Protect Our Patriarch-Chapter 88Book 5: : Wang’s Clan rolls in the Immortal Dynasty! A great wind rises

……

"Where is His Majesty now?" Wang Shouzhe asked.

"His Majesty said he was quite injured and needed to move back to the Stay Immortal Residence for a while to recuperate," the family guard replied.

"Move back to the Stay Immortal Residence?" Wang Shouzhe's mouth twitched.

Some time ago, due to His Majesty's excessive pampering of Lixian, there was a clash in educational philosophy, resulting in him being forcibly expelled from the Stay Immortal Residence and given a courtyard on the outskirts to live in.

Although the new courtyard was nice, it was nowhere near as good as the Stay Immortal Residence, a place brimming with immortal energy.

Now with this situation, who knows what His Majesty is up to again.

"Wife, I'll leave Kun'er's studies to you for now." Wang Shouzhe stood up, organized seven or eight test papers, and instructed Liu Ruolan, "These papers are what Kun'er needs to work on today. I'll give you the answers later, and you must ensure he corrects his mistakes and copies them into his error notebook. Don't be too soft on him, lest a doting mother spoils the child."

"Husband, don't worry, leave Kun'er to me." Liu Ruolan solemnly took the test papers and promised, "If he dares to slack off, I've prepared a loving stick. I'll make him feel a mother's love while also teaching him a painful lesson."

In an instant.

Wang Zongkun's "happy" tears flowed.

His parents' love was as vast as the sea, not forgetting to assign him papers even when going out. If he had known life would be this tough, he might as well have stayed in the Clan School as a lazy Kun~~

Wang Shouzhe bid farewell to his wife and child and headed to the Stay Immortal Residence.

Inside the Stay Immortal Residence, Emperor Longchang had already returned to the main house's couch, groaning, "Oh, Xian'er, those brats from the Myriad Demon Nation are truly domineering. I'm afraid this old body of mine can't take it anymore. Yes, yes, it's right here that's injured, give me more immortal spirit energy to heal."

Wang Lixian's small sapling avatar stood by the couch, using its branches to tap Emperor Longchang's bruised areas, infusing him with streams of immortal spirit energy, showing deep concern, "Grandpa Emperor, where else do you feel uncomfortable? Xian'er will help massage it."

The relationship between Wang Lixian and Emperor Longchang was quite good. After all, Longchang truly treated her like a granddaughter, and most of the spirit veins he extracted were for Lixian's growth.

Especially in terms of Lixian's studies, Longchang spoiled her, always siding with her.

"Ahem~" Wang Shouzhe walked in, also showing concern, "Your Majesty, how severe are your injuries this time?"

"Shouzhe, you're finally here." Emperor Longchang grabbed Wang Shouzhe's arm, lamenting, "This time, I almost didn't make it back. For the Wang's Clan, I've really given it my all. You must count this as a work injury."

Work injury?

Wang Shouzhe's mouth twitched.

Before he could speak, Longchang continued, "During my recovery, you must count my wages, and I need three meals a day with immortal rice and immortal tea~ I want to stay at the Stay Immortal Residence…"

Is His Majesty trying to pull a fast one here?

Wang Shouzhe was speechless.

His Majesty was indeed injured, but it probably wasn't too serious. He just wanted to use this as an excuse to return to the Stay Immortal Residence and mooch some benefits.

But then again, His Majesty had indeed contributed a lot to the Wang's Clan over the years…

Fine, fine, let's give him a way out and let him return to the Stay Immortal Residence.

"Your Majesty, let's take our time treating your injuries. You can rest here for a while, and you won't lack immortal rice and tea in the coming days." Wang Shouzhe rarely showed genuine concern.

Emperor Longchang was stunned.

It was rare to see Wang Shouzhe so "understanding," so he immediately rolled his eyes and said, "Then can I get two extra Lingyuan Treasure Pills every month?"

"Hmph." Wang Shouzhe's face darkened, "Your Majesty, don't push your luck."

"One pill, just one extra."

