Chapter 8: A Small Reunion of Uncle and Nephews, A Thousand Miles Apart

At dusk, at the Zhiwei Pavilion, Wang Rongyuan led Yulou and Yuan, who had just come out of the Huafeng Residence, straight up to the second floor.

"Bring that ink-jade oil bead of yours here for me to see."

As soon as they sat down, Wang Rongyuan asked Yulou for the Mid-Quality Technique ink-jade oil bead that Master Master Hongmei had given him.

Of course, he did not want to snatch the treasure; Uncle Rongyuan was simply unsure of the actual level of this artifact.

Yulou naturally did not refuse; he quickly took out the ink-jade oil bead and handed it to his clan uncle.

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

"The four seals are common seals; our family has them. The remaining five layers of seals include two that seem to be seals unique to stone-made artifacts, and the other three are likely seals that enhance power and add functions.

Zhong Tianshuo truly possesses real treasures; the clan leader's judgment was not wrong. You did not pay your apprenticeship fee in vain!"

The money was not wasted!

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

The Wang Shi family was not afraid of spending spirit stones; they only feared that Master Master Hongmei Jushi lacked skill.

"Study hard under Master Master Hongmei for ten years. When you return to the family, we will help you refine this ink-jade oil bead inside the family. Refining it to fourteen layers of seals should be no problem."

Receiving his first artifact, Yulou was somewhat astonished.

"Fourteen layers? Didn't Master say it could be refined to contain at most thirteen layers of seals?"

You must know, a Mid-Quality Technique artifact with fourteen layers of seals is only three layers below the upper limit of seventeen layers for Mid-Quality Technique artifacts; it can be called a supreme piece among Mid-Quality Technique artifacts!

Wang Rongyuan proudly stroked his beard and said.

"What does he know? Our Wang Shi family has many secret transmission methods. Fourteen layers are absolutely no problem; if things go smoothly, even fifteen layers might not be impossible!

Where is your turtle shell? Come, let me see that too."

"It's a Golden-Horned Mud Turtle shell, not a turtle shell..." Yuan mumbled, and also handed the turtle shell he had obtained to Uncle Rongyuan.

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

It's much the same, Yuan. Your treasure for protecting the Dao is indeed extraordinary.

Touching Yuan's turtle shell, Wang Rongyuan sighed.

"The strength of a Golden-Horned Mud Turtle ranges from the Qi-Induction stage to the Qi-Refining stage. At the Foundation Establishment stage, it transforms into a Golden-Horned Jade Turtle. Both the golden horn and the jade shell of the Golden-Horned Jade Turtle are materials for refining spiritual artifacts.

Unfortunately, yours seems to be just a shell from a high-level Qi-Induction stage mud turtle. However, if the clan leader acts, he should be able to refine seventeen layers of seals into it for you.

Ultimately, this turtle is only at the Qi-Induction stage. If it could reach the early stage of Qi-Refining, it would be an excellent embryo for a High-Quality Item!"

Yulou felt somewhat restless and asked.

"Is our Wang family's artifact-refining level this high?"

Master Master Hongmei is already the ceiling of the Dao of Refining at the Qi-Refining stage, and the business of the Huafeng Residence is famously good in several nearby markets.

He said the ink-jade oil bead could be refined to at most thirteen layers of seals, while Wang Rongyuan said it could be refined to fourteen or fifteen layers at most.

He said Yuan's turtle shell could be refined to at most fifteen layers, while Wang Rongyuan indicated it could be pushed directly to seventeen layers.

Uncle, if our family's Dao of Refining heritage is so extraordinary, why did we spend money to find Master Master Hongmei?

"Not so. Master Master Hongmei is said to be supreme in both metal and stone, but he does not understand the Earth-Storage Method. The ink-jade oil bead uses the earth-element spiritual material ink-jade as its base, so Master Master Hongmei calculated that he could not refine beyond thirteen layers of seals.

But if I act personally and refine it using our family's inherited Earth-Storage Method, there should be a chance for fifteen layers!"

Yulou nodded thoughtfully. Just then, the head waiter of the Zhiwei Pavilion brought up the evening meal for the group, so he stood up and poured a cup of wine for Uncle Rongyuan.

Although the Wang Shi is not a famous clan, it has inherited for many years and still possesses a foundation.

Uncle Rongyuan, using his earth spiritual root to employ the Earth-Storage Method, could crush Master Master Hongmei and send his ink-jade oil bead directly to the level of fifteen layers of seals.

Currying favor is necessary; we must curry favor!

Handing the turtle shell back to Yuan, Wang Rongyuan added.

"This turtle shell material possesses both metal and bone dual natures. Master Master Hongmei gave it to you because he knows the clan leader can refine it; this is doing our family a favor!"

