Protect Our Patriarch

……

At the same time.

Shangguan Zhenhai, the head of the Shangguan Clan, Elder Shangguan Liyan, and the great prodigy Shangguan Yunque were all in utter shock.

The small sixth-grade Changning Wang's Clan had produced not one, but two great prodigies.

Although Wang Zong'an, at sixty-five years old, was only at the third level of the Celestial Realm, much weaker than his sister, it still depended on who he was compared to...

Back when Shangguan Yunque was sixty-five, his cultivation level was about the same. And how strong could the Little Commandery Prince Wu Zhixing have been at sixty-five?

The members of the Shangguan Clan looked at Wang Zong'an with newfound respect, and their regard for the Changning Wang's Clan in distant Longzuo Commandery instantly rose several levels.

Two great prodigies emerging from the same family, one taking the academy route and the other the clan route, would surely lead to the rapid rise and strengthening of the Wang's Clan. As long as they could endure for about five hundred years, both great prodigies would likely advance to the Divine Realm.

And with Wang Shouzhe's ability to make money, supporting one great prodigy shouldn't be too much of a problem.

Even if the Shangguan Clan also advanced to third-grade by then, the Wang's Clan, with two Divine Realm cultivators, would still be stronger, even if Wang Liyao was constrained by the academy.

Moreover, Wang Liyao's extraordinary bloodline might even allow her to compete for the position of Holy Son.

If she were to become the master of the Holy Land in the future... the Wang's Clan would soar to unimaginable heights, becoming a top-tier family comparable to the An Guogong's Mansion of the second-grade Zhao's Clan.

Who would dare to underestimate such a family with immense potential?

Silence.

After several dozen breaths of silence, the members of the Shangguan Clan gradually recovered from their shock and barely managed to calm their emotions.

"Young Clan Leader Zong'an has limitless potential, making this old man envious indeed," Elder Shangguan Liyan sighed, his hair and beard white. "People say that the difference between a prodigy and a great prodigy is just one level of bloodline, and with some effort, one can catch up. But this notion only holds some truth before the Purple Mansion Realm. Once you reach the Purple Mansion Realm, you'll realize the chasm between the two is like a heavenly moat."

"For us prodigies, every step forward in the Purple Mansion Realm is like moving mountains and filling seas, fraught with difficulties. Not to mention walking the path of the Divine Realm, which is as hard as ascending to the heavens."

It was no wonder Shangguan Liyan sighed. The most formidable aspect of a great prodigy was that for them, reaching the Purple Mansion Realm was just the beginning, allowing them to step by step climb the path that prodigies could only look up to for a lifetime.

It's not that prodigies can't cultivate in the Purple Mansion Realm. Some prodigies with high bloodlines, reaching top-grade A, also have a slight chance of advancing to the Divine Realm.

But everything boils down to resources, which are always limited. Every family meticulously calculates and uses them where they matter most, emphasizing cost-effectiveness.

Instead of spending a fortune to let a Purple Mansion Ancestor with exhausted potential advance a few levels in the Purple Mansion Realm, it's better to save it to nurture younger generations, producing more Celestial Realm cultivators, or even using it for Purple Mansion succession.

After all, the maximum lifespan of the Purple Mansion Realm is only eight hundred years, and achieving the Divine Realm is almost hopeless. Squandering resources recklessly is sheer wastefulness, and no clan leader would dare act so recklessly, as it would incite public outrage within the clan.

"Senior, you flatter me," Wang Zong'an, after showcasing his strength, retracted his aura and returned to his initial graceful humility. "Becoming a great prodigy was a stroke of luck. When I went to the Purple Mansion Academy of Longzuo Commandery, who could have predicted that the Longevity Tree would favor me, bestowing me with the essence of Yi Wood and the seed of the Longevity Tree?"

That stung~

Leaving aside the fortunate Shangguan Yunque, both Shangguan Zhenhai and Shangguan Liyan felt a pang of heartache. Why hadn't they been so lucky to be favored by the Longevity Tree?

