Rise of the Wang Clan: Starting with a Portable Farm

Chapter 206: Three People Foundation Establishment

“You really dare to dream big,” Wang Yanzhi laughed, shaking his head. “But you’re right—you have a real shot at the Golden Core. Tenth Uncle, on the other hand… I am content with Foundation Establishment. My ambition ends here. I will spend the rest of my life serving the family.”

As soon as the topic shifted to the Golden Core, Wang Yanzhi’s confidence evaporated.

In truth, he was only in his seventies—two years younger than Patriarch Wang Yanzhao. With one hundred and seventy years of lifespan remaining, reaching Foundation Establishment Perfection was theoretically possible.

However, as a Three Spiritual Root cultivator, he lacked the efficiency of Wang Hao or Wang Yanzhao. His path would be slow and grueling.

“I wonder if Uncle Longxing succeeded,” Wang Yanzhi murmured, worry creasing his brow. “He is so old. The strain might be too much.”

Wang Hao offered a comforting smile. “Uncle Longxing’s Dao Heart is forged from iron. He will be fine. Didn’t you also break through after sixty?”

Wang Yanzhi shuddered, recalling the terror of his own breakthrough. The moment the Spiritual Qi had flooded his body, he had nearly collapsed. He had survived by the skin of his teeth, but the trauma had left him weaker than the average Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Wang Longxing was twenty years older than Yanzhi had been. The danger was exponential.

“Forget it,” Yanzhi sighed. “Fate is written in the heavens. Worrying won’t change the outcome.”

The critical three stages of Foundation Establishment had passed. Now, it was just a matter of stabilizing the realm.

They didn’t have to wait long.

Rumble.

Two stone doors opened almost simultaneously. Wang Yanji and Wang Wending emerged, their auras transformed.

“Tenth Brother! Wenhao!”

“Tenth Uncle! Fifth Brother!”

With their ascension, the hierarchy had shifted. They addressed Wang Hao as ‘Fifth Brother’ now, dropping the formal ‘Elder’ title.

Wang Hao didn’t mind. He congratulated them with a warm smile.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Wang Hao got down to business. “Since you have succeeded, we should return to Wang Family Ridge immediately. The family needs to distribute Spirit Weapons and assign your new posts. We are short on hands; I hope you won’t complain about the lack of rest.”

“We wouldn’t dare,” Wang Yanji replied seriously. “The family cultivated us. Serving is our duty.”

Wang Wending was more relaxed. He grinned at Wang Hao. “Fifth Brother, I owe the clan five thousand Contribution Points for the pill. If I don’t start working soon, how will I ever pay it back? Debt ruins my meditation!”

The four of them laughed.

For a Foundation Establishment cultivator, five thousand points was a pittance. A skilled alchemist could clear that debt in a year or two just by refining Tier 2 pills. Even a combat specialist could earn it quickly by hunting Demon Beasts.

Take the Spirit Stone mine duty: Wang Wenjiang earned two hundred points a year as a guard, but Wang Wenyuan, the Foundation Establishment overseer, earned two thousand. Even standard posts paid a thousand a year. The debt would be gone in no time.

They bid farewell to Wang Yanzhi and boarded Wang Hao’s flying boat.

By nightfall, they landed at Wang Family Ridge.

As luck would have it, they ran straight into Wang Longxing, who had just exited his own seclusion. His aura was stable and profound.

“Congratulations, Granduncle!” Wang Wending and Wang Hao bowed in unison. “Success at last!”

Wang Longxing hurried forward to lift them up. “How can I accept a bow from Wenhao? I am standing here today entirely because of you and the Elders!”

“Please, Granduncle, you flatter me,” Wang Hao demurred. But inwardly, he was pleased. Gratitude was the glue that held a clan together.

The group began to swap stories of their breakthroughs.

Wang Longxing looked at the two younger cultivators with a twinkle in his eye. “It is good that you succeeded. I went into seclusion before you, yet I came out last. Old bones are slow to knit.”

“Granduncle is blessed by the Heavens,” Wang Hao said. “Foundation Establishment at eighty-five is a rare feat. Your future path will be smooth.”

Wang Longxing beamed. He had conquered the hardest hurdle of his life. Everything else was just a bonus.

Patriarch Wang Yanzhao joined them, his face glowing with pride. “Three new Foundation Establishment cultivators! This calls for a celebration. Tomorrow, we hold a grand banquet for the clan. However…” His expression grew serious. “We must still be mindful of the Qingyuan Sect. There will be no public invitations. No grand ‘Foundation Establishment Conference’ for outsiders.”

The Wang Clan had only held one such public conference—when Wang Yanzhao himself ascended. Since then, over a dozen clansmen had broken through in secret.

A public conference boosted prestige and brought in valuable gifts from vassal families. But it also painted a target on their backs. As long as the Wang Clan lacked a Golden Core protector, humility was their best defense.

The three new elders nodded in understanding.

“Now, for the rewards,” Wang Yanzhao announced. “According to family rules, every new Foundation Establishment elder receives a Spirit Weapon. In the past, the treasury was bare, and I had to assign whatever scraps we had. But times have changed.”

He waved his hand.

Flash!

Over thirty Spirit Weapons appeared, floating in the air and radiating colorful light. Swords, shields, mirrors, banners—a dazzling arsenal.

Most were spoils from the war or Wang Hao’s loot from the Pill Cauldron Sect. Only three were original family heirlooms.

The three elders stared, eyes burning with desire. A good Spirit Weapon was a force multiplier; it could mean the difference between life and death.

“Patriarch,” Wang Longxing asked tentatively, “may I exchange Spirit Stones for a second weapon?”

Wang Yanzhao glanced at Wang Hao.

Wang Hao nodded. “Spirit Weapons sitting in a vault gather dust. If you have the stones or points, take what you need.”

The three were overjoyed. Though they were in debt for the pills, they still had personal savings of Spirit Stones. A Low-Grade Spirit Weapon cost less than a thousand stones—affordable for a veteran like Wang Longxing.

They began to choose. Wang Longxing picked an offensive sword and a defensive shield. Wang Yanji and Wang Wending, wary of more debt, selected only one weapon each.

“Are you certain?” Wang Yanzhao asked as they held their new treasures. “Once chosen, there are no exchanges.”

They nodded vigorously.

“Good. Go back and refine them,” Wang Yanzhao said, dismissing the floating arsenal. “A weapon is only as good as its master. But don’t be late for the banquet tomorrow. You are the guests of honor.”

“Yes, Patriarch! We take our leave!”

Clutching their Spirit Weapons like children with new toys, the three elders bowed and hurried out of the hall.