Protect Our Patriarch

……

The capital city, Guilong City.

As the capital of the Great Qian, Guilong City boasts over seven thousand years of history. It is undoubtedly the foremost city of the Great Qian, with a scale so vast and an aura so grand that it leaves people in awe.

Surrounding Guilong City are thirty-six garrison towns, collectively guarding this ancient and majestic city.

Legend has it that in the early days, Emperor Ziwei Xuandu, the founding emperor, and Lingyun Zhenjun, the master of the Holy Land, descended from the clouds and encountered a demon emperor occupying the spiritual veins here. They joined forces to slay the demon.

Afterward, Emperor Ziwei Xuandu leveled the mountains and connected the earth veins, establishing this magnificent city.

It is said that deep beneath Guilong City lies an ancient and unparalleled grand formation that can protect the Great Qian for thousands of generations, though the truth of this remains uncertain.

Regardless of the legend's veracity, it does not diminish the city's prosperity.

In Guilong City, countless merchants come and go daily, and these merchants are at least from sixth-grade families. Those below sixth-grade do not even qualify to purchase shops in the city.

On the streets, it is common to encounter carriages from royal families and noble clans. High-ranking families that are rarely seen elsewhere are ubiquitous here. Even a random pedestrian might be from a third-grade family or a Celestial Realm expert.

Indeed, "no commoners in sight."

To the east of Guilong City stands a luxurious restaurant named White Cloud Tower.

White Cloud Tower is famous in Guilong City for its "three absolutes"—unmatched taste, music, and dance. It is beloved by the scions of noble families, wealthy merchants, and young aristocrats.

Decades ago, an impromptu "Big Eater" competition brought even more fame to White Cloud Tower, leaving behind a legendary tale of a glutton and maintaining its popularity.

White Cloud Tower seized the opportunity and began promoting a "Big Eater" competition every three years to attract more attention.

Now, decades have passed.

White Cloud Tower's business is booming, the scale of the Big Eater competition is growing, and the prizes are becoming increasingly lavish.

The allure of fame and fortune has not only drawn the youth of Guilong City to participate enthusiastically but also attracted young people from the thirty-six surrounding garrison towns, who flock to White Cloud Tower when the time comes.

Moreover, this influence continues to spread, with young people from places like Western Sea Commandery and Qing'an Commandery traveling great distances to compete.

Inside White Cloud Tower, the Big Eater competition has already begun.

In the central cloud platform on the first floor, long tables are neatly arranged, laden with roasted beast meat, filling the entire tower with a rich aroma.

The contestants are seated at the long tables, devouring the food voraciously. Beside them stand attendants responsible for counting and supervising.

Below the cloud platform, there is a bustling area for betting on the outcome.

In the elegantly arranged private seats scattered like stars throughout the tower, spectators have already taken their places, eagerly watching the competition.

On the top floor of White Cloud Tower.

Unlike the middle section, where the private seats are scattered, the top floor's private seats are closely spaced, some even connected. By simply turning off the soundproofing enchantments, one can chat freely.

Below the top floor is an open-air garden, planted with exotic flowers and butterflies, creating an elegant environment without obstructing the view. The design is ingenious.

Many guests are already seated in the top floor's private seats, engaging in lively conversations.

At this moment, a figure appeared in the open-air garden, slowly ascending the steps.

It was a dignified middle-aged man. He wore a dark purple robe adorned with three-clawed dragons, a dragon-scale crown permitted only for royalty, and walked with a composed and extraordinary demeanor.

The spirit lamps shaped like cranes spreading their wings stood on either side of the steps, casting a hazy glow on his face, highlighting his already prominent features.

This man was none other than the owner of White Cloud Tower—Commandery Prince of Heng.

"Good morning, Commandery Prince of Heng."

"Your Highness looks in good spirits today."

"Of course, His Highness is in good spirits. In just a few decades, White Cloud Tower's revenue has increased several times over. It's a huge profit."

"This year's Big Eater competition has reached an all-time high in popularity. After this, no other restaurant in the capital will be able to compare with White Cloud Tower. Commandery Prince of Heng, you must treat us!"

