Chapter 27: Clan Leader, You Must Be Cautious!

"Senior, my magical artifact..."

That arrogant female cultivator was no longer arrogant now; she asked with some nervousness.

After all, she had discernment and knowledge.

Wang Xianmao looked nothing like a normal human; he was clearly a veteran Foundation Establishment cultivator with supernatural powers.

Her clan's Clan Leader and Elders were only at a level comparable to Wang Xianmao.

Facing Wang Xianmao, she had no qualification to be arrogant.

Wang Xianmao smiled, manipulated the green silk ribbon, and slowly sent the magic seal to the female cultivator's front.

"Hahaha, this magic seal is not bad; it is Premium Quality.

It is just a pity for this piece of Earth-Root Spirit Jade; it should have been refined with two more layers of prohibitions."

Wang Yu realized the Clan Leader truly had capability: first selling a favor to that dog Gao Jian, then giving the Xian Alliance female cultivator a little guidance.

Offending neither side; this matter was handled beautifully.

However, looking at the bloodstains on the ground, his heart was mixed with many flavors.

Not a single person cared about the loose cultivator who had just been killed by Gao Jian.

Was he a bandit cultivator?

Did he violate the market regulations, thus deserving death?

No one cared.

"Senior, this Earth-Root Seal has already been refined with twelve layers of prohibitions; can two more layers be added?"

Holding the magic seal, the Xian Alliance female cultivator asked in surprise.

"Of course it can; it was forged using Fire Method. If you can find a refiner with qualified proficiency in Earth-Storage Method, refining two more layers is absolutely no problem."

Wang Yulou was dumbfounded—learning again!

The Clan Leader is taking on commissions!

"Senior understands Earth-Storage Method?" The Xian Alliance female cultivator heard the implication.

"A little, a little. Refining two layers for you would cost about four hundred spirit stones; what do you think?"

This price was not low; four hundred spirit stones could buy a comparable Mid-Quality Magical Artifact.

That female cultivator looked at the Technique in Hand, thought and thought, then gritted her teeth with a pained expression.

"Agreed; when do you have time?"

Buying two layers of prohibition refinement service for four hundred stones sounded foolish, but a Handy Technique always receives more favoritism from its master.

In the eyes of this Xian Alliance female cultivator, a Foundation Establishment senior would certainly not speak nonsense.

If the Earth-Root Seal could truly add two more layers of prohibitions, it would be more convenient to use in the future.

Moreover, when a Foundation Establishment cultivator refines a Mid-Quality Magical Artifact, the probability of accidents drops to a negligible level.

Therefore, four hundred spirit stones seem expensive, but there is a reason for the high price!

"Come to Fuyuan Residence in ten days to pick it up; I will arrange the time."

Wang Xianmao answered with a smile.

I only need to make a slight move: first sell Gao Jian a favor, then display the spirit of the Wang Shi Foundation Establishment Ancestor, and finally conveniently take on a commission.

Killing three birds with one stone!

The Wang Shi clan is destined to prosper day by day under my hand!

"Anger? Confusion? Sympathy? Or do you want to do something?"

At Fuyuan Residence, Wang Xianmao sat on a chair and began to teach the two youths through words and example.

Noticing the two brothers were about to mutually defer the right to answer first, he smiled and called out a name.

"Wang Yuan, you go first."

Wang Yuan thought for a while; he did not answer with his own emotional judgment of the event itself, but instead analyzed the Clan Leader's response.

"Clan Leader, I understand helping Gao Jian, but why did you intervene for a favor?

Someone like Jiang Bian, who eats with such a voracious appearance, would not owe a favor over the matter of a registered disciple.

Moreover, Gao Jian is an outer disciple of the Red Lantern Sect; that Xian Alliance female cultivator certainly would not kill him just because her robe was stained with blood.

For a small profit, to participate in such a troublesome matter as the Wang Clan Leader.

I believe your behavior is truly unwise!"

Wang Yulou's lips curled into a slight smile; Wang Yuan, ah Wang Yuan, you have improved!

"Not just a small favor; I also collected four hundred spirit stones." Wang Xianmao also looked at Wang Yuan with a smile.

"Clan Leader, that is an unexpected result caused by your unauthorized action; it should not be counted in the post-event evaluation of this matter!"

The family youth Wang Yuan strictly adhered to family rules, conducting an analysis of the Clan Leader's temporary response.

"Good, hahaha, good!

