Zhang Cuihua has a very strong nature and is determined not to remain idle.

After communicating fully and considering Zhang Cuihua’s personal opinions, Jiang Wang arranged for her to start training at De Sheng Trading Company as a regular clerk. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

His plan was, once Zhang Cuihua had gained experience and grown within De Sheng Trading Company, to have her return to the Marquis Mansion as the second housekeeper.

Later on, Xie Ping would be responsible for welcoming and farewells, social relations, and external affairs of the Marquis Mansion.

Zhang Cuihua would be responsible for the internal matters of the Marquis Mansion.

In most big families, there are several housekeepers.

Wu’an Marquis Mansion is now one of the most notable families in Linyi City. If Jiang Wang didn’t have few social interactions, Xie Ping would have been exhausted.

Of course, if Zhang Cuihua enjoys working in the trading company, she can continue to develop there as she pleases.

As for the newly accepted apprentice, Chu Yao, Jiang Wang has also carefully considered.

Since he brought Zhang Cuihua and Chu Yao to Linzi, he intends to treat them sincerely, not just for his own psychological comfort.

With his current status and position, he could give away vast sums of money, offer luxurious houses, or issue an order to make the City Lord of Tiannan City elevate Chu Yao to the level of a star in the sky, caring for their mother and son for life.

This is all easy, and no one would gossip about it.

But he chose the most thoughtful way.

Chu Mi always hoped that he would encounter an entitled young lord who could effortlessly turn the tables, summon True Men of the Age to wreak havoc and escape the predicament together. Unfortunately, what he encountered was a young man like him who could only risk his own life.

But Chu Yao might fulfill his wish.

The road to transcendence cannot be achieved overnight.

Even with the Channel-opening Pill, it’s not guaranteed to succeed.

It requires both talent and the diligent honing of the physique. For instance, Zhang Cuihua had also swallowed the Channel-opening Pill in the past but failed to become transcendent.

Chu Yao is nine years old this year; starting to learn cultivation now is not too late.

Jiang Anan opened her meridian early, and she was sent to Lingxiao Pavilion early for professional training, personally overseen by the True Man of the Age, Ye Lingxiao. Yet she hasn’t completed Small Zhoutian.

Such things as states of mind and imagery do not arise out of thin air; they require a certain level of comprehension.

Therefore, Jiang Anan’s main tasks now are reading and practicing calligraphy, accumulating foundation.

Chu Yao, too, should start with reading, along with practicing martial arts and honing his body.

Solving the reading aspect is easy.

In Linzi, besides Jixuegong Academy, all schools are open for selection.

But before that, Jiang Wang decided to take Chu Yao on a trip afar to broaden his horizons. Then let the child decide for himself what he likes and wants to learn.

The target is naturally the Xia Territory.

Lian Que and Dugu Xiao arrived in Linzi at noon and afternoon respectively.

Earlier, at dawn, Zhongxuan Zun gracefully came to the mansion and took away Zhongxuan Sheng.

Jiang Wang later explained to Shisi that he hadn’t woken up, and it wasn’t intentional not to help A Fat.

He then spontaneously took a cattle cart and led people away from Linzi.

The ox was a "Spiritual Ox" gifted by Helian Yuyun, and the cart was Zhongxuan Sheng’s specially made favorite vehicle. It’s spacious enough to seat about ten people.

This trip to Chi Pool, accompanying walkers, were Lian Que, Dugu Xiao, and Chu Yao, only these three people.

A Qi Xia War wholly toppled Summer Country’s administration, and the long journey from Qi Country to Summer Country was also thoroughly opened. Although the countries along the way weren’t annexed, they all quickly presented tributes and acknowledged allegiance; henceforth, they all referred to their ruler as King, saying "Without Qi, none would call themselves Son of Heaven."

Of course, they still retain their national shrines and temples and still maintain... Beast Nests.

Qi Country actually doesn’t require allegiance. Apart from Zhao Country in the Eastern Region insisting on submission, countries like Chang, Yi, Xu, and Rong are highly autonomous. Especially Shen Country, backed by East King Valley, can be said to be outside the hegemony system of the Eastern Region and isn’t conscripted when Qi Country is at war.

Only the vast tract of land taken down from Summer Country needs stable governance by keeping the roads smooth. Emperor Qi accepted the allegiance of the countries along Yan Tu but didn’t overly interfere with these small nations.

This way is actually the most cost-effective way to maintain hegemony influence, only needing to ensure the existing Channel-opening Pill system.

During the Qi Xia War, the "expedition route" has now been expanded. This road from Qi Territory through Xia Territory, with flags of expedition spread throughout, is now called "Qi Straight Path."

From a legal standpoint, no matter which country it crosses, which power it traverses, the road itself belongs to Qi Country and can be termed as Qi Soil.

For this, the countries along the way publicly acknowledged it in their allegiance tributes.

So now, the entire map of Qi Country, in fact, is interconnected through Qi Soil and Xia Soil by a Qi Straight Path. It’s like a pole crossing the Eastern and Southeastern regions.

This cattle cart has no carriage driver; Jiang Wang told it to follow the Qi Straight Path underfoot, and it could understand him. It pulls the cart steadily.

Inside the large carriage, Dugu Xiao kept her eyes closed, earnestly cultivating.

After Jiang Wang achieved God Arrives, the God Imprint Technique brought great feedback to her, enormously speeding up her cultivation. Although still impossible to compare with genuine talents, it is far better than struggling previously.

She knows Jiang Wang’s efforts better than anyone, holds herself to strict standards, and never lets up. Even when little progress was made, she never ceased her arduous training, let alone now with rapid advancement; Small Zhoutian and divine seals constantly provide her support.