"I can't afford it. Your Majesty should return to Guilong City sooner."

"Oh, Shouzhe, you brat, I've shed blood and tears for your Wang's Clan, and you're stingier than that Qinghuang Demon Emperor."

"Qinghuang Demon Emperor?" Wang Shouzhe frowned slightly, "Was Your Majesty injured by the Qinghuang Demon Emperor?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Emperor Longchang said irritably, "That top-grade spirit vein was too close to the Myriad Demon Nation. When extracting the spirit vein, the commotion was a bit too much, and I was caught by the Qinghuang Demon Emperor leading his troops. We fought fiercely, and in the end, Jiang Zhencang and I joined forces, risking our lives to finally drive back the Qinghuang Demon Emperor, but I was also seriously injured. Hmph, if it weren't for my Canglong Sword needing to stay in Guilong City to guard the capital…"

As Emperor Longchang rambled on, Wang Shouzhe finally understood the situation.

The Myriad Demon Nation is located in the far south of the Southern Desolate Swamp, a sanctuary for high-level fierce beasts. Due to the great distance and the territories of other fierce beast powerhouses like the Great Swamp and Southern Desolate Swamp in between, they have always maintained a "well water does not interfere with river water" relationship with humans.

But as the Wang's Clan gradually expanded, especially with the "spirit vein extraction vanguard" delving deeper into the Southern Desolate Swamp, conflicts and tensions were bound to arise.

The Great Qian and the Myriad Demon Nation have little interaction, and known intelligence is scarce, mostly just knowing that the Myriad Demon Nation has three formidable demon emperors, each with strength equivalent to Lingxu Realm cultivators, with the Qinghuang Demon Emperor being one of them.

With the Qinghuang Demon Emperor personally taking action, it's clear they are aware of the Wang's Clan's activities in extracting spirit veins deep in the Southern Desolate Swamp.

After some thought, Wang Shouzhe said, "The Myriad Demon Nation is powerful, and there's no need to provoke conflict with them for now. Currently, the spirit veins are sufficient, and both our Wang's Clan and the Great Qian need time to internally digest and grow. Let's temporarily halt the spirit vein extraction."

"If we stop extracting spirit veins, won't I lose a significant source of income?" Emperor Longchang glared discontentedly, "How am I supposed to gather gambling funds? I suggest we gather our troops and flatten the Myriad Demon Nation, slay the three demon emperors… seize their territory and spirit veins."

Wang Shouzhe's cheek twitched, and he turned to leave, "Your Majesty should focus on recovering. You're not allowed to go anywhere."

Emperor Longchang was so angry that he cursed behind him, "Wang Shouzhe, what kind of attitude is that?! I haven't officially abdicated yet, and you're already burning bridges. If I really abdicate, where will there be a place for me in the Great Qian? Hmph, I'll write a letter to Prince An…"

But halfway through his rant, he stopped because Wang Shouzhe had already run far away, and even if he continued to curse, Wang Shouzhe wouldn't hear it.

Moreover, Emperor Longchang was well aware in his heart.

As long as Wang Shouzhe didn't want to fight this battle, it wouldn't happen, no matter how much Emperor Longchang jumped up and down. Even Jiang Zhencang and Prince An wouldn't support him.

"Hmph, a power minister~ that's what a power minister is. And a shut-in power minister who doesn't step out of the house!" Emperor Longchang lay back on the couch in anger, "Someone, tell Shouzhe, I want to eat spirit rice and drink hand-brewed immortal tea…"

……

Around the same time.

The Immortal Palace.

The square in front of the Ascending to Immortality Gate.

Unknowingly, nearly two months had passed since Wang Lici and Wang Yingxuan set up a challenge stage on the square.

In these two months, Wang Lici and Wang Yingxuan had fought numerous battles without a single defeat.

Unknowingly, more and more people gathered around the stage. Some idle disciples of the Immortal Palace even brought tables and chairs, looking ready to stay long-term, and some even started betting.

It was quite lively.

Even the once simple stage had now been upgraded, becoming much more formal.

