Rise of the Wang Clan: Starting with a Portable Farm

Chapter 243: The Ye Family’s Purpose

The following morning, after a night of well-earned rest, the core members of the Wang family gathered in the Council Hall. It was time to present the final tally of the Golden Core Assembly.

By every metric, the event had reached a state of Perfection.

Not only had they been showered with congratulatory gifts, but Wang Hao’s unconventional management had slashed the overhead costs to the bone. This combination of high revenue and low expenditure meant the Wang family had profited far more than any other clan would have dared to hope for during such a milestone event.

The most significant savings had come, unexpectedly, from the banquet. The menu had been nothing short of opulent: succulent meat from second-rank Demon Beasts, delicacies infused with second-rank spirit herbs, rare spirit fruits, and casks of second-rank spirit wine—items a Rogue Cultivator might only see in their dreams.

However, the savings weren’t found in the quality, but in the volume. Usually, guests at these events would gorge themselves until they were fit to burst, forcing the hosts to serve round after round of food to avoid appearing stingy. But this time, the performances had utterly hijacked the attention of the lower-level cultivators. They had been so mesmerized by the spectacle that they barely touched their plates. The final consumption was less than half of the projected amount, saving the clan nearly 50,000 Spirit Stones.

Best of all, no one could accuse the Wang family of being tight-fisted. The food was on the table; the guests simply chose not to eat.

“Our total expenditure was approximately 155,000 Spirit Stones,” Wang Hao began, his voice calm and calculating. “Only 32,000 of that was cash out of pocket for external purchases. The rest consisted of internal assets valued at market price. In reality, our costs are even lower—for instance, our spirit fish are valued at 50 stones but only cost us 20 to raise. To keep the Finance Hall’s ledgers transparent, however, I’ve recorded them at full price.

“On the other side of the ledger, the congratulatory gifts have been appraised at 450,000 Spirit Stones. The crown jewel is the third-rank Demon Beast core from the Ye family, worth roughly 120,000. It is also worth noting that the current head of the Ye family has remained behind, clearly seeking a private audience.”

Wang Hao glanced at his notes. “The net profit for the assembly sits at nearly 300,000 Spirit Stones.”

He looked up at Wang Guang’an, the Ancestor of the clan. “Ancestor, per our established rules, the clan covers the costs of a member’s Foundation Establishment or major celebrations, and any gift revenue is split fifty-fifty between the individual and the family treasury. As this was your Golden Core Assembly, you are entitled to 150,000 Spirit Stones in cash or assets.”

“No need,” Wang Guang’an said, waving a hand with dismissive authority. “Apart from a few third-rank materials I can use immediately, let the rest stay in the treasury. The clan has endured enough hardship. We can return to the strict letter of the law once our future is secure.”

To Wang Guang’an, a mountain of stones held little appeal. He already possessed two Dharma Treasures and had no plans for further acquisitions. If he ever needed more, as the Ancestor, his word alone would be enough to move the funds.

With this 300,000-stone windfall, combined with the loot from the mines and their existing reserves, the Wang family was now sitting on nearly a million Spirit Stones in liquid assets. Finally, the massive construction project for the third-rank spirit vein overseas could begin in earnest.

The family members rose as one, offering praise for the Ancestor’s selflessness. In this moment, the Wang family was a single, sharpened blade. The leadership was united by a sense of public duty that outweighed private greed—a rare and precious state for any clan.

Wang Guang’an signaled them to be seated. He felt no pride in this. He knew the true engine of the family’s growth wasn’t his own power, but Wang Hao’s brilliance. For decades, Wang Hao had poured his soul into the clan without taking a single treasure for himself. This realization often made the Ancestor feel a twinge of shame, which was why he hadn’t hesitated to gift the spirit fire and the Blue Dragon Furnace to the boy. It was simply the interest on a debt long overdue.

“Enough with the flattery,” the Ancestor commanded. “We still have work to do. Thousands of Rogue Cultivators and representatives from other families are still lingering on the ridge. Receive them, find out what they want, and filter the most important ones to me. I will handle them personally.”

