Protect Our Patriarch

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……

However, the two little girls were, after all, from prestigious families, with rules and manners ingrained in their bones. Despite their strong desire to eat, they restrained themselves and didn't immediately agree.

"Beautiful fairy sister," Wang Lici struggled to control her saliva, shaking her head with difficulty, "We can chat with you, but please don't treat us to a meal. We eat a lot..."

"Yes, yes, we eat way too much. We can't let you spend so much, but thank you, beautiful fairy sister in white," Lan Wan'er sighed.

This devouring bloodline was powerful, but it was also a hassle. Not only did they have to eat a lot at once, but they also got hungry quickly.

The temptation of food was especially hard to resist for cultivators with devouring bloodlines.

Seeing the two little girls looking so eager yet trying hard to restrain themselves, the fairy lady couldn't help but smile.

Her eyes curved slightly behind her veil, and there was a hint of amusement in her tone, "Wan'er, your skin is as white as snow, dense and delicate like white jade. You must be practicing one of the top body refining techniques of the fairy court, the 'True Method of the Battle Immortal Jade Body,' and you've already reached a minor achievement, right? You must have some special battle body bloodline. Hmm... let me guess, with your appetite, it's probably some kind of devouring bloodline."

Lan Wan'er's eyes widened, feeling as if she had been seen through completely. She looked adorably silly.

After being stunned for a few moments, she reacted and asked, "Fairy sister, do you know our ancestor?"

"I don't know him. But I heard that your Lan Clan of Suiyun mainly practices the 'True Method of Thousand Machines and Divine Nurturing,' which focuses on nurturing the mind. Since your ancestor went to the fairy court to apply for the qualification to practice the 'True Method of the Battle Immortal Jade Body' for you, and the fairy court agreed, it means you must have some special battle body bloodline that suits that method."

"Fairy sister, you're amazing," Lan Wan'er's eyes sparkled with admiration.

At this moment, the fairy lady turned her gaze to Wang Lici, her eyebrows arching slightly as she smiled, "You, little girl, are too lazy. You're practicing the 'True Method of the Glazed King,' one of the nine veins of the Lingyun Holy Land. When practiced to a minor achievement, your body should be like diamond and glazed, with the majesty of a king. But look at you, with that chubby face, where's the majesty? Lazy girl, just eating all the time?"

Wang Lici scratched her head awkwardly, "Master said the 'True Method of the Glazed King' doesn't suit me well, but since there's no better battle body method for now, I'm practicing it as a temporary measure."

"You're too temporary... Even if you switch methods in the future, having the Glazed King battle body as a foundation is excellent. But never mind, I'm not your master, so why say so much? Your master must have other plans," the fairy lady shook her head with a smile, "Two devouring bloodlines together, you really can eat. But don't worry, I can afford one meal, I won't run off and leave you to pay."

Her words were full of confidence, and her sharp eyes easily revealed the origins of the two girls, showing her familiarity with the fairy court's techniques and the nine veins of Lingyun Holy Land. She was likely a significant figure herself.

Seeing her so confident, the two girls were overjoyed and nodded repeatedly, "Thank you, fairy sister. We will control ourselves."

The fairy lady then turned to the chubby shopkeeper, "I have a cabinet of goods here. This is the list. Please send it all to the Zhao Clan of the second grade in Guilong City, Eastern Qian, and settle the little girl's bill together."

"Yes, Immortal Envoy."

The chubby shopkeeper only knew she was an important figure in the fairy court but didn't know her exact identity, so he could only address her as "Immortal Envoy."

The Zhao Clan of Eastern Qian, though a pioneering family, was strong enough to be ranked second grade, making it a formidable clan even in the Han Yue Immortal Dynasty.

He immediately responded respectfully.

After a flurry of calculations, he said respectfully, "Immortal Envoy, the total is fifty-nine thousand immortal crystals."

The fairy lady frowned, "Did you make a mistake?"

She had sent things to Guilong City before and had a rough idea of the cost. This price difference was too big. Nearly sixty thousand immortal crystals were not a small amount for her.