At the edge of the square in front of the Ascending to Immortality Gate, a specific area was cordoned off, with Wang Lici's original flag planted in the center. The large characters on the flag, "Punching the Immortal Palace's heirs, kicking the Saintly Land prodigies, anyone under two hundred years old is welcome," stood out in the sunlight.

Beside the flag, there were now several new banners. The left one read "Genius Girls Mutual Aid Alliance, defeated ones automatically join, only for beautiful girls, no stinky men allowed," and the right one read "Challenger Registration, please voluntarily submit registration materials."

Under the banners, Wang Yingxuan and Wang Lici each occupied a grand chair, sitting boldly and eating.

A large group of Immortal Palace disciples surrounded them, some flattering, some massaging legs, some fanning, while others set up a barbecue and cooking station behind them, specifically grilling meat and preparing food for the two.

Even Lan Wan'er, who was originally responsible for beating the gong, now had several Immortal Palace disciples volunteering to run errands for her, looking quite sycophantic.

Clearly, Lici and the others were charming young girls, yet they had managed to create an atmosphere akin to a mafia boss's entourage.

It was still early, but a long line had already formed in front of the registration area.

Lan Wan'er sat seriously behind the registration desk, picking and choosing from the registration materials brought by the applicants, "Only a hundred pounds of seventh-grade Yao Earth Dragon meat? That's not even enough to fill the gap in our Lici sister's teeth, too insincere, next."

"Ninth-grade Kui ox meat… this is not bad, a bit less, but okay. Take your number and go queue over there, Lici sister will be done with this round soon, and it'll be your turn."

"You want to challenge Miss Yingxuan? You know the rules, right? If you lose, you have to join the Genius Girls Mutual Aid Alliance. Okay, as long as you know. Fill out the contract of selling oneself, I mean, the challenge contract, and queue according to the contract number."

"…"

Although initially, there weren't many Immortal Palace disciples coming to challenge, as Wang Lici and Wang Yingxuan's fame grew, more and more disciples came to challenge, reaching the point where screening was necessary.

It was unknown who suggested it, but later Wang Lici and Wang Yingxuan each set their own screening criteria, starting to selectively choose challengers.

But even so, the Immortal Palace disciples continued to flock in. There was no choice; the two were simply too good at attracting enmity. Over the past two months, their achievements had become widely known in the Immortal Palace.

Amidst the bustling crowd, the entire area around the stage was particularly lively.

Before long, Wang Lici and Wang Yingxuan finished a round of food under the "service" of numerous Immortal Palace disciples and began to welcome challenges again.

Their outstanding battle records attracted many supporters, but naturally, there were also those who were hostile.

While they watched from afar, they couldn't help but mutter.

"Hmph~ I don't know where these wild ones came from, winning a few matches and thinking they're something special. Do they really think our Immortal Palace has no one?"

"It was only because Senior Brother Huai Bing was out training that they were able to be so arrogant for so long. Now that Senior Brother Huai Bing is returning, let's see how long they can keep this up!"

While these people were muttering.

Suddenly.

A gust of wind mixed with snowflakes suddenly swept across the square in front of the Ascending to Immortality Gate.

In the wind, a transparent light like ice and snow flew in from the distant sky at high speed.

In the blink of an eye, that light had reached the top of the Saint Emperor Peak.

Amidst the brilliant and transparent glow, a giant ice and snow roc flapped its wings, flying upward.

Its white wings seemed carved from ice and snow, emitting a transparent colorful halo in the sunlight.

On the back of the ice and snow roc, a tall figure stood against the wind.

He wore a snow-white robe, with slightly green hair fluttering in the sky, exuding an indescribable carefree and unrestrained aura.

The brilliant ice-colored glow outlined his handsome nose and chiseled profile, almost flawless.

"Senior Brother Huai Bing! Senior Brother Huai Bing is back!"

Seeing this man, the Immortal Palace disciples by the stage stirred.

"Are you that Zhang Huaibing?" On the stage, Wang Yingxuan narrowed her eyes, showing a hint of vigilance.

