Chapter 18 The Five Great Families

Chapter 18: The Five Great Families

"Wenmei—Eighth Uncle still has matters to report to the Family Head! You take Fifth Brother to his residence! Wenzhi, you go notify Second Uncle," Wang Yanfeng instructed before turning towards Wang Hao. "Wang Hao—first go see your father."

"Yes! Fifth Brother, please!"

"Mmm... sorry to trouble you, Ninth Sister!"

Along the way, Wang Wenmei introduced the various sights as they passed the training area. "Fifth Brother, this is the martial arts training ground where clan disciples usually practice spells. Sometimes they spar under the guidance of elders every few days!"

Passing through an apricot grove, she pointed out, "These are the Golden Silk Spirit Apricots—the clan possesses nineteen Tier 1 apricot trees and one Tier 2 apricot tree."

Passing through a bamboo grove, she explained, "This bamboo grove was planted by the first-generation patriarch when establishing our clan. The longest-living stalks are over three hundred years old already. It's top-grade Tier 2 spirit bamboo. Moreover, the clan school is located here."

Through her introductions, Wang Hao gained a general understanding of the situation at Wang Family Ridge. Overall, it was a small-scale clan with fewer than a hundred Qi Refining members. Many functions overlapped, and authority was tightly held by the Foundation Establishment cultivators and several senior elders. For larger clans, such a structure would risk chaos, but here, it worked.

Finally, they arrived before an antique-style pavilion.

"Fifth Brother, this is the residence arranged by Second Uncle for you."

"Does Old Wang also live here?" Wang Hao actually wanted to ask whether Li Dexi and her children lived here too.

"Second Uncle is now a Foundation Establishment cultivator, so he has a cave dwelling atop the summit! However, this is close to my own residence. If Fifth Brother feels bored, you may come find me! Also, many guests have arrived recently, so certain areas within the clan grounds are off-limits..."

"I understand. I won’t wander around!" Wang Hao nodded in agreement.

"Then Little Sister is relieved. Fifth Brother, rest first. Little Sister takes her leave!"

"Mmm... trouble Ninth Sister to take care!"

Wang Hao entered the pavilion. The furnishings and environment were rather elegant. Tired from the journey, he sat down to meditate and rest.

About the time it takes an incense stick to burn, someone pushed the door open and entered.

Seeing Wang Hao meditating and circulating energy, the visitor didn’t disturb him. Instead, he busied himself brewing tea on the side.

After completing a full cycle, Wang Hao finally withdrew his energy. Rising, he saw the visitor, and complex emotions welled up in his heart. He hadn’t inherited the original host’s hatred towards this man, but calling him 'Dad' was a truly difficult proposition indeed.

Before crossing over, he initially thought it would be easy—similar to playfully calling someone 'Daddy Ma' online. But in reality, for anyone to actually do so face-to-face was pure idiocy!

Moreover, although Wang Yanzhao wasn't hateful, he was considered a bit of a scumbag. Was Wang Hao willing to compromise his principles for a cultivation method? He questioned himself and found he lacked such thick skin.

Wang Yanzhao filled a cup, leisurely sipping it before speaking. "Seeing your steady aura, it seems you have indeed put effort into cultivating these past years. Have you finally come around?"

Wang Hao coughed twice before speaking. "Old Wang, ah! Just say how willing you are to give the subsequent cultivation method!"

"Pfft!" Wang Yanzhao spat out his tea violently, spraying it everywhere. "What did you call me?"

"Mmm, Old Wang. Is there a problem?" Wang Hao felt somewhat awkward, but currently, it was the only way to proceed.

"Mmm, fine, no problem. Call me that then!" Wang Yanzhao wiped his clothing, not minding what he was called. Previously, the boy never called him father once anyway. The current attitude was already quite satisfactory compared to the past, where a few words would lead to arguments quickly!

"You switched to cultivating the Red Lotus Illusory Wood True Scripture. Presumably, you understood its benefits. Such a method—even your father is unable to simply give you the Foundation Establishment stage version!"

"Meaning the third layer can be given?"

"Mmm, correct." Wang Yanzhao poured another cup, gently blowing on the steam. "But don’t you want the Foundation Establishment stage method? Don’t you want to establish your foundation?"

"What do I need to do?"

