The flying carriage traveled all the way to Dumb Donkey Plain. Wang Xianzhou picked up the two boys, stowed his magical artifact, and slowly descended before the Patriarch.
Handing the storage bag to the Patriarch, the forr prodigy of the Wang Clan said, "It went smoothly enough. I ran into the Foundation Establishnt cultivators from the Valley Spirit Sect and blackmailed twenty thousand spirit stones out of them."
With that, he turned and left.
The Patriarch looked at the two thousand spirit stones inside the storage bag with doubt in his heart. However, knowing this was earned by Wang Xianzhou himself, he did not dare say more and quietly accepted it.
It could only be said that there was a reason why Ning Qianqian of the Huishan Prefecture Ning Clan and Wang Xianzhou of the Anbei Kingdom Wang Clan had once caught each other's eyes.
From this, one could see how chaotic Wang Xianzhou's state of mind was, which also explained why Ning Qianqian had fled so quickly back then.
Sitting cross-legged on the platform, the Patriarch did not rise. He rely waved his hand lightly, causing two chairs to grow out of the ground for the young n, fully displaying his profound mastery of wood magic.
"Co, sit. Yulou, how did your talk with Zhou Yingxi go?"
His very first question shook Yulou to the core.
"Zhou Yingxi? Is her na not Mu Yingxi?" Yulou asked in surprise.
Yu'an did not understand what the two were discussing, but he had already learned when to remain silent.
"Oh? Did you call her by the wrong na?
Mu Changze married into the Zhou family as a live-in son-in-law, so his daughter naturally takes the surna Zhou.
I know you might be displeased with the arrangent I made for you.
But Yulou, opportunities like this are rare. Once you agree, a legacy disciple position is yours."
The sheer amount of information was staggering. Yulou analyzed it rapidly, and as realization struck him, he froze in place.
Ning Qianqian, Gushen Qingyuan, Mu Changze, Wang Xianzhou...
It connected. Everything connected. So that was how it was.
How could the proud and outstanding Wang Xianzhou ever look down upon soone like Mu Changze?
"Patriarch, I naturally would not reject an opportunity, but I was born into the Wang Clan. I am unwilling to beco a live-in son-in-law and endure the whims of others.
Most importantly, the Wang Clan birthed and raised , and even avenged my parents. How could I cast the clan aside so easily?"
Seeing how sensible Yulou was, the Patriarch did not feel happy; he only felt an aching heartache.
"However, Yulou does indeed have so questions he wishes to ask."
The Patriarch tended to the makeshift tea table. As he brewed the tea, he replied, "Speak. You are ho now, so there is no need to be so cautious. Relax, relax."
A wave of warmth filled Yulou's heart. He spoke slowly, recounting his entire conversation with Zhou Yingxi. Beside him, Yu'an broke out into a cold sweat just listening.
An opportunity for the Purple Palace!
This was a chance at the Purple Palace Realm!
Even if there were issues, it was still a path to the Purple Palace!
Right now, they could only cultivate for a few hours each day. But if the Wang Clan had a Purple Palace cultivator, the future descendants of the clan could enjoy the absolute best cultivation conditions during the Qi Induction stage.
Big Brother, you are being foolish!
"...Therefore, I concluded that she was concealing sothing from . That is why I wrote the letter overnight, wishing to consult you in person."
Yulou held his teacup without drinking. Only after finishing his explanation in one breath did he take a careful sip.
"This spiritual tea? Grade eight?"
As the rising spiritual energy surged through his ridians, Yulou found that his cultivation limit for the day had actually been completely filled by a single sip of tea.
"Grade seven. Yu'an, you drink so too."
Unsure of how to answer Yulou's question in a way that would be easy for him to accept, the Patriarch could only urge Yu'an to drink.
He knew very well that Yulou was highly understanding. Even if the answer was cruel, Yulou would comprehend.
Yet, the more sensible the boy was, the harder it beca for the Patriarch to speak.
"Delicious!"
With just one sip, Yu'an cried out in pleasant surprise.
The Patriarch smiled and tapped the silly boy's head, saying, "Hahaha, go and rest first. Elder Crane, go, escort Yu'an down."
Yu'an looked at his older brother, then at the Patriarch. He wanted to say sothing, but in the end, he left obediently.
