Protect Our Patriarch

Book 3: Chapter 87: The situation is turning around! The Spirit Artifact has come to life

……

Spring came and winter went, and several years passed in the blink of an eye.

In the spring of the 3184th year of the Longchang era in Daqian.

Qing'an Commandery.

The Qing'an Basin, with its fertile land stretching for thousands of miles and surrounded by green waters, is famously known as the "Land of Fish and Rice" within Daqian. Correspondingly, the catering industry here is extremely developed.

Outside the commandery city of Qing'an, there is an estate named "Qingya Residence."

This gourmet estate is incredibly vast, integrating dining and lodging, and is renowned throughout Qing'an Commandery. It even often attracts food enthusiasts from other commanderies.

Many Basalt cultivators traveling from other commanderies to Qing'an Commandery to experience its cuisine consider Qingya Residence a must-visit place.

Its fame is evident.

However, Qingya Residence is not the property of the Zuoqiu Clan, the top clan in Qing'an Commandery, but rather the property of the royal family, specifically Prince Cheng.

Although this might be a trivial business for Prince Cheng, it is precisely because it is backed by the Prince Cheng's Mansion that Qingya Residence can establish itself in Qing'an Commandery and compete with several other gourmet estates.

On this day.

The manager of Qingya Residence, Xu Qingbo, was sitting behind the counter at the entrance, casually doing the accounts when suddenly, a crisp cry came from the sky.

He looked up and saw a flying carriage pulled by a giant white bird approaching from afar.

The giant bird pulling the carriage was pure white, as translucent as freshly fallen snow, with an elegant demeanor and a spiritual aura that made it highly recognizable.

"A Jade-Clawed Egret?" Xu Qingbo was surprised, "People from the Zuoqiu Clan?"

The Jade-Clawed Egret is a fourth-rank spiritual bird and a unique species in Qing'an Commandery. In Qing'an Commandery, only the Zuoqiu Clan has the financial resources to raise Jade-Clawed Egrets to pull flying carriages.

As he spoke, the flying carriage had already spiraled down and landed in the square at the entrance of the estate.

Immediately, the door of the carriage opened, and two middle-aged men, both wearing jade crowns and luxurious robes, stepped out one after the other.

One of the middle-aged men looked older, with many fine lines at the corners of his eyes, showing signs of aging. The other looked much younger but bore a striking resemblance to the older man, indicating a clear blood relationship.

The two men did not deliberately release their aura, but their steps were calm and unhurried, exuding an extraordinary demeanor, clearly not weaklings.

Xu Qingbo recognized them immediately, hurriedly put down his abacus, and walked quickly to greet them, "Two Ancestors, what wind has brought you here today?"

It turned out that these two were the first and third ancestors of the Zuoqiu Clan in Qing'an Commandery, Zuoqiu Deye and Zuoqiu Zhenghua, both formidable experts in the Purple Mansion Realm.

As the manager of Qingya Residence, Xu Qingbo often dealt with various big figures. Naturally, he knew the top experts in Qing'an Commandery.

"We are here to meet someone." Seeing that Zuoqiu Deye had no intention of speaking, Zuoqiu Zhenghua waved his hand, "Go about your business, don't mind us. Also, send your best food and wine to the Bamboo Courtyard, and put the bill on the Zuoqiu Clan's account. Go on."

With that, the two men walked into the estate and soon disappeared into its depths.

Xu Qingbo naturally bowed and saw them off respectfully.

Meanwhile, Zuoqiu Zhenghua was still puzzled about today's events.

"Great-Grandfather, you are the first ancestor of our Zuoqiu Clan in Qing'an Commandery, with a revered status. Is it necessary to be so cautious? Could the visitor be a Daoist of Divine Powers?" He transmitted his voice to his great-grandfather when no one was around.

"What do you know?" Zuoqiu Deye glanced at him and also transmitted his voice, "The visitor today, though not a Daoist of Divine Powers, is a great prodigy of Lingyun Holy Land and will sooner or later become a Daoist of Divine Powers. If he's lucky, he might even take charge of the Holy Land and become one of the two most powerful people in Daqian."

"Hiss~"

Upon hearing this, Zuoqiu Zhenghua immediately became respectful.

Though both were in the Purple Mansion Realm, a great prodigy not only represented stronger combat power but also greater potential. Moreover, this great prodigy was backed by the colossal Lingyun Holy Land, making his status naturally different from ordinary Purple Mansion Realm cultivators.

He asked cautiously, "I have vaguely heard of the great prodigies of the Holy Land. Which one is this?"