They had heard of the Longevity Tree at Longzuo Academy, which was said to be at the peak of the eighth rank. It might one day transcend and become a ninth-rank demon king.

By then, wouldn't it mean that the Changning Wang's Clan would have another powerful backer? A ninth-rank demon king was equivalent to a human Divine Realm cultivator. Unlike Tianhe Daoist, who had only a few hundred years left, the Longevity Tree was known for its longevity, outliving even turtle-like spiritual beasts.

As long as Young Clan Leader Zong'an lived, or as long as the young Longevity Tree remained with the Wang's Clan, this bond would continue indefinitely.

"Young Clan Leader Zong'an, you mentioned taking us along to make a fortune? Could you elaborate?" Shangguan Zhenhai awkwardly but politely changed the topic.

He couldn't continue with the previous topic; he was already feeling a strong sense of defeat.

"Please look at our Anbei Garrison's plan." Wang Zong'an took out a set of Heavenly Recording Disks, activating the images within. "This is our experimental farm, planting high-yield pearl rice and cumin. The vast green meadows around it are alfalfa grass."

"Pearl rice, as a high-yield coarse grain, is extremely storable. It can serve as premium feed for warhorses, draft horses, and working oxen, as well as being used for military and disaster relief supplies. Ordinary people can also use pearl rice as a supplementary food, which has benefits like improving bowel movements."

"Anbei Garrison, with its abundant sunlight, can produce two seasons of pearl rice annually, with excellent quality and low prices. With intensive cultivation, the annual yield per mu can reach twenty-five dan, selling at three large coppers per dan, with an annual yield per mu of seventy-five large coppers. Adding the intercropped cumin spices and the stalks used as silage, the annual gross income per mu can reach about one top gold and twenty large coppers."

"Anbei Garrison is vast, about five to six times the size of an ordinary garrison, with no hills, lakes, or forests, maximizing land use for large-scale farming, irrigation, and harvesting, significantly reducing costs."

"Just Anbei Garrison alone can develop twelve million mu of pearl rice farmland, with an annual economic value of about fifteen million top gold."

The Shangguan Clan members were breathless.

Fifteen million top gold annually! What a terrifying number, with a hundred-year total value of one and a half billion.

Everyone knew this was gross income, with taxes and various costs to be deducted. But even so, it was still shocking. Who would have thought that the previously disregarded Anbei Garrison had such high economic value?

"Animal husbandry is also a major feature of Anbei Garrison. With cheap silage and pearl rice feed, we can raise a large number of beef cattle, horses, and more, with great market competitiveness. Look at this table, showing the cost and selling price ratio of raising a beef cow, with a gross profit of three top gold."

"Our future livestock farms in Anbei Garrison plan to raise two million high-quality beef cattle and two million dairy cows. The dairy cow plan will be discussed later. Just the high-quality beef cattle alone will yield six to seven million in gross profit."

The scale of beef cattle was enormous, with ample production.

In wealthier countries on Earth, the annual per capita meat consumption was fifty to a hundred pounds. But this was the Basalt world, where Basalt cultivators had a great demand for meat to replenish their qi and blood. Even Lingtai Realm, Celestial Realm, and Purple Mansion Realm cultivators couldn't eat large amounts of spiritual meat daily, as it was too costly. They had to supplement with ordinary meat.

Moreover, the world had the most numerous lower-level cultivators, with a high demand for ordinary meat.

"Everyone, please try our Jade Crystal Wine, which has beautifying and moisturizing effects." Wang Zong'an brought out beautiful glass bottles of wine and a set of exquisite glassware, pouring wine for everyone.

The crimson wine, paired with the transparent glass, exuded a fragrant aroma.

Everyone tasted it and found it sweet and delicious, with a lingering aftertaste, truly a fine wine.

