Protect Our Patriarch

……

"Dear, you make a good point. Those two never remember their lessons but always remember the pain." Wang Shouzhe readily accepted Liu Ruolan's suggestion. He called Wang Luojing and Wang Luo Qiu to the back mountain and gave them a good beating.

At first, the two girls thought that even if they were a few minor realms below their Fourth Brother, they wouldn't lose if they teamed up.

However, Wang Shouzhe had already advanced to the Celestial Realm and was a great prodigy with a dao body.

Naturally, they were beaten to a pulp, left in a miserable state. The two sisters supported each other, their eyes filled with grievance and awe. Fourth Brother... was just too strong.

"Don't look at me like that." Wang Shouzhe felt his anger dissipate, a sense of comfort filling him. "Fourth Brother is doing this for your own good."

This made Wang Shouzhe sigh inwardly. No wonder his wife never argued when she could use her hands; it was indeed quite stress-relieving...

Thank you, Fourth Brother! You probably can't beat Sister-in-law on a daily basis and are taking it out on us. The two girls were full of grievances.

Especially Wang Luo Qiu, who rolled her eyes secretly and muttered under her breath, "Hmph, what's so great about you? You're just a stepping stone on my path to becoming an emperor. When I ascend to the throne, Wang Shouzhe... hehehe~"

"Little Six, what are you muttering about?" Wang Shouzhe asked with a refreshed smile. "Is there something you're still dissatisfied with? If so, just say it, and your Fourth Brother will definitely satisfy you..."

"No, no... Fourth Brother, you are unparalleled, a model for us to learn from. If you say not to go to the outer regions, we won't go in the future." Wang Luo Qiu forced a flattering smile.

"Yes, yes, we know Fourth Brother is concerned for our safety~" Wang Luojing also showed a sweet smile.

In the Purple Mansion Academy, they were dazzling figures, idols to countless junior brothers and sisters, senior brothers and sisters, revered like true phoenixes. But in front of their brother Wang Shouzhe, they were as obedient as little quails.

"Sigh~ You two, do you know how dangerous the outer regions are? Why does the academy forbid Lingtai Realm prodigies from venturing there?" Wang Shouzhe glanced at them sternly. "In short, before you reach the Celestial Realm, you are not allowed to take reckless risks or get involved in messy situations. Otherwise, don't blame me, Wang Shouzhe, for enforcing family law~"

"Yes, Fourth Brother." The two girls agreed solemnly.

"Come here, let Fourth Brother heal you." Despite the beating, Wang Shouzhe still cared for them deeply. While using profound energy to heal their injuries, he continued to nag, "I know you both have high ambitions, which is a good thing. I'm also working on ways to improve your bloodlines."

"Do you remember the further information we received after clearing the trial point? I have already pinpointed the direction and approximate location of the Shenwu Army's assembly point. However, it's over ten thousand miles of outer wilderness. This path needs to be explored slowly... Perhaps there are secrets about bloodline enhancement there. In any case, don't rush it!"

"Yes, Fourth Brother~"

"Fourth Brother, during our years in the outer regions, we did make some gains~" Wang Luo Qiu glanced at Wang Luojing before saying, "Do you remember the blood gu? Actually, blood gu is not a big secret in various academies, even in Lingyun Holy Land. From what I know, Longzuo Academy opened a blood nest base hundreds of years ago."

"Over three hundred years ago, Qing'an Academy also opened one in the outer regions. In short, multiple blood nest bases have been opened within the Great Qian and the outer regions. However, the conditions for using blood gu are too harsh, or they are easily exploited by ambitious individuals in cruel ways. Therefore, the academies strictly control blood gu, generally either sealing them away or using them for research by relevant personnel."

Wang Shouzhe nodded repeatedly. He had vaguely heard of this information before and had even written to Changchun Immortal to try to purchase some blood gu. However, the academy's rules were strict, and even Changchun Immortal couldn't break them.

Moreover, Wang Shouzhe didn't want outsiders to know about his ability to safeguard and mitigate the side effects of using blood gu to enhance bloodlines.

