Chapter 8: Uncle and Nephews

At dusk, Zhiwei Fang, Wang Rongyuan led Yulou and Yuan from Huafengju straight up to the second floor.

“Bring me that ink-jade oil bead of yours.”

No sooner had they sat down than Wang Rongyuan asked Yulou for the mid-grade magic treasure, the Ink-Jade Oil Bead, given to him by Hongmei.

Of course, he wasn’t trying to seize the treasure—Uncle Rongyuan simply wasn’t sure of the artifact’s true quality.

Yulou naturally didn’t refuse, quickly pulling out the Ink-Jade Oil Bead and handing it to his clan uncle.

After carefully observing it with his spiritual sense for a long while, Wang Rongyuan nodded in satisfaction.

“The four seals are common ones we have in our clan; the remaining five seals include two that seem unique to stone-based magic treasures, and the other three likely enhance power and add functions.”

“Zhong Tianshuo really has genuine skill—our clan chief was right; your master fees weren’t wasted!”

Not a single spirit stone wasted!

With this confirmed, the greatest pressure in Wang Rongyuan’s heart vanished.

The Wang clan wasn’t afraid of spending spirit stones—they feared Hongmei the Recluse had no real ability.

“Study under Hongmei for ten years; when you return to the clan, we’ll refine this Ink-Jade Oil Bead for you—we should be able to reach fourteen seals without trouble.”

Holding his first magic treasure, Yulou was stunned.

“Fourteen? Didn’t Master say it could only be refined up to thirteen seals?”

Yaozhidao ， Shisicengjinzhidezhongpinfaqi ， Zhibizhongpinfaqideshangxianshiqicengdisanceng ， Keweishizhongpinfaqizhongdejipinle ！

Wang Rongyuan stroked his beard proudly and said:

“What does he know? Our Wang clan has many secret techniques—fourteen seals are no problem; if things go well, fifteen might even be possible!”

“Where’s your turtle shell? Come, let me see it too.”

“It’s a Golden-Horn Mud Turtle shell, not just any turtle shell...” Yuan mumbled, then handed his own shell to Uncle Rongyuan.

Yulou smiled and poured his clan uncle a cup of wine, saying nothing.

Roughly the same—Yuan, your protective treasure is truly extraordinary.

As he held Yuan’s shell, Wang Rongyuan sighed.

“Golden-Horn Mud Turtles vary in strength from Qi Refining to Qi Refining peak; by Foundation Establishment, they transform into Golden-Horn Jade Turtles, whose horns and shells are materials for crafting spiritual artifacts.”

“Pity, yours seems to be only from a high-grade Qi Refining Mud Turtle—but if our clan chief handles it, he should be able to refine it to seventeen seals.”

“After all, this turtle was only Qi Refining—if it had been even Qi Refining early stage, it would’ve made an excellent base for a high-grade magic treasure!”

Yulou grew restless and asked:

“Is our Wang clan’s art of forging really that advanced?”

Hongmei was already the pinnacle of Qi Refining-level artificers; Huafengju’s reputation was renowned across several nearby markets.

He said the Ink-Jade Oil Bead could only reach thirteen seals; Wang Rongyuan claimed it could reach fourteen or even fifteen.

He said Yuan’s shell could only reach fifteen seals; Wang Rongyuan said it could go straight to seventeen.

Uncle, if our clan’s forging heritage is this extraordinary, why are we even paying Hongmei?

“Not so. Hongmei claims mastery of metal and stone, but he doesn’t understand Earth-Infusion Method. The Ink-Jade Oil Bead is built on earth-elemental material—ink jade—and Hongmei believes thirteen seals is the limit.”

“But if I were to refine it myself, using our clan’s inherited Earth-Infusion Method, fifteen seals should be achievable!”

Yulou nodded thoughtfully. Just then, the chief server of Zhiwei Fang brought up their evening meal, and he rose to pour another cup for Uncle Rongyuan.

Though the Wang clan isn’t a famed lineage, its long heritage still holds deep reserves.

Uncle Rongyuan, with his earth elemental affinity and Earth-Infusion Method, could easily surpass Hongmei and push Yulou’s Ink-Jade Oil Bead to fifteen seals.

Must be cultivated! Must be cultivated!

