquet. Would you consider moving to the main hall?”

Wang Hao did indeed want to taste some mortal cuisine. He nodded. “Then I will trouble the City Lord.”

“I should, I should,” Wang Longling said, smiling broadly. He stood aside, waiting for Wang Hao to lead the way.

They walked through winding corridors, passing exquisite, magnificent buildings. Along the way, uniformly dressed beautiful young women bowed in greeting.

All the manor maids, Wang Hao thought inwardly. This guy truly knows how to enjoy life. He probably held auditions to select these maids!