Protect Our Patriarch

……

"Fourth Uncle, Fourth Uncle, what's wrong?" Just as Wang Shouzhe was lost in thought, Wang Yingqi's clear voice rang out, "If you think our 'Genius Girls Mutual Aid Alliance' is inappropriate, then we'll just disband it."

"There's no need for that," Wang Shouzhe said indifferently, though he thought to himself that such a childish group would soon fall apart on its own.

Wait... did Yingqi's previous name have the word "beautiful" in it?

"Great! Since Fourth Uncle agrees, our 'Invincible Genius Girls Mutual Aid Alliance' can officially be established," Wang Yingqi cheered.

Two other young girls joined in the celebration.

Wang Shouzhe's eyelid twitched.

This little rascal Yingqi really knows how to take advantage. What do you mean I agreed? Seeing how happy you are, have you forgotten you're still tied up by me?

That honest boy Shouyong, how did he end up with such a granddaughter?

He chuckled and said, "Yingqi, in a few years, you'll be going to the Holy Land to study and cultivate with Yingxuan. Are you excited?"

"Yes!" Wang Yingqi beamed brightly.

"Yingqi, you see, our Changning Wang's Clan is just a small sixth-grade family. To those high and mighty families, we're just a rural clan," Wang Shouzhe said earnestly, "When you and Yingxuan go to the Holy Land, you must strive for our Wang's Clan, so no one looks down on us."

"Yes, Fourth Uncle, Yingqi will work hard to show those snobbish people how amazing our Wang's Clan is," Wang Yingqi said seriously.

"That's good. Fourth Uncle believes in you~"

Wang Shouzhe said, smiling as he began to pull out various collections of ancient poetry and carefully compiled textbooks and practice exams.

"These, these, and those, all for you. Every month, come to Fourth Uncle's courtyard for exams. Pass and you'll be rewarded, fail and you'll be punished."

"What!"

Wang Yingqi was struck dumb, her whole body frozen.

She wanted to run, but being tied up, she couldn't move. As more and more books were stuffed into her arms, her heart sank deeper and deeper.

She knew that when Fourth Uncle said there would be exams, he meant it. There would be no cheating, no getting by. Fourth Uncle never joked about this.

In an instant, Wang Yingqi shed "tears of gratitude."

This was why Fourth Uncle was known as the "Great Demon King," a title passed down through generations.

None of the other kids could escape the "Great Demon King's" clutches either.

"Wang Meijing, you're the eldest of the 'Mei' generation. Even though you're the only one in the 'Mei' generation now, you have to set a good example for those who come after you, just like Big Sister Lici did back then." Wang Shouzhe earnestly stuffed a pile of basic subjects and ancient poetry into nine-year-old Wang Meijing's arms.

"Thank you for your concern, Ancestor," Wang Meijing also shed "tears of gratitude."

By her eleventh generation, the generational gap was so wide that she called the seventh-generation "Shou" and "Luo" ancestors directly.

Just like Wang Shouzhe often called the third-generation Wang Long Yan "Ancestor."

"Ninghui, you're the eldest of the 'Ning' generation, you must set a good example." Wang Shouzhe handed a pile of beginner books to Wang Ninghui.

The four-year-old boy, still with a runny nose, looked bewildered.

"Wang Xuanyi, this is your share."

"Wang An'song, Wang An'ze, Wang Xuanyu, Wang Xuanqin, don't hang your heads. Fourth Great Uncle won't play favorites." Wang Shouzhe knew each of the younger generation members well.

He was like a spring breeze, warmly caring for each family member, leaving no one out.

Each child, feeling the elder's care and earnest encouragement, couldn't help but sob with joy, tears streaming down their faces, overwhelmed with emotion.

This made Wang Shouzhe very pleased. The children of the Wang's Clan were indeed full of spirit, responding to his care with tears of gratitude.

Good, what good children! This is the foundation of the Wang's Clan's future prosperity.

After encouraging them.

The spirit plant tendrils retracted into the ground, disappearing without a trace.

Wang Shouzhe, holding a teapot, took a sip of fine spirit tea and, feeling particularly pleased, continued his patrol of the residence, looking to bring more elder's love to the next group of children.

Once Wang Shouzhe's figure disappeared around the corner, the children who had been sobbing quietly sat down, clutching their piles of books, and began to wail loudly.

They cried so heartbreakingly, so sorrowfully.

