SPLASH—SPLASH—
From next door came the sound of water being splashed during a bath again, accompanied by a lighthearted ditty devoid of any real tune.
Wu Wang stopped meditating, and the wisps of white, smoke-like Spiritual Energy around him vanished into thin air.
This Spiritual Energy had no attribution to the five elements, nor any distinct properties; it appeared to be simply pure, clear energy.
That old woman is becoming increasingly brazen, Wu Wang thought. She doesn't even activate the Soundproofing array when bathing now and often just throws on a few thin clothes to stroll over!
Especially considering that two years ago, to reward her for her long-standing contributions, he had spent a fortune on a Spirit Pill made from Xun Grass. This pill had made her skin even smoother and her face more delicate and charming, unexpectedly bestowing upon her the youthful aura of a female Cultivator.
Thinking about it now, he felt like he had suffered a major loss.
Pushing open the wooden window, a cool night breeze carrying the fragrance of grass and trees drifted in gently, making Wu Wang feel quite serene and uplifted.
In the distance, he could see a stretch of tents, with snippets of laughter and noisy chatter reaching him.
Nearby, the stream murmured, and several small fish chased each other playfully under the illumination of the room's magical lighting devices.
Wu Wang began to ponder a profound question:
Why hasn't the Big Wave Tribe been blessed with a ferocious beast yet?
Their animal husbandry was up and running, their food storage mechanism was in place, the number of giant crossbows had increased, and the Priests within the tribe had already accepted the newly established doctrines. Their population was more than double that of his Bear Hug Clan, and Xing Tian's father had even set up a false Royal Court, ready to welcome the blessing at any moment.
Yet, the blessing never came.
Is there a time limit between two blessings? Do they have to wait one or two hundred years? he wondered. Or do they have to wait for the Goddess's hair to fall out naturally? If that's the case, then how could I make the Star God feel anxious, troubled, suffer from insomnia, and have excessive dreams, thus causing her to lose a few more hairs...
Wu Wang crossed his arms, mulling it over.
Forget such foolish thoughts. Realistically, which powerful being can't control their own hair follicles' growth and shedding? I'd better focus on my own cultivation plans for the future.
His physical stature was now fully developed. His sword-like brows and star-like eyes needed no extra praise, nor did his tall and slender figure require constant acclaim. The dignified air and refined grace emanating from within him seemed somewhat out of place in the Bear Hug Clan's environment.
Most of this was the result of his foundation-building cultivation.
The ferocious beast's blessing had yet to descend, and he couldn't wait any longer. He had started suppressing his cultivation level three years ago, and now there was no more room for exploration in the Qi-gathering realm.
One year remained of the five-year period he had set for himself.
There was no need to worry about the clan's development; over the years, he had already established a complete set of development plans. He had also spread some of his simple ideas through stories and songs across the grasslands.
The specific stories were titled: "The Star God and Her Twelve Constellation Warriors," "This Star God is Too Steady," and the trilogy, "Guarding the Star God."
The specific songs included: "Twinkle Twinkle Bright and Shining," "Star God Lights the Way," and "Listen to Elders Tell Stories of the Past."
Previously, the Star God was aloof, sacred, and inviolable; clanspeople dared not even mention her name in daily life.
Wu Wang's actions, while ostensibly praising the Star God, were actually intended to make her more 'down-to-earth,' thereby lessening the Northern Wilderness beings' reverence towards her.
Once the Star God was perceived as possessing a complex personality, she would become merely a being with great power, and nothing more.
Of course, these were just minor tasks.
Wu Wang's main focus was on…
Hm? Someone's coming? And there are two groups.
He closed his eyes. With his cottage as the epicenter, invisible tendrils of his Spiritual Sense spread out, enshrouding an area with a ten-mile radius like a spiderweb.
At the Qi-gathering realm, his Spiritual Sense could probe up to ten miles.
Wu Wang had told Lin Suqing that his probing range was just one mile, which had shocked her so much that her small mouth had remained agape for quite a while.