"Reporting to the Immortal Envoy, your shipping cost is nine thousand immortal crystals, and the girl's is fifty thousand..." The chubby shopkeeper sweated profusely, "She is shipping five Silver Moon Wolf pups, which require experts to accompany and handle them, incurring significant expenses."

Goodness~

The fairy lady glanced at Wang Lici.

Who would have thought this chubby little girl could be so troublesome?

Wang Lici's face was awkward, and she said, "Fairy sister, I can give you an IOU, and when my master returns..."

"No need. I'm just a bit surprised you managed to get five wolf pups with good potential. You have quite the luck," the fairy lady smiled lightly, "I'm not a big figure, but I can afford this. Consider it helping a fellow countryman."

"Fairy sister, that greasy chubby shopkeeper is a liar. He just said we could negotiate the price," Lan Wan'er raised her hand and reported, "He seems to be trying to scam a big spender."

The fairy lady gave the chubby shopkeeper a cold look, "What's the lowest price? You should know the consequences of deceiving me."

She had money but wasn't foolish.

The chubby shopkeeper's face turned pale, and he kept wiping his sweat, "Eighty percent, the lowest I can offer is eighty percent, a total of forty-seven thousand two hundred immortal crystals, rounded down to forty-seven thousand."

"At most thirty thousand!" Lan Wan'er raised her hand again, "Our wolf pups are small and don't eat much."

"Little lady, you can't bargain like this," the chubby shopkeeper said with a wry smile, "At most, another thousand off."

"Thirty-one thousand, no more."

"Forty-five thousand, no less."

"Lici, let's wait for your master to return and send them back to Eastern Qian together. I can also try the food there. We can take the fairy sister's goods for free."

"Forty thousand, really no less. We not only earn the shipping fee but also have to insure the wolf pups. If something goes wrong, our Yao Clan will fully compensate."

"Thirty-two thousand... You just deceived the fairy sister."

Lan Wan'er argued reasonably.

Soon, Wang Lici joined the bargaining, saying how well-behaved her wolf pups were and how they wouldn't cause trouble if given food.

After half an hour of intense bargaining, the final price was settled at thirty-six thousand immortal crystals.

Indeed, transporting and caring for spiritual beasts was costly, but charging five times the price for five wolves was excessive.

In the end, the fairy lady paid the shipping fee readily. The price was quite low.

After finalizing the price, a series of standard procedures followed.

The fairy lady's goods were simple, requiring only a check of the types and quantities before packing. Wang Lici's wolf pups were more troublesome, needing a professional beast trainer to evaluate and register their age, qualifications, strength, appearance, and health before handing them over to the Yao Clan's air transport beast trainer to be transported to the Yun Yao flying boat.

The registration of qualifications and appearance was to prevent the spiritual beast pups from being secretly replaced during transport, ensuring customer responsibility. Checking health ensured that only healthy beasts were sent, as any issues during transport would be the Yao Clan's responsibility.

When handing over the five wolf pups to the trainer, Wang Liyao was reluctant.

After all, she had raised them for thirty years, forming a bond. Suddenly parting was hard to adapt to.

"When you get home, listen to the family, okay? Fourth Uncle Shouzhe won't spoil you like I do. Be mindful of who you can and can't provoke," Wang Lici patted each wolf pup's furry head, regardless of whether they understood, giving a series of instructions.

She even took out a piece of paper and a pen, drawing a simple diagram and pointing to two figures, "See, this is Fourth Uncle Shouzhe. He's a scary Great Demon King. If you make a mistake and get caught, you'll be forced to recite books. Next to him is Fourth Aunt. She's usually gentle, but if you make her angry, you're done for."

The five wolf pups sat obediently, looking at Wang Lici and then at her drawing, their blue eyes blinking, unclear if they understood.

Lan Wan'er, listening nearby, was astonished.

Goodness~ Being forced to recite books, Lici's family sounds terrifying~~

And with Lici's scribbles, who could recognize who she drew? Not just the confused wolf pups, even she couldn't.

