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"Greetings, Miss Ji." Wang Anye stood up gracefully and returned the courtesy, "I am Wang Anye of the Changning Wang's Clan from the Eastern Qian Kingdom. It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Ji."
Since arriving in the Immortal Dynasty, Wang Anye had become accustomed to being approached due to his striking appearance.
Being too handsome could indeed be a hassle.
However, as the saying goes, one shouldn't hit a smiling face. When someone approaches with politeness and courtesy, it's only right to respond in kind. After all, when traveling, it's better to make a friend than an enemy.
For the offspring of noble families, expanding one's connections and knowledge while traveling is an essential part of their journey.
Changning Wang's Clan from Eastern Qian?
Ji Qianqian pondered for a moment but naturally hadn't heard of such a name.
In fact, she had only heard of the Eastern Qian Kingdom itself, and knew little about its renowned families, let alone one with a Changning suffix.
"Ji's Clan of Chaoyang?" Wang Anye was slightly taken aback.
Unexpectedly, it was a relative of his master's lineage.
Before Wang Anye could react further, Ji Wuchen excitedly urged, "Anye, quickly, ask her which branch of the Ji's Clan she belongs to. She bears a resemblance to my late wife, Fu Hongye."
Back then, Ji Wuchen's wife, Fu Hongye, was ambushed and killed by Chao Qianbo on the Immortal-Demon battlefield. In his quest for revenge, Ji Wuchen infiltrated the Demon Dynasty to assassinate his enemy. Although he succeeded by luck, he perished and became a sword spirit.
However, he still had descendants in the Immortal Dynasty, a fact both he and Anye were well aware of.
"Master, please don't rush. It's not appropriate to immediately inquire about someone's ancestors."
Wang Anye comforted Ji Wuchen, then turned to Ji Qianqian with a warm smile, "If Miss Qianqian doesn't mind, why not sit down and chat? I'd love to learn more about the customs and culture of Chaoyang Prefecture from you."
After Ji Qianqian agreed, her face slightly flushed.
Wang Anye then had the remnants cleared away and replaced with a delicious meal, inviting Ji Qianqian to dine with him.
After some casual conversation, they became much more familiar with each other.
Wang Anye then casually mentioned, "While in Eastern Qian, I had the privilege of admiring Master Ji's 'Divine Dynasty's Twilight.' The painting is grand and majestic, yet carries a sense of the end of an era with the fall of a great dynasty. It's truly a masterpiece. During my travels in Chaoyang Prefecture, I wish to visit Master Ji's former residence."
"'Divine Dynasty's Twilight'?" Ji Qianqian's expression turned complex, as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.
"Miss Qianqian, being from the Ji's Clan, could you be a descendant of Master Ji?" Wang Anye asked, feigning casual interest.
"Well... to be honest, Young Master Anye," Ji Qianqian bit her lip, her expression turning somber, "The Master Ji you mentioned is indeed my ancestor. However, the 'Divine Dynasty's Twilight'... sigh, it was an ancestral treasure. As descendants, we should have preserved it well, but our Ji's Clan has fallen on hard times. To nurture our talented members, we had to sell many ancestral treasures, which is quite shameful to admit."
"Ah, my apologies, it was presumptuous of me." Wang Anye bowed in apology.
"No harm done~" Ji Qianqian waved it off, her eyes firming with resolve, "A noble family is like the tides of the sea, rising and falling. At least now, thanks to you, I know our ancestral treasure ended up in Eastern Qian. Once I earn enough money, I plan to buy it back at a high price."
"Uh..."
Wang Anye felt conflicted, unsure whether to tell her that the painting had already...
"This girl has a bit of my flair from back in the day," Ji Wuchen, however, was unfazed by these matters, still immersed in the excitement of meeting his descendant. He was quite pleased with Ji Qianqian's demeanor and eagerly instructed his treasured disciple, "Anye, spend more time chatting with her."
"Yes, Master."
Having finally reunited with his bloodline, Wang Anye naturally wouldn't refuse this request.
However, to avoid misunderstandings, he made it clear during their conversation that he already had two loving wives and even grandchildren.
Ji Qianqian was surprised to learn that people in Eastern Qian married so early.
