Rise of the Wang Clan: Starting with a Portable Farm

Chapter 262: Forty Thousand Mortals

Wang Hao’s gaze settled on Wang Wuyan, standing quietly at the back. He remembered naming her when she was just a babe. Her aptitude was excellent, perfectly suited for the clan’s core cultivation method. Under the family’s focused nurturing, she had already reached the Perfection stage of Qi Condensation. All she needed now was a single Foundation Establishment Pill to ascend.

“Pills and spirit fruits for the Qi Condensation stage are useless to you now,” Wang Hao said warmly. “Instead, take this.”

He produced a small, exquisite sword that shimmered with a fluid light—a Middle Grade Second Rank Spirit Weapon.

Wang Wuyan beamed, her smile sweet and bright. “Thank you, Fifth Uncle!”

Wang Wenmei, standing nearby, pouted theatrically. “What about us? Fifth Brother, you can’t be so biased! You spoil the juniors but forget your own peers?”

Wang Hao laughed. “Wuyan and Yu’er are the next generation. You are my peer, and some here are my elders. Since when do elders demand gifts from me?”

Wang Wenmei crossed her arms, feigning indignation. “That won’t fly. You abandoned us here in Wanxiang City for years while you ran off. It’s unreasonable not to offer some compensation for our suffering!”

“I suppose I can’t argue with that,” Wang Hao chuckled, shaking his head helplessly. With a wave of his sleeve, several jars of purple liquid appeared on the table. The aroma of rich fruit and spiritual energy instantly filled the room.

“Purple Crystal Grape Wine from Chicken Cage Ridge,” he announced. “It’s a Second Rank spirit wine. The potency is mild and the energy is gentle—perfect for cultivators in the early Foundation Establishment stage. One jar for each of you. A single jar is roughly equivalent to two bottles of Qi Gathering Pills.”

The complaints vanished instantly. “Thank you, Wenhao! Thank you, Fifth Brother!”

“What’s all the commotion about?” A booming voice interrupted the celebration.

The air shimmered, and Patriarch Wang Guang’an materialized in the center of the room. When he saw Wang Hao, his stern face broke into a delighted smile. “Ah, I should have guessed it was Wenhao making all this noise. Perfect timing. I’ve finished the negotiations with the Ye family and purchased the necessary supplies. We are ready to move to Giant Turtle Island.”

Wang Hao cut straight to the point. “Did you secure the Third Rank formation?”

Wang Guang’an nodded, his eyes gleaming. “I did. I attended the grand auction hosted by the Ocean View Sect and bought a Middle Grade Third Rank array called the Four Seas Tide Sound Formation. It cost a staggering 350,000 Spirit Stones, but it will be worth every shard.”

He took a breath and continued, listing his acquisitions like a general reviewing supplies. “I also purchased a massive quantity of Spirit Soil and secured 40,000 mortals. As for the lease terms, I’ve accepted the Ye family’s mandatory tasks: we must raise a species of spirit fish called the Red Dragon Fish—500 to be submitted every 20 years. Additionally, we must provide 1,000 stalks of 20-year-old Spirit Gathering Grass on the same schedule.”

Wang Hao listened intently, asking questions to flesh out the details.

The purchase of Spirit Soil was a necessity. Islands were not like the mainland; soil rich in spiritual energy was a scarce resource. When a faction’s lease on an island expired, they would often strip the topsoil and take it with them, or sell it to a neighbor. While destructive mining was forbidden, the previous tenants of Giant Turtle Island had likely left only a thin layer of soil—barely enough for low-grade crops, but utterly insufficient for high-grade spirit herbs.

The issue of the mortal population was another critical puzzle Wang Guang’an had solved.

The Wang family couldn’t transport mortals from their mainland territory; the distance was too vast, and the teleportation costs would bankrupt them. Furthermore, mortal bodies couldn’t withstand the rigors of long-distance teleportation.

Yet, a clan needed mortals to thrive. The cultivators moving overseas needed wives and husbands. While Rogue Cultivators might marry into the Wang family as primary spouses, few would degrade themselves to become concubines. To grow the population rapidly, they needed a large base of mortals.

Wang Guang’an had initially been stumped, but a query at the City Lord’s Mansion revealed a simple solution.