And Wang Lici, while munching on meat, also fixed her gaze on Zhang Huaibing.

They had heard this name so often that it had become ingrained in their ears.

No choice, the Immortal Palace disciples couldn't beat them, so they naturally pinned their hopes on someone else. And this Zhang Huaibing was the most frequently mentioned, so much so that even though they hadn't met him, they were already "familiar" with him.

"That would be me." Zhang Huaibing lightly stepped off the back of the ice and snow roc, elegantly saluting the two women, "Greetings to the two fairies, Huaibing pays his respects."

"You look decent enough," Wang Yingxuan said with a pout, "but I wonder how your actual skills are."

Decent enough?

Zhang Huaibing was speechless.

He was one of the most outstanding disciples of this generation in the Immortal Palace. Although the Holy Son Struggle for the "Urgent Ice Codex" hadn't started because the codex hadn't reached the inheritance period, he was already the predetermined Holy Son candidate as a Peerless Prodigy.

In the future, he was not only set to reach mid-Void Realm but also had hopes for the later stages, holding high prestige among the young disciples of the Immortal Palace. Even the various Void Realm big shots would kindly call him "Huaibing."

Even the Immortal Sovereign had praised him as "an extraordinary child."

"This must be Fairy Yingxuan? I heard of your fame even on my way here." Zhang Huaibing suppressed his dissatisfaction and challenged, "How about we have a spar?"

"Our Genius Girls Mutual Aid Alliance only wants beautiful girls. If you're willing to cut it off and wear women's clothes, I might reluctantly accept your challenge," Wang Yingxuan said with a face full of regret.

"You…"

Zhang Huaibing almost spat out a mouthful of old blood.

He wanted to curse a few words, but considering his face as a Peerless Prodigy, he had to forcibly hold back, turning to Wang Lici, "Then Huaibing can only seek guidance from Fairy Lici."

Wang Lici, munching on a grilled phoenix wing, pointed to the banner beside her, "I have some rules here, take a look yourself."

With so many challengers, if any Tom, Dick, or Harry could step up, she'd be exhausted. This Huaibing or whatever couldn't be an exception; if he wanted to challenge, he had to follow the rules.

Zhang Huaibing glanced at the challenge instructions and suddenly felt a sense of existential crisis.

He heard these two "fairies" were from the same family, but what kind of bizarre family raised such bizarre individuals…

"Here are a hundred pounds of eleventh-grade deep-sea giant squid king's tentacle meat." Zhang Huaibing waved his hand, and a portion of the ingredient appeared out of thin air.

He said confidently, "Is this enough for the challenge qualification?"

"Eleventh-grade? And the best for grilling, deep-sea squid tentacle?" Wang Lici's eyes sparkled, almost drooling.

Grill it with secret sauce, and even a True Immortal would be tempted to tears, right?

"Alright, alright. You not only have the challenge qualification but also the privilege to cut in line." Wang Lici licked her lips, her charming face full of eagerness, "Brother Huaibing, hurry up, let's make it quick."

"Indeed, it should be quick." Zhang Huaibing wasn't annoyed by her words; instead, he smiled proudly, "Lest you think our Saintly Land's younger generation is made of mud."

With that, he flickered and landed opposite Wang Lici.

At the same time, a folding fan appeared in his hand. With a wave, a gust of wind carrying countless ice shards enveloped Wang Lici.

"Bring it on."

Wang Lici stomped her foot.

"Boom!"

The extremely hard floor at the entrance of the Ascending to Immortality Gate was instantly stomped into a pit.

Using this force, she swung a punch, her whole body like a human-shaped missile blasting towards Zhang Huaibing.

In her years of wandering and fighting, Wang Lici had learned three words—"overpower with strength."

No matter what fancy moves others used, just blast them.

Not good!

Sensing the terrifying power in that punch, Zhang Huaibing thought to himself that things were bad. He quickly withdrew his move, and the countless ice shards rapidly converged, forming a thick layer of profound ice shield over a yard thick.

