Chapter 2331

Spring passed, autumn came, and three hundred years quickly went by.

In the southeast corner of Qinglian Island lay a small valley surrounded by mountains on three sides. Lush, exotic flowers and plants grew abundantly on either side of the valley, while the rock faces were covered in numerous green vines. Facing outwards from the valley, a blue waterfall, resembling a silk ribbon, cascaded down, feeding into a pond about an acre in size. Its descent created countless pearl-like splashes.

Near the waterfall, more than twenty spirit peach trees grew, each adorned with hundreds of pale blue spirit peaches. Beneath one of these trees hung a massive green beehive, with numerous green spirit bees flying in and out. Behind the blue waterfall was a simple grotto. Countless blue runes were visible on the rock walls. Inside, the grotto was sparsely furnished, containing only a green stone table and a few green stone stools.

Passing through a long bluestone tunnel, three stone chambers of similar size appeared.

The door to one of the chambers suddenly opened, and a young man in a blue robe, appearing to be fifteen or sixteen years old, emerged. The blue-robed youth was tall, with delicate features, giving him a gentle and scholarly appearance.

"I've finally broken through," the blue-robed youth muttered to himself, his face beaming with joy.

This was Wang Yuanjiang, a descendant of Wang Yingjie, currently at the sixth level of Qi Condensation. Wang Yingjie and Liu Hongxue had a son and a daughter. Through generations of descendants over several centuries, Wang Yingjie's lineage had grown to over a thousand people, of whom Wang Yuanjiang was one. This number refers specifically to clan members with spiritual roots.

When the clan was first established, land was abundant and people were few. Each clan member received ample cultivation resources; even Foundation Establishment cultivators could own ten thousand acres of spirit fields, and Core Formation cultivators could obtain spirit treasures. As time passed, the number of cultivators within the clan grew, and more rules were introduced. Lower-ranking clan members received fewer cultivation resources. However, compared to members of smaller families or minor sects, the Wang clan disciples were still relatively well-off.

Wang Yuanjiang's ancestors for nine generations had all been Qi Condensation cultivators. Given the large number of Wang Yingjie's descendants, it was impossible to care for each and every one. From a young age, Wang Yuanjiang had heard tales of Wang Yingjie's deeds. Believing that Heaven rewards diligence, he had always taken Wang Yingjie as his role model, diligently cultivating. His goal was to become one of the "720 Prodigies."

The clan had introduced a talent cultivation system: the "Eighteen Masters," "108 Heroes," "360 Talents," and "720 Prodigies."

The "Eighteen Masters" were Soul Transformation cultivators selected by the clan for focused cultivation: Wang Yingjie, Wang Mengbin, Wang Zonglang, Wang Yanhong, Wang Lihe, Liu Hongxue, Wang Qiupu, Wang Qingfeng, Dong Xueli, Wang Qiuyu, Wang Jiye, Bai Yuqi, Song Ziyao, Wang Lijiao, Wang Gonghu, Wang Lihai, Wang Qiushui, and Wang Lihe. Wang Qingcheng was the clan head, and Sun Yuejiao managed the clan's financial affairs. They had no need to worry about cultivation resources. Wang Lihe, Wang Lijiao, and Wang Lihe were sword cultivators. Bai Yuqi, Song Ziyao, and Wang Yanhong were formation masters. Liu Hongxue and Wang Qiuyu were alchemists, while Wang Qingfeng and Wang Jiye were artifact refiners.

The "108 Heroes" were one hundred and eight Nascent Soul cultivators chosen by the clan for focused training. The "360 Talents" were three hundred and sixty Core Formation cultivators selected as key prospects for cultivation. The "720 Prodigies" were seven hundred and twenty Foundation Establishment cultivators chosen for focused training. These individuals formed the elite of the Wang clan, supporting its strength. To be selected, one had to pass through multiple rounds of rigorous selection.