In the Immortal Dynasty, those with lower potential might marry early, but those with high potential often delayed marriage, choosing carefully even into their two or three hundreds.
Moreover, the more outstanding the talent, the later they tended to marry.
Especially the princesses of the Immortal Dynasty, many remained unmarried even after reaching the Divine Realm.
After all, the higher the potential, the faster the cultivation speed. The princesses of the Immortal Dynasty were all peerless prodigies, reaching the Celestial Realm before thirty. After reaching the Celestial Realm, fertility rates dropped sharply, so marrying a few years earlier or later didn't make much difference. Most princesses took their time to choose a consort that truly suited them.
As a disciple of the Immortal Palace, Ji Qianqian, having reached the seventh level of the Celestial Realm at just a hundred and fifty years old, was still considered a young lady in her prime among her peers.
After a slight disappointment, Ji Qianqian composed herself and began discussing swordsmanship with Wang Anye.
Wang Anye was indeed highly talented in swordsmanship. As a young boy by the sea, he had comprehended the embryonic sword intent of "Boundless Sea" within the time it took for a stick of incense to burn.
To his surprise, Ji Qianqian also possessed considerable talent in swordsmanship, and she was a core disciple of the Purple Void Holy Land under the Immortal Palace.
Wang Anye knew that the Purple Void Holy Land was founded by the renowned Purple Void Sword Sovereign, a place dedicated to swordsmanship, accepting only disciples with sword talent.
Under Ji Wuchen's "encouragement," Wang Anye subtly inquired about Ji Qianqian's experiences.
Ji Qianqian, having a favorable impression of Wang Anye, was not overly guarded, allowing him to quickly learn about her past.
Over the years, the third-grade Ji's Clan had declined further. In this generation, nurturing just one Divine Realm seed had exhausted much of their resources, even selling off ancestral treasures.
As a woman, Ji Qianqian started with decent talent, but with limited family support, her potential could only reach the level of a second-tier prodigy at best.
Such talent was considered excellent in the Eastern Qian Kingdom, but in the talent-rich Immortal Dynasty, it wasn't particularly remarkable. Thus, when she joined the Purple Void Holy Land, she was merely an elite disciple.
However, she was not discouraged. With her efforts and the excellent sword talent inherited from her ancestors, she gradually stood out, receiving focused training and even obtaining a precious seventh-grade Holy Pill—the Heavenly Vein Holy Pill.
With the pill's help, she successfully advanced her bloodline to the level of a great prodigy, securing her place among the core disciples of the Purple Void Holy Land.
Don't underestimate a great prodigy.
While the Changning Wang's Clan had many great and peerless prodigies, they were an exception. After all, Marrying Blood Gu and bloodline enhancement elixirs were non-renewable resources, used sparingly, and no other force dared treat Marrying Blood Gu as a regular resource.
In fact, even in the Immortal Dynasty, a great prodigy was considered exceptional, with a high chance of reaching the Divine Realm and becoming a significant figure.
After all, many second and third-in-command positions in prefectures were held by Divine Realm cultivators.
As for the Lingxu Realm, how many were there in the entire Immortal Dynasty? Each was a giant in their own right.
As their exchange deepened, Wang Anye and Ji Qianqian developed a mutual appreciation for each other.
Whether in the Immortal Dynasty or the Great Qian, pure sword cultivators were rare. Even sword masters like Ancestor Long Yan and Liu Ruolan weren't pure sword cultivators.
This was due to the scarcity of related manuals and true methods, leading to potential gaps in advanced cultivation techniques.
Although a Basalt cultivator's potential could often be gauged early on, who in their youth didn't dream of encountering a fortuitous opportunity, ascending to new heights, and reaching the pinnacle of life?
Thus, few chose to become pure sword cultivators when given the option.
Moreover, pure sword cultivation demanded high comprehension.
Even with the aid of inheritance grounds, sword cultivation remained a test of comprehension. Some advanced sword cultivation true methods were inaccessible to those with average comprehension, a barrier that deterred many.
As a result, sword cultivators, being a minority, paid special attention to their peers.
Ji Qianqian had approached Wang Anye partly because she recognized him as a sword cultivator.
When the Yun Yao flying boat docked in Chaoyang Prefecture, Ji Qianqian invited Wang Anye to visit the Ji's Clan.