"Boom!"

Wang Lici's punch landed on the profound ice shield.

In an instant, the ice shattered, and the impact fragments sent Zhang Huaibing flying, his internal energy and blood churning.

What kind of bloodline does this Wang Lici have? How can her strength be so terrifying?

Zhang Huaibing was shocked.

Even though he hadn't specialized in body cultivation, his physique was much stronger than a typical Purple Mansion Realm cultivator due to his aptitude and bloodline. Even he was sent flying; if it were other disciples of the Immortal Palace, they'd suffer greatly from this punch.

Having suffered once, he dared not clash head-on again, instead using his exquisite movement techniques and skilled profound techniques to continuously maneuver around her.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Amidst the deafening roars, the two exchanged twenty to thirty moves, momentarily unable to determine the victor.

However, what shocked Zhang Huaibing was that Wang Lici seemed like an ancient fierce beast with endless brute strength, each punch and kick carrying terrifying power, never waning.

No, if this continues, I'll be worn out.

I have to use my ultimate move.

Zhang Huaibing's eyes sharpened.

A loud phoenix cry suddenly echoed.

In the cry, a massive ice phoenix phantom appeared behind him.

A vast pressure spread out.

In an instant, the entire world seemed engulfed in wind and snow, layers of frost forming on the stage, and the air temperature plummeting.

Simultaneously, a divine ability imprint appeared in the center of Zhang Huaibing's forehead.

As the power of the divine ability spread.

In the sky.

Countless ice shards and ice blades transformed from the snow, enveloping Wang Lici like a storm, carrying an indescribable chill and overwhelming might.

This move was Zhang Huaibing's ultimate divine ability—[Ten Thousand Ice Blades].

"Bring it on!"

The more Wang Lici fought, the more excited she became. Facing the opponent's ultimate divine ability, she was not frightened but delighted, laughing, "Just in time, I'm getting hotter the more I fight, so I'll treat it as eating some ice pops to cool down. Watch my ultimate divine ability—[Devour All Things]."

As she spoke.

A massive fierce beast phantom appeared behind her.

It had curved horns and sturdy claws, a menacing shape, and its gaping maw full of sharp teeth and bulging belly were intimidating.

As the fierce beast phantom appeared, a monstrous fierce flame spread out.

"Roar!"

With a roar, a black vortex suddenly appeared in mid-air.

The vortex emitted an indescribable immense attraction, pulling all the ice blades and snow knives into it, disappearing without a trace in an instant.

Even the spiritual sense connection was severed.

"How is this possible?"

Zhang Huaibing's face changed dramatically.

He knew about devouring divine abilities; there were disciples in the Immortal Palace's Devouring Heaven Holy Land who practiced them.

But how could a normal devouring divine ability be this powerful?

Unfortunately, before he could figure it out, Wang Lici charged at him again with her fists. He had to focus and deal with her.

In terms of cultivation level alone, Zhang Huaibing was a level higher than Wang Lici. However, Wang Lici's devouring divine ability, derived from the Glutton bloodline, was simply unreasonable.

Now in the Purple Mansion Realm, her devouring divine ability had continuously strengthened. Although it hadn't reached the legendary "devour the heavens and earth" level, it was already "devour anything."

Under the Glutton's fierce might, the black vortex was like a black hole, swallowing any attack that came her way, converting it into pure energy for her to absorb.

In the end, she even burped.

Zhang Huaibing felt a sense of despair. Although he still had many cards to play, he felt that if this continued, he would eventually lose.

But surrendering like this would be too humiliating, so he was caught in a dilemma and had to keep maneuvering and entangling with her.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The two fought fiercely, with intense energy fluctuations spreading out, causing the flying carriages parked around the square to shake, and the birds pulling the carriages to huddle in fear.

Such a commotion naturally attracted the attention of many big shots.

At this moment.

In the clouds above the square in front of the Ascending to Immortality Gate, several figures with strong auras and distinct temperaments had gathered at some point.

