Chapter 4: Consider It the Hao Royal Estate Feeding the Dogs — Investing in the Second and Seventh Elders
The Grand Council Hall of the Hao Royal Estate.
After the devastating beast tide, only five core elders of the Hao Royal Estate remained. At this moment, all of them were seated solemnly within the hall.
"Damn it! Those three great families actually dared to take advantage of the chaos—utterly despicable!"
"If not for the severe weakening of our Hao Royal Estate, how would they dare act so brazenly?!"
The faces of the five elders were filled with rage as they spoke indignantly.
At that moment, Hao Meng, dressed in a purple robe, entered the council hall and calmly took his seat at the head.
The five elders immediately rose to their feet and bowed respectfully.
Hao Meng had just raised his hand to signal them to sit when a system notification sounded in his mind.
[Ding! Blue-tier investment target detected. The host may initiate investment.]
[Invest one Tongxuan Golden Pill → Receive three bottles of Profound Soul Pills and one Heaven-tier low-grade Spirit-Gathering Formation.]
[Invest the Earth-tier peak martial technique Heavenly Seal Art → Receive the Heaven-tier peak martial technique Human King Seal Art.]
[Ding! Green-tier investment target detected. The host may initiate investment.]
[Invest one volume of a Heaven Alchemist's alchemy insights → Receive the Heaven-tier high-grade cultivation art Great Yin–Yang Dual Cultivation Method.]
[Invest the Tongxuan Golden Pill formula → Receive three urns of Purple Clear Spirit Origin Pills, one urn of Tongxuan Golden Pills, and five hundred Earth-tier spiritual herbs.]
[Invest the Purple Bronze Medicine King Cauldron → Receive the Heaven-tier low-grade treasure Heavenly Net Azure Cloud Umbrella and 100,000 mid-grade spirit stones.]
Hao Meng's eyes brightened.
Following the system's guidance, he identified the two investment targets—Second Elder Hao Changfeng, a Sixth Star Realm peak cultivator, and Seventh Elder Hao Jingyu, an Earth-tier master alchemist.
However, he did not act immediately. Instead, he suppressed his excitement and listened to the Second Elder's report.
"Your Highness, after the beast tide severely weakened our strength, the three great families have begun forcibly seizing our mineral veins."
"As of now, three Earth-tier veins have been taken. The Zhou family even injured several of our clansmen. Please decide how we should respond!"
By the end of his report, the Second Elder's face was filled with fury.
Within North Source Prefecture, power had long been divided among five major forces: the Hao Royal Estate, the Zhou, Fang, and Han families, and the Prefectural Governor's Office.
Previously, all five were sixth-rank forces.
However, because the Hao Royal Estate once had a Eighth Star Realm ancestor, it had dominated North Source Prefecture and controlled nearly half its resources.
But after the beast tide, the Hao Estate suffered catastrophic losses, falling directly from a sixth-rank to a seventh-rank force—no longer able to contend head-on with the others.
The three families, already at odds with the Hao Estate, finally bared their fangs.
With powerful backers in the dynasty, they did not overly fear retaliation.
After a moment of contemplation, Hao Meng asked calmly:
"Have there been any fatalities among our people?"
"No deaths," the Second Elder replied honestly. "Only injuries of varying severity."
Hao Meng immediately understood.
The three families had seized resources, but they dared not push matters too far.
The reason was simple—the current Lingyun Emperor had bestowed the Fifth Princess upon Hao Meng in marriage.
With this connection, even if they did not fear the Hao Royal Estate, they had to fear the imperial family.
As for petty resource disputes, the imperial court would not intervene.
After a brief sigh, Hao Meng spoke reassuringly:
"With our current strength, it is unwise to confront them directly. What the Hao Royal Estate must do now is rebuild and grow stronger."
"When I formally marry the Fifth Princess, it will be enough to deter them somewhat."
"As for what they have taken—consider it the Hao Royal Estate feeding the dogs. When the time comes, we will make them spit it back twice over."
The elders fell silent.
They all agreed with his judgment, though the bitterness of losing their resources gnawed at them.
Hao Meng then rose and walked toward the Second Elder.
He produced a pill and a black-and-gold scroll and handed them over.
"Second Elder, among the remaining elders, you are the one most likely to break into the Seventh Star Realm."
"This Tongxuan Golden Pill should aid your breakthrough."
"And this Heavenly Seal Art—take it and cultivate diligently to improve your combat strength."
"I want the Hao Royal Estate to produce a Seventh Star Realm expert as soon as possible."
