Rise of the Wang Clan: Starting with a Portable Farm

Chapter 191: The Old Uncle

The Wang Clan’s mission board frequently posted requests for hunting Demon Beasts. These combat missions were lucrative, offering significantly higher Contribution Points and Spirit Stones than mundane tasks.

Even without a specific mission, a clan member could venture into the wilds, hunt a beast, and turn in the carcass for a hefty reward.

However, hunting alone was a death wish. To mitigate the risk, Wang Wenjiang had organized a solid hunting squad composed of capable clansmen. The weakest among them was at the sixth layer of Qi Refining, and they operated on a merit-based loot distribution system: the more you contributed, the more you earned.

They specialized in hunting Tier 1 Demon Beasts and had enjoyed a streak of bountiful harvests.

But during their latest expedition, while tracking a target, they had stumbled upon the den of a Tier 2 Middle-Grade Cyan-Brown Wolf.

More importantly, growing beside the den were several stalks of Spirit Gathering Grass, each over a hundred years old. Herbs of that age were the primary ingredient for the Tier 2 Low-Grade Qi Gathering Pill. The value was immense.

The problem was simple: they couldn’t kill a wolf equivalent to a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator. They needed a heavy hitter.

Among the clan’s Foundation Establishment experts, Wang Longyou was in deep seclusion. Wang Yanzhao was busy with alchemy and, as the Clan Head, was too intimidating for the juniors to approach casually. Wang Wenyuan’s cultivation was too low to handle the wolf.

Naturally, their thoughts turned to the clan’s idol, Wang Hao.

“I was wondering what the fuss was about,” Wang Hao said with a faint smile after hearing the request. “Perfect timing. I just finished my seclusion and need to stretch my legs. I’ll use this little wolf to warm up.”

It was standard procedure for clansmen to request aid for resources they couldn’t secure themselves, provided they shared the profits with the clan.

“However,” Wang Hao added, his tone shifting to business, “you know the rules. If I step in, your team only gets thirty percent of the total loot. Have you thought this through?”

Wang Hao didn’t need the money, but rules were rules. If he helped for free, the entire clan would line up outside his cave, and he’d never get any cultivation done.

Wang Wenjiang beamed, clearly thrilled by the easy acceptance. “We’ve only got five people. The Tier 2 beast and the Spirit Gathering Grass will sell for at least 4,000 Spirit Stones. Thirty percent is 1,200. That’s 240 stones per person! We’d be greedy to ask for more!”

Wang Hao nodded in satisfaction. “It’s good that you understand. Remember, always act within your means. If you encounter a fortune you can’t swallow, give it up decisively. Greed without strength leads to tragedy.”

“Yes! Thank you for the lesson, Fifth Brother!”

“Alright, cut the act. With your cleverness, you didn’t need me to tell you that.” Wang Hao playfully kicked him. “Let’s go. Take me to see your little squad. You can brief me on the beast along the way.”

“Right this way, Fifth Brother!” Wang Wenjiang gestured respectfully and led the way.

They arrived at a stone pavilion where four other cultivators were waiting.

“Wenzhu, Wenxue, Wensheng—greetings, Fifth Brother!”

“Wuxiang pays respects to Fifth Uncle!”

“Hmm?” Wang Hao paused, looking at the youngest member. “Wang Wuxiang? How old are you this year? You’re already hunting Demon Beasts?”

“Fifth Uncle, I am 20 years old and currently at the sixth layer of Qi Refining!”

“The ‘Wu’ generation is already 20?” Wang Hao felt a sudden pang of melancholy. In the blink of an eye, he had crossed the 50-year mark.

Wang Wenzhu stepped forward, smiling. “Fifth Brother, Nephew Wuxiang is the eldest of the ‘Wu’ generation. He’s actually not 20 yet—only 19! But his strength is solid; he’s always been the top cultivator of his generation!”

Wang Hao mentally noted that this wasn’t entirely true. The children with the best aptitude had been sent overseas or kept in reserve. Otherwise, even with an age gap, Wuxiang likely couldn’t compare to someone like Wang Wuyan, whose affinity with the clan’s techniques was superior.

“Not bad,” Wang Hao praised, assuming the air of a senior. “As the eldest brother, you must set an example. You’re doing well. Take this High-Grade Magical Artifact as a reward from your Fifth Uncle.”

He retrieved a shimmering artifact from his storage bag and handed it over. Age had made Wang Hao steadier; he now played the role of the benevolent elder with natural ease.