"Anbei Garrison's abundant sunlight produces sweet and rich jade crystal grapes, making top-quality wine. Although not as good as spiritual wine, selling a bottle for twenty to thirty large coppers is reasonable. With our planned jade crystal grape base and winery in Anbei Garrison, annual production of tens of millions of bottles is just the beginning. Once successfully promoted, it will be a highly profitable project."

In the Heavenly Recording Disk, young and beautiful girls were either making jade crystal wine or bottling it, with the clean and hygienic factory being highly appealing.

One commercial blueprint after another unfolded in the minds of the Shangguan Clan members under Wang Zong'an's presentation, clearly showing the future's massive profits.

Not only were the Shangguan Clan members dazzled by the future filled with top gold, but even Commandery Prince An, who had heard it before, was also excited, feeling a sense of "I am a rich man."

"Young Clan Leader Zong'an, you mentioned taking us to make a fortune..." Shangguan Zhenhai, an experienced clan leader, couldn't help but swallow, deeply moved. "Are you planning to share Anbei Garrison's profits with us? If we can get enough, we are willing to support Commandery Prince An."

Wang Zong'an was right earlier; the Shangguan Clan was too short on money.

Commandery Prince Kang had many supporters, and with the Shangguan Clan's current situation, even if they could join him, the benefits would be limited.

On the other hand, if they could get a share of Anbei Garrison's profits, what would they have to fear?

Moreover, Commandery Prince An had quietly laid such a grand plan, gaining the support of the Changning Wang's Clan with two great prodigies and revitalizing the previously disregarded Anbei Garrison... the future might hold victory.

"Senior, you jest. Anbei Garrison is the foundation of His Highness, with years of effort invested. How could it be casually handed over?" Wang Zong'an smiled lightly. "Only our Wang's Clan, which strongly supports Anbei Garrison's development, can get a share."

Shangguan Zhenhai almost exploded with anger.

He understood the principle of not taking benefits without effort, but Wang Zong'an had painted such a rosy picture of Anbei Garrison, raising their expectations, only to say in the end that they couldn't have a share.

That's just bullying.

"Young Clan Leader Zong'an, are you here to mock our Shangguan Clan?" Shangguan Zhenhai said angrily. "If your purpose is to make enemies, congratulations, you've succeeded."

"Senior, please calm down. Not sharing Anbei Garrison's profits doesn't mean there are no other benefits." Wang Zong'an, unfazed by Shangguan Zhenhai's anger, calmly adjusted the Heavenly Recording Disk. "Anbei Garrison is just a small corner of the entire northwest region. Please look~"

The Heavenly Recording Disk activated, showing an aerial view of the vast Dala Great Desert, with Anbei Garrison occupying only a small, insignificant corner.

"Dala Great Desert, vast and boundless, about the size of three commanderies. Once this enormous uninhabited area is developed, it will generate astronomical economic benefits. Cultivating one Divine Realm, or even ten or eight, will be easy."

Wang Zong'an's excellent presentation, combined with his confident demeanor, made him a superb persuader.

Shangguan Zhenhai was somewhat swayed: "Zong'an, the Great Desert is vast, but conquering it is extremely difficult. The biggest problem is the lack of water, right?"

"Senior Zhenhai need not worry. We have planned a massive canal to solve the water source issue and transportation, killing two birds with one stone." Wang Zong'an took out a conceptual plan, showing a grand canal stretching from the Western Sea to Anbei Garrison, with a branch reaching outside Guilong City and its thirty-six garrisons.

Shangguan Zhenhai was stunned, nodding involuntarily: "What a grand vision."

Suddenly, he frowned: "But this plan sounds familiar. Right, Commandery Prince An mentioned it in court and was ridiculed!"

He glanced at the embarrassed Commandery Prince An.

"Ridicule is just the ignorant speaking recklessly. If everyone saw the immense benefits, how could it be left to Commandery Prince An and us?" Wang Zong'an sneered. "In less than a hundred years, they will regret their foolish words."

