……

“Master Binglan has always held Cousin Long Yan in high regard,” Ancestor Xuanfu said, “Over the past few decades, I’ve heard that Master Binglan has mentioned Cousin Long Yan several times in front of her core disciples. And every time after mentioning her, she would be in a bad mood for several days. Clearly, she still misses Cousin Long Yan.”

“How many direct disciples does Master Binglan have?” Wang Shouzhe asked thoughtfully.

“Only one, the Xuanbing lineage has always been small in number,” Ancestor Xuanfu said curiously, “Shouzhe, why do you ask this?”

“I’m naturally calculating how much Master Binglan misses Ancestor Long Yan,” Wang Shouzhe said indifferently, “Our Ancestor, in the Lingtai realm, belongs to the high section of the second layer of the Xuanbing bloodline, and the future Tianren realm is expected. But whether she can eventually become a Zifu realm, I’m afraid she will have to fight hard.”

“That’s indeed the case,” Ancestor Long Yan also said realistically, “If there is no special opportunity, it will be difficult for me to enter the Zifu realm in this life.”

“Ancestor, how many people in Master Binglan’s sect have the same bloodline as you?” Wang Shouzhe continued to ask.

“When I left, there were only three left,” Ancestor Long Yan said, “One of the senior brothers and sisters has already reached the Tianren realm. However, after reaching the Tianren realm, they awakened an additional bloodline, and their overall strength has greatly increased.”

“Then, among Master Binglan’s many disciples, our Ancestor should be ranked in the top five in her heart,” Wang Shouzhe pondered, “She should be quite valued, and she is very regretful for losing this disciple, but it is far from the point where she can’t live without her. So there is a chance to pull some strings, but it’s quite difficult to cling to her.”

“Unless the Ancestor can show greater potential, such as reaching the third bloodline in the Lingtai realm.”

Ancestor Xuanfu rolled her eyes: “You kid, do you calculate people’s hearts like this? You dare to guess the thoughts of a respected master.”

This is not a wild guess, Wang Shouzhe thought to himself.

According to Wang Shouzhe’s understanding and various inferences, Master Binglan does value the Ancestor and regrets losing this disciple. But it’s indeed not to the point where she can’t live without her.

This has nothing to do with anything else, it’s just human nature, even the master can’t avoid it.

Ancestor Xuanfu said: “Anyway, the general situation is like this, after the New Year, we will set off for the academy in early spring.”

“Ancestor Xuanfu, how many direct disciples and core disciples does Master Changchun have?” Wang Shouzhe asked again.

He is now nominally under Master Changchun, but he is just a nominal outsider student.

“Master Changchun currently has two direct disciples and seventeen or eighteen core disciples,” Ancestor Xuanfu said, “Shouzhe, are you asking this because you want to compete for the position of a direct disciple?”

At this point, her eyes lit up.

If Shouzhe is willing to go to the Zifu Academy as a formal disciple, doesn’t that mean Ruolan will also follow?

To be honest.

Ancestor Xuanfu still hopes that Liu Ruolan has the opportunity to go to the Zifu Academy and become a formal disciple.

After all, Changning Guard is too small, and Ping’an Town is even more rural.

Only by standing on the big platform of the academy can you have a broader world and better development.

Ancestor Xuanfu immediately said: “Shouzhe, with your current bloodline talent. If you give up the position of the clan leader and join the academy to concentrate on cultivation. You can indeed compete for the position of a direct disciple under Master Changchun.”

Give up the position of Clan Leader?

You must be joking!

Wang Shouzhe’s future path to the Tianren realm and the Zifu realm still depends on the power of the clan.

Farming is the right way.

With enough financial and material resources, you can change your fate.

As for the foreign trial site left by the Ancestor, it is indeed a surprise.

But even without that trial site.

Wang Shouzhe is confident enough that with his farming all the way, he can rise steadily, at most a little slower.

Of course, if there is a chance to pull some strings in the Zifu Academy and increase some backstage foundation, it is also a feasible thing.

“I’m used to being free and easy, being an outsider student is already satisfying. Core disciples, direct disciples are all too tiring,” Wang Shouzhe said nonchalantly.

Ancestor Xuanfu was speechless, it was this kid’s casual freedom that led her Ruolan astray.

Others are fighting for a core disciple position, all struggling to the death.

If you get the status of a direct disciple, it’s like flying into the sky, stepping into the blue sky.

In his eyes, it’s good, these core disciples, direct disciples, seem to be not worth mentioning.

“There’s one more thing,” Ancestor Xuanfu said, “Cousin Long Yan also mentioned to me that at least one person from the Wang’s Clan should join the Zifu Academy. In this way, she can develop well in the academy, gradually grow up and become the family’s secret support.”

