Chapter 53: Family Foundations Surge!

Wang Family Old Residence, deep within the tranquil inner hall.

Unlike the bloodshed and clamor of the past few days, now only a strong medicinal fragrance and something deeper—spiritual energy—remains here.

Wang Shan sat cross‑legged on a straw mat, and before him floated a fist‑sized, crystal‑clear stone radiating a gentle moonlight halo.

Upper Grade Spirit Stone!

Wan Hong's old‑dog's hidden treasure has now become the key to Wang Shan's healing and life‑extension.

Threads of ultra‑pure spiritual energy, as if alive, actively seeped into Wang Shan's body, coursing through every damaged meridian and nourishing his nearly shattered innards.

That feeling was indescribable.

It wasn't the forceful rush of swallowing a pill; it felt like being soaked in warm life‑spring water, each cell cheering. Fractured bones healed rapidly with a faint crackle; torn meridians were gently sutured, becoming sturdy again; the dried Dantian Qi Sea was slowly being filled by this vast spiritual energy.

Comfortable.

It's damn comfortable.

Compared with the near‑death agony and despair of a few days ago, this now feels like heaven.

As the last crack was smoothed by spiritual energy, the aura of Refining Body Stage Eight Midphase within Wang Shan solidified completely, as heavy as a rock. Moreover, he could even sense the bottleneck of his cultivation loosening slightly; the Body Refining Eighth Layer Late Stage seemed only a thin sheet of window paper away.

It could burst at any moment!

Just then, the cold System Prompt in his mind sounded again, this time with a hint of warmth.

【Ding! Zhuren's injuries have healed, the life source is nourished, cultivation is stabilized, and lifespan ceiling increased by fifteen years!】

【Current lifespan: 68/115!】

One hundred fifteen years!

Wang Shan's heart jumped suddenly.

He, an old man nearing his seventies, had thought that even if he survived, he'd lose half his life; reaching past seventy would already be a heavenly favor, and now… could live to one hundred fifteen?

This is simply…

He subconsciously touched his cheek; his skin seemed genuinely tighter and smoother, and a few black strands appeared among his graying hair.

"Has this old man… become youthful again?" he muttered, then shook his head. Who cares! Living longer means securing more time for Wang Family, and witnessing the day Wang Family truly rises!

That's enough!

With injuries fully recovered and cultivation stable, Wang Shan stepped out of the quiet chamber, his entire spirit, qi and vitality renewed.

Wang Zhize, who had been waiting outside, was first stunned, then overjoyed: "Father! Your… your injuries are completely healed? And you look…"

Wang Shan waved his hand, cutting him off, his gaze sweeping the busy figures in the courtyard, and said calmly, "Alright. It's time for our Wang Family to truly be reborn!"

Without delay, he immediately gathered Wang Zhize and several other core disciples, and began allocating the massive resources seized from Wan Hong's storage bags.

"These Second Tier Healing Pills should be given first to those who fought to the death for the family and suffered the worst injuries! Tell them the family will never forget any blood‑shed sibling!"

"Lower Grade Spirit Stones, aside from reserving a thousand for daily expenses and relief, the rest will be distributed according to merit and potential! Especially you, Zhize, and those few youngsters who broke through in battle and showed bravery, give them more!"

"These cultivation technique jade slips, make a copy and place them in the Scripture Repository; all core disciples of Refining Body Stage Three and above may view them using Family Contribution Points!"

Orders were issued one by one, and the Wang Family's resource vault, like a floodgate opened, rushed swiftly to the places that needed them most.

The effect was immediate!

Just three days later.

"Boom!"

A powerful aura surged skyward from Wang Zhize's courtyard, drawing everyone's attention.

Wang Zhize, breakthrough!

Refining Body Stage Four!

Feeling the surging power within, Wang Zhize was so excited he almost leapt up! He had been stuck at the Refining Body Stage Three pinnacle for a long time, and didn't expect that with the distributed spirit stones and pills, he could break through the bottleneck in one go!

Soon after, good news kept pouring in.

Second son Wang Zhitao, originally badly wounded in battle, but thanks to high‑grade Healing Pills and spirit stone assistance, not only healed completely but also turned misfortune into fortune, his cultivation breaking through to the Refining Body Stage Three pinnacle!

Other sons, as well as several talented grandchildren such as Wang Minghao and Wang Mingxuan, saw their cultivation rocket upward, generally advancing one to two minor realms!

Across the entire Wang Family, breakthroughs rang out one after another, and the zeal for cultivation surged like never before!

The family's overall strength, compared to before the war, has more than doubled—truly a earth‑shaking transformation!

Wang Shan watched all this, a satisfied smile appearing on his face.

But he knew this was still not enough.

Personal valor is important, but a family's foundation lies in defense!

He turned his gaze toward the Misty Spirit Gathering Array that enveloped the entire Wang Family Old Residence.

The previous Array was only a temporary boost, barely reaching Second Tier power, and wobbled under Wan Hong's assault.

Now, with ample spirit stones—especially nearly a hundred Middle‑Grade Spirit Stones—and many rare array materials found in Wan Hong's storage bags, Wang Shan decided to completely upgrade this great Array!

In the following days, Wang Shan almost forsook sleep and food, personally commanding from the command seat.

Each Middle‑Grade Spirit Stone was carefully set into an Array Eye, replacing the original Lower Grade Spirit Stones; each array banner engraved with intricate runes was planted at key nodes; the unknown metal and beast bone seized from Wan Hong were also fused into the Array, enhancing its resilience and power.

Relying on the Array Dao knowledge granted by the system and his study of the seized array scriptures, Wang Shan even boldly incorporated some Third Tier array concepts and rune structures at several key nodes.