An hour later, Wang Hao personally escorted Ye Jingtao to Wang Guang’an’s secluded cave dwelling.

The moment they entered, Ye Jingtao dropped into a deep bow. “This Junior, Ye Jingtao, pays his humble respects to Senior Wang!”

“Rise,” Wang Guang’an said, his voice carrying the weight of his station. “Young Friend Ye, I hope our hospitality has been to your liking. If we have been remiss in any way, I ask for your understanding.”

“You are too kind, Senior,” Ye Jingtao replied with a strained smile. “I have seen the true grandeur of a Golden Core family these past few days. It has been an eye-opening experience.”

After the standard pleasantries, Ye Jingtao’s expression turned serious. “Senior Wang, I will not waste your time. My Ye family is but a branch lineage. We lost contact with our main branch centuries ago, but after the Blazing Heaven Sect forced us into that disastrous war, we were left broken. We decided to head overseas to Ten Thousand Elephants City to find our roots. Recently, I succeeded. I found the main lineage.”

Wang Hao’s eyes narrowed. He recalled the history Wang Guang’an had shared. One of the founding fathers of the Oceanview Sect—the ancestor of the overseas Ye family—was a legendary figure known as True Monarch Riding the Waves. Was Ye Jingtao trying to claim a bloodline connection to a Nascent Soul powerhouse?

Wang Guang’an’s eyebrows shot up. “Young friend… you went to see True Monarch Riding the Waves?”

It was Ye Jingtao’s turn to be stunned. He had hoped to “borrow the tiger’s skin”—to use the mere mention of his overseas cousins to intimidate the Wang family into leaving them alone. He never expected the name of his ancestor to be recognized so instantly.

“Does Senior… know our Ancestor?” Ye Jingtao asked cautiously.

His mind raced. True Monarch Riding the Waves was a Nascent Soul titan. It was impossible for an early-stage Golden Core like Wang Guang’an to be on speaking terms with such a man.

Wang Guang’an nodded slowly. “I did not expect you to be of his blood. I formed my Golden Core in Ten Thousand Elephants City. At that time, I was invited to a gathering by True Monarch Riding the Waves himself. I was fortunate enough to receive several words of guidance from him.”

Ye Jingtao’s heart hammered against his ribs. He, a direct descendant, had never even seen the True Monarch; he had only been received by a Golden Core butler of the main house. He realized he couldn’t bluff his way through this. If Wang Guang’an asked for details about the True Monarch’s residence or habits, and he failed to answer, his “protection” would crumble.

He decided on the truth. “Senior Wang, I… I did not actually meet the True Monarch. The main branch heard of our conflict with your family and simply instructed us not to cause further trouble. They gave me that third-rank Demon Beast core to present to you as a formal apology. What do you think, Senior?”

So, the Demon Core was a bribe for peace from a Nascent Soul family. For a titan of that level, a single third-rank core was a pittance—a small price to pay to keep their distant relatives from being wiped out.

Wang Hao and Wang Guang’an exchanged a look. It was clear that Ye Jingtao wasn’t highly valued by the main branch, but the gift was an “attitude.” It was a shield for the Twin Dragon Mountain branch.

Wang Guang’an allowed a small smile to form. “Our families have been neighbors for generations. That war was the fault of the Green Origin Sect and the Blazing Heaven Sect, not our own. My intention is simple: let the enmity between us be settled here and now. What say you?”

Relief washed over Ye Jingtao like a cool tide. “Thank you, Senior! My family is eternally grateful.”

“Very well.” Wang Guang’an picked up his teacup—the universal signal that the meeting was over. “Is there anything else, Young Friend Ye?”

Ye Jingtao hesitated, then spoke in a low, cautious voice. “Actually, Senior… I would like to propose a transaction.”

“Oh? And what would that be?”

“This Junior… wishes to purchase several Foundation Establishment Pills.”

Ye Jingtao held his breath. He had traveled across the sea to beg for pills from his own kin, only to be given a single Demon Core and sent packing. Now, he was forced to beg for the future of his clan from the very man who had nearly destroyed them.