"Acknowledge your ancestors and return to the lineage. Become a core clan disciple. Otherwise, even with your father being a Foundation Establishment cultivator, I cannot bypass clan rules!" He smiled, adding a sentence, "The Red Lotus Illusory Wood True Scripture has a total of seven layers within the clan, allowing cultivation until the Golden Core stage!"

Damn, that was tempting indeed!

"The conditions for becoming a core disciple probably aren't low, right?"

Wang Yanzhao calmly stated, "With your current cultivation speed plus your alchemist identity, it is not difficult! As long as you refine pills for the clan for a dozen-plus years, the accumulated contribution will be enough to exchange for the subsequent methods!"

Wang Hao thought briefly. Joining the clan had no real downsides. He nodded in agreement. "Acknowledging ancestors and returning to the lineage is fine, but I won’t stay within the Ridge."

A satisfied smile appeared on Wang Yanzhao's face. "No problem. You may continue living in Qingniu Market. As for your assignment, then... the family pill shop. Eighth Brother has returned, so henceforth, you will oversee things there!"

"Me? A mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator overseeing the pill shop?"

"How far are you from the late stage of Qi Refining?"

"At least a year and a half needed!"

"That’s settled. Qingniu Market has no major issues anyway. Even if they arise, the Foundation Establishment cultivator stationed at the market will handle matters. Your cultivation is sufficient!" Saying this, he tossed a token over. "Shop manager token. Henceforth, the pill shop is under your jurisdiction!"

"You prepared this already? Don’t you need others to agree?"

"Agree to what?"

"To acknowledge ancestors and return to the lineage? Don’t we need a ceremony?"

"What ceremony is needed? You are my son. If we agree, it's nothing more than adding a name to the genealogy. Why would we need their agreement?" He stated this in a matter-of-fact tone.

"Are Foundation Establishment cultivators all this awesome?" Wang Hao realized he seemed to have been tricked by the old man indeed!

Damn old scumbag, truly not a simple character!

"Alright, your father still has to receive guests. I won’t linger longer. The third layer of the method, several pill formulas, plus your father’s alchemy insights... mmm?" Wang Yanzhao sniffed the air lightly, catching a scent. "At least a forty-year-old Snow White Lotus fragrance!"

He received several jade slips handed over by Wang Hao, and accepted the wooden box containing the snow lotus simultaneously.

"Equivalent exchange. Understand!"

An angry laugh escaped Wang Yanzhao's lips. "Just this snow lotus in exchange for my alchemy insights is an 'equivalent exchange'? It seems in past years you improved not only your cultivation but also the thickness of your skin, ah!"

"Heh, likewise, likewise..."

......

After seeing Wang Yanzhao off, Wang Hao checked the Golden-Eyed Duck's situation and found it already deep asleep. Upon its next awakening, it would likely be a Tier 1 Mid-Grade spirit beast. He then continued cultivating, having no interest in wandering outside anyway. He just needed to obtain some seeds from the bamboo grove before leaving; Tier 2 spirit bamboo was worth a high value indeed.

Ten days later, the Foundation Establishment Grand Ceremony officially commenced.

Upon the bluestone plaza, hundreds of wooden tables were arranged, each laden with fine wine and delicacies, gathering over a thousand cultivators in total.

Wang Hao sat in the middle-back positions alongside Wenmei and other mid-stage Qi Refining cultivators. The front rows were occupied by late-stage Qi Refining cultivators, while the foremost seats held the Foundation Establishment cultivators representing the various congratulating families.

The five great families of Qingniu Market—Wang, Li, Zhao, Cheng, and Lei—all sent sizable delegations led by Foundation Establishment cultivators. Their harmony was largely due to the market's unique geographical position. It was bordered by the sea on one side and mountains on two sides, surrounded by demonic beasts and facing periodic attacks, plus century-level beast tides. Moreover, the maritime tides and the mountain-direction beast tides were not synchronized in timing. Even so, each tide required the full defense efforts of all five families.

The surrounding area was rich in resources, allowing for peaceful development that potentially yielded a Golden Core cultivator per family. Yet, each tide inflicted heavy losses, with even Foundation Establishment casualties occurring occasionally.

Under such harsh circumstances, despite occasional frictions, the five families prioritized the overall situation, resolving conflicts and minimizing disputes.

Rather than united solidarity, it was better described as survival necessity binding them together—forced cooperation essential for survival amidst shared threats.