Buzz—!

When the final Middle‑Grade Spirit Stone was set, the entire great Array emitted a low hum, and the milky Light Screen suddenly became dense and heavy, its circulating brilliance more restrained yet exuding an indestructible aura.

Originally a simple defensive and spirit‑gathering Array, it now not only saw its defense surge to a stable Second Tier Upper Grade, but also greatly amplified its ability to gather heaven-and-earth spiritual energy, and even… faintly possessed a hint of counter‑attack capability!

"Second Tier Upper Grade… also incorporated Third Tier characteristic…" Wang Shan said, feeling the Array's feedback, nodding, "It should hold out a bit longer."

Just a bit longer? Perhaps. Facing the colossal force of the Wan Family Main House, this is still insufficient.

But time is the most precious thing Wang Family has right now.

After finishing the Array, Wang Shan poured his energy back into researching the seized cultivation techniques.

He repeatedly studied the jade slip that recorded the Black Fiend Claw.

This technique is dark and tyrannical, and its power is truly astonishing, especially the claw force that tears everything apart and the accompanying Demon Qi corrosion effect.

Wang Shan naturally would not cultivate such a demonic skill, but he can use others' stone to polish jade. He tried to strip away the pure power‑generation technique and force‑application method, discarding the dross and keeping the essence, attempting to fuse it into his own Pishan Palm to boost the palm's penetrative and lethal power.

As for the fragmentary beast‑skin scroll that records a suspected Ten Thousand Beasts Method, it made Wang Shan even more vigilant.

The beast skin is ancient, its inscriptions obscure and hard to decipher, exuding a primitive and eerie aura. Coupled with the matter of Chen Tianfeng's grandson Chen Dao, Wang Shan vaguely feels that this may involve a huge secret of the Wan Family, perhaps even one of the sources of their clan's strength.

"Control, fuse the power of demonic beasts…" Wang Shan stroked the beast skin, "The Wan Family is indeed not simple."

Although the fragment is incomplete, it might become a breakthrough for dealing with the Wan Family in the future.

Besides studying techniques, Wang Shan also began to consciously cultivate professional talent within the clan.

Pill refining, talisman forging, Array, artifact refining… these are the fundamentals a clan relies on for survival and development.

He combined some basic knowledge rewarded by the system with the seized relevant scriptures, selecting a few gifted and reliable‑hearted clan members to teach.

For example, the grandson Wang Mingyuan, who cannot cultivate because his spiritual root is ruined, nevertheless shows astonishing talent in deducing Array variations, often drawing analogies that make Wang Shan click his tongue in amazement.

Wang Shan directly tossed several basic Array illustration books to him.

"Kid, don't waste your brain; master these for me!" Wang Shan pointed at the most basic Gathering Spirit Array diagram.

Wang Mingyuan's eyes lit up, and he nodded vigorously as if he had obtained a treasure.

Finally, there was the seized flying Magic Artifact—the Black Feather Boat.

This thing is a real treasure! Its strategic value is extremely high!

Through the Shangguan Family's connections, Wang Shan invited the best few craftsmen of Luo Bay County, and also brought out a large amount of artifact‑refining materials found in Wan Hong's storage bag, asking them to devote themselves to the repair.

Unfortunately, Luo Bay County is still a small place; these craftsmen's skill is limited, and the Black Feather Boat itself is of a high grade, so the damage is quite severe.

After a dozen or so hectic days, they only managed to mend a few obvious hull breaches, replace some broken components, and barely restore the basic flight capability.

"Report to the Family Head, the boat's Core Array Hub is damaged; only a refining master above the second rank can repair it, and the required materials…" the lead senior craftsman said with a troubled expression.

Wang Shan waved his hand: "No problem, as long as it can fly."

He knows clearly that to fully restore or even upgrade this flying vessel, he must wait until they go to a larger place later.

For now, as long as it can run, it's fine!

As Wang Shan's wounds heal, the clan's youths' cultivation skyrockets, the defensive Array upgrades, and the flying Magic Artifact is partially restored…

The Wang Family's strength and foundation underwent earth‑shaking changes within just over half a month!

All of Luo Bay County fully felt the suffocating pressure brought by this change.

The small families that once dared to test the Wang Family's strength or pretended loyalty now cower like cold cicadas, offering richer tributes and showing more respectful attitudes.

The Shangguan Family's cooperation with the Wang Family has become even tighter, almost serving as the Wang Family's spokesperson in Luo Bay County.

Without exaggeration, today's Luo Bay County is essentially the Wang Family's one‑voice hall!

The Wang Family has truly become the undisputed ruler of this land!

As for Wang Shan himself, the fearsome name "Old Demon Wang" spreads louder outside, yet to the Wang Family members and allied forces he is the Sea‑Stabilizing Needle, an omnipotent deity!

His prestige has reached an unprecedented pinnacle!

However, standing on the lookout tower at the highest point of the newly repaired Wang Family Courtyard, Wang Shan gazed at the subjugated county town below, feeling little joy in his heart.

Luo Bay County is too small.

The shadow of the Wan Family Main House hangs overhead like dark clouds, ready to unleash thunderous rain at any moment.

He can feel that oppressive aura of an approaching storm drawing ever nearer.

Must be faster! Must be stronger!

Wang Zhize walked behind him, followed his gaze, and saw only a peaceful scene.

"Father, the family now…"

Wang Shan did not turn back; he simply raised his hand, pointing toward the distant horizon blocked by mountains, the sky road to the Outside World.

"Zhize, issue the order: the family enters the highest alert state."

"Tell everyone that good days may be very short."

"The real enemy is coming fast."