Chapter 672: Red Lotus Island

Honglian Island is named for its resemblance to a red lotus. The island features a top-grade Tier 2 Earth Fire spiritual vein, making it suitable for cultivating fire-attribute spiritual medicines and refining pills. It was originally occupied by an immortal cultivation family named Li, who had held the island for over fifty years. Unfortunately, the Li family was recently annihilated by hostile forces.

With both a top-grade Tier 2 spiritual vein and an Earth Fire spiritual vein, Honglian Island is coveted by many immortal cultivation families. However, its location is not ideal, as it lies at the intersection of four different powers.

Initially, Honglian Island was occupied by the Qiankui Sect. However, after their resident cultivators were repeatedly wiped out, the Qiankui Sect decided to rent the island to immortal cultivation families. This allowed these families to serve as a buffer against hostile forces, in exchange for an annual rent.

The Li family was the longest-standing immortal cultivation family to occupy Honglian Island. Over the past three hundred years, the island has changed hands more than a dozen times.

On this day, three green flying boats arrived from the distant horizon, landing on Honglian Island. It was Ye Lin and his group.

There were thirty-two people in total, including seven Foundation Establishment cultivators: Wang Changyue, Wang Qingshan, Wang Qingqi, Wang Qingling, Wang Qingjun, Wang Qiuxin, and Wang Qiuhong. Wang Tianqi had not left the South Sea; instead, she was responsible for intelligence gathering, leading the Intelligence Hall from the shadows. Although Ye Lin did not possess the strength of a Core Formation cultivator, his Golden Moon Spirit Eyes meant he could not be regarded as a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Wang Qiuxin was originally supposed to be transferred back to the Eastern Barrens. However, after the attack on Sea Cucumber Island, the Wang family lost most of its skilled craftsmen. Since arriving in the South Sea, Wang Qiuxin rarely ventured out, as hunting demonic beasts often required the repair of spirit tools and magical artifacts. Because he was proficient in artifact refining and puppet beast crafting, Wang Changsheng kept him here.

The Red Moon Sea and the Coral Sea are separated by several other sea regions. As long as Wang Qiuxin remained cautious, there would be no problems.

"The fire spiritual energy here is so abundant! I heard there are also Earth Fire chambers, where we can use Earth Fire for pill refining and artifact crafting," Wang Qingqi said excitedly. Earth Fire was far superior to the innate True Fire of Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Wang Qingqi, Wang Qingjun, and Wang Qiuxin all cultivated fire-attribute techniques. Cultivating on Honglian Island could significantly accelerate their cultivation speed.

"First, let's set up the formations, then plant the spiritual medicines, and repair the damaged buildings. From now on, Honglian Island will be our home," Wang Qiuhong said with a smile, directing his clansmen to get busy.

In the northwest corner of Honglian Island, there were more than a dozen crabapple trees. Ye Lin's family of four settled here.

Ye Lin set up two sets of Tier 3 formations: one warning formation and one defensive formation. He also deployed three sets of small teleportation formations.

The buildings on the island were constructed from a heat-resistant stone. Although valuables had been plundered, the structures themselves were not severely damaged.

That evening, Wang Qiuhong and the others settled in.

Wang Qiuhong called a meeting of all the cultivators to discuss the family's future development strategy.

"Seventh Uncle, please focus on secluded cultivation and concentrate on breaking through to the Core Formation stage. Fourth Uncle, Tenth Aunt, and Twelfth Uncle will lead teams to hunt demonic beasts, which is our largest source of income. You can bring more puppet beasts. Grand-aunt will be responsible for guarding the formations, and Qiuxin will teach the clansmen artifact refining. We have too few clansmen; we need to have more children and take more wives and concubines. As the family head, I will lead by example."

Unlike the situation with Sea Cucumber Island, the Eastern Barrens would no longer transfer people to the South Sea. Therefore, Wang Qiuhong could only encourage his clansmen to have more children and take more wives and concubines.

Wang Qiuhong already had a wife in the Eastern Barrens, and other clansmen also had families. As the family head, he needed to set an example. In any case, he already had one wife and two concubines in the Eastern Barrens, so taking a few more concubines would not be an issue.