Previously, when Ancestor Long Yan survived the calamity of the Blood Gu Emperor, relevant people only thought it was her luck. Only Senior Sister Lu Wei and Fang You'an had some suspicions, but they had no substantial evidence.

Therefore, he had exchanged for those blood gu at a low price, but the academy, through Changchun Immortal, had warned him not to use them for evil purposes. This was a privilege granted to the Wang Clan due to their clean and upright lineage.

Otherwise, the academy would never allow the Wang Clan to privately possess some blood gu, even if they were the Wang Clan's own.

"Fourth Brother~ During our time in the outer regions, we encountered a prodigy from the Han Yue Immortal Dynasty who was secretly selling some blood gu at high prices." Wang Luojing said, "So, we took the risk of asking Senior Sister Lu Wei to help us, spending all our academy points and savings, and even owing her some points, to finally exchange for all his blood gu. Among them were two Blood Gu Kings and three ordinary blood gu."

Han Yue Immortal Dynasty?

Wang Shouzhe frowned slightly. Again, it was the Han Yue Immortal Dynasty... Previously, the old ghost Jiang, captured from Zuoqiu Qingyun, had also escaped from the Han Yue Immortal Dynasty. That place's strength far surpassed that of the Great Qian.

Originally, he had planned to take the old ghost Jiang to the academy to exchange for secret manuals. However, after Liu Ruoling subdued him, Wang Shouzhe temporarily kept him, allowing Liu Ruolan to guard him and occasionally extracting information from him, as well as obtaining the incomplete "Golden Toad Manual."

In addition, there was a lot of information about the Han Yue Immortal Dynasty, although it was all from a long time ago. Still, it gave Wang Shouzhe a general understanding of the dynasty's social structure and more.

But that was another matter.

When Wang Shouzhe heard that they had obtained two Blood Gu Kings and three ordinary blood gu, his expression became serious: "Besides Senior Sister Lu Wei, does anyone else know that you secretly bought them?"

"Fourth Brother~ We're not stupid." Wang Luo Qiu rolled her eyes at him but added, "However, Senior Sister Lu Wei probably can't keep this a secret. If our bloodlines improve, she will definitely come to ask you about it."

"My plan is to take this opportunity to win her over. Senior Sister Lu Wei is a great prodigy and seems to have some feelings for you, Fourth Brother. Why not take this chance to bring her into the family... to keep Sister-in-law company~"

Wang Shouzhe's face turned black. Wang Luo Qiu, thank you for your plan!

Isn't one troublesome person at home enough? Do you have to bring another oddball back... If so, how can the house be peaceful?

"Alright, alright, even if Senior Sister Lu Wei has questions, it's fine. She doesn't have much of a social circle, and others don't like to interact with her." Wang Shouzhe just wanted to keep the matter secret but wasn't entirely unable to handle any leaks.

"Then, Fourth Brother, let's start quickly." Wang Luo Qiu's face lit up with excitement.

"Start what quickly?" Wang Shouzhe rolled his eyes.

"Of course, using the Blood Gu King to enhance our bloodlines, with you, Fourth Brother, providing protection." Wang Luo Qiu's eyes were full of excitement. Originally, both she and Luojing had mid-grade bloodlines. With the Blood Gu King, their bloodlines could be greatly enhanced, bringing them closer to her goal of becoming an empress.

After all, there are differences between prodigies. Some particularly powerful prodigies can advance to the Celestial Realm at around sixty, while the weakest might take eighty or ninety years. This difference in advancement can also affect their combat power at the same level.

"Did I agree to this?" Wang Shouzhe said irritably, "I haven't even settled accounts with you for this reckless action."

"What?"

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Wang Luo Qiu and Wang Luojing were both stunned.

Fortunately, Wang Shouzhe didn't really make things difficult for them. He ordered them to stay home until the New Year was over, then personally assisted them in using the Blood Gu King to enhance their bloodlines.

Unfortunately, despite the Blood Gu King's effectiveness being greater than the Wuji Baodan, it could only elevate their bloodlines from mid-grade to high-grade, and from the performance on the Spirit Testing Platform, it was only close to top-grade, still a notch below Wang Shouzhe's level before he took the Wuji Baodan.

