"..."
Chen Fan, with a hint of delight, studied the emerald-green jadeite staff. It felt substantial in his hand, knobbly like a bamboo pole, with a dragon-head pommel.
Quite a nice defensive Extraordinary Treasure.
From now on, he wouldn't have to worry much about assassins.
From an Alchemy Sect's jade slip, he had learned that a Level 5 Eerie Creature was called "Eerie King," and a Level 10 cultivator was called "Martial King."
A defense matching a Level 3 city wall means that with this staff in his grip, he could withstand several strikes from an Eerie King.
Or over a dozen strikes from a Martial King.
"Not bad!"
He couldn't help but praise it. This was the only Yellow-grade Extraordinary Treasure in the Alchemy Sect's possession. It seemed that even in Riversouth, Yellow-grade Extraordinary Treasures were not easy to come by.
Also worth noting---there were two Green-grade cultivation methods.
One was specifically for Alchemists, the other for ordinary cultivators. He could train faster in it than what Zhou Mo had imparted to him.
Changing cultivation methods would cost him nothing.
Tomorrow, once back from Rivernorth City, he'd switch to this cultivation method.
He was currently a level 2 cultivator.
He got to hurry up and reach Level 3.
Not for greater combat power.
But at the very least, it could improve his constitution and make him nimbler.
If the time came when the leader of a force had to take to the battlefield, it was a sign that the force was already nearing its end. No matter how well he could fight, how many could he take on?
They had acquired quite a few Cultivation Pills. He'd have Crippled Monkey and the others further their cultivation as well.
That Yellow-grade Alchemy Furnace was virtually reserved for the King of Medicine Valley.
He had no use for it for now.
He would see how much the King of Medicine Valley would be willing to offer. Should the price be too low, he'd have his own people bid and keep it. He didn't have an Alchemist now, but he would eventually.
And, among those six Building Blueprints, several were useful.
But he wouldn't construct them now.
He lacked manpower.
He needed to go and hire some people from Rivernorth City first.
...
That night, the Wang Clan Compound.
The Wang clansmen looked at each other in silence. The disciples under their command had all been dismissed. Only the Wang clansmen remained here in this Compound.
"Tomorrow is the deadline given by the Rivernorth Marketplace for us to move out. What are your thoughts, everyone?"
"Shall we go our separate ways and fend for ourselves from now on, or stick together and see if we can start all over again?"
In the council hall,
A middle-aged man in the seat of honor spoke hoarsely.
His father was Wang Qiuhao, the Wang Patriarch. Before he went to pay a visit to Fan Sect alone yesterday, he mortgaged the Wang Clan Compound to the Rivernorth Marketplace for 3000 Eerie Stones.
If he returned and repaid 3100 Eerie Stones, the Compound would still belong to the Wang Clan.
But otherwise, it would be forfeited to the Rivernorth Marketplace.
The heart of the Compound was encircled by a Level 3 city wall. Although it wasn't spacious inside, it wouldn't be a problem to hole up in there and get through the rainy season. On the wall were 14 Level 4 Archery Towers and 6 level 5 Cannon Towers, along with other buildings. All these had been mortgaged to the Rivernorth Marketplace at a fire-sale price.
"Let's go our separate ways."
After a long silence in the room,
Another middle-aged man, one of his uncles, spoke, "The Patriarch took all the family's assets when he left. Even if we want to, we don't have what it takes to start a small business. We should save up for a few years, then gather again and see if we can start a Chamber of Commerce."
The rest exchanged glances, and all agreed with the proposal.
"Alright."
The middle-aged man in the seat of honor paused before speaking.
"I, Wang Wufan, on behalf of my father, issue the last order. The Wang Clan has been officially dissolved. If you still wish to gather and work together, let's meet three years from today at the west entrance of Rivernorth City."
"Agreed."
...
"Gang Leader."
"The station masters dismissed by the Wang Clan are all old hands. After winter passes, the stations on the wasteland will be restarted. Should we take in these station masters and seize the Wang Clan's piece of the pie?"
...
The Wild Wolf Gang leader, wearing a slight frown, pondered for a long time, then shook his head, "No."
"The situation has changed quite a bit. Fan Sect is out there on the wasteland and might monopolize the station business. Let's see if Fan Sect takes any interest in that. If not, we'll take it."
...
Rivernorth Chen Clan.
In a room.
Chen Quan's mother got up, leaned out of a window to glance around, then took out a Communication Talisman from her bosom. An unusual tinge of respect and fear appeared on her lovely face. Once the line connected, she hurriedly spoke,
"Master."
"The rainy season has ended in Rivernorth, but there have been significant changes. The Rivernorth Chen Clan's discarded son established the Fan Sect at Nameless Mountain. They have considerable strength and have killed an Eerie King and also the Young Master of the Riversouth Alchemy Sect."
"Should we still proceed with the plan to go to Nameless Mountain and search for what that person left behind?"
"Or should we wait until the Alchemy Sect takes revenge on Fan Sect, then infiltrate Nameless Mountain?"
...
After a long silence, a grating male voice came through.
"Fan Sect has already been renamed Fan Realm, and yesterday, they raided and slaughtered the Alchemy Sect. That suggests formidable strength."
"Forget about the treasure under the abyss pit."
"You go up the mountain from the other side. Take the Snow Lotus and the Mountain Embryo. Do not set foot on Fan Realm's territory. If you alert Fan Realm, do not divulge anything about us or our plan. You are Chen Fan's stepmother, right? Just say you wanted to see him, wanted to give him a surprise, or something. Think of a specific reason yourself."
"If necessary,"
"Given your looks, it is unlikely he'd turn you away. After all, Chen Fan is still a virile young man. "
"You must bring back the Snow Lotus."
"If the mission fails, don't bother coming back."
...
After hanging up,
The beautiful woman sat on the edge of the bed, silent for a long time. This mission had grown far more dangerous. She had to leverage her status as his stepmother; perhaps that was the only way she could survive.
That guy...wouldn't kill his stepmother, right? Word of it would tarnish his reputation.
...
In another room of the Rivernorth Chen Clan.
Chen Quan huddled in a corner of the bed, face pale, trembling incessantly. He had learned that Chen Fan had established the Fan Sect at Nameless Mountain and killed an Eerie King and the Alchemy Sect Young Master. That guy even dared to kill the Alchemy Sect Young Master.
He had no illusions that Chen Fan dared kill him.
He had spent days in terror, afraid that the next moment Chen Fan would come to Rivernorth City and drag him out of bed.
"Mother should be able to stop him, right..."
It was already night.
But he still didn't dare to sleep. His only hope now was that the force backing his mother could hold off Fan Sect. He was desperate to flee, but... There was simply no escape.
The stations around Rivernorth City hadn't restarted yet.
Unless he got a Skeletal Horse, there was nowhere to go.