...

"Boom!"

With a dull thud, the Third Prince, Shentu Jingming, was firmly embedded into a stone wall in the courtyard.

This stone wall was entirely black, standing like a screen in the courtyard, covered with strange, dense human-shaped indentations. Clearly, the Third Prince was not the first to be thrown out like this, nor would he be the last.

The attendants in the courtyard were obviously used to this scene, giving it only a glance before continuing with their tasks.

Only two leading junior stewards approached cautiously, carefully prying the Third Prince, Shentu Jingming, from the stone wall.

"Your Highness, are you alright?" the two stewards asked with concern.

"I'm fine. You can go about your business~" The Third Prince waved his hand nonchalantly.

The Ancestor had controlled his strength; although it hurt, he wasn't injured. However, it also proved that the Ancestor was truly angry.

Immediately, he shouted into the hall, "Ancestor, since you don't want to see me, I won't stay to annoy you. I'll just leave~"

With that, he patted his disheveled robe and prepared to "leave."

However, before he could "leave" the courtyard, the Red Abyss Demon Emperor's angry roar came from the Haotian Hall: "Leave? Get back here."

As the words fell, a ripple in space appeared behind the Third Prince.

Next, a strong hand reached out from it, grabbing his collar and pulling him back into the hall.

Looking at the still-angry Red Abyss Demon Emperor, the Third Prince, Shentu Jingming, blinked innocently, "Ancestor, didn't you throw me out to make me leave? Why did you bring me back?"

"Stop talking nonsense."

The Red Abyss Demon Emperor's forehead veins throbbed, and the fire he had just managed to suppress almost flared up again.

Barely controlling his emotions, he snorted coldly, "Using the [Scarlet Lotus of Immortality] and inheriting the [Red Lotus True Demon Codex] means you will inherit the position of Demon Emperor in the future. You speak lightly, but why should I believe you can bear the position of Demon Emperor?"

The Third Prince pursed his lips, muttering softly, "What's so hard about being a Demon Emperor? It's just a few things."

"Haha~" The Red Abyss Demon Emperor was so angry he laughed, "Not hard, right? Fine."

He casually pulled out two memorials from the pile beside him, saying, "These are memorials from the Emperor of You Kingdom and the Emperor of Qi Kingdom. The two countries have had a conflict over the ownership of [Huarong Island] and are asking me to mediate. You think you're capable, right? Then handle this matter for me."

The Third Prince's eyes lit up, "If I handle this matter well, will you give me the [Scarlet Lotus of Immortality]?"

"In your dreams." The Red Abyss Demon Emperor threw the two memorials into his arms in anger, "Becoming a Demon Emperor isn't that simple. If you want the Scarlet Lotus of Immortality, then work honestly for me and show others your abilities. Take the memorials and get out of here!"

If he stayed any longer, the Demon Emperor felt he would lose a few more years of life from anger!

"Ah~! Rest assured, Ancestor, I promise to handle this beautifully for you." The Third Prince, Shentu Jingming, understood the hint and happily took the memorials and left quickly.

He understood that the Demon Emperor Ancestor was willing to consider it, but whether he could get it depended on his future performance.

This was already much better than he had expected.

He originally thought he would have to grind a few more times and be thrown out a few more times before the old fellow would relent.

The Third Prince, Shentu Jingming, returned to his courtyard in the Demon Capital with his task, seeking advice from Zhuo Lao on how to complete it.

However, upon learning the specifics of the task, Zhuo Lao's face showed concern, "Your Highness, this matter isn't as simple as it seems."

"On the surface, it's a dispute over the ownership of Huarong Island, but in reality, it's a conflict of interests between You Kingdom and Qi Kingdom. Don't forget, your mother, [Princess Jieyou], is from the royal family of You Kingdom, the Dugu Clan. And the [Princess Biyue] from the Linghu Clan of Qi Kingdom is now the Crown Prince's consort. If this matter isn't handled well, it could easily lead to many unnecessary disputes."

"Moreover, you're related to the Dugu Clan. Even if you can be fair and just, the Linghu Clan will surely suspect you of bias. How to gain the trust of the Linghu Clan and make them convinced is a big problem."