"He has the surname Gongyang and the given name Ce, with the title 'Xuanmiao.' You can address him as 'Master Xuanmiao' or 'Young Master Ce.'" Zuoqiu Deye explained, "When you meet him later, remember to be respectful. We would rather lower our stance than offend him."

"Don't worry, Great-Grandfather. Zhenghua knows the importance."

As they spoke, they arrived at the Bamboo Courtyard.

Using the invitation they had received earlier, they lifted the restriction and pushed open the courtyard door, immediately seeing three people in the pavilion within the courtyard.

Of the three, one was seated while the other two stood. The two standing were women, with solemn expressions and lowered eyes, looking extremely respectful and submissive. The one seated in the center was a young man in white.

He was tall, with a jade-like face and an elegant demeanor. From his appearance alone, there was not a single flaw.

His temperament was far more outstanding than the two women standing beside him. It was a kind of composure that came from the bones, built from countless successes, exuding confidence and calmness, as if nothing in the world could trouble him.

With such a temperament and demeanor, the identity of this young man in white was already evident.

"Young Master Ce."

Zuoqiu Deye and Zuoqiu Zhenghua immediately stepped forward and greeted him politely.

"No need to be so polite~"

The young man in white did not put on airs, stood up to return the greeting, and then invited the two into the pavilion.

This young man in white was naturally the great prodigy of the Holy Land, Master Xuanmiao, Gongyang Ce, whom Zuoqiu Deye and Zuoqiu Zhenghua had discussed earlier.

After some polite exchanges, both parties took their seats.

Soon, the servants of the estate brought various fresh delicacies and fine wines and then quietly retreated.

With good wine and food as a medium, a few words later, the initially unfamiliar parties naturally became acquainted.

Then, it was time to discuss business.

Gongyang Ce signaled to a woman in a white dress beside him, then said to the two ancestors of the Zuoqiu Clan, "You may not know the person beside me, but you should have heard her name."

The woman in the white dress stepped forward, bowed respectfully to the two ancestors of the Zuoqiu Clan, and introduced herself, "Two ancestors, I am Cao Youqing of Lingyun Holy Land."

It turned out that this woman in the white dress was the Holy Land prodigy, Cao Youqing, who had once been "wrongly accused" and sent to the "Land of Thunder Punishment" for seclusion by the young man in white.

The years of seclusion had clearly had a significant impact on her in various aspects.

Now, not only had her strength improved by a level, reaching the eighth level of the Celestial Realm, but her aura had also become more restrained and profound. With a few more decades of honing, she would likely reach the peak and be ready to prepare for breaking through to the Purple Mansion Realm.

At the same time, the arrogance and coldness that once marked her had diminished significantly, making her appear much more grounded and steady.

"It's you?"

Zuoqiu Zhenghua raised his eyebrows, somewhat surprised.

The incident involving Zuoqiu Qingyun back then had caused a huge uproar, and the Zuoqiu Clan had lost a lot of face because of it. Even now, when members of the Zuoqiu Clan went to other commandery cities for business, they often encountered strange looks from other clans.

Even though Zuoqiu Qingyun was not from the same branch as him, Zuoqiu Zhenghua had no good feelings towards Cao Youqing.

Zuoqiu Deye, however, thought more deeply.

He looked at Gongyang Ce with a serious expression, "Young Master Ce, what do you mean by this? Are you here to mediate between the Zuoqiu Clan and the Cao Clan?"

Although it was rare, there were instances where the academy mediated disputes between clans.

"You misunderstand." Gongyang Ce took a sip of wine and said calmly, "I am not here to mediate but to clear up a misunderstanding."

"A misunderstanding?"

Zuoqiu Zhenghua glanced at his great-grandfather, hesitated, and asked, "What do you mean, Young Master?"

"The incident back then was not actually caused by Youqing." Gongyang Ce explained calmly, "I know it was difficult for Youqing to prove her innocence at the time due to her unknown whereabouts. Over the years, I have had people investigate the situation in detail and found that the truth may not be as both clans thought. Xiaoyue."

"Yes, Master."

Xiaoyue, who was standing on the other side of Gongyang Ce, responded and stepped forward, handing a stack of investigation documents to Zuoqiu Deye and Zuoqiu Zhenghua.

"According to our investigation, no one saw the face of the person who ambushed Zuoqiu Qingyun that day. The identity was determined based on a piece of silk left at the scene and a trace of thunderous aura leaked by the attacker. There are many doubts about this matter."

"Furthermore, the presence of those juniors at the scene was too coincidental. Our in-depth investigation confirmed that they were there because of Wang Shihai, a prodigy of the Monan Wang's Clan. Wang Shihai learned that Zuoqiu Qingyun had coerced Celestial Maiden Tianyan into a private meeting and then incited..."

