Protect Our Patriarch

……

This young man speaks so well, much better than Wang Shouzhe.

Although Emperor Longchang felt humiliated from start to finish, he couldn’t bring himself to dislike Wang Anye. After all, this kid was just so likable.

"Old Yao, take my decree and accompany Anye. Introduce him to some things so he doesn't miss out because of his young age." Emperor Longchang, known for his narrow-mindedness, was, as Wang Shouzhe privately remarked, still an emperor whose achievements outweighed his faults. He was decisive in major matters.

In his youth, he was ruthless, but in his later years, he became more tolerant and amiable towards the younger generation. When he encountered outstanding young talents, he was willing to support them.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Old Yao took the decree, walked over to Wang Anye, and said with a smile, "Young Master Anye, please follow this old servant."

"Thank you, Eunuch Yao." Wang Anye bowed politely, displaying the excellent upbringing he had received since childhood.

"Wait, I want to go too." Wu Xue'ning's eyes sparkled as if she had an idea. "I can help Anye pick out treasures so he doesn't suffer any losses."

"The treasures in my Divine Weapon Hall aren't for you." Emperor Longchang's voice was a bit displeased. "When you score full marks on the intermediate exam, I'll let you take one."

Emperor Longchang originally wanted to showcase the royal family's cultural heritage, but he ended up losing completely. Especially since one of his most beloved children, Wu Xue'ning, couldn't even compare to a young dragon girl from the Wang Clan. How could he be satisfied?

Not losing his temper on the spot was already a significant improvement in the emperor's self-restraint.

"Yes, Ancestor Grandpa." Wu Xue'ning sensed that Emperor Longchang was genuinely upset and quickly put on a well-behaved look. "When I return, I'll reflect deeply and catch up on my studies."

She wasn't lying.

Wu Xue'ning was a strong-willed girl. It was one thing to be outdone by Wang Anye, but to be outdone by the annoying Wang Yingxuan and Wang Lilong was truly embarrassing.

"That's more like it." Emperor Longchang's expression softened slightly. "Such a strong character, she does take after me a bit."

"Ancestor Grandpa," Wu Xue'ning said, "I'll accompany Anye to pick out treasures first, and then I won't go anywhere for a while. I'll ask Anye to help me with my studies. What do you think?"

"Now that's a sensible suggestion." Emperor Longchang's expression turned more amiable. "Then I permit you to go and have a look."

"Thank you, Ancestor Grandpa." Wu Xue'ning beamed with joy.

……

Almost simultaneously.

In a council hall at the main residence of the Daqian Wang Clan, several Purple Mansion Realm elders had gathered, a rare occurrence. Among them, the head of the Yuchang family sat in the center, while Wang Shouzhe sat in the main guest seat.

Everyone's expressions were solemn, except for Wang Shouzhe, who remained calm and composed.

"Oh dear~ oh dear~ I'm going to die."

In the center of the council hall, Wang An'nan, an outstanding junior of the Daqian Wang Clan, was lying on a long bench, his back beaten to a pulp, crying out in pain. ＲÀ𐌽ȱＢЕṡ

Beside him, his father Wang Shida held a black spiritual wood stick, hitting Wang An'nan while scolding, "You little brat, you can't do anything right. I told you to take the Wang Clan kids out for a stroll, and what happened?"

"I'll beat you to death, you useless wretch, as if I never had a son like you!"

"I, Wang Shida, must have had the worst luck to have a son like you..."

The more Wang Shida hit, the angrier he became, as if he were beating an enemy rather than his son.

"Shida, that's enough. This matter isn't entirely An'nan's fault." Even Wang Shouzhe, who usually remained calm, couldn't bear to watch and advised, "Besides, from what Senior Canglong said, it seems the emperor wants to meet our Wang Clan's children. The emperor has always been generous and kind; he won't make things difficult for the children."

Generous and kind??

The Purple Mansion Realm elders of the Daqian Wang Clan looked at Wang Shouzhe with peculiar expressions.

It seemed their understanding of Emperor Longchang was vastly different~

Given that the family had been suppressed for thousands of years, they wouldn't associate the emperor with "generous and kind."

