Chapter 73 Reforms and Encouraging Procreation

Chapter 73: Reforms and Encouraging Procreation

Cultivators' minds were far sharper than those of ordinary mortals. In less than two hours, the three of them had completed the proposals and compiled everything into a single bound book.

Wang Guang'an was very satisfied after reading it. He smiled and said, "I am very reassured to leave the family in your hands. From now on, I will not interfere in anything. Unless there is an urgent matter of great importance, there is no need to disturb me. You Foundation Establishment elders can discuss and decide among yourselves."

As he spoke, he took several items from his storage bag: a few heavy books, some jade slips, and a gleaming white flying sword. He handed them solemnly to Wang Yanzhao.

"Yanzhao, this is the family genealogy, the family's secrets, important cultivation techniques, and the Flowing Cloud Sword that only the Patriarch can use. From this moment on, you are the Patriarch!"

After saying this, he laughed heartily and strode out of the council hall.

Everyone quickly stood up and bowed. "We respectfully see off the Supreme Elder!"

Wang Yanzhao straightened his robes and took his seat in the Patriarch's chair.

Everyone bowed again. "We pay our respects to the Patriarch!"

Wang Yanzhao had been groomed as the family successor for decades, so handling these matters came naturally to him. "I have already drafted a list of candidates," he said, producing a scroll. "Let us discuss it."

Currently, there were more positions than qualified people. Many departments could not yet be assigned an elder for management. Since everyone present had a position to fill, naturally, no one raised any objections.

This was just the beginning. After a few years of actual operation, things would get on track properly. At that time, they could slowly adjust anything unsuitable.

An hour later, Wang Yanzhao had finalized the arrangements. He dismissed the Qi Refining stage elders first before turning to the remaining Foundation Establishment members.

"At the beginning of the family reforms, I'm afraid there will be quite a bit of chaos," Wang Yanzhao admitted. "Sixth Uncle, you must still help me."

Wang Longyou nodded. "That goes without saying. We must deal with the demon beasts soon anyway. This old man cannot possibly go into seclusion at such a critical time."

He then looked at Wang Hao. "Hao'er, do you really intend to implement your plan for external development?"

"It must be implemented," Wang Hao said seriously. "In Green Bull Market, we are restricted on all sides and suppressed by the Qingyuan Sect. There is simply no way for us to develop here."

"Going out is our only path forward. I plan to take ten Qi Refining late-stage clansmen overseas to establish a branch for the family! At the same time, hunting demon beasts in the sea can also increase our income."

Wang Longyou frowned. "For you, a single Foundation Establishment cultivator, to go overseas while also taking care of Qi Refining clansmen is too difficult. Let Yanfeng accompany you."

After thinking for a moment, he added, "I think the Li Family is also a potential partner. They also fear being targeted by the Qingyuan Sect. Why not invite them to join us? With our two families combined, our strength would increase significantly."

Wang Hao considered the logistics. "But my flying boat can only accommodate twenty people. That would mean each family could only send ten."

"Ten people is already quite a lot," Wang Longyou countered. "Although the outer seas are rich—it's said that some deserted islands are covered with spirit herbs—the dangers are also greater. Our Wang Family cannot afford to lose too many people."

"Have the Li Family send two Foundation Establishment cultivators as well. That way, with four of you together, your strength won't be weaker than an ordinary demon-hunting team."

Wang Yanzhao nodded in agreement. "Sixth Uncle is right. Our Wang Family has less than a hundred cultivators. Sending ten elites is already taking a significant risk."

"Since our Wang and Li families are already bound together because of the Essence Condensing Fruit tree matter, adding this joint venture shouldn't be inappropriate."

Wang Hao thought about it and realized they were right. At minimum, he needed Qi Refining late-stage clansmen to follow him overseas. How many did the Wang Family have in total? Taking ten might mean taking most of their late-stage members at once. If they were unfortunately wiped out, the Wang Family might face a catastrophic generational gap.

The group discussed the specifics of dealing with the upcoming beast tide a while longer. Once decided, they began assigning tasks and making preparations separately.

Time flowed by like water; in the blink of an eye, half a year had passed.

The beast tide from the Severed Origin Mountains arrived slightly later than estimated. The news came from the Qingyuan Sect: deep within the mountains, the Golden Lion Demon King had gathered an army of nearly four hundred thousand demon beasts and was heading straight for Qingyuan Mountain.

Of course, just because the main demon army chose to attack Qingyuan Mountain did not mean the Green Bull Market area was safe. The demon beasts would split their forces; the pressure on the five great families would not be small.