Handing the shell back to Yuan, Wang Rongyuan added:

“This shell’s material possesses both metal and earth natures. Hongmei gave it to you because he knows our clan chief can refine it—he’s giving us a favor!”

Yulou and Yuan exchanged glances—was there really so much hidden maneuvering behind simply becoming a disciple?

“Uncle Rongyuan, how many spirit stones did our Wang clan pay for our apprenticeship to Hongmei?”

Yulou finally couldn’t hold back and asked.

Seeing the two boys’ curious eyes, Wang Rongyuan paused, then picked up the wine flask and cups, pouring each of them a drink.

“What’s this?” Yulou asked, puzzled.

“Uncle, Wang clan disciples aren’t allowed to drink spirit wine before reaching Qi Refining—it’s against clan rules, drinking causes trouble!”

Somehow, perhaps spurred by Uncle Rongyuan’s relentless affection, Yuan now remembered clan rules with surprising precision.

“I’m watching you—just one cup each, it’s fine.”

For some reason, this time Wang Rongyuan didn’t scold Yuan.

He raised his cup and said:

“For your apprenticeship to Hongmei, our Wang clan spent not a single spirit stone.”

Huh?

Seeing the two boys’ astonishment, Wang Rongyuan smiled bitterly and added:

“We waived Zhong’s rent for twenty years!”

It was a simple multiplication problem—Yulou calculated it in about a second.

Four thousand eight hundred spirit stones!

Four thousand eight...

That could buy countless lives of Qi Refining cultivators!

Faced with such a staggering sum, Yuan was dazed—he only vaguely felt it was too expensive, but Yulou already felt the mountainous weight on his shoulders.

Must squeeze every last drop from Hongmei!

Learn all his forging arts!

“Come, let’s not talk about that—let’s drink together, the three of us.

For the next few years, you’ll be staying in Qingxi Fang. I’m tied up with clan duties and won’t be able to visit often.”

Uncle Rongyuan looked at the two Wang boys with pity and sighed.

In life, there are many turning points—leaving home to study is one of them.

Being sent hundreds of miles away at thirteen to study—no matter how you looked at it, it seemed heartless.

Yulou had no parents; he’d grown up alone.

Yuan had left his parents behind and was still immature.

Even Wang Rongyuan didn’t know if they’d succeed and return home.

Hongmei’s Dao was profound; Qingxi Fang had a Foundation Establishment cultivator stationed there—it should be safe, and he’d been reassured.

But Yulou and Yuan were children he’d watched grow up—how could Wang Rongyuan not feel tenderness?

“Uncle Rongyuan, are you leaving?”

Yuan asked blankly.

“Hahaha, now that I’ve delivered you, of course I have to leave.

Besides, the Immortal Alliance has issued decrees to every Foundation Establishment clan—we must send one Qi Refining cultivator each year to the Western Seas to hunt demons.”

“For the next ten years, I’ll be in the Western Seas—thousands of miles from here. You won’t have to worry about me slapping you anymore.”

For some reason, though avoiding his uncle’s slaps should’ve been good news, Yuan couldn’t feel happy—his nose tingled, and he nearly cried.

Hunting demons in the Western Seas sounded like a chance to earn merit, but many of the Wang clan’s ancestors never returned.

“The Red Lantern Merit Hall is coming to Qingxi Fang soon, Uncle Rongyuan—can’t you wait a little longer?”

Yulou didn’t know what to say—Wang Rongyuan seemed to be leaving too hastily.

“In a few days, our clan chief will arrive with Rongwen. With them here, it’s nearly the same as if I were.”

“Come, let’s drink. Yuan, don’t look so gloomy—you’re acting like you’re sending me off to my funeral. Bad omen.”

Wang Rongyuan glared at Yuan, who quickly raised his cup.

The three cups clinked together, each emptied in one gulp.

This year, Yulou was thirteen, becoming a disciple of Hongmei the Recluse of Qingxi Fang.

Yuan was also thirteen, still just a naive little fool obsessed with clan rules.

Uncle Rongyuan was seventy, his Dao accomplished, having taken on the Immortal Alliance’s decree to journey thousands of miles to the Western Seas to hunt demons.

It was merely a small gathering between uncle and nephews—but from now on, they were separated by a thousand miles of sky and earth.

Perhaps, this too is part of cultivation.