Chapter 186: Chapter 4: Longyan’s Advancement to the Advanced Stage of the Spirit Platform Realm_2

“Old Ancestor, please do not say such things.” Wang Shouzhe spoke solemnly, “If it weren’t for Old Ancestor’s meticulous efforts over the past decades in upholding our clan, we of the Wang family would have perished long ago. Where would the likes of us juniors be?”

Wang Shouzhe was greatly relieved that the Old Ancestor Longyan was able to reach the advanced stage of the Spirit Platform Realm so quickly. He felt a deep sense of accomplishment and security.

With a powerful cultivator at the advanced stage of the Spirit Platform Realm presiding over them, they would be as secure as Mount Tai, unless a powerhouse from the Tianren Realm were to attack.

Throughout the whole of Changning, there were only three powerhouses at the Tianren Realm.

And they generally wouldn’t leave their homes unless necessary, prefering to stay indoors.

They wouldn’t recklessly take action, fearing that a single moment of carelessness could lead to their downfall and bring catastrophe to their entire family. The power of a Tianren Realm cultivator was immense, however, the burden they carried on their shoulders was equally heavy. They naturally valued their lives.

Saying more on the matter would be pointless, as they were all family supporting each other.

The Old Ancestor Longyan did not continue to speak on the subject, instead he asked with concern, “Shouzhe, how have things been in the past two years after you switched to practicing the Longevity Youth True Verses? Does it suit your bloodline?”

At the mention of this, Wang Shouzhe started to speak, “Old Ancestor, I have been feeling great after the switch. It has made my mysterious energy much more concentrated and pure. I am also stronger and more adept at controlling plants. The Longevity Youth True Verses are truly a top-grade cultivation technique.”

Only then did the Old Ancestor Longyan finally relax, remarking, “It seems that your talents are closely related to the wood-type bloodline, even if they do not belong to it. Until you find a more suitable cultivation technique, the Longevity Youth True Verses can serve you well.”

Indeed, the cultivation technique that Wang Shouzhe was currently practicing was the Longevity Youth True Verses, a secret cultivation method passed down by Master Changchun of the Purple Abode Academic Palace.

However, he only had the Qi Refinement Chapter of the Longevity Youth True Verses.

The Spirit Platform Chapter, which followed the Qi Refinement Chapter, had to be taught after reaching the Spirit Platform Realm. This could only be accomplished by passing the Purple Abode Academic Palace’s assessment.

Do not look down on the Qi Refining Chapter.

Even the Qi Refinement chapter of such an exceptional cultivation technique wouldn’t be taught randomly outside by the Purple Abode Academic Palace.

Only after Old Ancestor Xuanfu managed to arrange for him to receive the status of an external disciple of the Academic Palace was he granted the qualification to practice this cultivation technique.

The so-called external discipleship referred to the strategy used by the Academic Palace to recruit some talented young individuals who, due to various reasons, couldn’t join the palace.

According to Wang Shouzhe’s understanding, the fully enrolled disciples of the palace were equivalent to full-time undergraduates, while the external disciples were akin to distance learning students.

While the Palace acknowledged external disciples and allowed them to request to study a certain cultivation technique, it wouldn’t provide them with resources for their cultivation.

If they had any questions about cultivation, they could write a letter to the Palace, but whether they would receive a response was uncertain.

Naturally, even becoming an external disciple of the Palace was not an opportunity granted to anyone. One must be of genuine lineage and have a guarantor.

The so-called “genuine lineage” referred to the fact that you could not be just any independent cultivator or rankless Profound Martial family. They would need to verify your ancestors for several generations. Only then would the Palace consider trusting you.

Moreover, external disciples should be properly positioned. There is no room for collateral family members; even direct descendants go through more rigorous assessments.

Wang Shouzhe, as the clan leader of an Eighth Grade prominent family, possessed a verifiable lineage that could be traced back to the ancestors of the Great Qian Wang Clan.

Moreover, he had awakened the “wood-type” talent of his bloodline once and passed the initial selection of the Academic Palace’s disciples.

Furthermore, with the guarantee of the core disciple of the Academic Palace, Liu Xuanfu, he was able to smoothly gain the status of an external disciple of the Palace, gaining the authority to practice the Qi Refinement Chapter of the Longevity Youth True Verses.

However, he could only practice the Longevity Youth True Verses by himself. If he dared to expose or teach it to others, he would face severe punishment from the Palace, which could extend to the entire family.

There were also certain restrictions, such as if the Palace required your help and summoned you, you could not refuse. You had to respond and help.

However, such a summoning would only take effect when the state was facing life or death situations or confronting tremendous external enemies. Under ordinary circumstances, the Palace wouldn’t require your assistance.

Similarly treated was his wife, Liu Ruolan.

However, what Liu Ruolan practiced was the Mysterious Water True Verses, another top grade cultivation legacy of the Academic Palace.

