Book 5: Chapter 73: My family's young master, who do you think you are to teach him a lesson?! |
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But ultimately, fortune or misfortune, one cannot escape fate.
Now, with the family facing a great crisis, even if the Ancestor of the Ji Clan is internally collapsing, he must still step forward.
Taking a deep breath, he straightened his back, clasped his hands behind him, and said loudly, "Your presence is overwhelming and fiery. Could it be that you are the First Ancestor of the prestigious Jing'an Wei Clan, the True Lord of Blazing Fire with the power to burn the heavens and boil the seas?"
"Haha~ How could I dare claim such a title? I, Wei, merely possess some minor skills. The talk of burning the heavens and boiling the seas is too much praise." The Wei-named Void Realm powerhouse at the door laughed heartily, his demeanor quite humble.
Jing'an Wei Clan?
Wang Anye frowned slightly.
With such a renowned name in the Immortal Dynasty, the Wang Clan naturally had some preliminary intelligence on them.
Jing'an Prefecture is one of the nine prefectures of the Immortal Dynasty, located in the north, and is famous for its rich mineral resources.
Moreover, mineral resources are quite unique.
Except for a few shallow deposits, most veins are deep underground, and even with the most advanced technology, they are difficult to fully explore. The underground environment is extremely complex, with various interferences and crisscrossing earth veins, making it unpredictable what strange situations might occur.
Sometimes, the upper half of a vein might be a waste mine, but the lower half could suddenly intersect with another valuable vein.
Therefore, mining is like gambling, with a significant element of luck. If you find something, you profit.
But because of this, disputes and conflicts are easily bred.
To compete for ownership of mineral resources, various families in Jing'an Prefecture frequently have conflicts, sometimes even escalating into bloody clashes, making the living environment much harsher than in other prefectures.
As for why the Wei Clan hasn't moved their main residence to the Immortal City?
Naturally, it's because the Wei Clan holds high prestige in Jing'an Prefecture, with a wide range of industries. Many families with disputes don't even go to the Lord of the Prefecture but instead seek the Wei Clan for mediation.
As Emperor Longchang once said, the Wei Clan is like the local emperor of Jing'an Prefecture, much like how the Changning Wang Clan doesn't bother moving their main residence to Guilong City.
With the economic strength brought by vast mineral resources, the Jing'an Wei Clan has been developing better and better, possessing two great manuals and alternating Void Realm inheritances.
Such a family is among the top even in the first-class families of the Immortal Dynasty. Compared to the Ji Clan, it's like the difference between an elephant and an ant.
While Wang Anye was organizing the intelligence on the Wei Clan in his mind, the Ancestor of the Ji Clan had already welcomed the Wei Clan members inside.
The Wei Clan had brought quite a few people this time, including the First Ancestor, True Lord of Blazing Fire Wei Dongyu, and several family guards, as well as a handsome and extraordinary young man.
This young man wore a purple outfit, with a magnificent ancient sword on his back. His demeanor was like that of a refined gentleman from ancient books, elegant and noble.
"I am Wei Qingyun of the Jing'an Wei Clan, paying respects to all the ancestors and seniors." Wei Qingyun greeted gracefully, especially bowing to Yao Yuangang, the husband of the Chaoyang King, "Qingyun pays respects to the husband of the Chaoyang King."
Yao Yuangang looked him up and down, his attitude indifferent, "Qingyun, I've heard of your name. Are you currently working with the Jing'an Princess?"
"Your memory is impressive, sir." Wei Qingyun replied respectfully, "I once accompanied the Jing'an Princess to the Chaoyang King's residence and had the honor of meeting the Chaoyang King. Unfortunately, you were not at home at that time, and I regretted not witnessing your presence. I never expected to meet you at the Ji Clan today, which is a pleasant surprise and fulfills my previous regret."
The Jing'an Princess and the Chaoyang King have a relatively close relationship.
This is not only because they both belong to the Yun Clan but also relates to the inheritance of the Chaoyang King's manual.
According to the laws of the Immortal Dynasty and the ancestral rules of the Yun Clan, the Chaoyang King's manual does not belong to her personally but to the entire Yun Clan, and only a princess can inherit it.
Now that the Chaoyang King is aging, her manual will soon have a new owner, and the most suitable candidate for inheritance is the Jing'an Princess.
After some small talk, Yao Yuangang turned his gaze to Wei Dongyu, the Ancestor, with a stern expression, "True Lord of Blazing Fire, it's been a long time since you've shown yourself. What brings you to the Chaoyang Ji Clan this time?"
