Protect Our Patriarch-Chapter 86Book 5: : Wang’s Clan grandfather and grandson each showcase their talents

……

A few days later.

A flying carriage discreetly departed from the Helan Han Clan, disappearing into the complex Helan Mountains.

Inside the carriage, Yun Mengyu, who had been disguised as a little fairy for several days, finally revealed her true appearance. Excitedly, she clung to True Lord Yuling's arm, "Sister Yuling, we did it. We succeeded!"

On her slender, delicate fingers was a ring of divine power.

Inside this ring lay a heavy fortune.

Ten thousand sets of black iron ingots, enough for armor, sounded like a lot, but it was actually only five thousand tons.

Considering the density of black iron is higher than gold, it only took up about two hundred cubic meters. A single divine power ring was enough to hold it all, with room to spare.

"Don't get too excited yet; you have to repay these black iron ingots," True Lord Yuling glanced at her with a slightly sour tone, "If the price of black iron ingots doesn't drop, you'll have to pay with your undergarments."

"It won't happen." Yun Mengyu's tone was confident, her beautiful almond eyes sparkling with trust, "I believe in Fugui. He's very smart, and if he says he can do it, he will."

"You really are under his spell," True Lord Yuling said helplessly, "But that child Fugui is indeed extraordinary, stirring up trouble in the Immortal Dynasty at such a young age."

In her two thousand years of life, she had never seen a child like him.

As they conversed.

Inside the Helan Han Clan, there was also a festive atmosphere.

Especially for the Han Clan's Ancestor, Han Qixuan, who was so delighted after sending off the Fourth Princess and True Lord Yuling that he felt a weight lifted off his old bones.

He sipped the purple iron sunflower tea he usually couldn't bear to drink and said to Han Langtai, "Langtai, how did your visit to the Jing'an Princess go?"

"I didn't go." Han Langtai leisurely poured himself a cup of tea, speaking nonchalantly, "I strolled around Jing'an, visited a few friends, and then came back."

Han Qixuan's old face twitched, and suddenly the tea in his mouth lost its flavor.

"You ungrateful brat!" He angrily smashed the cup, "Our Han Clan has painstakingly nurtured you into a talent, paving a path to the heavens for you. Yet, you laze around all day, not taking it seriously when I ask you to connect with the princess, instead mingling with a bunch of useless friends."

"I don't care, pack your things and set off to visit the Jing'an Princess."

"Ancestor, if you want to curry favor, do it yourself. I have no interest in that Jing'an Princess." Han Langtai looked as if he couldn't care less.

Han Qixuan almost died of anger, pointing a trembling finger at him, cursing inwardly.

If I, Han Qixuan, had the qualifications to curry favor, no, pursue the Third Princess, why would I need you, you little brat?

"Ancestor Grandfather, calm down." Han Langtai quickly went to soothe the old ancestor, "You say I'm a Void seed, a good family heir, why should I become the Third Princess's dog? Our Han Clan can live just fine without her."

"What do you know!" Han Qixuan glared angrily, "Our Helan Han Clan may seem glorious, but it's all on the surface. For years, we've been overshadowed by the Jing'an Wei Clan next door, even the price of black iron ingots is dictated by them. Why? Because our clan only has one Void Realm inheritance."

"One Void inheritance means instability. If something happens to me, the clan will enter a decline, and those who once flattered us will squeeze our living space, openly or secretly."

"Look through history, how many first-grade families have fallen to second-grade or worse because of a decline?"

"Ancestor, you make a good point, but how rare is a codex? Our family can't just conjure another Void inheritance out of thin air, can we?" Han Langtai, unfazed by his ancestor's anger, remained calm, "Besides, if I compete for the position of Mansion Master of Jing'an Princess Mansion, won't the family lose a Void Realm guardian in the future?"

Hearing this, Han Qixuan's anger subsided slightly, his expression turning serious, "Langtai, do you know why I've spent centuries slowly accumulating black iron ingot stockpiles, waiting for the right moment to make a fortune?"

"I always thought it was led by the Wei Clan, and you went along with it." Han Langtai frowned slightly, "But it seems there's more to it, could it be...?"

"Exactly!" Han Qixuan set up a barrier and lowered his voice, "It's because I have a lead on an unclaimed Lingxu Codex. To develop the clan into a strong first-grade family, giving future generations better opportunities, the time is ripe. Langtai, don't let me down."

"The Fourth Princess borrowing black iron ingots has given us a chance for rapid development."

"I've decided. With the extra Immortal crystals we earn this time, I'm going to exchange them with the Immortal Sovereign for a ninth-grade [Heaven-defying Dao Pill]. With this pill, your current great prodigy B-grade bloodline can leap to Peerless Prodigy D-grade."

