Rise of the Wang Clan: Starting with a Portable Farm

Chapter 205: Distributing Foundation Establishment Pills

The Grand Competition results were accepted without complaint, but the direct awarding of a Foundation Establishment Pill to Wang Wencai sparked controversy.

Why did he deserve such a treasure without fighting for it?

Few dared to voice their dissent directly to the elders, but whispers of unfairness rippled through the clan. The discontent threatened to sour the morale of the younger generation.

Wang Hao stepped in to quell the unrest. He publicly announced that Wang Wencai’s reward was due to his exceptional contribution to the clan’s puppet technology—a strategic asset equal to combat prowess. To ensure fairness, he established a new rule: Any clansman who advances a Crafting Art to Tier 1 High-Grade before age 25, or Tier 2 before age 50, will automatically be eligible for a Foundation Establishment Pill.

The promise silenced the critics instantly. Ambition replaced envy, and a wave of enthusiasm for the Hundred Arts of Cultivation swept through the clan. Everyone wanted to be the next Wencai.

Wang Hao was pleased. He didn’t care how they reached Foundation Establishment, as long as they did.

The Council Hall.

Wang Hao and Wang Yanzhao sat before the four candidates preparing for their breakthrough.

Wang Yanzhao, seated in the center, swept his gaze over them. “You have proven yourselves in the Grand Competition. Your combat strength reflects deep Qi, which bodes well for your success. I wish you all a smooth breakthrough!”

“Thank you, Patriarch!” the four chorused.

“Remember,” Wang Yanzhao continued, his tone turning serious, “the pill is a reward, but the Contribution Points it costs must still be repaid. If you lack points now, you will pay the debt after you succeed. Is that clear?”

“Understood!”

This was standard procedure. A Foundation Establishment cultivator could earn points ten times faster than a Qi Refining disciple; repaying 10,000 points was a trivial matter once they ascended.

“Good. The Qingyuan Sect has sealed its mountain, bringing peace to the region, but danger never sleeps. A weak family is a dead family…” Wang Yanzhao launched into a long, rambling speech about the clan’s history of hardship.

After the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Wang Hao was rubbing his ears in irritation. Finally, the Patriarch wound down.

“The Foundation Establishment Pill is precious,” Wang Yanzhao concluded, sipping his tea. “You must be cautious. Do not attempt the breakthrough until you are absolutely certain. Especially you, Wencai. You just reached the ninth layer of Qi Refining. Spend time polishing your foundation first!”

“Enough, Old Wang,” Wang Hao cut in, unable to take it anymore. “They are already under immense pressure. Do you want to stress them into failure?”

He turned to the four candidates. “Don’t overthink it. Focus entirely on the breakthrough. The family’s burdens are not your concern right now. If you fail, you can’t help us anyway. Succeed, and the rest will follow.”

“Elder, rest assured!” the four responded with renewed vigor. “We will not let the family down!”

Wang Hao blinked. Did they misunderstand me? I told them to be selfish for a moment… ah, forget it.

Wang Yanzhao nodded in satisfaction. He distributed the pills, along with copies of the clan’s Foundation Establishment Insights and Meridian Protection Pills.

Holding the pill he had dreamed of for decades, the elderly Wang Longxing trembled. Tears streamed down his weathered face.

He dropped to his knees and kowtowed. “Thank you, Patriarch! Thank you, Elder!”

“Twenty-Fourth Uncle, get up!” Wang Yanzhao hurried to lift him. “You are my elder; I cannot accept such a bow!”

“It doesn’t matter,” Wang Longxing sobbed, his emotions overflowing. “I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Without your leadership, the clan would not be strong enough to afford this. How could an old man like me ever hope for such a chance?”

Moved by his sincerity, the other three candidates also knelt.

“Thank you, Patriarch! Thank you, Elder!”

“Please, get up,” Wang Yanzhao said, flustered by the display. “Just serve the family well when you succeed. That is all I ask.”

But led by Wang Longxing, they insisted on completing three full kowtows before rising.

After they left, the hall fell silent.

“Old Wang,” Wang Hao said quietly, producing a small jade box. “Take this.”

Wang Yanzhao opened it. Inside sat a fifth Foundation Establishment Pill.

“Where did you get another one?”

“Don’t ask,” Wang Hao replied. “You need it, don’t you? For Aunt Li.”

Li Dexi, Wang Yanzhao’s wife and Wang Hao’s stepmother, had made rapid progress in her cultivation after her children had grown up. She was ready. However, she had refused to participate in the Grand Competition, feeling that as an outsider who married into the clan, she shouldn’t compete with the Wang bloodline for resources.

Wang Hao disagreed. If the clan treated in-laws as second-class citizens, no talented rogue cultivator would ever marry into the family.

Li Dexi was nearly 60. She couldn’t wait any longer.

Wang Yanzhao looked at his son, gratitude in his eyes. He didn’t ask further questions and stored the pill away.

Two months later.

Wang Longxing was the first to attempt the breakthrough. At his age, his Qi was already polished to perfection; delay would only weaken his blood vitality. Wang Yanzhao vacated his own cave dwelling—the one with the best Spiritual Qi—for the old man’s use.

Li Dexi insisted on going last, still wary of gossip.

Wang Wending and Wang Yanji prepared to break through shortly after Wang Longxing. Since Wang Yanzhao was busy managing the clan, Wang Hao took charge of their protection.

The Spirit Vein at Wang Family Ridge couldn’t support three simultaneous breakthroughs. Wang Hao escorted Wending and Yanji to Mount Ruojun, where the Qi was less strained.

He and Wang Yanzhi stood guard outside the caves.

Two months passed.

A ripple of spiritual pressure spread from the mountain peak.

Wang Yanji had succeeded.

A few days later, a second wave of pressure washed over them. Wang Wending had also broken through.

Wang Yanzhi let out a long breath, pouring himself a cup of wine. “Two more Foundation Establishment cultivators. The Wang Clan is truly rising! This is all your doing, Wenhao.”

Wang Hao smiled modestly. “Tenth Uncle, you flatter me. It was a group effort.”

“Don’t be humble,” Wang Yanzhi laughed. “Even I only succeeded because of the pill you provided. You’ve carried the family on your back for years. Once these new elders stabilize their cultivation, let them take over your duties. You need to rest. I can sense your own cultivation is near a breakthrough?”

“Yes,” Wang Hao nodded. “Despite the interruptions, I’m touching the threshold of the sixth layer of Foundation Establishment.”

“Sixth layer…” Wang Yanzhi shook his head in amazement. “I can’t compare. I’m still struggling to reach the second layer.”

“Don’t worry, Tenth Uncle,” Wang Hao said, his eyes gleaming. “With the clan’s resources now, even at your age… the Golden Core is not impossible.”