31: Chapter 31 Resource Allocation Meeting

Twenty days had passed in the outside world. With only ten days left until the Nova Assessment, the Wang family convened another family meeting.

Upon receiving the summons from the Clan Leader, Wang Pingan immediately walked out of the secret chamber and boarded Wang Tie's flying car to rush to the main hall of the ancestral shrine.

This time, it was not an individual summons for the newcomers, but the Wang family's pre-assessment resource allocation meeting.

Inside the Wang family's main hall, more than half of the forty-three third-rank elders were present. Clan Leader Wang Tianhe sat at the head, and Third Ancestor Wang Xuanyue was personally presiding.

Ordinarily, such a formation would only appear before the family's large-scale Divine Kingdom wars.

The Nova Assessment involved not just the students' rankings, but also the Wang family's share of resources on Tianhai Star and in the Xuanyuan Star Region.

If a family's genius performed well, the Federal Education Bureau would allocate more cultivation resources, and the family's reputation would rise accordingly.

The Wang family and the Lin family had been competing for so many years; neither side was willing to fall behind at such a critical juncture.

When Wang Pingan walked into the main hall, Wang Jincheng and Wang Qingyan had already arrived.

Wang Jincheng was wearing the standard ceremonial robes of the main lineage, and his expression was much calmer than it had been a few days ago, though his gaze still couldn't help but linger for a moment when he looked at Wang Pingan.

Wang Qingyan stood on the other side with a calm expression; upon seeing Wang Pingan enter, she gave a slight nod.

After returning the gesture, Wang Pingan walked to his position and stood still.

Clan Leader Wang Tianhe swept his gaze over the three of them and stated in a deep voice: "Today's meeting will only focus on actual progress; we will not discuss backgrounds or past merits."

The main hall fell silent immediately.

Third Ancestor Wang Xuanyue sat on a higher platform, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest, his gaze fixed on the three newcomers.

He did not say a word, yet his presence prevented all the elders from daring to interrupt casually.

Clan Leader Wang Tianhe swept his gaze across the hall: "The Nova Assessment begins in ten days. The family intends to allocate additional resources in this final stage, but these resources must be invested in the most deserving individuals."

As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of many elders changed.

Family resources did not just fall from the sky, especially high-rank cards and Source Power Points; every expenditure had to be justified.

Wang Jincheng had the support of the main lineage, Wang Qingyan had a stable path, while Wang Pingan was the person currently in the spotlight.

But the brighter the spotlight, the greater the controversy.

Clan Leader Wang Tianhe looked at Wang Jincheng: "Jincheng, you go first."

Wang Jincheng stepped forward and raised his hand to connect to his Divine Kingdom projection.

A miniature continent wreathed in lightning appeared in the center of the main hall, and the lightning pool in the central area was constantly spitting out electric arcs.

Over eight hundred Lightning Dharma Citizens were arrayed outside the lightning pool, wearing leather armor and holding lightning-patterned short staves; their formation was much neater than during the weekly assessment.

Following Wang Jincheng's command, the Lightning Dharma Citizens simultaneously channeled the aura of the lightning pool, and bolts of basic Lightning Strike spells bombarded a target range in the distance.

Lightning flashed in a continuous sheet, the stone pillars in the target range were shattered one after another, and electric arcs remained on the ground, lingering for a long time.

Several elders nodded slightly.

An elder who favored the main lineage nodded slightly: "The lightning pool combined with lightning-patterned spirit stones does indeed have strong early-stage lethality. Jincheng has certainly not wasted his training these past few days."

Another elder echoed: "The formation is much more stable than last time; at least it won't be easily approached by a Heavy Immortal-Martial Legion."

Wang Jincheng didn't show much joy upon hearing this.

He knew who the Heavy Immortal-Martial Legion in that sentence referred to.

Clan Leader Wang Tianhe gave his affirmation: "The progress is significant. The explosive power of the lightning spells is strong enough, but the defensive line is still weak; you still need to supplement with defensive troop types later."

Wang Jincheng bowed and replied: "Jincheng understands."

Third Ancestor Wang Xuanyue glanced at the projection a few times and commented: "To know shame is to be brave; it's not too bad."

Upon hearing these eight words, Wang Jincheng visibly relaxed a little.

Wang Pingan could see that Wang Jincheng had indeed been pushing himself hard during this period.

The traces of training on the Lightning Dharma Citizens were heavy, and the release of the Lightning Strike spells was smoother than before; it was clear that he had suffered the bitter consequences of the defeat in the weekly assessment.

