Protect Our Patriarch

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Shouzhe Pass, entirely constructed from cement, stood tall and majestic, resembling a winding dragon stretching between Xin'an Town and the outer regions. From a distance, it appeared immensely grand and imposing.

This ten-mile-long pass served as both the gateway for humans entering the outer regions and the frontline defense against the ferocious beasts from beyond.

With it in place, the people within the pass could live in peace.

With it in place, the common folk felt secure.

Shouzhe Pass was significantly wider than typical city gates, with soldiers stationed and patrolling the walls year-round. These soldiers included garrison troops from Xin'an Town's garrison office, Wang's Clan's private guards, and some hired civilian militia responsible for tasks like cleaning, organizing, cooking, and maintenance.

The soldiers and private guards on the walls were all well-trained elites, each exuding a sharp and spirited demeanor, clearly tough and capable.

However, the most striking feature atop Shouzhe Pass was not the soldiers but the Divine Might Cannons, which resembled ferocious beasts.

Every ten meters along the entire length of Shouzhe Pass, there was a Divine Might Cannon.

For ten miles, the Divine Might Cannons were arrayed like iron beasts, guarding the vast territory that Wang's Clan had carved out.

Though they couldn't defend against flying beasts, they could block most land-based ferocious beasts, ensuring long-term peace within the pass.

Additionally, near some naturally isolated mountain ranges, small outposts were set up every few miles on high ground.

These outposts were three-story mini-fortresses made of reinforced concrete, with underground shelters and other facilities.

Each outpost was manned by a team of five: one Qi Refining Realm Basalt cultivator and four ordinary clan soldiers, forming an independent sentry team.

They patrolled their designated areas to prevent wild and ferocious beasts from crossing the mountains.

They also watched the skies for dangerous flying beasts, ready to launch signal flares if they spotted anything unusual.

Different colors and scales of signal flares indicated various levels of danger.

Green flares signaled first and second-tier beasts, orange for third and fourth-tier, red for fifth and sixth-tier. As for purple... that naturally indicated seventh and eighth-tier beasts.

In the past few decades, the borders of Xin'an Town, excluding Shouzhe Pass, had seen one red flare, over twenty orange flares, and thousands of green flares.

Purple flares had never appeared.

If one ever did, it would spell disaster for all of Xin'an Town.

Wang's Clan had border camps set up every few dozen miles, responding to different danger levels to handle crises. If a red flare appeared, they would immediately launch a skyward signal cannon akin to the Divine Might Cannon.

At that point, the Celestial Realm elders of Wang's Clan or other families stationed in Xin'an Town would quickly arrive to either kill or contain the beasts.

Even if a purple alert appeared, Wang's Clan had contingency plans, though the losses would be significant.

Fortunately, beasts above the fifth tier were quite intelligent and wouldn't recklessly invade human territories. Seventh-tier great demons were even more cautious, knowing the dire consequences of rampaging through human lands.

Opening new human habitats was fraught with danger.

It offered boundless opportunities for wealth but also endless risks. This was true for Wang's Clan and the commoners and families following them in the frontier.

Over the decades, Xin'an Town's internal defense mechanisms had become highly refined, gradually reaching a stable phase.

The frequency of wild and ferocious beast invasions had decreased. In recent years, beast tides had become rare.

Beyond Shouzhe Pass lay the broader outer regions.

However, decades of exploration, clearing, and other activities by independent cultivators, families, and Xin'an Town's official troops had nearly eradicated ferocious beasts within a five-hundred-mile radius outside Shouzhe Pass, making it relatively safe.

This area, including the vast waters of Deep Tai Lake, was now the focus of development by the alliance of families led by Wang's Clan. This fertile and abundant land promised to become a prosperous region producing grain, fish, silk, and more, capable of supporting millions.

On this day.

A convoy bearing the emblem of Wang's Clan slowly exited Shouzhe Pass.

The convoy consisted of over ten animal-drawn carts. Apart from the two light carriages at the front, the other ten were heavy-duty carts pulled by third-tier rhinoceros-horned spirit oxen.

These heavy-duty carts, with their shafts, wheels, and load-bearing frames made of spiritual wood or steel, could carry about ten tons of cargo each. The goods on the carts were covered with oilcloth, revealing only the outlines of large cauldron-like items beneath.

The wheels left deep ruts in the packed dirt road of the outer regions.