It could be inferred that even if they took the Wuji Baodan, they wouldn't be able to elevate their bloodlines to the spiritual body level.

This was inevitable, as they were already at the third level of the Lingtai Realm.

Fortunately, high-grade bloodlines were still strong. Even if they didn't have further opportunities to enhance their bloodlines, reaching the Purple Mansion Realm in the future would be easy.

Of course, Wang Shouzhe confiscated the remaining three ordinary blood gu as the fee for providing protection. The points they owed Senior Sister Lu Wei were left for them to handle.

The three ordinary blood gu were temporarily stored in the family treasury, to be used later.

In the spring of the 3179th year of the Great Qian.

On a drizzly day, the increasingly prosperous Wang Clan received another piece of bad news.

The eldest of the sixth generation, Wang Dingchuan, who was Wang Shouzhe's eldest uncle, passed away at the age of ninety-nine. Friends and relatives from all over came to the Wang Clan to mourn, especially the eldest sister Wang Luomei and second sister Wang Luohua, who cried their hearts out.

By mortal standards, Uncle Wang Dingchuan had lived a long life, thanks to the Wang Clan's improving living conditions and the Longevity Pill Wang Shouzhe had prepared for him years ago.

In fact, some of the elders in the family had been passing away over the years. Especially the fifth-generation "Xiao" generation, now only Wang Shouzhe's Sixth Grandfather, Wang Xiaohan, remained.

In the sixth generation, only Third Uncle Wang Dingzu and Sixth Uncle Wang Dinghai were left.

Fortunately, those three elders had all advanced to the Lingtai Realm, extending their lifespan to two hundred years.

However, Uncle Dingchuan's death was most heartbreaking for Ancestor Long Yan.

Ancestor Long Yan stood in the middle, dressed in white, with a hint of bitterness in her brows.

Wang Shouzhe, holding a five or six-year-old girl in his arms, comforted Ancestor Long Yan, "Ancestor, Uncle lived a full life. By all accounts, this should be considered a happy funeral. Please don't be too sad."

"Shouzhe, you don't understand." Ancestor Long Yan sighed deeply. "Sometimes, living too long is not a happy thing. I've watched every child in the family grow up and then watched them die! This feeling is painful every time. Dingchuan, Xiaozhi, Xiaojie, and your father, grandfather, great-grandfather... one generation after another, they all left before my eyes~"

"Ancestor, the family's personnel changes are inevitable. With the efforts of our predecessors, our generation, and our descendants, the Wang Clan will only get better and better. In the future, at least everyone in our family will be in the Lingtai Realm~ with longer lifespans~"

Wang Shouzhe put down the adorable girl and gave her a meaningful look.

The little girl, very perceptive, immediately ran over and hugged Ancestor Long Yan's leg, saying in a sweet voice, "Ancestor, please don't be sad. When you're sad, Jue'er is sad too. Boohoo~"

Ancestor Long Yan quickly picked her up, gently comforting her, "Jue'er, don't cry. I promise I won't be sad."

Wang Lijue!

This was Wang Shouzhe's third daughter, now six years old. Wang Shouzhe and Liu Ruolan had decided to have another child before advancing to the Celestial Realm to contribute to the family.

After all, once both reached the Celestial Realm, their life force would be too strong, making it difficult to conceive.

It took several years before they finally conceived, and even while pregnant, Liu Ruolan's cultivation level continued to rise. Shortly after giving birth, she secluded herself for a while and then advanced to the Celestial Realm.

For others, advancing to the Celestial Realm was a cautious and well-prepared process, fearing failure. But for Liu Ruolan, it was as easy as playing, and she even had a child along the way.

As a result, Wang Shouzhe now had five children... Eldest daughter Wang Liyao, eldest son Wang Zong'an, second daughter Wang Liyue, second son Wang Zongrui, and third daughter Wang Lijue.

Among them, the eldest son Wang Zong'an had been married for a long time. His wife was Xu Pingting, the eldest daughter of the Xu Clan, a Celestial Realm family in Changning. This was a marriage arranged by Wang Shouzhe, giving him a wife.