Wang Anye, who intended to investigate the situation, naturally agreed.
The Ji's Clan in Chaoyang Prefecture was an old noble family.
They owned farms and private properties across various commanderies and guards in Chaoyang Prefecture. However, a large family meant large expenses, and with descendants lacking in management skills, they gradually declined over the years.
Now, the Ji's Clan had only one Divine Realm ancestor, barely maintaining the face of a third-grade family, struggling even to uphold their Divine Realm inheritance.
Their situation was worse than the Changning Wang's Clan at its lowest point.
However, as a family with a legacy spanning thousands of years, the Ji's Clan once aspired to first-grade status. Even in decline, the foundations of their main residence remained, its scale unmatched by newly risen third-grade families.
The vast outer walls of the main residence stretched along the undulating plains, disappearing into the horizon, a truly magnificent sight.
Inside the walls, a dense cluster of buildings stood in neat rows, bustling with activity. Sёarch* The NovelZone.fun website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
According to Ji Qianqian, at its peak, the Ji's Clan's main residence was as large as three to five towns combined. For convenience, it was divided into five areas: east, south, west, north, and central. However, much of the outer main residence had been dismantled and converted into farmland, the walls shrinking repeatedly, leaving less than half of its original size.
Yet it remained impressive.
However, it was merely a shell, lacking substance. Due to neglect, many buildings in the main residence had become weathered, even the massive walls seemed to have gone without maintenance for years.
The state of a family's main residence often reflected its prosperity or decline.
For any family, the main residence was paramount.
If wealthy, a family would frequently renovate and expand the main residence, maintaining it with care and precision, at considerable expense, funded by clan industries.
But if they couldn't even afford to maintain the main residence, leaving it dilapidated, it signaled a severe lack of funds, unable to uphold even basic appearances.
Though Wang Anye wasn't heavily involved in clan industries, he had heard Wang Shouzhe mention these insights. Observing the main residence, he understood that the Ji's Clan was truly financially strained, struggling to maintain appearances.
Wang Anye's arrival didn't cause much of a stir.
Although Ji Qianqian's status and position in the family had risen with her success as a core disciple of the Purple Void Holy Land, she was still a junior, neither a direct nor main branch member, and her cultivation was only at the Celestial Realm.
Of course, the main reason was that Wang Anye's "background was too small."
Consider a local family from the Eastern Qian Kingdom, at most a fourth or fifth-grade family. How could the Ji's Clan take them seriously, treating them as esteemed guests?
It was only out of respect for Ji Qianqian that the family head met Wang Anye, following noble family etiquette by arranging a residence and a junior to entertain him.
Naturally, Wang Anye hadn't immediately revealed his identity as "Ji Wuchen's direct disciple," mainly due to his master's request.
Ji Wuchen wanted to observe the Ji's Clan from a lower perspective, to understand their true situation.
However, what he discovered left him fuming.
The Ji's Clan's poverty was one thing, as the rise and fall of tides were common, and no one could guarantee eternal prosperity. But the Ji's Clan's morale was also low, with many young members aimlessly drifting, lacking ambition.
Many young people, with limited abilities, had developed bad habits of idleness and associating with unsavory companions.
"Disgraceful, truly disgraceful." Ji Wuchen grumbled in frustration, "From top to bottom, what kind of behavior is this? Except for a few juniors with some semblance of decency, the rest have lost their spirit, lacking the true Ji's Clan character. No wonder they sold off all the ancestral treasures."
Wang Anye was equally speechless.
He had initially planned to support the Ji's Clan after acquiring the Sword and Formation Manual, but hadn't expected the Ji's Clan to have fallen into such a state of decline.
In this situation, even Wang Anye couldn't claim to help the Ji's Clan out of their predicament.
After all, a family's development was never reliant on one person or a single resource. If they lacked the drive, no amount of resources could fill the bottomless pit.
As the saying goes, "Aid in emergencies, not in poverty." The Ji's Clan's decline wasn't without reason.
After assessing the Ji's Clan's situation, Wang Anye expressed his desire to meet the current Ji's Clan ancestor, Ji Yuanxing. He was ready to reveal his intentions and proceed to the Ji's Clan's forbidden grounds to inherit the Sword and Formation Manual.