These people, male and female, with various appearances, all had relaxed expressions. They sat on the clouds, snacking on seeds and treats while observing the situation below, looking indescribably leisurely, and it was unclear how long they had been there.

The ethereal clouds obscured their figures, blurring everyone's perception, so the bustling crowd below was completely unaware of their presence.

"This girl is impressive~ This is the legendary Glutton bloodline, and even Zhang Huaibing will suffer a hidden loss." In the mist, a casually dressed middle-aged man praised while snacking on seeds, "It's a pity this girl doesn't practice swordsmanship, so she can't inherit my legacy."

This man wore a simple blue robe, his hair tied in a bun, sitting casually, exuding a carefree demeanor, even while snacking on seeds.

If Ji Qianqian were here, she'd probably be wide-eyed.

Because this was her master, the owner of the Purple Void Holy Land, the [Purple Void Sword Sovereign].

Hearing the Purple Void Sword Sovereign's words, the old man next to him, who was gnawing on a beast hoof, nodded, "The Glutton bloodline is indeed extraordinary, especially to have grown to this level, it's quite rare. Such a bloodline aptitude is rare even in our Immortal Palace."

Saying this, he looked at the beautiful woman on the other side, grinning, "Lu Yao, you have many female disciples, why not send a few over to inquire about their origins?"

The other party rolled her eyes at him, "By the time you think of it, the opportunity will have passed."

The speaker was a middle-aged beauty in a green dress.

She had thick, black hair, with a few golden orchids in her intricate hairdo. Her eyebrows and eyes weren't the delicate and glamorous type, but rather had a serene and natural feel. Despite her age, she didn't appear worn, instead exuding a charm and aura that young girls lacked.

A simple, flowing green silk dress accentuated her graceful figure, naturally exuding an ethereal aura, like a forest fairy.

This middle-aged beauty was [Lu Yao True Monarch] of the Stay Immortal Holy Land.

Though she appeared young, she was actually over three thousand years old, ranking among the top few Void True Lords in the Immortal Palace.

This time, she came to watch the excitement after hearing about two impressive young female cultivators.

As for the old man who spoke earlier, he was [Gui Yi True Monarch], the master of the Gui Zhen Holy Land.

With nimble fingers, Lu Yao True Monarch cracked a seed and leisurely continued, "I've already had my disciples inquire, and they say they're from the Lingyun Holy Land of the Eastern Qian Kingdom."

"Lingyun Holy Land? So these two girls are disciples of that old guy Yunxu?" The Purple Void Sword Sovereign chuckled, "That old guy isn't doing well, letting such good seedlings slip away."

[Yunxu] was the title of Jiang Zhencang, the master of the Lingyun Holy Land. While the Great Qian referred to him as "Holy Master Jiang," the Immortal Palace preferred to call him "Yunxu True Monarch."

Being fellow Void True Lords and both from the Immortal Palace lineage, the Purple Void Sword Sovereign had encountered Jiang Zhencang many times on the outer region battlefield, so they were quite familiar.

"This is perfect, a windfall for our Immortal Palace." Gui Yi True Monarch, gnawing on a beast hoof with his mouth full of grease, had his eyes shining, "Especially this girl named Lici, with a high-grade Glutton bloodline, she's perfect to inherit my legacy. I'll take this disciple, don't fight me for her, you won't win."

"Gui Yi True Monarch." The Purple Void Sword Sovereign frowned slightly, "Didn't you say earlier that you planned to have your personal disciple [Jiang Qinghong] inherit your legacy? You even said he had great prodigy A-grade aptitude and a promising future."

"Who's Jiang Qinghong?" Gui Yi True Monarch looked "bewildered," "When did I say he would inherit my legacy? Purple Void, don't believe rumors."

The big shots were speechless, feeling a bit sorry for Jiang Qinghong.

Suddenly losing his legacy…

But this was normal. After all, which Void Realm wouldn't want to take a Peerless Prodigy as a disciple? Yet, most Holy Lands couldn't find a Peerless Prodigy as an heir.