In past experiences, whenever the Daqian Wang Clan made even a minor mistake, the emperor never missed an opportunity to target them. Forget about leniency for the founding merits; not being harsh was already considered lenient. Because of this, other families were reluctant to associate too closely with the Daqian Wang Clan.

Through repeated targeting, the Daqian Wang Clan gradually declined, falling from second-grade to third-grade.

"Enough, enough. Since Shouzhe has pleaded, Shida, spare An'nan this time. Given the current situation, even beating him to death won't help." The head of the Yuchang family said with a heavy heart, "The only plan now is for everyone to brainstorm and find a way to get the three juniors back from the emperor."

"Head of the family, the emperor has never favored our Duke of Dingguo's mansion." Ancestor Zhouhua said worriedly, "It's unlikely that others pleading will work. We might as well interrupt Ancestor Yinda's seclusion and ask him to plead with the emperor?"

"No, no," Wang Shouzhe said, "Ancestor Yinda will be out of seclusion in a few days. The last few days are often the final stage of cultivation. Let's not disturb the ancestor over a trivial matter."

"Given the emperor's personality, even if Ancestor Yinda personally pleads, it will likely be dismissed." The head of the Yuchang family sighed, "I heard that the Commandery Prince of Heng is quite fond of Liyao, and he has some influence with the emperor. If he intervenes, there might be a chance."

"The Commandery Prince of Heng is still a junior. We should ask a respected prince within the royal family to intervene."

"Instead of that, we might as well ask Ancestor Canglong for help. After all, Ancestor Dingxuan had a good relationship with Ancestor Canglong back in the day."

"That connection is too old and distant. Especially in the past few thousand years, our Wang Clan has been quite estranged from Ancestor Canglong."

Everyone discussed how to rescue the three juniors. Such camaraderie warmed Wang Shouzhe's heart. The Wang Clan was indeed united.

This unity and emphasis on the clan also influenced the Monan Wang Clan, the Longzuo Wang Clan, and even the current Changning Wang Clan.

Wang Shouzhe heard that even if some branches had been separated for a long time, once they fell on hard times and sought help from the Duke of Dingguo's mansion, as long as they could prove their lineage, they would receive some support. Even those who couldn't fully prove their lineage would get a little help.

However, this also led to countless people coming to the Duke of Dingguo's mansion every year to take advantage.

Not every branch could thrive like the Monan Wang Clan or the Changning Wang Clan.

In fact, most branches of any family would gradually fade into history. Even if they didn't disappear immediately, most wouldn't achieve much.

It's not easy to establish a lineage, and even harder to maintain it.

A hundred years, three hundred years, five hundred years... a thousand years, three thousand years, each stage is a significant hurdle. If overcome, the family can continue to prosper; if not, decline can happen in the blink of an eye.

The Duke of Dingguo's mansion had often done its utmost, but it couldn't be a nanny every time.

With this thought.

Wang Shouzhe stood up and said, "I am grateful for the concern of all the elders. However, the emperor is the ruler of the nation and will handle this matter fairly. Those three juniors caused the trouble themselves, and it's only right they face some consequences."

Fair handling?

The elders of the Duke of Dingguo's mansion looked at Wang Shouzhe with skepticism.

Seeing their expressions, Wang Shouzhe couldn't help but sigh inwardly. Your Majesty, how many times have you suppressed the Duke of Dingguo's mansion to make them so doubtful?

Amidst the commotion.

A voice came from outside the door: "Reporting to the head of the family, a palace guard requests to see Master Wang Shouzhe."

Palace guard?

The elders of the Duke of Dingguo's mansion looked puzzled.

The so-called palace guards were the most elite eunuchs by the emperor's side.

Each of them was meticulously trained from a young age, with Eunuch Yao as the chief of the guards, responsible for serving the emperor's daily needs, acting as spies, and handling matters that couldn't be done openly.

The head of the Yuchang family glanced at Wang Shouzhe, and with his consent, said loudly, "Let him in."

In no time.

The guard was brought in.

His aura was soft and restrained, yet exuded a deadly, snake-like danger, indicating he had cultivated some special technique.

"Greetings to the head of the Yuchang family and the elders of the Wang Clan." The guard bowed courteously to everyone in the council hall, finally focusing on Wang Shouzhe with a slight smile, "This must be the renowned Master Wang Shouzhe."

