Splash—splash—
Next door came the sound of water being scooped up during a bath, along with a cheerful little tune that barely counted as a melody.
Wu Wang stopped meditating, and wisps of Spiritual Energy like white smoke dissipated into thin air around him.
This Spiritual Energy bore no Five Elements affinity, nor did it have any distinct attributes. It seemed to be nothing more than pure, clear qi.
That old auntie was getting more and more outrageous.
Now she did not even activate the Soundproof Array when bathing, and often wandered over wearing nothing but a few thin layers of clothing!
Especially!
Two years ago, to reward her for her long-standing contributions, he had spent a fortune on spirit pills refined from Xun Grass, making her skin even smoother and softer, her face ever more exquisite and alluring, and somehow restoring the girlish air of a female cultivator.
Thinking back on it now, he really felt he had gotten the short end of the stick.
He pushed open the wooden window. The night breeze, carrying the fragrance of grass and trees, drifted in softly, leaving Wu Wang feeling refreshed and at ease.
In the distance, he could see tents stretching one after another, and hear faint laughter and clamor.
Nearby, a stream babbled along, while several little fish chased and played beneath the light cast by the illumination artifact inside the house.
Wu Wang could not help pondering a profound question:
Why had the Wave Tribe still not received a Fierce Beast blessing?
The Wave Tribe had developed its animal husbandry, established a grain-storage system, increased its supply of giant crossbows, and the priests within the tribe had already accepted the newly formulated doctrine. Their population was more than twice that of the Bear Hug Tribe, and Xing Tian's father had even set up a fake Royal Court, ready at any moment to welcome the blessing.
Yet the blessing simply did not come.
Was there a time limit between two blessings? Did they have to wait a century or two?
Or did they have to wait for the goddess's hair to fall out naturally?
If that was the case, how could he make the Star God feel anxious, vexed, sleepless, and plagued by dreams, so that she would shed a few more hairs...
Wu Wang folded his arms and pondered for a moment.
No more wild thoughts. When it came down to it, what powerful expert could not control the growth and shedding of their own hair follicles?
He should think about his future cultivation plans instead.
His body had now fully grown. His sword-like brows and starry eyes needed no excessive praise, nor did his tall, slender frame need constant compliment. The lofty bearing between his brows and the refined air radiating from within left him somewhat out of place amid the Bear Hug Tribe.
Much of it was the effect of cultivating Foundation Establishment.
The Fierce Beast blessing had still not descended, so he could not wait any longer. He had been suppressing his realm since three years ago, and by now, there was no more room to explore within the Gather Qi Realm.
There was still one year left before the five-year deadline he had set for himself.
There was no need to worry about the clan's development. Over the years, he had already prepared a complete development plan, while spreading a few of his own shallow ideas across the grasslands through stories and songs.
The specific stories were the trilogy: "The Star God and Her Twelve Star Warriors," "This Star God Is Too Steady," and "Guardian Star God."
The songs included "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star," "The Star God Lights a Lamp," "Listen to Lord God-Speaker Tell Past Stories," and others.
The Star God of old had been lofty above all, sacred and inviolable. The tribespeople had not even dared mention her in ordinary conversation.
On the surface, Wu Wang's actions praised the Star God. In truth, they made the Star God more down-to-earth, weakening the awe Northern Plains creatures felt toward her.
Once the Star God was mistaken for possessing a rich personality, she would become nothing more than a creature with tremendous power.
Of course, those were merely peripheral tasks.
Wu Wang's main efforts were spent on...
Hm? Someone was coming? Two groups, even.
He closed his eyes. With his house as the center, wisps of invisible Spiritual Consciousness spread outward, covering an area ten miles around him like a spiderweb.
At the Gather Qi Realm, Spiritual Consciousness could inspect ten miles.
Wu Wang had told Lin Suqing that his detection range was one mile, and that alone had left her little mouth hanging open in shock for half the day.