After a long while of murmuring, Wang Lici finally let go of the wolf pups, watching them being taken away with beast rings by the trainer.

But Wang Lici wasn't sentimental. Her emotions came and went quickly.

After shipping the goods, the three beauties, one older and two younger, happily left Yao's Air Transport and headed to the food street.

The chubby shopkeeper waved goodbye to the three beauties, wiped his cold sweat, and chuckled, "Little girls want to outsmart me? One beast trainer can easily handle five wolf pups. This is a big profit."

Unfortunately, the chubby shopkeeper was happy too soon.

He couldn't foresee that these wolf pups, spoiled by Wang Lici for years, had become like silly huskies.

He couldn't predict the psychological shadow this shipment would cast on the Yun Yao flying boat's crew. Even years later, crew members would get headaches at the sight of wolf pups.

A huge loss.

……

The future is unpredictable, but for now, both the chubby shopkeeper and the three beauties were happy.

The food street was filled with delicious food, and the fairy lady was generous, letting the girls eat to their heart's content.

Rarely did they have an elder who knew their appetite and still let them eat freely. Wang Lici and Lan Wan'er were overjoyed, happily eating from one end of the street to the other.

The livestock industry in the Han Yue Immortal Dynasty was well-developed, with many local snacks made from spiritual meat and vegetables. Though generally low-grade, they were still expensive.

Often, as they passed a street stall, it would be emptied.

Then the next stall, emptied again~~

The fairy lady paid with gold coins, then immortal crystals, then small immortal crystal notes, and finally large immortal crystal notes...

Despite being prepared for the devouring bloodline's appetite, the scene still deeply shocked her.

Lan Wan'er was relatively better, with an appetite two to three times that of an ordinary devouring talent.

But Wang Lici was exaggerated. Her chubby face seemed harmless, her belly not particularly large, yet it was like a bottomless pit, never full.

In just half a day, the stall owners on the food street closed early.

But this was just an appetizer. When asked if they were full, Lan Wan'er said she was half full, while Wang Lici hesitated, saying she was almost full.

Clearly, she wasn't full.

For devouring talents, their appetite measured their talent's strength. This girl's appetite was exaggerated, indicating her talent far exceeded expectations.

The fairy lady was intrigued, wanting to see Wang Lici's limit.

She took them to a luxurious restaurant, ordering high-end ingredients of the fifth and sixth grades, even a seven-grade ingredient—a half dragon leg.

It was the leg of a Yao Earth Yellow Dragon.

"Fairy sister, you're so kind," Wang Lici, tearing into the cumin and chili roasted dragon leg, was moved to tears, "I've never had dragon meat before."

She had eaten seven-grade beast meat, but it was from a giant yak.

Dragons, even among seven-grade beasts, were formidable, usually living in deep mountains and swamps. Even Divine Realm cultivators might not succeed in hunting them, either unable to find them or letting them escape.

Hunting wild creatures was challenging, many people failing even to catch fish, let alone dragons.

Lan Wan'er, looking at the dragon meat, was also tempted.

But she was already half full, and the seven-grade dragon meat was extremely nourishing. She could only eat the scraps Wang Lici gave her, feeling bloated and uncomfortable after a few dozen pounds, her qi and blood too strong to digest.

This girl's bloodline must be extraordinary.

The fairy lady was amazed, her eyes softening, "Eat as much as you can. If you can't finish, you can take it with you."

"I can eat, it's delicious," Wang Lici, munching on the dragon meat, her mouth oily, eyes squinting in happiness, "Fairy sister, what's your name? Which family are you from?"

This dragon meat was amazing. After hundreds of pounds, she felt her qi and blood surging, her potential loosening, nearing a breakthrough to the great prodigy B rank.

The leap from C to B rank was significant, a bottleneck she had been stuck at for years, now feeling a breakthrough was possible.