He wanted to urge his brother to accept Zhou Yingxi's conditions, but he also understood his brother's resolve.
Indeed, the Wang family was wonderful. Wang Family Mountain might be small, but the spiritual fruits were sweet, the donkey at was delicious, and the spiritual spring was crisp. How was it any inferior to other places?
Within Wang Family Mountain, the sky was clear and the air was crisp. Patriarch Wang Xianmao sat across from Yulou and spoke solemnly.
"Your guess is correct. The Zhou family's thod of jointly opening a Purple Palace indeed has issues.
Opening a Purple Palace requires all five ridians of the Dao foundation to be complete before a Purple Mansion Minor Cave Heaven can be ford.
The Zhou family's secret thod can save the expenses required to cultivate the five foundational ridians, but Zhou Yingxi's cultivation base is higher than yours, so she will achieve Foundation Establishnt sooner.
With the Zhou family's resources, she will certainly open three ridians, leaving you to open two. Once the Purple Palace is jointly opened, she will be the master and you will be the subordinate.
The Purple Mansion Minor Cave Heaven you open will reside within her body. In other words, you will possess the cultivation level of the Purple Palace but none of its actual power, let alone the near-infinite lifespan that cos with it.
However, I naturally did not intend to push you into a fire pit.
If Patriarch Mangxiang successfully attains his Golden Core, you can use the Zhou family's resources to safely cultivate two foundational ridians first.
In the future, you could enter the tutelage of True Person Xuanzhuan or even the Patriarch himself. You would not have to bear the karma of that relationship!"
Yulou was left utterly dumbfounded.
Brilliant. The Zhou family was plotting against his person, while the Patriarch was plotting against the Zhou family's resources.
"We won't have to bear the karma?"
To freely leech resources from a Purple Palace clan—the Patriarch's boldness was truly staggering.
The Patriarch nodded slowly, speaking with a touch of pain, "Yes. The Zhou family already bears a deep, profound grudge against the Patriarch.
If Patriarch Mangxiang can achieve the Golden Core realm, nothing will happen.
If the Patriarch fails, Yulou, your entry into the Zhou family would ensure our Wang Clan does not decline for the next seven hundred years.
Of course, all of this depends entirely on you. Since you are unwilling now, we shall speak no more of it!"
Yulou remained silent.
This was an immortal cultivation version of a gamble, wagering Wang Yulou's future and the future of the entire Wang Clan.
The Patriarch was bold and visionary, and fortunately, the Wang Clan held the power of choice in this matter.
Now, that choice had been laid at Yulou's feet.
The Patriarch's words might have sounded like moral blackmail, but Yulou knew the Patriarch would never do such a thing.
The reason the Patriarch was so conflicted was simply because it was an incredibly painful choice, and Wang Xianmao felt ashad facing Yulou.
"Though Yulou is not a supre talent, I wish to try opening the Purple Palace on my own. I do not want to beco a stepping stone for Zhou Yingxi.
Moreover, even if sothing goes awry with the Patriarch's breakthrough, my brothers like Yu'an and I can shoulder the responsibility of the family."
Yulou answered resolutely, then asked about another matter.
"What exactly is the lifespan of the Purple Palace? You said it is near-infinite, is that true?"
Wang Xianmao looked up at the floating clouds in the sky. With a mixture of yearning and dread, he spoke slowly.
"Opening the Purple Palace itself extends one's lifespan by six cycles of the heavenly stems, which is over seven hundred years of life.
However, the unique Purple Mansion Minor Cave Heaven of a Purple Palace cultivator exists independently outside of this world. Once the cultivator enters it, their lifespan freezes.
Cultivators like True Person Danri and True Person Xuanzhuan, who rarely walk the mortal world, can easily live for tens of thousands of years.
The Patriarch himself has existed for at least over two thousand years. As for the exact number, our Wang Clan has no way of knowing."
Swept away by the shock, Yulou found himself at a loss for words. He too looked up at the clear, bright sky.
The weather was beautiful and Wang Family Mountain was magnificent, yet Yulou's heart felt incredibly bitter.
This was no immortal cultivation world; this was hell, a breeding ground for immortals.
