……

A few moments later, Huangfu Jin Huan, with a beaming smile, took the initiative to step forward: “I presume you must be Wang Shouzhe, the Clan Leader of the Wang’s Clan in Ping’an Town? Just as the rumors say, you are indeed a remarkable figure of our time.”

Wang Shouzhe also responded with a full-faced smile and a bow: “I have the honor of meeting Elder Huangfu. Your praise is too kind. I am still young and have much to learn from you.”

The two clan leaders held each other’s hands, complimenting each other with smiles, as if they had known each other for a long time.

The rest of the clans also came forward to greet Huangfu Jin Huan. Everyone was all smiles, creating a harmonious atmosphere.

Before long, the Clan Leader of the Tianren Lei Clan also arrived at the venue, naturally causing another round of enthusiasm.

The two Tianren clans coexisted in the same city, with no marriage alliances between them. If anyone were to claim that their relationship was truly harmonious, no one would believe it.

However, this was the way of the Xuanwu clans. Unless there was a falling out, they would maintain a facade of respect in formal occasions.

Thus, two seventh-rank Tianren clans and eight eighth-rank clans had gathered together. This was a rare sight in the history of Changning Guard.

After a short while.

A voice from outside announced: “The City Lord has arrived.”

At the sound of the announcement, all the clan leaders stopped their conversations, their eyes serious and respectful as they turned towards the main entrance.

At the vermilion gate, a middle-aged man in black armor, surrounded by several deputies, stepped over the threshold and strode towards them.

He had the typical face of a military general, with a well-defined face and a short beard. He walked with a straight back and steady steps, exuding the aura of a tiger or a dragon. His demeanor was like that of a fierce tiger descending from the mountain or a beast leaving its cage, radiating a chilling aura of slaughter.

This was the ferocity that only a battle-hardened warrior could possess. Even without deliberately releasing his aura, he still inspired awe in those who saw him.

As he entered, the entire hall fell silent.

This was one of the three Tianren of Changning Guard – Xiahou Hongde.

He was not born into a local powerful family, but a military family, belonging to the Daqian military system. His path was completely different from that of local powerhouses like Wang Shouzhe.

As his gaze swept over the crowd, all the clan leaders slightly lowered their heads, a hint of awe in their eyes.

He was not only a Tianren realm powerhouse but also represented the national power of The Great Qian, guarding the entire Changning Guard.

In name, he was the number one person in Changning Guard.

However, unlike local powerhouses, to prevent the city guards from treating the city as their own territory and becoming uncontrollable over time, city lords from the military system had terms of office.

For such a guard city, the term was usually twenty to thirty years.

Xiahou Hongde had been in office for over a decade, handling affairs fairly and uprightly. He had accumulated quite a reputation in Changning Guard, and the clan leaders respected him.

Let’s leave the idle talk aside for now.

After exerting his pressure, Xiahou Hongde switched to a hearty smile, kindly and caringly asking about each clan leader.

When it was Wang Shouzhe’s turn, his eyes paused, and there seemed to be something unusual in his gaze. His smile was even warmer than for the others: “Clan Leader Shouzhe, you have developed Ping’an Town very rapidly over the years, and many civilians want to move there. If I have the chance, I will definitely go to Ping’an Town to learn from you. Please don’t be stingy with your governance experience.”

“City Lord, you flatter me.” Wang Shouzhe replied with a respectful smile, “It would be our honor to have you visit Ping’an Town. At that time, we hope you can give us some guidance, and the development of Ping’an Town will surely reach a new level.”

The two exchanged a few more pleasantries. However, Wang Shouzhe could sense that Xiahou Hongde was subtly trying to win him over.

Apparently, this city lord, who rarely showed up, was also sharp-eared and had his own intelligence channels. He probably had some idea of what had happened in the academy.

Afterward, the City Lord began to show concern for the other clans, demonstrating his affability.

……

Almost at the same time.

At the harbor of Bai Dao Guard.

The history of this harbor was almost as long as that of Bai Dao Guard. The vermilion paint on some parts of the archway at the entrance of the harbor had peeled off, and the inscription on the plaque had faded. Even the bluestone bricks on the dock had traces of mottling.

However, to this day, it was still as bustling as ever.

The bustling crowd and traffic constantly passed under the archway, and the entire harbor was filled with the cries of merchants, the voices of buyers bargaining, and the shouts of dock workers. It was noisy and bustling.

Large ships were moored in the deep-water harbor, loaded with cargo and seafood caught from the sea. From time to time, rotten fish and shrimp were picked out from the ships and thrown back into the sea.

Under the glaring sunlight and the moist sea breeze, the entire dock was filled with a damp, fishy smell.

This was the smell of the sea.

At the southeast corner of the dock, a large ship was quietly moored at the deep-water harbor dock. A conspicuous flag was flying on the bow of the ship, with a prominent symbol painted on it with waterproof paint.

