Protect Our Patriarch

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"This... this... this..." Such dramatic changes left Wang Shouzhe and his daughter exchanging bewildered glances.

Originally, the two of them were ready to visit the Lingyun Holy Land.

Unexpectedly, various esteemed figures had shamelessly jumped out, eager to take Liyao as a disciple, offering all sorts of conditions to entice her.

Then, even the mysterious and powerful Shen Tong realm leader—the Dean—stepped forward, insisting on taking Liyao as his disciple.

"Daddy~ What do we do now?" Wang Liyao blinked her moist and clear eyes, speaking softly and weakly, "Even the Dean has come forward. Our family can't afford to offend him."

"Well..." Wang Shouzhe also whispered, "Let's see how things go first. If it really doesn't work out, I'll go to Daqian to explore some connections. After all, our Wang's Clan's ancestral roots are from the Daqian Wang's Clan. Considering the favor of the Great Talent, the Daqian Wang's Clan would surely be happy to invest and not let others bully our Wang's Clan."

"Thank you, Daddy, for forgiving my willfulness. Let's first hear what the Dean has to say." Father and daughter spoke in hushed tones, their voices low, but many of the powerful figures and Shen Tong realm Dean present had ears that were not for decoration.

The father and daughter were clearly softening their stance, looking to see what the solution would be, rather than stubbornly insisting on going to the Lingyun Holy Land. Joking aside, the originally appointed Great Talent of the Zifu Academy.

Because of the academy's own reasons, they ultimately forced the Great Talent to register at the Lingyun Holy Land, resulting in a heavy loss.

Especially Yuanshui's esteemed figure, whose eyes flickered with calculation. The appearance of his master gave him the chance to win back Liyao. Next, he must handle things well and make a good statement, letting Liyao know that he, her "master," stands firmly by her side.

First, he needed to deal with core disciple Shang Lexian, and then severely punish Shang Jiping, sending him to the outer domain battlefield for some serious reflection.

"Cough cough, let me say a few words, first..." Yuanshui's esteemed figure coughed twice, preparing to speak when suddenly—

The Dean, riding on the back of the Zifu old turtle, preempted him, saying, "Firstly, it is indeed because I have been in seclusion for many years, leaving Yuanshui to act as the acting Dean. In this matter, although Yuanshui is at fault, ultimately, the mistake lies with me... It was my misjudgment to entrust Yuanshui."

Misjudgment, entrust?

Yuanshui's esteemed figure swayed, his mind buzzing. He vividly remembered his master's earnest teachings when he went into seclusion: "Yuanshui, in my lifetime, I have taken countless disciples and have had several Zifu realm disciples. It's a pity that none of your senior brothers could break through their shackles to achieve Shen Tong, forcing me to watch them exhaust their lifespans or fall."

"Yuanshui, you are my last disciple. You are honest and pure-hearted, not fond of competing with others, the best candidate to replace me in overseeing the academy. With you guarding the academy, I can rest assured and enter seclusion."

His master's words from back then still echoed in his ears, spurring him on day and night. Yet today, for the sake of snatching Liyao as a disciple, his master had even brought up the word "misjudgment"?

But the master is always right, so if the master says he is wrong, then he must be wrong.

"Master, this matter is indeed my fault." Yuanshui's esteemed figure hurriedly put on a smiling face to admit, then quickly tried to make amends, "From now on, your disciple will regroup and reform the academy's atmosphere! Starting with Shang..."

"That's right, Shang Jiping bullying my disciple Liyao cannot be easily forgiven." The Dean spoke righteously, "He shall be punished to serve as Liyao's servant for a hundred years, a minor punishment for a major lesson."

Elder Shang Jiping's vision darkened, nearly fainting—he was already three hundred years old! With the lifespan of the Tianren realm, it's hard to last over four hundred years. To serve for a hundred years, wouldn't that mean serving Wang Liyao for a lifetime?

"Shang Jiping, do you have any objections?" The Dean's voice was 'kind,' "If you have any objections, feel free to speak frankly, and I will consider them accordingly."

"I, I have no objections. The Dean giving me a chance to reform is more than enough for Jiping." Shang Jiping's forehead was sweating, his body trembling uncontrollably. Joking aside, the Dean was not someone with a good temper like Yuanshui's esteemed figure. Once you cross him, there will be no good outcome.

"If that's the case, Jiping, you'll follow Liyao." The Dean's voice became even kinder, "If my disciple Liyao suffers the slightest loss, you will be the one to answer for it."

"Yes, Dean." Shang Jiping responded obediently, but his mind was already racing.

