Chapter 2332: Dark Current

Wang Yuanjiang looked around, noting the numerous tasks available. However, many offered very few merit points, either demanding too much time or imposing strict requirements. It was proving difficult to find an easy task with substantial rewards.

A moment later, Wang Yuanjiang's eyes suddenly lit up. He lightly waved his identity token, and a beam of blue light shot out, hitting a particular line of text. Almost at the same instant, two more blue lights flew out, striking the very same line.

"Feed a third-tier turtle-beast for ten years, with food and lodging provided, for six thousand merit points."

This task seemed relatively simple and undemanding. Given that it involved feeding a third-tier turtle-beast, its owner was likely at least a Core Formation cultivator, and possibly even a Nascent Soul cultivator.

For the same job and compensation, tasks posted by higher-cultivation cultivators were always more sought after.

While assisting a Foundation Establishment cultivator might not yield much benefit, helping a Core Formation or Nascent Soul cultivator could lead to additional rewards for good performance, or at least an opportunity to learn valuable skills.

A spirit plant cultivator tending a spirit herb garden for an alchemist might, with luck, learn some alchemy techniques. Even if they only received the standard payment, such experience would enhance their reputation and make it easier to find future work.

Soon, that line of text disappeared.

Wang Yuanjiang and two other clan members proceeded to the second floor, which featured thirty-six circular counters. Behind each counter stood several Qi Condensation cultivators, responsible for processing various applications.

Sometimes, multiple clan members would accept the same task, and it was up to the employer to decide who to hire.

They approached one of the circular counters and briefly explained the situation.

"This task was posted by Uncle-Grandpa Yiyan. He lives on Golden Finger Peak. You can go find him there. As for whom he hires, it will depend on your performance."

The attending disciple explained truthfully, handing them a pale blue token and offering a few words of advice before dismissing them.

After exiting the administrative tower, Wang Yuanjiang summoned his flying magical artifact and, carrying the two clan members, flew towards Golden Finger Peak.

More than an hour later, they stopped above a steep, golden peak. From a distance, the peak resembled a golden finger thrust horizontally into the ground.

The area above the halfway point of the mountain was enveloped in a thick golden mist, obscuring visibility.

Wang Yuanjiang landed his flying magical artifact and sent out a transmission talisman.

An hour passed, but no cultivator emerged.

The three were very patient and continued to wait.

As time slowly passed, the sky darkened. From time to time, clan members flew past nearby, but no one acknowledged their presence.

Three days passed, yet the employer remained absent. He might have been away, in secluded cultivation, or occupied with alchemy or artifact forging.

The two other clan members lost patience and left one after another.

Wang Yuanjiang dutifully remained at the foot of the mountain, waiting quietly.

Another day quickly passed, but the employer still did not appear.

Wang Yuanjiang sighed softly, then activated his flying magical artifact and stepped aboard.

Since this path was fruitless, he decided to try another; he wouldn't stubbornly pursue a dead end.

"Wait, come in!"

A gentle male voice suddenly echoed. As soon as the words faded, the golden mist churned violently, transforming into a golden cloud ladder that settled before Wang Yuanjiang.

Wang Yuanjiang stepped onto the golden cloud ladder. The ladder immediately coiled, drawing him into the golden mist.

His vision blurred, and he suddenly found himself inside a secluded manor, standing before a tall, slender old man in a green robe.

"Your grandson pays his respects to Uncle-Grandpa Yiyan."

Wang Yuanjiang hastily bowed in greeting, his expression respectful.

"You've waited three days already, why not wait until the fifth day?" Wang Yiyan asked curiously.

"This grandson thought Uncle-Grandpa Yiyan was in secluded cultivation and didn't know how long it would be, so I decided not to wait any longer." Wang Yuanjiang honestly replied.

Wang Yiyan nodded and led Wang Yuanjiang to a lake roughly ten mu in size. A completely black turtle-beast emerged from the water, letting out joyful roars.

"You will live here from now on. Just pick spirit fruits from the adjacent orchard and feed them to the turtle-beast." Wang Yiyan instructed.

"Uncle-Grandpa Yiyan, could you possibly provide a written confirmation? This grandson needs it to give to the attending disciple." Wang Yuanjiang cautiously requested. He couldn't afford to be cheated if there was no proof.

Wang Yiyan showed an approving expression, agreed, and personally wrote a confirmation note, handing it to Wang Yuanjiang along with an access token.

"Alright, I'm off to a meeting at the council hall. You can get to work!" Wang Yiyan said. With a final instruction, he transformed into a streak of light, soaring through the air and vanishing into the horizon.

In the council hall, over thirty clan elders sat on either side, whispering amongst themselves.

Cultivators arrived one after another, mostly Nascent Soul cultivators, but also some Core Formation cultivators.

Shortly after Wang Yiyan sat down, Wang Qingcheng emerged, his gaze imposing.

"Greetings, Patriarch." Wang Yiyan and the others quickly stood up, speaking respectfully.

Wang Qingcheng nodded with satisfaction, sat down, and instructed: "Everyone is here. Let's begin the reports!"

"Patriarch, our clan currently has three Void Refinement cultivators, forty-five Spirit Transformation cultivators, and eight hundred fifty-five Nascent Soul cultivators. The entire clan comprises sixty-three thousand four hundred seventy-five cultivators, controlling three thousand five hundred forty-five islands. We have fifteen Spirit Transformation cultivators available for deployment."

"Currently, we have three fifth-tier formation masters, three fifth-tier alchemists, five fifth-tier artifact forgers, two fifth-tier spirit plant cultivators, two fifth-tier talisman masters, and two fifth-tier beast tamers."

"The clan's main source of income is puppet beasts, particularly fifth-tier puppet beasts, which sell extremely well and are in high demand. Our shops in the Snow Goose Market have reached twenty in number, with one-third dedicated to selling puppet beasts and magical artifacts."

"Currently, over one hundred thirty million mortals are affiliated with our Wang clan, distributed across five hundred thirty-two islands. One-tenth of these mortals are born into the Wang family itself."

Mortals serve as the foundation of the cultivation world; the greater their number, the higher the chance of individuals being born with spiritual roots. However, the Wang clan's cultivator population was already growing, so they weren't lacking in that regard.

Wang Qingcheng nodded. His expression turned serious as he looked at Wang Tianli and asked, "What's going on? Why hasn't this large-scale beast tide erupted yet? Are the foreign races causing trouble?"

Based on calculations, the large-scale beast tide should have erupted long ago. Its delay was truly perplexing.

Wang Tianli, who had advanced to the Spirit Transformation stage, was primarily responsible for intelligence gathering.

"I dispatched many scouts to investigate, but found no anomalies. According to records, over ten thousand years ago, a large-scale beast tide only erupted after more than fifteen hundred years. Perhaps something has deterred it this time." Wang Tianli said somewhat uncertainly, adding that if the foreign races were indeed causing trouble, they wouldn't inform him, and his scouts certainly couldn't uncover their movements.

Wang Qingcheng frowned deeply. He pondered for a moment, then instructed: "Increase the patrol personnel. If a beast tide is detected, report it immediately."

"Yes, Patriarch." Wang Tianli agreed.

Wang Qingcheng gave a few more instructions, then declared the meeting adjourned.