"My surname is Zhao, Zhao Xiqing, originally from the Zhao Clan of Daqian, now in the fairy court," the fairy lady, seeing her eating happily, also started eating some sixth-grade spiritual meat, joking, "Why do you ask? Planning to repay me?"

"Yes~ My Fourth Uncle always told me, 'Lici, never forget those who help you, repay them when you can.' My master taught me the same," Wang Lici reluctantly put down the half-eaten dragon meat, licked her hands clean, took out a small notebook, and seriously wrote down Zhao Xiqing's name and family.

The notebook was thick, with over half the pages already filled, showing how many "kind people" had helped Lici.

She recorded each one seriously.

This was a good trait, inherited from her master.

Seeing her so earnest, Zhao Xiqing smiled, "Lici, when do you plan to repay me?"

"My master said to remember everyone who helps you," Wang Lici solemnly put away the notebook, "When I become the master of Lingyun Holy Land, I'll repay everyone who helped me."

"Pfft!"

Zhao Xiqing almost spat out her drink.

Luckily, she reacted quickly and covered herself.

"Cough, cough, cough~"

After several coughs, Zhao Xiqing looked at Wang Lici incredulously, "You lazy girl, you're quite confident."

"Not bad, Master says I have a good chance," Wang Lici said proudly, "Besides repaying, I want to thank my Fourth Uncle for his guidance, then show off my status as Holy Master, and give him a pile of books to read, no snacks until he finishes."

"Do you know what it means to be the Holy Master of Lingyun Holy Land? In Daqian, that's the only person who stands equal to the Emperor," Zhao Xiqing glanced at her, "Such a person can walk sideways even in the Han Yue Immortal Dynasty."

"I know, the Lingxu Realm is strong," Wang Lici said seriously, munching on the dragon meat again, "Otherwise, I wouldn't be confident in suppressing Fourth Uncle the Great Demon King."

"……"

To Zhao Xiqing, the Holy Master of Lingyun Holy Land must not only have top-tier cultivation but also bear the responsibility of assisting the Emperor in protecting Daqian.

If this lazy girl became the Holy Master, Daqian might be doomed.

Though she wasn't in Daqian, she still had feelings for it. At that moment, she wanted to take back the dragon meat from Wang Lici, fearing she was aiding the enemy.

……

Ping'an Town.

This was a place of miracles.

In just seventy years, it had undergone tremendous changes.

Many elderly civilians who lived through it all caught a good era, earning substantial wealth, marrying, having children, and living fulfilling lives.

Through hard work, they achieved wealth that previous generations couldn't accumulate.

Retired elders, playing with their grandchildren, often boasted about their achievements, like "I built the dam in Ping'an Town" or "I participated in the construction of Shouzhe Pass."

But these elders cared more about whether their children were successful.

Now, Wang's Clan's industries were growing stronger, and having key positions in them was different from decades ago when one could venture out with passion.

With the continuous expansion of Wang's Clan School and the establishment of village schools everywhere, basic education had become widespread in Wang's Clan's territory.

The recruitment standards for servants in Wang's main residence and major industries clearly stated that from the year 3215 of Longchang in Daqian, graduation from Wang's eight-year compulsory education was a mandatory requirement.

This was an unbreakable rule.

For key managerial or high-level technical talents, they needed to pass Wang's Clan School and undergo professional training and assessment.

Outstanding students could enter Wang's key cultivation list, even receiving precious Enlightenment Pills or blood refining pills, potentially becoming Basalt cultivators, with the possibility of reaching the Lingtai Realm.

Thus, they could leap from commoners to high Basalt cultivators. Achieving the Lingtai Realm would be even more remarkable.

In other regions, ninth-grade clans often had Lingtai Realm ancestors.

Unknowingly, the importance of education had deeply rooted in all civilians under Wang's jurisdiction. Children who excelled in studies were pampered, while those who didn't faced scolding and beatings.

After all, without good studies, they were destined for the bottom.

If a child got into Wang's Clan School headquarters, Zhuwei Academy, it was a matter of great pride.