Wang Shouzhe thought for a while, this is what most noble families are doing, or want to do.Even the Celestial Clans would send an outstanding member to develop within the Academy. If they could rise to the middle ranks of the Academy, they could form mutual support with the family, ensuring the rapid and long-lasting development of the clan.

Take Ancestor Xuanfu as an example. After she became a core disciple in the Academy, she has been secretly supporting her clan. As a result, the Shanyin Liu’s Clan has seen rapid development in overall strength and foundation in just a few decades.

In fact, even if Ancestor Xuanfu hadn’t mentioned it, Wang Shouzhe had been pondering this matter in secret.

However, he was still somewhat hesitant.

After a moment of contemplation, Wang Shouzhe said, “Why don’t we call those children over and ask them what they think?”

Subsequently, Wang Shouzhe sent someone to summon the more outstanding members of the family, Wang Luoqiu, Wang Luoqing, and Wang Lici.

Taking advantage of this gap, Wang Shouzhe returned the Turtle Scale Treasure Shield to Ancestor Long Yan.

When Ancestor Long Yan received the Turtle Scale Treasure Shield, her expression was somewhat complex and difficult to understand, filled with emotion. Back then, when the Ice Wave Master bestowed this treasure upon her, he was full of hope for her future.

Then came the great disaster of the clan, and she had to guard the clan with her broken body for a full fifty years. In the end, she had no choice but to sell the Turtle Scale Treasure Shield.

The various experiences in between, when recalled, still made her heart ache.

However, Shouzhe had quietly redeemed this item…

If it weren’t for her firm mind, she would have been moved to tears by now.

Fortunately, it wasn’t long before.

Wang Luoqiu, Wang Luoqing, and Wang Lici had all arrived. Especially Wang Lici, who was naturally accustomed to acting spoiled with the Ancestor.

This somewhat diluted Ancestor Long Yan’s sorrow and emotion.

Then, Wang Shouzhe conveyed the Ancestors’ intentions to the three of them.

First, Wang Lici expressed her opinion. She stared with round eyes, her chubby face full of hope, “Fourth Uncle, Fourth Uncle, does the Academy have delicious food?”

“Of course.” Wang Shouzhe said confidently, “The Purple Mansion Academy is the richest institution in our Longzuo Commandery, they have all kinds of delicious food.”

“Fourth Uncle, Fourth Uncle. What kind of delicious food do they have?” Wang Lici’s eyes lit up, and she began to drool.

“I don’t know how delicious it is,” Wang Shouzhe said with a longing look on his face. “It’s all because your Fourth Uncle is too ignorant. There are many delicious foods that I’ve never heard of and can’t even imagine.”

“That’s amazing!!!”

Wang Lici was shocked.

So the Purple Mansion Academy is so amazing, there are so many delicious foods inside, even Fourth Uncle has never heard of them.

That place is great, it’s simply a paradise on earth.

“Fourth Uncle, I want to go to the Purple Mansion Academy.” Wang Lici said loudly with sparkling eyes, “I am willing to become the clan’s, that what, what’s it called, mutual support.”

Forget about mutual support.

Wang Shouzhe thought to himself, as long as you go to the Purple Mansion Academy to study, no, to eat, it would be the greatest help to the clan.

Sigh~ Who made you such a big eater? If this continues, the clan really can’t afford to feed you.

That’s what he thought, but Wang Shouzhe said, “Lici, then let’s make this happy decision. You must study hard in the Academy, strive for progress every day, and bring honor to our clan.”

“Don’t worry, Fourth Uncle.” Wang Lici said seriously, her chest thumping, “After I go to the Academy, I will study hard and bring honor to our clan and Fourth Uncle.”

At this moment, Wang Lici couldn’t wait to go to the Academy, wishing she could fly there immediately.

Ancestor Xuanfu on the side was somewhat startled.

These two, uncle and niece, seemed to be talking seriously as if there was nothing wrong.

But she always felt that something was not quite right, but she couldn’t figure out what it was.

However, on second thought.

Wang Lici’s bloodline talent is indeed strong. Once she goes to the Purple Mansion Academy, she will probably become a direct disciple of a certain master.

Such a rise would be like stepping into the sky. Her future prospects are limitless.

The remaining two girls, however, were still pondering in secret, not in a hurry to express their stance.

Don’t look at Wang Luoqiu’s seemingly naive appearance.

But this child has always been very determined, she knows exactly what path she wants to take. To get her to go to the Academy, there must be something that attracts her.

As for Wang Luoqing, that goes without saying.