"Then, with your unparalleled talent, you can inherit the unclaimed codex, and after being baptized by the essence of heaven and earth, your aptitude can rise to between Peerless Prodigy C-grade and B-grade."

"With such terrifying bloodline aptitude, and the clan's continuous support of cultivation resources, you can at least reach mid-Void Realm in the future. With some luck, even the later stages are possible."

Mid to late Void Realm?

Even with Han Langtai's usual carefree nature, he couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement.

Most Void Realm cultivators are in the early stages; reaching the mid-stage would make one a standout among Void Realm cultivators.

Although it doesn't actually increase lifespan, being able to fight two early-stage Void Realm cultivators at once is quite impressive.

"With such unparalleled aptitude, you won't need to curry favor with the Jing'an Princess," Han Qixuan advised earnestly, "Just show a little intention, and the Jing'an Princess will come to you."

"Now it sounds interesting."

Han Langtai squinted slightly, finally understanding his ancestor's painstaking efforts.

He paused and said, "But even with superior C-grade aptitude, reaching mid-Void Realm isn't easy, is it?"

The threshold for mid-Void Realm is so high that most first-grade families can't support it.

The reason is simple: to reach mid-Void Realm, one must plan from the start, consuming double the cultivation resources early on to reach Void Realm quickly, leaving enough lifespan for future advancement.

And after reaching Void Realm, advancing further requires astronomical resources.

Imagine, Emperor Longchang needs over a hundred thousand Immortal crystals a year just to maintain early Void Realm cultivation at the lowest consumption.

To advance further in Void Realm, consumption must increase several times, getting more expensive the further one goes! How can ordinary families afford it?

"Don't worry, the clan will tighten its belt to support you. Besides, if you gain the Jing'an Princess's favor, she'll find ways to supplement you," Han Qixuan gritted his teeth, "Though the process is difficult, if the clan produces a mid-Void Realm cultivator, the situation will be completely different. With a mid-Void Realm, the clan has hope of becoming a super-grade family."

Han Langtai took a deep breath, his gaze becoming more solemn, "Ancestor, give me some time to consider this."

"Langtai, as descendants of the family, enjoying the family's resources, we should also shoulder the responsibility for future generations. Don't be willful anymore," Han Qixuan said solemnly.

"I understand, Ancestor."

……

Chaoyang Prefecture, Chaoyang King's residence.

As one of the most prominent titled kings of the Immortal Dynasty, the Chaoyang King's residence was located in the heart of Chaoyang City, occupying a vast area.

From the initial Jing'an Princess Mansion to the later Chaoyang King's residence, as power and status grew, the Chaoyang King's name became increasingly illustrious.

For nearly a thousand years, the people of Chaoyang only knew of the "Chaoyang King," and "did not know" of the "Lord of the Prefecture."

However, people have life and death, the moon waxes and wanes, and three thousand years later, the once-bustling Chaoyang King's residence gradually fell silent, shrouded in layers of twilight.

As a titled king appointed from a princess, the Chaoyang King was quite different from hereditary kings like the Northern Territory King.

According to the ancestral rules of the Immortal Dynasty's royal family, the codex owned by the Chaoyang King, and the dao artifacts inherited from the royal family due to her princess status, must be passed on to the next princess before her demise.

Even her Chaoyang King's residence would be reclaimed by the royal family after her demise. Of course, if her descendants include a Void seed, they can inherit preferentially.

Of course, such ancestral rules do not only apply to princesses.

In fact, in the Immortal Dynasty, hereditary kings like the Northern Territory King are rare. Their ancestors must have made unparalleled contributions, deserving rewards beyond measure, to receive such treatment.

For ordinary titled kings, if the codex and dao artifacts are inherited from the royal family, they must be returned, though exceptionally talented descendants can inherit preferentially.

And the Chaoyang King's codex, due to her princess status, is even more special.

The choice of inheritor can be decided by her but must be among the princesses.

In most cases, there aren't many choices.

Like this time, the most suitable candidate to succeed the Chaoyang King's position and codex is the Third Princess—Jing'an Princess.

Other princesses are either too old with existing inheritances or too young to catch up.

Now, with the Chaoyang King's lifespan nearing its end, the codex inheritance is imminent.

In the rear garden of the Chaoyang King's residence.

In a corner of the garden stood a graceful little building, a hundred feet tall, surrounded by bamboo, creating a serene and secluded environment.

This building was called the "Moon Viewing Tower."

At the top of the Moon Viewing Tower, the aging Chaoyang King stood quietly, watching the cold and clear moonlight.

Her expression was serene and peaceful, her face relaxed and gentle, like an ordinary family matriarch, showing none of the unrivaled dominance she displayed when she recently beat up True Lord of Blazing Fire, Wei Dongyu.

