Rise of the Wang Clan: Starting with a Portable Farm

Chapter 209: Audience with a Nascent Soul

Mindful of the massive commotion he had caused, Wang Guang’an wasted no time. He rose into the air, flying out of the ruined Danfu Pavilion and landing directly in front of Ye Yunjun.

He cupped his hands in a deep, respectful salute. “Fellow Daoist, your protection and guidance during my tribulation—I, Wang Guang’an, will engrave this kindness into my heart! May I ask your name?”

“Congratulations on successfully forming your Golden Core, Fellow Daoist,” Ye Yunjun returned the salute with practiced grace. “I am Ye Yunjun, an official of the City Lord’s Mansion. It was City Lord Ye—True Lord Yulang—who entrusted me with your safety.”

“True Lord Yulang?” Wang Guang’an started, visibly shaken. He hadn’t expected his breakthrough to attract the attention of a legendary Nascent Soul True Lord.

“The Old Ancestor instructed that once you emerged from seclusion, you should pay a visit to the City Lord’s Mansion.”

“True Lord Yulang wants to see… me?”

Nascent Soul cultivators were elusive legends—divine dragons who revealed their heads but never their tails. Wang Guang’an had never imagined he would see one in his lifetime, let alone be invited by one.

In the Leizhou Peninsula, a Golden Core cultivator was an overlord. But here in the overseas cultivation world, while respected, they were not rare. Why would a supreme existence take an interest in him?

Regardless of whether it was a blessing or a curse, he had to go. He had just formed his Core; he dared not offend a Nascent Soul True Lord.

Seeing Wang Guang’an’s shifting expression, Ye Yunjun guessed his apprehension. She explained, “Fellow Daoist need not be overly concerned. Wanxiang City sits on the frontline of the war between humans and demons. Every new human Golden Core strengthens our hold on this territory. Therefore, the Old Ancestor summons every cultivator who forms their Core within the city.”

“So that is how it is.” Wang Guang’an let out a breath of relief. It turned out he wasn’t special; it was just standard protocol.

“However, there is one more matter Fellow Daoist needs to be aware of.”

“Fairy Ye, please speak freely.”

Ye Yunjun glanced at the Danfu Pavilion, which had been reduced to a pile of smoking rubble. “Since Fellow Daoist formed your Golden Core within the city proper, you must bear the full cost of the damages. The activation of the district’s defensive array and the destruction of the Danfu Pavilion total 100,000 Low Grade Spirit Stones. Furthermore, the massive amount of Spiritual Qi you drained from the city’s spirit vein is valued at another 100,000 Spirit Stones.”

She paused, letting the numbers sink in. “The total debt is 200,000 Spirit Stones. You have ten years to pay it off.”

Wang Guang’an froze. 200,000 Spirit Stones?

He recovered quickly, nodding with a grimace. “The damage was caused by me. Naturally, I must compensate.”

Using someone else’s spirit vein to ascend came with a price; it was only fair. He was only surprised because he had never heard of such a steep bill before.

Ye Yunjun added, “You may not know this, but Wanxiang City encourages Foundation Establishment cultivators to break through. The City Lord’s Mansion has constructed special ‘Ascension Caves’ for this exact purpose. Those caves have denser Spiritual Qi and are free of charge. They are also protected by specialized formations, so even if you destroy them, no compensation is required.”

She looked at the ruins. “Compared to the cost here, renting a cave would have been… significantly more cost-effective.”

Her voice wasn’t loud, but every cultivator in the vicinity heard it. It wouldn’t take long for the story of the ‘expensive breakthrough’ to spread throughout Wanxiang City. Most locals knew about the Ascension Caves; only an outsider like Wang Guang’an would choose to face tribulation in a retail shop.

Not only did he risk destroying the neighborhood, but the disruption to business was severe. Part of that 200,000 Spirit Stones was likely compensation for the surrounding merchants.

Wang Guang’an’s face flushed with embarrassment. He had intended to save the family money by staying home, but the destructive power of the Heavenly Tribulation had backfired spectacularly, costing them a fortune instead.

At least I succeeded, he consoled himself. If I had failed, the family would be saddled with a 200,000 Spirit Stone debt and a corpse.

Now that the Wang family had reached a new tier of power, two urgent problems lay before him.

First, he needed to clear this massive debt and rebuild the Danfu Pavilion. Second, he needed a proper Dharma Treasure.

A Golden Core cultivator without a Dharma Treasure was a joke. It wasn’t just a weapon; it was a matter of face. The Blue Flood Dragon Furnace was, strictly speaking, an alchemy tool. It was awkward to use in combat, and more importantly, it belonged to Wang Hao. He couldn’t monopolize it forever.