Entering elite classes was like leaping through the dragon gate, even studying alongside Wang's direct descendants.

Old Sun.

A common old man.

When his parents were young, they fled a flood, arriving at Changning Garrison, where Wang's Clan took them in, saving them from a wandering fate.

During those hard times, his parents worked on river dredging, dam reinforcement, terrace development, and lived in refugee shelters, but they didn't feel hardship, instead feeling fulfilled and hopeful for the future.

Wang's Clan was different from other noble families, treating commoners as people.

In Wang's territory, there was no wage withholding or bullying. Any misbehaving manager would be punished according to clan rules. Thus, commoners felt especially safe in Wang's land.

Even the weakest refugees could eat if they worked, giving them hope for the future.

His parents met through work, married, and while saving money, took a loan from Wang's Bank to buy a cement house from Wang's First Construction. Soon after, Old Sun was born, and the family settled in Ping'an Town.

Now, Old Sun's parents were long gone, and he was old too.

But his proudest achievement wasn't owning several houses in Ping'an Town or a hundred-acre new courtyard in Xin'an Town, but having a grandson who got into Zhuwei Academy's elite refining class.

This alone made Old Sun walk proudly, head held high wherever he went.

His old friends were envious and treated him with great respect, always praising him.

After all, Old Sun's family had indeed struck gold, producing a grandson like Sun Xiaole who got into the elite class.

Getting into the elite class meant entering a higher circle. Sun Xiaole's desk mate was even a direct descendant of the Wang Clan, and they had become good friends.

It was said that Sun Xiaole had recently graduated and applied to work at the Wang's Refining Headquarters. With his education and grades, his application was a sure thing. Not to mention, he had already interned at the headquarters for several months before graduation, familiarizing himself with the environment.

Sure enough, a few days later, a special messenger came with drums and gongs, delivering the appointment letter from Wang's Refining Headquarters.

This appointment letter was highly valuable, signifying that Sun Xiaole had become a key cultivation target at Wang's Refining Headquarters. After a few years of training at the grassroots level, he could gradually move into middle management, with the potential to become a principal manager in the future.

And the title "Old Sun" among the villagers had now become "Elder Sun."

……

Wang's Refining Headquarters.

The mountain range to the east of Wang's main residence had been developed over time into a well-utilized area. Using the natural advantages of the mountains, through excavation and construction, the area had been transformed into a series of well-arranged refining workshops.

The core workshops of Wang's Refining were located in Qinglian Fire Valley, while the surrounding areas mainly produced basic tools, instrument parts, weapons, and so on.

Having completed his internship, Sun Xiaole quickly adapted to his work at the refining headquarters.

He was currently in charge of an ordinary agricultural ironware workshop, which specialized in producing basic farming tools like hoes, sickles, shovels, axes, and plows.

Sun Xiaole's workshop focused solely on producing iron hoes.

Wang's Refining produced a massive number of farming tools every year. The annual demand for tools in Ping'an and Xin'an towns alone was substantial. Now, with Wang's expansion into the outer regions beyond Shouzhe Pass, the demand for farming tools had skyrocketed tenfold.

Don't underestimate a simple iron hoe. Over the decades, Wang's Refining had continuously improved the production line for iron hoes, refining the details of production and quality assurance. Today, it was worlds apart from the traditional hand-forging methods used by most clans and blacksmith shops.

Through relentless efforts, Wang's Refining produced iron hoes that were not only several times cheaper than those of other clans but also of superior quality and higher output. As a result, many merchants from other regions would purchase Wang's iron hoes in bulk, selling them elsewhere for a hefty profit.

One day, Sun Xiaole was busy coordinating production in his workshop as usual. His days were fulfilling, and his future prospects were bright.

With Wang's support, he had started cultivating the Qi Refining Realm early on. Now, at just eighteen, he had reached the third level of the Qi Refining Realm.

His only trouble was being too popular.

Not only did his neighborhood's seven aunts and eight uncles frequently try to introduce girls to him, but even some female clerks at Wang's Refining Headquarters often gave him flirtatious glances, expressing their interest.

