Protect Our Patriarch

...

However, Zhao Kui, being an experienced cultivator in the Purple Mansion Realm for nearly seven hundred years, quickly suppressed all distractions even in the face of desperation.

With a wave of his sleeve, a small, ancient-looking copper umbrella flew out and opened automatically in mid-air.

As it spun rapidly, the umbrella grew larger, and the mysterious runes on its red surface emitted beams of light, forming a semicircular energy shield.

The shield covered a considerable area, enough to protect over ten people if positioned correctly.

"Luotian Umbrella."

This was a low-grade Purple Mansion Treasure, a replica of the Divine Spirit Artifact Luotian Umbrella.

Its auction price typically ranged from two to four million Qian gold, roughly equivalent to the price of a Wuji Baodan.

Due to the high cost-effectiveness of low-grade Purple Mansion Treasures, they were the preferred choice for most ordinary Purple Mansion Realm cultivators. A cultivator in this realm, equipped with two or three such treasures, would find it challenging to keep the total cost under ten million Qian gold.

For an ordinary fifth-grade family to maintain its development while gradually accumulating a few low-grade Purple Mansion Treasures required a significant accumulation of time.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Countless shards of ice rained down like a storm, bombarding the shield of the Luotian Umbrella, causing its energy shield to ripple and distort, showing signs of imminent collapse.

It was clear that after Wang Long Yan's bloodline ascended to the Holy Body, her understanding and application of the Heavenly Dao had reached another level. Although she was not yet comparable to a Divine Realm expert, she was not something an ordinary Purple Mansion cultivator could contend with.

However, the Purple Mansion Realm was not easily bullied.

Compared to Wang Long Yan, Zhao Kui was ultimately a whole major realm higher, and his methods were far from limited to this.

A red light burst from his seemingly aged eyes, and a fiery aura suddenly ignited around him. Amidst the blazing flames, a red flaming dragon spear appeared in his hand.

In that instant, his aura surged, as if a fierce general had descended onto the battlefield.

"Blazing Divine Ability—Red Dragon Overturns the Sky."

With a thrust of the spear, the Red Dragon Spear seemed to ignite the sky, and under the surging energy, the heavens were bathed in red light.

Amidst the glow, a fiery red dragon soared into the sky, baring its fangs and claws as it charged towards Wang Long Yan.

Though the red dragon was composed of energy, its scales were tangible, exuding an overwhelming presence. As it roared across the night sky, the entire world seemed to tremble, and even the full moon above was overshadowed.

Wherever the red dragon passed, the ice shards melted into water.

Despite being a retainer, Zhao Kui possessed two low-grade Purple Mansion Treasures, indicating his significant status within An Guogong's Mansion. It was worth noting that even some impoverished Purple Mansion Clan ancestors, like the declining Ancestor of the Yan Clan in Longzuo, struggled to gather two Purple Mansion Treasures.

Faced with the menacing fiery red dragon, Wang Long Yan showed no fear. Instead, a hint of eagerness appeared in her cold eyes.

This was her first true solo battle against a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator. If she could defeat him, it would signify her capability to shoulder the responsibility of being the Wang Clan's pillar ancestor.

For the Wang Clan, this was a significant milestone.

With a graceful gesture, a long sword of profound ice color appeared in her palm with a resonant "ying."

The sword was elegant, seemingly forged from profound ice, exuding a lethal chill even before being activated.

Divine Spirit Artifact—"Ling Dong'er."

"Ling" was the next generation after Wang Long Yan's "Long" generation. Having never married, she intended to nurture her beloved sword as her daughter.

"Dong" referred to the sword's attribute. Once connected with the Heavenly Dao, it could turn the area within its divine ability into winter, freezing all things, derived from the homophonic "Ling Dong" (Severe Winter).

Strictly speaking, the sword's spirit was still in its nascent stage, with only a rudimentary consciousness, let alone any gender awareness.

However, with deliberate guidance and nurturing, the spirit's gender and personality could be influenced to some extent.

As long as the owner's personality was healthy and positive, the nurtured spirit would typically align with gender expectations and have a decent character.

Of course, there were instances where nurturing a spirit with "certain ulterior motives" led to unforeseen changes. Recently, the Purple Mansion Academy's Changchun Valley in Longzuo experienced a similar tragedy.

But that's another story.

