"Among the many auxiliary arts, formation arrays are one of the best choices. Your Uncle Rongyuan is highly proficient in them and can be considered the next generation's formation master for our Wang Clan.
A formation array for channeling spiritual energy is very simple. Even a cultivator in the Qi Induction stage can set one up; it is just a bit tedious."
Leading the two children, Wang Xianmao arrived at the spiritual well.
He placed his hand on the well's opening and activated his last remaining Evergreen spiritual seed, transforming it into a special white elm wood.
It was far superior to mundane white elm wood, carrying a trace of spiritual energy, but it was still a far cry from a true ninth-grade spiritual material.
Under his precise control of spiritual power, the white elm wood disintegrated into long, thin, hollow tubes to be used for channeling the spiritual energy.
This exquisite display of wood-attribute techniques left both Yulou and Yu'an completely spellbound.
"Haha, neither of you possesses a wood spirit root, so there is no need to stare so intently.
Co, let us begin setting up the energy-channeling array. I have already left designated slots for them in every room beforehand, so we will start from the first floor."
Yulou picked up a bundle of the wooden tubes and silently followed behind Wang Xianmao. Yu'an, on the other hand, was full of curiosity.
"Spells and spirit roots do not share a definitive link, do they? Just a couple of days ago, I saw Master Hongi use a water technique."
Wang Xianmao began to explain.
"Even without the corresponding spirit root, a cultivator can still practice different spells, but it cos down to a matter of cost and efficiency.
An ordinary cultivator with a water spirit root can unleash seventy to eighty percent of a Torrent Technique's true power. A cultivator without a water spirit root can achieve forty to fifty percent at most.
The ti it takes for any cultivator to learn enough to hold their own is fixed. Learning spells that align with your spirit root will simply yield far better results.
Yes, insert it right there. This spiritual seed was nurtured by from the start. Once placed inside, it will perfectly integrate with the wooden building and serve as an array node."
Yulou's deft efficiency pleased Wang Xianmao greatly.
This child was perfect in every aspect, but he was simply too intelligent. Precocious wisdom was not necessarily a blessing in the cultivation world.
"Uncle Rongyuan is profoundly skilled in wood techniques, and you are as well.
Among the few spiritual resources of our Wang Clan, only the wood-attribute resource at Dumb Donkey Plain has reached the eighth grade.
But neither Brother Yulou nor I possess a wood spirit root. Does that an we will be unable to learn many of the family's secret inheritances?"
Presented with an opportunity to converse with the Patriarch, Yu'an was not foolish enough to waste it, so he pressed on with his questions.
In reality, he did not know that Yulou was deliberately giving him the chance to shine.
Yulou understood perfectly that even between blood brothers, one should not hog all the lilight. Relationships required careful cultivation and maintenance.
They were both direct descendants of the Wang Clan. Giving Yu'an more opportunities cost Yulou nothing—the competition for Foundation Establishnt resources would not happen for decades at least.
In those dark, ruthless cultivation novels, the protagonists were always depicted as brooding and full of deep-seated hatred. Born as an orphan whose parents had passed away, Yulou by all rights should have been bullied even by the family servants.
Yet, having crossed over into this world just over thirteen years ago, Yulou had never experienced a broken engagent, faced any face-slapping from antagonists, or even embarked on any dangerous adventures.
He had never caught fish in rivers, hunted beasts in mountains, slaved away digging in mining caves, or painfully traveled between two worlds to scrape by.
Did that prevent his harvest from being bountiful?
Not at all!
When he took a master, Hongi had gifted him a mid-grade magical artifact that perfectly suited him.
His clan uncles said nothing aloud, but silently arranged for him to receive half a jin of spirit rice every single day—without ever making a big deal out of it.
And recently, he had t the Patriarch twice.
The first ti, he received a flask of eighth-grade spirit wine and a low-grade magical artifact gold cup, which Wang Rongwen had borrowed from Lao Gui to present to the Patriarch, who then awarded it to Yulou.
The second ti, simply because he gave an insightful answer to a question, he was rewarded with a Hundred-Li Wanderer Escape Talisman, sothing exceedingly rare for a Qi Refining cultivator to obtain. This item was highly valuable, ant to be exchanged for rit points by the Patriarch himself!
Brotherly affection, clan protection, and a master on the verge of reaching Foundation Establishnt—to Yulou, the most critical task at present was to cultivate diligently while maintaining his excellent relationships with the family and his master.
As long as he held onto these powerful thighs tightly, the shelter of the Wang Clan and Hongi could sustain him all the way until his cultivation base bore fruit!
"Whether you can learn them or not is nothing to grieve over. You are still young and do not understand the difficulties of wood techniques.
They are lacking in magical combat, and diocre in auxiliary supporting arts. It seems like a wood cultivator can do a little of everything, but they excel at nothing.
As for the two of you, you both possess dual spirit roots. In the future, once Yulou achieves success in his cultivation, he can join the Red Lantern Illumination Sect and enter the inner sect directly.