"Haha~" Wei Dongyu laughed heartily, "I won't beat around the bush. Naturally, I'm here for the Sword and Formation Manual."
Yao Yuangang's face froze.
As expected, now that the Ji Clan has fallen to this point, lacking talent and industry, if not for the manual, why would the True Lord of Blazing Fire, a mighty Void Realm powerhouse, travel thousands of miles to this place?
However, upon hearing this, the Ancestor of the Ji Clan's face turned even more grim.
Suppressing his anger, he cupped his hands and asked, "May I ask, True Lord, how did you come to know that our Ji Clan possesses the manual?"
"Ancestor Yuanxing, your clan's Young Master Yanxiu is quite close to our clan's Qingyun. He often laments that the Sword and Formation Manual has been gathering dust for seven or eight thousand years without an inheritor." Wei Dongyu explained, "So, he discussed with Qingyun about gifting the manual to our Qingyun in exchange for a huge fortune."
This explanation is quite similar to the one from the Chaoyang King's residence.
"Ji Yanxiu!" The Ancestor of the Ji Clan staggered back a few steps, blood trickling from his mouth, his eyes vacant, "Traitor, traitor! Our Ji Clan once had such grandeur, with hopes of becoming a first-class family. But after the passing of Ancestor Wuchen, each generation has been worse than the last. Now, in this generation, there are even two traitors selling out the clan for glory!"
"Ancestor Grandfather."
Ji Yanxiu rushed out from the crowd, kneeling before the Ancestor of the Ji Clan, his face full of guilt, his voice tinged with a sob, "It's my incompetence, after using so many of the family's resources, I still couldn't inherit the manual."
"But, Ancestor Grandfather. Since Ancestor Wuchen's passing, our Ji Clan has been obsessed with inheriting the Sword and Formation Manual, neglecting the fundamental management of ourselves, leading to our current decline. I believe that since the manual's inheritance conditions are harsh, why should we hang ourselves on this one tree? Why not use it to exchange for a chance for the family to rise again!"
"Yanxiu acted on his own, knowing he is guilty, and dares not ask for the Ancestor's forgiveness. Once it's done, Yanxiu will accept any punishment from the Ancestor."
With that, he kowtowed heavily to Ji Yuanxing.
"Traitor, traitor! Each and every one of you is a traitor ruining the family!" The Ancestor of the Ji Clan cursed to the sky, his body trembling, overwhelmed with grief and anger, "It's my fault for not protecting this family, for failing our ancestors~~"
Ancestor!
A group of Ji Clan juniors, seeing the situation turn dire, rushed forward, hugging the Ancestor and crying bitterly. Even Ji Qianqian was emotionally stirred, her eyes red.
For a moment, the entrance to the Ji Clan's main residence was engulfed in a sorrowful atmosphere.
Hidden among the crowd, Wang Anye couldn't help but feel a sense of helplessness at this scene.
He couldn't resist quietly asking Ji Wuchen, "Master, didn't you say that the Sword and Formation Manual was hidden very securely, in a place no one knew? How come it seems like everyone knows about it now?"
"This…" Ji Wuchen was also embarrassed, after a moment, he explained with shame and helplessness, "Before I went to the Demon Dynasty for revenge, knowing the journey was uncertain and life and death unpredictable, I left a contingency plan for my son to prevent the manual from being lost if I didn't return."
Wang Anye immediately understood everything.
It turned out that Master had left a backup plan, revealing the information to the Ji Clan to prevent any accidents.
And since he hadn't returned for so many years, the descendants of the Ji Clan naturally assumed he was dead, and the Sword and Formation Manual gradually became considered their own.
Yet, the Ji Clan itself was not up to the task. Over the years, not a single clan member could inherit the manual, and the family became increasingly impoverished, to the point of selling the manual for resources.
Moreover, one person selling it was already outrageous, but now two core members were selling the manual, which was unheard of and could be considered bizarre.
"Anye, no matter what, you are the true inheritor of the Sword and Formation Manual." Ji Wuchen said angrily, "No matter what, we can't let these people succeed."
"Yes, Master, I will do my best." Wang Anye replied.
While the master and disciple were secretly conversing, the Ancestor of the Ji Clan had already recovered from the heartache of his clan's betrayal and began to roar, "Get out! All of you, get out! Even if our Ji Clan is in decline, we will not sell the manual left by our ancestors. Wei Dongyu, Yao Yuangang, don't push us too far!"
Hearing these words, the expressions of Wei Dongyu and Yao Yuangang turned exceptionally cold.
Wei Dongyu immediately sneered, "Ancestor Yuanxing, I advise you not to mistake our courtesy for kindness."
