Chapter 48 Returning to the Family

Chapter 48: Returning to the Family

All cultivators at the fifth layer of Qi Refining? Wang Hao thought to himself. The Wang family was likely planning something major. In recent years, the Wang family's spiritual veins had become insufficient, hindering their development. He needed to return to Wang Family Ridge to see the specific situation.

Upon returning to Wang Family Ridge, Wang Hao went to find Wang Yanzhao first. However, Wang Yanzhao was still in seclusion refining pills. Wang Hao dared not disturb him. If it were ordinary pills, Wang Yanzhao wouldn't be so solemn. Pills requiring seclusion were at least Tier 2; external interference was unacceptable!

Thus, Wang Hao waited for over ten days before Wang Yanzhao finally emerged from seclusion. Seeing Wang Hao, he quickly invited him in. "How many days have you been here?"

"Just about ten days," Wang Hao replied.

Wang Yanzhao observed Wang Hao and, seeing his strength had progressed further, showed a hint of excitement on his face.

"Excellent! You've reached the eighth layer of Qi Refining already? When did you break through?"

Wang Hao nodded. "I began secluded cultivation after returning from Qingyuan Market. The breakthrough happened not long ago!" He then asked, "Old Wang, what kind of pill were you refining that took so long?"

"It's fine to tell you," Wang Yanzhao said with a trace of gravity. "It was Blood Burning Pills."

Wang Hao was shocked. "Blood Burning Pills? What are you refining those for? As an alchemist, don't you know the dangers? Taking just one requires at least two years of recovery!"

"Why are you shouting?" Wang Yanzhao sighed. "There's no other choice. Our Wang family must expand our territory now. But fighting beasts for land is no easy task. Refining a batch of Blood Burning Pills is just a precaution."

The Wang family built its foundation on alchemy; their combat abilities weren't strong. Of course not—they spent their time studying alchemy, leaving little time to practice spells and such, naturally making them somewhat weaker.

"Don't worry," Wang Yanzhao continued. "The Patriarch refined a batch of Vitality Restoration Pills. Three remain, perfect for use alongside the Blood Burning Pills."

Wang Hao frowned but said no more. Matters decided by the Wang family's several Foundation Establishment elders were beyond his influence. If not for wanting the subsequent chapters of the Red Lotus Illusory Wood True Scripture, he wouldn't bother with these troublesome affairs.

"Where is the target this time? The demonic beasts in the Duan Yuan Mountain Range are all connected; attacking any spot won't be easy, right?"

Not only would it be difficult to attack, but defense afterward would also be a major problem. They would immediately be positioned at the forefront of the five great families, constantly facing harassment from demonic beasts.

Wang Yanzhao pondered for a moment. "This time, the target is Mount Ruojun. It's a protruding part of Duan Yuan Mountain. After capturing it, establishing a defensive line would be easier. Mount Ruojun originally belonged to the Xiao family. Unfortunately, during the beast tide over two hundred years ago, the Xiao family couldn't hold on, and it was reoccupied by demonic beasts."

"Mount Ruojun?" Wang Hao opened a map to examine the terrain. It indeed seemed like a good choice. Capturing it would allow their territory to connect with the Wang family's existing lands while forming a defensive pincer with the Li family against demonic beasts.

However, Mount Ruojun also appeared as a blank white area on his mental map, not yet unlocked, causing Wang Hao to frown again. "Have you investigated the demonic beasts on Mount Ruojun? They probably aren't easy to deal with."

"Yes," Wang Yanzhao nodded. "It's a troop of Long-Armed Apes. Compared to other demonic beasts, they exist as a colony with some organizational capability. Their numbers are roughly over two thousand, with more than three hundred being graded beasts. There are also three Tier 2 Long-Armed Apes! The leader is a Tier 2 High-Grade Long-Armed Ape!"

Wang Hao calculated in his mind. The Wang family had three Foundation Establishment elders and hundreds of Qi Refining clansmen—their strength was roughly comparable. With the aid of formations and some strategy, they had a good chance of success.

Seeing Wang Hao so concerned with the family's affairs pleased Wang Yanzhao. He laughed heartily a few times and said, "You needn't worry. We have made complete preparations this time. The Patriarch is a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator; dealing with the Long-Armed Ape leader won't be difficult. I and your grand-uncle will handle the other two Tier 2 demon apes. You just need to hold off those Tier 1 apes.

"The Long-Armed Ape territory is isolated outside the Duan Yuan Mountain Range; any commotion won't reach other demonic beasts. Moreover, relying on their colony advantage, the Long-Armed Apes often bully surrounding demonic beasts, resulting in sparse populations of other demonic beasts around their territory. Even if attacked, they likely won't attract powerful reinforcements.

"Furthermore, the Patriarch has also requested help from the Li family this time. They will send at least one Foundation Establishment cultivator and ten Qi Refining cultivators. Calculating this way, our chances of victory are already quite high!

"The Wang family has developed for several hundred years to reach today's prosperity. If we don't seize opportunities to expand and advance but remain confined to Wang Family Ridge, we will never achieve further development!"

Hearing this, Wang Hao's expression changed slightly, his eyes carrying a trace of sorrowful understanding. Cultivation... in the end, it's still a struggle for resources—resources sometimes fought for with one's life.

If Mount Ruojun is successfully captured, the Wang family will have room for development for the next hundred years. If they fail or barely succeed at great cost, the Wang family will inevitably fall to last among the five great families of Qingniu Market and likely need centuries of recuperation to recover.

...

One month later, all Qi Refining fifth-layer clansmen from various Wang family locations were recalled to Wang Family Ridge. The day of battle was approaching, so Patriarch Wang Guang'an announced their departure.

The group traveled without rest for nearly a full month before arriving near Mount Ruojun!

At the foot of Mount Ruojun, Wang Guang'an set up concealment formations to avoid detection by demonic beasts and waited for the Li family cultivators to arrive.

Within a few days, Li Family Foundation Establishment elder Li Yaozu arrived with ten clansmen, including Li Derong among them.

Seeing the travel-worn Li family cultivators, Wang Longyou said with a bitter smile, "Troubling you all to travel thousands of miles to help with our family's affairs... I truly feel ashamed."

"Don't say that," Li Yaozu shook his head. "Our two families have always been closely linked and share common interests. Now that your family intends to expand, it's only natural for my family to assist. In the future, with your family's forces moving forward, it will also help share some pressure from my family!"

"Naturally," Wang Longyou agreed with a smile. The two conversed warmly as if they were truly one family.

But the price paid by the Wang family was substantial: all Tier 2 demonic beasts slain this time would be given entirely to the Li family—the Wangs wouldn't keep a single one—and they would also give over a hundred Tier 1 beasts to the Lis. That meant three Tier 2 and hundreds of Tier 1 demonic beasts worth at least fifteen thousand Spirit Stones!

Additionally, there were various pills promised. Moreover, if the Li family similarly expanded their territory in the future, the Wang family must lend assistance!

Furthermore, if Li family cultivators suffered casualties, the Wang family must provide compensation—one thousand Spirit Stones per Qi Refining cultivator lost! It was virtually extortion!

But no matter what, the Li family's willingness to help could minimize the Wang family's losses, making it worth the cost!

Elsewhere, Wang Hao, along with several other younger-generation Wang clansmen, was receiving the Li family's Qi Refining cultivators.

He didn't particularly want this duty, but his current eighth-layer Qi Refining cultivation made him the top figure among the 'Wen' generation. He couldn't hide it and was press-ganged by Old Wang early on.