"We further investigated and found that Wang Shihai had visited his distant relative, Wang Shouzhe, the head of the Changning Wang's Clan, before the incident."

"After meeting Wang Shouzhe, Wang Shihai left with a face full of anger... We estimate that Wang Shihai most likely learned about the situation from Wang Shouzhe."

"And shortly before that, Celestial Maiden Tianyan had visited Wang Shouzhe of the Monan Wang's Clan."

These events, when taken individually, might not seem significant, but when connected, they painted a clear picture.

Xiaoyue explained each piece of evidence and testimony to the two ancestors of the Zuoqiu Clan in detail, presenting a complete and logical chain of events that was convincing.

Although there was no direct evidence to prove that Wang Shouzhe was involved, considering that Wang Shouzhe had arrived in Monan with Qian Xuehan, the head of the Qian Clan of Longzuo Commandery, and that Cao Youqing had previously attempted to assassinate Qian Xuehan and targeted the Changning Wang's Clan, the truth was already apparent.

"We believe that Zuoqiu Qingyun's death is most likely related to the Qian Clan of Longzuo Commandery and the Changning Wang's Clan." Xiaoyue concluded, "I can guarantee with my life that the contents of this testimony are all true. If you don't believe it, you can summon the relevant witnesses for questioning."

"That's not necessary. With Young Master's status, there's no need to deceive us on such a small matter."

Zuoqiu Deye immediately refused.

He naturally wouldn't be foolish enough to summon people for questioning right away.

Firstly, the content provided by Xiaoyue was extremely detailed and logical, with all the details matching up, making it highly credible.

Secondly, regardless of whether he believed it or not, on the surface, he had to show that he trusted Gongyang Ce and give him enough face. Whether to investigate secretly was another matter.

"To think that our Zuoqiu Clan has been played like this, it's a disgrace!" Zuoqiu Zhenghua reacted quickly, immediately slamming the table in anger, "The Qian Clan and the Wang Clan have completely disregarded our Zuoqiu Clan! We will not let them off easily!"

"Calm down, both of you."

Seeing their attitude, Gongyang Ce knew he had achieved his goal.

He continued, "I have a plan that can make the Qian Clan and the Wang Clan pay the price and also vent the anger of the Zuoqiu Clan. Would you like to hear it, Brother Deye?"

Zuoqiu Deye's heart skipped a beat, realizing that the main event was finally coming after all the preamble.

He immediately raised his hand cooperatively, "Of course. Please speak, Young Master."

"This matter involves both the Zuoqiu Clan and the Cao Clan as victims. My idea is this: why not join forces..." Gongyang Ce then laid out his plan in detail.

Zuoqiu Deye, having lived for hundreds of years, quickly grasped the essence of the plan.

He exchanged a look with his great-grandson Zuoqiu Zhenghua, showing some hesitation, "This... This matter is significant. I need to discuss it with the clan before making a decision."

"Of course. That's understandable."

Gongyang Ce didn't force them, and after a few more polite exchanges, he let them leave.

After they left, only Gongyang Ce and his two companions remained in the Bamboo Courtyard.

"Young Master, will they agree?" Cao Youqing asked with some doubt, frowning slightly.

"Don't worry, they will agree."

It was Xiaoyue who answered, not Gongyang Ce.

She smiled, "The Master has cleared Celestial Maiden Youqing of any involvement in Zuoqiu Qingyun's case, so the Zuoqiu Clan has no reason to continue targeting the Cao Clan. By revealing the plan, the Master has shown his stance and implicitly backed Celestial Maiden Youqing. As long as they are not foolish, they will know what to do."

After all, a great prodigy of the Purple Mansion Realm from Lingyun Holy Land represented connections and power far beyond what a fourth-grade clan could contend with.

Between enemies and friends, even a fool would know what to choose.

"Moreover, the Master's plan doesn't require them to take any risks and is easy to execute, so they have no reason to refuse." Xiaoyue added.

Cao Youqing was still puzzled, "But will this really work?"

"It will be enough." Gongyang Ce glanced at her and said calmly, "Most of the time, a plan doesn't need to be overly complicated; it just needs to be effective."

Moreover, conspiracies are easy to break, but open schemes are often the hardest to resist.

His goal was never to destroy the Qian Clan or the Wang Clan; this arrangement was merely to apply pressure and make them understand the consequences of opposing him.

What he wanted, from the beginning, was Longzuo Commandery.

Of course, if he could recruit some talents in the process, that would be even better.