“Thank you, Fifth Uncle!” Wang Wuxiang bowed deeply, overjoyed.

“Fifth Brother, you’re too biased!” Wang Wenzhu pouted, stomping her foot playfully. “My cultivation has improved fast these past few years too! Why don’t I get an artifact?”

This was his Fifteenth Sister. Lively and romantic since childhood, she was nearly 30 now, but her temperament hadn’t changed a bit.

Wang Hao curled his lip. “Look at Wenjiang, then look at Wuxiang. Both of them have a shot at Foundation Establishment before 30. What about you?”

He crossed his arms. “If you keep playing around, the family rules won’t support an idler. I think we should find a marriage alliance and marry you off soon.”

Wang Wenzhu rolled her eyes. “I don’t want that! I’m not some mortal woman whose only purpose is to marry and bear children. My ambition is the Great Dao! It’s you, Fifth Brother—and Twenty-Third Brother—who are the problem. You aren’t young anymore. You should have married ages ago to add fresh blood to the family. Especially you! You wrote the Encouraged Childbirth Policy, yet you refuse to take the lead!”

She pointed a finger towards the village. “Look at Fourteenth Granduncle! He has over 40 wives and concubines now. His household alone is the size of a small village!”

Wang Hao shook his head with a bitter smile.

At the mention of marriage, Ji Xiaotang’s face involuntarily surfaced in his mind. It had been nearly 10 years. He wondered how she was doing.

I need to visit the Ji family overseas once I reach the sixth layer of Foundation Establishment, he decided. Regardless of her ancestor’s attitude, I have to ask.

Only a few Foundation Establishment elders like Wang Guang’an knew about Ji Xiaotang. To the rest of the clan, it looked like Wang Hao planned to remain a bachelor for the sake of his cultivation.

As for the Fourteenth Granduncle… he was truly a character. The man was living a life more comfortable than an emperor. It was the “One Man, One City” lifestyle Wang Hao had once jokingly dreamed of.

Forty wives. Over a hundred children. Including servants and maids, his compound really was more populous than a mortal village.

Wang Hao mused that he should brew some “Yang-Nourishing, Life-Extending” medicine for the old man. Help him enjoy a few more years of vitality.

Jokes aside, Wang Hao deeply respected him. The old uncle had answered the family’s call, sacrificing his own body’s essence to strengthen the clan’s numbers. If the Wang Clan had 10 more men with that level of selfless dedication, Wang Hao would laugh in his sleep. He would gladly pour resources into cultivating their descendants.

After a bit more banter, the conversation turned to business. Wang Hao asked for details on the Cyan-Brown Wolf.

To the Qi Refining juniors, this was a massive undertaking. If successful, each of them could upgrade their gear with two High-Grade Magical Artifacts. They spoke with grave seriousness.

Wang Hao listened attentively. A Tier 2 Middle-Grade Demon Beast was trivial for him—his Spirit Beasts alone could tear it apart—but he didn’t dismiss their caution. Many powerful cultivators died from carelessness. Wang Hao was only at the fifth layer of Foundation Establishment; he was far from invincible.

Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.

Wang Hao could insta-kill the wolf, but if he didn’t let them experience the hunt, they wouldn’t grow. Even watching the battle from the sidelines would benefit them greatly.

The next day, Wang Hao led Wang Wenjiang, Wang Wenzhu, and the others onto a flying boat, heading for Falling Phoenix Valley.

The valley housed the Falling Phoenix Market, located to the west of the Wang Clan’s Green Cattle Market. Originally, six cultivation families surrounded it. However, the recent Sect War had been devastating. Four families were wiped out, and the remaining two were reduced to a handful of survivors who fled with their few remaining Foundation Establishment elders.

Although the Qingyuan Sect had reclaimed the Falling Phoenix Market, its prosperity was shattered. It was a shadow of its former self, far inferior to the Green Cattle Market.

This power vacuum caused a massive migration. Rogue Cultivators flocked from the ruined valley to the Green Cattle Market, leading to a population explosion.

The result was an ecological crisis. The cultivation resources near Green Cattle Market—herbs, ores, and beasts—were plummeting due to over-harvesting. It reminded Wang Hao of the overfishing disasters in his previous life.

Rogue Cultivators didn’t care about “sustainable development.” They took what they could, when they could.

The five ruling families of Green Cattle Market were helpless. They couldn’t drive the rogues away; their businesses relied on these transients to buy their goods and sell raw materials. It was a dilemma with no easy solution.