Those in the know could recognize at a glance that this was a large merchant ship of the Chen’s Clan from Donggang.

Wang Zongchang, the young talent of the Wang’s Clan, was directing two family guards and more than a dozen servants to load the precious medicinal materials and some sea treasures such as pearls that they had purchased onto the ship.

“Brother Wang Hu, be careful with that big box.” Wang Zongchang reminded a family guard who was moving a box onto the ship, “Those are snacks and dried fish. Put them in my room later. I’m afraid the rats on the ship will steal them.”

On this trip to Bai Dao Guard, he naturally bought some snacks out of his own pocket, planning to share them with his younger siblings and some of the younger elders when he returned. The rest would be sent to the Zifu Academy when he had the chance, to satisfy his sister Wang Lici’s cravings.Although his sister, Wang Lici, was a foodie, she still had the demeanor of an elder sister and was very kind to her younger siblings.

“Second young master, rest assured.” Wang Hu, a young family guard in his mid-twenties, smiled and said, “I have packed everything according to your instructions, tightly and securely. They won’t get damp or be stolen. And I will also keep an eye on Xiao Baozi to prevent him from stealing food.”

This man was the son of the old family guard, Wang Zhong. He had been nurtured by the family since he was a child. He started working for the family at the age of sixteen and had been serving for nine years. He was a direct family guard of the Wang’s Clan and held a high position in the family hierarchy.

As the family’s resources gradually increased, his father, Wang Zhong, also received subsidies. At a young age, he had already reached the sixth level of Qi Refining, which was much stronger than his father at the same age.

He was even more formidable than Liu Yongzhou, a talented member of the direct lineage of the Liu’s Clan.

“Brother.” Wang Bao, who had just joined the family guard at the age of sixteen or seventeen, darkened his face and said, “The second young master has already given me a lot. Why would I steal food?”

This young man was very spirited. He was the second son of the family guard, Wang Zhong. Because he had a lower-grade talent since childhood and coincided with the opening of the family hierarchy, he received the best cultivation from a young age. Now he had reached the fifth level of Qi Refining, surpassing his father at the age of thirty-five. His future potential was immeasurable.

The Wang’s Clan was now wealthy and spared no effort in cultivating these direct family guards.

Just as the people of the Wang’s Clan were loading the goods onto the ship.

A dilapidated carriage arrived at the dock, and several people dressed as traveling merchants got off.

They were obviously experienced traveling merchants, carrying a lot of goods, and had to ask for help from the dock workers to load the ship.

One of the young traveling merchants seemed a bit nervous, his eyes flickering slightly.

The bald traveling merchant next to him patted his shoulder and whispered, “Xiao Zheng, stay calm. This important escort mission fell on us because the elder was injured. But this is a fat job. As long as we successfully complete the mission, the young master will definitely reward us.”

“Brother Li.” The young traveling merchant whispered, “I heard that thing can…”

The bald man’s expression tightened at his words, and he scolded in a low voice, “Be careful with your words! There are many people around, and this matter is of great importance. We can’t afford any mistakes.”

Then, he reassured in a low voice, “Don’t worry, there will be no problems this time. Someone will meet us as soon as we arrive at Donggang.”

He was very confident.

He had traveled this trade route too many times and had smoothed out all aspects.

While they were talking, all their goods had been loaded onto the ship.

Wang Zongchang also noticed this group of traveling merchants, but he didn’t pay much attention to them.

The merchant ships of the Chen’s Clan in Donggang had a business of carrying traveling merchants, and the charges were not low. There were many such traveling merchant teams on the dock, like carps crossing the river, one after another.

In less than half a day, the merchant ship was full of goods and set sail for Donggang.

……

Meanwhile.

At the main gate of the east gate of Changning Wei.

The city guard had cleared the area early in the morning. At this moment, outside the east gate, there were only soldiers holding long knives and a group of family heads. There were no idle people.

The continuous heavy rain had accumulated a lot of rainwater in the low-lying areas outside the city. If one stepped on it carelessly, mud and water would splash around.

Fortunately, the family heads present all had Xuan Qi to protect their bodies, otherwise, they would have been covered in mud by now, losing all their dignity.

However, at this moment, the attention of these family heads was not on such trivial matters.

They were now huddled around the city guard, Xiahou Hongde, eagerly looking into the distance, as if waiting for someone.

Gongsun Yan, the new clan leader of the Gongsun’s Clan in Shanyang, had grown up hearing about Wang Shouzhe’s great achievements and was very close to Wang Shouzhe.

He was a little nervous, almost following Wang Shouzhe step by step, and couldn’t help but curiously ask, “Cousin Shouzhe, I heard that the direct disciples of the academy are all cultivators at the Heavenly Man Realm, and they are all very young and promising, far beyond what our local families can compare.”