The convoy was flanked by fully armed Wang's Clan guards and soldiers.

As they moved forward, many independent cultivators who had come to scavenge opportunities in the outer regions made way for the convoy. They knew who truly ruled this land.

In the light carriages sat some young people.

Among them was Sun Xiaole.

It was his first time leaving Shouzhe Pass, and he felt both nervous and excited.

Beyond Shouzhe Pass lay vast, uncharted territories filled with terrifying beasts. For someone who had grown up in the safety of human towns, this was an unfamiliar realm, and the constant threat of encountering beasts made him anxious.

But remembering his mission, Sun Xiaole steadied his heart.

Before coming, he had been briefed on his tasks.

Wang's Clan had discovered a rare copper vein with substantial reserves during their recent exploration in the outer regions. However, transporting the raw copper ore back to Wang's Refining Headquarters for smelting was neither cost-effective nor practical.

Copper ore was far more valuable than iron ore, a lucrative prize that could attract unwanted attention if too much noise was made.

Thus, Deputy Head Wang Shichuan had dispatched Sun Xiaole to set up a preliminary copper smelting workshop, which would gradually expand. The refined copper would then be transported back to Wang's Clan.

Sun Xiaole, a talented graduate from the elite refining class, was intelligent, diligent, and steady.

Though young and somewhat inexperienced, Wang's Clan's extensive frontier expansion had already stretched their trained personnel thin. Thus, even reserve talents like Sun Xiaole had to step up, learning and growing on the job.

Similar convoys were not unique to Sun Xiaole's team.

Under Wang's Clan's overall direction, one camp after another was established in the outer regions. The ferocious beasts around these camps had been systematically cleared, creating safe zones. Waves of commoners were sent to these camps, working tirelessly to clear weeds, rocks, and trees, level the ground, and dig canals, all in preparation for their future homes.

The human race had never lacked resilience.

It was this pioneering spirit, combined with an ingrained sense of diligence and hard work, that had allowed them to thrive bit by bit. The founding Emperor Ziwei Xuandu of Daqian, the ancestors of Longzuo Wang's Clan, and Ancestor Zhouxuan of Ping'an were all like this.

Compared to the ancestors, the younger generation, including Wang Shouzhe, was no less passionate. They were equally unafraid of hardship, tirelessly expanding Wang's Clan's influence and laying a stronger foundation for future generations.

This was true for Wang's Clan, small families, commoners, and tenant farmers alike.

Sun Xiaole's convoy traveled for nearly twenty days before finally reaching their destination—the Copper Mountain Area. The journey was perilous, including an encounter with a pack of wild wolves.

Fortunately, the skilled Wang's Clan guards and soldiers protected the convoy and eliminated the wolves.

They were not the first to arrive at Copper Mountain. Wang's Clan's advance clearing team, survey team, mining team, and even Wang's First Construction's building team had already left their marks, clearing a dirt road, setting up temporary barracks, and even digging water channels.

Conditions were tough, but during the great frontier expansion, whose conditions weren't?

Wang Shikai, a direct descendant of Wang's Clan, was also working on the front lines of Copper Mountain. Despite his busy schedule, he came to greet Sun Xiaole, heartily patting his shoulder, "You must be my sister Yinglei's classmate, Sun Xiaole? Work hard here, and if you encounter any difficulties, come to me."

Wang Shikai, twenty-five years old and ranked twelfth among the "Shi" generation, was Wang Yinglei's elder brother. Upholding Wang's Clan's tradition of producing handsome men and beautiful women, Wang Shikai was also very handsome and valiant, though slightly tanned from years of outdoor missions.

This only added to his heroic aura.

"Twelfth Young Master, I will work hard and not disappoint Wang's Clan's nurturing." Sun Xiaole, having grown up hearing family stories, was deeply grateful to Wang's Clan.

During the great flood disaster, if not for Wang's Clan's assistance, how could the Sun family have their current good life?

"Good, good. Once you achieve something, I'll find a good girl from one of our allied families to match you with." Wang Shikai encouraged him heartily.

"Thank you, Twelfth Young Master."

Sun Xiaole felt a twinge of sadness, but he knew well the insurmountable gap between him and his goddess, Yinglei.

With Yinglei's talent, beauty, and cultural refinement, marrying into an ordinary seventh-grade Celestial family would be beneath her. Only a sixth-grade direct descendant would barely be a match.

