Chapter 186: Chapter 4: Longyan Advances to Spirit Platform Realm Late Stage 2
"Ancestor, please don’t say that," Wang Shouzhe said with a serious expression, "If it weren’t for Ancestor’s decades of unwavering support for the family, our Wang Family would have long been extinct. We, the younger generation, wouldn’t even exist."
For Ancestor Longyan to reach the late stage of the Spirit Platform Realm so swiftly.
Wang Shouzhe felt very gratified, his heart full of a sense of achievement and security.
With a late-stage Spirit Platform expert in charge, as long as a Celestial Human Realm expert doesn’t attack us, we’re as stable as Mount Tai.
Looking over the entire Changning Guard, there are only three Celestial Human Realm experts.
Moreover, they rarely go out without major affairs, mostly staying at home.
They wouldn’t easily intervene, fearing one careless move might lead to their demise, dragging down the family with them. Celestial Human Realm cultivators are strong, but the weight on their shoulders is heavier, and naturally, they are more cautious about their lives.
Some words are better left unsaid; it is about family mutual support.
Ancestor Longyan did not continue to speak further but asked with concern, "Shouzhe, how is your situation after switching to the Eternal Spring True Technique these past two years? Does it fit your bloodline?"
Upon mentioning this, Wang Shouzhe responded, "Reporting to Ancestor, after switching, it feels very good. It has made my Profound Qi much richer and purer, and my control over plants has become stronger and more fluent. It’s indeed worthy of being an Upper Grade Technique."
Ancestor Longyan then relaxed his brows and said, "It seems that even if your talent isn’t Wood Element, it’s greatly related to the Wood Bloodline. Before you’ve found a truly suitable technique, this Eternal Spring True Technique is quite fitting for you."
Indeed, Wang Shouzhe is currently practicing the Eternal Spring True Technique, the secret heart method of Changchun Ascendant at the Purple Mansion Academy.
But he only has the Qi Refining Chapter of the Eternal Spring True Technique.
The technique for the Spirit Platform Chapter requires reaching the Spirit Platform Realm. After passing the assessment at the Purple Mansion Academy, one can be granted the subsequent Chapters.
Do not underestimate this mere Qi Refining Chapter.
Such an Upper Grade Technique’s Qi Refining Chapter wouldn’t easily be taught by the Purple Mansion Academy to outsiders.
This was obtained after Ancestor Xuanfu fought for his status as an outer disciple of the Academy.
The so-called outer disciples are a recruitment strategy by the Academy for outstanding young people with potential but, due to various reasons, cannot join the Academy.
In Wang Shouzhe’s understanding, formal Academy students are like full-time undergraduate students, whereas outer disciples like Wang Shouzhe are like distance learners.
The Academy recognizes you as a student and allows you to apply for certain techniques as circumstances warrant. However, it also won’t provide you with resources for cultivation.
If you don’t understand something in cultivation, you can write to the Academy, but whether you’ll get a reply is uncertain.
Of course, even being an outer disciple of the Academy isn’t an opportunity for everyone. You need to have a clean and reputable background with someone vouching for you.
Having a clean and reputable background means you can’t be a loose cultivator or from some unremarkable Black Tortoise Clan, etc., and even several generations of your ancestors must be checked before the Academy can trust you.
Moreover, outer disciples need some status; they can’t be collateral branch disciples, and even direct vein disciple assessments are stricter.
Wang Shouzhe is the clan leader of an Eighth-Grade Noble Family, with numerous generations traceable back to Ancestor of the Daqian Wang Family. His background is very clean and reputable.
Simultaneously, he awakened a first layer "Wood Bloodline" talent and had passed the Academy’s student preliminary selection.
Plus, Academy core disciple Liua Xuanfu vouched for him, thus he smoothly acquired the status of an Academy outer disciple and was authorized to learn the Qi Refining Chapter of the Eternal Spring True Technique.
However, his Eternal Spring True Technique can only be practiced by himself. If he dares to disclose or teach it, he would face the Academy’s ban, even implicating the entire family.
Moreover, there is a conditional restriction; once the Academy needs your assistance in summoning you, you cannot refuse and must comply to help.
Of course, such summons are only effective during national life-and-death crises or when facing significant external threats; ordinarily, the Academy wouldn’t need you.
Like Wang Shouzhe, his wife Liua Ruolan has the same treatment.
However, Liua Ruolan practices the Profound Water True Technique, also an Upper Grade Technique inheritance from the Academy.
Let’s put aside idle chatter.