"I am Wang Shouzhe of the Wang Clan." Wang Shouzhe stood up, returning the greeting with composure, "May I know how to address you, sir?"

Though the guard appeared young, his concealed aura was extraordinary, indicating he wasn't just any guard.

"Not at all." The guard smiled humbly, bowing again, "Master Wang Shouzhe can call me Little Xiangzi."

"Little Xiangzi."

Hearing this name, the elders of the Wang Clan showed a hint of apprehension.

It was well known that under the command of Eunuch Yao, there were four exceptionally powerful guard leaders, each at the Purple Mansion Realm, collectively known as the "Four Auspicious Leaders."

They all practiced exclusive guard techniques and were extremely powerful.

This "Little Xiangzi" was one of those guard leaders.

"So, it's Leader Xiang." Wang Shouzhe smiled, "What an honor for me to have Leader Xiang visit."

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Leader Xiang said to Wang Shouzhe in a friendly tone, "Master Wang Shouzhe, I'm here to convey a message from Eunuch Yao on behalf of His Majesty."

"His Majesty said he quite likes the three children of the Wang Clan and wishes to keep them in the palace for a while. Please don't worry, Master Wang Shouzhe."

Pausing for a moment, Leader Xiang added in a low voice, "Eunuch Yao also instructed that His Majesty has no ill intentions towards the children. Please remain calm, Master Wang Shouzhe, and don't act rashly." As he spoke, he winked, fearing Wang Shouzhe might not understand.

Wang Shouzhe immediately understood, solemnly bowing, "In that case, please convey to His Majesty that it was our Wang Clan's children who made the mistake. They are too mischievous and unruly, and I have no way to handle them. Since His Majesty wishes to keep them in the palace for a while, I hope he can guide and correct them. Once I'm done with my affairs, I'll come to the palace to bring them back."

In fact, Eunuch Yao's suggestion aligned with Wang Shouzhe's thoughts.

"Master Wang Shouzhe is indeed wise." Leader Xiang smiled, "I've delivered the message, so I won't disturb your clan meeting any longer. Farewell."

With that, he bowed and left, ignoring any attempts to retain him. He even declined the red envelope offered by the head of the Yuchang family, saying there would be plenty of opportunities to get closer in the future.

He came and went quickly.

After he left, the head of the Yuchang family hesitated and asked Wang Shouzhe, "Shouzhe, are you really going to leave those three in the palace? Won't it be dangerous?"

"Rest assured, the palace isn't a dragon's den. Besides, the three of them are clever, especially Anye, who is always calm and composed, and well-liked by elders. His Majesty will surely like him." Wang Shouzhe smiled calmly, "Since the elders are all here today, let's discuss the various matters of the Changning Wang Clan's ancestral worship."

"Since Shouzhe said so..."

The head of the Yuchang family, though skeptical, had no choice but to follow the conversation and discuss the Changning Wang Clan's ancestral worship.

Meanwhile, Wang An'nan, lying on the bench, was dumbfounded.

Is that it?

Did I, Wang An'nan, get beaten for nothing? What is this? Dad, even if it's an act, couldn't you have gone a bit easier? Oh dear, oh dear.

……

At the same time.

In the inner courtyard of the palace, the Divine Weapon Hall.

The Divine Weapon Hall was an ancient and weathered building.

It was located in the deepest part of the palace's inner courtyard, made entirely of some kind of metal, surrounded by layers of formation restrictions, very secretive and heavily guarded.

According to Ji Wuchen's secret information, there were even Divine Realm-level energy fluctuations around the Divine Weapon Hall.

Without Old Yao holding the emperor's decree and personally leading them, they wouldn't have been able to get within a hundred meters of the Divine Weapon Hall. If anyone approached recklessly without permission, they might be killed on the spot.

This was the royal family's private treasury.

More precisely, it was the divine weapon and treasure vault passed down through generations of emperors. For example, the "famous weapon" [Eternal] among the Divine Spirit Artifacts had been sealed in the Divine Weapon Hall.

Its operation was usually like this: the "Eternal" given to Wu Zhixing through Wu Xue'ning temporarily belonged to Wu Zhixing's line. He could use it himself or pass it on to a descendant who was also a great prodigy.