He instructed Xiaoyue to call the estate's servants to clear the food and wine and replace them with tea. Then, in a casual tone, he said, "The overall situation is set, and all it needs is a gentle push. In this matter, no one else in Longzuo Commandery is worth worrying about, except for two people. One is Qian Xuehan, the head of the Qian Clan, and the other is Wang Shouzhe, the head of the Wang Clan."

"Qian Xuehan?"

Cao Youqing was momentarily stunned.

She could understand Wang Shouzhe, as she had suffered losses at his hands multiple times and knew how formidable he was. But Qian Xuehan?

In her impression, Qian Xuehan was just a crybaby, not worth such attention.

"I forgot that Celestial Maiden Youqing has been in seclusion and may not be aware of the situation." Xiaoyue poured a cup of tea for Gongyang Ce and casually explained to Cao Youqing, "In recent years, the Qian Clan has been developing rapidly. Although your distant nephew Qian Xuehan has kept a low profile, his authority within the Qian Clan has been steadily increasing. He now holds significant influence in the Elder Council. In this regard, he is much stronger than his father and can be considered a capable person."

It's worth noting that Qian Xuehan's father, Qian Qinhong, was heavily restricted by the Elder Council during his tenure, which made him hesitant and cautious in his actions.

Qian Xuehan's ability to navigate the complex internal relationships of the Qian Clan and secure his position as the head of the clan within just a few years, with the support of the ancestors, was a testament to his competence.

After a pause, Xiaoyue added, "Under his leadership, the Qian Clan might even have the potential to advance further."

The Qian Clan was already a Purple Mansion Clan, and the next step would be to become a fourth-grade clan.

It's important to note that while maintaining a clan's status is relatively easy, advancing further is extremely difficult. Moreover, there were only a few fourth-grade clans in the entire Daqian. Someone who could elevate a fifth-grade clan to a fourth-grade one could barely be considered a "hero."

Xiaoyue's evaluation was quite high.

Cao Youqing hadn't expected that the Qian Xuehan she had never taken seriously would receive such high praise.

However, Xiaoyue had been following the Master for many years, and her ability to judge people was recognized even by the Master. If she said so, it was likely true.

For a moment, Cao Youqing's expression was quite complex.

"However, although Qian Xuehan is quite capable, he pales in comparison to Wang Shouzhe." Xiaoyue continued, her face showing a hint of admiration, "Opening up outer regions is a massive undertaking for any clan. But under Wang Shouzhe's leadership, the Wang Clan completed the development and migration of the outer regions in just ten years, without encountering any significant difficulties. Now, the newly developed Xin'an Town is thriving and is not much different from those towns that have been developed for many years. This speed of development is astonishing."

"Moreover, the 'Shouzhe Pass' built by the Wang Clan is ten miles long. I roughly estimated that the Wang Clan must have invested at least twenty million top gold in it. Yet, there is no sign of financial strain within the Wang Clan."

"How is that possible?" Cao Youqing was shocked, her eyes wide open.

That's twenty million!

Even a fifth-grade clan wouldn't be able to come up with such a large sum all at once without selling some assets, let alone a seventh-grade clan like the Wang Clan. Where did they get so much money?!

Of course, they didn't know that due to a miscalculation of the cost of cement, Xiaoyue's estimated amount was not accurate.

The Wang Clan's actual investment in developing the outer regions was only around sixteen million top gold. Additionally, the beasts they killed and the spiritual herbs they found during the development process were worth about two million top gold, which offset part of the investment.

Even so, an investment of fourteen million top gold was already astonishing.

Listening to the conversation between the two women, Gongyang Ce gently rubbed the tea cup with his fingers, his eyes filled with deep contemplation.

Compared to Qian Xuehan, Wang Shouzhe was the one he found most unfathomable.

Aside from Wang Shouzhe's seemingly incredible ability to generate wealth, his capabilities in other areas were equally impressive.

It was as if Wang Shouzhe was born knowing how to make his clan grow rapidly. Since taking over the clan, every action he took had a clear purpose, and he had never made a mistake.

The members of the Wang Clan nurtured by him were all outstanding, each one capable of being a backbone in a Purple Mansion Clan. His daughter, Wang Liyao, was even recognized by Tianhe Zhenren upon entering the academy and was directly designated as the successor of Longzuo Academy.

If Wang Shouzhe were the carefully groomed heir of a second or third-grade clan, his skills and abilities would be understandable. But he was merely from a ninth-grade clan.

Moreover, the series of adjustments and clan rules he implemented after taking over the Wang Clan gave Gongyang Ce a strong sense of déjà vu.

If he had to describe it in two words, it would be "ambition."

It was as if Wang Shouzhe had never intended for his clan to remain at the seventh grade but was aiming directly for the fifth grade or even higher.