"If Young Master Anye requests it, Qianqian will naturally facilitate it." Although Ji Qianqian was slightly troubled, she agreed.
As they spoke, an unexpected change occurred.
A hearty and authoritative laugh echoed from the main entrance of the Ji's Clan residence: "Where is Ancestor Yuanxing? Yao has come to visit and hopes to meet."
The voice seemed to carry a divine majesty, resonating in the ears and sea of consciousness, causing hearts to tremble like drums, involuntarily inspiring awe.
"A Lingxu Realm cultivator?"
Wang Anye's expression slightly tensed.
Given the Ji's Clan's current state, it was unlikely they had connections with a Lingxu Realm cultivator. Moreover, this self-proclaimed "Yao" Lingxu Realm cultivator hadn't notified them in advance, arriving at the doorstep with an imposing demeanor, clearly not here with good intentions.
And it was evident that Wang Anye wasn't the only one who realized this.
In an instant, the entire Ji's Clan fell into a dead silence, the sound of the wind howling through the heavens and earth becoming remarkably clear.
After more than ten breaths, a hoarse laugh echoed from the depths of the inner residence: "So it's the esteemed consort of the Chaoyang King. I apologize for not welcoming you sooner."
As the voice resounded, a white-haired elder figure streaked across the sky like a startling rainbow, landing at the main entrance in a welcoming posture.
The figure, clad in a black sword-sleeved robe, was slender, exuding an aura of immortality. It was none other than the Ji's Clan ancestor, Ji Yuanxing.
The other six or seven Purple Mansion Realm elders of the Ji's Clan, who were in the main residence, hurriedly emerged from their retreats, hastily flying to the main entrance to greet the visitor.
"The consort of the Chaoyang King?" Wang Anye observed the commotion at the entrance from afar, slightly puzzled, "Could it be that one?"
"Indeed." Ji Qianqian's expression was equally grave, "Judging by the ancestor's tone, this must be the renowned consort of the Chaoyang King—Yao Yuangang, True Lord Yao."
Wang Anye had little impression of Yao Yuangang, but the name "Chaoyang King" was well-known to him.
This Chaoyang King was once an Immortal Dynasty princess, titled "Chaoyang Princess," and was one of the few late-stage Lingxu Realm powerhouses in the Immortal Dynasty.
During his time with the Wang's Clan, Wang Anye often heard Emperor Longchang mention the "Chaoyang King," describing her as a famous female war god of the Immortal Dynasty. She once led the Immortal Dynasty's army with a spear, sweeping through the outer region battlefield, making the outer region demons cry for mercy, earning the nickname "Iron Spear Phoenix King." She had countless followers, even gaining a reputation in the Demon Dynasty.
She was indeed one of humanity's pillars.
Even now, mentioning the "Iron Spear Phoenix King" on the outer region battlefield instilled fear in many outer region demons.
Such a brilliant and awe-inspiring figure, even Emperor Longchang and Holy Master Jiang would tread carefully in her presence, not daring to breathe too heavily.
"Senior Yao hails from the first-grade Cold Moon Yao's Clan. In his youth, he followed the then Chaoyang Princess, now Chaoyang King, as they established the Chaoyang Princess Mansion and achieved great feats. Later, Senior Yao became the princess's consort," Ji Qianqian explained Yao Yuangang's background to Wang Anye, knowing he wasn't from the Immortal Dynasty.
"When the Chaoyang Princess reached the Lingxu Realm, she was titled 'Chaoyang King' according to the Immortal Dynasty's laws and customs, and Senior Yao naturally became the consort of the Chaoyang King."
Currently, the Immortal Dynasty had only four princesses, but since the Immortal Emperor's reign, there had been more than four.
Once a princess reached the appropriate age and the Lingxu Realm, she would be elevated to "King" status, losing her eligibility to inherit the Immortal Emperor's position.
Those princesses who existed during the Immortal Emperor's youth were nominal heirs, primarily serving as a contingency. In the event of the Immortal Emperor's unexpected demise, an heir could immediately assume the role.
Thus, they received the same treatment as princesses, but never had the opportunity to inherit the Immortal Emperor's position.
"Why has Senior Yao come to our Ji's Clan?" Ji Qianqian wondered.
Suddenly, she seemed to realize something, her expression changing: "Oh no, could the news have leaked?"
