Gongsun Clan's "Young Clan Leader"

Spirit Awakening Pills could improve one's aptitude. It was said that a grandmaster of alchemy had specially developed this medicinal pill to improve humanity's cultivation aptitude.

That grandmaster of alchemy had poured a lifetime of effort into developing the Spirit Awakening Pill, but the result had still been rather disappointing, because it only offered a slight improvement to those with lower-grade Xuanwu aptitude.

Moreover, it could only improve Xuanwu aptitude by a small amount; the effect was far from obvious.

Even so, to a Ninth-Rank Minor Aristocratic Clan like the Ping'an Wang Clan, Spirit Awakening Pills were already exceptionally high-grade "divine pills."

This was especially true for someone like Wang Shouzhe, whose lower-grade Xuanwu aptitude was at the first-class level. It was immensely practical for him. People said he was a youthful genius, only half a step behind Ancestor Longyan in her day, bearing the hopes of the clan's future.

Yet Wang Shouzhe himself knew perfectly well that while his aptitude was already considered quite good within the Changning Guard, giving him considerable hope of reaching the Spirit Platform Realm in the future, it was not worth mentioning if one looked across all of Longzuo Prefecture. His overall qualifications merely met Purple Mansion Academy's admission requirements; whether they would accept him still depended on subsequent tests.

Fortunately, even among those with lower-grade first-class aptitude, Wang Shouzhe stood at the very top. He was only a thread away from middle-grade aptitude. If he had the chance to take a Spirit Awakening Pill, he might well climb a hundred-foot pole and advance another step, entering the ranks of those with middle-grade aptitude. That would change everything.

Ancestor Longyan, Wang Longyan, possessed genuine middle-grade aptitude.

Among Changning Guard's population of several hundred thousand, the likelihood of producing someone with middle-grade aptitude was very low. Once one appeared, even Purple Mansion Academy would actively compete for them, focusing on their cultivation from the moment they entered the Academy.

However, Spirit Awakening Pills were third-grade spirit pills, and their production was extremely scarce. Even when Ancestor Zhouxuan had still been alive, he might not have been able to guarantee obtaining one.

Seeing the uncertainty in Wang Shouzhe's eyes, Wang Luojing obediently said, "Fourth Brother, I'll work hard and do my best to get you a Spirit Awakening Pill."

"Luojing, don't spoil your Fourth Brother too much." Gongsun Hui smiled and patted her head. "If you can keep these Amethyst Spirit Bees alive, then keep them alive. If you can't, it doesn't matter much. Raising a swarm from just a few Amethyst Spirit Bee pupae isn't an easy task. If you fail, treat it as gaining experience. Don't put too much pressure on yourself."

"Eldest Aunt is right," Wang Shouzhe hurriedly said as well. "Luojing, I bought this honeycomb for you to play with in the first place. It doesn't matter if it goes to waste. A Spirit Insect Master's experience cannot be accumulated in a day or two."

Wang Luojing was only twelve years old. On Earth, she would still have been an elementary school sixth-grader. Wang Shouzhe certainly did not want to put too much pressure on her.

"Fifth Aunt, Fourth Brother, I understand." Wang Luojing answered obediently. Then, cradling the Amethyst Spirit Bee honeycomb, she began studying it slowly off to the side. Her gaze was utterly focused and fascinated, as though she had been given her most beloved toy.

Only then did Wang Shouzhe remember that his Fifth Sister seemed somewhat different from ordinary people. She had been obsessed with insects from birth. Even her biological elder brother, Wang Shounuo, had said that when Luojing was two or three years old, she could squat in the courtyard and watch ants for days and nights on end.

Forget it, forget it. He would let her tinker as she pleased.

Wang Shouzhe and Gongsun Hui both tactfully fell silent, doing their best not to disturb her.

The carriage traveled steadily along the official road without any jolting. Once they entered Shanyang Town, the road ahead became even smoother and more level.

The Shanyang Gongsun Clan had operated in this territory for more than two hundred years and had long since sunk deep roots. Because they possessed several special industries and had high demands for roads, they spent a great deal of money on road maintenance every year.

As the carriage rolled over the flat, solid road, lifting the carriage curtain revealed a distant mountain range, its ridgeline rising high and clear against the horizon.

Those were the remaining veins of Liu Ping Mountain. They curved around the outskirts of Ping'an Town, pierced through the An River, and formed the final lofty stretch of mountain remnants.

Yet this stretch of mountain remnants rose like the arched spine of a colossal dragon. Compared with the other terrain of Liu Ping Mountain's remaining veins, it was instead steeper and more perilous, hence its name: Dragon Ridge Mountain.

The northwestern side of Dragon Ridge Mountain was called Shanyin, while its southeastern side was called Shanyang.

The Gongsun Clan dominated Shanyang, while the Liu Clan held sole sway over Shanyin.

The reason Wang Shouzhe and the others had passed through Changning Ferry and entered Shanyang from the official road north of the river was to deliberately avoid the waters around Mountain Hawk Ravine. That area was the waterside territory of the Zhao Clan, another great aristocratic clan of Ping'an Town.

