Protect Our Patriarch

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The Yuwen Clan has been deeply rooted in Xinchengwei for countless years, turning it into an impregnable stronghold. Not long after Wang Shouzhe's carriage entered the territory of Xinchengwei, the Yuwen Clan received the news and specially dispatched someone to welcome him.

"Head of the Wang family, hahaha~ Welcome, welcome." The one who came to greet him was an elder of the Yuwen Clan at the Heavenly Man realm, dressed in a light cyan robe, looking quite young and very polite to Wang Shouzhe, "I am Yuwen Hanmo, sent by the madam to welcome you. You've traveled a long way, Head Wang, it must have been tiring."

The Yuwen Clan, with over a thousand years of heritage, had only fallen from a fifth-rank to a sixth-rank clan less than a century ago. The number and quality of their Heavenly Man realm powerhouses far surpassed those of an ordinary sixth-rank clan.

Nevertheless, sending a Heavenly Man realm elder to greet Wang Shouzhe was enough to demonstrate the Yuwen Clan's high regard for him. Not to mention, this young elder, Yuwen Hanmo, must have considerable potential for the future and likely held a significant position within the clan.

"Elder Hanmo is too kind~"

Wang Shouzhe did not dare to neglect the courtesy and immediately returned the gesture.

After exchanging formalities, Yuwen Hanmo led Wang Shouzhe towards the main residence of the Yuwen Clan.

Out of respect for the other party's status as a Heavenly Man, Wang Shouzhe chose not to continue in his carriage but mounted a horse instead, riding alongside the elder with his family guards, chatting along the way to learn more about the current situation of the Yuwen Clan.

As the old saying goes, "The climate changes every ten miles."

The climate difference between Xinchengwei and Changningwei, separated by the Dongshan Mountain Range, was even more significant. The scenery and wildlife between the mountains were quite different from those in Changningwei. There were many species of animals and plants that Wang Shouzhe, a foreigner to these lands, had never seen before, which he found quite fascinating.

Along the way, Wang Shouzhe and Yuwen Hanmo enjoyed their conversation, discussing local customs and delicacies. Wang Shouzhe's appetite was whetted, and he resolved to try these foods after dealing with the matter of the spirit fox.

Time flew by as they chatted and laughed.

Two hours later, the group arrived at the territory of the Yuwen Clan's main residence.

From a distance, Wang Shouzhe could see the huge archway at the entrance of the main residence, and the three gilded characters on it—"Yuwen Clan."

The calligraphy was clearly the work of a once-celebrated Zifu master. Even from afar, one could feel the powerful and captivating force within the strokes.

Wang Shouzhe couldn't help but be impressed.

Indeed, the former Zifu clan, even though it had fallen to the sixth rank, still possessed an imposing presence that no ordinary Heavenly Man clan could match.

Now, the Changning Wang Clan was also a significant force, but compared to the Yuwen Clan, it was like an ant to a great tree, not on the same level at all.

As these thoughts flashed through his mind, the group dismounted at the entrance of the Yuwen Clan.

The servants at the door naturally took the reins from them, leading the horses and the family guards away to be settled.

A clan steward had been waiting at the entrance. Seeing the two arrive, he immediately came forward to greet them: "Head Wang, Elder Hanmo, the madam has been waiting in the main hall for a long time. Please follow me."

After saying this, he turned and led the way with respectful deference.

Wang Shouzhe followed behind him and soon arrived in front of a building that looked very ancient.

He glanced up and noticed the signboard: "Zhi Chun Hall."

"This is the main hall used for receiving guests. It is only used for the most honored visitors," explained the guiding clan member respectfully, then gestured with his hand, "Head Wang, Elder Hanmo, please come inside."

Wang Shouzhe thanked him and stepped into the hall alongside Elder Hanmo.

The interior of Zhi Chun Hall seemed understated, but the furnishings were far from simple. With just a casual glance, Wang Shouzhe couldn't help but marvel.

The Yuwen Clan's foundation was indeed much more profound than he had imagined; even the clothes worn by the servants and maids were made of spirit silk.

Moreover, many of the tables and chairs in the hall were made of spirit wood.

Spirit wood furniture was notoriously luxurious. Even though the Changning Wang Clan's annual profits exceeded a million, Wang Shouzhe had never indulged in adding a piece of spirit wood furniture to his home.

It wasn't that he couldn't afford it, but rather that the cost-performance ratio was too low for his liking. With that money, he would rather buy another Marrow Cleansing Pill to improve the aptitude of his clan's younger generation than to flaunt a piece of spirit wood furniture.

Of course, that's not to say spirit wood furniture had no use at all.

Its effects were significant. Spirit wood took hundreds or even thousands of years to mature, and once it did, inscriptions could be carved into it, giving it functions similar to spirit tools.

Any piece of spirit wood furniture could gather spirit energy and enhance cultivation speed. If used by children over the years, it could also have effects like nurturing meridians and strengthening the foundation.

