Chapter 423: Closed-Door Cultivation

Guang Dongren put away his formation disk and flew to Wang Changsheng's side, saying, "All right, the spiritual vein has been upgraded to a third-tier low-grade. It's sufficient to support your cultivation, so you can cultivate peacefully at Green Lotus Mountain Villa."

"This is all thanks to Fellow Daoist Guang's help. I'll have someone prepare a banquet; let's have a few drinks."

Wang Changsheng smiled faintly and said sincerely.

"Thank you for your kind offer, but I have urgent matters to attend to and can't stay long. The spiritual vein has just been upgraded to the third tier, and there's much to be done. You must be very busy. Let's drink another time!" Guang Dongren politely declined.

Hearing this, Wang Changsheng didn't press the matter and personally saw Guang Dongren and his companions off.

After the spiritual vein upgrade, the Wang family still had over fifty thousand spirit stones in their accounts. Wang Changxue and Wang Changping had borrowed extensively from fellow disciples to gather one hundred and ten thousand spirit stones, a debt that shouldn't burden them.

Wang Changsheng had Wang Qingkai return forty thousand to Wang Changxue for debt repayment, keeping the remaining ten thousand-plus to maintain the family's operations.

After Green Lotus Mountain was upgraded to a third-tier spiritual vein, Wang Qingkai directed the clan members to begin their work.

The buildings on the mountain needed to be reconstructed. At the foot of the mountain, a gatehouse over ten zhang tall was erected. Crafted from bluestone, the gatehouse's plaque was a low-grade magic artifact inscribed with the four characters "Green Lotus Mountain Villa."

Wang Changyue used thirty-six second-tier clam pearls as the primary material, along with various other second-tier materials, to set up a mid-grade second-tier formation, the Three Talents Cloud Mist Formation.

This formation had a concealment effect, shrouding the entire Green Lotus Mountain Villa and giving it a sense of mystery.

While Green Lotus Mountain's spiritual vein had been upgraded to the third tier, this didn't mean the entire mountain's spiritual energy was at that level. Only certain areas on the mountaintop boasted third-tier spiritual veins; other locations were merely second-tier.

If the entire Green Lotus Mountain had been a third-tier spiritual vein, cultivation sects would have long ago integrated all the spiritual veins into one.

Wang Changsheng occupied the mountaintop, the location of the third-tier spiritual vein. Next were the residences of Foundation Establishment cultivators like Wang Qingjing. The closer a residence was to the mountaintop, the richer the spiritual energy and the higher the individual's status within the Wang family.

Residences, spirit medicine gardens, spirit fish ponds, spirit beast enclosures, and other areas needed to be reorganized. Wang Qingkai quickly drew up a plan based on the Green Lotus Mountain Villa's circumstances.

Most of the area below the mountainside was cultivated into spirit fields, totaling five hundred thirty mu. If the spiritual vein hadn't been upgraded, it would have been impossible to cultivate so many spirit fields, as spirit grains and spirit medicines cannot grow without spiritual energy to nourish them.

These included five hundred thirty mu of spirit fields, one mid-grade second-tier spirit well, and three mid-grade first-tier spirit wells.

The spirit fishing ground covered seventy mu, with one fifty-mu lake and one seventeen-mu lake, used for raising spirit fish and spirit clams, respectively.

Of the five hundred thirty mu of spirit fields, four hundred fifty mu were planted with first-tier spirit grasses, seventy mu with second-tier spirit medicines, and ten mu with spirit fruit trees.

Wang Changsheng's residence was the largest, covering ten mu, featuring a rock garden, courtyards, pavilions, and a small spirit medicine garden.

No other residences exceeded ten mu in size. The higher one's cultivation level and the greater one's contribution to the family, the better one's dwelling.

Of course, the materials used for building the courtyards were ordinary. The family was currently in need of spirit stones and hadn't yet reached the point of extravagance where they could use spirit materials for constructing residences.

Wang Changsheng's residence was the first to be completed. As soon as it was ready, he and Wang Ruyan moved in and immediately entered seclusion.

The amount of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Water he possessed was limited, insufficient for Wang Changsheng to cultivate to the second layer of Core Formation. He planned to cultivate a divine ability instead.

Spirit Extinction Palm was a spirit art with immense power, but its drawbacks were the long cultivation time and high consumption of magic power. After careful consideration, Wang Changsheng chose to cultivate True Water Thunder.

