Chapter 71: Just This: How Many People Want to Kneel But Don't Even Have This Connection!

Once, when Wang Yulou first heard of the differentiated arrangement strategy for the Wang Shizi, he was quite puzzled about why the first-rate disciples were kept at home.

Is a great sect not good? Why send those with slightly inferior talent to the sect, yet keep the most talented ones at home?

Now, the Red Lantern Sect's Sect Master Decree in his hand is the best proof answering this doubt.

The Red Lantern Sect has over ten thousand disciples; its sect stretches across the northwest of the Wunan Southern Cultivation World, covering an area of several million li.

Within the sect, there are dozens of Purple Mansion great cultivators and Jin Dan True Persons, divided into more than a dozen large and small factions.

Under these circumstances, a person with shallow foundations entering the sect is merely consumable material for the great families' high cultivators.

Even for those with perseverance, accumulating merit within the sect makes the path of ascent extremely difficult.

Like Gao Jian; he is bad, but isn't persistent badness also a form of perseverance?

Yet he can only be a dog for a True Disciple cultivator; being called a cultivator, what difference is there from a Dao slave?

As an affiliate of Master Mangxiang's lineage within the Red Lantern Sect, the Wang Shi has contributed much in the past, but contributions have returns.

For instance, the Sect Master Decree obtained now, and the numerous trade dealings the Wang Shi has long maintained with the Red Lantern Sect, and so on.

Through the inner sect disciple quotas granted by patronage, the Wang Shizi can bypass the process of being used as a Dao slave by the Red Lantern Sect and join the inner sect directly.

The significance of keeping the best disciples at home lies in the fact that the benefits the family gains from the sect via the affiliate relationship can be used to cultivate core disciples like Wang Yulou and Wang Yuan to a limited extent, ensuring they receive the best training before reaching Foundation Establishment.

Remaining in the clan, the exploitation they suffer is virtually non-existent before reaching a certain cultivation level.

To be precise, that is not exploitation at all.

Enjoying the family's protection naturally requires making contributions, so that the family may flourish and endure.

Of course, there will be ungrateful wolves who realize their ambitions by damaging the family's foundation; such monsters have certainly appeared in the Wang Shi's history, but such monsters are generally few.

Moreover, human hearts are like tides; acting too selfishly will gain no one's trust.

No matter how powerful Master Mangxiang is, doesn't he also need a group of people supporting him to step by step prove his Jin Dan?

Now, borrowing the Red Lantern Sect Master Huang Qiusheng's Sect Master Decree, he has allocated a large sum to the Wang Shi; though he spent the Red Lantern Sect's generosity, the Wang Shi has indeed been fully fed.

No matter how good the future expected returns of the Great Goods Market are, one must consider whether it can be protected; Wang Yulou knows too well the difference between expected returns and actual benefits.

In fact, this move by the Wang Shi is not a small profit, but a huge profit.

It is just...

"Elder, we have obtained this decree from the Sect Master; should we not offer thanks?"

Giving rebates and tea money for securing a big order is a matter of etiquette; Wang Yulou certainly would not forget.

Wang Xianmao shook his head with a smile and said.

"You little rascal are quite sharp. Fifty-two thousand spirit stones: fifty thousand for True Person Xuan Zhuan, and two thousand for Daoist Friend Qiusheng."

It turns out Xuan Zhuan pushed this matter; thus, such a large gesture is no longer strange, yet Wang Yulou is still somewhat startled by Xuan Zhuan's appetite.

Fifty thousand spirit stones; the Red Lantern Sect gave generously, and Xuan Zhuan, who handled the matter, took even more generously.

It feels like seventy percent belongs to them; perhaps in the eyes of a True Person, fifty thousand spirit stones mean nothing.

Seeing Wang Yulou's face change color, Wang Xianmao explained in a gentle voice.

"Yulou, you do not know this; the value of this bottle of Spirit Marrow Meridian-Cleansing Pill far exceeds fifty thousand spirit stones. Moreover, this pill is refined by a Foundation Establishment-level Pill Dao Grandmaster and has long been available at a price but not on the market."

Fortunately, our Wang Shi needs this medicine, which is why Jingyi specifically requested True Person Xuan Zhuan to facilitate this matter."

It is not that Xuan Zhuan is too greedy, but that the True Person helped greatly.

The model innovation of the Great Goods Market is extremely valuable at the Red Lantern Sect's level; this is the fundamental reason why Huang Qiusheng specifically issued a Sect Master Decree.