However, these effects were not immediate and were far less direct and efficient than pills. The advantage was their gentleness, suitable even for infants, and their durability, allowing them to be passed down for thousands of years.

Due to the slow growth of spirit wood, the furniture was indeed expensive. Ordinary lower-class clans could hardly afford it with their earnings, let alone spend it on spirit wood furniture.

Only clans with over a thousand years of heritage, like the Zifu clans, would gradually accumulate some spirit wood furniture over time.

The Yuwen Clan's "Zhi Chun Hall," though unassuming, fully displayed the depth of their foundation.

Sigh~ Who knows when the Changning Wang Clan will be able to match such grandeur...

As he was contemplating, Wang Shouzhe crossed the threshold and looked up to see Madam Bilian, dressed in a light purple gauze dress.

Having been informed of Wang Shouzhe's visit, Madam Bilian had been waiting inside early on.

Seeing Wang Shouzhe enter, she immediately greeted him with a warm smile: "To trouble Head Wang to make this trip for a small matter of our Yuwen Clan, it must have been hard."

"Madam is too polite. It's just a small favor, and besides, you have offered a reward."

After exchanging pleasantries, they took their seats as host and guest, and cups of spirit tea were served. Wang Shouzhe and Madam Bilian began discussing the matter at hand.

***

Meanwhile.

In the back garden of the Yuwen residence.

The Yuwen Clan's main residence was situated atop a vast spirit vein, abundant in spiritual energy, with ancient trees reaching the sky and countless exotic plants and flowers, exuding vitality. Merely being there could prolong life and cure all illnesses.

Apart from the rare and exotic flora, the clan had also allocated plots of land in the most energy-rich areas for cultivating medicinal herbs, tended by specialized spirit plant farmers.

At the heart of the back garden's spirit vein, a grove of Fire Bodhi trees was planted.

Although these Bodhi trees were only a few hundred years old, they were already showing signs of sentience, hinting at the characteristics of fire-element spirit wood.

It could only be said that the Yuwen Clan, as a former Zifu clan, truly had a profound foundation, far beyond what a newly developed clan like the Changning Wang Clan could compare with.

In the midst of this Fire Bodhi forest stood a luxurious red pavilion.

The pavilion was built entirely of fire-element spirit wood and fire crystal bricks, exuding extreme luxury. The temperature around it was exceedingly high, as if one were in a "furnace."

The pavilion's signboard was emblazoned with the words "Tianhu Pavilion" in bold, flamboyant script.

A row of family guard quarters was set up about ten yards from the pavilion. These were the guards responsible for serving the six-tailed fire fox, each one a cultivator at the Lingtai realm. Normally, two Lingtai realm guards would rotate every year.

However, as the six-tailed fire fox was at a critical juncture in its advancement to seven tails, a total of six male and female guards were present. This also reflected the grandeur of the Yuwen family and their high hopes and importance placed on the six-tailed fire fox.

If the six-tailed fire fox successfully advanced to seven tails, the Yuwen family would have the strength to return to the ranks of the Zifu clans.

Apart from the male and female guards, several well-dressed, young and handsome men stood outside the Tianhu Pavilion, each with an elegant and lofty demeanor. Judging by their appearance and uniforms, they were likely young disciples from the Zifu Academy.

One of the handsome young men in his thirties frowned slightly and said, "Brother Mingyu has been inside for the time it takes an incense stick to burn, hasn't he? Why is there still no movement?"

This young man was Yuwen Jianye, who had joined the Zifu Academy in the same period as Wang Luoqiu and Wang Luojing.

Over ten years had passed, and he had shed his youthful naivety to become a mature and steady Lingtai realm disciple. With a bit more effort, he had a good chance of becoming a core disciple.

Standing beside him was Chi Junjie, a core disciple from the Xiaoyao Peak. Although he was in his forties or fifties, he still looked like a composed young man. Back then, he was recruited by Madam Bilian to feed the six-tailed fire fox spiritual food.

However, the six-tailed fire fox was known for its fickleness, and after just over two years, it had grown tired of Chi Junjie's looks and temperament.

Fortunately, during those two years, Chi Junjie had made a considerable sum of money, and with Madam Bilian's covert support, his cultivation had accelerated.

This poor disciple from an eighth-rank clan had finally joined the ranks of core disciples under Master Xuan Yao.

Becoming a core disciple at the same time as him was Wang Shouxin from the Longzuo Wang Clan.

Chi Junjie, who had received Madam Bilian's favor, often made friends in the academy to cater to the increasingly picky tastes of the six-tailed fire fox. Now, Chi Junjie and Yuwen Jianye had joined forces to invite Wang Zongsheng and Ji Mingyu from the Xuanbing Hall lineage.

"Brother Jianye, don't be impatient. Brother Mingyu is among the top core disciples. Born into a sixth-rank clan, he excels in talent, temperament, and appearance. Since he's been inside for the time it takes an incense stick to burn without being thrown out by the six-tailed fire fox, it seems he has a chance," Chi Junjie said, dressed in the core disciple attire of Xiaoyao Peak, with a spirit weapon-grade sword hanging from his waist, exuding an air of grace and charm.