To become one of the "720 Prodigies," one could either achieve great merit, such as obtaining crucial cultivation resources or discovering significant enemy intelligence, or one could master a certain skill, like artifact refining, alchemy, formation arrangement, or talisman crafting. Additionally, there was another method: challenging the Blazing Fire Demon Refining Pagoda. The Blazing Fire Demon Refining Pagoda was a Sky-Treading Spirit Treasure capable of conjuring various demonic beasts, up to the sixth rank. A Foundation Establishment clan member who passed the eighteenth floor could become one of the "720 Prodigies." Passing the thirty-sixth floor would qualify them as one of the "360 Talents," and passing the one hundred and eighth floor would make them one of the "Eighteen Masters." Wang Yuanjiang's current goal was to reach Foundation Establishment. Once he achieved that, he would then strive towards becoming one of the "720 Prodigies."

Wang Yuanjiang stepped out of his residence. With a lift of his right hand, a flash of green light shot out, revealing a glowing green lotus. This was a flying magical artifact, one that every Qi Condensation cultivator in the clan possessed. He leaped onto the green lotus, and with a quick hand seal, the lotus glowed brightly and soared outwards. He intended to go to the Service Tower to find a suitable mission. Completing missions earned merit points, which could be exchanged for cultivation resources.

Spirit energy was so dense it formed mist. Cultivators flew through the sky on magical artifacts, while others traveled in luxurious beast-drawn carriages, and some even used flood dragons as mounts. Wang Yuanjiang looked at the colossal flood dragon with envy, secretly resolving that he, too, would live such a life in the future.

Suddenly, a deafening thunderclap echoed, and fierce winds began to blow. Multi-colored spiritual light appeared high in the sky, and a massive thundercloud abruptly formed above a certain valley, accompanied by flashes of lightning and rumbling thunder.

"A Five-Nine Thunder Tribulation! A clan member is attempting to break through to the Soul Transformation stage," a voice exclaimed.

"Three clan members have already failed. I hope he succeeds in entering the Soul Transformation stage."

"Some fail, some succeed; that's normal. Let's get back to work!"

The clan members were accustomed to this. Every so often, a clan member would attempt to break through to a major realm—be it Core Formation, Nascent Soul, or Soul Transformation—with some succeeding and others failing. Wang Yuanjiang, used to such sights, controlled his flying artifact and flew towards the Service Tower.

Over an hour later, Wang Yuanjiang landed in a bluestone plaza spanning a thousand acres. A towering, shimmering silver pagoda stood on the plaza, over a hundred zhang tall. Numerous clan members were entering and exiting, making the place bustling. At the entrance, three large golden characters read "Service Tower." This was where clan members received missions. The higher the floor, the more dangerous the mission.

Wang Yuanjiang strode in. Upon entering the Service Tower, he was met by a spacious and brightly lit hall. Thirty-six thick white jade pillars stood in the hall, covered with numerous inscriptions. Over a thousand Qi Condensation cultivators gathered in the hall, selecting missions.

The inscriptions listed various missions: "Ten Qi Condensation cultivators are needed for patrol duty on Jinbei Island for ten years. There's ample time for cultivation, and the island has an earth-fire vein suitable for alchemy and artifact refining. Merit points: three thousand."

"Three first-tier spirit plant cultivators are needed on Qingzhu Island to tend to a thousand-acre orchard, performing rain spells every three days, for five years. Merit points: four thousand."

"Two first-tier spirit beast tamers are needed on Dafeng Island to care for ten acres of golden-backed snails for five years. Merit points: five thousand."

Missions included patrolling mountains, artifact refining, alchemy, and tending to spirit medicine gardens. Patrolling was the simplest but offered the fewest merit points. Mastering a skill made it easier to earn merit points. Wang Yuanjiang's gaze quickly scanned the inscriptions on the white jade pillars. If a mission caught his eye, he could accept it using his identity token; missions were not forcefully assigned and operated on a first-come, first-served basis. He was not skilled in alchemy, artifact refining, talisman crafting, or formation arrangement. These skills were very expensive to learn initially, and with his ancestors for nine generations all being Qi Condensation cultivators, he simply lacked the financial means to support learning any of these specialized skills.