"No worries~ There's nothing in this world that can't be solved, only people who can't solve things." The Third Prince, Shentu Jingming, wasn't as pessimistic, rubbing his chin in thought, "I can even handle that old fellow. I refuse to believe there's anything in this world I, Shentu Jingming, can't handle."

Zhuo Lao's face twitched.

Your Highness~~ That person is at least the Demon Emperor, show some respect.

...

Ping'an Town.

After nearly two hundred years of historical changes, it was no longer the backward, remote town it once was.

Apart from the Wang's main residence, the Clan School, and other functional facilities, the ordinary residents of Ping'an Town had long been relocated to new towns like Xin'an and Xinping.

Surrounding the current Ping'an Town was a large Gathering Spirit Array.

With Wang Lixian's body as the core of the Gathering Spirit Array, its efficiency far exceeded expectations.

The invisible vortex in the sky continuously intercepted and gathered passing spiritual energy, gradually transforming Ping'an Town into a blessed land. Under the rich spiritual energy, even a wild grass or fish had extraordinary vitality.

Some spirit herb seeds "naturally spread" from the spirit herb fields gradually filled the fields over time, making many basic low-grade spirit herbs almost within reach.

Ordinary people living here would gradually become exceptionally strong and healthy under the nourishment of spiritual energy, free from all diseases, and living beyond a hundred years was no longer a problem.

And ordinary people living long-term in such an environment were more likely to give birth to children with bloodlines.

However, there were no longer any "ordinary people" in today's "Ping'an Town." Even a random maid or servant of the Wang's, or service staff in facilities like restaurants, started as Qi Refining Realm cultivators with low-grade qualifications, with many in the mid to late Qi Refining Realm, and even Lingtai Realm cultivators were everywhere.

It was not uncommon to see "Celestials" using light techniques to travel short distances across the sky.

Over the years, the plan for universal Qi Refining Realm cultivation had become a trend and wave throughout the Changning Garrison area and had spread to the entire Southern Six Garrisons, with Ping'an Town being the area with the highest prevalence.

On this day.

The people in Ping'an Town were going about their work and lives as usual.

At this time, a flying carriage circled into the Wang's main residence area. The spiritual wood cabin of the flying carriage was painted with the clan emblem of the Qian Clan of Longzuo Commandery using special paint.

Almost instantly, the "flying visitor" command tower responded, casting a guiding light into the sky.

Under the guidance of the light, the Qian Clan's flying carriage slowly landed at the designated flying carriage docking point.

As the Wang's grew stronger, more and more visitors arrived by flying carriage, and the corresponding mechanisms naturally became more and more complete.

As soon as the flying carriage stabilized, a team of rotating gatekeepers arrived.

The leading gatekeeper was a middle-aged Celestial cultivator with a broad appearance. He politely cupped his hands towards the flying carriage, "Wang Ji, gatekeeper of the Changning Wang's Clan, welcomes the esteemed guests of the Qian Clan."

He was composed and respectful, neither arrogant nor servile.

Wang Ji was a hereditary family guard of the Wang's, currently about a hundred and thirty years old, having just become a Celestial Realm cultivator.

His family had been guards of the Wang's for generations, descendants of the guards who followed the Ancestor of the Wang's Clan to pioneer Ping'an Town. His great-grandfather was the old family guard Wang Zhong, whom even young clan leaders like Wang Zong'an would respectfully call Uncle Zhong.

Such hereditary family guards held high status and treatment within the Wang's, and if they had good potential and character, they were usually given priority for cultivation, with their training sequence not inferior to some direct descendants of the clan.

As Wang Ji finished speaking, the curtain of the Qian Clan's flying carriage was lifted, and a chubby middle-aged man stepped out.

This middle-aged man wore a jade crown and a luxurious high-grade ice silk robe, his round face smiling like a Maitreya Buddha, exuding a sense of fortune and friendliness.

"Wang Ji, little brother, so it's your turn as the gatekeeper today."

This chubby man was evidently familiar with Wang Ji, immediately greeting him with a cheerful smile.

