Chapter 19

In the afternoon, Yulou and Yuanan were eating, and Rongwen’s elder paid the bill.

The Red Lantern Merit Hall was about to arrive, and the number of Foundation Establishment cultivators in Qingxi Fang had increased; the clan head was away because he had gone to socialize with fellow Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Yulou’s words were indeed true—none of them had become immortals, so none had the right to live in freedom.

“Eat well. Why are you smiling?”

Wang Rongwen noticed Yuanan’s odd state.

It’s like sneaking out of the house to spend an entire night gaming at an internet café—you think you’re hiding it well, but your father sees through you at a glance—he did the same when he was young!

“Hehe, today the clan head gave me a Hundred-Li Free-Flight Talisman of the Foundation Establishment. Father, do you have one?”

Yuanan, still a boy at heart, pulled out his new treasure and began showing it off to his parents.

At first, Rongwen’s elder noticed nothing amiss, but his wife, Chen Luwan, furrowed her brow.

“These are talismans reserved for Qi Refining cultivators of the clan. The clan head brought them here to exchange for merit at the Red Lantern Merit Hall—how did they end up in your hands?”

She had married into the main line from outside the Wang clan and handled talisman production within the family, so she knew precisely how many Hundred-Li Free-Flight Talismans the clan head still held.

All the clan’s Hundred-Li Free-Flight Talismans had been taken by the clan head for merit exchange—they should not be in Yuanan’s possession.

He’s only at the Second Stage of Qi Guiding, and he’s safely within Qingxi Fang—why would he need a Foundation Establishment Hundred-Li Free-Flight Talisman?

“Today the clan head asked my brother and me questions; we answered well, so he rewarded each of us with one. You can ask the clan head if you don’t believe me.”

Yuanan said, sounding aggrieved.

“Yulou?”

Asking the clan head was impossible, so Chen Luwan gently turned to Yulou.

Compared to her unruly son, she trusted the mature and steady Yulou more.

“Yuanan is telling the truth—the clan head did ask us questions today...”

After hearing Yulou’s account, Chen Luwan dismissed her doubts, but sighed and said:

“Those wandering cultivators are truly pitiful. My father—Yuanan’s maternal grandfather—was once a wandering cultivator too; he suffered endless hardship and cold glances just to obtain cultivation resources.”

Later, after mastering talisman crafting, he joined the Wang clan as an outside guest advisor, and his circumstances improved slightly.”

Yulou thought for a moment, then looked at his clan uncle and said:

“Uncle, I have an immature idea—I’m not sure if it’s appropriate.”

Wang Rongwen set down his chopsticks in surprise, glancing at his wife; they exchanged looks.

What is this child trying to say?

He asked cautiously:

“What kind of idea?”

“Those wandering cultivators do have spirit stones, but the rent for housing in Qingxi Fang has skyrocketed lately—even courtyards without spiritual energy supply have seen huge rent hikes.”

I thought: why not divide the rooms at Fuyuanju into smaller units and rent them out to them?”

If the partitioned rooms are small enough, the rent can be much lower.”

As long as spiritual energy supply is guaranteed, slightly lower rent will make wandering cultivators prefer it over sleeping on the streets—where it’s unsafe, undignified, and impossible to cultivate in peace.”

That is neither safe nor dignified, and it prevents one from cultivating in peace.

Then build cage-houses!

These past days, the number of wandering cultivators in Qingxi Fang had grown, and Yulou had already entertained this idea—but he was wary of Tang Nianqiu, so he hadn’t mentioned it to Old Tang; after all, the chief manager had shown suspicious signs of embezzlement.

The rent for courtyards without spirit wells in Qingxi Fang had risen to three spirit stones per month—wandering cultivators naturally refused to stay.

But Fuyuanju was different: it had a spirit well directly connected to Qin Yun Qingxi; though the water wasn’t Qingxi water, this spirit well channeled spiritual energy into Fuyuanju.

Thus, residents of Fuyuanju cultivated far more easily.

Qi Refining cultivators could quickly reach their daily Qi Guiding limit.

