Rise of the Wang Clan: Starting with a Portable Farm

Chapter 267: The Earthfire Hall

The Wang clan reconvened in the plaza atop the central peak.

The previous owners had left behind a significant number of structures, sparing the Wang family the burden of starting from scratch. Most buildings only required minor repairs. However, for critical facilities like the Scripture Depository, the Wang family planned to demolish and rebuild them entirely. They couldn’t risk leaving behind hidden backdoors or surveillance arrays planted by the former tenants.

Wang Guang’an swept his Divine Sense over the peak one last time, confirming there were no immediate threats.

“The area seems secure,” he announced to the gathered elders. “However, do not lower your guard. Conduct a thorough sweep to ensure there are no hidden arrays or secret passages.”

“Yes, Ancestor!”

Wang Guang’an nodded. “Now, I will assign your tasks.

“Wang Hao, locate the Earthfire Hall and assess its condition for immediate repairs.

“Wang Wenyan, lead a team to dredge and purify the two inland lakes.

“Wang Yanzhi, Wang Yanyuan, and Wang Wenwu, take your squads to clear the weeds from the spirit fields and till the soil.

“Wang Wenmei, take the remaining disciples to clean the main halls and residences. Focus on the living quarters first; we need a clean place to sleep tonight.”

“We obey!”

The six Foundation Establishment cultivators dispersed, each leading a team of Qi Refining disciples to their assigned sectors.

Wang Guang’an remained at the peak to begin the arduous task of surveying the ley lines for the Grand Formation.

Although the array he purchased was expensive, the price included a complete set of pre-refined components. Unlike Wang Hao’s makeshift job at Chicken Cage Ridge, Wang Guang’an didn’t need to craft the base pedestals or spirit channels himself; he simply had to identify the correct nodes and install the equipment.

However, a Third Rank Grand Formation was an incredibly complex machine. Even with a complete kit, assembling the thousands of components without a deep understanding of formation theory was a headache. This was where Wang Hao would eventually be needed.

Finding the Earthfire Hall was straightforward. Wang Hao flew to a peak in the southeast corner, rising a thousand feet into the air to get a bird’s-eye view of the island. Within moments, he identified a likely candidate.

He descended toward a mountain in the northwest. As he approached, the ambient temperature spiked, and the air grew thick with restless Fire Qi. It was an ideal environment not just for crafting, but for cultivators practicing fire-attribute arts.

Two massive stone halls sat on the mountainside: one for Alchemy, one for Artifact Refining.

Wang Hao stepped into the Alchemy Hall first, greeting a wave of dry heat.

The interior was spacious, the roof supported by eight stone pillars towering over a hundred feet high, carved with intricate dragons and phoenixes. It was a majestic sight, hinting at the island’s former glory.

The hall contained eight Earthfire chambers of varying sizes. Wang Hao surmised that the different sizes corresponded to different intensities of fire, catering to everyone from Qi Refining disciples to Golden Core elders.

He entered one of the chambers. It had been stripped bare. The fire vent leading underground was sealed with a heavy stone plug, dormant and cold. He checked the other seven rooms; all were in the same state.

Typically, an Earthfire Hall required a dedicated array to throttle and control the flames. These arrays had evidently been removed by the previous owner. Fortunately, Wang Guang’an had anticipated this and purchased a replacement set. The fire-control arrays were only High Grade Second Rank—far cheaper than defensive formations—and installing them would be simple enough.

After a thorough inspection revealed no sabotage or hidden traps, Wang Hao proceeded to the Artifact Refining Hall next door.

As soon as he crossed the threshold, he frowned. The architecture was identical, but the temperature here was significantly higher.

“A leak?” Wang Hao muttered, his guard going up.

Earthfire leaks were common in abandoned facilities. Minor leaks could be resealed, but severe ones could destroy the magma channels, rendering the entire hall useless.

He moved quickly down the corridor, checking the rooms. The doors to the first few chambers were ajar, the vents cold and sealed.

But when he reached the final chamber—the largest one, reserved for high-level crafting—a searing wave of heat radiated through the stone door.