As Wang Long Yan infused her profound energy into the Ling Dong Sword, merging her divine sense with it, an intense chill emanated from her body.

In an instant, a clear phoenix cry resounded.

A massive phantom of a profound ice phoenix appeared behind her, its wings flapping as it raised its head and let out a long cry.

Centered around Wang Long Yan, waves of immense power spread out, and in a flash, the extreme cold seemed to freeze the entire world, even casting a frosty hue on the full moon above.

After her bloodline awakened to the sixth level of the Holy Body, Wang Long Yan's Dharma Aspect phantom also strengthened, now appearing incredibly distinct, with each feather clearly defined, almost as if it were solid.

However, this profound ice phoenix's Dharma Aspect phantom was slightly different from its normal state, as it carried a chilling, sinister aura within its profound ice energy.

With a flap of its wings, it unleashed a storm of profound ice and sinister energy, surging madly into the Ling Dong Sword.

"Ice Calamity Divine Ability First Form—'Mountain Breaker.'"

Suspended in mid-air, Wang Long Yan swung her sword.

Under the highly concentrated chill of the severe winter, a sword intent of ice calamity surged towards the fiery red dragon.

Where the sword intent passed, it violently clashed with the air, producing sharp, ear-piercing whistles, and one could faintly sense the invisible space being sliced into faint cracks.

"Swish!"

The fiery red dragon phantom, baring its fangs and claws, was directly cleaved into two by the ice calamity sword intent, which continued unabated, striking the shield of the Luotian Umbrella.

"Boom!"

The Luotian Umbrella's shield shattered instantly, and even its body was twisted and cracked by the impact, uncontrollably thrown aside.

Simultaneously.

A backlash force surged through the connection between the Luotian Umbrella and Zhao Kui, directly striking his Purple Mansion.

The invisible ripples within his Purple Mansion shook, damaging Zhao Kui's soul. His old face, hidden under a black cloth, turned pale, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, his aged eyes filled with shock.

At this moment, he was utterly convinced that Wang Long Yan must be at the level of an Imperial Daughter/Saintess.

In the entire Great Qian, such prodigies appeared only once every few thousand years, one being an Imperial Son, the other a Saint Son.

For such bloodline talent, the official term in the Han Yue Immortal Dynasty was [Innate Spiritual Body Level], but among the people, it was commonly referred to as [Peerless Prodigy], an extension of the prodigy and great prodigy titles.

Currently, the factions of Commandery Prince Kang and Commandery Prince An were competing, not just for royal power, but also for the opportunity to become an Imperial Son.

Only by becoming an Imperial Son could one have the chance to cultivate to the Lingxu Realm and enjoy a lifespan of four thousand years!

But what did Zhao Kui see?

What others were desperately fighting for, Wang Long Yan already possessed at least half. Whether she had the other half of the cultivation manual was yet to be determined, but given her Saintess-level talent, her chances of being granted permission to cultivate the manual were extremely high if she chose to join the Immortal Court.

Zhao Kui's heart was filled with both chilling fear and shock.

What kind of terrifying opponent had Young Master Kun brought upon the family? Could it be that the Zhao Clan, a family with a legacy of ten thousand years, was about to face disaster?

No! He had to escape and deliver the information about Wang Long Yan to the main family!

Immediately, Zhao Kui soared into the sky, his body radiating a glow, his speed suddenly increasing as he attempted to escape using the speed advantage of the Purple Mansion Realm.

"Trying to escape?"

Wang Long Yan's eyes flashed with determination, and the profound ice phoenix phantom behind her lunged forward, merging with her.

The transparent wings of the phoenix phantom spread outward, and with a powerful flap, her figure transformed into a swift shadow, rapidly intercepting Zhao Kui.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The sky was filled with fierce battles, growing more distant with each clash.

After all, Wang Long Yan was only at the seventh level of the Celestial Realm. With her powerful bloodline talent and Divine Spirit Artifact, defeating or even suppressing Zhao Kui wasn't difficult, but killing him was not easy.

After all, any Purple Mansion Realm cultivator, having lived for hundreds of years, would have a few life-saving cards up their sleeve. Especially when a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator was determined to flee, killing them became even more challenging.

This battle lasted for nearly half an hour.

Finally, she managed to kill Zhao Kui, albeit at the cost of injury.

In a certain mountain range, Zhao Kui's body was sliced in two, falling into the valley. The wings of the Dharma Aspect phoenix behind Wang Long Yan dissipated into beams of light, and her figure slowly descended.

