Protect Our Patriarch

……

The Yuan Shui Azure Flood Dragon plunged into the depths of the swamp, frantically darting away.

Unfortunately, most of the waters in this desolate swamp were too shallow. Wherever it passed, it stirred up huge ripples on the surface, making it impossible to hide its massive form.

It hadn't gotten far.

Suddenly!

Another graceful figure appeared, stepping lightly on the water. Wherever she went, waves seemed to cheer and rise, as if carrying her forward. Without any visible movement, she merely waved her sleeve gently.

"Boom!"

An invisible explosion erupted in the water, sending a column of water skyward, waves crashing like rolling clouds. The shockwave beneath the water hit the Yuan Shui Azure Flood Dragon like a plow, making it dizzy and nearly flipping it over.

Before it could recover, the already shallow water, only seven or eight zhang deep, began to swirl faster and faster, forming a whirlpool as if stirred by an invisible hand.

The massive Yuan Shui Azure Flood Dragon was spun around like a ragged pair of jeans in a washing machine, utterly disoriented.

"Well done," Wang Shouzhe's voice rang out again, "I've heard that dragon blood is highly nutritious. The kids at home are growing, so make sure not to waste any of it when you kill it."

"Roar~~~~" The Yuan Shui Azure Flood Dragon roared in anger. Damn humans, why are you so annoying? What does it matter to me if your kids are growing? Stop eyeing my flesh and blood!

But the situation was dire. The human from before was already formidable, and the ones who came after seemed even stronger. As the old ancestor dragon taught, a wise dragon doesn't suffer immediate losses.

Retreat for now.

The Yuan Shui Azure Flood Dragon, already at the peak of the sixth rank and with a strong bloodline, quickly reacted despite its repeated setbacks. With a flick of its massive tail, it leaped into the air, darting away like a slippery eel, escaping far in just a dozen breaths, and diving into a deeper, larger pool.

However, its escape was not without obstacles. It endured another sword strike from Ancestor Long Yan, sustaining further injuries.

Ripples spread across the pool, raising waves.

Such was the nature of the desolate swamp, a vast area connected by various pools and mudflats. During the rainy season, the mudflats would be submerged, forming a vast expanse of water.

By the time Wang Shouzhe and his group arrived, the Yuan Shui Azure Flood Dragon had either hidden or quietly slipped away, leaving no trace.

"That big loach sure runs fast," Wang Shouzhe remarked with a nonchalant smile, showing no signs of frustration.

Ancestor Long Yan shot him a faint glare. It ran so fast because you kept talking about killing it and feeding it to the kids. Who wouldn't run for their life in such a situation?

Meanwhile.

The two ancestors of the Zhenze Wang's Clan also arrived, supporting each other in the air. They looked quite battered, both seriously injured.

Upon reaching Wang Shouzhe and the others, they gratefully bowed, "Thank you, Master Wang Shouzhe, for your assistance. Thank you, Ancestor Long Yan, for saving our lives. And thank you, this... fairy, for your help."

Liu Ruolan, who usually stayed out of the public eye, had changed her appearance for this outing, looking completely different from her usual self at home. Thus, the families of the southern six guards only knew of Ancestor Long Yan's prowess, unaware that the Wang's Clan's main wife was an even more formidable hidden master.

At this moment, Liu Ruolan exuded an ethereal elegance, her extraordinary aura making it hard to believe she was the traditional type who enjoyed managing the household. She seemed more like one of those unparalleled prodigies from the holy lands, but with a much purer and more refined temperament.

"Ancestor Kun Yuan, Ancestor Cheng Ye, you are too kind," Wang Shouzhe replied with a gentle and refined demeanor, "The Zhenze Wang's Clan and our Changning Wang's Clan are neighbors in the southern six guards of Longzuo. It is our duty to support each other against external threats. Moreover, the disturbance in the Great Swamp this time poses a threat to our Wang's Great Pasture. We also need to resolve this crisis."