If he thought about it, this wasn't such a bad outcome. After all, Liyao was the esteemed Great Talent. Just at the early stage of the Lingtai realm, she was already so formidable. Once she reached the Tianren realm, how could he be her match?

Even more terrifying was the legend that the Great Talent cultivated at an extremely fast pace. She was already at the second layer of the Lingtai realm at nineteen. In twenty or thirty years, she would probably be in the Tianren realm!

His Shang family might be able to bask in her glory in the future. With this thought, Shang Jiping felt relieved.

Yuanshui's esteemed figure beside him was stunned. He had originally intended to punish Shang Jiping severely, but he never expected his master to act first and more fiercely!

To snatch a Great Talent disciple, his master was really determined. Yuanshui's esteemed figure felt deeply moved; his master was indeed his master, his thick skin was as consistent as ever.

Wang Liyao blinked, looking confused. This... her yet-to-be-official master, no, her yet-to-be-sworn master was so domineeringly protective? Directly assigning a mid-Tianren realm elder to serve her as a servant?

This... this... this... seemed a bit embarrassing?

"My disciple Liyao, you don't need to feel out of place." The Dean said with a smile, "Every Great Talent is a treasure of humanity, a pillar of the future, not just any minor character. You're not the first Great Talent, nor will you be the last. Throughout history, most Great Talents have had followers, and if you're powerful enough, even other Great Talents will be willing to follow you. In the future, you will gradually adapt to this status. Your master also went through this."

"Dean, you were also a Great Talent?" Wang Liyao was astonished, as if hearing it for the first time.

"Call me master." The Dean's voice was very kind, "Ordinary Talents who grow up to become Shen Tong realm are relatively few. Therefore, most Shen Tong realm cultivators in human history have been Great Talents. And each Shen Tong realm cultivator has the qualifications to leave a mark in history."

Wang Liyao was hearing such a story for the first time. She had originally thought that reaching the Zifu realm was already incredibly powerful, but she didn't expect that above it was the mighty Shen Tong realm!

And the Great Talent was almost a prerequisite for advancing to the Shen Tong realm! For a moment, she felt her blood boiling, as if she could see herself dominating the world and becoming a pillar of the human race in the future.

However, it seems there are quite a few Great Talents in her family.

Ancestor Long Yan and her mother were both Great Talents...

Not to mention Wang Liyao, even Wang Shouzhe was feeling a bit feverish. The Shen Tong realm, it is said, is where one can live for two thousand years! On Earth, that would definitely be a divine being.

Even if just to live a little longer, Wang Shouzhe decided that when he reached the Lingtai realm, he must awaken his spirit body. Although the difficulty is immense, once he reaches the Tianren realm, awakening the fifth bloodline would be as difficult as ascending to the heavens!

His wife is a Great Talent, his daughter is a Great Talent, he can't let them watch him die of old age at eight hundred, can he?

Just as the father and daughter were both feeling their blood boil, the Dean said, "As for that boy Shang Lexian, he's probably been arrogant and domineering on a regular basis. In that case, let him go to the outer domain to train with his senior brothers and temper his character."

The outer domain?

He's in the mid-Lingtai realm, not even sixty years old, still a child, right? How could he be sent to the outer domain? Immediately, he almost collapsed on the ground, crying out, "Dean, spare my life, I know I was wrong. I, I am also willing to serve as Liyao's junior sister, no, junior uncle's servant."

"Hehe~" The Dean chuckled coldly, "Your performance before, I have seen it all. Giving you the chance to be tempered is already elevating you. As for being Liyao's follower... with your strength, what can you really do?"

"Dean, I agree on behalf of Lexian." Shang Jiping hurriedly said, "This child indeed lacks tempering, the Dean's decision is very wise."

Joking aside, the Dean was a Shen Tong realm powerhouse, an almost omnipotent presence in the entire Longzuo Commandery. How could the small Shang Clan afford to offend him?

Seeing Shang Jiping being sensible, the Dean did not bother with the nearly scared-to-death Shang Lexian. Instead, he looked kindly at Wang Liyao, "Liyao, do you think your master's handling is appropriate?"

"Dean, this..." Wang Liyao said hesitantly, "Actually, I was indeed angry with Elder Shang and Brother Lexian before. But then I thought, it should be the atmosphere of the Yuanshui lineage..."

"Well said!" The Dean praised, "It's a matter of atmosphere. Liyao, aren't you rejecting the Yuanshui lineage's atmosphere and planning to study at the Lingyun Holy Land? Instead of that, why not stay in my Yuanshui lineage? Once you reach the Tianren realm, you can take over as the acting Dean, which is only a matter of twenty or thirty years. By then, you can properly reform the Yuanshui lineage's atmosphere."