The equally aged husband of the Chaoyang King, Yao Yuangang, stood by her side, quietly accompanying her, as if guarding her.

Time seemed to have stopped for a hundred, a thousand years.

"Sigh, the astral winds are too fierce."

The Chaoyang King sighed softly, withdrawing her gaze, her voice tinged with regret.

Yao Yuangang chuckled, "You still can't let go of that incident back then?"

In her youth, the Chaoyang King always wanted to fly to the moon. After advancing to the Void Realm and becoming a big shot, she made thorough preparations and flew towards the moon. Unfortunately, the astral winds in the void were too fierce, and even with a dao artifact for protection, she couldn't withstand it and had to retreat.

Soon after returning, the Immortal Emperor summoned her and scolded her for being reckless, saying she was lucky not to die in the void, and forbade her from trying again.

This incident became a laughingstock, and the Chaoyang King lost face. Yao Yuangang naturally remembered it well.

"In life, there are always regrets. No matter how capable you are, you can't achieve perfection in everything; there will always be things beyond your control," the Chaoyang King said calmly.

"Oh, that doesn't sound like you, Fengwei." Yao Yuangang laughed lightly, "In my understanding, you've never been afraid of anything. When you lose your temper, you fight the heavens, the earth, and even the Immortal Emperor... Sigh, that time I got beaten by the Immortal Emperor too."

"Yes, youth is wonderful." The Chaoyang King smiled, unconsciously reminiscing, "Do you remember? We were only a hundred years old, leading a group of like-minded brothers and sisters to establish the Jing'an Princess Mansion. We always talked about doing great things, like slaying demon lords, driving out demons, leading humanity to glory... We were so spirited."

"Unfortunately, none of those boasts came true. Instead, everyone couldn't withstand time, falling one by one, leaving only the two of us."

Seeing the Chaoyang King's sadness, Yao Yuangang felt uncomfortable, gently holding her shoulder, comforting her, "Fengwei, you've done enough. We've worked hard all our lives, and now, it's time to pass the responsibility to the next generation."

"I know. I have no intention of holding on." Speaking of this, the Chaoyang King remembered when the [Dongchang King] visited the residence and mentioned something, frowning, "I don't like Jing'an; she's... too fake."

"You don't have to like the Jing'an Princess; after all, your personalities clash," Yao Yuangang laughed, "But you can't deny that Jing'an's performance is excellent, no less than yours back then. Besides, do you have any other candidates besides Jing'an? Fengwei, your time is running out; it's time to make a decision."

Hearing this, the Chaoyang King fell silent.

After a long time, she said, "I understand, I'll listen to you on this."

After a pause, she remembered something else, "I heard you brought a child from the Yao Clan to the residence?"

"Yes." Yao Yuangang explained gently, "The child is Yao Chengchao; you met him a few years ago. He's performed exceptionally well in recent years, making great contributions to the clan and receiving focused training. I think he's a blessing to the Yao Clan, hoping he brings new vitality to the clan."

The implication was that he intended to pass his codex to Yao Chengchao.

Having lived with him for thousands of years, the Chaoyang King could easily guess his intentions.

Hearing this, her expression changed, her voice rising involuntarily, "Yuangang, with your health, you can live at least another three hundred years! You don't need to accompany me to the battle burial."

Yao Yuangang looked at her, his tone gentle but firm, "I've protected you all my life; let me protect you one last time."

"But I can order you not to go!" The Chaoyang King looked at him directly, her tone cold, "You know, I've always been willful."

"Fengwei, I've tolerated your willfulness all my life; let me be willful this last time. You know you can't stop me."

Their gazes locked, like a silent confrontation.

After a long, long time.

The Chaoyang King suddenly withdrew her gaze, sighing softly, "I understand."

Closing her eyes to hide the moisture, she steadied herself before continuing, "Send someone to bring that child 'Wang Anye' to see me. We should pave the way for the family's children."

"Yes, it's time to pave the way." Yao Yuangang smiled silently, "That child Tai'an is obsessed with swordsmanship, never making friends. This time, he went out of his way for Wang Anye, showing he truly considers him a friend. I'll personally invite Wang Anye."

"This child is exceptionally talented, having inherited the Sword Formation Manual, with limitless potential. If we help him, humanity might gain another pillar."

……

Some time later.

Wang Anye, temporarily residing with the Ji's Clan, was personally invited by Yao Yuangang to the Chaoyang King's residence.

After a round of welcoming ceremonies.

Wang Anye was placed in the guest hall of the residence, served tea and various spiritual fruits by several beautiful maids who seemed like celestial beings.

Truly, the Chaoyang King's residence had a profound foundation; each maid was exceptionally talented, having reached Celestial Realm cultivation beneath their youthful appearances. In some fourth or fifth-grade families, they would be considered the pride of the family.