Underneath her white veil, blood continuously trickled from the corner of her mouth.

This battle had not been easy for her either.

However, her eyes were now filled with pride and confidence. After many years, she could finally shoulder the responsibility of being the family's guardian once again.

At this moment.

Two figures swiftly approached from a distance.

After they landed.

One of them, a tall and dignified elder, glanced at Zhao Kui's body on the ground, then at Wang Long Yan, a look of awe and flattery in his eyes: "I didn't expect Ancestor Long Yan to refuse my assistance and still be confident enough to kill a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator."

This elder was Ancestor Yan Yufei of the Yan Clan in Longzuo, who had recently allied with the Wang Clan and formed a series of collaborations.

The other figure was a puppet, standing at a height of three meters, with a body seemingly cast from bronze—Wang Shouzong.

He was a combat puppet in the early Purple Mansion Realm, acquired by Wang Shouzhe at great cost from the Gongye Clan. Although not as powerful as Wang Shouzhu, who was obtained from the new soldier camp, he was still considered a rare high-end puppet in the Great Qian.

Wang Shouzhe had always been cautious in his planning, and this operation was crucial, so he had enlisted Ancestor Yan Yufei to assist Ancestor Long Yan and had also sent Wang Shouzong for support.

The three of them working together could even make a mid-Purple Mansion Realm cultivator meet their end.

As for facing a Divine Realm seed, like Zhao Zhikun, they were not afraid, as Ancestor Long Yan had the "Legion Commander's Protection" as high-end firepower.

Wang Long Yan glanced at Yan Yufei indifferently, her voice gentle: "I thank Ancestor Yufei for your assistance. However, regarding the transformation of my bloodline due to a fortuitous encounter, I ask Ancestor Yufei to keep it confidential."

"Of course, of course. If I were to speak of today's events, my Yan Clan in Longzuo would be doomed," Yan Yufei quickly swore an oath, then cautiously added, "But I didn't really help much this time, so perhaps I should return the million Qian gold reward..."

"No need. Now that the Yan Clan and the Wang Clan are in-laws, we share our fortunes and misfortunes. Ancestor Yufei should use it to support the family," Wang Long Yan said.

"Then I shall accept it gratefully," Yan Yufei breathed a sigh of relief, a smile appearing on his face.

Originally, he had been invited by Wang Shouzhe to assist, feeling somewhat proud, but unexpectedly, Wang Long Yan had single-handedly slain a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator.

Only then did he realize that the Wang Clan had multiple objectives this time, completing the mission while also testing him as a new ally.

The Wang Clan's depth truly shocked him, but he was even more delighted.

The Yan Clan was now firmly tied to the Wang Clan's ship. The stronger the Wang Clan's foundation, the safer the Yan Clan would be, and the more opportunities for development they would have.

"Chirp chirp!"

Perched on the shoulder of the war puppet Wang Shouzong was a fluffy large bird.

Its feathers were still downy, giving it a plump appearance, and it was of a profound ice color. Its long tail feathers, already three meters long, trailed behind, looking exceptionally magnificent.

From the splendor of its tail feathers, it was evident that this juvenile profound ice phoenix was a male.

"An Feng, come here."

Upon seeing the beautiful profound ice phoenix, Wang Long Yan's eyes softened, and with a graceful gesture, the fledgling flapped its wings and flew to her side, affectionately nuzzling her with its head, showing great intimacy.

Originally, Wang Long Yan intended to name him "Wang Chenfeng," but the "Shou" generation of men collectively opposed it, as none wanted an extra great-grandfather phoenix.

Helplessly, Wang Long Yan named him "Wang Anfeng," at least the little ones of the "Ning" generation were too young to understand anything yet.

"Ancestor Long Yan, please accompany Young Master Anfeng," Ancestor Yan Yufei lowered his stance, "I'll tidy up the battlefield and the spoils. We must leave quickly, as the battle just now alerted some Celestial Realm cultivators."

They were not afraid of Celestial Realm cultivators, but the fewer people who knew about this, the less trouble there would be.

Before long, Yan Yufei had finished collecting the spoils, and the two of them, along with the puppet and the ice phoenix, quickly vanished without a trace.

It was only several days later that a Celestial Realm cultivator, accompanied by a distinguished Purple Mansion Realm cultivator, cautiously arrived to investigate the scene, but found nothing.