Wang Ji was flattered and hurriedly saluted again, "So it's Manager Qian himself. Wang Ji apologizes for not welcoming you from afar. Please forgive me. Please don't call me little brother, I can't bear it~"

It turned out that this chubby middle-aged man from the Qian Clan was none other than [Qian Xue'an], one of the four major managers of the fourth-grade Qian Clan, responsible for the business of more than ten garrisons in the southern part of Longzuo Commandery.

It was said that this Manager Qian and the Master of the Wang's were comrades in adversity, calling each other brothers, with an extremely close relationship.

"Haha, Wang Ji, you're quite humble. I heard your great-grandson entered the Wang's advanced clan school's talent class? That's a place others would break their heads to get into, with limitless prospects for the future." Qian Xue'an laughed, patting his shoulder and casually handing over a few top-grade spiritual stones, "Don't refuse, this is a subsidy for the child."

Wang Ji hesitated for a moment, gratefully accepting, "Thank you, Manager Qian, for your generosity."

This Manager Qian was known for his generosity and righteousness, often performing acts of charity, and this situation was not an exception.

As they spoke, two more people descended from the flying carriage Qian Xue'an had arrived in.

These two appeared young, with the leading one being a dignified, jade-like, gentle young woman, and the other a heroic young man who looked no more than thirty.

Both the man and woman carried themselves with composure and extraordinary demeanor, clearly not from small families.

"This is my wife, Shen Xiangwen, and my brother-in-law, Shen Jinyu." Qian Xue'an introduced with a hint of pride, "They are from the direct line of the Shen Clan of the Western Sea."

The Shen Clan of the Western Sea?

That was a fifth-grade family. And our Wang's had only recently "promoted" to fourth-grade.

Wang Ji looked at Qian Xue'an in amazement.

This Manager Qian was quite impressive, able to marry the direct daughter of the Shen Clan of the Western Sea!

He had heard that this Manager Qian was born a direct line concubine's son, with a status so humble that even some hereditary family guards in the clan were above him.

Yet, from such a low starting point, he had managed to reach where he was today, which was truly inspirational. If his story were written into a small booklet, it would certainly be in the style of a feel-good novel.

After a round of greetings and pleasantries, Wang Ji understood the purpose of Qian Xue'an's visit.

He had specifically brought his newlywed wife and brother-in-law to visit the young mistress.

Immediately, he dared not delay, quickly sending someone to report.

In no time, a family guard returned to report, "Commander Wang, the young mistress invites Manager Qian and his party directly to [Tingyu Courtyard]."

Accompanying the reporting family guard to greet them was a bright and lovely maid.

Wang Ji naturally recognized this maid. She was Wang He's confidante maid from the young mistress Qian Yurou's quarters.

After marrying into the Wang's, Qian Yurou had cultivated a team of maids, each talented, gifted, educated, and skilled in finance, all highly capable, with impressive cultivation.

It couldn't be helped; the Wang's main wife, Liu Ruolan, was a hands-off manager, spending most of her time not managing accounts but playing mahjong with several Void Realm elders, and the young mistress Xu Pingting preferred quiet and disliked managing affairs.

As a result, the Wang's internal accounts were almost entirely managed by the young mistress Qian Yurou.

As the Wang's grew stronger, their clan industries expanded, with numerous joint ventures with other families, making financial transactions extremely complex. Without a professional financial team, how could it be managed?

And Wang He was a standout among Qian Yurou's maid team, a highly respected steward maid within the Wang's.

This time, Qian Yurou specifically sent Wang He to greet Qian Xue'an, already giving him ample face.

Maid Wang He greeted Qian Xue'an and his party one by one, then led the way, chatting as they walked, introducing the unfamiliar guests to some of the scenery and courtyards along the way, while subtly conveying some points of attention.

She was articulate, quick-thinking, and very organized, with an extraordinary demeanor that made people not dare to underestimate her, even though she was a maid.

The Shen siblings from the Western Sea were visiting the Wang's for the first time, following along and observing, filled with awe.

They had, of course, heard of the Changning Wang's reputation, but they originally thought the Wang's were impressive yet had only just been promoted to fourth-grade.

They had heard that the Wang's had quickly advanced due to their connection with Prince An, and with such insufficient foundation, they expected a nouveau riche aura.

And the Shen Clan of the Western Sea, as a fifth-grade family, though slightly declining, had a history of over a thousand years.