However, if his line lost the great prodigy inheritance, once Wu Zhixing passed away, the "Eternal" would be reclaimed by the Divine Weapon Hall and sealed again until it was bestowed upon another great prodigy. After all, Divine Spirit Artifacts were extremely precious and rare, and if a royal line didn't have a great prodigy, it would be a waste to hold onto them.

Old Yao, holding the decree, instructed the guards to open the Divine Weapon Hall and explained some of its rules to Wang Anye, adding, "But Young Master Anye, you can rest assured. If His Majesty bestows a treasure from the Divine Weapon Hall upon you, it is truly yours, and it won't be reclaimed according to royal tradition."

"Thank you, Eunuch Yao." Wang Anye was very polite and courteous.

"Thank me for what? Thank His Majesty for his grace." Eunuch Yao smiled even more kindly.

Indeed, who wouldn't like a handsome and polite young master?

As they spoke, the guards opened the Divine Weapon Hall, and Eunuch Yao led Wang Anye and Wu Xue'ning inside.

In an instant, the dazzling light of various treasures blinded them.

Everywhere they looked, there were all sorts of treasures radiating spiritual light—swords, spears, sabers, halberds, axes, hooks, and forks—everything imaginable.

Even though Wang Anye considered himself well-versed in treasures, having even entered the ruins of the Shenwu Royal Dynasty, he still felt overwhelmed.

"The so-called Divine Weapon Hall doesn't only contain Divine Spirit Artifacts; it also has many accumulated top-grade or supreme-grade spiritual tools, top-grade or supreme-grade magical treasures, and Purple Mansion Treasures above mid-grade." Eunuch Yao explained, "The outermost layer consists of spiritual tools, but even the cheapest top-grade spiritual tool is worth tens of thousands of Top Gold."

Wang Anye wasn't in a hurry to choose. Instead, he took a leisurely approach, appreciating and studying each treasure along the way. There was no time limit, so he took his time to savor each one.

One had to admit, the royal family was indeed the royal family, with an incredibly deep foundation. The top-grade spiritual tools were abundant.

Each spiritual tool was displayed in a delicate box, isolated by formations, with no air inside, allowing for long-term preservation and saving on maintenance costs.

In addition, the Divine Weapon Hall housed dozens of supreme-grade spiritual tools, each a rare item. Even the Wang Clan only had one or two.

A Lingtai Realm cultivator with such a supreme-grade spiritual tool could fully unleash their power, making it easy to fight across levels.

If a Lingtai Realm cultivator with great prodigy talent was equipped with a supreme-grade spiritual tool, they could be unstoppable, even challenging the weakest Celestial Realm cultivators.

For a Lingtai Realm great prodigy, a Divine Spirit Artifact might not be as practical as a supreme-grade spiritual tool.

As the emperor said, the waters of Divine Spirit Artifacts ran deep and weren't easy to control. It was only when a great prodigy reached the Celestial Realm and comprehended their own divine abilities that they could barely wield a Divine Spirit Artifact, unleashing some of its power, but only a fraction.

Unfortunately, while supreme-grade spiritual tools were excellent, they couldn't compare to Wang Anye's "Years," a Divine Spirit Artifact with his master grandfather as the Spirit Artifact.

Passing through the spiritual tool section, they entered the magical treasure area.

Here, the number of treasures decreased significantly. There were plenty of top-grade magical treasures, but only a dozen supreme-grade ones.

"Young Master Anye, these supreme-grade magical treasures are of excellent quality. However, because they rarely give birth to Spirit Artifacts, they require a high level of spiritual power from the user and a grasp of the laws of heaven to refine and activate. For some great prodigy talent Celestial Realm cultivators, supreme-grade magical treasures are also very suitable, as the number of Divine Spirit Artifacts in the world is too limited." Old Yao explained, "A supreme-grade magical treasure with good effects often fetches over ten million Top Gold at auction. Only families with a strong foundation would invest heavily to provide them for their Purple Mansion seeds or Divine seeds."

Initially, Old Yao intended for Wang Anye to take a supreme-grade magical treasure worth a thousand million. After all, even if Wang Anye became a great prodigy, a supreme-grade magical treasure would be useful for a long time, and if not, it could be passed down to his children and grandchildren.