Less than half an hour after entering Shanyang territory, they heard a burst of hoofbeats as several riders galloped toward them along the main road.

One of those riders was Wang An, one of the Wang Clan's family retainers. Wang An had been sent ahead as a messenger to notify the Shanyang Gongsun Clan of their itinerary.

Ahead of Wang Shouzhe's carriage, the two family retainers Wang Wu and Wang Yong rode forward, keeping a certain distance between the other riders and the carriage.

This was a family retainer's duty as a guard, even when there were their own people among the opposing riders.

"Wang Yong, quickly report to the Clan Leader." Wang An and the other riders reined in their horses and dismounted. He called out loudly, "The Gongsun Clan's Young Clan Leader has personally come to welcome the Clan Leader and Madam Gongsun."

His voice was loud enough for those inside Wang Shouzhe's carriage to hear.

"It's Elder Brother." Gongsun Hui, who had always carried herself with the dignified grace of a virtuous noblewoman, suddenly revealed the delight of a little girl. But when she remembered that Wang Shouzhe and Wang Luojing, two juniors, were still in the carriage, she quickly resumed the bearing of an elder and said solemnly, "Zhe'er, Luojing. By etiquette, we should get down and meet your eldest maternal uncle."

It was rare for Wang Shouzhe to see his Eldest Aunt in such a girlish state, and he could not help smiling to himself. Only then did he realize that although his Eldest Aunt was usually stern and dignified, she had been only nineteen when she married Wang Dingyue as his second wife. She had given birth to little sister Luomiao at twenty-two, and only eight years had passed since then. She was, in fact, merely thirty years old.

If this were one of Earth's great cities like Beijing, Shanghai, or Guangzhou, there would be plenty of thirty-year-old women still unmarried, and they would usually call themselves girls.

No more idle talk.

The two followed Gongsun Hui out of the carriage. At that moment, the Gongsun Clan's Young Clan Leader approached with two family retainers.

Gongsun Qiang was the Gongsun Clan's current legitimate eldest son. Fair-skinned and beardless, he possessed rather heroic features. His fitted martial attire made him appear even more handsome and upright. Yet Wang Shouzhe knew that this Young Clan Leader "uncle" was already thirty-eight years old, and his cultivation had reached the peak of the eighth level of the Qi Refining Realm.

"Little Sister." Gongsun Qiang strode forward and said with a hearty smile, "You've finally returned to your natal home, yet you didn't notify your elder brother in advance so I could welcome you outside Shanyang."

Gongsun Hui was the youngest of her biological siblings and had therefore been the most pampered at home. Gongsun Qiang also dearly loved this little sister of his.

"Elder Brother." Gongsun Hui gathered herself and gave a dignified bow. "It is only my duty to return and visit Father and Elder Brother. How could I trouble Elder Brother to personally come welcome me? Zhe'er, hurry and greet your eldest maternal uncle."

Secretly, she shot Wang Shouzhe a look.

Wang Shouzhe understood at once. He cupped his hands in salute and said, "Shouzhe greets Eldest Maternal Uncle."

Gongsun Qiang stared at Wang Shouzhe for quite some time before finally forcing out a sentence. "Shouzhe has grown quite a bit. He is truly a talented and valiant lad, far superior to your father."

Although he was Gongsun Hui's elder brother, he had never thought highly of Wang Shouzhe's father. He even held a certain hostility toward him.

The reason was naturally that his beloved little sister had actually gone to become the second wife of an old man even older than himself, which had greatly displeased him.

Later, he and Wang Dingyue had clashed several times due to incompatible temperaments. In the end, he simply never again set foot in the Wang Clan's home.

When Wang Dingyue died this time, he had not visited despite being his wife's elder brother. Instead, he had sent a clan elder and several direct-line clansmen to help.

At those words, Wang Shouzhe's face darkened. Though he was a transmigrator, the memories of the original owner had fused with his own. He was Wang Shouzhe as well.

How could he possibly have no reaction when Gongsun Qiang spoke so improperly?

"Elder Brother, don't spout nonsense." Gongsun Hui's expression darkened as she angrily said, "Apologize! Otherwise, I'll return to the Wang Clan immediately."

"Uh... fine, it was Elder Brother's fault."

Gongsun Qiang hurriedly gave an awkward smile and apologized. Then he cupped his hands toward Wang Shouzhe and said, "Your eldest maternal uncle apologizes to you as well. I hope you won't take offense. Your father and I simply did not get along in temperament, but thinking carefully on it, whether in talent or achievements, your father far surpassed me."

There was nothing wrong with that statement. By the time Wang Dingyue was forty, he had already reached the peak of the ninth level of the Qi Refining Realm and had earned the qualification to glimpse the Spirit Platform Realm.

As for Gongsun Qiang, he still had a long, slow road ahead before he could reach that level.

Though Gongsun Qiang was already thirty-eight, a Young Clan Leader was still only a Young Clan Leader. His joys and anger were written plainly across his face.

Still, his temperament was straightforward. He would not be difficult to deal with. That was Wang Shouzhe's private assessment of Gongsun Qiang...