"What?" The Ancestor of the Ji Clan glared, "Our Ji Clan doesn't want to sell it, and you, the Wei Clan, intend to seize it by force? This is Chaoyang Prefecture, under the protection of the Chaoyang Lord. Do you really think the laws of the Immortal Dynasty are just for show?"
"Ancestor Yuanxing, your words are incorrect." Yao Yuangang, the husband of the Chaoyang King, frowned, "We would never violate the laws of the Immortal Dynasty. However, the Sword and Formation Manual is not strictly your Ji Clan's property, but was created by the late senior Chen Jianming three thousand years ago, who compiled it from ancient texts. Senior Chen Jianming set the rule that this manual can only be passed down through master-disciple inheritance."
"Indeed." True Lord of Blazing Fire Wei Dongyu added, "Your Ji Clan's Ancestor Ji Wuchen also received the Sword and Formation Manual from his master. Just because your Ancestor Ji Wuchen obtained the manual and hid it away, does that make it your family's property?"
"If your Ji Clan had the ability to inherit it, that would be one thing, but unfortunately, after seven or eight thousand years, the manual remains gathering dust."
"The Sword and Formation Manual is a treasure of the human race. Since the late senior Ji Wuchen has passed and cannot take on disciples, it should naturally choose its inheritor on its own, allowing the capable to obtain it."
The two Void Realm powerhouses spoke one after another, leaving the Ancestor of the Ji Clan trembling, unable to utter a single word.
Though they were overbearing, their words were reasonable.
"Hmph!" Ji Wuchen said displeased, "Anye, let's reveal ourselves and let them know that you are my designated inheritor of the manual. Let's see what they have to say then."
"Wait." Wang Anye quickly stopped Ji Wuchen, "Master, let's observe the situation first. Moreover, given the current circumstances, it's not suitable to reveal that I am the designated inheritor."
He felt a bit embarrassed.
Master is excellent in many ways, but he's too straightforward and impulsive. Otherwise, he wouldn't have risked going to the Demon Dynasty for revenge before reaching the Void Realm.
In the current situation, revealing his identity as the inheritor would only unite the Chaoyang King's residence and the Wei Clan against him.
"Anye, you have a point." Ji Wuchen calmed down, pondering, "The matter of the manual is significant. The Chaoyang King's residence and the Wei Clan seem determined to obtain it. If they find out you're my disciple, who knows if they'll resort to underhanded tactics. Our goal is to safely meet Sword Ji and Formation Ji first. Once we meet them, they'll surely accept you."
"Master, does our manual have two spirit artifacts?" Wang Anye asked in confusion.
"Of course, our manual is the Sword and Formation Dual Mastery, and both Sword Ji and Formation Ji can fight independently. When they combine, their power becomes incredibly strong." Ji Wuchen said with great emotion, "Back in the day, I made a name for myself in the Immortal Dynasty with the Sword and Formation Dual Mastery, even earning praise from the Immortal Emperor himself."
"You must know, the Immortal Emperor's standards are very high. Not many manuals in the entire Immortal Dynasty have received such an honor."
While the master and disciple were talking, Wei Dongyu, the Ancestor of the Wei Clan, after giving a slap, began offering a "sweet date."
He paused briefly before continuing, "However, while the Sword and Formation Manual is a treasure of the human race, the Ji Clan has safeguarded it for so many years, and there's merit in that. How about this, Brother Yuangang, let's make an agreement here. No matter which of our families inherits the manual in the future, we won't treat the Ji Clan unfairly."
"Brother Wei is right. Our Chaoyang King's residence will not be stingy."
The two of them, singing in harmony, also comforted the Ji Clan.
After all, the manual was not yet in their hands, and they feared that if the Ji Clan caused a commotion, it would attract all sorts of troublemakers, increasing the competition and lowering the chances of Wei Qingyun and Yuntai An obtaining the manual.
Even though they had confidence in their children, they knew that the Immortal Dynasty always had no shortage of outstanding young people.
Today's Immortal Dynasty is not what it was tens of thousands of years ago, with intense internal competition.
The number of manuals is limited, but there are quite a few young people qualified to compete for them. Therefore, many families have talented individuals who, despite their excellent qualifications, fall short in the competition.
If they attract a formidable opponent, it would be difficult to handle.
With the two of them singing in harmony, the anger on the Ancestor of the Ji Clan's face gradually turned to despondency.
At this point, what room does he have for resistance?
In terms of reasoning, his family has no ground to stand on. In terms of strength, his family is barely better than ants in front of the Chaoyang King's residence and the Jing'an Wei Clan.