True Water Thunder was a water-attribute lightning technique. Although its power couldn't compare to Spirit Extinction Palm, it required less cultivation time and consumed less magic power in comparison.

After Wang Changsheng and his wife entered seclusion for cultivation, the Wang clan members each attended to their duties. Wang Qingzhi diligently worked the fields, Wang Changyue and Wang Qingyun guarded Green Lotus Market, Wang Qingshan entered seclusion to switch to cultivating the "Azure Nether Sword Scripture," and Wang Changhao and Wang Qingjun formed a team to hunt demonic beasts. They didn't venture far, operating near the Wei Kingdom, sometimes helping the family escort goods.

Wang Qingqi switched cultivation methods, Wang Changhuan was transferred to Red Leaf Ridge to guard spirit herbs, and Wang Qingjing was stationed at Azure Moon Market. The family resumed its normal operations.

Wu Kingdom, Heavenly Spring Mountain.

In a secluded courtyard, Wang Mingjiang sat cross-legged on a wooden bed, his body enveloped in a dazzling blue light.

A moment later, he opened his eyes, and the blue light on his body dissipated.

"Finally, Foundation Establishment Layer Four," he murmured. A hint of joy was on his face.

After consuming the Spirit Augmentation Fluid, his divine sense had significantly expanded. With the aid of the accumulated Heaven and Earth Spiritual Water, he successfully advanced to Foundation Establishment Layer Four.

Having cultivated to Foundation Establishment Layer Four, he would need to find more Heaven and Earth Spiritual Water to continue his cultivation.

Not far in front of him, a sound transmission talisman hovered.

After he crushed the sound transmission talisman, Mo Caiyun's voice abruptly sounded: "Fellow Daoist Wang, if you've emerged from seclusion, please come to my residence. I have a very important matter to discuss with you."

Mo Caiyun was a widow, but decisive in action and deeply valuing loyalty and righteousness. She had been chosen as captain by several Foundation Establishment cultivators.

She was already at Foundation Establishment Layer Five, so anything that made her so cautious surely wasn't a minor matter.

Wang Mingjiang pondered for a moment, then walked out of his room.

To save spirit stones and facilitate their movements, they had pooled resources to rent a courtyard with a three-story pavilion containing over a dozen rooms.

Mo Caiyun's residence was directly opposite Wang Mingjiang's room.

He knocked on Mo Caiyun's door, and she opened it quickly.

Mo Caiyun was dressed in a long black gown, with light makeup and a simple appearance, exuding the charm of a young married woman in her every gesture.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, you've advanced to Foundation Establishment Layer Four. Congratulations."

Mo Caiyun forced a smile and invited Wang Mingjiang inside.

She poured Wang Mingjiang a steaming cup of spiritual tea, but he did not drink it.

They had been hunting demonic beasts together for several years, but as they were not kin from the same sect or lineage, they remained wary of each other.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, here's the situation: Fellow Daoists Li and Chen have left our team. Now it's just Fellow Daoists Zhu, Liu, and you. Do you intend to stay with the team, or will you leave?"

Wang Mingjiang's brows furrowed slightly. This was the downside of demonic beast hunting teams formed by rogue cultivators: people would leave and join intermittently.

He had been with this team for several years. If he left, finding another team would take at least six months to a year just for evaluation.

He thought for a moment and said, "We've cooperated for several years, and I still trust Fellow Daoist Mo quite a bit. I'll stay."

Hearing this, Mo Caiyun breathed a sigh of relief. If Wang Mingjiang also left, the hunting team would exist in name only.

Wang Mingjiang had rich combat experience, and his willingness to stay would make hunting demonic beasts safer.

Mo Caiyun smiled sweetly and said, "Fellow Daoist Wang, I plan to go into the mountains to hunt demonic beasts as soon as possible. If we remain idle for too long, Fellow Daoist Zhu and the others might also leave. What are your thoughts?"

"No problem, but I've just emerged from seclusion. Let's set off in a few days to acquire some talismans and magic artifacts."

"No problem."

Mo Caiyun agreed without hesitation. She seemed to recall something, paused as if to speak, but after a moment's thought, the words she was about to utter were ultimately swallowed back.

Wang Mingjiang didn't ask further. After a brief chat, he bid farewell and left.