Chapter 15: Don

The second floor of Fuyuanju has a room permanently reserved for Wang family elites.

Here, Yulou met Wang Xianmao, the patriarch of the Wang clan, for the second time.

Wang Xianmao, one of the three Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Xian lineage, is the Wang clan patriarch.

The last time he saw him was five years ago, when Yulou had only glimpsed his back from afar.

Now, facing the patriarch directly, Yulou felt an overwhelming shock he could not suppress.

Wang Xianmao was broad-shouldered, yet his skin was a deep blue-green, his lips faintly pale.

His features were noble by nature, yet he was painfully thin.

Yet his powerful Foundation Establishment aura was unmistakable, drawing attention irresistibly.

Combined, he appeared both haggard and formidable.

Is this what a Foundation Establishment cultivator looks like?

Does cultivation in this world carry backlash at higher levels?

Yulou could not understand.

He obediently led Yuan, first bowing together to the patriarch and Elder Rongwen, then standing quietly with lowered eyes.

Seeing his son’s condition unchanged from when he left home, Wang Rongwen’s worries eased slightly.

But standing side by side, the difference between Yulou and Yuan was immense.

It was not the contrast between moon and mud, pearl and fish eye—their innate talent was nearly equal—but a peculiar aura.

Elders understood: some children seemed unruly and mischievous, others unusually well-behaved, naturally endearing.

That was the difference.

Yuan kept glancing around, while Yulou waited obediently for elders to speak.

This difference seemed small, but to Wang Rongwen, it was significant.

It stirred a shameful feeling of wanting to discard the inferior product.

“What are you staring at? Stand properly!” Wang Rongwen scolded.

Wang Xianmao waved his hand and asked gently.

“Hahaha, no matter. Yuan, how was your time in Qingxi Fang?”

Yulou thought: this Foundation Establishment ancestor, who looked like a man ravaged by illness, spoke with a voice perfectly normal.

“Everything is fine, but I miss you and Father, since I haven’t seen you.”

Having spent too much time with Yulou, Yuan thought he’d learned the essence and boldly delivered a clumsy, half-baked compliment.

Unfortunately, young Yuan didn’t understand certain things.

For instance: if you dare to be bold, life will dare to give you a bloody nose.

“The Immortal Dao is vast. Wang clan disciples must stabilize their Dao hearts and stand on their own. You are thirteen—why still act like a child?”

No wonder Wang Rongwen was Yuan’s real father—he truly wished his son would prove himself.

Patriarch Wang Xianmao said nothing but observed Yulou, silently nodding in approval.

Indeed, as Rongyuan’s letter said, this boy is fit to be a pillar.

“Yulou, what have you both learned from Master Hongmei?”

Wang Xianmao, turning the spirit-wood beads in his hand, asked Yulou.

“Uncle Rongyuan instructed me...”

“...and also the method of transforming metal and dissolving stone. Yuan has made remarkable progress in this—I am far behind him.”

Yulou recounted every detail of his training, then added a word of praise for Yuan.

The patriarch nodded slightly and said.

“It seems placing you both in Qingxi Fang was the right decision—Hongmei possesses genuine transmission.”

“But from your account, his true transmission does not align with Fulong Temple.”

“Fulong Temple?” Neither Yulou nor Yuan understood the patriarch’s words.

They knew Fulong Temple well—it ranked among the Ten Sects of Wunan, like Hongdengzhao.

But why did Wang Xianmao mention Fulong Temple?

“A Foundation Establishment cultivator from Fulong Temple passed away within Hongdengzhao’s territory—specifically, near Qingxi Fang.”

“Hongmei excels in fire techniques; Fulong Temple cultivates both fire and earth methods. We initially suspected he had ties to Fulong Temple.”

Wang Rongwen spoke softly beside them, explaining to the two youths.

Both boys were Wang clan members; such minor matters could be told to them.

The two boys exchanged glances; the patriarch raised a hand and tapped Wang Rongwen.

“You two haven’t seen each other in a long time—talk properly.”

Elder Rongwen, ever astute, grabbed Yuan’s collar and dragged him away.

“Yulou, this is the first time I’ve seen you. The clan never told you about your parents—do you resent us?”

“Yulou dares not, and would never. The Wang clan has treated me generously; Uncle Rongyuan has regarded me as his own son.”

“For the clan to grow—or even to maintain its current state—someone must step forward to bear responsibility. Your parents were the pride of the Wang clan.”

“Cultivate diligently. We have already avenged them for you—do not worry about such things.”

The difference between having family backing and having none lies here—Yulou was grateful he had been reborn into a great clan.