Shangguan Zhenhai and the others were shocked by the projected profits of Anbei Garrison. If the Dala Great Desert could be conquered, the benefits would indeed be immense.

But that grand canal...

"The grand canal will be built with a million laborers, divided into thousands of sections for simultaneous construction," Wang Zong'an said. "We will also recruit rogue cultivators, hire many Basalt cultivators, and deploy crafting puppets, aiming to complete this epic project in fifty years."

"Meanwhile, we will begin afforestation in the Dala Great Desert, gradually enclosing land and improving the soil with drought-resistant alfalfa. In a hundred years, we can initially conquer one-twentieth of the desert, and in five hundred years, turn it into an oasis. This will add several fertile commanderies to Daqian, generating massive economic benefits annually."

Shangguan Zhenhai and the others were stunned.

Five hundred years sounded long, but it was less than half the lifespan of a Divine Realm cultivator. Moreover, many families had existed for over a thousand years; Shangguan Clan had been around for thousands.

Any family lasting thousands of years wouldn't only focus on the present. Shangguan Zhenhai might not see the final outcome, but his descendants could.

Besides, five hundred years was about the time Shangguan Yunque would be advancing to the Divine Realm.

"Zong'an, you said you would take us to make a fortune. What should we do to get a share?" Shangguan Zhenhai probed.

"Your Shangguan Clan needs to contribute fifty thousand top gold annually for two hundred years, totaling one billion top gold. Additionally, you must provide at least a thousand Qi Refining Realm cultivators, a hundred Lingtai Realm cultivators, ten Celestial Realm cultivators, and one Purple Mansion Realm cultivator annually for five hundred years, all for the 'Dala Development Joint Office' to use." Wang Zong'an presented his well-prepared plan. "All investments, revenues, and expenses, including taxes, will be managed by the Joint Office, controlled by His Highness Commandery Prince An. Future dividends will also be settled and distributed by the Joint Office."

One billion top gold?

Shangguan Zhenhai's heart trembled at the number, but spreading it over two hundred years eased the pressure slightly.

The required cultivators were also a significant burden for the Shangguan Clan, which had many needs.

But Wang Zong'an's offer was too tempting. Enduring the initial difficulties would lead to unimaginable future profits. If necessary, they could mortgage or sell some assets.

"What percentage of shares do we get for such a huge investment?" Shangguan Zhenhai asked, deeply moved.

"Percentage?" Wang Zong'an laughed. "Senior Zhenhai, you jest. That's the revenue of several commanderies. Does your family want to be as rich as a nation? Since you are our first negotiation, we can offer some discounts: three percent of the shares and dividends. As long as the 'Dala Development Joint Office' stands, your Shangguan Clan will enjoy this benefit forever."

"Three percent?" Shangguan Zhenhai's face changed, jumping up. "We pay such a huge price for just three percent?"

"Senior Zhenhai, please don't be angry. Look at this projected investment and future profit curve." Wang Zong'an calmly handed over a chart for the Shangguan Clan to study, then took his leave. "Everyone, we've offered generous terms. Don't miss this golden opportunity. Zong'an and the others will take their leave now."

Wang Zong'an knew such matters couldn't be decided in a day. Families always needed internal discussions for such significant investments of manpower and resources, so he wasn't in a hurry.

Shangguan Zhenhai, holding the profit curve chart, was slightly stunned: "Young Clan Leader Zong'an and His Highness Commandery Prince An, aren't you staying for the welcome banquet?"

"Everyone is busy; we'll eat another time." Wang Zong'an smiled and bowed. "We have many more families to visit."

Indeed, Shangjing City wasn't just home to the Shangguan Clan...

"One more question. If our Shangguan Clan agrees to this project, do we need to publicly support His Highness Commandery Prince An?"