With that, she hurriedly made her way to the guest hall, with Wang Anye following closely beside her.
As expected.
Just as they reached the guest hall, they heard the Ji's Clan ancestor's suppressed roar of anger.
"Consort Yao, how can you make such an outrageous demand?"
"Your Chaoyang King's Mansion has two Lingxu Codices. You can let your child inherit one. Why come to take ours?"
Despite his anger, the Ji's Clan ancestor didn't dare to curse, still using respectful terms.
"Ancestor Yuanxing, please don't be angry. Our Chaoyang King's Mansion indeed has two Lingxu Codices, but that doesn't mean our descendants can inherit them." Yao Yuangang remained calm, "You should know, the Chaoyang Codices belong to the Immortal Dynasty's royal family, a royal asset, and are only for successive princesses to cultivate, not for her to freely distribute."
"And my Codex originally belonged to the Yao's Clan. Now that I'm old, it should return to the Yao's Clan after my demise, not remain in the Chaoyang King's Mansion."
The Ji's Clan ancestor's face darkened.
So, because your family's Codices are already spoken for, you come to take ours?
"Please don't be angry, please don't be angry." Seeing the Ji's Clan ancestor ready to fight, Yao Yuangang continued to persuade, "You know the state of your Ji's Clan, Ancestor Yuanxing. Rather than holding onto a golden rice bowl while begging, why not exchange it for a fortune in resources? You know our Chaoyang family isn't stingy."
The Ji's Clan ancestor took several deep breaths, angrily retorting, "Consort Yao, I have one question. How did your Chaoyang King's Mansion learn of our Codex? Only core members of our clan know of its existence."
"Haha, well, your young brother Ji Yanchang, and our child Yuntai An are close friends, and he 'accidentally' let it slip." Yao Yuangang laughed, glancing at a "young man" behind him.
The young man hesitated but reluctantly stepped forward.
"Ji Yanchang, you wretch! How dare you!" The Ji's Clan ancestor's face turned pale with rage, roaring in fury.
"Ancestor, please, don't blame me. I didn't mean to. Our family has spent countless resources over the ages trying to inherit that damned Sword and Formation Manual. Has anyone succeeded? What's the point of keeping it?"
The "young man" was initially timid, but emboldened by Yao Yuangang's backing, his tone grew more agitated, his final words shouted with a flushed face: "I'm the same age as Ji Yanxiu, with similar talent. Why did he get to take the 'Seventh-grade Heavenly Vein Holy Pill' and become a great prodigy? While I, Ji Yanchang, remain a mere prodigy? It's unfair! I'm no worse than him!"
"You fool! The family can only support one great prodigy!" The Ji's Clan ancestor cursed in anger.
"It's unfair! If I became a great prodigy, I might inherit the Sword and Formation Manual." The young man named "Ji Yanchang" was nearly hysterical, "Why should I sacrifice for Ji Yanxiu? Why should Ji Qianqian sacrifice for him? And that useless fool failed!"
"Now the Chaoyang King's Mansion won't take our Codex for free. They'll compensate us greatly, and the family won't lack money. I can become a great prodigy. Isn't that a win-win?"
"Wretch, wretch!" The Ji's Clan ancestor beat his chest, trembling with rage.
The Ji's Clan's situation couldn't be resolved with a single resource. Naïve! Foolish!
Wang Anye was equally stunned.
Someone had betrayed their family's interests so brazenly...
But the Ji's Clan's troubles weren't over.
As the Ji's Clan ancestor was about to explode with anger, another thunderous laugh echoed from the entrance: "Hahaha~ Ancestor Yuanxing, Wei has come to visit and hopes to meet."
Accompanying it was a vast, overwhelming pressure, like a mountain collapsing, the sky overturning.
That terrifying aura was undoubtedly another Lingxu Realm cultivator!
"Could they also be after the Codex?" Yao Yuangang frowned, sensing trouble.
The Ji's Clan ancestor trembled, his eyes bulging, nearly fainting on the spot.
Ji Qianqian's expression changed, rushing to support her ancestor.
Even Wang Anye found it absurd.
Was one Codex thief not enough excitement? Did they need a second? He was just here to inherit a Codex, how did it become so complicated?
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