He need not suffer the fate of the time-travelers in the stories he’d read, weighed down by ancestral and national vengeance, facing enemies who always sent their elders to avenge their fallen.

When the sky falls, the ancestors hold it up!

Wang Xianmao had achieved Foundation Establishment, his cultivation deep, with at least a century of life remaining—Yulou need not fear the clan’s decline after his ancestor’s death.

“Yulou understands. I will study the Supporting Dao arts diligently, cultivate Qi as soon as possible, and return to the clan!”

“Hahaha, good boy. Have you encountered any difficulties while training in Qingxi Fang?”

Yulou hesitated. Wang Xianmao noticed his hesitation, his expression growing serious.

Could someone dare to bully a Wang clan disciple?

“With Brother Nianqiu looking after me, there are no difficulties—but... Patriarch, my master does have some peculiar traits.”

Yulou had not wished to speak of Hongmei’s oddities—he was, after all, his master.

But the Wang clan’s teachings reminded him how cruel the cultivation world truly was.

One cannot know a man’s heart by his face; trusting someone too easily is not wise.

If Hongmei might be problematic, reporting it to the patriarch was the right thing to do.

“Speak.”

“First, his daughter teaches us the fire techniques of the Dao-refining method.

She once inadvertently told me my master’s fire method is not limited to Dao-refining.

First, control fire with spiritual power, originating from within; then command external fire—that corresponds to Qi Refining.

Finally, draw fire into the body, using it to forge the Dao foundation.

Using fire to forge the Dao foundation—is that a Foundation Establishment method?”

Wang Xianmao nodded.

“Yes. He may have obtained a Foundation Establishment transmission from somewhere, but his method is flawed. Any technique using external forces to forge the Dao foundation is a dead end. Tell me more.”

“Second, Hongmei’s daughter is at Qi Refining Level Five, yet she can practice the external-fire-command technique of Qi Refining.

When she cultivates this method, she wears special magical artifacts to avoid being burned.

Those artifacts are extraordinary—they activate automatically without her prompting, and though made of cloth, they repel fire.

I don’t understand Dao-refining well—what do you think, Patriarch?”

Wang Xianmao pondered long, then sighed.

“Without doubt, Hongmei is preparing for Foundation Establishment.

Taking you two as disciples is partly to save rent, to accumulate resources for his breakthrough.

More importantly, his transmission is inadequate—he may be using the Wang clan to help him ascend.”

“By the way, how old is his daughter?”

As he spoke, Wang Xianmao studied Yulou, suddenly calculating the possibility of a marriage alliance.

A marriage alliance would be good.

Hongmei was subtly flirting, trying to use the Wang clan as a backup.

The Wang clan must seize the opportunity—see if they could turn him into a guest elder directly.

“Fifteen.” Yulou replied.

He understood perfectly what Wang Xianmao was thinking, and added helpfully:

“Yuan really likes his senior sister.”

The patriarch chuckled at Yulou’s precocious demeanor.

Boy, you are truly clever.

“Hahaha, well done. Your observations today are very important.

Here, this is your reward.”

“Spirit wine?”

“Grade-eight Monkey Wine. With your cultivation, drink only a quarter of a cup at a time.

This cup is also yours—have your master modify it later, turn it into a bell.”

For both his past and present lives, this was Yulou’s first experience of a clan heir’s treatment.

They gave away an eighth-rank spiritual wine as if it were nothing.

They directly gifted a low-grade magic artifact golden cup.

Is this really a Foundation Establishment immortal clan?

How utterly extravagant!

“Yulou will cultivate diligently and never betray the clan’s trust and encouragement!”

Hearing this, Wang Xianmao nodded in satisfaction.

Only with capable talents emerging generation after generation can a clan remain prosperous.

In Yulou, he saw steadiness and meticulousness, depth and wisdom, and even deeper affection for his kin and brothers.

Thinking of this, he urged him.

“You must cultivate diligently—I am now the Wang clan’s patriarch, but eventually the clan’s future rests in your hands.”

Without sufficient cultivation base and strength, you cannot bear the clan’s heavy burdens.”

“Hmm… how about this: the day after tomorrow, I’ll take you to broaden your horizons—oh, and Yuan too.”

“Then you’ll follow Rongwen.”

“I humbly accept the patriarch’s teachings—Yulou will never forget!”

Wang Xianmao grinned broadly, but quickly regained his composure; the Foundation Establishment cultivator’s facial changes were so swift Yulou noticed nothing.

“Alright, alright—I’ve got some clan-secret braised donkey meat here. Take it and eat.”

“This…”

Patriarch, you really treat me like a child…

“And these spiritual fruits—Nianniu gave them to me. Don’t let him see you eating them.”