Wanxiang City was a metropolis. Even unions between cultivators produced mortal offspring 50% of the time. The city produced a surplus of mortals every year. They consumed few resources but reproduced quickly. If left unchecked, the city would be overrun.

To manage this, the City Lord’s Mansion had a policy: whenever they leased an island, they “gifted” a population of mortals to the new tenants. It was both aid and population control.

The leasing faction was required to protect these mortals. If too many died due to negligence or abuse, the City Lord would impose heavy fines.

The initial allocation for the Wang family was 20,000 people. Feeling this was insufficient for their ambitious breeding program, Wang Guang’an had purchased an additional 20,000, bringing the total to 40,000 souls.

As for the mandatory production tasks, these were standard for all vassal islands.

Survival in the Open Sea was precarious. A clan might be wiped out by a beast tide in a few years. If the tribute deadlines were too long—say, 50 years—the clan might be dead before they could pay up.

To mitigate this, the ruling powers established a 20-year cycle. It worked like a relay race. For the Spirit Gathering Grass, the Wang family would cultivate it for 20 years, then hand it over to the Ye family, who would pass it to another vassal to grow for another 20 years. This ensured a steady supply of centennial-grade herbs without relying on a single clan’s longevity.

The final condition was conscription: in times of war, the Wang family had to answer the call.

“That is the rule of the sea,” Wang Guang’an said pragmatically. “We are seeking shelter under the Ye family’s Nascent Soul banner; paying protection fees is expected. In return, if we are attacked by Demon Beasts, the Ye family is obligated to reinforce us—assuming we can hold out until they arrive.”

This was why the array was critical. The Four Seas Tide Sound Formation was a water-attribute array, perfectly suited for the maritime environment. It utilized sonic waves to disorient and crush enemies, which was particularly effective against marine beasts.

“No wonder the lease for a Middle Grade Third Rank island was only 200,000 Spirit Stones,” Wang Hao mused. “The hidden costs are substantial.”

Wang Guang’an laughed. “It’s not as harsh as it sounds. The island is massive. Producing 1,000 stalks of grass and 500 fish is trivial; a handful of disciples can manage it. The real prize is the territory rights. Any mineral deposits or ruins we discover within the island’s waters belong to us. The ocean is vast and largely unexplored. If we find a single spirit mine, we earn back the rent tenfold.”

“Old Ancestor,” Wang Hao asked, “Do we transport the mortals ourselves? Moving 40,000 people across the ocean… even with medium-sized sea vessels, that’s four round trips.”

Wang Guang’an waved a hand dismissively. “The City Lord’s Mansion handles delivery. In six months, the mortals will be dropped off at our docks. We don’t pay a single stone for shipping.”

“That saves us a headache,” Wang Hao agreed. “Then we should depart early to install the formation. I set up a High Grade Second Rank array back home, so I have some experience.”

“Excellent!” Wang Guang’an beamed. “Pack your things. We leave for Giant Turtle Island in a few days. We need to stabilize our base as soon as possible.”

Over two trips, Wang Guang’an had brought more than 80 clansmen overseas. Over the last decade, some had married Rogue Cultivators and produced offspring, bringing the total number of cultivators to nearly 100.

But in 10 years, they had added less than 10 new children. The growth rate was abysmal. They needed to settle down and implement the “Encourage Fertility” policy immediately.

This was why Wang Guang’an had specifically requested that the 40,000 mortals include a higher ratio of young women.

Preparations were minimal. The Wang family left 10 cultivators behind to manage the Wanxiang City shop, with Wang Yanfeng remaining as the resident Foundation Establishment guardian.

The Li family members who had accompanied them also chose to follow the Wang family. They would settle on a smaller island nearby, one with a High Grade Second Rank spirit vein. It would serve as a satellite outpost for the Wang family.

It was a risky move for the Li family, but also a massive opportunity. Back in the Green Cattle Market, no one was just going to hand them a Second Rank island for free.

Wang Hao planned to use the remaining few days to explore the city and liquidate some assets for Spirit Stones. His first stop would be the Treasure Clarity Pavilion.

Years ago, True Master Baoqing had wanted to take him as a disciple. Wang Hao had missed the opportunity due to his duties in the Green Cattle Market. He wondered if the old master had found a successor yet.