Wang Shouzhe's words were sincere and heartfelt, without a trace of pretense.

The two ancestors of the Wang's Clan exchanged a glance, feeling a wave of shame. Their clan had initially supported Ancestor Kun Yuan's advancement to the later stages of the Celestial Realm with the intention of dominating the southern six guards and using its resources to support Ancestor Kun Yuan's breakthrough to the Purple Mansion Realm.

Compared to Wang Shouzhe's attitude, their vision seemed too narrow.

"Master Wang Shouzhe's broad-mindedness truly puts me to shame," Ancestor Kun Yuan bowed again.

"Not at all," Wang Shouzhe shifted the topic, "Do you have any clues about the disturbance in the Great Swamp, Ancestor Kun Yuan?" By "Great Swamp," he was referring to the small area in front of them.

The true Great Swamp was a vast expanse connected to the other side of the An River, said to be home to several seventh-rank great demons, where even Purple Mansion Realm cultivators dared not venture recklessly.

Only there could be considered the true Great Swamp. The area before them was just a small corner extending from the Great Swamp, which Wang Shouzhe would call the "Little Swamp."

Even so, this corner of the Great Swamp was still vast, at least the size of several garrison town territories.

Ancestor Kun Yuan frowned in thought for a moment before shaking his head, "Our Wang's Clan has guarded this swamp for generations, always keeping an eye on it. Neither our patrols nor the rogue cultivators risking their lives for resources have ever found anything unusual in the swamp."

"Logically, the Yuan Shui Azure Flood Dragon likely swam over from the other side of the An River. Whether it came by accident or for some purpose, we do not know."

"A sixth-rank peak beast's intelligence is nearly on par with humans," Wang Shouzhe frowned slightly, "Beasts are very attached to their lairs and won't leave unless forced. Moreover, it's at a bottleneck... its biggest goal might be..."

"Master Wang Shouzhe means... this beast is seeking an opportunity to advance?" Ancestor Kun Yuan's eyes gleamed, "And this opportunity is likely within this swamp? Indeed, beasts rarely migrate without reason, and even if they do, they wouldn't cause such a commotion."

"Ancestor Kun Yuan, do you have a map of the swamp?" Wang Shouzhe asked.

"Well..." Ancestor Kun Yuan hesitated briefly but then took out a large map from his storage ring, "This detailed map of the swamp is a gift to Master Wang Shouzhe, to repay your life-saving grace."

This map was a detailed representation of the swamp, passed down and continuously improved by the Wang's Clan ancestors. The swamp's terrain changed rapidly, differing between rainy and dry seasons, making such a comprehensive, year-round map extremely valuable.

"I'm just looking for a way to deal with the Yuan Shui Azure Flood Dragon, not to encroach on your territory," Wang Shouzhe chuckled, taking the map and studying it carefully.

For the Wang's Clan, they had already explored most of the outer regions within a thousand miles and were ready for the next round of expansion.

Why covet the Wang's Clan's territory?

This was Wang Shouzhe's way of dealing with things. He preferred to expand outward to develop his clan rather than squeezing local families. This was why the Changning Wang's Clan's reputation in the southern six guards was soaring.

Other families grew strong by oppressing or exploiting others.

The Wang's Clan, on the other hand, provided better opportunities for everyone, allowing the local families to thrive, embodying the great strategic vision of "prosperity for all."

Later.

Led by the Wang's Clan, the group arrived at a high ground. This was a safety station established and maintained by the Wang's Clan ancestors. Its high elevation made it secure even during the rainy season, capable of withstanding attacks from beasts up to the fourth rank for a short time.

Most importantly, it was relatively clean, so they didn't have to rely on profound energy to stay afloat. Ancestor Long Yan and Liu Ruolan certainly didn't want to step into the mud.