Another piece of news made the five great families deeply feel the Qingyuan Sect's malice. Citing "excessive pressure" as a reason, the Qingyuan Sect refused to send cultivators to support Green Bull Market. They only symbolically provided some low-grade spirit pills and talismans.

"It seems the Qingyuan Sect intends to use this opportunity to weaken us," Wang Guang'an said, emerging from his seclusion chamber with a heavy sigh.

Every demon beast upheaval was destined to be a calamity. This time, with no support... he didn't know what percentage of cultivators his family would lose.

Judging by geography, Wang Family Ridge was relatively safe. Only Green Bull Market itself and Ruojun Mountain were on the front lines, along with the Li Family territory.

Green Bull Market was the largest target and had the longest defensive line. The Cheng, Lei, and Zhao families would go to support the Market, joining forces with the independent cultivators stationed there.

The Wang and Li families were left to defend themselves.

However, the distance between these locations wasn't too great. For Foundation Establishment cultivators, reinforcements could arrive within one or two days.

If Ruojun Mountain came under attack, the other families wouldn't just stand by. Without the Wang Family holding the front line, the demon beasts would advance unimpeded, threatening their own clan lands.

Wang Guang'an decided to lead seventy percent of the clansmen to garrison Ruojun Mountain, leaving only thirty percent at Wang Family Ridge.

Among the Foundation Establishment cultivators, he left behind Wang Yanfeng, who had recently established his foundation.

Before departing, he summoned Wang Yanfeng and instructed him solemnly.

"For the family, Wang Family Ridge is the most important place. You are responsible for defending it. No matter what happens, you must not leave. Do you understand?"

Wang Yanfeng hesitated for a moment but couldn't help asking, "Not even if Ruojun Mountain or Green Bull Market requests reinforcements?"

"No," Wang Guang'an shook his head gravely. "If we cannot hold Ruojun Mountain, your coming would just be throwing your life away."

"On the contrary, staying behind and relying on the defensive formations to hold firm can at least preserve a thread of the Wang Family's bloodline."

A flicker of cold light passed through Wang Guang'an's eyes as he lowered his voice. "And... you must guard against 'luring the tiger away from its mountain.'"

Wang Yanfeng wasn't naive; he naturally understood the underlying meaning. He nodded solemnly. "Old Ancestor, I understand. I will remain at Wang Family Ridge."

Wang Family Ridge had a second-grade high-tier Blazing Fire Formation as its mountain-protecting array. With Wang Yanfeng and the Qi Refining clansmen operating it, it could withstand attacks from two late-stage Foundation Establishment experts. Dealing with brainless demon beasts would pose even less of a problem.

After everyone arrived at Ruojun Mountain, Wang Guang'an began arranging defenses.

He, along with Wang Longyou and Wang Yanzhao, would defend Ruojun Mountain itself. Wang Hao was tasked with leading several Qi Refining clansmen to garrison the mortal towns.

Mortals were extremely important for a clan. The chance of mortals producing cultivators was very low—less than one in a thousand—but if the mortal population was large enough, the number of cultivators produced could still be considerable.

The Wang Family had over three hundred thousand mortals under their protection. Ninety percent lived near Wang Family Ridge. Ruojun Mountain was developed later; currently, less than thirty thousand had been relocated there, all concentrated in a small town called Ling Lake.

Ling Lake was located five hundred li south of Ruojun Mountain—not too far away. Even for Qi Refining clansmen, it took only two or three hours to travel there; for Foundation Establishment cultivators, it took less than fifteen minutes.

Beside Ling Lake ran a first-grade spirit vein. Mortals living long-term in places with spiritual energy had a slightly higher chance of producing offspring with spiritual roots.

If pregnant women consumed spiritual items like spirit rice, the chance would be even greater—but currently, the Wang Family wasn't extravagant enough to afford that.

Wang Hao led Wang Wenmei, Wang Wenyan, and others along their way to the town.

Most of their path crossed plains; any mountains they passed were more like small mounds. When passing places with spiritual energy concentrations, they were especially cautious.

The demon beasts in these areas had been cleared out once before, but being close to the Severed Origin Mountains meant new beasts would occasionally migrate and occupy them. Moreover, some first-grade demon beasts were deliberately left behind by the family.

Firstly, when the beast population in those places grew numerous enough to become troublesome, the family could send disciples to hunt them—serving both as training missions and as opportunities to collect materials.

Secondly, demon beasts had territorial instincts. These low-grade beasts could serve as barriers for the Wang Family, causing trouble or serving as an early warning system against incoming attacks.

Thus, for those low-grade spirit veins that didn't produce valuable resources, the family typically wouldn't manage them, allowing low-grade demon beasts to occupy them freely.