Yulou and Yuan exchanged glances. Was there so much twisting and turning behind simply taking a master?

"Uncle Rongyuan, regarding our taking Master Master Hongmei as our master, how many spirit stones did our Wang family actually spend?"

Yulou could not hold back in the end and asked aloud.

Seeing the curious eyes of the two children, Wang Rongyuan pondered for a moment, took the wine pot and wine cups from the table, and poured wine for the two young men.

"What is this?" Yulou did not understand.

"Uncle, Wang Shi disciples are not allowed to drink spirit wine before successfully reaching the Qi-Refining stage. Drinking wine easily leads to trouble—it is stipulated by the clan rules!"

Perhaps triggered by Wang Rongyuan's loving ten consecutive scoldings, this dog thing Yuan is now quite skilled at memorizing the clan rules.

"I am watching you, one cup each; it's fine."

For some reason, this time Wang Rongyuan did not single out Yuan.

He raised his wine cup and said.

"Regarding the matter of taking Master Master Hongmei as a master, our Wang Shi family did not spend a single spirit stone."

What?

Seeing the surprise on the faces of the two young men, Wang Rongyuan bitterly smiled and added.

"We waived the twenty years of rent for the man surnamed Zhong!"

This was a multiplication problem at an elementary school level; Yulou calculated it in about one second.

Four thousand eight hundred spirit stones!

Four thousand eight...

How many lives of Qi-Refining cultivators could that buy!

Facing such a huge sum, Yuan was somewhat dazed; he only instinctively felt it was too expensive, but Yulou already felt the mountain-like burden on his shoulders.

We must drain Master Master Hongmei dry!

Learn all of his Dao of Refining methods!

"Come, let's not mention those things — the three of us uncles and nephews, let's drink a cup, let's drink a cup.

From now on, for the next few years, you'll be staying at Qing Xi Fang. Your uncle here is tied up with clan affairs, and it's hard for me to come see you."

Uncle Rongyuan looked at the two young men of the Wang clan with some heartache, and sighed.

In a person's life, there are many turning points; going away to study is one of them.

Being sent by the clan to study hundreds of li away at the age of thirteen — no matter how you look at it, this matter is somewhat lacking in human warmth.

Yulou had no father or mother, alone since childhood.

Wang Yuan had left his parents behind, his temperament still not yet mature.

Even Wang Rongyuan did not know whether they could successfully complete their studies and return home.

Red Eyebrow's Daoist methods were profound, and Qing Xi Fang had a Foundation Establishment cultivator stationed there — it should be safe; he had originally been at ease.

But Wang Yuan and Yulou were both children he had watched grow up — how could Wang Rongyuan have no feeling of pity?

"Uncle Rongyuan, are you about to leave?"

Wang Yuan asked blankly.

"Hahaha, once I've delivered you, don't I have to leave?

Moreover, the Xian Alliance has issued a decree to every Foundation Establishment immortal clan — our Wang Shi must send a Qi Refining cultivator to the Western Sea every year to hunt demon beasts.

For the next ten years, I'll be at the Western Sea, several thousand li from here. You won't have to worry about me slapping you across the face anymore."

For some reason, even though not having to suffer his uncle's slaps was clearly a good thing, Wang Yuan just couldn't feel happy. The boy's nose stung, and he almost burst into tears.

Hunting demons at the Western Sea sounded like a fine way to earn merit, but many of the Wang Shi's forebears never returned.

"The Red Lantern's Hall of Merit is coming to Qing Xi Fang soon. Uncle Rongyuan, won't you wait before leaving?"

Yulou didn't know what to say; Wang Rongyuan seemed to be leaving in too much of a hurry.

"In a few days the clan head will bring Rongwen here. With them in the clan, it's about the same as me being there.

Come, let's drink a cup. Wang Yuan, stop pulling that long face — you make it look like you're sending me off to a funeral. Not auspicious."

Wang Rongyuan glared at Wang Yuan, and Wang Yuan hurriedly raised his wine cup.

Three cups clinked together, and each drained his in one gulp.

That year, Yulou was thirteen, and he became a disciple of the Red Eyebrow Hermit of Qing Xi Fang.

Wang Yuan was also thirteen, still just a little simpleton with a peculiar obsession over the clan precepts.

Uncle Rongyuan had just turned seventy, his Daoist methods had borne fruit, and on behalf of Wang Shi he had accepted the Immortal Alliance Technique decree, heading off to the Western Sea several thousand li away to hunt demons.

Clearly it was only a small gathering between uncle and nephews, but from then on, the ends of the earth lay a thousand li apart.

Perhaps, this too was part of cultivating immortality.