...

Meanwhile.

Western Sea Commandery.

Located in the northwest of the Great Qian, Western Sea Commandery covered an expansive area, larger than any other commandery in the Great Qian. It also boasted the largest freshwater lake within the Great Qian, the Western Sea.

Under the sunlight, the Western Sea stretched endlessly, resembling a vast ocean with its majestic waves. The golden sunlight shimmered on the water, creating a scene of sparkling gold, with distant green mountains and towering snow-capped peaks faintly visible, painting a picture of tranquility and beauty, like a work of art.

But at this moment, the tranquility of the Western Sea was shattered by a series of loud rumbling sounds.

For months, massive construction machinery had arrived with a roar, tirelessly excavating. Numerous Basalt cultivators, their robes fluttering, flew in the sky, remotely controlling the machinery below in a special manner.

Under their command, a massive riverbed was gradually taking shape in an extraordinary manner.

This was the canal under construction.

The canal was not being dug directly from the Western Sea but was separated by a distance, with no connection in between.

This was to prevent the rushing water from affecting the excavation. Once the entire canal was completed, the barrier between the Western Sea and the canal would be removed, allowing the waters of the Western Sea to flow into the canal.

At that time, not only would Anbei Garrison have ample water resources, but the waterway between the Western Sea and Guilong City would also be opened.

The opening of this canal would be a monumental achievement, benefiting both the present and future generations.

At this moment.

In the sky above the Western Sea, a young man in a white robe stood with his hands behind his back, gazing into the distance at the canal.

This young man was handsome and composed.

The fierce wind whipped his white robe, but his figure remained upright and unmoved, like an important pillar, as if nothing could shake him.

This young man was none other than Wang Zong'an, the young clan leader of the Changning Wang's Clan, sent by Wang Shouzhe to oversee the canal project.

Suddenly.

An eagle's cry echoed from the distant sky.

Moments later, a dragon eagle flying carriage sliced through the blue sky, speeding towards him.

In no time, the dragon eagle flying carriage arrived nearby, coming to a sudden halt beside Wang Zong'an, hovering in mid-air.

"Zong'an, there's news from Guilong City." The curtain at the front of the carriage was lifted, revealing the face of Commandery Prince An, Wu Mingyuan, with a serious and tense expression, "Something has happened to the Changning Wang's Clan."

"Your Highness is referring to the accusations of smuggling contraband and colluding with the enemy, correct? I'm already aware of it." Wang Zong'an remained calm.

Seeing Commandery Prince An's puzzled expression, he smiled at him and stepped into the carriage, retrieving a letter from his storage ring and handing it to Commandery Prince An: "This is a letter my father instructed me to give you. Once you read it, everything will become clear."

Commandery Prince An took the letter but didn't open it immediately. Instead, he looked at Wang Zong'an with a peculiar expression: "Are you trying to tell me that this is all part of your father's plan?"

"Uh, well..."

Wang Zong'an was momentarily at a loss for words, unsure of what to say.

After a moment of thought, he reluctantly explained, "Actually, according to my father, he merely listed all the possible reactions Commandery Prince Kang and the Zhao Clan might have, as well as the difficulties we might encounter, and prepared several contingency plans for each possibility. This is just one of those plans."

Commandery Prince An was speechless.

No wonder he always felt that Wang Shouzhe seemed to anticipate every move, always having a plan ready for any situation.

It turned out that this was the reason.

This method seemed simple enough, but he knew that even if he understood its effectiveness, he might not be able to implement it himself.

Because it required immense patience and meant that most of the preparations would inevitably be useless, with only a fraction, perhaps one-tenth or even less, actually being utilized.

No wonder the ancestors advised him to learn from Wang Shouzhe and think about the reasons behind his actions. To be able to operate at this level was already quite formidable.

Never mind, he should just read the letter from Wang Shouzhe and see if there's anything he can contribute.

With that thought, he stopped overthinking and opened the letter to read.

Moments later, his eyebrows raised, then relaxed, and his entire demeanor brightened.

He closed the letter and smiled at Wang Zong'an: "Zong'an, I know you have a way to quickly and discreetly communicate with your father. Tell him not to worry, I assure you everything will proceed according to his plan."

Wang Zong'an also smiled, raising his hand in salute: "Thank you, Your Highness, for your cooperation."

