Protect Our Patriarch

……

As soon as Wang Meitao spoke, Wang Shihai rolled his eyes. Over the years, he had deeply regretted his decisions. That purple-gold ticket from Fourth Uncle back then was supposed to support him...

But in the end, it benefited that annoying girl, Wang Meitao.

However, Wang Shihai also knew that with his personality, if he had gotten that purple-gold ticket, he would have squandered it on food and drink. Only that annoying vampire, Wang Meitao, could use the funds to their fullest potential.

While they were talking, the Wang Clan's welcoming team, who had been waiting by the flying carriage station, approached them.

Leading the group was a tall, elegant young man who bore a striking resemblance to the clan leader, Wang Shouzhe.

He quickly stepped forward, smiling warmly and cupping his hands, "Welcome, esteemed relatives from Monan. I apologize for not greeting you sooner. Please forgive me."

This young man was none other than the current young clan leader, Wang Zongan.

Now sixty-five years old, Wang Zongan still appeared youthful and vigorous, thanks to his successful cultivation and the powerful support of his Yimu bloodline.

"Greetings, Fifth Uncle Zongan. How could we trouble you to come and greet us?" Wang Shihai hurriedly returned the salute. He had spent many years in Ping'an Town and was very familiar with the Wang Clan members of his generation.

"There's no need for such formalities between us," Wang Zongan said with a smile, supporting him. When Xin'an Town was being developed, he and Wang Shihai had teamed up to clear out fierce beasts, so they were not strangers.

In large clans, the position of the young clan leader was always special. It represented the family's succession and future hopes, as well as the family's face.

For welcoming young distinguished guests, having the clan leader do it would be too grand, while sending an elder might seem inappropriate. Therefore, the young clan leader often had to share many responsibilities with the clan leader.

Typically, having the young clan leader receive guests was already a high standard.

Following the proper etiquette, Wang Shihai began to introduce the guests from the Monan Wang Clan. Apart from an elder in the Celestial Realm with the surname "Zong," the rest were young members of the Monan Wang Clan.

For instance, Wang Meitao, despite her youthful appearance, was actually almost sixty years old. Originally, the family had not arranged for her to come to Changning. She had managed to tag along with Wang Shihai.

"This is Wang Anli, the third son of my elder brother Wang Shishan," Wang Shihai introduced a young man.

"Anli greets Fifth Granduncle Zongan," Wang Anli said with impeccable manners.

Wang Shishan was the current direct heir and young clan leader. His third son was naturally a direct descendant, ranking higher in the family succession than Wang Shihai.

The other young members were also important direct descendants of the Monan Wang Clan, the future pillars of the family.

The reason for sending such a lineup was that the Monan Wang Clan had high hopes for the future of the Changning Wang Clan. It allowed the young members to gain experience and foster closer ties.

Accompanying Wang Zongan was his eldest son, Wang Shizhao.

Wang Shizhao, now in his forties, had begun to manage some core family businesses after years of training and experience. He had inherited his father's elegant and steady demeanor, handling matters with meticulous care.

After welcoming the Monan Wang Clan, Wang Zongan handed over the arrangements for accommodation and rest to Wang Shizhao, who also led some key figures to meet the clan leader, Wang Shouzhe.

For the following days, the Monan relatives were fully taken care of by Wang Shizhao and some core family members.

Meanwhile, Wang Zongan continued to oversee Dingpu Port and the flying carriage station. Whenever distinguished guests arrived, he would personally greet them and then assign appropriate family members to handle the reception based on the guests' status.

For ordinary seventh-grade families, direct descendants with the surname "Shi" or "An" would handle the reception. For more powerful Celestial families, elders with the surname "Zong" would be responsible.

In large clans, everything had to be meticulous and thorough to avoid any dissatisfaction or the perception of disrespect.

At the same time, in Shouzhe's Small Courtyard...

After several expansions and renovations, the small courtyard had grown significantly, though it still maintained its original layout.

Especially the living quarters he shared with Liu Ruolan, which remained as they were when they first got married.

People tend to become more nostalgic as they age.

The early autumn sunlight was clear.

Wang Shouzhe reclined in a lounge chair, basking in the sun with his eyes half-closed, vividly recounting the story of Pigsy carrying his wife from "Journey to the West" to a few children.

