Rise of the Wang Clan: Starting with a Portable Farm

Chapter 210: Leasing an Island

Wang Guang’an weighed his options.

The “dangerous mission” Ye Yunjun mentioned was likely a death trap. As the Wang family’s only Golden Core cultivator, he was the pillar of the clan; he could not afford to take reckless risks. That left only one option: repaying the 200,000 Spirit Stones.

He had heard from Wang Hao that the Open Seas were teeming with Demon Beasts. Although he had just formed his Core, his strength had multiplied several times over. Hunting Tier 2 Demon Beasts would be as easy as slaughtering chickens. Surely, it wouldn’t take long to gather the necessary funds.

Ye Yunjun seemed to read his mind. She gave him a meaningful look. “I mentioned earlier that there are rules in Wanxiang City. One of the most important is that high-level cultivators are forbidden from wantonly slaughtering low-rank Demon Beasts in the surrounding waters.”

She swept her hand toward the ocean. “Although resources are abundant overseas, high-rank beasts are rare within the human-controlled zones. The population of low-rank beasts is also finite; we cannot drain the pond to catch all the fish. The Sects and major clans preserve these beasts as training fodder for their junior disciples. Of course, if you encounter a Tier 3 beast, or if a foolish beast attacks you first, you are free to retaliate.”

“I see…” Wang Guang’an frowned. He hadn’t known about this restriction. His plan for quick cash had just evaporated.

“If Fellow Daoist is confident in his prowess, you can naturally venture deep into the Demon Race’s territory,” Ye Yunjun added with a faint smile. “There are no restrictions there—only death.”

Wang Guang’an gave a bitter laugh. He had just advanced; he wasn’t arrogant enough to charge into the heart of the enemy’s domain.

Ye Yunjun continued smoothly, “Fellow Daoist mentioned leasing an island to the Ancestor earlier. I can provide some details on that.”

“Please enlighten me, Fairy Ye.”

“Leasing an island requires seeking the protection of a Nascent Soul faction,” Ye Yunjun explained slowly. “In this boundless ocean, isolation is death. If a Beast Tide strikes and you have no reinforcements, your clan will be wiped out. Most islands around Wanxiang City are controlled by the three major Nascent Soul powers.”

“If you lease an island from a faction, your clan effectively becomes a vassal. You must pay an annual tribute and obey their conscription orders—whether it be for monster suppression campaigns or aiding other vassal families.”

Wang Guang’an nodded. This was no different from the political landscape of the Leizhou Peninsula. The cultivation world was strictly hierarchical: the strong sold protection, and the weak paid tribute with resources and blood. The Wang family had served the Qingyuan Sect in the same manner.

This was a system he could accept.

He glanced at Ye Yunjun. The Ye family’s Ancestor had been reasonable, and Ye Yunjun herself was easy to deal with. It made sense to stick with the devil he knew.

“The Wang family is willing to seek shelter under the Ye family’s wing,” Wang Guang’an said decisively. “Where do I go to finalize the lease?”

Seeing Wang Guang’an’s sensible decision, Ye Yunjun smiled. “The City Lord’s Mansion has an Affairs Hall specifically for this. They also handle… debt collection. Since Fellow Daoist is eager to reunite with his clan, I will take you there now.”

A short while later, they stood before a towering edifice. A black plaque hung above the entrance, inscribed with three bold, gilded characters: Affairs Hall.

Cultivators streamed in and out of the entrance like busy ants.

The interior was exceptionally spacious, lined with rows of crimson desks. Behind each desk sat a stern-faced attendant, processing the requests of the long queues of cultivators.

This hall served not only the city’s residents but also disciples from the three major Sects. Since the City Lord’s Mansion was a joint venture of the three powers, it was often more convenient for sect disciples to handle administrative tasks here rather than returning to their distant headquarters.

Ye Yunjun bypassed the Foundation Establishment and Qi Refining crowds on the ground floor, leading Wang Guang’an directly to the second level.

They entered a lavishly decorated office where a middle-aged man in grey robes sat reviewing documents. His aura marked him as a Golden Core cultivator.