If the Chaoyang King's residence and the Wei Clan disregard their reputation and act forcefully, there's nothing he can do. After all, from a legal standpoint, the Ji Clan is at most a caretaker of the manual, with priority in inheritance but no right to block others.
"In that case, I have nothing more to say." The Ancestor of the Ji Clan sighed helplessly, "However, the Sword and Formation Manual has a temper. It set a rule long ago that only those undergoing the trial can enter within five hundred miles of the Sword Tomb. Others are not allowed to interfere."
"Since the two young masters wish to gain the manual's recognition, let our Ji Yanxiu lead them. Whether they succeed or fail, it will depend on the Sword and Formation Dual Masters' choice."
"Very well." Wei Dongyu laughed heartily, "In that case, I will chat with the husband of the Chaoyang King at the Ji Clan. As for who will inherit the manual, it will depend on the young people's abilities."
"Thank you, Ancestor Yuanxing." Yao Yuangang nodded in satisfaction.
Although there were some unexpected events, he believed in his family's Yuntai An. With his talent in swordsmanship, he was sure to gain the manual's recognition.
As they spoke, Wei Qingyun and Yuntai An were already preparing to leave after bidding farewell to their ancestors. Meanwhile, Ji Yanxiu, who had been kneeling, wiped his tears and stood up to lead the way for them.
"Wait!"
At this moment, Ji Qianqian, who had been supporting Ji Yuanxing, could no longer hold back and spoke coldly, "I also want to participate in the manual trial."
"Qianqian, you…" The Ancestor of the Ji Clan was taken aback, then realized and reprimanded, "To participate in the manual trial, one must at least be a great prodigy. Don't cause trouble here."
"Ancestor Grandfather, I have gained recognition from the Purple Void Holy Land through my efforts and have achieved the rank of a great prodigy." Ji Qianqian slightly raised her delicate face, her eyes filled with determination, "I know that with the bloodline qualification of just entering the great prodigy level, the hope of gaining the inheritance is slim, but I still want to try."
Ancestor Yuanxing was stunned for a moment, then a glimmer of light returned to his previously despondent face, and tears welled up in his eyes, "Good, good, Ancestor Grandfather did not misjudge you. Then go and try, even if it's just to gain some experience."
"Welcome, Miss Ji, to the competition." Wei Qingyun smiled elegantly at Ji Qianqian, his demeanor warm and charming, "Having a lady accompany us will certainly add to the excitement."
His relaxed demeanor clearly showed that he did not take Ji Qianqian seriously.
Just a great prodigy of the lowest rank, how could she compete with him? Only Yuntai An was worthy of his attention.
"So, Young Master Wei likes excitement? Then you'll like what's coming next even more." Ji Qianqian suppressed her anger, her tone carrying a hint of sarcasm.
With that, she suddenly turned her gaze towards Wang Anye, who was hidden among the crowd.
"Young Master Anye is exceptionally talented and has studied formations and swordsmanship. Why not join us in the trial?"
Swish, swish, swish!
In an instant, all eyes were on Wang Anye.
Especially the two Void Realm powerhouses, their gazes sharp as if trying to see through Wang Anye's background.
For an ordinary young person, being stared at by two Void Realm powerhouses would likely make their legs weak. However, Wang Anye, a member of the Wang Clan who had seen many storms, remained calm.
He walked out unhurriedly, saluting everyone, "Thank you, Miss Ji, for the invitation. I was just thinking of giving it a try."
"Where did you come from, kid? What qualifications do you have to participate in the trial?" Wei Dongyu's eyes narrowed, and an overwhelming pressure bore down on Wang Anye.
However, the result was disappointing for him.
Wang Anye didn't make any noticeable moves, simply standing there with his hands behind his back, effortlessly withstanding the storm-like pressure, remaining as steady as a mountain, unfazed by the intimidation.
Defeating Wang Anye with Void Realm strength would be easy, but killing him would be extremely difficult. As for using pressure, a method more intimidating than actually harmful, to suppress Wang Anye, that was a dream.
Not to mention Wang Anye, even Wang Fugui wouldn't be intimidated.
"What do you mean, senior?" Wang Anye said calmly, "Earlier, you mentioned that the Sword and Formation Manual is a treasure of the human race, and should be 'obtained by the capable.' Are you saying that as a person from the Eastern Qian Kingdom, I am not part of the human race?"
"Arrogant brat! How dare you speak to a senior like this, have you no manners?!" Wei Dongyu's face darkened, raising his right hand abruptly.