After confirming Wang Shouzhe’s technique had no issues, Ancestor Longyan asked, "Shouzhe, are you here at Longyan Residence for any important matter?"
Lately, Ancestor Longyan had been in seclusion, attempting to break through to the late stage of the Spirit Platform Realm, so clan members usually wouldn’t disturb him.
Wang Shouzhe coming at this time must be for an important matter.
"Ancestor, Liua Family’s Ancestor Xuanfu has returned from the Academy," Wang Shouzhe said softly, "Ruolan is currently accompanying her, she probably has important matters to discuss with you."
Liua Xuanfu and Wang Longyan, in their youth, were collectively called the Changning Double Beauties.
Their fame was unmatched at the time.
The two were also competing against each other at the Academy, each having thoughts and actions to not fall behind the other.
Overall, Ancestor Longyan was always a bit more formidable.
But their relationship remained very close.
Only after Ancestor Longyan experienced a significant upheaval did she stay with the Wang Family for fifty years, never to leave Changning.
Gradually, the two became estranged.
In truth, Ancestor Longyan didn’t want to see Ancestor Xuanfu, as her condition couldn’t be cured, so why watch Ancestor Xuanfu’s thriving demeanor and add to the distress?
Until later, she sought a marriage proposal for Wang Shouzhe, hoping to secure the family’s future.
Only then did she muster the resolve to visit Ancestor Xuanfu while she returned to the Liua Family.
No one knows what they discussed back then, but ultimately Ancestor Xuanfu agreed to the marriage.
Wang Shouzhe previously thought it was nothing, perhaps Ancestor Xuanfu remembered old affections, but now believes there must be a hidden cause.
Now he and his wife Liua Ruolan both stepped into the peak of the Qi Refining Realm, and Ancestor Xuanfu returned from the Academy, the hidden secrets from back then are likely to be unveiled.
Ancestor Longyan silently pondered before saying faintly, "It is indeed time to return. Shouzhe, please invite Ancestor Xuanfu and Ruolan here."
"Yes, Ancestor." Wang Shouzhe complied.
Soon after.
Ancestor Longyan, Ancestor Xuanfu, Liua Ruolan, and Wang Shouzhe met in the Longyan Residence.
At this moment.
Wang Shouzhe finally had the chance to discreetly look at the famous Ancestor Xuanfu.
He saw her dressed in a water blue palace attire, with a veil on her face, making it impossible to see her age or appearance, but she seemed to have beauty preservation techniques, as her figure looked quite good.
In contrast to Ancestor Longyan’s aura, which subtly carried a sharp blade-like edge.
Ancestor Xuanfu’s temperament was more gentle like water, making people feel vast like the seas, evidently having cultivated the Profound Water True Technique to a very high level.
"Congratulations, Cousin Longyan, you have accumulated over time and finally reached the late stage of the Spirit Platform Realm." Ancestor Xuanfu’s gaze was serene like water, resembling Ruolan in this aspect.
Ancestor Longyan replied faintly, "Compared to Cousin Xuanfu, I’m still far behind, it’s not worth mentioning."
"Cousin, you’ve endured a great ordeal to finally find peace and prosperity, and your future is promising. Perhaps you will step into the Celestial Human Realm even before me. If Binglan Ascendant hears of this, they will surely be gratified. I’m wondering, Cousin, do you have intentions to return to the Academy? I could lend a hand in some matters." Ancestor Xuanfu suggested.
Ancestor Longyan, however, furrowed her brows slightly with some displeasure, "No need for you to meddle in the matters between me and my Master."
It’s evident that the emotions between Ancestor Longyan and Ancestor Xuanfu, these cousins, are quite complex.
It’s no wonder, as Ancestor Longyan once overshadowed Ancestor Xuanfu, and now their cultivation levels have reversed. With Ancestor Longyan’s pride, there must be a hidden dissatisfaction within.
"Let’s discuss the matter at hand," Ancestor Longyan clearly did not want to dwell on it, she then turned to Wang Shouzhe and said, "Shouzhe, previously I did not reveal this matter to you. Firstly, it was to prevent distraction, and secondly, it is of no benefit.
Wang Shouzhe adjusted his posture to listen carefully, he understood Ancestor Longyan was about to disclose that secret.
"This is the greatest secret of our Ping’an Wang Family," Ancestor Longyan’s eyes looked slightly lost, as if recalling past events, "Shouzhe, do you know why Ancestor Zhou Xuan came to open up Ping’an Town back then?"
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