Chapter 21: I Really Am a Fool!

Among many auxiliary arts, formation techniques are one of the best choices; your Rongyuan uncle excels in formations and is considered the next-generation formation master of our Wang clan.

The formation for transmitting spiritual energy is simple—any Qi Refining cultivator can lay it out, though it’s a bit tedious.

Taking the two boys with him, Wang Xianmao arrived at the site of the spiritual well.

He placed his hand on the well’s mouth and activated the last remaining Changpan spirit seed, transforming it into a special white elm wood.

Far superior to mundane white elm wood, it carried a faint trace of spiritual energy, yet still fell far short of a ninth-rank spiritual item.

Under precise spiritual power control, the white elm wood disintegrated into slender, tubular wooden rods, ideal for transmitting spiritual energy.

This exquisite wood technique left Yulou and the other boy spellbound.

“Hah! Neither of you has a wood spiritual root—no need to stare.”

“Come, let’s begin laying the spiritual energy transmission formation. I’ve already marked the placement spots in every room—start with the first floor.”

Yulou picked up the wooden rods and followed silently behind Wang Xianmao; Yuan, however, looked curious.

“Isn’t there no necessary link between cultivation techniques and spiritual roots? I saw Red Eyebrows Master use water techniques just two days ago.”

Wang Xianmao explained.

“Even without the corresponding spiritual root, one can still practice different techniques—but this involves a cost-to-effect trade-off.

A cultivator with a water spiritual root can achieve seven or eight tenths of the effect with the Surge Technique; one without it can manage at most four or five tenths.

Every cultivator requires a fixed amount of time to reach independent proficiency; learning techniques aligned with one’s spiritual root yields better results.

Yes, place it right there. My spirit seed originates from my own cultivation; once inserted, it will harmonize with the wooden tower and serve as a formation node.”

Yulou’s efficiency pleased Wang Xianmao.

This child was perfect in every way—except he was too intelligent; precocity wasn’t always a good thing.

“Uncle Rongyuan excels in wood techniques, and so do you.”

Among our Wang clan’s several spiritual items, only the Foolish Donkey Origin is an eighth-rank wood spiritual item.

But neither you nor Yulou has a wood spiritual root—does that mean we can’t learn many of the clan’s secret techniques?”

Seizing the chance to speak with the clan chief, Yuan—no fool—naturally didn’t let it slip. He pressed on.

In truth, he didn’t know this was Yulou deliberately giving him an opening.

Yulou understood that even among blood brothers, one couldn’t hog all the spotlight—relationships required cultivation and maintenance.

As legitimate sons of the Wang clan, giving Yuan more opportunities would cost Yulou nothing—the competition for Foundation Establishment resources was at least decades away.

In dark-stream xianxia novels, protagonists are always tormented, their orphaned status making them targets even for clan servants.

But after over thirteen years in this world, Yulou had never been jilted, never faced a villain’s humiliation, never even experienced an adventure.

He’d never fished in rivers, hunted in mountains, mined in caves, or struggled to shuttle between realms.

Had this affected his gains?

No!

When he took his master, the master gifted him a very suitable mid-grade magic treasure.

His uncle said nothing, merely arranged for him half a catty of spirit rice daily—without even mentioning the alternative.

He’d met the clan chief twice recently.

The first time, he received a bottle of eighth-rank spiritual wine and a low-grade magic treasure golden cup (Wang Rongwen had borrowed the old ghost’s flower offering to the clan chief, who then bestowed it upon Yulou).

The second time, merely by answering questions well, he received a Hundred Li Free-and-Easy Escape Talisman—a treasure even Qi Refining cultivators found nearly impossible to obtain, one the clan chief used to trade for merit!

Brotherly affection, clan protection, a master soon to reach Foundation Establishment—for Yulou, the most important thing now was to cultivate diligently and maintain his bonds with the clan and his master.

As long as he held tight to these powerful thighs, the shelter of the Wang clan and Red Eyebrows would last until he reached Qi Refining’s peak!

“Whether you learn or not, there’s nothing to regret—you’re still young, you don’t understand how hard wood techniques are.

If you can’t fight well, and can’t master auxiliary arts either, you’ll seem capable of everything but excel at nothing.