Clan Leader Wang Tianhe then looked at Wang Qingyan: "Qingyan, it's your turn."

Wang Qingyan stepped forward and opened her Divine Kingdom projection.

A large expanse of spirit fields unfolded; beside the Green Wood Spirit Spring, Hemostatic Grass, Injury-Coagulating Vines, and Green Leaf Ginseng were growing extremely well.

Her Divine Kingdom did not have the intense killing aura of Wang Jincheng's, but it possessed a very stable sense of order.

Spirit Plant Citizens were tending to the medicine fields in zones—some harvesting, some drying, and some recording the maturity times of the spirit herbs.

Outside several simple medicine sheds, bundles of low-rank spirit herbs were already stacked.

Wang Qingyan reported her progress: "Currently, the first batch of healing spirit herbs has been stably produced, the second batch of medicine fields has completed expansion, and they can subsequently provide raw materials for basic healing powders and soothing medicinal liquids."

The eyes of several elders in charge of logistics and industry lit up.

An elder expressed approval: "A-rank Wood Spirit Affinity is indeed suitable for the spirit plant path. This output is already very rare at the newcomer stage."

Another elder smiled: "Qingyan's path is stable. If she can connect with alchemy in the future, the family will have another military supply line."

Clan Leader Wang Tianhe looked at Wang Qingyan, his tone much gentler.

"The family is already aware of your logistics contract with Wang Pingan. You did well. Being able to take the initiative to bind with a Combat Path user is a smart choice."

Wang Qingyan's expression was serious: "I lack sales channels, and he lacks stable supply. It is a mutually beneficial arrangement."

Third Ancestor Wang Xuanyue also nodded.

"Logistics can support combat, and combat can in turn drive logistics. Your path is not flashy, but it is very important."

When Wang Qingyan stepped back, several elders showed satisfied expressions.

The displays of the first two were quite good, and the atmosphere in the main hall gradually relaxed.

Until Clan Leader Wang Tianhe turned his gaze to Wang Pingan.

All eyes converged on him.

Wang Pingan's recent movements had been too significant: first in the weekly assessment, defeating Gu Jianbai across schools, and capturing the D-Rank Legion Killing Aura Concentration Method.

But these were all external reports; the family's upper echelons had not yet truly inspected the progress of his Divine Kingdom.

Clan Leader Wang Tianhe spoke: "Pingan, it's your turn."

Just as Wang Pingan was about to step forward, an elder on his left suddenly spoke up.

"Clan Leader, I have something to clarify first."

Clan Leader Wang Tianhe glanced at him: "Speak."

That elder was named Wang Mingshou, one of the main lineage elders, who usually kept close ties with Wang Jincheng's paternal line.

After stepping out, his tone was steady, but he aimed his spear directly at Wang Pingan.

"Wang Pingan's talent is indeed high, and his early performance has been eye-catching, but the Immortal-Martial Dual Cultivation pure Combat Path consumes a massive amount of resources. This point cannot be ignored."

Many people in the main hall quieted down.

Wang Mingshou looked around: "The family has already given him one hundred million Source Power Points in the early stages, two B-Rank spirit items, and tacitly allowed him to cash out low-rank resource cards."

"But as far as I know, he has successively purchased space expansions, spiritual energy and blood-qi resources, equipment, and manufacturing machinery. His funds are likely already bottoming out."

This was said very directly.

Several elders nodded secretly.

It wasn't that they didn't recognize Wang Pingan, but they were afraid that after he burned through the resources, he would lack stamina.

Immortal-Martial Dual Cultivation sounded very strong, but at the newcomer stage, it was often the path most likely to drag down a Divine Kingdom.

Wang Mingshou looked at Wang Pingan and added: "If he is only strong on the outside but weak on the inside now, it may not be appropriate for the family to allocate additional resources."

Another elder echoed: "The Nova Assessment is not a school weekly assessment, nor is it an inter-school exchange battle."

"Geniuses from the seventeen life planets of the Xuanyuan Star Region will all come. If he only relies on five hundred Heavy Immortal-Martial Legion projections, I am afraid it will not be enough."

As soon as these words were spoken, Wang Jincheng subconsciously looked at Wang Pingan.

He knew these elders had selfish motives, but he also knew that what they said was not entirely unreasonable.

Wang Pingan's speed of burning money was too frightening.

One hundred million Source Power Points could last an ordinary student until they reached the demigod stage, but he had burned through most of it in less than a month.

