79: Chapter 79 Is Wang Yaozu about to establish his foundation?

Wang Shouren spent the past two days first visiting the severely injured Wang Shouyi, and then guarding beside Wang Shoucheng's bedside to comb through his Sea of Consciousness, returning to his own small courtyard to meditate and regulate his Qi for less than half an hour before receiving a voice transmission from Sixth Grandpa.

He had originally thought that the development of the subterranean fire branch vein would be discussed for at least another ten days or half a month, not expecting a result to come so quickly.

Inside the discussion hall, Wang Yaozu, Wang Yaowen, and Wang Yaowu had all already arrived, with Wang Chongyang sitting at the head, his aged fingers gently tapping on the table surface.

As soon as Wang Shouren stepped through the door, Wang Yaozu cut straight to the point.

"Shouren, a few of your elders and I have discussed this. The subterranean fire branch vein must be taken. That cave backs against Mount Xiao; although it has not yet exceeded the sphere of influence of our Family, it is nevertheless considered a border zone. Without a suitable pretext to station ourselves there for long-term development, Xiaoshan County will inevitably have idle gossip."

"The result of our discussion is to establish a garrison outpost on the edge of our sphere of influence under the pretext of strengthening Family defense."

"The discord in the relationship between the Wang Family and the Ning Family is a universally acknowledged fact across the Three Counties. No one can find fault with setting up a few defensive outposts, and your Second Uncle and Third Uncle will set about arranging this matter."

Wang Yaozu changed the subject, saying, "Calling you here today is for another matter."

Wang Shouren spoke up, asking, "Is it because of the Yao Beast inside?"

Wang Yaozu exchanged a glance with Wang Chongyang, and Wang Chongyang slowly nodded.

"You truly did know. Your father and I went to the periphery to investigate. Without even entering the cave, traces left by the activities of a Yao Beast were already discovered on the periphery. The grade of that Yao Beast should not be low. Why did you not mention it that day?"

"There were too many people and mixed tongues that day, and this matter would be known as soon as it was investigated, so this grandson did not state it publicly at the Family meeting," Wang Shouren said frankly.

"More importantly, there is one matter that this grandson has never dared to be certain of."

Wang Chongyang's brows raised slightly: "What matter?"

"Sixth Grandpa, do you still remember the fire marrow crystal?"

Wang Chongyang's gaze condensed slightly, and his body leaning against the back of the chair slowly straightened up.

"This grandson once penetrated deep into the cave that day, and later encountered the Yao Beast, fleeing in a rush. The instant before escaping, this grandson once glanced—" Wang Shouren took a deep breath, and word by word said, "Beneath that Yao Beast's lair, at the bottom of that magma lake, it seemed to be paved all over with this kind of red crystal."

The entire hall fell into a dead silence.

Wang Yaowu sucked in a cold breath, while Wang Yaowen's hand holding the teacup paused mid-air, completely unaware as the tea water sloshed out from the rim of the cup.

Wang Yaozu's pupils dilated slightly, and his Adam's apple rolled up and down a few times before he managed to recover his voice: "Is this word true?"

"It is precisely because this grandson was uncertain that I did not dare to assert it arbitrarily at the Family meeting."

Wang Shouren said, "That day, fleeing for my life was rushed, and I only had time to glance at it. If it was merely an illusion of light and shadow when the magma churned, speaking of it rashly would instead cause the Family to rejoice over nothing."

"Furthermore, if the matter of the Yao Beast had been spoken of that day, the clansmen would inevitably have been apprehensive. With a Tier 2 Yao Beast entrenched in the subterranean fire branch vein, whether that region is still worth risking to develop is something that would likely be argued over for a long time at the Family meeting."

"Now that Father and uncles have already settled on the plan, this grandson feels that the time is ripe."

Wang Yaowen slowly nodded: "What Shouren says makes sense. The matter of the fire marrow crystal truly cannot have a conclusion jumped to based on just a glance. If the subterranean fire branch vein were to be abandoned because a Yao Beast is entrenched there, it would truly be a pity. Although Sixth Grandpa sits in command of the Family, if the resistance from the clansmen is too great, the matter will instead be difficult to push forward."