In an instant, infinite fire-element spiritual energy gathered from the heavens and earth.
As if receiving a command from a king, the fire-element spiritual energy condensed and compressed, transforming into a physical form, with sparks filling the sky, and then compressing and collapsing.
This is an ability only possessed by a Void Realm powerhouse who has mastered a certain law. Where the power of the law reaches, he is the king and ruler of that realm.
In the blink of an eye, a giant hand burning with fierce flames appeared in the sky, slamming down towards Wang Anye.
He didn't intend to kill Wang Anye, just to teach him a lesson, so he didn't use much force.
However, even so, a casual strike from a Void Realm powerhouse still posed a significant threat to a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator like Wang Anye.
The scorching air swept across the sky, the searing heat spreading wildly.
This seemingly casual strike was like a sea of fire pouring down, or molten lava erupting, exuding an incredibly terrifying power.
The faces of those present changed drastically, feeling as if the surrounding air was being burned away by the flames, even their breath was taken away.
Under this strike, Wang Anye would be severely injured if not dead!
For a moment, the atmosphere was suffocatingly oppressive.
"How dare you, old dog!"
Amidst the overwhelming power, a melodious female voice suddenly rang out.
The next moment.
A graceful female cultivator appeared like a phantom in front of Anye, flipping her delicate hand, and a gray mist shot into the sky.
In an instant, the fire-element spiritual energy that had been gathering wildly seemed to be disrupted, suddenly stalling, then dispersing.
This was a clash of laws, a collision of mastery.
At the same time.
A giant gray snake appeared in the sky.
With a series of hisses, the giant snake's massive body coiled and sprang, shooting towards the flaming giant hand in the sky, crashing into it.
"Boom, boom, boom~!"
Amidst the violent explosions, a terrifying shockwave spread out, as if a storm of energy had swept through the world, causing the main gate of the Ji Clan's residence to tremble under the chaotic energy, seemingly about to be torn into splinters at any moment.
The rampaging energy shockwave blurred the vision and senses of those present, making it difficult to see the details within the shockwave, only able to vaguely glimpse a slender white figure through the turbulent energy.
As the shockwave gradually dissipated, everyone finally saw clearly that the one standing in front of Wang Anye was a young woman in a pure white dress.
She had a beautiful face, a well-proportioned figure, and the tailored dress accentuated her slender waist, highlighting her snow-white skin, as flawless as jade, leaving a lasting impression.
But more memorable than her figure was her fiery red hair and snake-like golden vertical pupils.
Such hair color and features might not be rare in the Demon Dynasty, but in the Immortal Dynasty, where black hair and eyes are the norm, they were unique and unforgettable.
This woman was naturally Ji Yue'er, the only Void Realm enshrined by the Wang Clan.
After joining the Wang Clan, out of respect for the Wang Clan's matriarch, Ji Yue'er had restrained her behavior compared to her time in the Demon Dynasty, changing her style from crimson gauze to a simple white dress.
But a beauty is a beauty, and even with her sharpness restrained, she merely adopted a different style, remaining strikingly eye-catching.
She stood in front of Wang Anye, her gaze coldly fixed on Wei Dongyu, "Ignorant old fool! You've become too accustomed to being the local emperor in Jing'an Prefecture, haven't you? Acting so arrogantly. Who do you think you are to discipline our Young Master? If our family head finds out, you'll be in trouble."
"Young Master?"
Wei Dongyu's expression turned uncertain upon hearing this.
Which family's young master could command a Void Realm powerhouse to call him Young Master?
Moreover, from her tone, she seemed to hold great respect for the family head she mentioned. What kind of terrifying figure could make a Void Realm powerhouse willingly serve as a subordinate?
Could it be someone in the late Void Realm?
He was filled with doubt and hesitation, not daring to act rashly.
However, Wei Dongyu didn't know that he had misunderstood.
The mysterious and powerful Wang Clan head he imagined was actually just a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator, with a long way to go before reaching the Void Realm.
But it wasn't surprising that Ji Yue'er held Wang Shouzhe in such awe, even more so than when facing the Blood Child Demon Lord.
Wang Shouzhe's fearsome nature lay not in his strength, but in his strategy, his grasp of human nature, his terrifyingly keen insight, and his foresight that was always a step ahead.
Ji Yue'er still remembered how she and the Blood Child Demon Lord were manipulated by Master Wang Shouzhe, every reaction calculated. In front of Master Wang Shouzhe, she felt like a puppet, moving east when he commanded, never west.
She still recalled the chilling moment when she learned the truth.
Such ability to control and manipulate was truly terrifying.
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