“Not all of them are cultivators at the Heavenly Man Realm, but the potential and future prospects of the direct disciples are indeed great.” Wang Shouzhe explained, “But they are not on the same path as us. The more they get, the more they will have to give in the future.”

He had not been idle during his time at the academy.

Naturally, he knew that the disciples of the academy, especially those outstanding ones, while receiving the academy’s high-quality cultivation resources, also had to bear heavy responsibilities.

After all, the academy did not cultivate disciples for them to dominate in the civilian world.

Just think about it, Binglan Shangren had three direct disciples, but only the youngest, Fang You’an, was with her.

So where did the other two go?

Naturally, they went to fulfill their responsibilities and tasks.

And Changchun Shangren had five direct disciples, but also only the youngest sister, Lu Wei, was with her. It was very clear that they all had their own places to go.

The world was too big, and Changning Wei was just a small corner. There were many things they didn’t know.

“I see.” Gongsun Yan was a steady and smart young man, and he understood immediately, “But even so, I still deeply envy them.”

From childhood to adulthood, he had an unreliable father. Under helpless circumstances, he had to mature himself.

But which teenager doesn’t have the desire to travel the world and gain some experience?

The world is so big, everyone wants to see it.

But once you become the clan leader, you have to bear the future of the entire clan. The core of your future life is also the clan, and there is no chance to wander around.

This was what Wang Shouzhe meant when he said that they were not on the same path.

The other family heads were also discussing in low voices, all talking about the disciples of the Purple Mansion Academy.

For most of the eighth and ninth rank noble families, having a child admitted to the academy was already a matter of great honor. If the child became a core disciple, the status of the entire family would be elevated.

This was why the development of the Liu’s Clan of Shanyin had been so rapid in recent decades. Even the city lord treated the Liu’s Clan with great respect, showing signs of trying to win them over.

When the other clan leaders spoke with Liu Gaowang, they would always praise Ancestor Xuanfu, as if having a core disciple from the academy in Changning Wei was a matter of pride for all the locals.

As everyone was discussing,

A clear crane cry suddenly came from the sky.

In the crane’s cry, a crane with black and white feathers, a long neck, and a red crown suddenly broke through the thick clouds and dove towards the ground.

It was a fourth-order flying spirit bird, a red-crowned crane, raised by the Zifu Academy!

Behind it, a radiant flying carriage was being pulled.

The carriage was made of dark brown spirit wood, with spirit silk curtains. The frame was spacious and beautifully carved, with runes engraved on the body. The whole carriage was glowing with the light of array formations, standing out like a small sun in the dim sky.

Upon seeing this flying carriage,

The city lord, Xiahou Hongde, immediately became serious. The other clan leaders, who had been whispering to each other, also became serious.

At the same time, their eyes were filled with envy.

Even ordinary celestial families could not afford such a spirit beast carriage. Probably only a wealthy organization like the Zifu Academy could provide a spirit beast carriage for their direct disciples.

Wang Shouzhe was also a bit envious.

Even at the celestial realm, it was difficult for the Xuanqi to support the consumption of long-distance flight. If he had a spirit beast carriage, it would be very convenient to go anywhere in the future.

But this item was too rare, and he couldn’t afford it for the time being.

……

Meanwhile,

In the sky, several young men and women were sitting in the crane carriage.

The young man in the lead was wearing a water-blue robe, with handsome eyebrows and eyes, a gentle temperament, and an aura that made people admire him. All the men and women in the carriage looked up to him.

This young man was Fang You’an, the direct disciple of Binglan, the master of Xuanbing Hall.

On his left and right were two male and one female core disciples. Although they were young, they all had extraordinary temperaments, including Ji Mingyu.

“Brothers,” said a core disciple who was riding in a spirit beast carriage for the first time, looking down at the earth through the window, still unable to suppress his excitement, “Is that Changning Wei below? From this angle, it looks really majestic and grand.”

“Brother Yangde,” Ji Mingyu said, “You’ve said this many times on the way here. Calm down, or you’ll lose face in front of the local nobles of Changning Wei.”

“Brother Mingyu, I’m not like you, born into a noble family and well-traveled since childhood,” Brother Yangde laughed, “This is my first time enjoying a spirit beast carriage thanks to Brother You’an. Don’t worry, I’ll behave with the composure a core disciple of the academy should have. I won’t disgrace the academy.”

“Changning Wei, Changning Wei. Wait, why does this name sound so familiar?” A female core disciple frowned slightly, “I think I’ve heard it somewhere before. Brother You’an, is this your hometown?”

Fang You’an gave a wry smile, “We’re not supposed to talk about our family backgrounds in the academy, but for Sister Long Yan, I can make an exception.”

“So it’s Sister Long Yan’s hometown.” Ji Mingyu suddenly became a little excited, “Does that mean we can meet Wang Shouzhe?”

Everyone looked at him with strange eyes.

Weren’t you just beaten up by Wang Shouzhe not long ago?

Why are you so excited to mention him?

……