Some older children peeked out from the corners, their eyes showing a mix of schadenfreude, bitterness, and nostalgia.

Back then, they had gone through the same thing~~

How could one be considered a "qualified" member of the Wang's Clan without experiencing the "Great Demon King's" care?

……

Leaving aside the trivial matters at the Wang's Clan main residence.

Far away in Guilong City, Wang Liyao's days were truly eventful.

The Commandery Prince of Heng, who had grasped the essence of "true" business tactics, quickly dismantled the original stage that was only good for dancing and dining, replacing it with an obsidian iron stage and spending a fortune to build a defensive array.

He also used the excuse of building a sturdy stage for Miss Liyao to keep challengers at bay, registering them one by one. According to him, the Great Qian is a civilized society, and competitions must have rules. Register, get a number, and challenge in an orderly manner according to the date.

This move, though it caused much dissatisfaction.

But who could argue with the Commandery Prince of Heng?

If not for his age, making him unsuitable for the Emperor's inheritance, he would surely qualify for the Imperial Heir Struggle.

Such a person setting the rules, even if there were objections, they could only accept with a smile and even praise the Commandery Prince of Heng for his good work.

In reality.

The Commandery Prince of Heng was deliberately stirring up interest, trying to keep the excitement going as long as possible.

As a result.

Wang Liyao was well-fed and well-treated by the Commandery Prince of Heng, accepting challenges from young prodigies of Guilong City every two days.

"I am Sun Qianqiu, ranked seventeenth among the young prodigies of Guilong City, from the fourth-grade Sun Clan of Guilong, at the peak of the second level of the Celestial Realm, aged ninety-three."

Then.

This Sun Qianqiu guy was sent flying off the stage in ten breaths.

Two days later.

"I am Ouyang Feiyang, from the fourth-grade Ouyang Clan of Guilong, at the peak of the third level of the Celestial Realm, aged one hundred and thirteen, ranked sixteenth."

In White Cloud Tower, packed with people, with the minimum consumption in each private room tripled, and all the temporary tables filled with food and drink, Ouyang Feiyang lasted fifteen breaths before being blasted off the stage.

After five such incidents.

The diners (audience) couldn't hold back their complaints anymore. With such high minimum consumption, who among them wasn't powerful, influential, and wealthy?

Many of them were even members of the royal family.

Even if the Commandery Prince of Heng had a high status, he couldn't treat them like this, could he?

It was obvious that the Commandery Prince of Heng was deliberately pushing the stronger challengers to the back, using the "trash" prodigies to pad the numbers.

To quell the "public anger," the Commandery Prince of Heng immediately arranged for a top-ranked young prodigy, Chen Muying from the Great Qian Chen's Clan, ranked seventh, to challenge Miss Liyao.

As one of the only three third-grade families in the Great Qian, the Chen's Clan had the right to bear the name of the Great Qian.

Although the Chen's Clan didn't follow the founding emperor in the early days, it was a rapidly rising star.

Now, the Great Qian Chen's Clan was very powerful, with two Divine Realm ancestors in the family.

Thus, playing the Chen Muying card slightly calmed the public anger. The Commandery Prince of Heng then began to hype Chen Muying, making him seem invincible.

Rumors spread that Chen Muying was one of the Chen's Clan's hidden cards, and his ranking of seventh among the young prodigies was just a deliberate concealment of his true strength.

With all the hype, Chen Muying was portrayed as an unbeatable hidden prodigy. It seemed that if he wanted, he could easily take the top spot.

As the rumors spread, many people had high expectations for this challenge. Even if the rumors were exaggerated, it was bound to be a challenge worth watching.

The minimum consumption for private rooms in White Cloud Tower soon soared to six times the original price.

Under the gaze of the public, Chen Muying, who had been hyped up to the point of overconfidence, felt he could compete with a great prodigy. He lost!

In three breaths!

Chen Muying only managed one move before Wang Liyao defeated him with an unsheathed sword!

It wasn't that Chen Muying was that weak, but if he had fought cautiously, he wouldn't have lost so badly. Sometimes, rumors can be harmful. If Chen Muying could rise from this setback, he might still become a great hero.

At the same time, the diners, who had hoped for an exciting battle to go with their food and drink, were also disappointed.

Is that it?

Was Chen Muying just there to make Wang Liyao look good?

Refund...

……

Meanwhile.

In the western part of Guilong City, a bit far from the palace, there was a large mansion.

