What, your Chen Family wants to establish a fief abroad on this scale, and you didn’t even inform your brothers; you informed the Xun Family but not us. Are you looking down on our Sima Family? We too have strength.

Although Sima Fang didn’t say it so bluntly, as the family head, he went to discuss this matter with the Chen Family, which shows just how much the Sima Family values this issue.

In short, after much blah blah, the gist is, the Sima Family also wants to go. The four real power clan elders from previous generations in the Chen Family discussed it and considered that, after all, the Sima Family is like one of their own, and back then was also included as part of the Sima Family. Now that they’ve approached, let’s use them; as they are essentially family, it’s reassuring to use them.

Therefore, Chen Guang and Chen Shang did not excessively pursue the matter with the Sima Family and allocated them a batch of positions. Not many, just twenty. Of course, the basic requirement is the ability to easily handle positions equivalent to two thousand bushels. Even among deep-rooted aristocratic families like the Chen and Xun Families, individuals of this caliber are not many, so naturally, the Sima Family squeezed and gathered approximately twenty.

However, Sima Fang is quite shrewd. After securing twenty positions, he started observing the youths dispatched by the Xun and Chen Families and eventually realized, although young men from both families are excellent, none seem to have awakened any Spiritual Talent, even among the best.

Of course, Sima Fang did not underestimate the counterparts because the youths sent by the two families lacked Spiritual Talent. Although Spiritual Talent can be considered the ultimate ascension for a Sage, not having it doesn’t mean everyone is of the same level. Besides, the people brought by the Chen Family are quite reliable.

The Xun Family was considerate in this regard; they didn’t specifically deploy a top-tier person from their own family to disrupt things. And even though they’ve deployed four young Sages from the younger generation, the Xun Family definitely still has one or two below the tier of Xun Yue. In this respect, the Xun Family is quite principled.

There are also reasons that make finding someone of the same class difficult for the Xun Family currently because the Chen Family’s personnel choice is strong—particularly the son of the Chen’s Three Lords, Chen Zhong, who is already exceptional.

Even though Chen Zhong is slightly less than Chen Qun, but don’t be fooled by that fellow being suppressed alternately by Chen Xi and Xun Yu. In truth, it’s simply that Chen Xi and Xun Yu are monsters to the level that cannot be classified, and these two definitely won’t intentionally crush someone of lesser standing.

Moreover, Chen Guang made it clear to Sima Fang that Chen Ji, that is, Chen Qun’s father, had completely passed on his mantle to Chen Zhong. Although how much Chen Zhong can comprehend is his own matter, this mere act is enough to demonstrate that the Chen Family is genuinely poised to groom Chen Zhong as the third Chen Family Head instead of as Chen Qun’s placeholder.

In this era, the Yingchuan Chen Family’s heritage is indeed no trivial matter.

The Eight Dragons of the Xun Family had almost perished by this period in history, but the lives have been extended this generation by Hua Tuo and Zhang Zhongjing, with still Xun Shuang alive among the Eight Dragons. Even without Hua Tuo and Zhang Zhongjing’s interventions, the remaining Chen Ji among the Chen’s Three Lords could endure two more years.

Especially now with Hua Tuo and Zhang Zhongjing, Chen Ji might endure another decade. Two years ago, during New Year’s greeting, Chen Ji, who had almost met his demise, is now lively while teaching the younger generation at home. With this momentum, the Chen Family could keep thriving for several more generations.

Thus, upon rough estimation, Sima Fang decided it’s better to continue associating with the Chen Family. Three Spiritual Talents under one house; if Chen Chen hadn’t died prematurely, the Chen Family would have four Spiritual Talents!

With such a great tree for shade, Sima Fang estimated roughly and decided to put forward his most promising second son.

After all, among the offspring of the Sima Family—direct line or collateral—the most outstanding is Sima Fang’s second son, Sima Yi. Although his disposition is somewhat gloomy, his competence is unquestionably the pride of the Sima Family. The eldest son, Sima Lang, is nearly flawless, but if talking about excellence, it’s Sima Yi who holds hope for their family’s rise.

By positioning his second son, it shows both sincerity and value. Moreover, the second son possesses Spiritual Talent, plus the blood ties between the Chen and Sima Families, which are enough for Sima Yi to firmly hold the main position.

Naturally, Sima Fang discussed this with Chen Ji, who consented, since during those years when Chen Ji was bedridden, there was no one to guide the younger family members’ abilities. During the period when Xun Yu was the head of the Xun Family, capable of subduing even Xun Yue, he was nurturing the descendants of the family. Over the years, the young Xun generation evidently surpassed the Chen youth.

Although Chen Ji understood that the Xun Family would never take advantage to the detriment of the Chen Family or to deny them face, such a contest in wisdom whereby one wins by the other’s surrender isn’t quite pleasing from whichever perspective.

Therefore, Sima Fang openly said, "Do you want me to bring my second son over?" Chen Ji naturally agreed because if the Sima Family overpowered the Xun Family, the Chen Family would bask in the glory too, as these two Families are essentially as one with one ancestor. Anyway, conceding to the Sima Family wouldn’t count as losing to outsiders.

Certainly, Chen Ji also made it clear that Chen Xi had appointed someone as their head, and even if Sima Yi went there, he would be the second in command. Sima Fang thought it was no problem, considering his second son’s capabilities are unusually strong, especially with the backing from the Chen Family—outmaneuvering the opponent wouldn’t be an issue.

Thus, Sima Fang wrote a letter urging his son to hurry back, pack things, and prepare to head to the Western Regions to lay groundwork for the Sima Family’s overseas fief, completely unaware of Sima Yi’s strong dislike for Zhuge Liang.

To Sima Yi at that moment, anyone could be his superior except Zhuge Liang!

Moreover, as the fog over the world dissipates further, Sima Yi increasingly sees who is more fearsome. Clearly, the extent to which his cousin’s exceptional prowess breaks boundaries has become entirely obvious.

If it weren’t because Sima Yi was still in his youth, with a piece of pride in his heart, he would have already gone over to hold onto Chen Xi’s favor instead of occupying himself with these affairs.

Concerning Sima Yi, only three others in the world knew whom he initially chose—his brother, Sima Lang, never said, yet advised regularly to have him engage with Chen Xi, without question.

Zhuge Jin had made his own choices just like them, didn’t stay under Liu Bei’s reign, so naturally he doesn’t qualify to make critiques on him.

Only Zhuge Liang is seen by Sima Yi as an enemy for life. All four witnessed the sacrificial ceremony awe; yet Zhuge Liang was the only one committed to choosing Liu Bei, taking steps to isolate from his lineage. The mocking gaze cast by Sima Yi has transformed entirely into proof that his discernment was flawed.