But you two? Both are dual-spirit-root cultivators. When Yulou reaches Qi Refining’s peak, he can join the Red Lantern Society and enter the inner sect directly.

As for Yuan... Fulong Temple is too far; go to Miaofeng Mountain instead. I have a close friend there.”

Wang Xianmao had calculated meticulously.

Yulou was extraordinarily intelligent—he could join the Red Lantern Society to secure Foundation Establishment resources, then later seek admission to the Purple Mansion, becoming a true heir of the Red Lantern Society and a pillar of the Wang clan within it.

Yuan, lacking Yulou’s overall talent, could try his luck at Miaofeng Mountain—such major sects’ subordinate branches had shallower waters and fewer restrictions.

If Yuan could use Miaofeng Mountain’s resources to reach Foundation Establishment, he could return to the clan; if not, the Wang clan would still help him.

The next clan chief will likely be chosen between Wang Rongwen and Wang Rongyuan; the generation after that will be Wang Ming and Wang Yuan.

Yulou is a qilin child—qilin children must not waste their lives idling in Wang Family Mountain.

To love a child is to plan for his distant future.

Wang Xianmao’s hopes were much like those of an ordinary mother for her daughter.

“I want to join Fulong Temple...”

Yuan was dissatisfied with the clan chief’s arrangement—or rather, young Yuan resented the clan chief’s underestimation of him.

Yulou can join the Ten Sects—why can’t I?

“Clan Chief, the clan raised me. Yulou prefers to stay home and contribute to the clan!”

Yulou’s answer made Yuan slap his thigh.

No way, big brother, my beloved big brother!

Is this the legendary one-line-that-beats-ten-lines?

Clearly, I still have so much to learn from you!

Looking at Yulou, Wang Xianmao’s eyes were filled with tenderness—what a fine child.

“Hah! All that’s far off—first focus on Qi Refining!

Come, let’s go upstairs—we’ll lay the formation on the second floor.”

To Yulou’s surprise, the clan chief never taught them anything directly—he merely guided them to complete the formation, then dismissed them to rest.

In truth, he didn’t understand Wang Xianmao.

The clan chief simply liked the younger generation and wanted to spend more time with the two brothers—that was all.

“Big brother, do you think the clan chief likes you more?”

Lying in bed, Yuan couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling.

We’re both Wang clan members—the clan chief clearly favors you.

Why can’t I join the Ten Sects?

Yulou sat cross-legged on his bed, reading the clan chief’s cultivation travelogue by the light of the Eternal Bright Lamp.

Hearing Yuan’s question, he set the travelogue down.

“Do you really want to know?”

Yuan pouted and turned his back.

“Forget it—who am I to be as smart as you?”

Yulou sighed.

“I grew up without parents. Though I never faced outright coldness in the clan, I was raised alone—so I seem more mature than you and the others our age.

The clan chief isn’t favoring me—he’s just worried I might be affected by my parents’ death, so he shows me more care. That’s all.”

Yuan stopped twisting. He said nothing.

I’m such a fool!

I’m such a fool!

I’m such a fool!

Seeing the effect was clear, Yulou raised an eyebrow in satisfaction and continued guiding Yuan.

His younger brother was truly good—just thirteen, so sometimes impulsive. That was normal.

“If you truly want to join Fulong Temple, it’s not hard. Just perform better—show deep cultivation and solid combat skill, and the clan chief will give you the chance.”

“No need, big brother. I’ll stick with you. If you stay in the Wang clan, I’ll stay too.

We brothers don’t need the great sects—we can become immortals on our own!”

Hearing Yuan’s plaintive tone, Yulou was momentarily speechless.

Blood-bonded brotherly affection is often more moving than so-called romantic love.

“Sleep. We’ll deal with the future later.”

Yuan fell silent for a long while, then murmured.

“Big brother... I’m hungry...”

Yulou nearly broke.

“Then go get something to eat.”

“How?”

“Check the kitchen in the front building—there should be something. Fuyuan Restaurant never locks its stove at night.”

“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

“You never asked...”

“Actually, I was hungry the first night I arrived.”

“Fine, go ahead. I’m going to sleep.”

“I’m scared to go alone—let’s go together.”

“...”

“Big brother?”

Go!