While resting, Wang Shouzhe carefully studied the map, occasionally discussing it with Ancestor Cheng Ye. Over the years, Ancestor Cheng Ye had managed various affairs, while Ancestor Kun Yuan, in the later stages of the Celestial Realm, focused solely on cultivation.

After half a day, Wang Shouzhe came up with a plan, "Ancestor Cheng Ye, look at this gourd-shaped area. During the rainy season, it's a shallow water swamp. But in the dry season, it becomes a narrow gourd-shaped pass, like a transportation hub, controlling this part of the swamp. Now, in the dry season, the water level is low."

"We only need to build a large flood control dam at this gourd-shaped pass to isolate this part of the swamp. Then, we can drain the water through the dam or use waterwheels to irrigate the swamp during the dry season."

"In this way, we have a chance to tame this vast swamp."

Wang Shouzhe was an expert in planning. When the clan was still weak, he initiated a massive project to clear silt and create farmland. Although that project would now be considered a small task for the Wang's Clan, it was a significant undertaking back then, with even the young Wang Luo Qiu and Wang Luojing fully involved.

"This..." Ancestor Cheng Ye, not skilled in planning, was bewildered and asked weakly, "Master Wang Shouzhe, what use is taming the swamp?"

"Ancestor Cheng Ye, haven't you noticed?" Wang Shouzhe glanced at him, "The economic potential of this swamp is enormous. Once tamed and managed, the annual revenue could easily exceed a million top gold."

A million?

The two ancestors of the Wang's Clan exchanged glances, stunned by the astronomical figure.

Currently, the Wang's Clan's annual gross revenue barely reached 300,000 top gold, with most of it spent on the clan's expenses and Ancestor Kun Yuan's cultivation. As a result, the clan had little money left.

An annual income of a million top gold was beyond their wildest dreams.

With an annual income of a million top gold, wouldn't that mean...? Ancestor Cheng Ye looked at Ancestor Kun Yuan with joy. His cultivation resources would be sufficient, and there would be plenty left to save for purchasing the sixth-grade Tongling Baodan and other materials needed for advancing to the Purple Mansion Realm.

There would even be extra resources for the younger generation's cultivation.

The two ancestors of the Wang's Clan were overwhelmed with excitement. They looked at Wang Shouzhe with anticipation, "Master Wang Shouzhe, are you serious? Can it really generate a million top gold annually?" Even 500,000 or 300,000 would be enough to lift the Wang's Clan out of their predicament and turn the tide.

Wang Shouzhe, confident in his heart, looked at Ancestor Kun Yuan and said, "I noticed that Ancestor Kun Yuan's Dharma Aspect is strong and agile, indicating that it has reached the spiritual body stage, right?"

Ancestor Kun Yuan's body trembled, his expression fluctuating. After a long while, he revealed a bitter smile, "Master Wang Shouzhe, your insight is indeed sharp. I have indeed reached the fourth bloodline."

"Ancestor..." Ancestor Cheng Ye's face changed, hurriedly calling out. This was the clan's greatest secret. If others knew that their first ancestor was a prodigy, it would undoubtedly bring trouble.

"No matter," Ancestor Kun Yuan stopped him, straightening his back, "The Wang's Clan has saved our lives, and we should trust them completely. Besides, although I can't discern Master Wang Shouzhe and Ancestor Long Yan's cultivation levels, I know they must be very powerful, likely extraordinary even among prodigies. Compared to the talented Wang's Clan, we don't even pose a threat."

"I see," Wang Shouzhe didn't deny Ancestor Kun Yuan's assessment. A mere prodigy no longer stirred any emotions in him. However, he still looked at Ancestor Kun Yuan with some regret, "At your age, if you had been in the academy, you would likely be a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator by now."

"One wrong move, and the whole game is lost," Ancestor Kun Yuan's expression turned calm, "I can only blame my insatiable greed."