This was because his 'spirit,' due to his cultivation of the Praying Star Technique, was already comparable to that of a Nascent Soul from the Human Domain or a spiritual cultivator at the Jumping God Realm. Thus, his Spiritual Sense probing range was equivalent to that of an ordinary cultivator in the Condensation Establishment Realm.
It was just a small advantage at the start.
His Spiritual Sense detected General Xiong San's presence. Wu Wang opened another window to let in some air, poured two cups of warm tea, tidied up the desk, and waited quietly.
"Young Master?"
"General Xiong, please come in."
"Ah," Old Three Xiong replied, carefully pushing the wooden door open. He squeezed his huge body inside and, upon seeing Wu Wang, bowed with a hand pressed to his chest in salute.
The Soundproofing array and light-avoiding array in the neighboring wooden hut lit up simultaneously.
Wu Wang rose and made an inviting gesture. The loyal, burly man lowered his head as he approached, his face showing fatigue. After taking a seat, he let out a long sigh of relief.
General Xiong San said in a low voice, "Young Master, I've just returned from the border of the Hair Race."
"Has the disturbance been quelled?"
"Yes," General Xiong San sighed. "It was the Hair Race, those who worship the Beast God. They had a conflict with our clansmen at the border. It's resolved now, and they've compensated us with some cattle and sheep. They claim it was a quarrel over differing beliefs, but to put it bluntly, they were just looking for an opportunity to steal our giant crossbows. These incidents have happened frequently over the past few years. If it weren't for the Clan Leader's prohibition, I'd really like to teach them a lesson!"
Wu Wang tapped his fingers on the desktop and smiled. "We should avoid war if we can. What we seek is peace in the Northern Wilderness and mutual development. This cannot be merely a slogan."
"I understand," General Xiong San lowered his voice. "Young Master, are you really trying to persuade the Clan Leader to have another child?"
Wu Wang leaned back on the soft animal skin, casually drew over a bottle of wine and a cup, and poured General Xiong San a drink of fruit wine bought from the Western Wilderness.
He smiled and said, "What's wrong? Isn't it livelier to have one more person in the family?"
General Xiong San asked in a low voice, "Is it because of your own strange illness? Actually, even if you lack sensation, it doesn't mean you're infertile. There was a man in the clan who, when he was knocked unconscious, the blow was a bit too heavy... by the time he woke up, he already had two children."
Wu Wang glared at Xiong San, who hurriedly shut his mouth.
"How is the replacement of grain in the granaries going this year?"
"All smooth, all smooth."
"Hmm, how many giant crossbows have we sold recently?"
"The other six tribes all requested a larger allocation," General Xiong San said with a smile. "According to the rule you set, Young Master, the newest improved version is delayed by two years for external sale. At least thirty percent of each batch goes to the Big Wave Tribe, and the other five tribes are quite unhappy about it. Also, the Rong Dog Tribe is interested in a marriage alliance with us—the Rong Dog Tribe's Princess is said to have... especially smooth and shiny fur."
Wu Wang was speechless.
"Be serious! You must reject them for me!"
"Certainly, certainly."
General Xiong San chuckled a few times, then his face turned worried again. He picked up his wine cup, downed it in one gulp, and then spoke in a low voice, "Young Master, there's something I must report to you. I'm not sure whether it's good or bad."
"What is it?"
"It's about that Star God Cult."
General Xiong San leaned forward, his voice even lower. "At first, none of us paid much attention to it, but now this Star God Cult is no trifling matter! In just two short years, it has swept through almost all the other clans, and recently, it has begun to show signs of emerging within our own clan as well."
"Oh?" Wu Wang raised an eyebrow and said calmly, "General Xiong, do you think this Star God Cult poses any harm?"
"It's hard to say if it's harmful." General Xiong San took out a treated piece of bark from his bosom and held it up to Wu Wang. "Young Master, look. This is what they promote: leading people to goodness, helping others, respecting the elderly, loving the young—all pretty good things. It's just that its current momentum is quite frightening. The Star God Cult has now swept through nearly half the Northern Wilderness. If their so-called 'Divine Envoys' speak up and tell them to change grazing lands and hunting grounds, a clan might lose a large number of its people.