Wang Chongyang closed his eyes and remained silent for a good while. When he opened them once again, there was not the slightest bit of turbidity left in his eyes: "Since it is like this, slaying that Yao Beast is imperative. Shouren, do you know what kind of Yao Beast it is?"

"Ridge-backed Fire-scaled Python, adult form, Tier 2." Wang Shouren recounted everything about the situation he encountered that day.

Wang Yaowu's expression changed slightly: "An adult Ridge-backed Fire-scaled Python has battle prowess comparable to the Early Stage Foundation Establishment, and that rock armor cannot be shattered by ordinary Magical Artifacts at all."

"This Yao Beast can live for at least three to five hundred years, and it is an extremely tricky fellow among the same tier. Our Wang Family..."

He did not finish his words, but the meaning was already very clear.

Wang Chongyang fell silent.

He lowered his head to look at his own withered and thin hands, the backs of which were covered in brown spots, the skin so thin that the bone joints underneath could almost be seen.

That illusory layer of Death Qi lingered around his body without leaving, constantly reminding him at every moment that he was about to reach the end of his life.

After a long while, he spoke, his voice aged yet exceptionally calm: "It can be killed. It is merely a Tier 2 Yao Beast; it is not as if this old man has never killed one."

"Sixth Grandpa!" Wang Yaozu suddenly raised his head, "Your body—"

"It is fine." Wang Chongyang waved his hand, that motion casual and light, as if brushing away dust clinging to the corner of his clothing.

"As someone who is about to die soon, being able to do one more thing for the Family, this old man can die without regrets."

He raised his eyes to look at Wang Yaozu, his turbid gaze lingering on him for a moment before suddenly changing the subject, "On the contrary, it is you. Over these past few days, this old man has observed that your aura has reached the Peak, and your spirit and vitality have been adjusted to the fullest state. Yaozu, you should almost enter secluded cultivation."

Wang Yaozu's expression turned solemn, and a long-suppressed expectation flashed within his eyes.

"The state has indeed been adjusted to the best. Just waiting for the matters of the subterranean fire branch vein to be properly arranged and the Family to stabilize, I will begin secluded cultivation."

Wang Shouren was slightly startled, looking at his father and then at Sixth Grandpa, feeling somewhat baffled: "Father is going to achieve a Breakthrough? Break through to what?"

Wang Yaowen laughed out loud, slapping his thigh as he said, "Shouren has just emerged from seclusion and doesn't know about this matter yet. Magistrate Hu Shan delivered the foundation establishment pill according to the agreement two years ago, and the Family unanimously decided to let your father consume it. Added to the fact that this is the Family's greatest secret, it is normal that you do not know about this matter."

"Although your father is a bit older, his Qi and blood are no longer like his prime years, but over the past two years, the Family has secretly collected Medicinal Pills to replenish Qi and blood and stabilize the Foundation, never stopping. He has also been polishing his cultivation over these past two years, just waiting for everything to be ready before entering secluded cultivation to charge at Foundation Establishment."

Wang Shouren was overjoyed, turning to Wang Yaozu to solemnly cup his fists: "Congratulations, Father! If Father successfully achieves Foundation Establishment, our Wang Family will be a dual-Foundation Establishment household, and within the territory of these Three Counties, we will truly be the foremost Family."

Wang Yaozu was congratulated so solemnly by his own son, and the smile at the corners of his mouth could not be suppressed no matter what, yet on his face he still had to put on a bit of modesty, waving his hand to say, "There is still no shadow of it yet; how could Foundation Establishment be so easy? Out of a hundred Qi Refining Perfection cultivators charging at Foundation Establishment, those who can succeed amount to no more than a handful."

"Hey? Eldest Brother, those words are being overly modest!"

Wang Yaowen heavily slapped the armrest, and said in a clear voice, "If one still cannot achieve Foundation Establishment with the assistance of a foundation establishment pill, that would truly be a rarity! Your Foundation is the most solid among us brothers; you have polished the ninth layer of Qi Refining for so many years, and now you are about to step into the Qi Refining Peak, your Foundation thick beyond measure. Paired with a foundation establishment pill, it is securely nailed down!"