"Not at all~ Helping Master Shouzhe is also helping myself~ Hahaha~"

The two exchanged a glance, understanding each other without words.

...

Guilong City.

Dala Development Joint Office, Guilong City Branch.

This branch wasn't large, consisting of a residence with less than five courtyards. There was a storefront facing the street, where the Joint Office's affairs were handled daily.

Unbeknownst to many, over a year had passed since the Dala Development Joint Office was established, and the frenzy of stock purchases had subsided.

During this time, aside from the initial period when many families subscribed to shares, making it quite lively, it had since remained relatively quiet.

Daily tasks involved handling routine matters, such as registering elders in the Celestial Realm and family members in the Lingtai Realm sent by various families, coordinating their duty schedules, and issuing updates on the progress of various projects based on instructions from the headquarters—mundane tasks.

It had been quite stable all along.

But recently, due to certain well-known reasons, the Dala Joint Development Office had unexpectedly become bustling.

Ever since rumors of the Changning Wang's Clan smuggling and colluding with the enemy spread like wildfire in Shangjing City, people had been lingering outside the branch daily. Today, someone finally couldn't resist stepping inside.

"Manager, I want to withdraw my shares."

A middle-aged man in a blue robe, with a worried expression, spoke loudly at the counter.

"Certainly. May I ask which family you represent? Do you have a seal to verify your identity? How many shares would you like to withdraw?"

No sooner had the middle-aged man spoken than a young man emerged from behind the counter.

This young man was tall and graceful, with a demeanor as refined as jade. Though he might not match the noble sons of third or fourth-grade families, he was certainly on par with the direct descendants of sixth or seventh-grade families.

This young man was none other than Wang Shihong, the representative of the Changning Wang's Clan stationed at this branch.

He was the tenth in line among the "Shi" generation, the eldest son of Wang Zongcai, the sixth son of the "Zong" generation, and his grandfather was Wang Shounuo, the third of the "Shou" generation.

Back then, Wang Dingbang, the fourth of the "Ding" generation, died in a beast tide, leaving behind four children: Wang Shounuo, Wang Luotong, Wang Shouyong, and Wang Luojing.

Now, among the four, Luotong, Luojing, and Shouyong had all ascended to the Celestial Realm, while Shounuo, having missed the opportune time, became the weakest in terms of strength. However, his children received excellent upbringing from a young age.

As his eldest son, Wang Zongcai had been highly anticipated, participating in the Wang Clan's first development expedition at the age of sixteen alongside Wang Zongchang, Wang Shouming, and others.

Over the years of experience, Wang Zongcai's strength and abilities had significantly improved, making him a trusted and influential figure under Wang Shouzhe's command.

After Wang Zong'an left the Qingluo Garrison, Wang Zongcai took over his position, working with other family members to oversee the Qingluo Development Joint Office's operations.

As his eldest son, Wang Shihong was naturally expected to excel from a young age. After graduating from the clan school, he began gaining experience in various Wang Clan industries, diligently accumulating knowledge.

Two years ago, he was selected to join the entourage of the young clan leader Zong'an, later being assigned to Guilong City to manage the Dala Joint Development Office's branch.

Now, at thirty-four, he had already reached the early stage of the Lingtai Realm.

Within the family, his talent and treatment might not be top-tier, but compared to direct descendants of families of the same grade, he was far superior. Even among some sixth-grade families, he was exceptional.

Having served as the branch manager for over a year, he had developed a subtle aura of authority, gradually embodying the presence of a leader.

The middle-aged man initially thought the other party might try to delay or evade, but Wang Shihong's straightforwardness left him momentarily stunned.

After a pause, he responded, "I am the steward of the Chen Clan, a sixth-grade family in the southern district. Our Chen Clan subscribed to ten shares initially, and we wish to withdraw them all today."

"Very well."

Wang Shihong nodded without further ado, summoning a branch employee to assist the middle-aged man with the procedures.

The branch had established a mature and efficient operational model within six months of its founding.

Next, verifying identity, submitting share certificates, signing agreements, and removing registered personnel names from the roster—the middle-aged man swiftly began the withdrawal process with the employee's assistance.

Most branch employees were selected from the Wang Clan's collateral lines, having received systematic education from the Wang's Clan School from a young age. Their knowledge and skills were sufficient to integrate quickly into various Wang Clan industries.