This mansion wasn't luxurious and looked no different from the surrounding ones, but the plaque at the entrance bore the Azure Dragon emblem of the Great Qian royal family.

This meant that the owner of this mansion was a member of the Great Qian royal family.

In Guilong City, there were many such mansions. The Great Qian had developed for thousands of years, and the number of royal family members was countless. Naturally, the royal family's properties were beyond imagination.

Although most of the current royal family members were far removed from the direct line, and their bloodline concentration was not as strong, they were still much stronger than other middle and lower-grade families and occasionally produced great prodigies.

In this generation, the direct line of the royal family produced a great prodigy named Wu Zhixing. Due to his extraordinary talent, Emperor Longchang brought him to Guilong City to be taught by the royal family's best teachers. It had been decades now.

This mansion, named "Xingyuan," was a gift from Emperor Longchang to this direct-line great prodigy.

In the backyard of Xingyuan.

In a lush garden, a young man sat cross-legged on a rock by a pond, eyes closed, quietly comprehending the laws of heaven and earth.

This young man was, of course, the owner of Xingyuan, Wu Zhixing.

Behind him, a somewhat solid dragon-shaped shadow slowly swam, exuding a vast and majestic aura.

But unlike the azure yellow Azure Dragon, this dragon-shaped shadow was azure. Not the jade green of the water dragon, but a sky-blue color with a vast aura like the sky and clouds. Under its ribs, there were a pair of huge wings, iridescent and sacred.

As the shadow swam, the wind seemed to be drawn, circling the young man, rising and falling with his breath, as if it had life.

It was unknown how long had passed.

Suddenly.

A golden light flashed between the young man's brows.

In the next moment, the azure dragon shadow behind him seemed to come to life, its eyes brightening, wings flapping, and it let out a long dragon roar.

The wind.

The clear wind seemed to receive an order, sweeping through the world, stirring the grass and trees, rippling the water, then spiraling into the sky, roaring into the distance.

The azure dragon shadow flapped its wings again.

The wind in the world suddenly changed, a gale arose, clouds gathered, and the weather turned from clear to overcast.

Above the courtyard, dark clouds rolled, and thunder rumbled.

Suddenly.

A bolt of lightning split the sky, and thunder roared. Amidst the thunder, rain poured down like a waterfall, but it seemed constrained, falling only within the courtyard.

Outside the courtyard wall, the ground remained dry, not a drop of water in sight.

In the pouring rain, the young man still sat cross-legged, eyes closed, immersed in an indescribable state, forgetting himself and the world.

Raindrops fell on his shoulders, hair, and slid down his clothes, but his clothes remained dry, not a trace of wetness.

This was because a thin layer of wind, like a membrane, covered his body and clothes, isolating the rain and the world.

It was unknown how long had passed before the dark clouds above the courtyard slowly dispersed.

The clouds cleared, and the rain stopped.

The young man in the courtyard slowly opened his eyes.

"Zhixing, my dear grandson, you're finally awake~ I've been waiting so long I'm bored to death."

Suddenly.

A pouting voice came from above.

The young man, Wu Zhixing, looked up to see a little girl in a purple dress sitting in a tree nearby.

She had cute twin buns tied with golden ribbons, her face full of youthful energy, looking particularly adorable.

Who knew how long she had been there, her legs swinging, clearly bored.

Beside her was a middle-aged woman in a green dress, holding a rain-blocking spell. When the man looked over, the middle-aged woman nodded slightly in greeting.

"Greetings, Aunt Snow."

Wu Zhixing came to his senses, quickly stood up, and respectfully bowed to the little girl, then to the middle-aged woman.

This little girl was a direct descendant of the royal family, named Wu Xue'ning, two generations above him. According to royal family rules, even though he was over ninety, he still had to call her Aunt Snow.

The middle-aged woman beside Wu Xue'ning was her personal attendant and bodyguard.

"Rise, no need for formalities~"

Wu Xue'ning responded like a little adult, then leaped lightly to the ground.

Though she was only thirteen, her cultivation was already at the ninth level of the Qi Refining Realm. In a little over a year, she would advance to the Lingtai Realm. Though her age made her less skilled in using her techniques, she was already a small expert.

"There's a storm brewing outside, and you still have the mind to cultivate here?" Wu Xue'ning circled Wu Zhixing, her big eyes full of disbelief, "Your composure is amazing~"

Wu Zhixing was puzzled, "Aunt Snow, what do you mean..."