"Senior Zhenhai, you're overthinking. This is just a cooperative development project. Whether you support Commandery Prince An or Commandery Prince Kang won't affect the future. Honestly, this project is so costly that we want to involve Prince Dexin's faction and even Commandery Prince Kang. The more, the merrier."

"Good, good. In that case, cooperation is promising."

With that, Wang Zong'an and Commandery Prince An formally took their leave.

They then visited family after family.

Indeed, they followed through on their promises, even going to Prince Dexin's and Prince Yong'an's mansions to seek investment, though they were quickly "politely shown out."

But this showed that Commandery Prince An and Wang Zong'an were serious, strengthening the resolve of those with intentions.

……

Time flew by.

Another month passed.

Mid-An River, Flood Dragon Island.

As the base of the Flood Dragon Gang, this island was shrouded in mist and protected by a grand formation, making it easy to defend and hard to attack. The island's port was always filled with numerous river ships, creating a spectacular scene when viewed from above.

The island had several peaks, with the highest one flattened to build a complex where the Flood Dragon Gang members lived.

Among these buildings was a grand and imposing hall called the "Flood Dragon Hall."

This hall was the Flood Dragon Gang's meeting place and the center of its power.

Inside the Flood Dragon Hall.

On the large main seat, the usually carefree Long Wuji's face was now ashen, and a pile of torn letters lay on the ground.

His trusted aides, including Zhao Wuqing, stood trembling on the side, heads bowed, not daring to speak.

Ever since the boss learned that Wang Shouzhe had joined Commandery Prince An, his temper had become irritable and unpredictable.

His correspondence with Shangjing City had also become more frequent, and each time he received a letter, his mood worsened.

"Shouzhe, you're walking further and further down the path of betrayal," Long Wuji muttered, his large hand gripping the armrest tightly, his deep eyes flashing with a greenish light. "What is so special about Wu Mingyuan that you would go to such lengths to help him?"

"Couldn't we all just be happy brothers together?"

"No, I can't let Wang Shouzhe continue down this wrong path. He must turn back before it's too late." Long Wuji's eyes narrowed, a hint of menace flashing in his gaze. "Men, prepare the army. Our target is Changning Garrison."

Zhao Wuqing trembled and quickly whispered, "Godfather, there are still about forty days left until the 'Fifty-Year Agreement.' Please, hold on a bit longer."

"Hold on? If we wait any longer, Wang Shouzhe will be too far gone to turn back," Long Wuji's eyes reddened with anger. "Mobilize the army now. We will march to the outskirts of Changning Garrison and set up camp. Once the agreed date arrives, we will immediately advance on Ping'an Town."

"I, Long Wuji, must personally ask him why he chose to betray me."

……

Meanwhile, in Changning Garrison, Wang Shouzhe was unaware of the storm brewing. He was busy overseeing the latest developments in the Anbei Garrison project and ensuring that everything was on track.

The Changning Wang's Clan had grown significantly stronger under his leadership, and the future looked promising. However, the looming threat of Long Wuji and the Flood Dragon Gang was a dark cloud on the horizon.

As the days passed, the tension in the air grew thicker. The people of Changning Garrison could sense that something big was about to happen, but they didn't know what.

Wang Shouzhe, ever the strategist, had already made preparations for any eventuality. He knew that Long Wuji would not sit idly by, and he had contingency plans in place.

But even the best-laid plans can go awry, and the coming confrontation would test the strength and resolve of the Changning Wang's Clan like never before.

As the fateful day approached, Wang Shouzhe stood on the walls of Ping'an Town, looking out over the horizon. He knew that soon, he would have to face Long Wuji and the Flood Dragon Gang. The outcome of this battle would determine the future of his clan and the entire region.

With a deep breath, Wang Shouzhe steeled himself for the challenge ahead. He was ready to defend his family, his home, and his future, no matter the cost.

The stage was set, and the players were in position. The only question that remained was who would emerge victorious in the coming storm.