Those dining on the top floor are all prominent figures in Guilong City. They are a small group of influential people who enjoy the excitement and are quite familiar with the Commandery Prince of Heng, joking with him without any offense.

The Commandery Prince of Heng smiled and nodded in greeting, stopping to chat with those of similar status.

Finally, he sat down in his exclusive private seat.

This position was private yet offered a broad view, allowing a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator to easily observe the competition.

Soon, a White Cloud Tower attendant brought over fruit bowls and dishes, along with some special spiritual food and wine prepared for the Commandery Prince of Heng.

The manager of White Cloud Tower quickly arrived, standing respectfully by the side, personally serving the Commandery Prince of Heng.

The Commandery Prince of Heng was in a great mood, his every move exuding a sense of triumph. It's no wonder; anyone who made a fortune would be in high spirits.

"Who has the best chance of winning this year?" the Commandery Prince of Heng asked leisurely, savoring the rich spiritual wine.

"Your Highness," the manager replied, bowing, "this year's Big Eater competition has several strong contenders. One is Fang Yaowu, a renowned prodigy from the Fang Clan of the Cangxiong Garrison. He has excellent qualifications and has been training in the military's Basalt body-refining technique, the Cangxiong Shaking Mountain Art, since childhood. His body is as strong as a bear, and his appetite is astonishing."

The thirty-six garrisons of Guilong City are named after various ancient divine beasts and are stationed by military families to guard the city, forming the first line of defense for the capital.

"I've heard of that boy, Fang Yaowu. Recently, he's been making a name for himself in the military, known as one of the top ten young prodigies in the military." The Commandery Prince of Heng praised, then lamented, "It's a pity he's from the military and must directly serve His Majesty. We royals are forbidden to associate with him."

"Another contender is Shangguan Yunhong, a young Purple Mansion seed from the fourth-grade Shangguan Clan of Guilong City. He was born with a devouring bloodline and has mastered the Shangguan Clan's body-refining technique, the Dragon Elephant Infinite Art. His Dragon Elephant Battle Body is already at a minor achievement, and he is hailed as one of the 'Top Ten Outstanding Youths Under a Hundred' in Guilong City."

The manager continued to introduce another contender.

"The Shangguan Clan has been producing talents in recent years," the Commandery Prince of Heng smiled in appreciation. "They have consistently maintained a spot among the top ten outstanding youths of Guilong City. The last one, Shangguan Yunque, ranked third as a great prodigy. The Shangguan Clan has a promising future as a third-grade family."

"The Shangguan Clan's future is indeed bright," the manager said with a smile. "Many forces are already vying to win over the Shangguan Clan. It's said that even Commandery Prince Kang, a favored quasi-imperial heir, has been sending people to court the Shangguan Clan."

"Wu Chengsi?" The Commandery Prince of Heng sneered, "That boy is good at nothing but currying favor."

Among the royal family, many support Commandery Prince Kang.

But there are also those who hold a grudge against him. The Commandery Prince of Heng is one of them, having publicly expressed his dissatisfaction with Commandery Prince Kang several times.

"Your Highness..." The manager, sweating profusely, advised, "He is currently very influential and may become the future emperor. You should be cautious..."

"Am I afraid of a mere junior?" The Commandery Prince of Heng scoffed, "Regardless, I, Wu Han Heng, am his elder. Even if he becomes the emperor, can I not criticize him?"

Most royals, due to their noble birth, are straightforward and do not flatter those they dislike.

"Your Highness is right."

The manager, wiping the sweat from his forehead, dared not argue with the Commandery Prince.

"By the way, I remember a girl named Shangguan Bilian from the Shangguan Clan. She caused quite a stir at White Cloud Tower when she was young. Where did she get married?" The Commandery Prince of Heng asked, recalling Shangguan Bilian.

"Your Highness, I remember that well. It was seventy or eighty years ago, and it caused quite a commotion in the capital and the Shangguan Clan." The manager, excited to talk about gossip, continued, "Many families in the capital wanted to marry Miss Shangguan. The Shangguan Ancestor doted on her and let her choose. She chose a sixth-grade rural family whose Purple Mansion Ancestor had just fallen..."

"Interesting," the Commandery Prince of Heng laughed, "No wonder she left such an impression on me. But this must have been a blow to the Shangguan Clan's reputation."

