Rise of the Wang Clan: Starting with a Portable Farm

Chapter 200: Mining the Spirit Stone Vein

Six months had passed.

The annihilation of the Tang family caused a stir initially, turning the already quiet Falling Phoenix Market into a ghost town. But with the Qingyuan Sect’s gates sealed tight, no authority came to investigate.

The few surviving Tang disciples were scattered, weak, and terrified of being hunted down. Rather than seek the truth, they fled the region entirely. The storm had passed.

At the summit of Wang Family Ridge, Wang Yanzhao and Wang Longyou were waiting.

“How are the puppets?” Wang Longyou asked the moment Wang Hao arrived.

“Five Tier 2 Low-Grade puppets and twenty Tier 1 High-Grade puppets,” Wang Hao reported, suppressing a yawn. “It should be enough for the initial phase.”

For the past half-year, Wang Hao had worked like a possessed man, sleeping only three hours a day. Without his three apprentices handling the basic component fabrication, this output would have been impossible.

Wang Yanzhao looked at his son with a mixture of pride and guilt. “You’ve worked hard. Once Wenshui and Wencai can take over, you can finally rest and focus on your cultivation.”

“Indeed,” Wang Longyou nodded, smiling at the pair. “Once the mine is operational, this old man will also enter deep seclusion. It’s time to attempt the breakthrough to the eighth layer of Foundation Establishment.”

He had been stuck at the sixth layer for years. The Jasper Moon Fruit had not only pushed him into the late stage but also shortened the grind to the next level. Now, he felt the threshold loosening.

“Uncle is breaking through? That is wonderful news!” Wang Hao’s eyes lit up.

With Wang Guang’an silent overseas for years, the family’s anxiety was palpable. If Wang Longyou reached the eighth layer, the Wang Clan would have a much stronger safety net.

With the Spirit Stone mine as a foundation, they could afford to lay low for decades, digesting the legacies from the Pill Cauldron Sect and expanding their industries.

After the initial excitement, the trio got down to business.

“The Tang family incident has faded, but we must remain cautious,” Wang Yanzhao said, his expression serious. “The Qingyuan Sect will reopen in a few years. We can’t flood the mine with people. I propose we send Wang Wenzhu and the original team back—they already know the secret, and the Spirit Qi there will benefit their cultivation. But five people isn’t enough. We need to select a few more.”

Wang Longyou stroked his beard. “Agreed. But we also need a Foundation Establishment elder to hold the fort. Just in case.”

The three present were out of the question. Wang Yanzhao was the Patriarch; Wang Longyou was entering seclusion; and Wang Hao needed to catch up on his own cultivation. Furthermore, their disappearance would raise suspicion.

That left Wang Yanzhi and Wang Wenyuan.

“Let Wenyuan go,” Wang Longyou suggested. “Mining with puppets is simple work; it won’t delay his cultivation. Yanzhi is better suited for business management here at home.”

Wang Hao nodded. “Selecting the juniors will be easy. The Education Hall has done its job; their loyalty and sense of honor are rock solid.”

Building the clan’s education system was Wang Hao’s proudest achievement. He had watched these kids grow up. He trusted them.

“Good. We’ll pick those above the fifth layer of Qi Refining,” Wang Longyou chuckled. “Controlling puppets is easy work—much easier than the manual labor I did in the Qingyuan Sect’s mines back in the day!”

For the juniors, this assignment was a massive reward. Not only would they earn Contribution Points, but they would also get to cultivate in a Tier 3 Spirit Vein environment—a privilege usually reserved for elders.

“We are short on hands,” Wang Yanzhao sighed, a mix of worry and happiness on his face. “Too many children to teach, too many mouths to feed. But in a few years, when the ‘Wu’ generation grows up, we will be strong.”

Wang Hao agreed. Wang Wenjiang’s group was already close to the ninth layer of Qi Refining. A few years in the rich Qi of the mine, and they would be knocking on the door of Foundation Establishment. Even the impulsive Wang Wenzhu would benefit from the isolation.

They selected ten young elites for the rotation.

Finally, Wang Hao mentioned his promise to the apprentice puppeteers regarding the Foundation Establishment Pill.

Wang Yanzhao frowned. “The family income has risen, but the population boom is expensive. If not for your overseas earnings and the windfall from Maple Leaf Market, we would be bankrupt. We don’t have the spare liquidity to buy a Foundation Establishment Pill right now.”

Wang Hao rolled his eyes internally. Old miser. The clan treasury had nearly three hundred thousand Spirit Stones and a mountain of artifacts sitting in it. He hadn’t taken a single stone from the Tang family raid.

“We have the mine now, don’t we?” Wang Hao countered. “Besides, I plan to head overseas again soon. I need to check on the Ancestor, and I’ll hunt some sea beasts to build up a personal fund for the pill.”

“Since you have a plan, fine,” Wang Yanzhao relented. “Puppetry is a strategic asset. Cultivating a Foundation Establishment expert in that field is worth the cost.”

Puppets reduced casualties and increased productivity. It was a long-term investment. And Wang Hao couldn’t be the only one making them forever.