Now, Wang Zong'an was also a father, with a son Wang Shizhao and a daughter Wang Yingtong.

Given that Wang Shouzhe had not yet stepped down as the clan leader, Wang Shizhao's official title was the Wang Clan's eldest grandson.

Besides the young clan leader Wang Zong'an, the eldest grandson's succession order was also very high. Many families in the Great Qian passed on the leadership across generations, sometimes even several generations. The higher the family's rank, the more likely it was to pass on leadership across generations.

But that's another story.

With Wang Lijue's intervention, Ancestor Long Yan's mood brightened considerably. After all, the family was thriving, with children being born like mushrooms after the rain, one after another.

"Ancestor, have some melon. It's very sweet." Wang Lijue took out a jade mushroom spirit melon, cleaned it, and gave it to Ancestor Long Yan.

"Good, good." Ancestor Long Yan's mood gradually improved, and she lovingly patted Wang Lijue's little head. "This child is so spirited, reminding me of Lici. Shouzhe, that girl hasn't come back to visit for years."

"Don't worry, Ancestor." Wang Shouzhe said, "Lici has been traveling and training with Vice Dean Yunyang. She wrote recently, saying she has made great progress and that Yunyang is taking her on another distant journey."

"Well, well, children have their own blessings. Lici is fortunate to be trained by Yunyang." Ancestor Long Yan quickly let go of her thoughts about Wang Lici and focused on Wang Lijue, chatting and playing with her.

……

Around the same time, in the northern part of the Great Qian.

Beyond Monan Commandery, outside the borders of the Great Qian, lay the outer regions. Beyond the vast outer grasslands and the expansive desert, there was a vast uninhabited area.

Unlike the southern outer regions, this area was not a complex terrain of mountains, valleys, caves, lakes, and swamps but a continuous, massive mountain range stretching to the horizon. Its grandeur was indescribable, only understood by seeing it in person.

Beyond the borders, the climate grew colder.

The vegetation on the mountains changed significantly from the south, with bamboo almost unseen, and forests mostly becoming tall, straight coniferous trees. But one thing remained the same.

The outer regions were places humans had not yet developed, teeming with countless fierce beasts and insects. Even during the day, one could hear the cries of eagles, the roars of beasts, and the chirping of various birds.

Occasionally, an energy shockwave would erupt without warning, indicating a fierce beast battle, whether by chance encounter, ambush, or territorial dispute.

In summary, it was full of dangers.

Suddenly.

A woman in tight clothing appeared in the dense forest.

She wore a simple fur coat, exposing only her chubby hands and a round, cute face, looking quite endearing.

She seemed oblivious to the forest's dangers, strolling and looking around as if searching for something.

This woman was none other than Wang Lici, the eldest of the "Li" generation in the Wang Clan and Wang Shouzhe's niece.

Wang Lici was only five years younger than Wang Shouzhe, now in her forties, but she looked much younger. She hadn't become mature and strong like Luojing and Luo Qiu, still appearing innocent and naive.

Whether it was her natural appearance or the unique temperament granted by her bloodline, she remained unchanged.

For the past decade, she had been traveling with her master, Yunyang.

In these years, her cultivation had grown rapidly, now reaching the late Lingtai Realm.

However, her cultivation level was not the most important aspect; her bloodline talent was continually rising.

Moreover, she was clearly familiar with the forest, easily avoiding a giant snake attempting to ambush her from a tree.

Suddenly, her eyes lit up as if she had discovered something. She tapped her toes, turning into a shadow and darting toward a specific location in the forest.

After flying for about four or five miles, she finally landed.

In front of her was a towering dark brown cliff, covered with various shrubs. Near the ground, there was a huge crevice, from which came a faint, muffled sound.

Listening closely, it seemed to be the snoring of a fierce beast.

Wang Lici's eyes brightened, and she immediately squeezed into the crevice.

Though called a crevice, it was spacious inside, at least twenty stories high and wide enough for several carriages to pass side by side.

Thanks to the cliff sheltering it from wind and rain, the crevice was dry and warm, much more comfortable than the windy outside.