"Indeed," the manager laughed, "But the Shangguan Ancestor couldn't go back on his word and had to let her marry. Several young nobles in the capital became laughingstocks, unable to compete with a rural family. It took over a decade for the matter to settle down."

"Interesting, interesting. When she returns to the capital, have her come to see me." The Commandery Prince of Heng, a whimsical character, sighed, "It's been years since I saw that girl, Wang Lici. I heard she went with Yunyang to the Immortal Dynasty to freeload. Who knows when I'll see her again?"

The Commandery Prince of Heng, having lived a long life, had met many people, but Wang Lici left the deepest impression on him.

Indeed!

During the five years she freeloaded at White Cloud Tower, she nearly ate the place into bankruptcy. How could he not remember her?

Despite his fondness for the chubby-faced girl, he had to issue an eviction order to Yunyang. But soon after, he regretted it, as the Big Eater competition boosted White Cloud Tower's business.

Though it couldn't fully support Wang Lici, it could at least make Yunyang work harder to make ends meet.

Sigh~

Now, who knows where that poor girl is in the Immortal Dynasty? Is she getting enough to eat?

Thinking of this, the Commandery Prince of Heng felt a pang of regret.

If only he could contact Yunyang, he would bring her back and take care of her, even adopting her as a granddaughter. As for Yunyang, he could earn his keep.

"Your Highness, Miss Lici is blessed," the manager comforted, "She is a fortunate child and will never lack food. Moreover, Yunyang is training her for the Holy Son Struggle after the Imperial Heir Struggle. She will return then."

"Alright, I'll manage White Cloud Tower well, earn more money, and stockpile the best delicacies, waiting for her return." The Commandery Prince of Heng, suddenly motivated, regained his vigor.

"Let's see who will win this time, Shangguan Yunhong or Fang Yaowu."

By now, the Big Eater competition was nearing its end.

The Commandery Prince of Heng focused on the competition's climax.

"Hmm? Something seems off." The Commandery Prince of Heng frowned, "There are still three contestants left. The burly one on the left, with muscles like a bear, must be Fang Yaowu. The one on the right, with a thick and sturdy build like a giant elephant, must be Shangguan Yunhong."

With his keen eyes, the Commandery Prince of Heng could instantly identify them by their physique and aura.

Some special body-refining techniques cause physical changes when practiced deeply.

And prodigious Basalt cultivators often become unrecognizable, making early marriage advisable.

However, this doesn't last a lifetime.

Most high-grade body-refining techniques reach completion at the Purple Mansion Realm, resulting in a return to normalcy. Their appearance becomes less exaggerated, only showing their battle form during combat.

Unsurprisingly, past Big Eater competition winners were often Basalt cultivators with large appetites. Other Basalt cultivators, though also having large appetites, couldn't compare to body-refining cultivators.

But what did the Commandery Prince of Heng see?

Between the two burly men stood a relatively "petite" woman, dressed in a flowing, fairy-like robe, with a slender and graceful figure.

Though her face was veiled, her extraordinary fairy-like aura was palpable.

Especially her eyes, which seemed to sparkle like stars.

Every time she lifted her veil to eat elegantly, her partially revealed beauty stunned the audience and defeated contestants.

"Go, Fairy! Defeat Fang Yaowu and Shangguan Yunhong!"

Cheers grew louder and more enthusiastic, shaking White Cloud Tower.

She ate gracefully but quickly.

A large piece of roasted spiritual meat, weighing over ten pounds, was compressed to palm-size with a light squeeze of her profound energy and eaten in a few bites.

Unlike the two burly men beside her, who tore into the meat directly.

"Girl, you're wasting the chef's skills," Fang Yaowu grumbled, "You're not savoring the exquisite cooking."

Spiritual meat greatly supplements the body's energy, far more than ordinary meat.

As the Big Eater competition's level and popularity grew, the ingredients became more high-end. In the finals, White Cloud Tower used rare fifth-grade spiritual beef for the contestants.

However, this meat, though excellent, is very filling. Ordinary people can barely digest a small bite. Even Celestial Realm cultivators must meditate to digest the energy, or risk ruptured blood vessels.