Given Wang's Clan's current strong development, even marrying into a fifth-grade direct descendant family was highly possible. After all, Yinglei's grandfather, Ancestor Shouyong, had three prodigies in his line, and their noble bloodline was no less than that of a fifth-grade direct descendant.

Thus, Sun Xiaole settled in and threw himself into his work. At the same time, he resolved to stay within his means and, in a few years, marry a simple, compatible girl.

Those beautiful memories would remain in the deepest part of his heart, to be occasionally reminisced upon in old age.

Every year, many young people like Sun Xiaole graduated from Wang's Clan School and Zhuwei Academy.

Based on their specialties, grades, and potential, they received careful nurturing and entered Wang's Clan's vast industries, where they shone and contributed, becoming the foundation of Wang's Clan's enduring prosperity.

The intense frontier expansion provided countless opportunities, leading many to embark on new life paths.

……

Meanwhile.

Wang's Clan's vanguard had already crossed the six-thousand-mile mark from Ping'an Town.

This area had remained in a primitive state for countless millennia, untouched by humans for an unknown period.

Of course, Wang Zongchang of Wang's Clan was an exception. As a prodigy with the Xunfeng bloodline, skilled in stealth and wilderness survival, he often found it more convenient to act alone.

In a concealed camp.

Wang Zongchang was explaining the terrain map to Wang Luojing and Wang Luo Qiu, "Fifth Aunt, Sixth Aunt. Beyond the next mountain and lake lies the territory of a seventh-tier great demon. We should rest here and send a message to the clan for reinforcements."

Seventh-tier great demons were regional overlords, and even Wang's Clan preferred to avoid them if possible.

However, its territory blocked the main route to the Shenwu Army's training camp, and its vast domain made detours impractical. Thus, Wang's Clan had no choice but to eliminate it.

Their journey had been long and arduous, but Wang Luojing remained serene and indifferent, while Wang Luo Qiu exuded a heroic and commanding presence, embodying the demeanor of a great leader.

In terms of appearance alone, Wang Luo Qiu had a more imperial bearing than Commandery Prince An, Commandery Prince Kang, or even the capricious Emperor.

Of course, the difference in strength was another matter.

Wang Zongchang, now eighty-five, had matured significantly through years of independent experience. His every move exuded a natural authority, far surpassing his peers in Shangjing City in terms of maturity and sophistication.

After all, Guilong City had many powerful figures.

To them, anyone under a hundred was still a child. Over time, it became natural for prodigies under a hundred to see themselves as young.

Environment shapes maturity.

As the saying goes, children from poor families grow up early. Wang Shouzhe had taken on family responsibilities at eighteen, fighting for the family's survival.

Wang Zongchang was no different, meticulously planning everything. Over the past few months, there had been no major incidents.

Following the plan.

Wang Zongchang crushed a precious communication jade talisman. These talismans, capable of transmitting messages over thousands of miles in a short time, cost tens of thousands of Top Gold each. Even Wang's Clan used them sparingly, and the royal family wouldn't waste them on routine messages.

Saving money to nurture the family's children was better, wasn't it?

Almost instantly.

In a small courtyard, Wang Shouzhe, who was telling stories to children, felt a vibration from a jade pendant at his waist, which emitted a light.

Simultaneously, a message reached his ears.

He narrowed his eyes slightly, then calmly finished the well-worn story of "Three Battles with the White Bone Demon" before letting the children, who had heard it countless times, go.

The children cheered and ran off.

Joking aside, their parents had grown up hearing these stories and had long since passed them on to their children and grandchildren!

If not for the Great Demon King's imposing presence, who would want to hear such old tales?

The recent popular short stories like "My Classmate is a Dragon," "Li Yao Sweeps Shangjing City," "The Young Clan Leader's Dull Life at the Academy," and "The Troubles of the Seventh Young Master" were far more interesting.

As for Wang's Clan's official publications like "Shouzhe's Strategies for Securing Anqing," "Outer Region Development Guide," and "Three Hundred Questions on Refining," no one cared about them.

The children's studies were already exhausting; who wouldn't want to read something light and fresh?

Half a day later.

Two flying carriages took off from Wang's Clan's main residence, soaring towards Shouzhe Pass.

