Chapter 1470: Family Changes

Four years passed in the blink of an eye.

In the council hall, Wang Mengfen was holding a family meeting.

Over a dozen Core Formation cultivators sat on either side, their faces beaming with smiles.

Thanks to Wang Qingqi's ability to refine Core Formation spiritual items, the number of Core Formation cultivators in the Wang family was steadily increasing.

“Patriarch,” someone reported, “our clan currently has four Nascent Soul cultivators, thirty-two Core Formation cultivators, one thousand three hundred and twenty Foundation Establishment cultivators, and over four point five five million mortals.”

Every power typically conceals some high-level cultivators as a hidden force. Ye Haitang, naturally, was among those concealed. The reported thirty-two Core Formation cultivators were also not the true number; the Wang family possessed far more than that.

The total number of Wang family cultivators across the entire Eastwood Realm was nearly twenty thousand. Among them, the clan members in the Northern Frontier had seen particularly rapid growth, numbering over three thousand.

Decades ago, Wang Qingshan traveled to the Northern Frontier cultivation world. He made friends through martial arts, frequently having Wang Mengbin spar with other Core Formation cultivators. Leveraging Wang Qingshan's astonishing strength and the reputation of the ‘Azure Lotus Immortals,’ he fostered good relations with multiple powers, laying a strong foundation for the Wang family's development in the Northern Frontier.

Clan members in the Eastern Barrens numbered over five thousand, which was not a large quantity; the Azure Lotus Villa primarily served as a family symbol. The Southern Sea was the Wang family's main area of activity, with cultivators numbering as high as ten thousand. The Wang family's influence extended across multiple sea regions of the Southern Sea. Adopting a strategy of ‘befriending distant states while attacking nearby ones,’ and after over a century of recuperation, the Wang family had amassed a number of powerful in-laws and allies.

With Fairy Bailing's advancement to the Nascent Soul stage, some busybodies began listing the Wang family among the ‘Ten Great Cultivation Clans,’ effectively replacing the Shen family. Of course, the Wang family did not officially acknowledge this.

The Wang family still had a long way to go before truly becoming a cultivation clan.

The Shen family had been in decline for years, but even a dying camel was larger than a horse. In terms of both cultivator numbers and territory, the Shen family was several times larger than the Wang family. When it came to underlying heritage and foundation, the Wang family couldn't compare, at least ostensibly; outsiders did not perceive the Wang family's foundation to surpass that of the Shen family.

Wang Youwei stood up, stating somewhat excitedly, “Patriarch, over the past five years, we’ve made a profit of nineteen point eight five million spirit stones, with expenditures of fourteen point seven eight million. Our clan members' stipends account for the majority of our expenses, followed by raw materials, and then social courtesies and networking.”

As the family's influence grew and its trade caravans expanded, financial statistics were now compiled every five years.

Centuries ago, the Demon, Barbarian, and Sea races united to attack humanity, resulting in heavy casualties for the human race. The Azure Lotus Immortals rose to fame in that conflict. Decades ago, Venerable Taihao personally went to the Buried Immortal Sea Region and eliminated Zhou Sihong, which significantly boosted the Wang family's reputation. Ostensibly, few powers were willing to engage in direct conflict with the Wang family, as it was evident to discerning eyes that the Wang family's rise was unstoppable.

Leveraging Venerable Taihao's influence, the Wang family's trade caravans moved unhindered. They acquired demon beast materials from the Southern Sea, transported them to the Great Yan Dynasty in the Central Plains for sale. Through the Azure Lotus Chamber of Commerce established in the Great Yan Dynasty, some cultivation resources from the Southern Sea were transferred to the Northern Frontier for sale, while mineral resources from the Northern Frontier were shipped back to the Southern Sea. A portion of the profits was diverted to the Eastern Barrens to cover the expenses of the clan members there.

The clan members in the Eastern Barrens were self-sufficient but couldn't generate much profit. This was unavoidable, as cultivation resources in the Eastern Barrens were scarce and largely monopolized by the six great immortal sects. The Wang family members there produced little profit; the Southern Sea was the family's primary source of income, followed by the Northern Frontier, with the Central Plains serving more as a transit hub.