The woman ignored him, silently eating piece after piece of roasted fifth-grade spiritual beef. Her seemingly flat stomach showed no signs of bloating.

In contrast, the burly Fang Yaowu and Shangguan Yunhong began to sweat, their faces reddening.

Clearly, the fifth-grade spiritual beef was reaching their limits.

"Is that Lici?" The Commandery Prince of Heng stood up excitedly, but upon closer inspection, he sat back down in disappointment, "It's not Lici. Lici doesn't eat so elegantly."

"Her profound energy is so pure and thick, like real primordial water flowing within her."

The Commandery Prince of Heng, a late-stage Purple Mansion Realm cultivator like Yunyang, had sharp eyes, instantly noticing her peculiarity.

He sensed a vortex of primordial water in her stomach, spinning like a galaxy, grinding and absorbing the food into pure energy.

None of this energy was wasted, rapidly absorbed into her body, strengthening her as it circulated with her primordial water profound energy.

Yes, she was already in a state of cultivation, digesting the food's energy.

"Such strong primordial water profound energy, such fast absorption."

The Commandery Prince of Heng, knowledgeable and powerful, was captivated, marveling at her abilities.

But then he noticed something else, "Wait, her profound energy's characteristics are from one of the Holy Land's nine veins' techniques—the Tianyi True Water Canon. Is she using the minor divine ability—Heavenly Water Transforms All Things?"

"This woman is only at the mid-Celestial Realm, yet she's allowed to practice a Holy Land technique. Could she be a great prodigy of the Holy Land? No, that's not right. The Tianyi True Water vein of the Holy Land doesn't have a great prodigy in the current generation."

Great prodigies are rare.

Even the Holy Land's nine veins don't always have a great prodigy in every generation. Sometimes, a vein goes without one for a while.

But as long as the Holy Land exists, even if a vein temporarily lacks a great prodigy, it will eventually find one.

However, any vein with a great prodigy will have a world-renowned figure, not someone who appears out of nowhere.

As the Commandery Prince of Heng pondered, Fang Yaowu, the military prodigy, finally collapsed, foaming at the mouth, his energy in turmoil.

Every Big Eater competition has similar incidents, with contestants pushing beyond their limits.

White Cloud Tower's attendants quickly carried him away and gave him an emetic.

"Fang Yaowu ultimately couldn't match Shangguan Yunhong's devouring bloodline."

Many of his supporters were disappointed.

Now it was between the mysterious fairy-like woman and Shangguan Yunhong.

After another incense stick's time, Shangguan Yunhong picked up the last piece of roasted meat. But as he opened his mouth, he nearly vomited and finally gave up, running off the stage to vomit.

After a while, he returned, angrily pointing at the mysterious woman, "I, Shangguan Yunhong, with my devouring bloodline and body-refining technique, can't lose! You must have cheated! I demand to see your face and find out which demoness is causing trouble!"

With that, Shangguan Yunhong's aura surged, and he charged at the mysterious woman, his giant hand reaching for her veil.

Under the light, his arm visibly thickened, muscles bulging with immense power.

Even his fingertips whistled through the air.

Though a casual move, it was still formidable.

"Be careful, girl."

"Fairy, run!"

The mysterious woman's supporters shouted warnings and angrily scolded Shangguan Yunhong, "You lost and won't admit it, how despicable."

But before Shangguan Yunhong's hand could touch her veil.

The mysterious woman gracefully dodged and swiftly kicked his stomach.

With a "boom," Shangguan Yunhong's elephant-like body was sent flying off the stage, crashing to the ground.

As everyone stared in shock.

The mysterious woman raised her hand, and a giant scroll unfurled, hanging from the top of White Cloud Tower.

A large vertical banner was revealed to all.

It read: "Longzuo Academy, Tianhe True Inheritor Wang Liyao, age sixty-nine, challenges the capital's prodigies and sweeps the Holy Land's nine veins. Anyone under one hundred and fifty may come to fight!"

The banner caused a stunned silence.

The manager beside the Commandery Prince of Heng froze, sweating profusely, "My goodness, this is a great prodigy testing their skills... It's been years since the capital saw such a spectacle."

……