Turning a corner.

Suddenly.

A huge, dark mass appeared ahead.

Wang Lici instinctively stopped and took a few steps back, looking up to see the situation.

In front of her, a giant black bear with steel-like fur was curled up, snoring loudly.

Even from a distance, its massive size, like a small mountain, was intimidating. Combined with the fierce, domineering aura it emitted, it would have scared a less courageous Lingtai Realm cultivator to death.

However, Wang Lici's eyes lit up at the sight of the bear, and she even licked her lips: "A fifth-order Black-Toothed Giant Bear. So much meat, enough for two months, no, one month, no, half a month... Sigh, my appetite is growing~"

Without hesitation, she removed the concealing jade pendant from her waist.

Instantly, her late Lingtai Realm energy filled the crevice.

The Black-To The Black-Toothed Giant Bear woke up immediately, its huge beast eyes locking onto Wang Lici.

Fierce beasts have a strong sense of territory. Discovering an intruder in its lair, its eyes gleamed with a bloodthirsty red light, its breathing grew heavy, and its aura became increasingly violent.

Wang Lici, however, was not afraid. She took out a jar of spirit honey, which Black-Toothed Giant Bears loved, and waved it in front of the bear before putting it away again, the provocation clear.

"Roar!!"

The Black-Toothed Giant Bear roared in fury, charging at Wang Lici. You damn human, do you think that tiny jar is enough to satisfy me?

The bear was massive, at least seven or eight stories tall. As it charged, the wind pressure created a howling sound, exuding a powerful sense of oppression. Its gaping maw, filled with sharp teeth, and its enormous claws were particularly menacing, making one believe that a single bite or swipe could crush them instantly.

However, Wang Lici didn't dodge. Instead, she pulled out a giant hammer and swung it backhandedly.

This hammer was an upper-grade spirit weapon she had obtained during a trial in the Shenwu Royal Dynasty. Over the years, she hadn't bothered to name it, simply calling it "Hammer."

Despite the casual treatment, the upper-grade spirit weapon lived up to its name, far more powerful than ordinary lower-grade spirit weapons.

As Wang Lici swung the hammer, it radiated a dazzling light, and a powerful aura erupted.

Simultaneously, a vague Dharma Aspect appeared behind her, exuding a strong pressure.

Over the years, under Yunyang's relentless (and resource-intensive) training, her bloodline had slowly but steadily improved.

Today, her bloodline had reached the mid-fourth tier, equivalent to a mid-grade talent. The Dharma Aspect behind her was more solid and powerful than before, resembling an ancient beast returning to the world, fierce and domineering.

With both factors combined, Wang Lici's hammer strike was like a king moving a mountain, unstoppable.

However, the Black-Toothed Giant Bear was a fifth-order fierce beast, equivalent to a human Celestial Realm cultivator, with terrifying strength.

When the hammer collided with the giant bear, Wang Lici was sent flying.

But the Black-Toothed Giant Bear didn't fare well either. Its massive body staggered, almost losing its balance, and its giant paw emitted a suspicious cracking sound.

Clearly, it had suffered some damage from the strike.

Enraged, the Black-Toothed Giant Bear charged at Wang Lici even more ferociously.

Wang Lici, however, didn't engage further. After gauging the bear's strength and injuring its paw, she turned and ran, keeping a safe distance while luring it forward.

The Black-Toothed Giant Bear, already slow among fierce beasts, was further hindered by its injury, making it impossible to catch her. It could only roar in frustration as it chased her.

Soon, she led the bear out of the crevice and shouted toward the sky.

"Master, it's your turn!"

As her voice fell, an ancient male voice echoed from the sky, "Girl, move aside."

In an instant, a brilliant red light descended from the sky, landing beside Wang Lici.

It was an elderly man with a clear, immortal-like appearance—Yunyang, the vice dean of Longzuo Academy and Wang Lici's master.

Over the past two or three decades, his appearance hadn't changed much, but his aura had become even more profound. Clearly, his strength had continued to grow, though not as visibly as Wang Lici's.

The situation was clear.

