Chapter 46: The Water That Capsizes the Boat Is the Tears of the Common People

After sleeping soundly through the entire night and shedding the fatigue of travel, Yulou rose early.

After a simple wash and rinse, Yulou arrived at the door of the clan chief's bedroom.

He had some questions and concerns.

How he should interact with Hongmei in the future—this matter required guidance from the clan chief.

The key point was, Yulou was unsure how the clan chief intended to handle his own cheap master.

Hongmei's intent to kill him could not be hidden, creating a rift between Yulou and Hongmei.

Yet despite this, Yulou still believed Hongmei had value—immense value.

He was a Master of the Art of Forging capable of crafting high-grade artifacts with thirty-two layers of seals.

In the Southern Cultivation World, the upper limit for solo cultivation is Qi Gathering; if Yulou wished to go far in the future, he could not do so without his clan's support.

Within the clan, by maintaining good relations with Yuan, and with Uncles Rongyuan and Brother Brother Rongwen above him, he had built his own small faction.

If he took initiative and convinced the clan chief to make good use of Hongmei, his cheap master, Yulou's future path within the clan would be steadier and longer.

In the Cultivation World, surviving with utilitarianism is not shameful.

So-called passion and hot-bloodedness often exist only in fantasy stories.

Yulou faced masters who would instantly turn and kill their disciples, ancestors who drained thousands of cultivators to achieve Jin Dan, and the Xian Alliance and Shi Sect that excelled in exploitation and oppression.

He needed calmness, wisdom, patience, perseverance... to go further.

The Wang Shi was a united clan, but also a large one, and moreover, one with a long lineage and strict internal governance.

Yulou did not wish to easily enter a sect and become a servant; he needed to plan ahead, make good use of Wang Shi's resources, and map out his development path early.

First cultivate thoroughly within Wang Shi, then enter a sect to seek Foundation Establishment opportunities—these two steps must be taken steadily, and cannot be done without prior planning.

Arriving at the clan chief's room door, Yulou did not knock, only standing quietly outside.

Soon, the clan chief's voice came from within.

"Come in, don't stand there like a fool."

Seeing Wang Xianmao seated on a mat, Yulou bowed first, then spoke softly.

"Clan Chief, Yulou has a question to ask."

"Speak!"

Though unsure why this boy had come to stand guard at his door so early, the clan chief still wished to draw closer to the younger generation.

"Yulou does not know how to interact with Hongmei in the future; I humbly ask for your guidance."

He asked about how to interact, but was actually probing the clan chief's intentions regarding Hongmei.

"Hahaha, didn't you say just fine yesterday? Keep things separate—you call him Master, and he is also a newly recruited member of the Wang Shi."

Wang Xianmao clearly had not given Hongmei much thought; his plan was still for Yulou to study diligently under Hongmei.

But Hongmei changed his name to Wang Yueshuo, forcibly joining Wang Shi through a secret technique—neither an outsider nor a direct descendant.

Yulou did not understand.

"Then what of his Foundation Establishment...?" asked Yulou, troubled.

Clan Chief, do you truly intend to treat Hongmei as a Wang Shi scion and let him proceed with Foundation Establishment?

"We'll decide once you've learned enough. If Hongmei wishes to establish his Foundation, he must pass through me."

"Only a Purple Mansion cultivator who masters Wood Technique can break my Black Vine Soul Lock Art. Don't worry."

Wang Xianmao answered with slight pride.

He was a seasoned Foundation Establishment cultivator with unique abilities; his personal technique, the Black Vine Soul Lock Art, could not be broken by ordinary Purple Mansion cultivators!

"Clan Chief, if our Wang Shi can produce several more direct-line Foundation Establishment cultivators in the coming decades, we could give Hongmei a chance."

"He is still a Master of the Art of Forging; if we can make him serve Wang Shi, a little risk is worth it."

Yulou saw clearly: if Hongmei achieved Foundation Establishment, both he and Yuan would be the greatest beneficiaries—no matter how Wang Shi moved forward, their paths would be wide open.

After all, under the Xian Alliance's overwhelming dominance, Hongmei's forced entry into Wang Shi may have been humiliating, but it was not a bad choice.

Serving a Purple Mansion in a sect is serving; serving a Purple Mansion in Wang Shi, a private enterprise, is still serving.

The difference is: Wang Shi's Foundation Establishment cultivators hold shares in the company; sect Foundation Establishment cultivators are pure servants.

On another front, Yulou's question was also a probe—he wanted to confirm exactly what the clan chief had redeemed from the Red Lamp Merit Hall.