"This six-tailed fire fox is too temperamental. It just glanced at me twice before tossing me out. It really has no taste. A real man should look like me," said the twenty-six or twenty-seven-year-old Wang Zongsheng awkwardly.

He, too, had matured a lot, but his physique had become even more robust, his body covered in muscles, resembling a strong bear.

He had always enjoyed practicing body-strengthening techniques, and even after joining the Xuanbing Hall lineage, he had not changed his ways. Fortunately, the Zifu Academy had a wide variety of techniques, and he was able to find ones that suited him.

Yuwen Jianye and Chi Junjie both gave him strange looks.

This guy had practiced the body-strengthening technique "Nine Turns Body Refining Art" to the point of turning himself into an ancient human-bear hybrid, and he still hoped the six-tailed fire fox would like him?

When they invited Ji Mingyu, Wang Zongsheng insisted on trying as well, claiming that perhaps the six-tailed fire fox had seen enough handsome young men and had changed its taste, and that his style might just be to its liking.

Unfortunately, his wishful thinking of making some extra money was wrong, and he was instantly thrown out by the six-tailed fire fox.

"Zongsheng~" Yuwen Jianye patted his shoulder and said, "While you're still young, you should switch to practicing sword techniques. If you continue like this, I'm afraid you won't even be able to find a wife."

"What's so good about a wife?" Wang Zongsheng snorted disdainfully, "They're all too much trouble. Just look at my aunts and sisters-in-law; they all have strong personalities and are hard to please. With that spare time, I might as well practice more."

"If your Fourth Uncle hears this, you're probably going to be criticized again," Chi Junjie teased with a smile, "Your Changning Wang Clan is in a period of rapid development, and what the family lacks the most is clan members."

"Don't worry about that. My sisters-in-law and aunts are very fertile," Wang Zongsheng said in a deep voice, "Take my Fourth Uncle and Fourth Aunt, for example; they've already had four children. According to Luojing, Fourth Uncle and Fourth Aunt are still very affectionate despite their age and high cultivation, so they'll probably have a few more."

For some long-established families, having four children is not unusual as long as the clan's cultivation resources are abundant. It is said that for sixth and fifth-rank clans, some direct descendants who love having children will even take concubines and can produce dozens of offspring in their lifetime.

However, in any clan, the status of children born to concubines is not high, and only those with exceptional talent and outstanding aptitude are valued and utilized.

As everyone was chatting idly.

Suddenly, a scream came from the Tianhu Pavilion.

Following that, a familiar figure soared out and crashed to the ground, rolling a few times.

This person was Ji Mingyu.

"What a temperamental six-tailed fire fox. It attacked just for speaking a word!" He dusted off his bottom and sat up, his face flushed with anger.

"Brother Mingyu," the others gathered around, concerned, "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, I'm fine," Ji Mingyu waved his hands awkwardly, "I just failed at the last moment and angered the six-tailed fire fox. Brother Jianye, no offense, but your family's six-tailed fire fox is spoiled. If even I, Ji Mingyu, can't do it, which disciple in the vast Zifu Academy can satisfy it?"

After speaking, he sighed regretfully. With this, the reward of twenty thousand Top Gold was gone, and he could only get a few thousand Top Gold as a consolation. Ji Mingyu felt somewhat dissatisfied.

"Alas~ It's a pity that Brother You'an has been in seclusion for many years after some setback," Yuwen Jianye said helplessly, "Otherwise, Brother You'an could have tried."

At the mention of Brother You'an, Ji Mingyu had no words to refute and only said, "Brother You'an has high standards, and tens of thousands of Top Gold might not be enough to invite him. Besides, he's in closed-door cultivation, so let's not mention him."

Suddenly.

A female guard of the Yuwen Clan at the Lingtai realm said, "Young Master Jianye, I heard from the madam that she went to great lengths to invite a renowned hero who should be arriving soon."

"A renowned hero?" Ji Mingyu frowned, "Could it be a disciple from our Zifu Academy? Impossible. In the Zifu Academy, no one is more handsome than me, and those better than me are not as handsome. Where could such a talent come from?"

The female guard timidly said, "I don't know who exactly it is. But if the madam says he's a hero, then he must be."

"Alright, in that case, let's wait at the Yuwen Clan for a few days," Ji Mingyu said with disbelief, "I, Ji Mingyu, would like to see who this deity is, who is more handsome than me."

As soon as he finished speaking.

A hearty laugh came from outside: "Brother Mingyu has an extraordinary demeanor and a noble stature. I, Shouzhe, cannot compare. But at the behest of the madam, I've come to give it a try."

With those words, Wang Shouzhe and Madam Bilian walked in side by side.

"Shouzhe, it's you!?" Ji Mingyu's eyes widened, and after being stunned for a few moments, he shook his head and sighed, "Alright, alright. If it's you, then I, Ji Mingyu, am willing to concede."