There was no other reason. His "spirit," tempered through cultivation of the Star Invocation Technique, was already comparable to a Nascent Soul cultivator of the Human Domain or a Leaping God Realm spirit cultivator. The range of his Spiritual Consciousness was equivalent to that of an ordinary Core Formation Realm cultivator.
Just a tiny advantage at the start, that was all.
His Spiritual Consciousness detected General Xiong San's figure. Wu Wang opened the window on the other side to air the room, poured two cups of warm tea, cleared off his desk, and waited quietly for a while.
"Young Master?"
"General San, please come in."
"Ah," Xiong San answered. He carefully pushed open the wooden door and slowly squeezed his massive body inside. Upon seeing Wu Wang, he lowered his head and pressed a hand to his chest in salute.
The Soundproof Array and light-shielding array in the neighboring wooden house lit up at the same time.
Wu Wang rose and made an inviting gesture. The loyal burly man approached with his head lowered, exhaustion written across his face. After sitting down, he let out a long breath.
General Xiong San said softly, "Young Master, this subordinate has just returned from the Long-Haired Tribe's border."
"Has the unrest been suppressed?"
"Yes." General Xiong San sighed. "It was the fur folk who worship the Beast God. They clashed with our people at the border, but it has been resolved now. They also compensated us with some cattle and sheep.
They claimed the trouble started because of conflicting beliefs, but to put it plainly, they wanted to seize our giant crossbows while they had the chance. This sort of thing has happened often in recent years.
If the Chief had not forbidden it, I really would have wanted to teach them a lesson!"
Wu Wang tapped the tabletop with his fingers and smiled. "Avoid war whenever we can. What we seek is peace in the Northern Plains and shared development. That cannot merely be an empty slogan."
"This subordinate understands," General Xiong San said in a lowered voice. "Young Master, are you truly persuading the Chief to have another younger brother or sister?"
Wu Wang leaned against the soft beast hide, casually drew over a wine jug and cup, and poured General Xiong San some fruit wine purchased from the Western Plains.
He smiled. "What, would the household not be livelier with one more person?"
General Xiong San asked in a low voice, "Is it because of your strange illness?
Actually, even if you cannot feel it, it is not as though you cannot have children. There is a man in the clan who was hit a little too hard when he was knocked unconscious... By the time he woke up, he already had two children."
Wu Wang shot Xiong San a glare, and the latter hurriedly shut his mouth.
"How has this year's grain exchange at the granaries gone?"
"All smoothly, all smoothly."
"Mm. How many giant crossbows have we sold recently?"
"The other six clans all asked us to give them more," General Xiong San said with a grin. "According to the rules you established, Young Master, the newest improved versions are not sold outside for two years, and every batch gives at least thirty percent to the Wave Tribe. The other five clans are quite dissatisfied.
Also, the Quanrong Tribe intends to form a marriage alliance with us. Their princess is said to have... exceptionally soft, exceptionally glossy fur."
Wu Wang: ...
"Be serious. You must refuse for me!"
"Of course, of course."
General Xiong San chuckled a few times, then worry appeared on his face again. He raised his cup and drained it in one gulp before saying quietly, "Young Master, there is something I must report to you. I do not know whether it is good or bad."
"What is it?"
"It is that Star God Cult."
General Xiong San leaned forward, lowering his voice further.
"At first, none of us paid it any mind, but this Star God Cult has become something incredible!
In just two short years, it has nearly swept through all the other clans, and recently, signs of it have begun appearing in our own clan."
"Oh?"
Wu Wang raised a brow and asked unhurriedly, "General Xiong San, do you think this Star God Cult poses any danger?"
"I would not say it is dangerous."
General Xiong San pulled a processed piece of bark from his clothes and presented it before Wu Wang with both hands.
"Young Master, look. This is what they preach: guide people toward goodness, help others, respect the elderly, cherish the young. It is all quite good.
It is just that the momentum is too frightening.