"What else? That matter, of course." Wu Xue'ning recalled, "That... the great prodigy named 'Wang Liyao' at Baiyun Tower, who said she would accept all challengers under one hundred and fifty. It's a once-in-a-century 'Great Prodigy Challenge.'"

As she spoke, Wu Xue'ning's face showed a look of disappointment, and she jumped up, poking Wu Zhixing's forehead with her chubby finger, "People are challenging us, and as one of the top ten outstanding youths, how can you stay out of it? If I weren't too young and weak, I would have gone already."

Though Wu Xue'ning was a great prodigy, she was too young. Among her peers, she was strong, but in the Great Prodigy Challenge, she was completely outmatched. If she went on stage, she would be easily crushed.

But seeing her eager expression, if she were fifty years older, no, even twenty or thirty years older, she might really go.

Wu Zhixing broke out in a cold sweat, embarrassed, "Aunt Snow, you know I don't like fighting. The 'Top Ten Outstanding Youths' title was given by others; I never agreed to it."

"Anyone who wants to go to the Great Prodigy Challenge can go. I'd rather spend my time comprehending the laws, striving to understand minor divine abilities and preparing to enter the Purple Mansion Realm."

"You! You, you, you! You're driving me crazy! You're hopeless!" Wu Xue'ning stomped her feet, her chubby face turning red with anger.

Seeing this, the middle-aged woman beside her quickly comforted her with a few words. Wu Zhixing also repeatedly apologized.

Wu Xue'ning's angry expression gradually subsided.

She sighed, "Oh~ why am I so unlucky? With such extraordinary talent, born at the wrong time. Too young for the Imperial Heir Struggle, and as a royal, I can't join the Holy Son Struggle. Now, even the Great Prodigy Challenge, I'm too weak to participate."

"Oh~~ it seems I'll have to rely on my royal status to get by~~ oh~ so unlucky~ now, even my obedient grandson won't listen to me."

How infuriating~

Wu Zhixing's mouth twitched, "Aunt Snow, what do you want?"

"Hehe~ you understand me." Wu Xue'ning's dejected expression vanished, replaced by a smile, "I want you to take me to Baiyun Tower to watch the Great Prodigy Challenge. You know, without someone strong enough, my father won't let me go."

"This..." Wu Zhixing hesitated.

Wu Xue'ning squinted, clearly threatening, "You dare refuse?"

Recalling her past "glorious" deeds, Wu Zhixing felt a headache. Reluctantly, he nodded.

"Good grandson, I knew you'd listen. Let's go to Baiyun Tower."

Wu Xue'ning, looking cute and innocent, pulled Wu Zhixing along, laughing inwardly.

She knew Zhixing would agree. Now she could watch the Great Prodigy Challenge and make Zhixing fight, killing two birds with one stone.

Hehe~ she was so clever~~

……

Inside Baiyun Tower.

The Commandery Prince of Heng had spent much effort to pacify the diners, promising that if the next match wasn't exciting, they could refund their meals!

Then.

He hurried to Wang Liyao's lounge, complaining, "Miss Liyao, can't you fight properly? Even if you act for thirty breaths, it would be better."

"Your Highness, my father instructed me," Wang Liyao said slowly, sipping her tea, "to have principles and act accordingly."

"Your father... your father Wang Shouzhe, from the name, he must be a conservative and boring person." The Commandery Prince of Heng slapped his forehead, helpless, "Alright, how about this: from now until the end of the Great Prodigy Challenge, I'll give you a share of Baiyun Tower's revenue, a full ten percent! Do you know how much that is?"

"I know." Wang Liyao nodded, "Sounds interesting."

"Good, good, then we can talk." The Commandery Prince of Heng laughed, "To restore our reputation, I'll arrange for Wang An'nan "To restore our reputation, I'll arrange for Wang An'nan from the Great Qian Wang's Clan to be the next challenger."

"Wang An'nan? From the An generation of the Great Qian Wang's Clan?" Wang Liyao's beautiful eyes seemed to flicker with a hint of nostalgia. "That generation..."

"Yes, his generation in the Great Qian Wang's Clan is indeed quite high, but he's still relatively young. Miss Liyao, don't underestimate him. He's ranked third in the capital, actually second in reality among the young prodigies. His talent has been enhanced to the level of a second-tier prodigy. At ninety-four years old, he's already at the fourth level of the Celestial Realm!"