Wang Yuan, you could think that I acted without authorization today; that is very good.

Actually, this matter is simpler than you think—the responsibilities you Qi-Refining stage must bear differ from the responsibilities I, this Clan Leader, must bear!

The Qi-Refining stage should focus on cultivating well; cultivate Qi early, then discuss other matters.

As Clan Leader, the responsibilities on my shoulders are heavier; often, I must actively seize opportunities!

In the future, when you have succeeded in cultivating Qi, you will likely have experienced enough worldly affairs and will be able to act independently by choosing the right moment."

Hearing the Clan Leader praise him, Wang Yuan's mouth almost split to the back of his head.

Right now, he just wanted to hug Uncle Rongyuan's leg and cry.

Uncle, those big nostrils of yours were not big slaps.

They were enlightenment, they were opportunities, they are my Wang Yuan's lifelong gratitude; you opened my wisdom root for me.

I now know the family rules inside and out—I can recite them all!

When we return to Wang Family Mountain, I must take over from Brother Yuming and teach the other family youths the family rules!

If you've been caught in the rain, you must take away everyone else's umbrella too!

The family rules are truly useful!

All of you, memorize them well and study them well!

"Yulou, what do you think?" the clan chief looked toward Yulou.

Wang Yuan also looked toward Yulou.

Brother, I don't believe you can still act more obedient than me this time!

Yet Yulou didn't even acknowledge the brat.

Like Wang Yuan's choice, he too didn't begin by discussing his own emotions, but instead focused the conversation on a larger perspective.

"Hongdengzhao wants to exploit us; Gao Jian exploits free cultivators—it's all part of the same lineage.

The cultivation landscape of Wunan's Southern Cultivation World is too rigid under the Xian Alliance's control.

High-level cultivators and True Persons crush those below them, forcing them into submission.

Our Wang Shi has no luxury to be good people.

This unique order forces most within the system to sweep only the snow in front of their own doors.

Yulou is angry but not confused; he sympathizes with the free cultivators, but no one sympathizes with our Wang Shi.

All Yulou wants is to cultivate diligently, finish learning Eyebrow's Fire Technique: Jin Shi's Refining Dao as soon as possible, and return to the family!"

The first half was incisive, revealing extraordinary insight.

The second half showed self-awareness and unwavering resolve.

Wang Xianmao fell silent for a long while, his gaze toward Yulou filled with complexity.

Yulou, Yulou, you shouldn't be a Wang Shizi.

"Where exactly does Hongdengzhao oppress our Wang Shi?"

The clan chief knew Wang Yuan didn't understand, and wasn't even sure how much Yulou understood, so he still asked Yulou directly.

"For medium and small Foundation Establishment immortal clans like ours, cultivation resources are earned through spirit item production or auxiliary arts.

Spirit item production is the baseline; auxiliary arts are the main source.

Hongdengzhao's decision to decentralize the Merit Hall to the Qi Condensation market itself has seized part of our market.

They've also massively exchanged auxiliary arts and secret techniques with free cultivators, who then steal another portion of our market.

We could choose to exchange nothing at all, but if we do nothing, we'll be slowly boiled alive like a frog in warm water, gradually losing our advantage in competition between mid-sized clans and small sects.

So it seems we have a choice, but in truth, we have none.

Hongdengzhao intends to force clans like ours or Dropwater Cave into voluntarily offering their necks by decentralizing secret techniques.

To make the slaughter cleaner, they've even introduced a 'use first, pay later' model, using future clan or sect earnings as collateral.

And as for Elder Jingyi's apprenticeship under Xuanzhuan True Person—was this deliberately orchestrated by them, or merely a coincidence?

Clan Chief, you must be cautious!"

When Yulou finished, Wang Xianmao was certain: this child truly understood.

Wang Yuan: I'm useless!

After long consideration, the clan chief waved his hand and smiled.

"It's too late; we'll stop here for today.

Yulou, give me your ink-jade oil bead, and that turtle shell of yours."

"Golden-Horn Mud Turtle Shell!" Wang Yuan emphasized reluctantly.

Taking the two artifacts, Wang Xianmao glanced at them and immediately knew how to further refine them.

"It's too late tonight; go rest. Tomorrow morning, I'll take Eyebrow to pay respects to Danri True Person.

In the afternoon, I'll take you to Baibao Alley to borrow the Huang family's forging chamber and refine both artifacts."