Let’s not digress.

Once assured that Wang Shouzhe’s cultivation technique was fine, the Old Ancestor Longyan asked, “Shouzhe, do you have something urgent to discuss with me at my Long Yan Habitat?”

As of late, the Old Ancestor Longyan had been closing himself off to work towards progressing to the advanced stage of the Spirit Platform Realm. Usually, clan members wouldn’t disturb him.

Wang Shouzhe must be here for something important at this time.

“Ancestor, Liu Xuanfu’s Old Ancestor is back from the Academic Palace.” Wang Shouzhe softly said, “Right now, Ruolan is accompanying her and it seems she wants to discuss something major with you.”

Liu Xuanfu and Wang Longyan were known as the ‘Two Beauties of Changning’ in their youth.

They were unrivalled in their popularity during those times.

The two were rivals in the Academic Palace, both driven by the desire to outshadow each other.

On the whole, however, Old Ancestor Longyan was a bit more dominant.

Their relationship was still quite close, nonetheless.

But then Old Ancestor Longyan suffered a huge mishap and ended up staying in Changning for fifty years without stepping out of the Wang family’s domain.

This eventually led to a growing distance between the two.

In truth, Old Ancestor Longyan didn’t want to meet Old Ancestor Xuanfu. Considering her current condition which couldn’t be cured, what’s the point of having her heart pained by seeing Old Ancestor Xuanfu thriving?

Until later, when she wanted to arrange a marriage for Wang Shouzhe and preserve their family line.

That’s when she braced herself and paid a personal visit to Old Ancestor Xuanfu when she returned to the Liu Family

Who knows what they negotiated, but in the end, Old Ancestor Xuanfu agreed to the marriage.

Wang Shouzhe didn’t think much of it then, attributing it perhaps to Old Ancestor Xuanfu being moved by old sentiments. However, he is now sure that there was more to it.

Now that he and his wife, Liu Ruolan, have both reached the pinnacle of the Qi Refining Realm, and Old Ancestor Xuanfu has returned from the Academic Palace, it was only a matter of time before the truth of the past got unveiled.

Old Ancestor Longyan stayed silent for a while before saying in a light tone, “Yes, it is time for her to return. Shouzhe, go and invite Old Ancestor Xuanfu and Ruolan over.”

“Yes, Ancestor.” Wang Shouzhe carried out the instruction as ordered.

Not too long afterwards,

Old Ancestor Longyan, Old Ancestor Xuanfu, Liu Ruolan and Wang Shouzhe, the four of them, had a meeting at the Long Yan Habitat.

It was only at this point,

that Wang Shouzhe had the chance to take a good look at the renowned Old Ancestor Xuanfu.

She was dressed in a water-blue palace attire, her face veiled, making it impossible to discern her age or features. However, she must have a technique to maintain her youthful looks given that her figure still appeared to be quite good.

The only difference was that Old Ancestor Longyan’s aura contained a sharpness akin to a sword’s edge, as opposed to Old Ancestor Xuanfu’s temperament, which was gentle and flowing like water, giving off an overwhelming sense of vastness. It was clear that she had cultivated her ‘Mysterious Water True Verses’ to an extremely profound level.

“Cousin Longyan, congratulations on your breakthrough; you have finally reached the advanced stage of the Spirit Platform Realm.” Old Ancestor Xuanfu’s gaze was as gentle as water, somewhat similar to Ruolan’s.

Yet, Old Ancestor Longyan simply responded, “Compared to Cousin Xuanfu, I am far from being noteworthy.”

“Cousin, having overcome this difficult period and with your current cultivation base, you are sure to progress smoothly. It’s possible you may even step into the Heavenly Human Realm before me. If Master Binglan were to receive this news, he will be immensely pleased. Cousin, have you considered returning to the Academic Palace? I can offer some support.”

Old Ancestor Longyan frowned slightly and responded, somewhat displeased, “No need for you to interfere with my matters with Master.”

It was apparent that the relationship between Old Ancestor Longyan and Old Ancestor Xuanfu, these two cousins, was quite complex.

No wonder though, Old Ancestor Longyan had always been ahead of Old Ancestor Xuanfu in their younger days. But now, the tables were turned and it was certainly hard for the proud Old Ancestor Longyan to admit.

“Let’s move on to the main matters at hand.” As if not wanting to linger on this topic, Old Ancestor Longyan then looked at Wang Shouzhe and said, “Shouzhe, I didn’t mention this to you before because I didn’t want you to be distracted and it had no significance at that time.”

Wang Shouzhe straightened his posture, listening attentively in anticipation of hearing the secret.

“This is the greatest secret of the Ping’an Wang Family.” Old Ancestor Longyan’s eyes seemed somewhat distant as if reminiscing, “Shouzhe, do you know why Old Ancestor Zhou Xuan opened up this place in Ping’an Town?”

…