Every cultivator who failed to reach the Purple Palace was nothing more than livestock kept in a cage!
The two sat in silence for a long ti before Yulou spoke with difficulty, "Is there sothing special about ? You seed certain that Zhou Yingxi could only choose ?"
Looking at the sensible Yulou, the Patriarch felt comforted at first, followed by another pang of heartache.
He could no longer rember how many tis his heart had ached today.
'Child, you are too intelligent, and far too sensible.'
'How could I, Wang Xianmao, allow my most sensible child to bear the cost?'
'If a price must be paid, it should be , the Patriarch, who goes first!'
He waved his hand and leaned back against the tree trunk. Resting one hand on his knee, he forced a carefree smile and replied, "The Zhou family also fears that the Patriarch will smoothly attain his Golden Core, yet they dare not interfere openly.
Yulou, think no more on it. You are right.
Our Wang Clan achieved everything we have today through the struggles of generations of ancestors, not by relying on patrons or marriage alliances!
I was too obsessed, I was too obsessed!"
Wiping away the tears that had inexplicably welled in his eyes, Wang Xianmao suddenly missed his eldest brother.
'Eldest Brother, the Wang Clan has produced another Qilin child, one no lesser than brother Xianzhou.'
'You should have held on for a few more years to see him before you left.'
'The Patriarch has drained the Wang Clan dry. They bully us too much. What am I supposed to do?'
"Patriarch... Yulou is already well-satisfied just to have a chance at the Purple Palace."
Wang Yulou was speaking the truth. A terrifying cage locked down the Wang Clan, trapping everyone who had not reached the Purple Palace.
To marry into a wealthy clan, gain a beautiful Dao companion for free, and secure a chance at the Purple Palace to live for another seven or eight hundred years—was that not already a heavenly existence?
It was enough.
After learning the horrific truth, Yulou's expectations were no longer so high.
"Nonsense! What does a boy like you know? The Zhou family might not even succeed in letting you and Zhou Yingxi open the Purple Palace.
Look at how miserable Wondrous Peak Mountain has beco just to produce another Purple Palace cultivator; they are the best example.
Do not ntion that matter again!" the Patriarch scolded sharply.
"Is it because the Patriarch's path to the Golden Core is also difficult to achieve?" Yulou asked softly.
Wang Xianmao recalled his conversation with Mu Changze and replied, "Mu Changze said the Zhou family is afraid of the Patriarch's success, so it should go smoothly, right?"
"What they say might not be true. Patriarch, we must make preparations early."
"What can we even do?"
Yulou fell silent. He was a transmigrator; he understood many concepts, concepts that the societal structures of this world could never give birth to.
But this cage was too cruel, and the young Yulou could not find an answer.
Yulou gently closed his eyes, and the Jade Ruyi within his mind stirred slightly.
'Can it help break this deadlock?'
'It should. It definitely can.'
'True Person Shen Guang was real. At the very least, the Wang Clan witnessed his legend unfold step by step.'
'Therefore, there must be a chance to break out of this cage! There definitely is!'
"True Person Shen Guang could beco a True Person step by step. Our Wang Clan has a chance as well," Yulou answered firmly.
Seeing Yulou so full of confidence, the gloom on the Patriarch's face finally gave way to a vivid expression.
Indeed, as long as the Wang Clan stood united, there would always be a chance!
"Co, our Wang family cannot provide you with a minor cave-heaven, but we do not lack spiritual food.
Elder Crane, notify everyone to slaughter a donkey. We shall all enjoy a whole-donkey feast together."
Yulou hurriedly stopped the Patriarch, saying, "Patriarch, my cultivation has already reached its limit for today!"
Ruffling Yulou's hair, Wang Xianmao carried him down toward Dumb Donkey Plain.
"Hahaha, actually, one of the donkeys suffered a heatstroke, so it's the perfect ti to dress it. You just eat."
"Ah? Heatstroke? Isn't it spring right now? Besides, how can a spiritual donkey get heatstroke?"
"Look at that donkey over there, lying on the ground without moving an inch. If that isn't heatstroke, what is?"
"Patriarch, it looks like it's just sleeping..."
"Sleeping in broad daylight? It's clearly a lazy donkey at a glance. Let's pick that one!"
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