However, Sun Xiaole had no interest in romance or marriage at the moment. He just wanted to focus on his work, steadily improving himself to take on more important roles, living up to Wang's expectations.

Moreover, no one knew that during his time at Zhuwei Academy, he had already formed an image of a goddess in his heart—Miss Yinglei, the fifteenth-ranked direct descendant of the Wang Clan. She was the same age as Sun Xiaole and had also just graduated this year.

Following the Wang Clan's tradition of excellence, Miss Yinglei had entered the headquarters' office with outstanding grades, becoming the assistant to the head of the headquarters, Ancestor Zongyao.

……

Wang's Refining Headquarters' office was located in the most central and well-guarded area of Qinglian Fire Valley. This place was the heart of Wang's refining industry, where the most crucial decisions and strategies were made.

Miss Yinglei, with her exceptional talent and diligence, quickly adapted to her new role. As Ancestor Zongyao's assistant, she handled various important tasks, from managing documents to coordinating with different departments.

Despite her busy schedule, Miss Yinglei always maintained a calm and composed demeanor, earning the respect and admiration of her colleagues.

One day, while she was meticulously reviewing a batch of documents, a knock on the door interrupted her concentration.

"Come in," she said, looking up from her work.

The door opened, and Sun Xiaole walked in, holding a stack of reports. He bowed respectfully, "Miss Yinglei, these are the latest production reports from the agricultural ironware workshop."

"Thank you, Sun Xiaole," Yinglei replied with a gentle smile, taking the reports from him. "How is the production going?"

"Everything is on schedule," Sun Xiaole reported. "We've managed to increase our output by 15% this quarter, and the quality remains consistent."

"That's excellent news," Yinglei praised, her eyes reflecting genuine appreciation. "Your hard work is paying off."

Sun Xiaole felt a surge of pride and joy at her words. "Thank you, Miss Yinglei. I will continue to do my best."

As he left the office, Sun Xiaole couldn't help but feel a renewed sense of determination. He knew that with dedication and effort, he could achieve great things, not just for himself but for the entire Wang Clan.

And perhaps, one day, he might even be able to stand by Miss Yinglei's side, not just as a colleague but as an equal, contributing to the prosperity and glory of the Wang Clan together.

With this thought in mind, Sun Xiaole returned to his workshop, ready to face the challenges ahead with unwavering resolve.

……

Back in Ping'an Town, the bustling streets were filled with the sounds of merchants calling out their wares, children playing, and families going about their daily lives. The town had grown significantly over the years, becoming a vibrant hub of activity and commerce.

Old Sun, now known as Elder Sun, strolled through the town with a sense of pride and contentment. He greeted everyone he met with a warm smile, his heart swelling with joy at the sight of his thriving community.

As he passed by the newly built school, he paused to watch the children playing in the courtyard. Among them was his great-grandson, Sun Xiaole's nephew, who was already showing signs of exceptional talent.

Elder Sun's eyes sparkled with hope and pride. The future was bright for his family, and he knew that the legacy of hard work, education, and dedication would continue to flourish in the generations to come.

With a heart full of gratitude and a spirit of unwavering determination, Elder Sun continued his walk, knowing that the best was yet to come for the Wang Clan and all those who called Ping'an Town their home.

……

In the distant Qinglian Fire Valley, the refining flames burned brightly, casting a warm glow over the hardworking men and women of Wang's Refining Headquarters. The clang of metal, the hiss of steam, and the hum of machinery filled the air, a symphony of progress and innovation.

And at the heart of it all, Sun Xiaole and Miss Yinglei, along with countless others, worked tirelessly, their efforts forging a future of prosperity and greatness for the Wang Clan and the entire Daqian.

The journey was long, and the challenges were many, but with unity, perseverance, and the unwavering spirit of the Wang Clan, there was no doubt that they would continue to rise, reaching new heights of glory and success.