"Alright." Even with Wang Liyao's calm demeanor, she felt a slight ripple of emotion, though it quickly passed. She said lightly, "Three-tenths. From the first match, I want thirty percent of all revenue, and I will cooperate with Your Highness."

"What?" The Commandery Prince of Heng gulped, wanting to negotiate, but seeing Wang Liyao's calm and unyielding expression, he could only grit his teeth and say, "Thirty percent it is. You and that girl Lici are both little gluttons."

"But, Liyao, you must make this match look good. At least make it last for the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, or it will be hard for me to arrange the subsequent matches."

Suddenly.

Wang Liyao raised her head, her eyes showing a hint of color. "Your Highness, did you know that the Great Qian Wang's Clan is the main branch of our Changning Wang's Clan?"

"Is that so? Now that you mention it, I vaguely remember there was a Li generation in the Wang's Clan, but they didn't seem to achieve much." The Commandery Prince of Heng was both surprised and delighted. "But if that's the case, there's even more room for hype. This time, we'll make a fortune."

Originally, the Commandery Prince of Heng had always viewed money as something outside of himself, maintaining a carefree attitude until he spent five years with Lici...

"Your Highness, did you know that Wang An'nan, by generation, should be my grandson?" Wang Liyao sipped her tea. "This makes it rather difficult for me to beat him up."

"So, Miss Liyao, you mean..." The Commandery Prince of Heng was puzzled. "Should we switch to the fourth-ranked prodigy from the Gongye family?"

"No, this match will cost extra!"

"..." The Commandery Prince of Heng.

……

In the western part of Guilong City, at a mansion with the Azure Dragon emblem of the Great Qian royal family.

Wu Zhixing, reluctantly agreeing to Wu Xue'ning's request, led her and her attendant towards Baiyun Tower.

As they approached, the bustling atmosphere of the tower grew louder. The Commandery Prince of Heng had indeed stirred up quite a commotion with his arrangements.

Inside Baiyun Tower, the Commandery Prince of Heng was busy making final preparations for the upcoming match between Wang Liyao and Wang An'nan.

"Miss Liyao, everything is set. Wang An'nan will be here shortly. Remember, make it look good," the Commandery Prince of Heng reminded her.

Wang Liyao nodded slightly, her expression calm and composed.

Soon, the crowd in Baiyun Tower grew restless as Wang An'nan arrived. He was a handsome young man with a confident demeanor, his aura indicating his strength at the fourth level of the Celestial Realm.

The Commandery Prince of Heng introduced him with great enthusiasm, "Ladies and gentlemen, today we have a special match between two prodigies from the Wang's Clan. On one side, we have Miss Liyao, and on the other, Wang An'nan, a rising star from the Great Qian Wang's Clan!"

The audience buzzed with excitement, eager to witness the clash of these two prodigies.

As Wang An'nan stepped onto the stage, he respectfully greeted Wang Liyao, "Miss Liyao, it's an honor to challenge you."

Wang Liyao nodded, her eyes calm but focused. "Let's give them a good show."

The match began, and the two prodigies exchanged powerful blows, their movements swift and precise. The audience watched in awe as the battle unfolded, the tension in the air palpable.

Despite the Commandery Prince of Heng's request for a prolonged match, Wang Liyao's skill and experience were evident. She controlled the pace, allowing the match to last for the time it took to burn a stick of incense, showcasing her prowess while giving Wang An'nan a chance to shine.

In the end, Wang Liyao emerged victorious, but the match was close enough to satisfy the audience's thirst for excitement.

The Commandery Prince of Heng breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that the day's events had restored the reputation of Baiyun Tower and ensured a steady stream of revenue.

As the crowd dispersed, Wu Zhixing and Wu Xue'ning watched from a distance, the young prodigy's eyes filled with admiration for Wang Liyao's skill.

"See, Zhixing, that's what a true prodigy looks like," Wu Xue'ning said, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

Wu Zhixing nodded, a newfound determination in his heart. "Yes, Aunt Snow. I see now. I have much to learn."

With that, the two royal descendants left Baiyun Tower, their minds filled with thoughts of the future and the challenges that lay ahead.

Back at the Wang's Clan main residence, Wang Shouzhe continued his patrol, his heart filled with pride for his family's achievements and the bright future that awaited them.

As he sipped his tea, he couldn't help but smile, knowing that the Wang's Clan was destined for greatness, thanks to the efforts of each and every member, young and old.

And so, the story of the Wang's Clan continued, a tale of perseverance, strength, and the unbreakable bonds of family.