"It's not without hope," Wang Shouzhe thought for a moment, "If you can find some life-extending treasures to replenish your vitality, then quickly advance to the peak of the Celestial Realm and seek an opportunity to break through to the Purple Mansion Realm. Following the optimal plan, it would take about twenty-five to thirty years, with a fifty to sixty percent chance of success."

Over the years, the Wang's Clan had produced many prodigies and great prodigies. Wang Shouzhe had to scour for information on advancing to the Purple Mansion Realm, organizing and mastering it thoroughly.

In the history of the Great Qian, cases like Ancestor Kun Yuan's were not uncommon.

"A fifty to sixty percent chance?" Ancestor Kun Yuan's body trembled with excitement, "Master Wang Shouzhe, would you be willing to guide me? If I succeed, I am willing to become a guest elder, no, a family general of the Wang's Clan!"

Wang Shouzhe smiled, "Ancestor Kun Yuan, you overstate it. We are neighbors in the southern six guards. How could a dignified ancestor become a family general in my clan? It's just a small matter. Let me analyze it for you."

A small matter? What seemed like an insurmountable challenge to the Wang's Clan was just a small matter to Master Wang Shouzhe?

Ancestor Kun Yuan and Ancestor Cheng Ye instinctively bowed, ready to listen attentively.

……

At the same time.

In the northwest of the Great Qian, there was a vast desert known as the "Dala Great Desert."

The name "Dala" came from the ancient language of the barbarians, meaning "vast and lifeless."

And the Dala Great Desert lived up to its name, vast and devoid of life. Its vegetation cover was extremely low, with only a few oases scattered here and there. Most of the plants were sparse, and the number of beasts was pitifully low, mainly consisting of low-level creatures like snakes, insects, rats, and ants.

Moreover, the soil was primarily sandy, with poor fertility and no water sources, making it impossible to cultivate crops or even grow pasture grass. Several thousand years ago, some great families had tried to develop the area, but after several failures, no one attempted it again.

Over the millennia, the area naturally became desolate, with only the ruins of ancient city walls from early development attempts and some hardy grasses, sheep, and horses surviving in the wild, leaving no other traces of human presence.

Using the Dala Great Desert as a boundary, the southwest was the largest commandery in the Great Qian, the Western Sea Commandery, while the southeast was the Monan Commandery.

Monan Commandery, northern border.

Once a barren, uninhabited border, a low forest had appeared, extending a few miles into the desert. The forest was patchy, with gaps here and there, looking somewhat shabby.

But compared to the endless yellow desert outside, the forest was a rare green sight in the desert, attracting much attention.

In the forest, near the desert, a group of people was crouched on the sandy ground, carefully examining each tree. As they observed, they recorded their findings in small notebooks with pointed ink pens.

The wind and sand blew them into a dusty mess, but they paid no mind, focused on their work.

Among them, one person neither held a pen nor a notebook but pressed his hand to the ground, feeling something.

After a moment, he released his hand, revealing a satisfied smile, "As I suspected, the condition of the earth veins and the surface are interconnected. As the forest expands, the earth veins are slightly improving."

He glanced around, looking at the small green buds on the dark brown branches, feeling the burgeoning life force, and his smile grew wider.

At that moment, a middle-aged scholar approached with a happy expression, holding a notebook, "Your Highness, good news. The statistics are in. One-third of the trees planted three months ago have survived, and the survival rate has significantly improved. Your Highness, you were right again."

The man addressed as "Your Highness" wiped his face and stood up, "The improvement in the earth veins explains the higher survival rate. But this forest is far from enough. We need to expand it tenfold to withstand the sandstorms."

He had been stationed here for fifty years, fighting the sand for fifty years.

At first, they had managed to grow a batch of saplings, only to have them buried by a sandstorm.

Half a year's effort wasted.

In recent years, as the forest expanded annually, such incidents had become less frequent but still not entirely safe.

Every few years, the Dala Great Desert would experience a massive sandstorm, the real challenge.