But how this value is realized, and what it is realized as, is not for the Wang Shi to decide.

Xuan Zhuan obtained the urgently needed Spirit Marrow Meridian-Cleansing Pill for the Wang Shi; this is actually like pulling a guaranteed gold card, catching a Super Dream directly, or pointing out exactly which scratch-off ticket holds the grand prize.

To put it plainly, no matter how rare Foundation Establishment Pills are, how useful high-grade spiritual artifacts are, or how scarce inner sect disciple quotas are.

For the Wang Shi, these are things that can be handled slowly on their own, or by finding someone to handle them.

But the Spirit Marrow Meridian-Cleansing Pill belongs to the type that the Wang Shi cannot get even if they try!

Especially now, with a great war approaching, such spirit pills that repair meridians and the Dao foundation are used up one by one.

Within a unit of time, the quantity of pill-refining materials is hard to see breakthrough growth, while the growth expectation for demand is very high; the price of the Spirit Marrow Meridian-Cleansing Pill will only rise higher and higher.

Therefore, considering all this, Xuan Zhuan actually did not take too much.

He is already a Purple Mansion True Person; isn't it only right that he collects a five-thousand-spirit-stone benefit fee from you?

What was that saying again?

Just this, and how many people want to kneel but don't even have this connection?

"Could it be... that Elder Wang Xian Zhou's injury can be treated with this pill?" Wang Yulou asked.

Wang Xian Zhou was once a genius of the Wang Shi, famous since youth; later he joined the Red Lantern Sect and won all the way through the Xian Alliance's walking combat selection, becoming an Xian Alliance Walker by his own strength.

If his Dao foundation had not been injured, he would definitely have reached Foundation Establishment, and after Foundation Establishment, he might have been even stronger than the current Wang Xianmao.

Although Wang Xianmao possesses divine abilities, Wang Xian Zhou belongs to the type of existence capable of standing firm in the Xian Alliance where heroes gather; the upper limits of the two are not comparable.

But all these possibilities, all these beautiful futures, all these things belonging to Wang Xian Zhou, now, have nothing to do with him.

Wang Yulou once saw with his own eyes how Elder Wang Xian Zhou dared not look at his old lover.

That day, Wang Xian Zhou's Dao heart was so chaotic that even Wang Yuan noticed it.

How could Wang Yulou, Wang Yuan, and other juniors not feel heartbroken?

If the Spirit Marrow Meridian-Cleansing Pill can treat Elder Wang Xian Zhou's injury, then the Wang Shi will soon have another Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Given Elder Wang Xian Zhou's age, after reaching Foundation Establishment, he might not extend his life for too long, but at the very least, he will surely live past two hundred years.

Moreover, relying on his combat strength, after reaching Foundation Establishment, Wang Xian Zhou would defeat people like Da Tie Qin He and Wu Jinyan as easily as playing a game.

"Wang Xian Zhou, Wang Xian Zhou, sigh, he has used spirit pills better than the Spirit Marrow Meridian-Cleansing Pill; this Spirit Marrow Meridian-Cleansing Pill is for Rongyuan to use."

Additionally, if chaos arises in the future, having more Spirit Marrow Meridian-Cleansing Pills in the clan prepared is better safe than sorry."

Regarding his younger brother, Wang Xianmao also felt powerless.

If the Wang Shizi are not sent to the most dangerous places to be tempered, how can they be carved into vessels?

But once sent, accidents are inevitable.

"Uncle Rongyuan? Uncle Rongyuan is injured?"

Wang Yu immediately grew worried.

Hunting demons in the Western Sea is the best path for low-level cultivators; when there are no great sect wars, it is the only fair upward channel in Wunan.

It sounds good, but it is also raising demons; the Xian Alliance conscripts cultivators wave after wave.

Yet of the Wang Shi clan members who went to the Western Sea to hunt demons generation after generation, only a little over half returned; those who did not returned were devoured by demon beasts.

"Mm, but it is very slight; with rest it will heal. Now that there is the Spirit Marrow Meridian-Refining Pill, his injury will not even affect his Foundation Establishment."

Wang Rongyuan lost half a shoulder along with an entire arm; it sounds like a severe injury, but for a cultivator, such an injury is merely ordinary.

"By the way, Yu Lou, the Sect Master's decree instructed our Wang Shi to hand over the Great Goods Shop to the Elder Hall of the Red Lantern Light Merchant Quarter.