This child has been thoughtful and has many ideas since she was young. Many times, even Wang Shouzhe doesn’t know what she is thinking?

Wang Luoqing pondered for a moment and said, “Ancestor Xuanfu, you always say how good the Academy is. But when our Wang’s Clan was in great trouble, I didn’t see the Academy helping our clan. Nor did I see those senior brothers and sisters coming to help.”

“On the contrary, our Ancestor Long Yan had to give up her status as a core disciple of the Academy to return to guard the clan.”

“If that’s the case, I don’t want to join the Academy. I’m afraid that if Fourth Brother is in danger, the Academy won’t let me come back.”

Wang Luoqing spoke unhurriedly, clearly, what she cared about the most was her Fourth Brother.

“You seem to have some misunderstandings about the Academy,” explained the Ancestor Xuanfu. “Firstly, the Academy certainly does not approve of its disciples getting involved in family disputes all day long. After all, the original intention of the Academy’s establishment and the purpose of vigorously cultivating disciples is to develop and protect the fate of all mankind.”

“If every disciple spends all day focusing on the disputes between families, wouldn’t the entire Longzuo Commandery be in chaos?”

“After all, some powerful clans have their own blood relatives in the Academy. If these clan members form factions and actively participate in family disputes, how can the Academy maintain its stability? Therefore, what the Academy most taboo is students getting involved in family disputes, especially in the disputes of other families.”

“Secondly, the Academy does not prohibit disciples from providing some help to their families within their capabilities. For example, I have brought great benefits to the Liu’s Clan over the years. If a disciple’s family encounters a crisis or unfair treatment, they can naturally ask their teachers to mediate.”

“However, the great disaster of the Wang’s Clan happened too suddenly. And Long Yan, who was eager for revenge, didn’t discuss the matter carefully with her teachers, but rushed back to deal with it. She was seriously injured and has been staying in the family without returning to the Academy.”

At this point, Ancestor Long Yan said indifferently, “Even if we had discussed it back then, was there room for mediation?”

Indeed, there was no room for mediation in this matter at that time.

It was inevitably a situation of either you die or I die.

Moreover, the other party’s actions were so secretive and thorough that it was difficult to investigate afterwards.

“Since we’re on this topic,” Wang Shouzhe pondered, “this matter is very strange. According to my calculations and investigations, there is likely a puppet master behind the Liu and Zhao Clans. And the biggest suspect is the two Celestial families in Changning.”

“But there’s one thing I’ve never understood. Why didn’t the Celestial family exterminate us completely? Why didn’t they continue to take action against us?”

If it were Wang Shouzhe’s way, if he were to do something bad, he wouldn’t just do half of it and leave it there.

“About this, I know a thing or two,” said Ancestor Long Yan. “Back then, after our clan suffered a great disaster, Ancestor Zhou Bo also went south to seek help. I guess his efforts and support made the puppet master a little wary. And since our family had already fallen, they didn’t exterminate us completely, but let the Liu and Zhao Clans slowly squeeze us.”

Zhou Bo?

Wang Shouzhe had heard of this person. He was the clan brother of Ancestor Zhou Xuan, the direct line of the Wang’s Clan in Longzuo. It is said that Ancestor Zhou Bo is now in the Celestial Realm.

But who would have thought that there was such a hidden story behind the incident back then?

The connection between the Wang’s Clan in Longzuo and the Wang’s Clan in Ping’an is now very weak, often without communication for several years.

It was only a few years ago, when times were better, that Ancestor Long Yan mentioned this to Wang Shouzhe, saying that the Wang’s Clan in Ping’an actually owed a lot to the Wang’s Clan in Longzuo.

When the family was in the most difficult times, every year before the New Year, the family would receive some resources sent by the Wang’s Clan in Longzuo.

There were spiritual rice, small Yuan pills, zero meat, etc. Although the quantity was not large, it was only one or two hundred Top Gold in total.

But this was a favor like sending charcoal in snowy weather, and it lasted for more than twenty years.

“The Wang’s Clan in Longzuo also had a hard time back then,” said Ancestor Long Yan. “They were in the transition period of the Celestial Realm, and resources were scarce. The family really couldn’t afford to cultivate a second Celestial Realm, otherwise Ancestor Zhou Xuan wouldn’t have split up to develop on his own.”

These resources were saved by Ancestor Zhou Bo.

“Something’s not right,” Wang Shouzhe frowned. “I remember that Ancestor Zhou Bo was only in the late stage of the Spiritual Platform Realm. And the Wang’s Clan in Longzuo was in decline, and the transition to the Celestial Realm might not be completed. The puppet master might not give this face.”