"Your Highness, the next batch of saplings is on its way. Shall we proceed as usual?" the middle-aged scholar asked.

"Of course," the man nodded, "You know the process well. Just handle it as usual."

This man, addressed as "Your Highness," was Wu Mingyuan, a descendant of the current Emperor Longchang, titled Commandery Prince An.

He was also one of the two quasi-imperial heirs participating in the Imperial Heir Struggle.

Gazing at the distant desert, Commandery Prince An, Wu Mingyuan, stood with his hands behind his back, unable to help but imagine, "This shelterbelt is just the beginning. Next, we need to keep expanding it. In less than a thousand years, the environment here will be completely transformed, and this place will become fertile land suitable for human habitation."

"This vast desert, if we succeed, will allow human settlements to expand significantly, leading to an explosive population growth."

"That's too difficult."

The middle-aged scholar couldn't help but sigh.

He had been with His Highness for fifty years, witnessing the countless hardships they had endured for this forest.

A small forest was already so challenging, let alone the entire desert.

This was undoubtedly a long-term project.

In fact, with the methods of Basalt cultivators, altering the landscape and environment within a certain range wasn't too difficult.

Even building a garden with small bridges and flowing water in the desert, planting spiritual flowers and plants from different regions, was within their capabilities.

After all, they had Celestial Realm cultivators with unique bloodlines and several formation masters. Given time, they could carefully plan and adjust, setting up a small climate-regulating formation.

But this could only cover a small area, while the desert was vast.

Moreover, such formations, if not directly placed on spiritual veins, required spiritual stones to maintain, consuming significant resources. Relying on this method to transform the desert was impractical.

"Difficulty doesn't matter. We have time and talent," Commandery Prince An, Wu Mingyuan, spread his arms as if to embrace the wilderness, " One day, I will turn this place into a vast, fertile oasis, rich in resources, where humans can thrive and multiply!"

"One day, I will ensure that water scarcity no longer hinders crop growth."

"One day, I will make this place produce more grain than Qing'an Commandery, turning it into the largest 'granary' of the Great Qian!"

As he spoke, his eyes shone with a brilliant light. Despite the dust on his face, making him look somewhat disheveled, he seemed to radiate an inexplicable glow, stirring the hearts of those around him.

The middle-aged scholar and the other subordinates, looking at him, felt a fire ignite within their hearts.

When they looked at the endless desert again, their eyes no longer held any hesitation or uncertainty, only a burning ambition to conquer it!

By now, it was nearing dusk.

The setting sun hung low in the sky, appearing especially round and large, painting the surrounding sky in vibrant reds.

Their silhouettes were etched against the sunset, as if imprinted in time, carrying a certain indescribable charm.

Just then.

A sharp eagle's cry suddenly echoed in the sky.

Simultaneously, a melodious yet angry female voice called out, "Wu Mingyuan!"

"Qingrui?"

Commandery Prince An, Wu Mingyuan, was startled, his earlier determination vanishing instantly.

He instinctively wanted to find a place to hide. However, the saplings around him were barely waist-high, offering no cover.

Maybe he should run?

No, no~ With her temper, if he dared to run, it would only get worse later, making it truly difficult to handle...

While he was hesitating, a flying carriage pulled by a giant dragon eagle was already descending, landing outside the shelterbelt.

The Great Qian used the Azure Dragon as its totem.

The dragon eagle pulling the carriage had Azure Dragon blood, with golden eyes, colorful feathers, jade claws, and green scales. It was a rare and powerful beast specially trained by the imperial family.

Thus, the dragon eagle flying carriage became a symbol of status, reserved exclusively for royal family members.

Clearly, the person arriving was of high status.

As soon as the carriage stopped, the curtain was lifted, and a beautiful woman in a dark purple spirit silk long dress gracefully stepped out.

She carried herself with an air of nobility and composure.

