Rise of the Wang Clan: Starting with a Portable Farm

Chapter 203: True Monarch Yulang

“What is happening? Why is there a vortex of Spiritual Qi appearing out of nowhere?” a Qi Refining cultivator asked, shielding his eyes from the glare.

Wanxiang City was built atop a Fourth-Order Middle-Grade Spirit Vein. The ambient energy here was so dense that a mere Golden Core breakthrough shouldn’t have caused such a disturbance.

Consequently, the vortex Wang Guang’an created wasn’t massive. It was localized, hovering directly over the Danfu Pavilion.

The crowd buzzed with confusion until a Foundation Establishment cultivator stepped out of a nearby shop. He looked up, his expression shifting from shock to naked envy.

“Someone is forming a Golden Core!”

The declaration hit the crowd like a thunderclap.

“A Senior is breaking through? Heavens! To witness such a sight is a blessing!” an elderly Qi Refining cultivator exclaimed, his hands trembling.

“It’s happening inside the Danfu Pavilion… could it be someone from the Wang Family?”

Since the Wang Family had established roots in Wanxiang City, word had spread that the Danfu Pavilion was their territory.

“It must be. Who would let an outsider use their shop for such a critical moment?”

“That explains why they closed their doors recently. They were preparing for this.” A bystander laughed. “There’s going to be a good show now. The other shops have been bullying the Wang Family because they lacked a backer. If they succeed…”

“Even if he succeeds, he’ll only be at the early Golden Core stage. Can he really compare to the established powerhouses?”

“You’re missing the point. A family that can produce a Golden Core cultivator must have deep roots. Where do you think they got the breakthrough resources?”

“True…”

The gossip spread like wildfire, mutating with every retelling. Soon, a massive crowd had gathered to watch the spectacle.

On the top floor of a nearby restaurant, three Golden Core cultivators stood by the window, wine cups in hand.

“It’s been over a decade since anyone attempted a Golden Core breakthrough in Wanxiang City,” one mused. “I wonder who this Fellow Daoist is.”

“Calling him ‘Fellow Daoist’ is premature,” a white-bearded cultivator scoffed, stroking his beard. “Look at the speed of the Qi condensation. He has only just begun. The road ahead is paved with demons. Success is far from guaranteed.”

“Indeed. Only those who have walked this path know its terrors. Condensing the pill is just the first step. One wrong move, and it all unravels.”

The first speaker smiled. “True. But reaching this step puts him above ninety-nine percent of Foundation Establishment cultivators. He is already elite.”

“We are all Rogue Cultivators here. Since this person is breaking through in a shop, he likely isn’t from a major Sect. If he succeeds, we should pay a visit. An alliance could be profitable.”

“Agreed. Let us go together.”

Wanxiang City Center. A Private Courtyard.

In a secluded garden, a man watched the distant vortex with interest.

He appeared lean, almost skeletal, with white hair that contrasted sharply with his youthful, middle-aged face.

This was True Monarch Yulang—Ye Feng. He was one of the two Nascent Soul Ancestors of the Sight-Sea Sect, one of the three ruling factions of Wanxiang City.

Standing beside him was a stunning woman in a tasseled dress. Her beauty was ethereal, like a lotus blooming in mist. Her aura revealed her cultivation: early-stage Golden Core.

“Yunjun,” True Monarch Yulang asked casually, “what are his chances?”

Ye Yunjun was a descendant of the Ye family, separated by six generations. As an Ice Spirit Root cultivator, she was the family’s brightest star in a century, earning her the right to serve directly at the ancestor’s side.

She observed the vortex for a moment before bowing respectfully. “Ancestor, the process is steady. Neither rushed nor slow. His foundation seems solid. I would estimate a sixty percent chance of success.”

True Monarch Yulang shook his head faintly. “At the start, perhaps. But he has already reached the condensation phase without wavering. His chances are above eighty percent.”

Ye Yunjun’s eyes widened. Eighty percent? For a Nascent Soul powerhouse—specifically one at the mid-stage—to make such a definitive judgment meant the outcome was all but assured.

“If that is the case,” she asked, “should we send an envoy to recruit him?”

Golden Core cultivators were valuable assets, even for a Nascent Soul family.

“No rush,” Yulang replied. “Until the tribulation passes, fate is undecided. Just keep an eye on him. And ensure no one disturbs him. This is happening on the Ye Family’s watch. If an accident occurs, those other old fossils will accuse me of jealousy and incompetence.”

“Yes, Ancestor. I will deploy guards immediately. No idle trash will disturb this Fellow Daoist.”

Yunjun smiled inwardly. Only her ancestor dared to call the other Nascent Soul masters “old fossils.”

Seeing True Monarch Yulang close his eyes, she bowed deeply and quietly retreated.

Outside the Danfu Pavilion.

As the vortex swirled, the atmosphere on the street shifted. Ambition began to stir among the gathered Rogue Cultivators.

Joining an established Golden Core family was difficult; they were entrenched, their hierarchies rigid. A rogue would always be an outsider.

But a new Golden Core faction? That was an opportunity. Ground-floor entry meant a chance to become part of the core team. The Wang Family was currently under economic pressure; joining now would be seen as “sending charcoal in snowy weather”—a debt of gratitude that could pay dividends for centuries.

Alchemists, in particular, hovered around the closed doors like moths to a flame.

“Brother Zhang, give it up,” a man sighed, tugging at his friend’s sleeve. “He is a family cultivator, not a rogue. He won’t trust outsiders like us. We’ll be errand boys at best.”

“Brother Xie, you can leave if you want,” Zhang Mingxiang replied, his eyes fixed on the vortex. “I must try. This is my only chance.”

Zhang Mingxiang was a Three Spirit Root cultivator at the eighth layer of Qi Refining. He was also a Tier 1 Alchemist. In Wanxiang City, where pills flooded the streets, a low-level alchemist with no backing was nothing.

Without a patron, he would never reach Foundation Establishment. He would never become a Tier 2 Alchemist.

He had to gamble.