“Fellow Daoist Wang, this is Deputy Hall Master Chen Yuanfeng—my Junior Brother Chen,” Ye Yunjun introduced. She then turned to the man. “Junior Brother, this Fellow Daoist Wang formed his Core within the city limits. Between the structural damage and the Spirit Vein usage fee, the total comes to 200,000 Spirit Stones. Please register the debt. Additionally, he intends to lease an island in the outer seas to establish his family base. Walk him through the options.”

She turned back to Wang Guang’an and cupped her hands. “Fellow Daoist Wang, I will take my leave now.”

Wang Guang’an politely escorted her to the door before returning to face the Deputy Hall Master.

Chen Yuanfeng didn’t waste words on pleasantries. “Fellow Daoist Wang, according to the rules, you must pay 20% of the 200,000 Spirit Stone debt upfront—that is 40,000. The remaining 160,000 must be repaid within ten years. Furthermore, we require collateral.”

Wang Guang’an’s brow furrowed. He could scrape together 40,000 Spirit Stones, but collateral? Low-value items wouldn’t be accepted, and his only high-value asset was the Blue Flood Dragon Furnace. He couldn’t possibly mortgage his only Dharma Treasure.

“Dare I ask, Fellow Daoist Chen, what qualifies as collateral?”

“If you open a shop in the city, the shop is collateral,” Chen Yuanfeng droned. “If you lease an island, the island and your residency are collateral. In short, we need to know where your Wang family lives so that if you default, we can find you. Of course, high-value spiritual items are also acceptable.”

Wang Guang’an breathed a sigh of relief. It wasn’t about monetary equivalence; it was about having hostages. As long as his clan was anchored to a location under their surveillance, it was enough.

However, the financial pressure was mounting. He had to pay 40,000 immediately, plus the cost of leasing the island. The funds he had brought overseas might not be enough.

“Fellow Daoist Chen,” he asked with a tinge of worry, “how much does it cost to lease an island with a Tier 3 Spirit Vein?”

“Islands are plentiful overseas, so the rent is significantly cheaper than Spirit Mountains on the mainland,” Chen Yuanfeng explained, his tone businesslike. “Prices vary based on location, vein quality, and surface area. A remote, small island with a low-grade vein might cost only 50,000 Spirit Stones for a century-long lease. Conversely, prime real estate can cost up to 500,000.”

“Additionally, as a vassal, you will be required to cultivate specific spiritual plants for the faction. The quota depends on the island’s unique environment.”

Chen Yuanfeng walked him through every detail, clearly eager to close the deal—he likely received a commission.

Wang Guang’an analyzed his options.

Cheap, remote islands were death traps; they would be the first to be abandoned during a Beast Tide.

Islands too close to the Nascent Soul faction’s core were also suboptimal. The resources in those waters would have already been stripped clean by the main sect, leaving no scraps for a vassal family to grow on.

After poring over the map, Wang Guang’an made his choice.

He selected a medium-sized island in the Red Butterfly Sea Area named Giant Turtle Island. It boasted a Tier 3 Middle-Grade Spirit Vein and was surrounded by over forty satellite islets, five of which possessed Tier 2 veins.

The location was ideal—situated in the middle-outer ring of the Ye family’s territory. It was safe enough to avoid being the first line of defense, yet far enough from the center to have untapped resources.

Chen Yuanfeng smiled, sensing a closed sale. “Fellow Daoist Wang has a keen eye. Giant Turtle Island. The lease is 100 years, and the price is 200,000 Spirit Stones. Adding the 40,000 for your debt down payment, the total due today is 240,000 Spirit Stones.”

Wang Guang’an felt a physical phantom pain in his chest.

240,000 Spirit Stones. Gone in an instant. And he still owed another 160,000. The Wang family’s treasury was bleeding dry.

But this was necessary. The Foundation Establishment elders had long agreed that without a sovereign base, the Wang family would remain rootless drifters in Wanxiang City, forever unable to truly rise.