“Fellow Daoist Wang, there are other protocols for Golden Core cultivators, but you should meet my Old Ancestor first. We can discuss the details afterward.”

“Thank you, Fairy.”

“Please, follow me.”

Ye Yunjun led the way, and soon they arrived at a secluded courtyard deep within the City Lord’s Mansion.

“Fellow Daoist Wang, please wait here. I will announce your arrival.”

Wang Guang’an stood respectfully by the gate, hands clasped, calming his breathing.

“Reporting to the Old Ancestor. The newly ascended Golden Core cultivator, Wang Guang’an, has arrived. Does the Ancestor wish to see him?”

“Since he is here, bring him in.” The voice of a middle-aged man drifted from the courtyard. It was calm, yet it carried an undeniable weight.

Ye Yunjun turned back to Wang Guang’an and gestured. “Fellow Daoist, please.”

Wang Guang’an hurried inside, bowing deeply without daring to look up. “Junior Wang Guang’an pays his respects to the True Lord!”

“Hmm. Your aura is stable. Quite good. Humanity gains another warrior.” True Lord Yulang swept his gaze over Wang Guang’an, instantly assessing his condition. He nodded with a faint smile. “Your aptitude is decent, Little Friend. Your future is promising.”

“The True Lord praises me too highly. This junior’s talent is mediocre; I dare not accept such acclaim!” Wang Guang’an replied with extreme caution. He was walking on thin ice, terrified that a single misplaced word could bring disaster upon his clan.

True Lord Yulang didn’t waste time on pleasantries with an early-stage Golden Core cultivator. He cut to the chase. “Little Friend, are you a clan cultivator?”

Wang Guang’an hesitated. Why did it sound like the True Lord wanted to recruit him? He answered quickly, “Reporting to the True Lord, this junior is from the Wang clan of Qingniu Market in the Leizhou Peninsula. The Wang clan is merely a Foundation Establishment family. I am the first to form a Core. The True Lord likely has never heard of us.”

“Are you willing to join my Guanhai Sect? Or perhaps serve as a Guest Elder for the Ye family?”

It was indeed a recruitment offer. Wang Guang’an felt a surge of validation—joining a Nascent Soul Sect or family would guarantee resources and protection—but he could never abandon his kin.

He shook his head firmly. “True Lord, my family exhausted its entire treasury to support my ascension. I… I cannot leave them.”

“Enough. I understand.” True Lord Yulang interrupted him, unbothered by the rejection. “Since you are unwilling, so be it. You are still a part of humanity’s strength. If you wish to bring your family to develop overseas, you can discuss the logistics with Yunjun. While you can cultivate within the city, a clan needs its own territory. It would be best to secure a piece of spiritual land for yourselves.”

“Thank you for your understanding, True Lord. Years ago, I led forty clansmen to Wanxiang City with the very intention of leasing an island with a Tier 3 spirit vein to establish our foundation!” Cold sweat beaded on Wang Guang’an’s forehead; he was terrified his refusal had offended the titan before him.

“In that case, you may withdraw.”

Wang Guang’an bowed deeply. “This junior takes his leave.”

By the time he straightened his back, the scenery had shifted instantly. He was no longer in the courtyard but standing outside the gate.

Wang Guang’an blinked, his heart pounding at the casual display of spatial manipulation.

“Fellow Daoist Wang, please.” Ye Yunjun’s voice snapped him back to reality.

He gave an apologetic smile and followed her to a reception hall.

Ye Yunjun ordered servants to serve two cups of spiritual tea. “Try this Mingxin Tea. It helps improve cultivation and stabilize the mind.”

Wang Guang’an took a sip. A warm current washed through his body, clearing his head and dispelling the lingering fear from his audience with the Nascent Soul cultivator.

“Thank you, Fairy. I feel much better. I made a fool of myself earlier.”

Ye Yunjun smiled faintly. She had seen countless Golden Core cultivators crumble before True Lord Yulang. Wang Guang’an’s performance had actually been decent—neither groveling nor paralyzed by fear.

Wang Guang’an set down the cup. “Fairy Ye, please tell me what needs to be done. My clansmen are waiting for me, and I wish to see them soon.”

Ye Yunjun’s expression turned businesslike. “As I mentioned earlier, you owe a total of 200,000 Spirit Stones.”

She held up three fingers.

“You have three options. First, you pay the debt in full yourself within ten years. Second, you accept a dangerous mission from the City Lord’s Mansion to offset the cost. Third… you join the Guanhai Sect, and the Sect will assume the debt for you.”