But the problem was, when he took over the Changning Wang's Clan thirty-some years ago, it was still a ninth-grade clan.

This was the most perplexing part.

Where did a ninth-grade clan heir get such great ambition and confidence?

This made him suspect that besides Wang Liyao, there might be another great prodigy within the Changning Wang's Clan.

Perhaps, it was Wang Shouzhe himself.

Only then would everything make sense.

But how could a ninth-grade clan heir, a Basalt cultivator whose aptitude had long been measured, suddenly become a great prodigy and know so many things he shouldn't?

However, no matter how formidable Wang Shouzhe was, the Wang Clan was still just a seventh-grade clan.

The "matter at hand" was far more important.

Gongyang Ce set aside his thoughts, put down the tea cup, and said calmly, "I have some business to attend to in the Han Yue Immortal Dynasty. You two will be responsible for following up on this matter."

Xiaoyue and Cao Youqing, who had been chatting enthusiastically, immediately bowed upon hearing this.

"Yes, Master."

"Yes, Lord."

The game was set, and the pieces were in place.

The next steps were merely to keep an eye on things and make slight adjustments based on the actual situation. With the two of them, it was more than enough to handle. Given the current strength of the Qian Clan and the Wang Clan, they couldn't cause much trouble.

In due time, both the Qian Clan and the Wang Clan would be at his feet, paving the way for that one's Imperial Heir Struggle.

When the time came, he would have a good chat with Wang Shouzhe. He was a talent, and recruiting him would be highly beneficial for the future.

……

Meanwhile, the two ancestors of the Zuoqiu Clan, who had left the restaurant and were on their way back in the flying carriage pulled by the Jade-Clawed Egret, were also discussing the recent events.

Zuoqiu Zhenghua's expression was serious, and his tone was slightly dissatisfied, "Great-Grandfather, that Young Master Ce's plan clearly intends to use our Zuoqiu Clan as a pawn to deal with the Qian Clan of Longzuo Commandery. This matter is not simple. Regardless of the truth of the past events, it was likely just a pretext. He must have other schemes."

"You're right. The past events are just a pretext. At this point, the truth is no longer that important." Zuoqiu Deye nodded in agreement, "He wouldn't have the leisure to come and devise strategies for our Zuoqiu Clan. In my opinion, he's either targeting the Qian Clan's trade caravans or aiming for Longzuo Commandery."

"This is to pave the way for that one's Imperial Heir Struggle and also to plan for his own future as a Holy Son."

However, both Zuoqiu Deye and Zuoqiu Zhenghua, having lived for hundreds of years, naturally wouldn't just look at the surface.

Clan struggles were always about interests.

If the Zuoqiu Clan hadn't had designs on the Cao Clan's maritime trade caravans, they would have accepted Cao Bangning's peace proposal years ago instead of continuing to entangle with the Cao Clan.

After all, the Cao Clan had many prodigies, and although Zuoqiu Qingyun's performance had been good after gaining opportunities, his life wasn't that valuable.

Fighting another Purple Mansion Clan for so many years over him wasn't in the overall interest of the Zuoqiu Clan.

Since Gongyang Ce had personally intervened, his intentions were already clear.

"So what should our clan do? Should we really act against the Qian Clan of Longzuo Commandery?" Zuoqiu Zhenghua asked, "The Qian Clan is not an ordinary fifth-grade clan. Their trade caravans have been expanding in recent years. Moreover, apart from the grain we supply to the capital, nearly a third of our grain transportation and sales are done in cooperation with the Qian Clan. If we act, our grain sales will inevitably be affected."

As for the Changning Wang's Clan, he considered it incidental and naturally didn't mention it much.

Zuoqiu Deye understood his concerns and advised, "Young Master Ce's plan clearly isn't to destroy the Qian Clan but to achieve other objectives. Don't worry too much; we just need to follow the plan. As for the Imperial Heir Struggle, hehe~ for now, it's just mutual use. Our Zuoqiu Clan isn't pledging allegiance."

Having been the first ancestor for so many years, Zuoqiu Deye had seen many clan conflicts and was well-versed in the tactics involved. If the goal was to truly topple a clan, one would definitely target its core lifeline.

But Gongyang Ce's plan was more about applying pressure than cutting off the lifeline.

This wouldn't significantly impact future cooperation between the Zuoqiu Clan and the Qian Clan. After all, unless there was a blood feud, no clan would turn down money.

Moreover, Gongyang Ce's plan didn't require too much manpower or resources.

Following the plan would not only earn Gongyang Ce's favor but also avenge the humiliation of being played. It was a win-win situation, so naturally, he wouldn't refuse.