He had been telling this story for over sixty years, accompanying generation after generation of children in the family as they grew up.

Currently lying on Wang Shouzhe's stomach, eyes wide with curiosity, was his youngest great-grandson, Wang Anrui.

At only four years old, his father was Wang Shihai's second son, Wang Shihai.

"Great-grandfather, great-grandfather, why did Pigsy have to carry his wife?" Wang Anrui asked in a childish voice, "Having a wife is so annoying. Daddy says ever since he married Mommy, he's been controlled all the time and has no freedom."

"Uh..." Wang Shouzhe's mouth twitched. He always heard the most peculiar things from these little kids.

Shihai, unlike his brother Wang Shizhao, was lively and active. After reaching adulthood, he loved to go sailing, especially in the Qingluo Sea.

However, Lady Bilian from the Yuwen Clan of Longzuo always had a grudge against Wang Shouzhe. After all, the Fire Fox Ancestor often stayed with the Wang Clan, only returning to the Yuwen Clan when resources were scarce.

In such circumstances, it was no wonder Lady Bilian had issues. She proposed a marriage alliance between the direct descendants of both families to strengthen their ties and prevent the Fire Fox Ancestor from being completely taken away.

As a result, Wang Shouzhe asked around among his children and grandchildren. His daughters were not keen on marriage at the moment, and the only one of marriageable age was Wang Shihai, who was still not ready to settle down.

Lady Bilian then issued an ultimatum: either Wang Shihai marries a direct descendant of the Yuwen Clan, or Wang Shouzhe marries Lady Bilian herself. Otherwise, the Yuwen Clan would firmly oppose the Fire Fox Ancestor's dual allegiance.

Marry Lady Bilian? Wang Shouzhe would have to be out of his mind to agree to that.

Naturally, Wang Shihai was arranged to marry...

Although Shihai had his complaints, as a direct descendant of a noble family, he had little choice. When it was time to marry, there was no escaping it.

But this was just a minor episode.

Wang Shouzhe wasn't about to interfere in his grandchildren's marital affairs. After all, each generation had its own blessings.

Surrounding him, besides his youngest great-grandson Wang Anrui, were his eldest great-grandson Wang Anye and his little granddaughter Wang Yingxuan. Wang Anye was already nine years old, and Wang Yingxuan was eight.

They had both been tested for their aptitude and were performing exceptionally well. They had started nurturing their meridians and cultivating, and they had to attend the Clan School regularly.

It seemed that Wang Shouzhe's genes were exceptionally strong, as his descendants all had excellent bloodlines, with most starting as mid-grade Class B prodigies.

Several of them had even reached mid-grade Class A prodigy levels.

With just a Wuji Baodan or a Blood Gu King, they could easily become outstanding prodigies.

Although his eldest daughter Wang Liyao and eldest son Wang Zongan were still the most formidable, the direct descendants of the Wang Clan were all exceptional.

Whether they could advance to great prodigy bloodlines depended on their own fortunes.

Even with the Wang Clan's current wealth and resources, meeting the enormous expenses within the clan was already very challenging. Just acquiring a Wuji Baodan was difficult due to its rarity, let alone nurturing a great prodigy.

Because the children's bloodlines were so high, it was easier for them to marry wives, as they could marry down. But for his three daughters and two marriageable granddaughters, finding suitable husbands was more challenging.

Wang Liyao, for instance, was an outstanding great prodigy and the pride of Tianhe Daoist. Even if she couldn't become a Holy Son in the future, she was destined to be a significant figure.

If Wang Shouzhe dared to marry her off, Tianhe Daoist would tear the Wang Clan apart.

As for his second daughter Wang Liyue and third daughter Wang Lijue, though not as extraordinary as their eldest sister, they were still prodigies. Where could they be married off to?

A fifth-grade family's direct line might produce a prodigy once in many years.

Marrying them to lesser prodigies would be a waste...

Moreover, prodigious girls tended to be proud. Unless they found someone they liked, even Wang Shouzhe couldn't force them to marry someone with lesser cultivation and bloodline.

Unfortunately, even among fifth-grade families, suitable prodigious matches were rare. And even if they found one, the family might not have the resources to cultivate two Purple Mansion Realm cultivators.