Therefore, they originally harbored some pride, thinking that even if their strength was inferior, they should surpass in foundation.

But they never expected the foundation of the fourth-grade Wang's to be so profound.

The Wang's main residence was needless to say, with its abundant spiritual energy and celestial charm, even the Lingyun Holy Land couldn't match its grandeur.

And within the Wang's, even a mere gatekeeper or maid was so outstanding and dignified.

Such individuals, if placed in the Shen Clan of the Western Sea, would be at the level of family elders!

Not to mention, everything they witnessed along the way about the Wang's directly redefined their concept of a "fourth-grade family."

With such a foundation, not to mention a declining fifth-grade like the Shen Clan, even some third-grade families they had seen might not compare!

Basalt cultivators moved quickly, and soon, under Wang He's guidance, they arrived at Tingyu Courtyard.

This [Tingyu Courtyard] was part of the residential complex of Wang Shizhao and Qian Yurou, located by Zhuhui Lake.

Back then, because Qian Yurou loved listening to the sound of spiritual rain falling on the lake, Wang Shizhao, after consulting his grandfather Wang Shouzhe, had the courtyard expanded and this Tingyu Courtyard built.

Later, because Wang Shizhao often stayed in Shangjing City, only returning home during holidays, Qian Yurou found the main courtyard too quiet and moved to live in Tingyu Courtyard.

As a result, only extremely close relatives were invited to be entertained in Tingyu Courtyard.

"Master Qian, Madam Qian, Young Master Shen, please have a seat and enjoy some tea. My mistress will join you after a brief grooming."

Wang He led the three to a lakeside pavilion in Tingyu Courtyard, where various spiritual teas, fruits, and exquisite pastries were already prepared.

Since Qian Yurou hadn't arrived yet, Wang He entertained them, introducing the Shen siblings to Tingyu Courtyard and the scenery of the lakeside pavilion.

This lakeside pavilion was entirely constructed of spiritual wood, half on the shore and half over the water, offering a full view of the lake, making it the best place to entertain guests.

As they spoke, a spiritual rain happened to fall.

The rain, rich in spiritual energy, hit the water's surface, creating a pleasant sound, while the spiritual energy from the water and rain dispersed, forming a thin mist.

Shen Jinyu took a deep breath, feeling instantly invigorated, secretly astonished.

The spiritual energy was so rich that cultivating in such a place would save countless resources in a year.

He took a sip of spiritual tea, feeling a cool sensation rush to his head, instantly dispelling the fatigue from the journey, leaving him feeling peaceful and serene.

Even the dust and distractions in his Lingtai seemed to be gently swept away, his consciousness becoming crystal clear, and even the bottleneck that had troubled him for a long time seemed to loosen slightly.

"This, what is this?" Shen Jinyu was startled, standing up abruptly, "What kind of tea is this?"

"Young Master Shen, this is Dixiudao Tea." Wang He respectfully introduced, "Drinking it can dispel inner demons and distractions, calm the Lingtai, and help break through cultivation bottlenecks."

"Di, Dixiudao... Tea!" Shen Jinyu was incredibly shocked.

There were very few teas in the world that could truly be called "Dao Tea," and even a few leaves could sell for astronomical prices.

Not only had Shen Jinyu never tasted it, but even his family's Purple Mansion Ancestor hadn't.

"Oh~ Today, the young mistress has really gone all out." Qian Xue'an laughed more like a Maitreya, "I've been here so many times and never got to drink Dao Tea. It's all thanks to Xiangwen and Jinyu's presence."

"It's all thanks to brother-in-law's face." Shen Jinyu quickly complimented modestly.

In that moment, the brother-in-law he had previously looked down upon seemed to become much more esteemed.

To be honest, he had found his sister's marriage extremely absurd, and Shen Jinyu had been strongly opposed. But this was the decision of the family's Ancestor, and his opposition was futile.

Even though his opposition was ineffective, and his sister Shen Xiangwen had indeed married Qian Xue'an, Shen Jinyu still found Qian Xue'an extremely irritating, maintaining only superficial politeness.

Until today, he realized that this brother-in-law, Qian Xue'an, was far from as simple as he had imagined. No, it should be said, the Wang's were far from as simple as he had previously thought.