The story of the Wang Clan was far from over, and as each new chapter unfolded, it was clear that the best was yet to come.However, this budding affection, Sun Xiaole could only keep it hidden in his heart. The Fifteenth Miss was a noble lady of the Wang Clan, the granddaughter of the esteemed Celestial Elder Wang Shouyong.

There was a natural chasm between them.

He could only strive harder and harder, hoping to get a bit closer to the Fifteenth Miss and silently protect her for a lifetime.

While Sun Xiaole was diligently working.

Suddenly, someone came to inform him to go to the Chief's office, saying that Deputy Chief Wang Shichuan wanted to see him.

For a moment, Sun Xiaole was a bit stunned. He had always been a student in the elite artifact refining class and was very familiar with the management structure of the Artifact Refining Headquarters. It had one chief and three deputy chiefs, with the Chief Wang Zongyao and Deputy Chief Wang Ping being the first-generation artifact refiners.

They usually focused on the path of artifact refining and were also responsible for teaching artifact refining techniques internally.

Currently, the one truly managing the Artifact Refining Headquarters was Deputy Chief Wang Shichuan.

However, since the deputy chief had summoned him, Sun Xiaole naturally did not dare to delay. He immediately handed over his work carefully to his deputy and then hurried to the deputy chief's office.

He knocked and entered.

The first thing that caught Sun Xiaole's eye was not Wang Shichuan but a youthful and beautiful girl dressed in fine clothes. Her charming smile made Sun Xiaole's heart skip a beat. Wasn't this the Fifteenth Miss, Yinglei?

But Sun Xiaole had good self-control. He quickly collected his thoughts and bowed to Wang Shichuan, who was not far away: "Sun Xiaole greets Chief Chuan."

Wang Shichuan, the son of Wang Zongyao, was as handsome as his father. Now in his forties, he was in his prime. He glanced at Sun Xiaole with a natural authority: "Sun Xiaole, I remember you. A talented student from the elite artifact refining class, with high comprehensive evaluations, even surpassing two direct descendants of the Wang Clan in cultural subjects."

Sun Xiaole hurriedly responded modestly: "Chief Chuan overpraises me. It's all thanks to the nurturing of the main family." He was on the key cultivation list, destined to join the Wang Clan's retinue, though not in a martial capacity.

"Yinglei, the person you recommended is not bad," Wang Shichuan nodded in satisfaction. "You finally did something right. If this kid weren't from a commoner family, his achievements would surely surpass yours."

Wang Yinglei stomped her foot in protest: "Sixth Brother, when have I ever been unreliable? I'm not like those troublemakers Wang Yingqi and Wang Yingxuan."

"Alright, alright, you're more reliable. Your graduation exam results were also good, ranking first in the class," Wang Shichuan laughed. "I heard Fourth Grandpa even personally commended you, saying you're a role model for the younger generation of girls."

"Of course, I heard Sixth Brother was at the bottom of the class and only improved after Fourth Uncle beat you up."

"Oh, you little brat, dare to expose my shortcomings."

Listening to the siblings' banter, Sun Xiaole kept his head down, pretending not to hear. The difference in their statuses was too great; he couldn't afford to overstep.

"Sun Xiaole, since Yinglei recommended you, and your professional knowledge is solid," Wang Shichuan finally said, "I have an important task for you. It carries some risk. Are you willing?"

Sun Xiaole immediately straightened up: "Xiaole is grateful for the Wang Clan's nurturing and is willing to go through fire and water."

...

While the Wang Clan was striving for self-improvement and steady development.

In the Zhuozheng Pavilion of the Guilong City Palace.

Emperor Longchang's greatest pleasure recently was reviewing various intelligence reports, especially those concerning Commandery Prince Kang and Commandery Prince An. But what he loved most were the reports about the Wang Clan.

"Interesting, I didn't expect that small Ping'an Town to be turned into something remarkable by Wang Shouzhe. I really underestimated him."

"In the past, I never noticed that the small Changning Garrison had such high tax revenue? The Wang Clan has made significant contributions to the nation."

But as he read on, something felt off.