Qi Refining cultivators could fully exploit the abundant spiritual energy to train vigorously.

“This... sounds feasible, but Fuyuanju is already full—it’s hard to arrange anything right now.”

Chen Luwan was meticulous; she recognized Yulou’s suggestion was viable, but implementation was difficult at present.

If they waited for current tenants to leave before remodeling, the timing wouldn’t work.

“What’s hard about it? The clan head excels in wood arts—he can build a wooden pavilion in the Fuyuanju backyard the moment he returns; the only trouble is spiritual energy delivery, which requires reconfiguring the array.”

Wang Rongwen’s eyes lit up—he realized Yulou’s suggestion was groundbreaking.

Cheap, safe, spiritually energized small rooms—this was the absolute need of wandering cultivators!

“Is the array complicated?” Yulou asked.

“Yes—if Rongyuan were here, he’d handle it—he’s an array expert,” Rongwen’s elder sighed.

Yulou was puzzled—didn’t the Foundation Establishment Wang Xianmao understand arrays?

“It’s just an immature idea. Let’s wait for the clan head to return and let him decide.”

Yulou smiled, putting on a layer of plausible deniability—cultivation worlds differed fundamentally from the mortal world of his past life; many things couldn’t be simply copied.

“Immature? Doesn’t matter. Seeing this opportunity is already impressive.

We’ll report it together to the clan head when the time comes. Yuanan, learn from your brother!”

Then we’ll report together to the Clan Chief. Yuan, learn well from your brother!

Yuanan replied sullenly.

When Wang Xianmao returned to Fuyuanju, Yulou and Wang Rongwen immediately reported their idea to him.

“Good. Wandering cultivators’ spirit stones are spirit stones too—not inferior to any others.

You’ve thought of this possibility—I’m willing to try. Whether it succeeds or not doesn’t matter; it’s just a matter of expending some spiritual power.

Come, let’s go see the backyard right now!”

Wang Xianmao, returned from socializing, instantly recognized this as a golden opportunity.

Even if each small room fetched only two spirit stones per month, if enough were rented out, the income would flow steadily.

Even if each small room costs only two spirit stones per month, if enough are rented out, the profits will accumulate steadily into a large sum.

Wang Rongwen and Tang Nianqiu were both surprised—Wang Xianmao’s execution speed was astonishing.

“The Red Lantern Merit Hall will stay for three months—the sooner we build, the sooner we earn spirit stones!”

Earning spirit stones wasn’t shameful—Wang Xianmao had none of the airs of a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Managing a household and serving as clan head wasn’t easy—didn’t one have to work hard to generate income?

He led everyone to the backyard, glanced at the two side pavilions, and asked:

“Are all six pavilions occupied?”

“Yulou and the others occupy one, three are used as storage, and the remaining two are kept free for Wang family members to stay in at no cost,” Tang Nianqiu replied quickly.

“Yu Lou and the others occupied one room; three more were turned into storage, and the remaining two have always been kept free for our Wang family members to stay in.”

Wang Xianmao stroked his chin, swept his spiritual sense over the area, and understood immediately.

This Foundation Establishment cultivator merely raised one hand and summoned a set of array flags.

“Jiang Bao oversees Qingxi Fang’s grand array—he forbids Foundation Establishment cultivators from using magic power within the Fang . We need an array to shield us first, so I can operate.”

Once the array flags enclosed the entire backyard, Wang Xianmao instructed:

“Jiang Bao oversees the grand array of Qingxi Market, preventing Foundation Establishment cultivators from using magic power within the market—I need the array to absorb the first blow before I can act.”

Everyone quickly retreated, and once they stood safely behind him, Wang Xianmao began.

He crouched slightly, pressed one hand against the ground, as if ready to immediately “build a building.”

Yulou was astonished.

No blueprints, no feasibility study, no surveying, no environmental assessment, no permits, no safety officers.

Just think of a strategy, press one hand to the ground—and construction begins.

Is this the bearing of a Foundation Establishment cultivator?

Just tap your forehead to devise a strategy, then press one hand to the ground and begin work immediately.

Is this the bearing of a Foundation Establishment cultivator?