"Wife, have a piece of this purple glutinous mille-feuille cake. The main ingredients are flour made from sacred purple glutinous rice and royal honey from seventh-grade spirit bees." Qian Xue'an handed a piece of cake to his wife, Shen Xiangwen, "Such ingredients, even an emperor of a country can't enjoy daily."

"Thank you, husband." Shen Xiangwen blushed, taking a bite and feeling the exquisite taste, her blood and energy surging.

Undoubtedly, it was the first time in her life she had tasted such a cake.

"Thank me for what? It's thanks to your face that we get to eat this, I should be thanking you." Qian Xue'an also ate a piece of cake, smiling happily, "You don't know, that girl Yurou is known as the 'Iron Abacus,' always stingy and tight-fisted."

"Uncle An, if you talk bad about me behind my back, I won't agree~"

A graceful female voice suddenly came from outside the pavilion.

As the voice sounded, a graceful silhouette appeared on the path outside the pavilion.

It was a plump and beautiful woman.

Her cloud-like black hair was styled into an exquisite bun, revealing a small, round face, looking charming and friendly.

Surrounded by two maids, she walked gracefully, her golden-red long dress swaying slightly with her steps, exuding an indescribable elegance and nobility.

This beautiful woman was naturally the young mistress of the Wang's, Qian Yurou.

Shen Xiangwen and Shen Jinyu quickly stood up, a bit nervous in their demeanor.

"Aunt Wen, Young Master Shen, you are elders and esteemed guests, please sit." Qian Yurou greeted the three with poise, saying, "According to etiquette, on the day of Aunt Wen and Uncle An's wedding, I, as a junior, should have personally gone to congratulate you, but I was tied up with a lot of matters at home and couldn't get away, so I had to entrust the younger generation at home to congratulate on my behalf."

"Now, instead, I've troubled Uncle and Aunt to come see me, making me feel anxious and guilty. Please forgive me."

"Yurou, no need to be so polite with me. Now that Xiangwen has married this old man, we're naturally family." Qian Xue'an said with a smile, "Who sees who is all the same."

"Uncle An is right, we're all family, no need for formalities." Qian Yurou warmly invited the three, "Aunt Wen, Young Master Shen, please don't be formal, don't be reserved."

The Shen siblings felt much more at ease upon hearing this.

But saying they weren't reserved would be a lie; the young mistress of the Wang's had such a strong aura of confidence, far surpassing even their family's Ancestor.

It's no wonder, the young mistress's status was indeed too noble.

Her husband was Wang Shizhao, known as "Little Cabinet Elder," the future cabinet chief of the Great Qian's court.

Her son, Wang Anye, was also extraordinary, marrying two princesses from the royal family, one of whom was the biological daughter of Prince An. It was said that both princesses had already cultivated to the Purple Mansion Realm, and the court was preparing to confer them as princesses of the Great Qian.

Even more outrageous were her great-grandson Wang Fugui and great-granddaughter Wang Jidie. During the conversation earlier, Qian Xue'an mentioned that Wang Fugui had already been favored by a young princess of the Immortal Dynasty and was likely to become the Mansion Master of the Immortal Dynasty's Princess Mansion in the future.

And Wang Jidie had already been conferred as an "external princess" by the Great Qian court, with the title "Huari," of incomparable nobility.

With so many halos gathered on one person, how noble was this young mistress?

Fortunately, she was extremely approachable, with a very close attitude, and after chatting for a while, the Shen siblings gradually felt more at ease.

After a while, Qian Yurou said, "Uncle An, Aunt Wen, and Young Master Shen, since you're here at the Wang's, don't rush to leave. Why not stay for a while? I've already arranged a courtyard for you. Tonight, I'll invite some family members to accompany you and give you a warm welcome."

"Let's not rush the welcome." Qian Xue'an waved his hand with a smile, "Actually, the reason I came to see you today, Yurou, is to ask for your help with an important matter."

"I knew it, Uncle An, you're now a busy man and the God of Wealth of our Qian Clan, surely you wouldn't come without a reason." Qian Yurou laughed, "If there's anything, just say it, Yurou will help if she can, and if not, I'll tell you honestly."