The Star God Cult has now nearly swept over half the Northern Plains. If one of their so-called 'divine envoys' told them to move elsewhere for grazing or hunting, a clan would probably lose a large number of its people.
More critically, the priests have begun joining this Star God Cult as well. In many clans, the priests have become local Star God Cult God-Speakers.
According to this subordinate's investigation, the God-Speakers of the Star God Cult are divided into six ranks. The highest-ranked God-Speakers are called Holy Star Envoys.
Young Master, tell me, in the future, will the priests listen to the clan's chief priest, or to the Holy Star Envoy?
If this Star God Cult grows too large, the entire Northern Plains will have to listen to that Holy Star Envoy!"
"There is no need to worry. I have already sent people to investigate this Star God Cult."
Wu Wang smiled.
"There are seven Holy Star Envoys in total: the six existing Sun priests, as well as one insignificant fellow.
Above the Holy Star Envoys is a God-Speaker Messenger. She can communicate directly with the Star God, convey the Star God's will, and regulate the Star Invocation Techniques circulating through the Northern Plains. It will not harm the clans.
Still, we cannot relax our vigilance. Keep a close eye on the Star God Cult. If it does anything excessive, report it to me at once."
"Yes, understood."
General Xiong San found it slightly strange. In recent years, his Young Master had scarcely stepped outside, remaining here in seclusion to study the Star Invocation Technique. How had he sent people out?
On his way back, General Xiong San kept his head lowered in thought. Only halfway there did he suddenly understand.
The Young Master was also a Great Star Sacrifice, so it was perfectly normal for him to understand the Star God Cult...
Eh? The Young Master had already been a Great Star Sacrifice four years ago. Had he made another breakthrough by now?
Every time Xiong San saw his Young Master, he could clearly sense a change in his temperament. Those eyes in particular had become deeper and deeper, more and more impossible to read.
What a pity. The Young Master had never attended a fainting gathering, giving none of his daughters or nieces any opportunity at all.
Inside the wooden house.
"Star God Cult."
Wu Wang sat there muttering to himself, a faintly amused smile at the corner of his lips.
His ears twitched slightly. His Spiritual Consciousness had already caught several figures rapidly approaching his wooden house. He raised a hand and tapped a button in the corner of his desk.
A faint sound of mechanisms came from within the wall. A wooden plank on the neighboring house slid upward, revealing four large characters.
Do Not Disturb Cultivation.
Lin Suqing, who had changed into a strapless dress and was just about to visit next door, immediately stopped. She pressed at her eyelid and made a face, then returned to her bed in disappointment to meditate.
Several figures leaped in through Wu Wang's window and knelt on one knee beside the desk. There were two men and two women, all clad in tight leather armor.
"Greetings, Lord Holy Star Envoy!"
"Mm." Wu Wang waved a hand. "Report."
"Over the past three months, we have recruited six hundred and ninety-two new priests, mainly concentrated among the Deep-Eyed and Strong-Armored Tribes..."
The night breeze drifted past the peaceful wooden house, but the soundproofing formation prevented it from carrying away even the faintest sound.
"Ba'er truly is the lucky star the Star God bestowed upon our Bear Hug Tribe."
Upon the boundless grasslands, Xiong Han, Chief of the Bear Hug Tribe, sat together with several generals and priests. Looking into the distance at gray clouds spreading from a great fire, he could not help voicing such a sentiment.
The generals sighed in agreement as well.
"These tactics the Young Master came up with are a little troublesome to drill, but once they are practiced well, they really work."
"Clan Leader, we really need to think of more ways to deal with the Young Master's condition. In the blink of an eye, he will be eighteen and can be knocked unconscious and carried away. If he really faints and cannot wake up, that would be no small matter!"
"This is serious business, not a joke."
Xiong Han slowly nodded, his face troubled. "The problem is that we do not know where Ba'er's illness originates."
"If it is because of the Star Invocation Technique, then why are the other male priests who cultivate the Star Invocation Technique fine?"
"Clan Leader, did you not invite a famous physician? What did the physician say?"