"What's more critical is that the Priests have started to join this Star God Cult, and many clan Priests have become the local Star God Envoys of the Star God Cult. According to my subordinates' investigations, the Star God Envoys of this Star God Cult are divided into six ranks, with the highest being called the Holy Star Envoy. Young Master, in your opinion, will the Priests listen to the clan's chief Priest in the future, or will they listen to the Holy Star Envoy? If this Star God Cult grows any larger, the Northern Wilderness will have to listen to *that* Holy Star Envoy!"
"Don't worry. I have already sent people to investigate this Star God Cult," Wu Wang said with a smile. "There are a total of seven Holy Star Envoys: the six existing Sun Ritualists and one insignificant fellow. Above the Holy Star Envoys is a Divine Word Envoy. She can communicate directly with the Star God, convey the Star God's will, and regulate the Praying Star Technique that circulates in the Northern Wilderness. It won't pose a danger to the clans. However, we still cannot let our guard down. We must keep a close watch on this Star God Cult. If the Star God Cult does anything excessive, report it to me immediately."
"Ah, understood."
General Xiong San felt a bit puzzled. For the past few years, their Young Master had been a recluse, not leaving his home, completely immersed in comprehending the Praying Star Technique. How had he sent people out?
On the way back, General Xiong San mulled this over with his head bowed and only realized halfway through his journey.
The Young Master is also a Grand Star Ritualist; it's normal for him to know about the Star God Cult... Huh? The Young Master became a Grand Star Ritualist four years ago. Has he broken through again since then?
Every time he saw the Young Master, General Xiong San could clearly sense a change in his demeanor, especially those eyes, which grew deeper and more inscrutable.
What a pity, he thought. The Young Master has never attended the marriage meetings, completely depriving my daughters and nieces of any opportunity.
Inside the wooden hut.
"Star God Cult," Wu Wang muttered to himself, a playful smile on his lips.
His ears twitched slightly as his Spiritual Sense caught several figures rapidly approaching his wooden hut. He reached out and tapped a button in the corner of his desk.
A slight mechanical sound came from within the walls, and a wooden panel on the adjacent hut slid upwards, revealing four large characters: "Cultivation—Do Not Disturb."
Lin Suqing, who had changed into a halter-neck dress and was about to go visiting, stopped abruptly. She pressed her eyelids, made a face, and sulkily returned to her couch to meditate.
Inside Wu Wang's hut, several figures leaped in through the window and knelt on one knee beside the desk. They were two men and two women, all clad in tight leather armor.
"Greetings, Holy Star Sir!"
"Mm," Wu Wang waved his hand. "Report."
"In the past three months, six hundred and ninety-two new Priests have been admitted, mainly concentrated in the Deep Eyes and Strong Armor clans..."
The night breeze blew gently, brushing against the serene wooden hut, but due to the Soundproofing array, not a single sound was carried away.
"Ba'er is truly a blessing the Star God bestowed upon our Bear Hug Clan."
On the boundless grassland, Xiong Han, the Clan Leader of the Bear Hug Clan, was seated with several Generals and Priests. Gazing at the gray clouds spreading from a large fire in the distance, he couldn't help but voice this sentiment.
The Generals also sighed in agreement.
"The tactics the Young Master came up with are a bit troublesome to practice, but once mastered, they're really effective."
"Clan Leader, we must seriously consider the Young Master's health. In the blink of an eye, he'll be eighteen, old enough to be knocked out and carried away. If he really faints and doesn't wake up, that would be a disaster!"
"This is a serious matter, not a joke."
Xiong Han nodded slowly, a troubled expression on his face. "The problem now is that we don't know the root of Ba'er's illness."
"If it's because of the Praying Star Technique, why aren't other male Priests who practice it affected?"