Even Cao Youqing, who once opposed the Wang Clan and stirred up trouble, was no less impressive.

However, Wang Anye had seen many outstanding women; his two wives were both exceptional, and in terms of bloodline aptitude, they were no less than Wei Qingyun and Yuntai An.

He handled everything with grace and composure, neither arrogant nor humble.

Before long, a woman dressed in luxurious attire, exuding an extraordinary aura, arrived gracefully. Though her temples were graying and her appearance showed signs of aging, her eyes were deep like a pool, making it impossible to guess her thoughts.

Her presence was profound and restrained, like an endless ocean.

"Greetings to the Chaoyang King." The maids greeted in unison, their eyes filled with admiration and reverence.

Indeed, it was the Chaoyang King. Wang Anye also rose to salute, "Wang Anye of the Changning Wang Clan of Eastern Qian Longzuo greets Your Highness, the Chaoyang King." His demeanor was calm and respectful.

"Young Master Anye, no need for formalities, please sit." The Chaoyang King smiled warmly, "During the last Sword and Formation Manual trial, our Tai'an was under your care. You are a benefactor to our residence."

Yuntai An was a standout among the younger generation of the residence, and the Chaoyang King hoped he would inherit the residence's legacy.

Although the Chaoyang King's title couldn't be passed to him, if Yuntai An could secure a codex and earn merits on the battlefield, he could be titled king and take on the residence's responsibilities.

"Your Highness is too kind." Wang Anye sat as instructed, "At that time, I was merely going with the flow; it wasn't a favor, Your Highness needn't dwell on it. Besides, Brother Tai'an is sincere and open-hearted; I have a good impression of him."

"Young Master Anye, how do you find these maids?" the Chaoyang King asked casually.

"Each is bright and talented," Wang Anye replied truthfully, "Clearly, they are elites carefully nurtured by Your Highness."

"How about I give them all to you?" the Chaoyang King said directly.

Wang Anye quickly stood, bowing repeatedly, "Your Highness, there's no need. I already have a wife and children at home; I cannot be reckless."

"Wife and children?" The Chaoyang King was puzzled, "As far as I know, Young Master Anye is only a hundred or so years old. Such a young unparalleled prodigy, married so early?"

The maids also showed disappointment.

Their Yuntai An was over two hundred, still a young hero, without even a fiancée.

"In my hometown, marriage customs are early; I even have grandchildren," Wang Anye replied honestly, thinking that even his great-grandfather was only two hundred, yet the family already had many descendants.

"Marriage is fine; a talent like Young Master Anye should take more concubines for the sake of humanity," the Chaoyang King laughed.

Concubines?

Wang Anye broke into a cold sweat.

His great-grandfather and great-grandmother were deeply in love, never taking concubines, so how could the younger generation act recklessly? Besides, marrying Yiluo and Xuening was already fulfilling for him.

Before he could respond, the Chaoyang King's brow furrowed, her noble body trembling violently, as if in great pain, a gray pallor of death enveloping her face.

"Something's wrong." The maids hurriedly supported her, anxious, "Her Highness's old injuries and toxins are acting up again. Quickly, fetch the physician."

In no time, a Divine Realm physician of the residence arrived swiftly, enveloping the Chaoyang King in a thick wood-element profound energy, while angrily scolding, "Your Highness, can't you heed my advice? Did you fight again?"

This person's strength and wood-element profound energy were comparable to Qingsong Daoist, the master of Green Emperor Valley of Lingyun Holy Land.

"Jinghong, don't worry, I just gave Wei Dongyu a beating," the Chaoyang King, surrounded by a dense gray death aura, joked, "Your fussing might scare the guest."

"If you hadn't fought, you might have lived decades longer. But now, I fear I can't suppress it; your days are numbered," the physician named Jinghong said angrily, "You should quickly see the Immortal Emperor; perhaps there's a way to save you."

"If the Emperor could save me, she would have already, and she's in seclusion now, with limited means," the Chaoyang King said calmly, "Jinghong, help me suppress it one more time, give me ten more years."

"Not ten, at most five," Jinghong said, both angry and resentful, as a professional physician, nothing was more frustrating than a disobedient patient.

"Five years is enough," the Chaoyang King said lightly, "No more talk, let's begin."

"Brace yourself, I'll help suppress the old injuries and toxins, but remember, if you fight again, not even the Holy Emperor can save you..."

"Wait!" Wang Anye frowned, "Physician Jinghong, your treatment method is wrong."

"What?" Jinghong's old face twitched, glaring "fiercely" at Wang Anye, "What do you know, young lad? Should I let you treat Her Highness?"

"Alright, I'll treat her."

……