"What?"

At these words, Wang Liyao was of course shocked. But even more shocked was Yuanshui's esteemed figure, his handsome middle-aged face showing disbelief. The master was not only trying to snatch his disciple but also planning to leave the future of the Yuanshui lineage to Liyao!

Uh...

Master, what about your promise that you were my only beloved disciple?

"This..." Wang Liyao was also quick to shake her head, "Dean, this, this isn't quite right. If I really stay in the Yuanshui lineage, I should take Yuanshui's esteemed figure as my master, after all, there was a prior agreement."

For a moment, Yuanshui's esteemed figure felt a sense of gratification; Liyao was still very sensible.

"Yuanshui? How could he?" The Dean said, "Yuanshui is already over six hundred years old, barely cultivating to the mid-Zifu realm. In this lifetime, he has basically no hope for Shen Tong, and with life-extending elixirs, he can live at most another two hundred years. I am different, I am only fourteen hundred years old, in the prime of life and at my peak, and with proper care, I can live at least another six hundred years! Enough to protect my disciple Liyao until she achieves Shen Tong realm. In the future, even the entire Zifu Academy could be handed over to you."

For a moment, Yuanshui's esteemed figure felt the urge to cry. Master, do you have to be so realistic? Before Liyao appeared, you always said that now it's just the two of us, master and disciple, relying on each other.

But once Liyao appeared, your words of disdain were so blatantly obvious.

"Daddy, what do you think?" To be honest, Wang Liyao was also quite tempted by this proposal. After all, the Dean still had six hundred years of lifespan. If she became his disciple, the family would have a Shen Tong realm backing for the next six hundred years.

"It seems the Dean is quite sincere." Wang Shouzhe winked at her, "But the final decision is still up to you."

Wang Liyao nodded solemnly, pondered for a moment, and then bowed to the Dean from afar, "If that's the case, Liyao greets master."

"Good, good, good, to have such a disciple, I, Tianhe Zhenren, am truly gratified. My mantle finally has a successor." The Dean, Tianhe Zhenren, laughed heartily.

Yuanshui's esteemed figure sweated coldly; wasn't he the mantle just before?

***

While the academy was in turmoil with numerous matters.

In Changning Guard, Qian's villa.

The night was deep, but the study was still brightly lit.

The Qian Clan was wealthy, so naturally, the study was not lit by candlelight. Hanging from the beams of this study were several "Tiangong Workshop" produced Ying Stone Spirit Lamps. They were exquisitely carved, emitting bright, soft, and steady light, without the flickering and smoke of candlelight, yet brighter than night pearls, the preferred lighting choice for many high-ranking families.

Under the light, Qian Xue'an was hunched over at his desk, poring over a pile of account books, occasionally recording some data.

In a few days, it would be the semi-annual family meeting. As the family's chief steward in Changning Guard, he needed to report his contributions to the family over the past six months to the family head and the elders at the meeting, to obtain more resources. He had to prepare well.

While he was busy, a servant knocked and entered, respectfully holding a wooden tray and bowing, "Chief steward, third master, the lady and young master have sent you a letter. As you instructed beforehand, it was immediately brought to you."

"Put it down."

Qian Xue'an didn't lift his head, casually waving the servant away.

After hastily recording another data point, he put down his pen and began to open the letters.

He was the chief steward in Changning Guard, but his father, mother, wife, and children were all at the main Qian residence, and he could only receive a letter every ten days or half a month.

This was because the Qian Clan's businesses spread throughout Longzuo Commandery, and there was frequent trade between Changning Guard and the commandery city, making sending and receiving letters very convenient. Otherwise, it would be hard to receive a letter even once a month.

Family letters had a special sealing process, and he quickly opened the letters to read.

The first two letters were from his wife and son, all about family matters, and he read them with a normal expression. But when he saw the last letter from his father, his eyes suddenly sharpened, "Qian Xuerui? He's actually coming to Changning Guard?"

Qian Xuerui was the twenty-third of the Qian Clan's "Xue" generation, now twenty-three years old.

According to Qian Clan rules, family descendants over twenty years old need to go out and gain business experience. Qian Xuerui was already twenty-three, and choosing a place to gain experience was nothing unusual.

However, the problem was that Qian Xuerui chose Changning Guard.