Fourth-grade families offered a slightly broader selection, but Wang Shouzhe was only familiar with the Zuoqiu Clan...

As for third-grade families, the Wang Clan couldn't reach that high...

The same situation applied to his two marriageable granddaughters, Wang Yingtong and Wang Yingrong.

So, they remained single.

Prodigious girls rarely found suitable matches early on, and staying in the family meant they were valuable talents.

Liu Ruolan marrying Wang Shouzhe was an odd exception. She had always wanted to take it easy and didn't even want to attend the academy...

Wang Shouzhe pondered family matters while enjoying time with his grandchildren, feeling a sense of fulfillment and joy.

Watching generation after generation grow up gave Wang Shouzhe a sense of reality and completeness in life.

"Grandpa," his eight-year-old granddaughter Wang Yingxuan said, shaking his arm, "I don't like Pigsy's story. Daddy has already told me these stories. He says he envies Aunt Lici and Aunt Liyao for being able to explore the world and fulfill their dreams. Grandpa, can I go to the academy when I grow up?"

This girl was the eldest daughter of Wang Zongrui, Wang Shouzhe's second son. Her maternal family was the newly promoted Purple Mansion Clan, the Fang Clan of Longyuan. After having two sons, Wang Zongrui and his wife treasured Wang Yingxuan.

Wang Yingxuan had recently been tested and was found to have mid-grade Class A aptitude, approaching prodigy level. Such innate talent placed her among the top of Wang Shouzhe's descendants.

As a result, her maternal family's Ancestor, Fang You'an, had eagerly come to visit.

Fang You'an, now at the ninth level of the Celestial Realm, had a good chance of reaching the Purple Mansion Realm with decades of closed-door cultivation.

He personally brought a Xisui Dan, a Wuji Baodan, and a Blood Gu King, all intended for Wang Yingxuan, hoping she could attend the academy.

He also subtly promoted the academy to Wang Yingxuan...

Wang Shouzhe saw through Fang You'an's intentions.

Fang You'an had observed and estimated that Wang Shouzhe might have the ability to suppress the Blood Gu King's terrible side effects.

So he had gone to great lengths to obtain a Blood Gu King and a Wuji Baodan through the Fang Clan and his own channels.

With this setup, if Wang Shouzhe could indeed neutralize the Blood Gu King's side effects, Wang Yingxuan could potentially become a great prodigy!

If Wang Yingxuan attended the academy, the Fang Clan could justifiably allocate resources to cultivate her. A great prodigy granddaughter would be a significant asset for the Fang Clan's future.

This strategy was similar to how Wang Shouzhe had wooed the Fire Fox Ancestor...

Why didn't Fang You'an cultivate a great prodigy within the Fang Clan?

The reasons were simple: he feared Wang Shouzhe wouldn't fully commit to neutralizing the side effects, and cultivating a great prodigy to the Divine Realm required vast resources that the Fang Clan couldn't afford.

Even the Wang Clan struggled to cultivate a great prodigy to the Divine Realm. Wang Shouzhe was betting on the Wang Clan's growing strength and future earning potential to fill the enormous gap.

With the initial development of the Qingluo Garrison complete, it would soon be profitable, entering a positive cycle. Once they had more resources, they could focus on developing the outer regions, strengthening the Wang Clan's foundation.

With this in mind, Wang Shouzhe felt even more confident about the future. He patted his granddaughter Wang Yingxuan's head indulgently, "Alright, Grandpa agrees. But forget about the Longzuo Academy. When you turn eighteen, Grandpa will send you directly to the Holy Land."

Although the Fang Clan wanted to benefit from a great prodigy, Wang Shouzhe didn't oppose it. After all, they were in-laws, and Yingxuan had Fang Clan blood.

However, the Holy Land offered better resources and opportunities than the local academy. Previously, the family's conditions couldn't support it, so they had to send children to the Longzuo Academy.

Now that the Wang Clan had improved, it was time to aim for the Holy Land.

"Thank you, Grandpa!" Wang Yingxuan happily kissed Wang Shouzhe.

Nine-year-old Wang Anye watched his aunt Yingxuan enviously. He also longed for the academy life.

