Chapter 71: Even this—how many people would kneel and beg just to have this chance!

Once, when Yulou first heard of the Wang clan’s differentiated allocation strategy, he was puzzled by why the best talents were kept at home rather than sent to the sect.

Isn’t a major sect better? Why send the less gifted to the sect while keeping the most talented at home?

Now, the Red Lantern Sect’s Master Edict in his hand was the clearest answer to that question.

The Red Lantern Sect had tens of thousands of disciples, its territory stretching across the northwestern reaches of the Wunan cultivation realm, spanning millions of li.

Within the sect, there were dozens of Purple Mansion cultivators and Jin Dan True Persons, divided into over a dozen factions of varying sizes.

Under these conditions, a person with shallow roots who entered the sect was merely expendable material for the great clans and high cultivators.

Even those with strong willpower found the path upward arduous after years of grueling effort within the sect.

Take Gao Jian—he was vile, but wasn’t persistent vice also a kind of perseverance?

Yet all he could do was serve as a dog to the True Transmission cultivators; what difference was there between such a “cultivator” and a Dao slave?

As a vassal of the Red Lantern Sect’s Mangxiang line, the Wang clan had long paid heavy tributes, but tributes came with returns.

For instance, the Master Edict they now held, or the numerous commercial dealings the Wang clan maintained with the Red Lantern Sect.

Through patronage-based nominations for inner sect disciples, Wang clan youths could bypass the process of being used as Dao slaves and enter the inner sect directly.

The reason the best talents were kept at home was so the clan could use the benefits gained from its vassal relationship to cultivate a few core disciples—like Yulou and Yuan—anointed them with the finest training before Foundation Establishment.

While staying within the clan, they faced almost no exploitation until reaching a certain cultivation level.

To be precise, it wasn’t exploitation at all.

Having enjoyed the clan’s protection, one naturally owed contributions—only then could the clan flourish and endure.

Of course, there were ungrateful wolves who sought their own ambitions by harming the clan’s foundation; such traitors had appeared in Wang clan history, but they were always few.

Moreover, human hearts are like tides; acting too independently won’t earn anyone’s trust.

Even the mighty Mangxiang needed a crowd of supporters to steadily advance toward Jin Dan.

Now, using the Master Edict issued by Master Huang Qiusheng of the Red Lantern Sect, he granted the Wang clan a major windfall—though he was spending the Red Lantern Sect’s resources, the Wang clan was truly well-fed.

Even if the future projected earnings of the Da Huo Fang were excellent, one must consider whether they could be protected; Yulou understood perfectly the gap between projected earnings and actual gains.

In truth, this move by the Wang clan wasn’t a small profit—it was a massive one.

But...

“Clan Chief, since we’ve obtained this Edict from the Master, shouldn’t we show our gratitude?”

Offering kickbacks and tea money for securing big deals was proper etiquette; Yulou would never forget.

Wang Xianmao smiled and shook his head.

“You’re a clever little devil—fifty-two thousand spirit stones: fifty thousand for Zhenzhuan True Person, two thousand for Master Qiusheng.”

So it was Zhenzhuan who pushed this through—now it made sense why the gesture was so grand, yet Yulou was still startled by Zhenzhuan’s appetite.

Fifty thousand spirit stones—the Red Lantern Sect was generous, but Zhenzhuan, the one handling it, was even more so.

It felt as if seventy percent belonged to him; perhaps in a True Person’s eyes, fifty thousand spirit stones meant nothing.

Seeing Yulou’s expression change, Wang Xianmao gently explained.

“Yulou, you don’t know—this bottle of Lingmei Ximai Dan is worth far more than fifty thousand spirit stones, and it was crafted by a Foundation Establishment alchemical master; it’s always in high demand but scarce.”

Fortunately, our Wang clan needs this elixir, which is why Jingyi specifically requested Zhenzhuan True Person to facilitate this.”