"Clan Leader, didn't you invite a famous doctor? What did the doctor say?"
Xiong Han shook his head. "What kind of quack doctor was that? Said he'd feed my son grass! Can my son eat grass?"
"What did Lady Cang Xue say?"
"My wife said Ba'er is under a lot of pressure right now," Xiong Han sighed heavily. "Ba'er has been smart since he was a child; he's a natural leader, undoubtedly stronger than his old man—me. What he's worried about now is that this strange illness might affect the stability within the clan."
"Who dares to make trouble?" an old General, his hair white but his body strong as an ox, glared and cursed. "I'd like to see which of those young whelps dare to disobey the Young Master!"
Beside him, an old Priest sighed. "But we have to consider that when we're gone, if the Young Master still has no children, it will indeed cause all sorts of problems. The Clan Leader's bloodline cannot be severed."
"Enough, let's not talk about this for now." Xiong Han waved his hand and said in a deep voice, "I've already sent many people out to search for a cure for this strange illness. The Nine Wildernesses of the Great Wilderness are so vast; there must be a solution. Bring the food. I still need to rush to patrol the border later."
A General immediately stood up and shouted, "Bring the food! The Clan Leader is hungry!"
A group of sturdy men busy in the distance scrambled to carry over a few roasted Spirit Beasts and respectfully brought a large pot of steaming soup to Xiong Han.
"What is this?" Xiong Han looked at the large bowl of soup before him, which emitted the fresh fragrance of herbs, and grumbled, "This Clan Leader eats meat!"
"Clan Leader, this was specially sent over by the Young Master. It's called Six-Flavor Rehmannia Soup," the General who had called for the meal quickly explained. "He said it's particularly good for your health."
"Ba'er sent this?" Xiong Han chuckled, lifted the large bowl, and tilted his head back, gulping it down with a series of GLUGS.
"BURP! Not bad at all, tastes great! Tell Ba'er to send more."
The gazes from those around him were instantly filled with envy.
That day, the Clan Leader's combat strength was exceptionally formidable. While patrolling the borders, he encountered a ferocious beast a thousand years old. Wielding an axe, he charged at it alone and felled it.
However, when they made camp that night, the Clan Leader felt hot all over and somewhat restless, unable to sleep. He got up, grabbed his axe, and wandered outside until midnight, dragging several more ferocious beasts back to the main camp.
The Clan Leader's strength surged explosively!
About a month later, the Clan Leader could no longer hold back.
Xiong Han, who had always diligently carried out his duties as Clan Leader, ordered the army to return to the Royal Court for the time being, while he himself, with a small team of guards, headed straight for Big Snow Mountain.
Hearing this news, Wu Wang simply smiled calmly.
It's still not enough, he thought. This is just the beginning.
His mother had said that after becoming a Sun Ritualist, it was difficult to have offspring; there must be some intervention from the path of the stars.
However…
He had spent a large sum of Beast Cores to order Shu deer skin and a pair of male and female Warbler Birds—they were already on their way.
Still not enough. Not nearly enough.
Wu Wang fumbled under the table and quickly pulled out a thick bundle. Opening it revealed rolls of cloth.
Paper was quite scarce in the Northern Wilderness. Most of it was made by drying tree pulp, and the quality wasn't very good. Cloth, naturally, cost more, but it was preferable for drawing lines due to its smoothness.
The clan's mineral resources were perennially in short supply. The Stars mine, however, had added fuel to his already wealthy family's fortune. Did he even need to worry about such costs?
He took out the fine brushwork techniques he had secretly honed for several years, ready to create some scenes that wouldn't make it past the censors!
He simply refused to believe that if a family of three strived together towards the same goal, they couldn't break the so-called tradition of a single heir per generation!
[Note: Xun Grass resembles the plant Lu; it has square stems, yellow flowers, and red seeds. Consuming it makes one's complexion beautiful. The Shu deer skin and the pairs of male and female Warbler Birds mentioned later have the effect of enhancing fertility.]