Additionally, many employees were from Commandery Prince An's household. Over the past six months, they had gained experience, becoming adept at handling different tasks with clear processes, working efficiently.

In less than the time it took to drink a cup of tea, the middle-aged man completed the entire process and received a receipt from the branch.

Due to the large volume of funds flowing through the Dala Development Joint Office, and the inconvenience of storing large sums within the branch, all financial transactions related to shares were conducted through receipts issued by the branch, with Qian gold settlements handled at a national bank.

Next, he only needed to take the receipt to the national "Great Qian Bank" for registration to withdraw his portion of the funds from the Dala Development Joint Office's account.

Even after leaving the branch, the elder from the sixth-grade Chen Clan was still somewhat dazed. Was the withdrawal process he thought would be troublesome already completed?

"How did it go? What did they say inside?"

A crowd of family stewards gathered outside, eagerly asking questions.

With the Changning Wang's Clan in trouble, all families with investments in the Dala Development Joint Office were understandably anxious, with many considering withdrawal. While larger families were more concerned about appearances, smaller families had fewer reservations and had sent representatives early on.

The middle-aged man was about to speak when Wang Shihong, who had been inside the branch, stepped out.

"Esteemed family stewards, elders, and young masters, please don't be hasty. Allow me to say a few words." Wang Shihong gracefully addressed the crowd, "I understand that many of you are here to withdraw your shares. Rest assured, our Joint Office has ample financial reserves. Regardless of when or how many shares you wish to withdraw, we can process it promptly, ensuring immediate settlement without delay."

"For this, Commandery Prince An's household can vouch."

As he spoke, a middle-aged scholar also emerged from the Joint Office branch.The middle-aged scholar was the official who had been accompanying the Commandery Prince An. He took out his identification from his pocket to prove his identity to the crowd and then said, "Before I came, His Highness personally said that he believes in the innocence of the Changning Wang's Clan, but he also understands everyone's concerns. Therefore, he is willing to vouch for the Dala Development Joint Office, ensuring that anyone who wants to withdraw their shares can do so smoothly at any time."

Wang Shihong added, "However, according to the regulations of the Joint Office, once any clan withdraws its shares, it cannot redeem them for any reason afterward, and it will not be entitled to any profits from the Joint Office's future projects. If you've made up your mind, you can come in and proceed with the withdrawal."

With that, the two of them turned and returned to the branch office, ignoring the reactions of the people outside.

Seeing this, the managers of the various clans were immediately filled with doubt and uncertainty.

Currently, rumors about the downfall of the Changning Wang's Clan were rampant. If the Commandery Prince's household and Wang's Clan were to plead with them earnestly, it would seem normal, and they would rush in to withdraw their shares, fearing they wouldn't get their money back if they delayed.

But now, seeing the calm demeanor of those two, they became suspicious.

The investigation results were not yet out. What if the Changning Wang's Clan was not involved in smuggling and collusion?

As long as the Changning Wang's Clan didn't fall, the canal could continue to be dug, and the Joint Office could continue to operate.

They were well aware of the potential profits a successfully opened canal could generate. If the Changning Wang's Clan overcame this crisis, withdrawing shares now would mean missing out on all those future profits.

Wouldn't they be missing out on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make money?

Hesitant, many of the clan managers who had taken a step forward stopped, deciding to wait and see.

Of course, there were still clans that didn't believe the Changning Wang's Clan could turn things around, but their numbers were significantly reduced. Of the dozens of people originally lingering outside the Joint Office branch, fewer than ten eventually went inside.

The rest found nearby taverns or teahouses to sit and wait for news.

In the next half-hour, a few more clans went in to withdraw their shares and successfully got their money back. After that, even fewer clan managers went inside.

Inside the Development Office, just a wall away, Wang Shicheng observed Wang Shihong's performance and the situation outside, nodding in approval.

He was the eldest son of Wang Zongchang, the second son of the eighth generation "Zong" character generation. Because his father was often away, he spent much of his childhood with his mother, Liu Feifei, in the small courtyard of the clan leader, Fourth Grandpa, often playing with Wang Zongrui and Wang Liyue, and was quite familiar with the young clan leader, Wang Zongan.

Being about ten years younger than Wang Zongan and two years older than Zongrui, and as a nephew, he always received gifts from Wang Zongan when he brought them for his younger brother.

