Volume One, Chapter 52: Peak of Foundation Establishment! Rapid Advancement!

[ Ding~ ]

[ Congratulations, host, you have received cultivation effect returns from Wang Tiancheng: Kuyuanzhou experience +10, mana +1! ]

[ Congratulations, host, you have received cultivation effect returns from Zhou Moxuan: Benlei Curse experience +10, lightning control +10! ]

[ Congratulations, host, you have received cultivation effect returns from Wu Hu: Xuánpìn Pill refining experience +10, alchemy skill +5! ]

[...]

Walking along the coast, system notifications kept flashing through Wang Mu’s mind.

Under Wang Mu’s strict requirements, all aid and expenses from the foundation were entirely free of charge; not a single spirit stone was required from the cultivators in the disaster-stricken regions.

This was precisely because he feared that accepting money might interfere with the system’s judgments.

He regarded this as not part of an investment.

Now, the results were already apparent.

Although the survival rate of cultivators after each sea demon invasion was as low as one out of ten, with their numbers far fewer than before, this greatly reduced Wang Mu’s investment difficulty.

The system assessed investment difficulty based on a composite of factors including a person’s cultivation level, wealth, circumstances, and potential.

Simply put:

The more miserable one’s life and the harsher one’s circumstances—with nothing to their name—the easier it was for the protagonist to buy in at rock-bottom prices.

The cultivators affected by the disaster clearly fit these criteria.

For example, this time on the Xingluo Archipelago, there were several Nascent Soul elders who survived, while the rest were mostly above the Qi Refining stage, at least Foundation Establishment.

These cultivators of moderate strength might not have much untapped potential remaining. Investing at original prices wouldn’t bring Wang Mu any profit.

But after the disaster, with a “discount,” it became much easier to maximize investment progress, making it worthwhile.

Moreover, those who survived the sea demon invasion—where the survival rate was one in ten—either had incredibly strong luck or extraordinary skills and power.

Either way, their potential to yield high returns after investment was much greater.

With so many compounded benefits, Wang Mu had effectively maximized his investment cost-performance ratio.

Achieving great results with minimal expenditure.

A rumble echoed within Wang Mu’s body.

His mana surged like the tide, roaring and stirring within him, faintly radiating all kinds of iridescent light.

The brilliance intensified, nearly bursting through his skin.

At that moment, the blood-red jade pendant hanging from his neck—the “Suspended Void Seal”—glowed softly, fully suppressing the impending anomaly within Wang Mu’s body.

“Phew,” he sighed, feeling the power inside gradually settle.

His system was perfect in one respect:

All cultivation gains came from incremental returns; there was no need for him to personally train, so naturally, there were no bottlenecks.

Each breakthrough happened without warning, effortlessly and naturally.

Sometimes, he even advanced in his sleep.

If he didn’t react quickly, his aura would easily dissipate and be detected by others.

Just now, while treading the waves on the shore, he suddenly broke through to the peak of Foundation Establishment and was already able to prepare for Core Formation.

“I must keep my cultivation a secret as much as possible! The more unknown trump cards I have, the better chance I have to catch my enemies off guard...” Wang Mu pondered silently.

His inability to cultivate openly was an excellent camouflage.

In the cultivation world, no matter the opponent, this fact would inevitably lead them to underestimate him.

In critical moments, this would definitely be a card to turn defeat into victory.

[...]

The rapid increase in his cultivation wasn’t just from the returns of invested cultivators in the disaster zones.

More importantly, the Ascension Conference had already been grandly held on the hundred-plus islands he had circled on the sea map last time.

Li Yuanhua was reliable.

Three days after Wang Mu’s last directive, the Ascension Conference project team was established.

Besides the core members from the Li Liang royal family, they recruited many external personnel—all native cultivators from Tianjue Island.

There was a good reason.

This place was effectively Wang Mu’s stronghold.

His prestige on Tianjue Island was the highest.

Both scattered cultivators and sect disciples were grateful to him.

Upon hearing they could work for the Young Master Wang, people flocked like mad, with many even shouting they didn’t want wages, just to repay their gratitude.

Of course, words were one thing.

Wang Mu still paid them well.

Wages were not only given but were at least thirty percent higher than similar jobs.

At Wang Mu’s suggestion, Li Yuanhua devised a promotion path to ensure that grassroots project staff had stable advancement opportunities.

For example, after participating in organizing Ascension Conferences on more than ten islands, one could become a squad leader, leading a team of ten.

After more than one hundred islands, promotion to battalion leader, commanding ten squads, and so on.

And so forth.

With good pay, prospects, and working for their benefactor, they were highly motivated.

Triple buffs stacked.

No worries about their dedication.

[...]

Although the outer islands had much thinner spiritual energy and a lower chance of producing spiritual roots, their sheer number meant that the total number of cultivators might not be much less than those on the inner islands once all were surveyed.

Wang Mu assigned the task of completing the Ascension Conference work on over a hundred islands within seven days.

Then, using these islands as a center, the expansion would continue outward.

The next target was more than twelve hundred outer islets.

Simultaneously, the number of Langya Foundation branches would accelerate expansion.

Ensuring that within every few thousand miles of sea territory, there was at least one foundation; in areas dense with cultivators, three or even five.

Because the foundation and the Ascension Conference represented reputation.

Wherever these were established, the Langya Trading Company’s business would see positive growth, greatly increasing profits.

The extra money earned would then be directly reinvested in the next phase, creating a fundamentally positive cycle.

[...]

Wang Mu no longer lived in the Li Liang Royal Palace on Tianjue Island.

Occupying the palace indefinitely was improper.

The foundation’s headquarters had been completed.

Though not large in scale, its luxury far surpassed the palace.

After expressing his intention to reside there permanently, his mother, Luo Xuanshuang, immediately ordered the placement of several powerful formations around the foundation, sufficient to resist Earth Immortal-level foes.

She also secretly dispatched numerous strong guardians, including several Divine Transformation-stage experts.

When Li Yuanhua learned of this, he first covered his face and wept, lamenting his reluctance to part.

Then he tore down the entire royal city and rebuilt it, wrapping the foundation within a semicircular enclosure.

The entire city became a protective barrier around the foundation.

Li Yuanhua’s own residence was built simply atop the city walls, stating he would guard the gate for the Young Master.

[...]

Back at the foundation headquarters, Wang Mu sat at his desk, quickly writing on paper.

“The Ascension Conference over there basically no longer requires my attention! It’s only a matter of time. At the current pace, in three months at most, we can cover all the Northern Sea islands!”

“Beyond the Northern Sea lies the jurisdiction of the Beiming Holy Land. It will be harder to proceed so smoothly there; a more meticulous plan is required!”

“Besides the lowest-cost investments in mortals and some low-level cultivators, it’s time to put those on the agenda~”

Watching Wang Mu thoughtfully contemplating, Nie Tingting quietly withdrew.

A few days later.

Somewhere in the Northern Sea.

A massive whirlpool suddenly appeared, shaking heaven and earth, waves roaring fiercely, the void fracturing as if another world was struggling to break free from the endless ocean depths.