"I'm entrusting the family's affairs to you all. I need to go into seclusion to attempt breaking through to the Core Formation stage. However, for Qingqi and the other two going to hunt demonic beasts, isn't the number too small? Let's take Qiuxin along!""But if we do that, Honglian Island's defenses will be relatively weak."Wang Qiuhong was unaware that Ye Lin had set up Tier 3 formations, nor did he know that Ye Lin was capable of deploying them.

"Take Qiuxin with them! Qingqi lacks combat experience, and relying solely on Qingling and Qingjun isn't enough. With elder brother around, it will be fine."To reassure Wang Qiuhong, Wang Changyue brought up Wang Changsheng, unaware that Wang Changsheng was not on the island.

With Tier 3 formations, even without a Core Formation cultivator to control them, they could not be breached by Foundation Establishment cultivators.

"Yes! Fourth Brother doesn't have much combat experience; just Qingjun and Qingling aren't enough." Wang Qingshan agreed. Wang Qingqi was stuck at a bottleneck, and arduous cultivation alone wouldn't suffice. He needed to venture out and hunt demonic beasts, which was the most effective way to break through bottlenecks.

"Then take Qiuxin. Fourth Uncle doesn't have much combat experience, so you must protect him well. Start by hunting Tier 1 demonic beasts, and once Fourth Uncle's combat experience improves, then go hunt Tier 2 demonic beasts," Wang Qiuhong suggested.

"Don't worry, family head! I will protect Fourth Brother," Wang Qingling promised, patting her chest.

"The family has rented a shop primarily for acquiring demonic beast materials. Although it's just one shop, it must be managed well. Business must be based on integrity. Reputation is built over many years. Qiuli, you will be the shopkeeper. Since we are a new shop, our acquisition prices can be slightly higher. If there are good items, we can give more spirit stones. We absolutely must not harbor thoughts of killing and plundering just because a customer has good items. Reputation is accumulated over time, and a shop without reputation cannot survive."

Wang Qiuli was Wang Changhao's granddaughter, at the ninth level of Qi Refinement.

"We currently have seven Foundation Establishment Pills. Qiuli, Tianzhen, and Tianbei, since you are all at the ninth level of Qi Refinement, I will give each of you one Foundation Establishment Pill to assist your breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment stage. Others must also cultivate diligently; once you reach the ninth level of Qi Refinement, you can apply to me for a Foundation Establishment Pill."The Wang family had too few Foundation Establishment cultivators, and Wang Qiuhong intended to cultivate more. Of course, he would not produce Foundation Establishment cultivators solely by relying on pills, as Wang Qingkai did. He aimed for at least ten more Foundation Establishment cultivators and simultaneously to increase the overall number of immortal cultivators.

"Yes, family head."

Wang Qiuhong announced a series of policies, defining the family's future development direction and sources of income.

After the meeting, the cultivators dispersed.

Back in his residence, Wang Qingshan let out a soft breath. He possessed two Core Formation spiritual items, and Wang Changsheng had given him two additional Core Formation spiritual items and two prototype defensive magic treasures, encouraging him to attempt breaking through to the Core Formation stage.

Ye Lin had set up two sets of Tier 3 defensive formations in his residence, significantly increasing Wang Qingshan's confidence in reaching the Core Formation stage.

Wang Qingshan closed his eyes, and a layer of green light mist emerged around his body.

Eastern Barrens, Qinglian Mountain Villa.Wang Qingkai was speaking to Wang Qingjing.

"Family Head, my father wants you to select five Foundation Establishment clansmen for focused cultivation. Stop extensively cultivating Foundation Establishment cultivators; prioritize quality over quantity."

Wang Qingkai nodded, "I understand. What about Fourth Brother and the others? Aren't they returning with you?""Fourth Brother and the others will return later. I need to go into seclusion for a while, so I'm entrusting the family's affairs to you."

"Alright, just cultivate with peace of mind." Wang Qingkai readily agreed. Wang Qiufeng's actions had been too aggressive, almost implicating him, but fortunately, Wang Changsheng did not pursue the matter.