It wasn’t that Zhenzhuan was greedy—he’d done them a tremendous favor.

The Da Huo Fang’s innovative model held immense value under the Red Lantern Sect’s umbrella—that’s precisely why Huang Qiusheng issued a Master Edict.

But how that value was realized, and why, was not up to the Wang clan to decide.

Zhenzhuan secured the Wang clan the urgently needed Lingmei Ximai Dan—it was like directly drawing a guaranteed gold card, pulling a legendary creature, or being told exactly which scratch card held the grand prize.

Put plainly, no matter how rare the Foundation Establishment elixir, how powerful the top-grade spiritual weapon, or how scarce the inner sect disciple slot—

For the Wang clan, these were all things they could eventually obtain themselves, or through connections.

But the Lingmei Ximai Dan? That was something the Wang clan simply couldn’t get on their own!

Especially now, with war looming—such spiritual medicines for repairing meridians and Dao foundations were dwindling with every use.

Within a given time, the supply of alchemical ingredients couldn’t surge dramatically, yet demand was soaring; the price of Lingmei Ximai Dan would only keep rising.

Thus, considering all this, Zhenzhuan’s share wasn’t excessive at all.

He’s a Purple Mansion True Person—taking fifty thousand spirit stones as a favor fee isn’t he entitled to it?

What’s that saying again?

Even this—how many people would kneel and beg just to have this chance?

“Could it be... that Grand Ancestor Xianzhou’s injury could be healed by this elixir?” Yulou asked.

Wang Xianzhou was the Wang clan’s former prodigy, famed in youth, who later joined the Red Lantern Sect and won every battle in the Immortal Alliance’s selection trials, earning his position as Immortal Alliance Traveler through sheer strength.

Had his Dao foundation not been damaged, he would have surely achieved Foundation Establishment—and after that, he might have surpassed even Wang Xianmao.

Though Wang Xianmao possessed divine abilities, Wang Xianzhou was the kind who could stand firm among the Immortal Alliance’s elite—their potential ceilings were incomparable.

But all those possibilities, all those bright futures, all that belonged to Wang Xianzhou—now they were gone.

Yulou had once seen Grand Ancestor Xianzhou unable to meet the gaze of his old lover.

That day, Xianzhou’s Dao heart was in chaos—even Yuan could see it.

How could Yulou, Yuan, and the younger generations not feel heartbroken?

If the Lingmei Ximai Dan could heal Grand Ancestor Xianzhou’s injury, the Wang clan would soon gain another Foundation Establishment cultivator.

At Xianzhou’s age, even after Foundation Establishment, he wouldn’t extend his lifespan much—but he’d surely live past two hundred.

And with his combat prowess, post-Foundation Establishment Xianzhou would effortlessly crush Iron Hammer, Catching Crane, and Wu Jinyan.

“Xianzhou, Xianzhou—ah, he’s already used better elixirs than Lingmei Ximai Dan; this one is for Rongyuan.”

“Also, if chaos erupts later, having extra Lingmei Ximai Dan on hand won’t hurt.”

Wang Xianmao felt powerless toward his own brother.

If the Wang clan youths weren’t sent to the most dangerous places to be tempered, how could they be forged into worthy vessels?

But sending them out inevitably brought accidents.

“Uncle Rongyuan? Has Uncle Rongyuan been injured?”

Yulou immediately grew concerned.

The Western Sea beast hunts—the best path for low-level cultivators, the only fair upward channel in Wunan during peacetime.

Sounds good—but it’s a breeding ground for monsters; the Immortal Alliance keeps sending waves of cultivators there.

Yet of all the Wang clan members who went to the Western Sea, barely more than half returned; the rest were devoured by beast beasts.

“Yes, but lightly—just rest and recover. Now that we have Lingmei Ximai Dan, his injury won’t even hinder his Foundation Establishment.”

Wang Rongyuan lost half his shoulder and one arm—sounds severe, but for cultivators, such injuries were ordinary.