This master-disciple duo had set a trap, with Wang Lici using her human radar talent to locate suitable fierce beasts, luring them out of their lairs, and then Yunyang finishing them off.

Their seamless cooperation suggested they had done this many times, becoming quite skilled.

As soon as he landed, Yunyang raised his hand.

A massive red hand formed from profound energy descended, swiftly subduing the Black-Toothed Giant Bear. With a swift motion, he snapped its neck.

A fifth-order fierce beast, in the hands of Yunyang, a seasoned Purple Mansion Realm peak cultivator, was almost powerless.

"Let's go."

After dealing with the bear, Yunyang casually stored its body in his storage ring.

The massive Black-Toothed Giant Bear seemed weightless in his hands.

With a wave of his hand, a brilliant red light enveloped them, carrying them to a safer area.

In the outer regions, powerful fierce beasts had their own territories, and some were so formidable that even Yunyang avoided them.

Soon, they found a relatively safe spot, started a campfire, and began roasting meat.

"My dear disciple, your talent is truly useful for finding fierce beasts and spiritual materials." Yunyang handed the edible parts of the Black-Toothed Giant Bear to Wang Lici, who was already roasting meat. "If I had discovered it earlier, we wouldn't have had to live so frugally, moving every few years, sometimes even several times a year."

"I forgot~" Wang Lici said, a bit embarrassed, as she brushed seasoning on the meat. "When I was little, I accidentally ate some stone marrow and couldn't digest its power, leaving aftereffects. My Fourth Uncle was worried I'd eat something else by mistake, so he forbade me from going to the outer regions alone."

"Your Fourth Uncle is the head of the Changning Wang Clan, Wang Shouzhe, right?" Yunyang nodded. "His concern is understandable. Your bloodline's digestive ability is strong but not unlimited. If you accidentally consumed a powerful spiritual herb or stumbled into a fierce beast's lair, it could be disastrous."

During this period, utilizing Wang Liyao's talents, the two of them cooperated in hunting fierce beasts. Although things went smoothly most of the time, there were indeed some unexpected incidents.

Once, Wang Liyao instinctively sensed something valuable and followed the trail, only to find herself in the lair of a peak seventh-rank White-Eyed Tiger King.

If it weren't for Yunyang's strength and his secret shadowing, discovering the danger and pulling her back in time, Wang Liyao would have walked right into the tiger's den.

Another time, Wang Liyao accidentally stumbled into a nest of poisonous insects, and it was Yunyang who rescued her again.

Letting her wander alone in the outer regions would worry not just Wang Shouzhe, but Yunyang as well.

As they spoke, the roast meat was almost done, and the aroma gradually spread.

Some fierce beasts, attracted by the scent, tried to sneak closer. However, before they could get near enough, they felt the powerful pressure released by a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator from afar, and they immediately turned tail and fled in fear.

Seeing that the meat was ready, Wang Lici took it off the fire, cut off a palm-sized piece, and handed it to her master Yunyang. Then she picked up the remaining large piece and happily began to devour it, panting with joy as she started roasting the second piece.

Yunyang smiled with satisfaction and said, "Your bloodline has now advanced to the mid-fourth level. You have a chance to compete for the future Holy Son. Once we finish this meal, I'll take you to the Han Yue Immortal Dynasty to broaden your horizons."

Wang Lici looked up, eating as she asked, "Han Yue Immortal Dynasty? Do they have good food there?"

"Hahaha~ I knew you would ask that." Yunyang couldn't help but laugh heartily. "Rest assured, the Han Yue Immortal Dynasty is an ancient dynasty that has lasted for tens of thousands of years. If nothing else, it has plenty of unique delicacies. Some ancient recipes, long lost elsewhere, are still made there... And most importantly, I have a few friends there..."

"Master, I want to go, I want to go!"

The master and disciple chatted harmoniously, their laughter spreading far into the wilderness of the outer regions, creating an unexpectedly warm atmosphere.

Inside, Yunyang's heart surged with emotion. "Langya, you old dog," he thought, "you never expected this, did you? You took everything from me back then, but my precious disciple will reclaim it all for me!"

...