After reaching adulthood, he naturally began assisting the young clan leader, Wang Zongan, becoming his right-hand man.

When Wang Zongan went to the Anbei Garrison, he naturally took him along.

Now, at fifty-six, he had reached the mid-stage of the Lingtai Realm. Not long ago, he received a vial of mid-grade bloodline enhancement elixir from his father, significantly improving his bloodline aptitude, now possessing the qualifications of a prodigy.

Originally, Wang Shicheng was stationed at the Anbei Garrison, assisting the Commandery Prince An's household in developing the Great Desert and cultivating the Anbei Garrison.

Concerned that Shihong was too young and inexperienced to handle the situation, Wang Zongan specially arranged for him to temporarily leave the Anbei Garrison and come to Guilong City to assist Shihong at critical moments.

"Not seeing you for a year, Tenth Brother has really made progress." Wang Shicheng said with a gratified expression, looking at Wang Shihong beside him, "It seems that independently managing a branch really tempers a person. You seem much more dignified and seasoned than before."

"I'm still far behind Second Brother," Wang Shihong replied modestly with a smile, "Thanks to the young clan leader for giving me this opportunity to train."

While the brothers were chatting, in a pavilion across the street, a manager from the Shangguan's Clan put down his "telescope," left a few people to continue watching, and quickly returned to the clan.

Judging by the current situation of the Joint Office, the Changning Wang's Clan likely still had some hidden cards, worth keeping an eye on.

He needed to report the situation here to the clan leader as soon as possible.

Naturally, the Shangguan's Clan wasn't the only one secretly monitoring the Dala Development Joint Office branch. In various hidden places, other major clans also had their spies observing in secret.

For a while, countless messages spread from here, disseminating throughout Guilong City and among the various clans.

...

In the Four Seasons Garden.

The dust-covered Commandery Prince An, who had rushed back from the construction site, was sitting in a pavilion by a pond of summer lotuses, drinking spiritual tea with Wang Shouzhe.

Having already learned the ins and outs of the incident, Commandery Prince An was filled with guilt and shame, standing up to bow to Wang Shouzhe, "Shouzhe, you are a gentleman as pure as jade, yet you willingly sullied yourself and endured public scorn for my Imperial Heir Struggle. How could it come to this, how could it come to this!"

"Even if I fail to secure the position of Imperial Heir, it doesn't matter. How can I let you suffer such grievances?"

"Your Highness, please don't be agitated," Wang Shouzhe stood up and returned the bow, advising, "It's just an investigation, what's there to be aggrieved about? Moreover, we Wang's Clan, along with Mr. Jiang, discovered someone secretly smuggling and colluding with the enemy. We intended to deal with them, but upon deeper investigation, we found the matter wasn't simple."

"The power and influence of the other party far exceeded expectations. Even if we exposed the case through normal means, the mastermind might still escape unscathed."

"Only by making the matter big enough to block all their escape routes can we hope to bring the mastermind to justice. This matter is no longer about the Imperial Heir Struggle. If such heartless and unscrupulous people are not removed, and they come to power in the future, wouldn't countless innocents suffer?"

"Even our Wang's Clan would live in fear in such an environment. What is a little grievance on my part?"

Commandery Prince An was stunned for a moment, then bowed deeply again, "Shouzhe's noble spirit, please accept another bow from Mingyuan."

"Your Highness flatters me. Shouzhe is merely acting in self-preservation," Wang Shouzhe returned the bow again, solemnly saying, "I hope Your Highness remembers, this Imperial Heir Struggle is no longer a struggle for power, but concerns the future direction of the Great Qian."

"Mingyuan will do his utmost to prevent those ambitious wolves from corrupting our Great Qian. Whatever assistance Mingyuan can provide, please instruct me, Shouzhe."

"At such a critical moment, it's time to use all the power you can muster. Here's how we should proceed..."

...

Under the secret protection of the Wang's Clan.

The smuggling ship reached the border almost without a ripple, avoiding checkpoints as usual with the help of insiders from the border army, and then conducted the transaction at an abandoned port less than ten kilometers from the boundary marker.

The personnel responsible for the transaction on the Southern Qin side had already been waiting there with gold and silver.

The place was very secluded, and with the cooperation of insiders from the border army, it was usually very safe.

In the past, they had indeed successfully completed many transactions, reaping large sums of gold and silver.