In terms of strength, experience, and ability, he, Qian Xue'an, naturally wouldn't fear a mere twenty-something-year-old youngster. The issue was that Qian Xuerui was born of the main line, and as the youngest son of the current family head, he had been doted on since childhood.

The hierarchy within the clan was clear, with a distinct difference between the main line and direct line.

It's not that direct line clan members can't make it. He, Qian Xue'an, was born a direct line bastard, but still managed to take charge of a region with his own abilities, and now his power and status were not low. However, as a main line clan member, Qian Xuerui naturally enjoyed more advantages and rights.

With his arrival in Changning Guard, who would the people below listen to?

The family side, considering his achievements over the years, wouldn't kick him out directly, but not all the people under him were his confidants. There would inevitably be those who wanted to curry favor with Qian Xuerui and use him as a stepping stone.

It seemed he needed to prepare early.

Putting away the letters, Qian Xue'an immediately summoned his two trusted stewards, ready to take the initiative to deploy before Qian Xuerui's arrival.

However, he had just started his secret discussion when suddenly a servant reported, "Chief steward, the ferry just sent a message saying that the twenty-third young master's boat has docked, asking you to go greet him."

"What?!"

Qian Xue'an stood up abruptly, shocked and astonished.

He had just received the news, and Qian Xuerui's boat had already arrived?

Wait... something's not right!

He suddenly slammed the table fiercely, furious, "Someone in the caravan is definitely messing around!"

Otherwise, the timing wouldn't be so coincidental. But no matter what, since Qian Xuerui had already arrived, he had no other choice.

It seemed that Qian Xuerui was not so simple after all. In the coming time, he would probably have to put in more effort to deal with him~

***

Seven or eight days passed.

Wang Shouzhe's academy matters were settled, and the various gains from this trip were not detailed. Despite the twists and turns, the rewards were plentiful. Among the various gains, what satisfied Wang Shouzhe the most was obtaining the Tianren chapter of the "Xuan Yuan Jue" from Longzuo Wang's Clan.

Although the Xuan Yuan Jue was a mid-grade cultivation method, it also contained the cultivation methods for the Tianren realm and various profound techniques. One of the biggest features of this method was that the more one cultivated the Xuan Qi, the deeper and more profound it became.

The second feature was that this method was balanced and neutral, making it relatively simple to switch to any elemental affinity, making it especially suitable for family disciples to cultivate.

Despite Wang Shouzhe and his family cultivating a high-grade method, it wasn't feasible for every family disciple to become an external disciple of the Zifu Academy, right?

Therefore, the fact that Longzuo Wang's Clan was willing to provide the Tianren chapter of the "Xuan Yuan Jue" also solved a big problem for the Wang's Clan.

South of Longzuo Commandery, less than a thousand miles away, lies Xincheng Guard.

Xincheng Guard was one of the earliest established guard cities after the development of Longzuo Commandery, even the current commandery city was built later than it. This is why this guard city is called "New City."

Xincheng Guard is one of the few guard cities in Longzuo Commandery where mountains occupy the majority of the territory.

It borders the Dongshan Mountain Range to the south, borders Langyou Guard to the east, and only has a small plain area near the commandery city. Initially, when developing Longzuo Commandery, this place was used as a forward base for the conquest of the Dongshan Mountain Range.

However, after thousands of years of development, Xincheng Guard has long since transformed.

The continuous but not towering mountain range, the variable climate brought rich products, and also a unique dietary structure, gradually forming an industrial chain. To this day, Xincheng Guard is still recognized as the "Land of Gourmet."

If you come to Longzuo Commandery and want to enjoy gourmet food, you can't go wrong with Xincheng Guard.

And the Yuwen Clan is the most powerful family in Xincheng Guard.

As a sixth-rank family that had only recently fallen from the Zifu family level, the Yuwen Clan's foundation was extremely deep, with the most representative being its main residence.

The Yuwen Clan's main residence is located less than two hundred miles from the Xincheng Guard city, in the mountains. The main residence covers an area of more than ten square miles, including a not-so-small mountain range, several forest areas, and a small lake.

Within this area, there are hundreds of large and small houses and estates. Just in terms of scale, it is not much inferior to a certain peak or lineage of the Zifu Academy.

The many direct and collateral members of the Yuwen Clan usually live here.

Wang Shouzhe's carriage slowly entered Xincheng Guard. He had passed through this place several times but had never really stayed for a while.

This time he came on the way, naturally, it was for the task request promised to Lady Bilian, "to help the six-tailed fire fox advance," although Wang Shouzhe found this task so whimsical.

But the high price offered by Lady Bilian made it so that even Wang Shouzhe had to bow to money.