"Yurou, you know, under Miss Liyao's leadership, the Lingyun Holy Land is now developing rapidly. I heard she's spent a fortune convincing two Holy Masters from the Immortal Palace to agree to separate a vein from the Codex to our Great Qian. With the construction time of the inheritance grounds, I believe it won't be long before the Holy Land's nine veins become eleven veins."

"Liyao Aunt is a genius of our time." Qian Yurou also admired, "With her managing our Great Qian's Lingyun Holy Land, it will naturally get better and better."

"Yes, and with our Great Qian growing stronger, the funds allocated to the Holy Land from annual taxes are increasing." Qian Xue'an was excited, "I heard Miss Liyao plans to establish an inheritance ground in each commandery's academy, with Divine Realm experts stationed, and prepare to learn from the Immortal Dynasty by setting up county-level academies with Purple Mansion Realm cultivators stationed."

"These are all great things for the country and the people, and our Great Qian's overall national strength will surely rise." Qian Yurou nodded in agreement.

"My brother-in-law, Shen Jinyu, although from the direct line of the family, due to various reasons, has already joined the Western Sea Academy to serve the human race." Qian Xue'an brought up the main topic, "With such a great opportunity, he also wants to advance. Now he's a Celestial Realm prodigy, considered mid-to-upper level among prodigies, but to go further, he needs a [Heavenly Vein Holy Pill]. But such a holy pill is a rare controlled resource throughout the Immortal Dynasty, hard to obtain without connections and status."

The Heavenly Vein Holy Pill was a seventh-grade pill, not as precious as a Dao Pill, but still extremely rare, with limited stock even in the Immortal Dynasty. Qian Xue'an had some face in Longzuo Commandery, but his influence didn't extend to the Immortal Dynasty.

"Uncle An, you mean?" Qian Yurou glanced at Shen Jinyu, "You're planning to support Young Master Shen in becoming a great prodigy? You know, the path to the Divine Realm isn't just about a Heavenly Vein Holy Pill. And as far as I know, although the Shen Clan is an old fifth-grade family, its financial resources are far from supporting a Divine Realm cultivator."

"The Shen Clan can only scrape together a Heavenly Vein Holy Pill." Qian Xue'an nodded, understanding, and said solemnly, "Of course, as a brother-in-law, I'll also provide some support. As for the future path to the Divine Realm, Jinyu will have to fight for resources on the outer region battlefield, the Shen Clan and I can only provide a small part."

"As long as Jinyu can one day achieve the Divine Realm, even a little care for the Shen Clan would be enough to recoup."

Qian Yurou pondered carefully, sighing, "The plan is good, but implementing it will be quite challenging. The Holy Land's new inheritance grounds are true, but the competition is also extremely fierce... Who can guarantee that a great prodigy will definitely secure an inheritance ground?"

In the past, becoming a great prodigy usually meant securing an inheritance ground. But now, as the Great Qian's national strength gradually increased, the number of great prodigies also increased, while the number of Divine Realm inheritance grounds was insufficient.

"Yurou, how about you..." Qian Xue'an thickened his face.

"Uncle An, please don't ask this of me." Qian Yurou quickly stopped him, "Although the Heavenly Vein Holy Pill is rare, as long as the money is in place, I can still find someone to get it for you. But wanting to go through Aunt Liyao's backdoor to secure an inheritance ground, even if you gave me several guts, I wouldn't dare to ask."

"Then Master Shouzhe..." Qian Xue'an's eyes rolled again."Uncle An!" Qian Yurou suddenly stood up, her tone slightly stern. "I know there's a deep bond between my grandfather and you, but over the years, you've already risen very high relying on that bond. As for this request, even if my own grandfather were here, I would still firmly refuse."

"The only thing Young Master Shen can do is to rely on his own efforts and abilities to seize opportunities."

In an instant, a powerful aura emanated from Qian Yurou.

She seemed to transform into a different person, becoming assertive and domineering, sharp and decisive.

At this moment, she truly displayed the decisiveness and ruthlessness expected of someone who has managed the Wang Clan's finances for many years, intimidating those around her.

Qian Xue'an couldn't help but shrink his neck, and the Shen siblings turned pale, feeling weak inside, completely suppressed by her powerful aura.

...