Flying in the outer regions was risky, as it could attract ferocious beasts, especially flying ones that would relentlessly pursue the carriages.

Typically, flying carriages were slower than flying beasts, and domesticated spirit cranes were not adept fighters and were timid.

This was why flying carriages usually only flew in safe areas.

However, these two flying carriages were traveling through cleared areas, making it relatively safe. Even if they encountered a flying beast, it would be the beast's misfortune!

After all, these carriages carried powerful figures.

Especially Wang Shouzhe's carriage, flanked by a Yuan Shui Azure Dragon on one side and a seven-tailed fire fox on the other. Even a seventh-tier great demon would regret attacking them.

The flying carriages moved swiftly in a straight line, stopping occasionally to rest. After two days, they rendezvoused with Wang Zongchang's team.

"Anye, ask your master to set up a formation tailored to the terrain, focusing on trapping the enemy," Wang Shouzhe instructed his great-grandson Wang Anye. "I've prepared all the necessary materials."

Wang Anye, holding the jade pendant, felt the weight of responsibility.

He was only eleven, yet he already had a hot-tempered fiancée and a strict sword spirit master.

He also had to look after a troublemaking dragon, going to and from school together.

And now, the family was taking him on a mission to hunt a seventh-tier great demon... At eleven, he was already shouldering the family's rise?

Under the watchful eyes of the family elders.

Wang Anye called out, "Master, did you hear that?"

As he spoke, Ji Wuchen, dressed in white with white hair and an ethereal aura like an old sword immortal, appeared.

He respectfully bowed to Wang Shouzhe, "Master Wang Shouzhe, the materials for a formation to trap a seventh-tier great demon must cost no less than fifty thousand immortal crystals. Although some can be recovered, about thirty percent will be lost. From what I see, your team should be more than capable of handling a seventh-tier great demon."

"Senior Ji," Wang Shouzhe replied politely, returning the bow, "we lack knowledge about this great demon, so it's better to be cautious. I understand your concerns, and here is a precious Soul Rejuvenation Pill to compensate for your soul energy loss."

"A Soul Rejuvenation Pill? You're willing to give it to me?" Ji Wuchen was visibly moved. "Just for setting up a formation, is it really necessary?"

The Soul Rejuvenation Pill had significant effects on the soul. With it, his soul would stabilize, allowing him to use more soul energy.

Its value far exceeded the cost of this formation.

"Naturally, it's for caution's sake. After all, this is our first time hunting a seventh-tier great demon," Wang Shouzhe said nonchalantly. "Everyone here is part of Wang's Clan, and I don't want any mistakes."

Part of the clan?

The Fire Fox Ancestor smiled contentedly.

If not for Liu Ruolan's presence, she would have loved to snuggle up to Brother Shouzhe and act coquettishly. Oh, how embarrassing.

Hearing this.

Ji Wuchen fell into deep thought and reflection, "If I had been half, no, even a third as cautious as Master Wang Shouzhe, I wouldn't be in this state."

Indeed, if he hadn't been reckless and overconfident in his talent and strength, he wouldn't have ended up as a remnant soul.

After handing all the formation materials to Ji Wuchen, Wang Shouzhe watched as he set up the formation while explaining the intricacies to Wang Anye, feeling a rare sense of excitement.

Over the years, Wang's Clan had hunted fifth and sixth-tier beasts, but never a great demon.

A great demon was a treasure trove.

Its blood and flesh, rich in vitality, were highly beneficial for Celestial and Purple Mansion Realm cultivators, greatly replenishing their physical and mental energy, indirectly speeding up their cultivation. Especially for those practicing battle body techniques, the benefits were even greater.

Its skin could be made into armor, its bones used in medicine and alchemy, and its blood was a potent tonic. Some great demons' scales could be used to craft defensive or offensive magical artifacts.

Moreover, a seventh-tier great demon possessed divine abilities. It was said that hunting one might yield materials infused with divine power, useful for crafting treasures for Purple Mansion Realm cultivators.

These were invaluable items, often unobtainable even with money.

Of course, as valuable as they were, they had to be obtained safely. Given his cautious nature and lack of experience in hunting great demons, Wang Shouzhe was not taking any chances.

Years of preparation had been thorough.

But what would the Shenwu Royal Dynasty's training camp be like? What opportunities awaited there?

Wang Shouzhe had been anticipating this for over sixty years!

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