But this time, just as both parties were about to conduct the transaction, they were caught red-handed by Meng Yuanbai and others, who had been lying in ambush, leading a group of experts to capture both parties involved in the transaction.

The entire capture operation was extraordinarily smooth, as if aided by divine intervention.

Meng Yuanbai, who led the capture, was ecstatic as he looked at the captured Southern Qin merchants, the large amount of gold and silver seized, and the smuggling ship loaded with salt, iron, and grain seeds.

This was a colossal achievement~ With this great merit, he might have the possibility of advancing further in the future. The Meng's Clan would also rise with the tide, and perhaps one day, they could aim for the third-grade.

As soon as the two caught red-handed from the Flood Dragon Gang were captured, Meng Yuanbai immediately launched a night-long interrogation.

However, Meng Yuanbai, being the Director of the Three Talents Office, was not skilled in interrogation, so he presided over the main seat while Zhao Zhizai from the Penal Office and Chen Jinghu from the Supervisory Office conducted the interrogation.

Both were experts in interrogation, and before dawn, the two heads of the Flood Dragon Gang, caught in the act, couldn't hold out and confessed everything.

It wasn't that they lacked willpower; they were reluctant and guilty about the matter themselves, lacking any sense of integrity. In fact, people with integrity wouldn't do such things for money.

Before the confession.

Meng Yuanbai and the others were filled with excitement and anticipation for promotion and wealth, but once the confession was made, it was as if a depth charge had been dropped in their hearts, leaving them dizzy and their heads buzzing.

Meng Yuanbai's hands trembled as he held the confession.

"Impossible!" Zhao Zhizai of the Zhao's Clan couldn't believe it, his face twisted with malice, "Their smuggling operation must have been orchestrated by the Changning Wang's Clan. The Wang's Clan must have something on them, forcing them to frame our Zhao's Clan, to frame my brother Zhikun."

With that, Zhao Zhizai angrily moved to force a confession.

What he didn't expect was that Meng Yuanbai and Chen Jinghu, who had been on the same side, blocked him at the same time.

"Director Meng, Brother Jinghu, what are you doing?" Zhao Zhizai was slightly stunned.

Chen Jinghu said coldly, "First, their confession is clear and reasonable, with many details and evidence. Second, since this case involves your Zhao's Clan, Brother Zhizai should recuse himself and is no longer suitable to handle this case."

"Are you... opposing our Zhao's Clan? Opposing our Ancestor Hongbo?" Zhao Zhizai's face turned livid with anger, threatening coldly, "You better think carefully."

"Zhao Zhizai!" Meng Yuanbai said sternly, "Do you know how many people are watching this case? Can you clear your head? With this level of attention, not even the Chief Minister, let alone His Majesty, would dare to bend the law for personal gain!"

"Director Meng, you are mistaken," Chen Jinghu said with a righteous expression, "Our Supervisory Office has always been impartial. Right is right, and wrong is wrong. Whether the Wang's Clan or the Zhao's Clan is behind this case is yet to be determined. However, the teachings of our predecessors in the Supervisory Office remind us to always be just and impartial."

"Jinghu, you're young but full of integrity," Meng Yuanbai said with a solemn demeanor, "Indeed, the Three Talents Office serves His Majesty and the Great Qian. Every action must be worthy of His Majesty's grace and the scrutiny of the Great Qian's millions of citizens."

The two of them spoke eloquently, but at this moment, both Meng Yuanbai and Chen Jinghu were cursing inwardly, as if they had just been trampled by ten thousand alpacas.

By now, how could they not understand? They had been drawn into the power struggle between the Wang's Clan and the Zhao's Clan!

And it was clear that the Wang's Clan didn't want to act directly, so they used Meng Yuanbai, Chen Jinghu, and others as a knife to stab at the Zhao's Clan's heart!

Killing with a borrowed knife, without shedding a drop of blood!

What made them most frustrated was that they had no choice but to follow the Wang's Clan's intentions and obediently stab the Zhao's Clan.

Because they had no other choice.

The smuggling and collusion case involving the Changning Wang's Clan had become so sensational that almost all the clans were watching, and even the Emperor had sent eunuchs to inquire several times. They were now on the hot seat, with no option but to move forward.

If they didn't stab the Zhao's Clan, the knife would turn against them, and they might even be accused of covering up. Ruthless! Too ruthless!

That Wang Shouzhe, what a cunning strategist!