A cloak was casually draped over her shoulders, and the surrounding wind and sand were deflected by the spiritual light emanating from it. Compared to the dusty Commandery Prince An and his subordinates, she appeared exceptionally radiant.

Seeing her, Wu Mingyuan instinctively shrank back, his face written with a large "coward."

The beautiful woman didn't give him a good look from the moment she saw him.

As she approached, she deftly pinched his ear and twisted it, her technique practiced, "You rascal, what did you tell me this morning? You said you were going to see the Commandery Governor to understand the court's situation, to find a way to turn things around. And where are you now? Is this the Commandery Governor's mansion? Huh?!"

Commandery Prince An winced in pain, "Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! My dear, be gentle~ If you pull any harder, my ear will come off!"

"Humph! Serves you right!" The beautiful woman glared at him, her eyes wide, "You're getting bolder, even daring to lie to me now!"

Seeing this, the subordinates couldn't help but chuckle, even the middle-aged scholar showing a hint of a smile.

This beautiful woman was, of course, Wu Mingyuan's wife, the Princess Consort of Commandery Prince An.

The Princess Consort of Commandery Prince An was the direct descendant of the third-grade Gongye Clan, named Gongye Qingrui.

When she first married, she was gentle and elegant, but after spending time with Commandery Prince An, her temperament had become increasingly fiery.

Now, when the Princess Consort got angry, not only did the subordinates feel intimidated, but even Commandery Prince An was a bit scared.

Seeing his subordinates daring to gloat, Commandery Prince An glared at them, "What are you looking at? Is there something to see? Get back to work!"

"Yes, Your Highness, we'll get to it."

The middle-aged scholar coughed and quickly led the others away.

After they left, Gongye Qingrui continued to scold Wu Mingyuan for a while before her anger subsided a bit.

"I'm not against you doing these things, but you can't neglect other matters," she sighed, letting go of his ear, her beautiful face showing a hint of worry, "We've suffered consecutive defeats in Lingbei and Longyuan, leaving us with only this base in Monan. You need to think of a plan. The Western Sea is hard to move, but we must find a way to take one of the three commanderies: Tianfu, Longzuo, or Qing'an."

"I just heard that Wu Chengsi has gone to the outer region battlefield again. If he gains significant military achievements there, what chance will you have?"

She was genuinely worried.

Compared to Commandery Prince Kang, Wu Chengsi, they were at a disadvantage in terms of influence both among the royal family and in the court.

Even the support they had managed to secure from the "Heavenly Palace" was largely due to the face of Wu Mingyuan's ancestor, Princess Qingluo. They were merely in a cooperative relationship, not fully aligned.