The Second Elder stared in disbelief.
As a core elder, he naturally knew the value of these items.
The Tongxuan Golden Pill was the finest pill for breaking into the Seventh Star Realm—something even he could not easily obtain.
And the Heavenly Seal Art was the Hao Royal Estate's supreme clan martial technique, reserved only for successive patriarchs and core direct-line elders.
Yet now, it lay before him.
"I… this…"
Seeing his hesitation, Hao Meng said firmly:
"Take them. The Hao Royal Estate is at a critical stage of growth. We need you."
The Second Elder steadied himself and carefully accepted the items.
"Thank you for your boundless grace, Your Highness! I swear to serve the estate with my life!"
[Ding! Investment successful.]
[Reward obtained: three bottles of Profound Soul Pills, one Heaven-tier low-grade Spirit-Gathering Formation, and the martial technique Human King Seal Art.]
[Profound Soul Pill: Earth-tier peak pill. Seventh Star Realm peak cultivators who consume it have a 50% chance to break into the Eighth Star Realm, with no pill toxicity.]
[Heaven-tier low-grade Spirit-Gathering Formation: Condenses spiritual energy from a thousand-li radius, increasing density tenfold and concealing phenomena.]
[Human King Seal Art: Heaven-tier peak martial technique. Contains the Mountain-Crushing Seal, Earth-Overturning Seal, Heaven-Flipping Seal, and Human King Seal. Each carries world-shaking power. When all four seals are mastered, it rivals King-tier martial arts.]
Hao Meng's eyes flashed.
A Heaven-tier peak martial technique—something typically only fourth-rank forces or higher possessed.
As for the Profound Soul Pills, they were practically nonexistent in North Source Prefecture.
He then turned to the remaining elders.
"From this day forward, anyone who becomes a core elder—direct lineage or collateral—may cultivate the Heavenly Seal Art."
"Even exceptionally talented juniors may be granted it as an exception."
Since he now possessed the far superior Human King Seal Art, he did not begrudge sharing an Earth-tier peak technique.
The Hao Royal Estate needed to shatter bottlenecks—fast.
The elders were visibly shaken and deeply moved.
"Thank you, Your Highness! We will devote ourselves completely to the estate!"
[Ding! Clan cohesion increased. Reward: 500 clan fortune points.]
Hao Meng was briefly surprised.
Clan fortune was directly tied to strength and destiny—an extremely important metric.
He continued:
"Any elder who reaches Sixth Star Realm peak may also claim one Tongxuan Golden Pill."
"I hope all of you will advance swiftly and strengthen the estate as a whole."
The remaining elders' eyes shone with determination.
They resolved to cultivate relentlessly.
Finally, Hao Meng turned toward Seventh Elder Hao Jingyu, the alchemist.
"Seventh Elder, during my time at Qingyun Dao Sect, I acquired several alchemical items that should benefit you."
He produced two scrolls and a cauldron.
"This scroll contains a Heaven Alchemist's insights. This one is the Tongxuan Golden Pill formula."
"As for this cauldron—the Purple Bronze Medicine King Cauldron—it is an Earth-tier high-grade alchemy furnace that increases pill success rates."
"I gift these to you in the hope that you will refine better and more pills for the Hao Royal Estate."
Hao Jingyu was stunned.
As an Earth-tier alchemist, he immediately grasped their value—especially the Heaven Alchemist's insights.
With that, he could confidently advance to Heaven-tier Alchemist.
"This old man will never fail Your Highness!"
[Ding! Investment successful.]
[Rewards obtained: Heaven-tier high-grade cultivation art Great Yin–Yang Dual Cultivation Method, three urns of Purple Clear Spirit Origin Pills, one urn of Tongxuan Golden Pills, 500 Earth-tier spiritual herbs, Heavenly Net Azure Cloud Umbrella, and 100,000 mid-grade spirit stones.]
[Heavenly Net Azure Cloud Umbrella: Heaven-tier low-grade defensive treasure, capable of withstanding a Eighth Star Realm peak strike.]
[Great Yin–Yang Dual Cultivation Method: Heaven-tier high-grade dual cultivation art. Through yin–yang harmony, both partners may mutually enhance their cultivation.]
When Hao Meng saw this technique, his expression turned subtle.
Was the system preparing him for his upcoming wedding?
He approved wholeheartedly.
After reviewing the rewards with satisfaction, Hao Meng continued discussing the reconstruction of North Suppression City and preparations for the imperial wedding.
Only after all arrangements were finalized did the elders finally take their leave.