You are the one who built up this shop; only you understand its specific operations best.

When I spoke with Mu Chunze, we settled on having you take charge of the handover; tomorrow morning, the Elder Hall of the Merchant Quarter will send several Foundation Establishment cultivators over.

Open early tomorrow; think about how to conduct the handover properly.

We have accepted the Red Lantern Light's reward, so naturally we must do our utmost; otherwise, we would be shaming Ancestral Master Xuanxuan, do you remember?"

Wang Yu had wanted to ask about Wang Rongyuan's injury, but hearing the Clan Leader speak thus, he did not dare to ask further.

"Yu Lou understands; but after the Great Goods Shop is handed over to the Sect, will it continue to operate in Qing Xi Fang?"

Changing the subject was useful, but this question from Yu Lou sparked Wang Xianmao's interest.

"Are you saying we should open another one?"

One must admit, Yu Lou's idea was very bold, quite bold.

The Red Lantern Light seizes the assets of its vassal families and minor sects, gives a sum of compensation, and the seized party opens another shop to continue operating.

Regarding this matter, first, Wang Xianmao confirmed that it does not violate the rules.

The Red Lantern Light has complex lines of interest; many people engage in similar behavior; the Sect cannot control it, nor does it wish to.

With factions standing in rows, the Red Lantern Light possesses complex governing decision-making bodies; governance efficacy outside the rules drops precipitously.

Minor sects and vassal families are themselves buffer zones outside the rules and above the order, responsible for helping the Red Lantern Light extend its ruling tendrils to every corner of the territory.

The relationship between the two sides is not simply superior and subordinate; although the operational model is complex, there is still enormous room for maneuver.

That is to say, as long as the Wang Shi backbone is hard enough, they can naturally act boldly.

"If conditions do not permit, we can start anew, not operate in Qing Xi Fang, but set up another market town."

Wang Xianmao confirmed that Yu Lou's suggestion had great practical value.

After thinking for a moment, he made the final decision.

"For these few years, let us not move; no rush; let us first observe and wait."

The Wang Shi's characteristic move of holding steady and observing and waiting.

Yu Lou nodded, then brought up another matter.

"Clan Leader, regarding Master Master Hongmei's Foundation Establishment, did he mention it to you?"

The Clan Leader was stunned for a moment.

This was the second time Yu Lou had brought up this matter before him.

Last time, he gave Yu Lou a reason and temporarily fobbed him off, because at that time Wang Xianmao did not believe Yu Lou was qualified to discuss such major family affairs.

But now the situation has changed; although Yu Lou's cultivation is not high, in terms of contribution to the clan, he is greater than the vast majority of mid-stage Qi Refining cultivators.

With the Great Goods Shop's model innovation as a foundation, even some junior high-stage Qi Refining cultivators cannot compare to Yu Lou.

The current Wang Yu, using the victory he won, has obtained a rightful status; even Wang Xianmao must take his thoughts seriously.

This time Yu Lou brought up the matter of Master Master Hongmei again; naturally, he could not fob him off.

"You want Master Master Hongmei to achieve Foundation Establishment; of course that is possible, but we need to wait until our Wang Shi's direct lineage has more who achieve Foundation Establishment.

At least two more; what do you think?"

Wang Xianmao understood that Yu Lou's thoughts were deep; when he asked about Master Master Hongmei's Foundation Establishment, he actually wanted to establish his own authority and faction within the Wang Shi, this small power.

Regarding Yu Lou's such ambition, Wang Xianmao actually felt no ill will.

Cultivating immortality, cultivating immortality; without becoming an immortal, one cannot escape human affairs.

Too many things require people to be done well.

Setting aside other matters, the Ning Shi of Huishan Prefecture, because they had no people, were forced to merge with the Gu Shen family, becoming shareholders of the Gu Shen Sect.

But how can a minority shareholder compare to a majority shareholder?

The warmth and coldness of that matter, only the Ning Shi themselves understand.

Even if a cultivator attains the Jin Dan, they must still cultivate their own power.

After all, no matter how powerful a great cultivator is, they cannot personally handle every single matter, can they?

Master Mangxiang attaining the Jin Dan, with two Purple Mansion cultivators as disciples running back and forth, and the entire faction mobilized to support him, is also an example.

Yu Lou, so young now, already understands the importance of gathering people and gathering momentum; naturally, the Clan Leader is pleased to see it.