Sure, here is the translation:

```

That's right, back then Princess Qingluo did marry a consort and left behind descendants. The reason why the current Emperor granted Wu Mingyuan the title of Quasi-Imperial Heir is partly because he is indeed excellent in many aspects, including his bloodline. Secondly, it was also for the promise made back then, that the descendants of Princess Qingluo could have inheritance rights.

But even in such a situation, Wu Mingyuan was still focused on his shelterbelt project, showing no signs of urgency. How could Gongye Qingrui not be anxious?

"Yes, yes, my dear, you're right."

Prince An quickly appeased his wife when he saw her expression.

But as he spoke, he couldn't help but weakly say, "But if I can really conquer the Dala Desert, just this one achievement that benefits thousands of generations would be enough to outshine that Wu Chengsi."

"I understand the logic. But how easy do you think it is to conquer the desert? How many more years are you planning to spend on this, a hundred years? Or two hundred years? By the time you conquer it, the yellow flowers would have withered."

Seeing his appearance, Gongye Qingrui couldn't help but feel both angry and helpless.

Who could she blame?

Back then, wasn't she attracted by his pioneering spirit and diligent efforts, which made her willing to marry him? Otherwise, with her prodigious bloodline, wouldn't it have been better to stay at home and cultivate?

Seeing his dusty appearance, she couldn't help but feel a bit disdainful, "What do you look like covered in dust? Hurry and clean it off."

"Alright, alright, I'll clean it off right now."

Wu Mingyuan activated his profound energy, and the dust on his body immediately fell off, making him look refreshed.

Actually, with his strength, it was not difficult to fend off the wind and sand.

But the wind and sand here were too strong. Even if he cleaned it off for a moment, it would only take half a cup of tea's time to get covered in sand again. Using profound energy to fend off the sand was not cost-effective, and wearing a cloak was cumbersome... Over time, he became too lazy to bother.

Covered in sand? So be it. He could just shake it off when he left.

"My dear, I know you're worried about me. It's my fault, I'll think of a way." He moved closer to Gongye Qingrui, coaxing her softly, "Let's go home first, I'll have the kitchen make you some snow pear bird's nest soup."

"Go home? I still have important matters to attend to." Gongye Qingrui glared at him.

"Huh?"

Gongye Qingrui looked at him with a half-smile, "What? Did you think I came here just to catch you?"

Wu Mingyuan was a bit confused, "Isn't that the case?"

Gongye Qingrui rolled her eyes at him, "Do you think I would come all the way here just to catch you? I have serious business this time."

As she spoke, she took something out of her storage ring and handed it to Wu Mingyuan.

"Look at this."

"Hmm?"

Wu Mingyuan took it and saw that it was a slender metal tube with holes at regular intervals.

He pondered for a moment and uncertainly said, "Is this... for watering?"

"I knew you would figure it out." Gongye Qingrui glanced at him proudly, "This thing was brought over from Longzuo Commandery. I saw the Huangfu Clan using it to water their pastures, and it worked quite well. Weren't you worried about watering recently? I asked them for a few and brought them over for you to see."

Irrigation was a major challenge for shelterbelt planting.

Although the structure of this tube was simple, its simplicity allowed for mass production, which might really solve a big problem for him.

Wu Mingyuan was so happy that he hugged his wife, "I knew it, even though you don't say it, you still support me in your heart."

"Stop being so mushy." Gongye Qingrui blushed and quickly pushed him away, "Let them try it out. If it works, I'll ask my uncle to go to Longzuo Commandery and buy the formula from the Changning Wang's Clan."

"Wait, Changning Wang's Clan?" Wu Mingyuan was stunned, "Are you sure the formula belongs to the Changning Wang's Clan?"

"Of course I'm sure." Gongye Qingrui rolled her eyes at him, "I specifically asked. It was during a meal that the Huangfu Clan's prodigy sister had with the head of the Changning Wang's Clan, where they casually discussed the irrigation problem of the pasture. The head of the Changning Wang's Clan drew it for her. Later, the Changning Wang's Clan optimized the formula, and it became what it is now."

Wu Mingyuan pondered upon hearing this.

He had heard the name of the Changning Wang's Clan many times from Tianyan.

He had long admired the head of the Changning Wang's Clan. However, what he had heard before was all about how that person was far-sighted and thorough, and he didn't know he had this kind of skill as well.

Moreover, the great prodigy of the Wang's Clan was also doing well at Longzuo Academy, receiving much praise, with potential no less than Gongyang Ce.