Unfortunately, as the eldest great-grandson of the Wang Clan, he couldn't truly become an academy disciple. He had to stay home and prepare to inherit the family business, destined for a dull and predictable life...

While they were talking, Wang Shizhao's respectful voice came from outside the courtyard, "Grandpa, Brother Shihai from Monan requests an audience."

"Let Shihai come in directly," Wang Shouzhe said with a smile, not getting up from his lounge chair. With his current cultivation and powerful divine sense, he could easily cover the entire courtyard, noticing even the slightest movement.

As he finished speaking, Wang Shizhao led Wang Shihai and Wang Meitao into the courtyard. They approached and saluted, "Shihai greets Fourth Granduncle. It's been many years. How is your health?"

"Meitao pays respects to Ancestor," Wang Meitao said, bowing deeply with utmost respect.

Technically, Wang Shouzhe was her great-great-grandfather. But since Celestial and Purple Mansion Realm cultivators lived long lives, the generational gaps were often large. So, they usually addressed anyone above their great-grandparents as "Ancestor."

"This girl is...?" Wang Shouzhe asked, slightly puzzled. Meitao sounded familiar.

Wang Shihai, embarrassed, was about to explain when Wang Meitao cheerfully interrupted, "Ancestor, I'm the girl you met at the Monan main residence years ago. Your purple-gold ticket helped me a lot."

"I remember now..." Wang Shouzhe's mouth twitched, looking at Wang Shihai with a peculiar expression.

Wang Shihai coughed awkwardly and quickly presented a gift list, "Fourth Granduncle, this is the gift list my father prepared for the Wang Clan's promotion ceremony. Please have a look. The gifts are already on their way and should arrive in Changning soon."

"Clan Leader Zonghao is very considerate," Wang Shouzhe said, taking the list. It contained refined iron, high-quality livestock like spirit horses and spirit cattle, and other essential resources the Wang Clan needed.

It was clear that the Monan Wang Clan highly valued the Changning Wang Clan's promotion, providing much-needed basic resources, especially refined iron, which the Wang Clan always lacked.

"Shizhao, handle this matter," Wang Shouzhe said, handing the gift list to Wang Shizhao.

"Yes, Grandpa," Wang Shizhao replied, taking the list and stepping aside. He was mature and steady, and this was a minor task for him.

The maids served celestial tea and spirit fruits, and Wang Shouzhe personally chatted with his relatives, Wang Shihai and Wang Meitao.

"Shihai, I heard that Ninth Uncle Dingxin recently advanced to the Purple Mansion Realm. The Monan Wang Clan will soon hold a Purple Mansion banquet, right?" Wang Shouzhe asked casually.

"Hehe, Fourth Granduncle, you are well-informed," Wang Shihai said, enjoying the spirit fruit, "Ninth Granduncle plans to stabilize his cultivation for a few years before holding the Purple Mansion banquet."

Wang Dingxin, the Monan Wang Clan's Purple Mansion successor, was around three hundred years old, in his prime among Purple Mansion cultivators. His successful advancement meant the Monan Wang Clan's succession was secure, ensuring several more centuries of prosperity.

Unfortunately, the Monan Wang Clan's first ancestor was nearly seven hundred years old, with limited lifespan left. So, the Monan Wang Clan couldn't yet be considered a dual Purple Mansion fifth-grade family.

"When the time comes, I'll personally visit the Monan Wang Clan to congratulate Ninth Uncle Dingxin," Wang Shouzhe said, pleased with the news. Wang Dingxin's achievement was a source of pride for the family.

"Shihai will make sure to welcome you warmly," Wang Shihai said enthusiastically. Suddenly, his expression darkened with regret, "But Celestial Maiden Tianyan from Tianyan Fang has disappeared. Otherwise, we could have invited you to tour Dongchacha Lake again. Without her, the lake has lost its charm."

"Oh, I didn't expect you to miss me so much, Wang Shihai," a cold, ethereal voice said from behind.

Wang Shihai turned around, stunned. The woman in an ice-blue dress, wearing a mysterious veil, was none other than Celestial Maiden Tianyan.

"How is this possible?" Wang Shihai looked at Tianyan, then at Wang Shouzhe, and couldn't help but gasp, his mind buzzing.

Fourth Granduncle, you actually kept Celestial Maiden Tianyan hidden away?