This point was crucial.

"Hmm, difficult. Your Uncle Rongjiang is already in seclusion; results will come within two years."

Next is the clan's outsider elder, Tie Qinhao—he also took half a share of Foundation Establishment resources from me."

Tie Qinhao's cultivation is slightly lacking, and his root qi is unbalanced, but this is his second attempt at Foundation Establishment—his success rate is high."

The likes of Wang Rongyuan and Wang Brother Brother Rongwen are further behind—they won't even be considered for Foundation Establishment for at least twenty years."

We have no shortage of Foundation Establishment resources; we must thank Hongmei—if he hadn't been so foolish, where would we have found this extra share? Hahaha."

Yulou understood: the clan chief had no intention of letting Hongmei truly achieve Foundation Establishment.

Once he achieved it, he would be harder to control.

He let go of those distant thoughts and said:

"Yulou was thoughtless."

The clan chief shook his head; he was satisfied with Yulou in every way—this boy's only flaw was being too reserved.

We're family—why be so reserved?

Are you afraid of me?

Am I not quite approachable?

"No, I'm very pleased with you. You're right—the fall of Wolong Fang was not simple."

"It's not that Gu Shen Zong colluded with the bandit cultivators, as you suspected—it's Miaofeng Mountain that has a problem—a big problem!"

How could Miaofeng Mountain avoid trouble? Their inner disciples have already begun acting as bandits to rob Wang Rongyuan.

Of course, this also owes to the exquisite fishing technique Wang Rongyuan employed at the time.

"Miaofeng Mountain has a major problem?"

That is a sect guarded by three Purple Mansion great cultivators; how could it have a major problem?

"Yes, they want to push out another Purple Mansion cultivator. In the early days when the Red Lantern's Merit Hall opened to the public, they exchanged two sets of resources to break through to Purple Mansion.

As a result, these two sets of resources have made the Foundation Establishment cultivators of Miaofeng Mountain suffer unbearably, and the Qi Refining cultivators have been forced to change sects in large numbers.

The Grain God Sect saw this, knowing that the defensive force of Miaofeng Mountain in Wolong Fang was empty, so they went all out to seize Wolong Fang."

Wang Yulou stood with his mouth agape.

Good, good, good; the water that capsizes boats is the tears of the common people.

These sects can cut so deeply that disciples are forced to change sects in droves; indeed, they are extraordinary.

He and Wang Yuan did not join a sect directly; it seems they did the right thing.

"Two sets of resources to break through to Purple Mansion; it seems Miaofeng Mountain is going all in, determined to produce a new Purple Mansion cultivator."

Seeing that Wang Yulou could perceive this, Wang Xianmao was very satisfied.

"Yes, the Grand Elder of Miaofeng Mountain has a bad relationship with Master Mangxiang. The Master wants to prove his Jin Dan, and they are afraid.

However, these matters have nothing to do with us. As for you, Wang Yulou, I plan to let you manage the newly established Hundred Treasures Pavilion. Do you have the confidence to do well?"

The Hundred Treasures Pavilion is a shop Wang Xianmao newly established, inspired by the Huang Family Hundred Treasures Fang, specifically targeting Qi Refining cultivators.

The Wang Shi will purchase another plot of land in Qing Xi Fang to establish the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, specializing in selling high-quality talismans, pills, and magical artifacts.

After being cut by the Red Lantern, the Wang Shi needs to open new revenue streams to meet future needs.

Leaving other things aside, just thinking that the Wang Shi will add at least two Foundation Establishment cultivators in the future makes Wang Xianmao feel a headache.

The Wang Shi's family assets are only this much; they cannot support so many Foundation Establishment cultivators. It is impossible not to open new revenue streams to increase spirit stone income.

"This... perhaps it is better to let Uncle Rongsheng take it. Wolong Fang is currently in terrible chaos; if he serves as the Shopkeeper of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, would that not be perfect?"

Wang Yulou naturally wanted to accept this appointment; Wang Xianmao clearly wanted to test him.

But he worried that he would not manage it well and drag the family down.

Wang Rongsheng has managed Wolong Fang for so many years; his experience is seasoned, making him far more suitable than Wang Yulou.

Seeing Wang Yulou decline, Wang Xianmao waved his hand and said.

"Wang Yulou, do not decline. The low-priced rooms are very popular among scattered cultivators; this shows you have talent in the way of management.

In the years to come, the Hundred Treasures Pavilion will still be under your management. As for Rongsheng, I have other arrangements for him."