It seemed it was indeed time to get in touch with the head of the Wang's Clan. But little did he know, while he was battling the wind and sand, Tianyan had already tried to arrange a meeting with Wang Shouzhe several times, only to be declined each time. Wang Shouzhe simply didn't want to see him...

Wu Mingyuan murmured, "My dear, since they could come up with this, do you think... they might have other methods to solve my current problems?"

"Just talking won't help. Why don't you ask Tianyan to arrange a meeting with Wang Shouzhe? From what I've read about him, he seems like a pretty good person." Gongye Qingrui was worried to death about her husband's Imperial Heir Struggle.

Wu Mingyuan nodded repeatedly, "Alright, alright, I'll listen to you." He paused and looked around, "By the way, where's our Yiluo? I haven't seen her for days."

Wu Yiluo was the youngest daughter of Wu Mingyuan and Gongye Qingrui, born recently. Due to her exceptional talent and resemblance to Ancestor Qingluo in her youth, the Emperor, in his old age, named her "Wu Yiluo" to commemorate Ancestor Qingluo.

A great prodigy of the Purple Mansion Realm and a prodigy in the later stages of the Celestial Realm, honestly, it wasn't easy to have offspring.

Moreover, the royal bloodline was always too powerful, resulting in a low birth rate.

This was mostly thanks to Gongye Qingrui's persistent efforts.

"You silly, I think you've been too busy lately." Gongye Qingrui rolled her eyes at him, "Didn't she get invited to visit the great-great-granddaughter of Wu Dianshan's family in Longzuo Commandery? She heard that Qingluo Sea has been developed and wanted to visit the place where Ancestor Qingluo fell to pay her respects."

"I see~" Wu Mingyuan was slightly disappointed and said weakly, "I'm a bit tired, let's wash up and go to bed early."

"Tired? Wash up and go to bed?"

Gongye Qingrui's anger surged. She had finally managed to send that little troublemaker away, hoping to enjoy some alone time, and he said wash up and go to bed?

"Wu Mingyuan!"

"My dear, why do your eyes look like you want to eat me?"

"I'm going to eat you."

"Ah~~~"

...

Meanwhile, in the commandery city of Longzuo Commandery.

As the core main city of the entire Longzuo Commandery, it had always been the center of economy, culture, and politics.

The spirit bird flying carriage system of Shouda Trading Company had developed over the years and reached a relatively mature stage, gradually expanding its business to Monan Commandery, Longyuan Commandery, Qing'an Commandery, and other places.

The only small regret was that they couldn't enter other commanderies and the capital.

In fact, the powerful families of each commandery and the capital had already started to imitate Shouda Trading Company's business model, making a lot of noise in their own territories.

This was unavoidable.

The influence of the Wang's Clan and the Qian's Clan, although significant, had its limitations across the entire Daqian.

However, this was already enough for the Wang's Clan and the Qian's Clan. The existing market alone allowed these two families to make a fortune and enter a fast track of development and growth.

Nowadays, for the wealthy people in the commandery city, traveling and relaxing in a flying carriage had become one of the common lifestyles.

Especially the latest garrison town in Longzuo, Qingluo Garrison, which launched several island leisure tourism projects, combining food, entertainment, adventure, and relaxation, attracting a lot of attention.

The excellent reviews from those who experienced it made the Qingluo Garrison tourism project increasingly popular.

Even though Shouda Trading Company had added many flights, tickets to Qingluo Garrison were still hard to come by!

But for others, it might be hard to get a ticket.

For Wang Anye, born into nobility, it was not a problem. During his short stay in the commandery city of Longzuo, he enjoyed the utmost care from the Qian's Clan, receiving all kinds of red envelopes and gifts, returning with a full load.

How abundant were the gifts?

In one sentence, Wang Anye began to find his storage ring, "Endless Abyss," too small!

"Seventh Young Master, this way please." The head steward of Shouda Trading Company's commandery office personally led the way with guards, arranging a private flying carriage for the Seventh Young Master.

Joking aside, how could the Seventh Young Master travel in the same carriage as others?

Just as Wang Anye followed without expression, his heart calm.

Suddenly.

A commotion came from behind, "Hey, hey, you little beggar, you didn't buy a ticket, you can't rush in." "Stop, you stop right there."

Then, Wang Anye saw a small, dusty beggar being chased and bumping right into his arms.

As they tumbled together, the small beggar's eyes, pure as stars, were filled with shock and disbelief. It was strange, with her skills, she could have easily dodged, so how did she end up bumping into him?

Hmm!?

And she was hugged! Her starry eyes widened, as if struck by lightning.

...

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