As for Yu'an... Hidden Dragon Abbey is too far. You can go to Wondrous Peak Mountain instead. I have a very close friend there."
Wang Xianmao had planned everything down to the smallest detail.
Yulou was exceptionally clever. He could go to the Red Lantern Illumination Sect to strive for Foundation Establishnt resources, and later seek an opportunity to beco a disciple under a Purple Palace master, smoothly becoming a core disciple to act as the Wang Clan's pillar within the sect.
Yu'an was slightly lacking compared to Yulou in various aspects, so he could go test his ttle at Wondrous Peak Mountain. As a subordinate sect to a major faction, the waters there were shallower and there were fewer restrictions.
Once Yu'an entered, if he could utilize the resources of Wondrous Peak Mountain to achieve Foundation Establishnt, he could return to aid the family. If he failed, the Wang Clan would still be able to assist him.
The position of the next Patriarch would most likely be chosen between Wang Rongwen and Wang Rongyuan. The generation after that would belong to Yuming and Yu'an.
Yulou was a Qilin child. A prodigy could not be left to waste his life away idling on Wang Family Mountain.
To love a child was to plan far ahead for their future.
Wang Xianmao's expectations were, in truth, very similar to those of a mortal mother wishing the best for her child.
"I want to go to Hidden Dragon Abbey..."
Yu'an was sowhat dissatisfied with the Patriarch's arrangents. Or rather, as a youth, Yu'an disliked being underestimated.
Yulou can enter one of the Ten Sects, so why can't I?
"Patriarch, the family has raised . Yulou is more than willing to remain at ho and dedicate myself to the clan!"
Yulou's response caused Yu'an to slap his thigh in awe.
No way, Big Brother! My dear Big Brother!
Is this the legendary ability to say one sentence that outweighs ten of mine?
As expected, I still have a lot to learn from you!
Looking at Yulou, Wang Xianmao's eyes softened completely. What a wonderful child.
"Hahaha, those days are still far off. You two should focus on your cultivation first!
Co, let us head upstairs and set up the array on the second floor."
—
To Yulou's surprise, the Patriarch did not impart any grand teachings in the end. He rely led them to complete the formation array installation and then dismissed them to rest.
In reality, he simply did not understand Wang Xianmao.
The Patriarch just genuinely liked the family's youth and wanted to spend so quality ti getting closer to the two brothers. It was as simple as that.
"Brother, do you think the Patriarch likes you a bit more?"
Lying in bed, Yu'an found himself brooding over the matter.
They were both sons of the Wang family, yet the Patriarch was clearly playing favorites.
Why couldn't he enter one of the Ten Sects?
Yulou sat cross-legged on his bed, utilizing the light of the Ever-Bright Lantern to read through the cultivator travelogues the Patriarch had given them.
Hearing Yu'an's question, he lowered the book.
"Do you truly wish to know?"
Yu'an pouted, turning his back to him as he said, "Forget it. It's just my luck for not being as smart as you."
Yulou sighed softly and spoke.
"I have been without parents since childhood. Although I was never treated coldly within the clan, I grew up alone after all. That is why I appear more mature than you and our other cousins of the sa age.
The Patriarch isn't playing favorites. He is rely worried that I might suffer so ill effects because of what happened to my parents, so he extends a bit more care toward . It is nothing more than that."
Yu'an stopped tossing and turning, falling completely silent.
'I really am a bastard!'
'I really am a bastard!'
'I really am a bastard!'
Seeing that the redy had taken full effect, Yulou raised an eyebrow in satisfaction and continued to guide Yu'an.
This younger brother of his was actually very good-natured. It was just that he was only thirteen years old, so it was completely normal for him to be a bit impulsive at tis.
"If you truly want to join Hidden Dragon Abbey, it is not an impossible task. As long as you perform better, achieving a profound cultivation base and proving your competence in magical combat, the Patriarch will surely grant you the opportunity."
"No need, Brother. I will just follow you. If you want to stay with the Wang family, then I will stay with the Wang family too.
The two of us don't need to rely on those major sects. By relying on ourselves, we can still attain immortality!"
Listening to Yu'an's aggrieved yet earnest voice, Yulou found himself montarily at a loss for words.
A bond of brotherhood thicker than water was often far more moving than any so-called romance.
"Go to sleep. We will worry about the future when it cos."
Yu'an remained quiet for a long while before whispering, "Brother, I'm hungry..."
Yulou almost lost his composure and burst out laughing.
"Then go fetch sothing to eat."
"How?"
"Go check the kitchen in the front building. There should be food available; Fortune Source Residence never douses its stoves at night."
"Why didn't you tell sooner?"
"You didn't ask."
"Actually, on the first night we arrived, I was already starving."
"Fine, go ahead. I am going to sleep."
"I don't dare go alone. Let's go together."
"..."
"Brother?"
"Let's go!"
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