It was just a pity about the Cao Clan's maritime trade caravans...

Zuoqiu Deye sighed inwardly, then recalled Zuoqiu Qingyun's death and the various criticisms the Zuoqiu Clan had faced because of him over the years.

He couldn't help but sneer, "Since the Qian Clan didn't give us face back then, we don't need to give them face now. I want to see how long the Qian Clan can hold out under the combined sanctions of our Zuoqiu Clan and the Cao Clan."

……

A month later.

Ping'an Town, Changning Garrison, Longzuo Commandery.

It had been fifteen years since Wang Shouzhe returned to the Changning Wang's Clan after obtaining the Wuji Baodan from Monan and began developing the outer regions.

Even the famous "Shouzhe Pass" had been completed for five years.

During these fifteen years, although the Wang Clan had been busy, their days had been peaceful overall, and the clan's momentum was thriving.

With the endorsement of various major clans, a large population had been continuously migrating to "Xin'an Town." Piece by piece, the wasteland was being methodically cultivated into fertile fields, forming vast farms with crisscrossing paths.

A network of semi-natural, semi-artificial rivers and canals connected the farms and villages, solving the water needs of tenant farmers and improving irrigation, thereby increasing crop yields.As everyone knows, without a reliable and long-lasting water source, newly cultivated farmland can only rely on the whims of nature and cannot be considered good farmland.

In Ping'an Town, the Changning Wang's Clan built river embankments, repaired river channels, constructed sluice gates, and even developed a mature technique to divert water into terraced fields. The use and control of water have always been of utmost importance, allowing no room for negligence.

Even at the beginning of their land reclamation efforts, the Wang's Clan had already made comprehensive and unified plans for the river channels, irrigation facilities, and flood control measures in Xin'an Town. Although the initial investment was substantial, it would impact the development for the next hundred or even several hundred years.

While everyone in the Wang's Clan was busy, Wang Shouzhe, the head of the family, was relatively leisurely. With more and more talents in the family and the young ones maturing, he naturally didn't need to handle everything personally.

Thus, Wang Shouzhe only needed to cultivate daily, tend to his flowers, and enjoy time with his grandchildren.

At this moment, Wang Shouzhe was dressed in a loose and comfortable robe, staying in his small courtyard.

The elegant spring plum blossoms were half-open, like a sixteen-year-old girl shyly revealing a faint fragrance. In the open space among the flowers, Wang Shouzhe lay comfortably on a grandmaster chair, sipping a pot of Yunwu Spirit Tea, enjoying the crisp early spring sunlight.

Several young children surrounded him, some massaging his legs, others his shoulders, all looking at him eagerly.

"Speaking of which, the White Bone Demon was relentless. She transformed into an old lady, crying out, 'My daughter, my poor son, where are you?'... The monster, where are you going! Wukong swung his staff... Tang Monk was shocked, 'You vicious monkey, how could you harm two innocent lives? How can I tolerate you?'... He then recited the tightening spell..." Wang Shouzhe vividly narrated the story of "Three Strikes of the White Bone Demon."

Just as the story reached an exciting point, he stopped abruptly.

A boy of about ten years old, fair and clean, who would surely grow into a handsome man, widened his black and white eyes, "Grandpa, that Tang Monk is so unreasonable. Wukong killed the demon to protect him, yet he recited the tightening spell to harm Wukong. How detestable, what a big fool!"

"So, Zhao'er, you are the young clan leader and will bear great responsibilities in the future. The first thing you need to learn is to distinguish right from wrong," Wang Shouzhe said with a smile, patting his head affectionately.

It is said that grandparents dote on their grandchildren more than their children, and Wang Shouzhe's affection for his grandson Wang Shizhao far exceeded that for his son Wang Zong'an.

"Grandpa, grandpa, don't listen to brother's nonsense," a six or seven-year-old girl said, shaking Wang Shouzhe's arm vigorously, "Continue the story, continue! What happened to Wukong later? Isn't it 'Three Strikes of the White Bone Demon'? He has only struck twice. Also, the tightening spell is such a good thing. If I had one, I would put it on my brother so he would listen to me."

This little girl was Wang Yingtong, Wang Shouzhe's eldest granddaughter, who was only seven years old.

Her brother, Wang Shizhao, gave her an annoyed look, "If you put the tightening spell on me, I will hit you with a stick."

"Grandpa, brother is bullying me~" Wang Yingtong pouted, complaining.

"Wang Yingtong, I think you are the White Bone Demon, framing good people."

The siblings started bickering noisily.

"Enough, both of you, be quiet," said another girl of about ten years old, rolling her eyes, "Wang Shizhao, Wang Yingtong, you are twelve and seven years old respectively. Can you stop being so childish?"