Wang Hao’s heart skipped a beat. This room was designed for Golden Core level fire. If the seal had failed here, the pressure could blow the top off the mountain.

Strangely, the heavy stone door was tightly shut.

Wang Hao conjured a protective barrier of Qi around his body. With a sharp wave of his hand, he blasted the door open with a pulse of wind and stepped inside.

He braced himself for an explosion of magma, but the room was stable. He exhaled, his eyes scanning the interior.

The chamber was massive, thirty zhang in length and width. The walls were etched with heat-resistant runes. Stone shelves lined the walls, currently empty.

In the center of the room lay a circular pit, ten feet in diameter. Rolling, crimson flames surged within it, controlled and rhythmic, emitting a terrifying heat. Scattered around the pit were fragments of refined ore and slag.

“The restrictions are active,” Wang Hao whispered, kneeling to inspect the floor. “And there are fresh scorch marks… Someone was using this place recently.”

It couldn’t have been the previous tenant; they had vacated years ago. This meant a squatter—likely a rogue cultivator—had discovered the abandoned island and used its facilities.

“A Golden Core cultivator,” he deduced, eyeing the intensity of the flames. “Someone snuck in here to refine a Dharma Treasure.”

Wang Hao didn’t linger. He flew out of the hall immediately to find the Patriarch.

Wang Guang’an listened to the report, his expression darkening. He followed Wang Hao back to the hall to inspect the evidence himself.

“You are right,” Wang Guang’an concluded, staring at the active fire pit. “The island has been abandoned and undefended for years. It isn’t surprising that squatters used it as a temporary haven. This person was likely a Golden Core itinerant passing through, borrowing the fire to refine a weapon.”

“Borrowing is fine,” Wang Hao said anxiously. “The problem is that they didn’t dismantle the restrictions. That implies they intend to return.”

“Indeed.” Wang Guang’an paced the room. “In the past, this was ownerless land; the Ye family wouldn’t chase down a squatter for using an empty room. But now, we hold the lease. We cannot allow strangers to come and go as they please.”

He stopped pacing, his eyes hardening. “We need to accelerate the schedule. We will work day and night to install the Grand Formation. Once the Middle Grade Third Rank barrier is active, even a Late Stage Golden Core cultivator won’t be able to breach it easily.”

“Agreed,” Wang Hao nodded.

For the next ten days, the grandfather and grandson duo worked themselves to the bone. Wang Hao summoned over twenty clansmen to assist with the physical labor, directing the placement of flags and nodes while he and Wang Guang’an handled the delicate spirit alignments.

The grueling process reinforced Wang Hao’s belief that the clan desperately needed to train more formation masters. If they had even one Second Rank Formation Master to assist, this would have taken half the time.

Finally, on the tenth day, Wang Guang’an connected the final spirit channel to the ley line. He stood at the central node, holding the master control disk. With a series of rapid hand seals, he activated the array.

Hum.

The ground trembled slightly. From the coastline, a thick, unnatural sea mist began to rise. It rolled inward, swallowing the beaches, the forests, and finally the peaks. Within the hour, Giant Turtle Island had vanished from sight, replaced by a swirling bank of white fog.

Wang Guang’an and Wang Hao stood atop the southeast peak, looking down at their hidden fortress. The tension that had gripped them since arrival finally evaporated.

“It is done,” Wang Guang’an said, a broad smile breaking across his face. “With this treasure land secured, give us fifty years, and the Wang clan will prosper beyond our wildest dreams.”

“Old Ancestor,” Wang Hao said, turning to leave. “I will go install the fire-control arrays in the Earthfire Hall immediately. I need to refine the Foundation Establishment Pills. Wenxian and the others are waiting to start their secluded cultivation. The sooner we have more Foundation Establishment cultivators, the safer the clan will be.”

“Go,” Wang Guang’an nodded approvingly. “I will inspect the satellite islands. Their spirit veins are low grade, but they can still support spirit fields and timber groves. Every bit of income counts.”