Unexpectedly, circumstances changed so quickly.

After thanking Old Yao, Wang Anye browsed for a moment before continuing inward. He had no choice; he couldn't use these treasures himself, and they didn't catch his eye.

"This is the Purple Mansion Treasure area. Purple Mansion Treasures are the best treasures below Divine Spirit Artifacts, with prices ranging from several million to tens of millions. The most expensive supreme-grade Purple Mansion Treasures can cost as much as low-tier Divine Spirit Artifacts. However, since we call it the Divine Weapon Hall, anything stored here is at least a top-grade treasure."

Top-grade treasures usually start at a thousand million, but to actually acquire one, you need at least two or three thousand million Top Gold, making them the lifelong pursuit of most ordinary Purple Mansion Realm cultivators. Saving a lifetime might not be enough to buy one.

In addition, the Divine Weapon Hall housed a supreme-grade treasure. If auctioned in the Immortal Dynasty, it would likely fetch nearly a billion. In terms of rarity, supreme-grade treasures were rarer than Divine Spirit Artifacts, with prices several times higher than ordinary Divine Spirit Artifacts.

The rarity was simple to explain. Many Divine Spirit Artifacts originated from the Shenwu Royal Dynasty. Although only a few survived the long history, there was still a certain quantity. And since Divine Spirit Artifacts already had Spirit Artifacts, they were not easily damaged and could continue to be passed down.

However, Purple Mansion Treasures didn't exist during the Shenwu Royal Dynasty.

Therefore, almost all Purple Mansion Treasures appeared after the Immortal Dynasty was established, and modern craftsmanship wasn't advanced enough to easily create supreme-grade treasures.

As a result, this supreme-grade Purple Mansion Treasure was hidden among more than twenty top-grade Purple Mansion Treasures, often used to test one's discernment.

"Anye, the best below Divine Spirit Artifacts is that supreme-grade Purple Mansion Treasure." Old Yao smiled and reminded, "That's all I can help you with. Whether you can pick it out depends on your luck."

"Anye, let me help you choose~~" Wu Xue'ning said excitedly, "The price difference is significant, and picking it means a big win~"

"Does Little Commandery Princess Xue'ning know which one it is?" Wang Anye asked curiously.

"I don't know, but I've always had good luck since I was a child." Wu Xue'ning said earnestly, "I'm sure my chances of picking it are higher than yours."

"…Thank you." Wang Anye paused for a moment, then bowed politely, "Let's take a look at the Divine Spirit Artifacts. Even if we can't take them, it's nice to feast our eyes."

"Young Master Anye, Little Commandery Princess Xue'ning, this way, please." Old Yao wasn't surprised by Wang Anye's decision and led them to the innermost area. "Ordinary Spirit Artifacts aren't worthy of being stored in the Divine Weapon Hall. Currently, there are five Divine Spirit Artifacts left in the Divine Weapon Hall, one of which has a blank Spirit Artifact. The other four..."

"Ah!"

As Wu Xue'ning stepped into the inner hall where the Divine Spirit Artifacts were stored, she suddenly slipped on something black and cloth-like, losing her balance and falling backward.

With Wu Xue'ning's Lingtai Realm cultivation, it was impossible for her to slip and fall. She quickly twisted her body to the right, using her movement technique to regain her balance.

But for some reason, she felt something wrap around her foot, causing her to lose her balance again, falling face-first to the ground.

"Careful."

Instinctively, Wang Anye, who was walking behind Wu Xue'ning, reached out to catch her.

"Thud!"

The two of them fell to the ground, embracing each other.

Wu Xue'ning was on top, and Wang Anye was below.

Their lips met perfectly, eyes locked.

Time seemed to stand still.

Wu Xue'ning's mind went blank, buzzing, and it took her a while to recover.

A blush crept up her beautiful face, reaching her ears.

Wang Anye was also shocked, bewildered, confused, and puzzled.

"Strange, why doesn't it hurt?" was the first thought that flashed through Wang Anye's mind.

However, the next moment, he remembered something more serious, and his face turned pale with fear.

"It's over... I'm going to be a father..."

……

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