"Yes, little aunt," Wang Shizhao and Wang Yingtong replied obediently. They had no choice; they were a generation apart from Wang Lijue, and had to behave when being scolded, even though she was a year younger than Wang Shizhao.

After scolding her niece and nephew, Wang Lijue hugged Wang Shouzhe's neck and acted coquettishly, "Daddy, I want to hear the story of Monkey Sun causing havoc in the Heavenly Palace~"

"Alright, alright, get down," Wang Shouzhe said, pulling her off with a bit of annoyance, "You are already eleven years old. You can't climb into daddy's arms anymore. When your aunt Luo Qiu was eleven, she was already preparing to slay gods and destroy Buddhas."

While Wang Shouzhe was spending time with the children, a group of riders galloped towards the main gate of the Wang's Clan.

The leading rider was mounted on a magnificent horse with a fiery red body, smooth muscle lines like silk, and snow-white hooves. It was the famous spirit horse "Fire Treading White Cloud."

This horse was majestic and intelligent, able to traverse rugged mountain paths as if on flat ground. On good grasslands or flat roads, it could cover 150 miles in half an hour.

However, such a fine horse had its drawbacks; it was very expensive. A qualified "Fire Treading White Cloud" often sold for over ten thousand Top Gold. Its daily feed had to be a mix of spirit-rich beans, spirit grass, and a small amount of spiritual meat.

Back in the day, Wang Shouzhe rode a "Fire Treading White Cloud" to marry his bride, Liu Ruolan, in great splendor.

Now, more than thirty years later, the Wang's Clan's large ranch in the north of Changning Garrison had successfully mastered the breeding and raising techniques for the "Fire Treading White Cloud." Even with the Wang's Clan's excellent spirit beans and spirit grass, it still took ten years and cost thousands of Top Gold to raise a single "Fire Treading White Cloud" warhorse.

Therefore, even in the wealthy Wang's Clan, not everyone could ride a "Fire Treading White Cloud."

As the leading rider dismounted in front of the main gate, he revealed himself to be a handsome and valiant young noble. He appeared to be only eighteen or nineteen years old, but he was tall, dressed in a tight outfit with sword boots, carrying a strong bow and a treasured sword. Despite his young age, his profound energy was thick and his foundation solid.

This young man was Wang Zongrui, the second son of the current clan leader, Wang Shouzhe.

Accompanying him were two slightly older young men, also handsome and tall, with calm and confident expressions. They were Wang Zongming, son of Wang Shouyong, and Wang Zongping, son of Wang Shoulian, both twenty-one years old.

The three of them were close in age and had a deep bond, often working together. Although Wang Zongrui was the youngest, he was the second son of the current clan leader, so the other two usually followed his lead.

Behind them was a team of seven or eight family guards.

Wang Xin, the captain of the Wang's Clan's gate guards, hurriedly stepped forward, "Greetings, Tenth Young Master, Eighth Young Master, Ninth Young Master." He waved his hand, and several guards stepped forward to take care of the horses.

"Brother Xin, share this with your brothers to buy some wine," Wang Zongming said, tossing a small bag of copper coins to Captain Wang Xin with a smile, "Zongrui's 'Fire Treading White Cloud' has a temper, so it needs to be stabled separately."

"Thank you, young masters, for the wine," Wang Xin said with a smile, "I heard you went to Chuyun Garrison? You all look so cheerful and generous, it seems the mission was a great success."

"But with you young masters going to Chuyun Garrison, didn't you cause trouble for the local noble girls? After seeing your charm, many must have fallen in love."

Wang Xin, from a collateral branch of the Wang's Clan, had been trained as a key family guard since childhood. Now, at less than thirty years old, he was already at the eighth level of the Qi Refining Realm and was likely to become a Lingtai Realm guard in the future.

Therefore, Wang Xin's status was not low, and he could joke with the young masters of the Wang's Clan.

The collateral branches of the Wang's Clan had grown significantly, from over a thousand people initially to more than eight thousand now.

Many of the collateral branches had migrated from Longzuo in recent decades, especially in the last ten years, moving to Xin'an Town for land reclamation, greatly alleviating the population shortage of the Changning Wang's Clan.

The collateral branches had their own genealogies, and every person could be traced, making it easier to investigate secretly. This had brought many reliable family guards and managers to the Changning Wang's Clan.

"Brother Xin, don't talk nonsense," Wang Zongping laughed and scolded, "We went to handle business and train, not to flirt. If this reaches Fourth Uncle's ears and causes a misunderstanding, we might face family discipline."