Emperor Longchang's face grew darker and darker: "How audacious, this Wang Shouzhe is truly audacious. He dares to criticize my achievements after drinking with Yingji, saying I have two parts fault and eight parts merit!"

"Saying that because I love expansion, I neglected internal development, resulting in national poverty!"

"Listen to that! What kind of talk is this? I've spent most of my life fighting the Western Jin and Southern Qin, and he doesn't see me as defending the nation but rather as a warmonger. I fought against two empires and remained undefeated, yet this ignorant brat dares to speak so recklessly."

"Calm down, Your Majesty, calm down. Wang Shouzhe didn't know we had people around him, so he dared to speak so recklessly," Old Yao, standing by, was sweating profusely, thinking that this Wang kid really knew how to stir up trouble.

If you want to drink, just drink. Why speak so recklessly?

"He didn't know? So he can just criticize me in private?" Emperor Longchang's good mood vanished, and he was about to smash the table, "My greatest achievement in life is fighting against two empires without defeat. If he has the guts, let him come to Zhuozheng Pavilion and criticize me to my face. What does private criticism count for?"

"Your Majesty, calm down. Over the years, haven't you heard enough private criticisms through spies?" Old Yao hurriedly comforted him.

"That's different. I actually appreciate Wang Shouzhe. Hmph, it's like casting pearls before swine," Emperor Longchang was fuming, "Old Yao, send a decree, summon that kid to the capital. I want to confront him face to face."

"Your Majesty, that won't do," Old Yao pleaded, "We should just listen to private criticisms and let them go. Besides, Wang Shouzhe did say some good things about you."

"Look, Your Majesty. Speaking of the current generation of quasi-imperial heirs, sigh, Brother Long, each generation seems worse than the last. The current emperor, despite various... is still a wise and capable ruler with strong overall abilities. He has made many small mistakes but no major ones."

"Now, these two quasi-imperial heirs, one is deceitful and only good at scheming and manipulating. If he ascends, our Great Qian might be plunged into chaos, with everyone on edge and internal strife rampant."

"The other one is a straightforward fool who knows nothing about imperial tactics. If he ascends, wouldn't he be easily controlled by his ministers? It would be a great joke if he became a puppet emperor."

"This is considered good talk?" Emperor Longchang's eyes widened, almost bursting with anger, "What does he mean by each generation worse than the last? Saying my generation is just passable? What does he mean by many small mistakes but no major ones? What does he mean by various...?"

"There are still some good words, good words," Old Yao tried hard to persuade, "After all, they were just talking privately while drinking. Your Majesty, don't take it to heart."

"Hmph! The only sensible thing he said was that those two quasi-imperial heirs are indeed not up to par. Our Great Qian's fate is not good," Emperor Longchang, though angry, had to admit that Wang Shouzhe's comments on the quasi-imperial heirs made some sense. He lamented, "If only Hao'er were here, would that kid dare to criticize our royal family for not producing an outstanding child?"

"By the way, didn't that kid join Commandery Prince An? Should we let Commandery Prince An hear what he said, so they become estranged?"

"Your Majesty..." Old Yao was speechless. Was this something an emperor should do?

"I'm just joking. I'm not that petty, unable to take a bit of 'advice'," Emperor Longchang finally showed some reason, not being overly petty.

"Commandery Prince An hasn't left yet, right? Summon that fool to see me. I need to teach him some imperial tactics, so Wang Shouzhe's 'sycophant' doesn't end up controlling the court."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Also, send a decree to Commandery Governor Taishi Ankang of Longzuo Commandery, telling him that the national treasury is empty. If the tax revenue in Longzuo Commandery doesn't increase by fifty percent in ten years, I'll replace him with someone close to Commandery Prince Kang."

"Hehe, Wang Shouzhe, you think you're clever? Let's see how capable you are. Dare to criticize me behind my back? I'll make things difficult for you and drive you mad!"

Old Yao was speechless.

His Majesty was preparing to spar with Wang Shouzhe from a distance, just to pass the time.