If his combat power didn't skyrocket accordingly, then it was a huge pit.

Wang Qingyan's expression turned slightly cold.

She had a cooperative relationship with Wang Pingan, so of course, she didn't want these elders to pressure him here.

But on such an occasion, she could not casually interject.

Clan Leader Wang Tianhe did not stop them immediately, but instead looked at Wang Pingan.

"Pingan, state your own position."

Wang Pingan's expression was calm as he took a step forward.

Wang Pingan raised his watch and directly connected to the Divine Kingdom projection permissions.

"Please, Clan Leader, Third Ancestor, and esteemed elders, inspect."

As his voice fell, the light screen in the center of the main hall suddenly unfolded.

A projection of his 250-square-kilometer Divine Kingdom appeared before everyone's eyes.

In the Eastern Spirit Mist Plains, large areas of spirit fields and meditation grounds were neatly distributed, and the Cultivation Citizens were training in batches.

In the Northwest Red Soil Plains, the Mysterious Blood Pool was rolling with red mist, and the Martial Dao Citizens were repeatedly undergoing Body Forging beside the quenching pools.

In the Southern Coast, water vapor surged, and the first batch of fishing and hunting citizens had already begun activities along the shore.

On the Northern Great Plains, two thousand fully armed Heavy Immortal-Martial Legion soldiers were lining up.

Black Iron Shields connected into a thick shield wall, the fiery glow of crimson flame sabers lit up in sheets, and refined steel heavy armor covered their entire bodies; the ground shook as the military formation advanced.

All sounds in the main hall ceased abruptly.

Wang Mingshou's expression froze on his face.

The elder who had just raised the question also swallowed his words back into his throat.

In the projection, the two thousand Heavy Immortal-Martial Legion soldiers began practicing the Xianwu Meat Grinder Array.

The front-row blade-and-shield citizens channeled blood-qi into the shields, the middle-row Cultivation Citizens channeled spiritual energy into lines, and the mobile units on both flanks unfolded to outflank.

The shield wall pushed forward, crimson flame saber light erupted from the gaps in the shields, and the training puppet formation was shattered in pieces.

Subsequently, the large formation split into dozens of small formations, interweaving, besieging, slaughtering, and filling gaps with one another.

Wang Pingan then projected the preliminary effects of the D-Rank Legion Killing Aura Concentration Method.

Gray-black killing aura coiled above the military formation; although it was still very faint, it already gave the entire legion a sense of battlefield oppression.

An elder in charge of military affairs stood up abruptly.

"This is not a five-hundred-man elite force; this is a two-thousand-man organized Heavy Immortal-Martial Legion!"

Another elder could not hide his shock: "Early-stage Qi Refining, early-stage Bone Refining, and there are so many of them? And the equipment has all been replaced with standard spirit weapons?"

Wang Mingshou opened his mouth, but could not make a sound.

He had just said that Wang Pingan might be strong on the outside but weak on the inside.

But the two-thousand-man Heavy Immortal-Martial Legion before his eyes directly crushed his skepticism in the main hall.

Wang Pingan offered no further explanation, only letting the projection continue to run.

After the two-thousand-man legion finished practicing their attack, they quickly switched to defense.

Black Iron Shields were layered one upon another, a spiritual energy light screen covered the shield surface, and when the training sword qi bombarded it, it only left shallow marks.

In the next moment, the legion counter-pushed, the shield wall pressed in, and the crimson flame saber light erupted.

Wang Jincheng stood in the corner, his expression becoming somewhat stiff.

He watched that formation, his mind constantly simulating how his lightning legion could break it.

The first round of lightning strikes could not break the shields.

The second round of lightning storms might be able to shake a portion open.

But as long as they were pushed into mid-to-close range by this legion, his Lightning Dharma Citizens would be shredded in pieces.

Wang Qingyan also watched, her heart and mind shaken.

She knew her spirit herbs had entered Wang Pingan's logistics system, but she hadn't expected them to turn into this scale of legion in just a few short days.

Clan Leader Wang Tianhe did not speak, but his eyes grew brighter and brighter.

Third Ancestor Wang Xuanyue sat at the head, his body leaning forward slightly, his gaze locked onto the Xianwu Meat Grinder Array.

In the main hall, everyone who had doubts just a moment ago was now speechless.

Wang Pingan withdrew his hand, and the projection froze on the image of the two thousand Heavy Immortal-Martial Legion soldiers kneeling in unison.

"Esteemed elders, this is my progress."