Xiong Han shook his head. "What kind of lousy physician was that? He even said he wanted to feed my son grass. Can my son eat grass?"
"What did Lord Cangxue say?"
"Madam said that Ba'er is under great pressure right now." Xiong Han let out a heavy sigh. "Ba'er has been clever since childhood. He is a born leader, and he will certainly be better than his father, me.
What worries him now is that his strange illness may affect the clan's stability."
"Who would dare make trouble?"
An elderly general with grizzled hair and a body as strong as an ox glared and cursed, "I would like to see which little bastards dare refuse to accept the Young Master!"
The old Priest beside him sighed. "But we must consider that once we are gone, if the Young Master still has no children, it truly may give rise to all sorts of problems.
The Clan Leader's bloodline cannot be cut off."
"Enough. Let us not speak of this for now."
Xiong Han waved a hand and said deeply, "I have already sent many people out to seek a way to cure this strange illness. The Great Wilderness and its nine wild regions are so vast that there must be a solution.
Serve the food. We still need to hurry to the border for an inspection later."
A general immediately stood and shouted, "Serve the food! The Chief is hungry!"
A group of busy burly men in the distance hurriedly carried over several roasted Spirit Beasts, then respectfully placed a large basin of steaming soup before Xiong Han.
"What is this?"
Xiong Han looked at the huge bowl of soup before him, fragrant with grass and trees, and cursed, "This Chief eats meat!"
"Chief, the Young Master specially had someone deliver this. He said it is called Six-Flavor Rehmannia Decoction," the general who had just called for the food hurriedly explained. "He said it is especially good for your body."
"Ba'er sent it?"
Xiong Han grinned, picked up the large bowl, tipped back his head, and began gulping it down.
"Burp! Very good, very good indeed. Have Ba'er send more."
The gazes cast his way immediately filled with envy.
That day, the Chief's fighting strength was exceptionally fierce. While inspecting the border, they encountered a Fierce Beast that had lived for a thousand years. He charged forward alone with his axe raised and chopped it to the ground.
It was just that when camp was set up that night, the Chief's entire body was burning hot, and he could not sleep. He rose, carried his axe out for a stroll until midnight, then dragged several Fierce Beasts back to camp.
The Chief's strength had exploded through the roof!
About a month later, the Chief finally could not restrain himself any longer.
Xiong Han, who had always conscientiously fulfilled his duties as Chief, directly ordered the army to return to the Royal Court for the time being, while he himself led a small escort squad straight toward the Great Snow Mountain.
When Wu Wang heard of this, he merely smiled calmly.
Not enough. This was only the beginning.
His mother had said that after becoming a Sun Priest, it was difficult to have offspring. There was certainly interference from the laws of the starry sky involved.
However...
He had spent a large amount of beast cores to order Lu Shu Hide and a pair of male and female Yu Birds. They were already on the way.
Not enough. Still not enough.
Wu Wang lowered his head and fumbled around beneath the desk. Soon, he dragged out a thick bundle. Opening it revealed strip after strip of cloth.
Paper was quite scarce in the Northern Plains. Most of it was made by drying tree pulp, and its quality was not particularly good. This sort of cloth naturally cost more, but it was smoother for drawing lines.
The clan's mineral output had been unable to meet demand year-round. Star Ore only added fuel to the fire for his already wealthy family—did he really need to care about such a trifling cost?
He would bring out the meticulous brushwork he had secretly honed for years and make a little melodrama the television station would never dare air!
Wu Wang refused to believe that a family of three striving toward the same goal still couldn't break the so-called single-line inheritance!
Note: Xun Grass resembled jian grass, with square stems, yellow flowers, and red fruit. Consuming it enhanced one's complexion. The Lu Shu Hide and Yu Bird mentioned later both had the effects of bearing many children and benefiting childbirth.
A new year brought a new outlook—the Year of the Ox, you're the best! May the motherland prosper and the Divine Land flourish!
Before you continue