“By the way, Yulou, the Master Edict instructs our Wang clan to hand over the Da Huo Fang to the Red Lantern Sect’s Merchant Elder Chamber.

You built this shop—you understand its operations better than anyone.

When I spoke with Mu Chunze, we decided you’d oversee the handover; tomorrow morning, the Merchant Elder Chamber will send several Foundation Establishment cultivators over.

Open early tomorrow, think carefully about how to execute the handover properly.

We’ve received the Red Lantern Sect’s reward—we must give our all in return; otherwise, we’ll disgrace Master Zhenzhuan. Do you understand?”

Yulou had wanted to ask about Rongyuan’s condition, but hearing the Clan Chief speak this way, he held his tongue.

“I understand, Master. But after handing the Da Huo Fang over to the sect, will it still operate in Qingxi Market?”

Changing the subject helped, but this question sparked Wang Xianmao’s interest.

“You mean... we open another one ourselves?”

Honestly, Yulou’s idea was bold—extremely bold.

The Red Lantern Sect seizes the assets of its vassal clans and minor sects, gives compensation, and then the former owners open a new shop to keep operating.

First, Wang Xianmao was certain: this wasn’t against the rules.

The Red Lantern Sect’s interests were tangled; many did similar things, and the sect neither could nor cared to police them.

With factions scattered everywhere, the Red Lantern Sect’s governance structure was complex, and its administrative efficiency plummeted outside formal rules.

Minor sects and vassal clans were buffer zones beyond rules and order, tasked with extending the sect’s control to every corner of its territory.

Their relationship wasn’t simple master-servant; though complex, the system offered vast room for maneuver.

In other words, as long as the Wang clan’s backbone was strong, they could act boldly.

“If conditions don’t allow, we can start fresh elsewhere—not in Qingxi Market, but another market.”

Wang Xianmao was certain: Yulou’s suggestion had real potential.

After a moment’s thought, he decided.

“Let’s hold off for now—no rush. Let’s watch and wait.”

The Wang clan’s signature caution and watchful waiting.

Yulou nodded, then raised another matter.

“Clan Chief, has Red Eyebrow mentioned his Foundation Establishment to you?”

The Clan Chief paused.

This was the second time Yulou had brought this up.

Last time, he’d given Yulou an excuse to stall—he hadn’t thought Yulou qualified to discuss clan-level matters.

But things had changed: though Yulou’s cultivation was low, his contributions to the clan surpassed most mid-stage Qi Refining cultivators.

With the Da Huo Fang’s innovation as foundation, even some junior high-stage Qi Refining cultivators couldn’t match him.

Yulou had earned his status through victories—Wang Xianmao now had to take his views seriously.

This time, when Yulou raised Red Eyebrow’s matter again, he couldn’t brush him off.

"You want Hongmei to achieve Foundation Establishment? Of course you can, but we must wait until more of our Wang clan's direct lineage have achieved Foundation Establishment."

"At least two more, what do you think?"

Wang Xianmao understood that Yulou was calculating; by asking about Hongmei’s Foundation Establishment, he was really seeking to establish his own authority and faction within the small Wang clan.

Wang Xianmao harbored no ill will toward Yulou’s ambition.

Cultivation, cultivation—until one becomes an immortal, one cannot escape human affairs.

Too many things require people to be done well.

Take the Ning clan of Huishan Prefecture: because they lost their people, they were forced to merge with the Gu Shen family and became shareholders of the Gu Shen Sect.

But how can a minor shareholder compare to a major one?

Only the Ning clan themselves truly understood the bitterness of that.

Even a cultivator who attains a Golden Core must cultivate his own power base.

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

Mang Xiang’s attainment of the Golden Core is an example: two disciples with Purple Mansion cultivation ran errands for him, and the entire faction was mobilized to support him.

Yulou, so young already, understands the importance of gathering people and power—the clan chief naturally welcomed this.