Wang Youwei had cultivated to the seventh level of Core Formation, and Ouyang Mingyue had reached the eighth level. As the family's strength continuously grew, their respective statuses within the Wang family also rose, and their external influence expanded.

Wang Yingjie stood up and said, “Patriarch, our clan currently possesses nine third-tier flood dragons. The Dragon-Rearing Valley has also cultivated over a dozen high-grade second-tier spirit pythons. Within fifty years, our clan should have its tenth third-tier flood dragon.”

Wang Yingjie's advancement to the Core Formation stage with a five-element spiritual root aptitude was met with disbelief by many clan members. Wang Mengfen even personally investigated Wang Yingjie, fearing he might have cultivated some demonic path technique to achieve Core Formation with such an aptitude. Core Formation cultivators with five-element spiritual roots were exceedingly rare. Fortunately, Wang Mengfen found no signs of Wang Yingjie cultivating demonic techniques. Given that the Five-Spirit Rogue Cultivator had achieved Nascent Soul with a five-element spiritual root, Wang Yingjie's advancement to Core Formation was acceptable. Wang Mengfen assigned him the responsibility of raising flood dragons.

The Wang family currently had nine third-tier flood dragons, not including Wang Qingling's Ice Wind Flood Dragon. The Ice Wind Flood Dragon was Wang Qingling's personal spirit beast, whereas the third-tier flood dragons cultivated by the Wang family were family property, used for display purposes, and not to be arbitrarily commanded by individuals.

The Wang family would only use third-tier flood dragons for transportation during grand celebrations, serving as a prestige display. Most of the time, these flood dragons were kept in the Dragon-Rearing Valley under Wang Yingjie's care.

“Patriarch,” another voice said, “we’ve opened five shops in the Golden Gull Sea Region. Fellow Daoist Sun of the Flowing Cloud Sect intends to join our Wang family in exchange for protection. Our Ancestor saved him twice. What do you think?”

As the Wang family's strength increased, many smaller powers sought to come under its wing, and some Core Formation rogue cultivators also wished to join for the Wang family's protection, understanding that it was ‘good to rest in the shade of a big tree.’

Naturally, the Wang family did not accept just anyone. They would typically investigate their background, origins, character, and other factors. Only after comprehensive consideration and the agreement of most clan elders would they be accepted into the family's ranks.

Wang Mengfen frowned and asked, “Sun Feiyang of the Flowing Cloud Sect? Our Ancestor mentioned him to me. Is the Flowing Cloud Sect's background clean?” There were small sects or Core Formation cultivators who, having offended major powers, would often seek refuge with another major power for safety; the Wang family naturally wouldn't be a scapegoat.

“We’ve investigated thoroughly; there are no issues,” came the reply. “The Flowing Cloud Sect has not offended any Nascent Soul cultivators. They are a third-rate sect in the Golden Gull Sea Region with only two Core Formation cultivators. Our family's influence in the Golden Gull Sea Region isn't significant yet, so taking in the Flowing Cloud Sect would benefit our development.”

Wang Mengfen deliberated for a moment and then said, “Send someone to inform him that we can offer assistance within our capabilities, but joining our Wang family is out of the question. The Golden Gull Sea Region is remote, and we don't need to antagonize the powers there just for one Flowing Cloud Sect. Let the Flowing Cloud Sect act as our eyes and ears! In simple terms, they'll have the substance but not the name.”

“Yes, Patriarch.”

Wang Mengfen suddenly remembered something and instructed, “Oh, and Great-Grand Aunt's Nascent Soul Grand Ceremony is approaching. Many guests will be arriving, so you must ensure they are properly entertained. We cannot offend any visiting guests, nor can we allow them to underestimate us. Furthermore, increase patrol personnel and activate certain restrictions of the clan-protecting formation.”

The Wang family had sent out invitations far and wide, extending them to the Eastern Barrens, Northern Frontier, Central Plains, and Southern Sea. Wang Qingling's Nascent Soul Grand Ceremony was set to be even grander than Wang Qingshan's, as the family's current strength was incomparable to the past, and its influence had significantly increased.

“Yes, Patriarch.”

Wang Mengfen gave a few more instructions before dismissing them.