Despite the banter, Wang Zongping's eyes held a trace of pride. The Changning Wang's Clan was now highly respected in the southern six garrisons of Longzuo Commandery and had a notable reputation throughout Longzuo Commandery.

The Wang's Clan was not only wealthy and powerful but also placed great emphasis on cultivating the younger generation. For example, Wang Zongping, a direct descendant, received training far exceeding that of the direct descendants of seventh-grade clans.

The minimum standard for direct descendants included the Enlightenment Pill, Blood Refining Pill, and a Xisui Dan. Their training before the age of sixteen was based on the treatment for nurturing Celestial Realm talents in seventh-grade clans.

After sixteen, as long as they followed their elders and worked hard to improve themselves, they could continuously receive high-quality cultivation resources, even better than the Celestial Realm talents of seventh-grade clans.

Their future was aimed at the Celestial Realm.

Such treatment was unmatched by seventh-grade or even sixth-grade clans, and even the direct descendants of fifth-grade clans were not as well-treated. Fifth-grade clans, although wealthier, had too many direct descendants in each generation.

Unlike the Wang's Clan, which had only a few direct descendants, making each one precious.

Such individuals, when they ventured out, were all handsome, with profound cultivation and solid foundations, their futures limitless. No wonder the young ladies of seventh, eighth, and ninth-grade clans admired them, marrying into the Wang's Clan's direct line was akin to marrying into the elite of a Purple Mansion Clan.

In today's world, the young members of the Wang's Clan were highly sought after in the marriage market, with their matches starting at least with the direct descendants of Celestial Realm clans.

As for Wang Zongrui, being a direct son, his training was based on the standards for prodigies. Given the Wang's Clan's current development and strength, only the direct daughters of strong sixth-grade or fifth-grade clans could match him.

Even so, no one in the Wang's Clan would gossip. Everyone knew that without Clan Leader Wang Shouzhe and the strength of the direct line, the Wang's Clan wouldn't be as prosperous as it was today.

With all these factors, how could the young generation of the Wang's Clan not be confident? However, due to the good family education and the reward and punishment system, they were proud but not arrogant, with many manners and rules.

The young men chatted and laughed as they went to the family Treasure Pavilion, communicated with the spirit artifact "Xiaoxue," confirmed the completion of their mission, and earned some family contribution points.

Just as they were about to leave and go their separate ways, the secret chamber of the Treasure Pavilion suddenly opened, and a graceful woman walked out. She smiled at the young masters and then gracefully walked towards the main residence.

Wang Zongrui and the other young masters were all stunned, their faces full of shock and disbelief. They looked at each other, as if they had seen a ghost.

The reason was simple.

The woman was tall and slender, with long legs, her sky-blue hair tied into long twin tails that almost reached the ground. She wore long socks, one black and one white, known as "black and white double."

How did the young masters recognize her? Because the family spirit artifact was dressed the same way, and they had seen it since childhood.

What shocked them the most was that the woman had large, watery eyes, long eyelashes, pointed ears, a sharp chin, and fair skin with a blush, looking exactly like the spirit artifact Xiaoxue brought to life.

"Zongrui, did I see it wrong?" Wang Zongping said, trembling, "Xiaoxue has come to life!"

"Ding-dong~ Young masters, she is not Xiaoxue," suddenly, the image of Xiaoxue reappeared in the Treasure Pavilion, her voice somewhat eerie, "Look closely, her legs are not as long as mine, certain parts are not as perky, and she is not as... well-endowed... Hmph, just a pesky imitator."

"Then who is she?" Wang Zongrui and the others asked.

"Ding-dong~ Identity search in progress, identity confidentiality level—Top Secret! Sorry, young masters, only one person in the Wang's Clan has the authority to know her identity, and that is Clan Leader Wang Shouzhe."

"So mysterious? Only the clan leader knows?"

Wang Zongrui and the others looked at each other, their expressions becoming serious. Various ominous speculations surfaced in their minds.

A few moments later.

"This, this is going to be big," Wang Zongming said, trembling, "So Xiaoxue wasn't created out of thin air, but had a real-life model... If Fourth Aunt finds out, what will we do?"

"Eighth Brother... you mean... she has come to confront us?" Wang Zongping's face also changed, "This is bad, the family is in crisis. Quick, Zongrui, go call the Ancestor. Only the Ancestor can handle this situation."

"This is going to be a big fight, and this time it's real!"

"Ninth Brother, please go call the Ancestor..." Wang Zongrui gritted his teeth and made up his mind, "I will go and risk my life to save Father."

At the same time, he trembled inwardly. Father, you must control yourself and hold on. I, Wang Zongrui, have such difficult parents to deal with.