However, when conditions allowed, if faced with a choice between a great prodigy and a Peerless Prodigy, unless the Peerless had major issues with character, identity, or background, anyone would choose the Peerless.

In such cases, even the Void Realm big shots might not have the final say, as the codex would also want to choose a better heir.

"Congratulations, Gui Yi True Monarch."

The Purple Void True Monarch and Lu Yao True Monarch, though somewhat envious, offered insincere congratulations to Gui Yi.

Not that they didn't want to take Wang Lici, but their bloodlines and techniques weren't compatible, so they could only watch with envy.

Just as Gui Yi True Monarch was feeling smug.Above the clouds, a man's breathless voice suddenly echoed, "Phew, I finally caught up. As expected of a peerless prodigy with the Glutton bloodline, hahaha, truly heaven's blessing upon me, Liu Qiankun."

It was Liu Qiankun, the Yuan Yuan True Lord of the Heaven-Devouring Holy Land!

Gui Yi True Lord's face immediately changed, and a sense of crisis surged in his heart.

Wasn't this shameless guy supposed to be in seclusion?

...

Han Yue Immortal City.

To the southwest, far from the city center, there was a vast, open square.

Originally a royal mining site, the mine was completely exhausted over two thousand years ago, leaving the area idle. The Yao Clan purchased it and built a large docking platform on the original site, serving as a stop for the Yun Yao flying boat in the Immortal City.

Unknowingly, over two thousand years passed, and the area around the docking platform underwent dramatic changes.

The once desolate outskirts transformed into a bustling commercial district, with a population explosion. The crisscrossing roads were preserved, widened, and rebuilt into Yao's transport roads.

The docking platform itself was renovated countless times over these two thousand years, evolving from a simple square into its current complex and orderly form, functioning as a major hub for both people and goods.

In the afternoon.

Brilliant sunlight bathed the entire docking platform, warming everyone.

In one corner of the platform, inside a shop with a sign reading "Yuchi's Carriage and Horse Guild," Manager Chai lay comfortably in a rocking chair, taking a nap while flipping through a booklet called the "Immortal City Daily," trying to spot some business opportunities by checking the real-time prices of various items in the city.

The other people in the shop, having worked all morning, were finally able to take a break, either resting or attending to their own matters.

Sunlight streamed through the windows, casting a hazy glow over everyone, creating a scene of peaceful years.

Just then.

A massive shadow was cast from the sky.

A gigantic Yun Yao flying boat broke through the clouds, gliding down to land slowly on the docking platform.

Once it settled, a towing vehicle from the square approached, guiding the flying boat to turn and finally dock at a berth on the edge of the platform.

Soon, the rear hatch of the Yun Yao flying boat opened, and crew members began organizing the unloading of goods.

Seeing this, Manager Chai knew business was coming.

Sure enough, not long after, a middle-aged man in fine clothes walked in, his chubby face full of high spirits: "Old Chai, prepare twenty ox carts for me. The payment will be the usual, charged to Yao's Air Transport account."

"Yo~ Old Tan, have you struck it rich? You're in such a good mood." Manager Chai put down the "Immortal City Daily" and greeted him with a smile.

"Rich? No way~" The chubby middle-aged man laughed, "The truly rich are the big shots. I'm just running errands to get a taste of the soup."

If Wang Lici were here, she would surely recognize this chubby middle-aged man as the fat manager she had dealt with many times.

Having suffered twice at Wang Lici's hands, the fat manager learned his lesson and no longer dared to oppose her.

The last time Wang Lici and the Wang Clan members took the Yun Yao flying boat to the Immortal Dynasty, he was especially attentive, ensuring their comfort. This helped him regain some favor and earn a chance to prove himself.

While the managers chatted, the shop's staff had already sprung into action, some recording transactions, others preparing the ox carts, all moving swiftly.

Soon, massive freight wagons, pulled by giant iron-backed spirit oxen, rolled into the docking platform, lining up to load the goods.

Yuchi's spirit ox carts were all large freight wagons, each capable of carrying tens of thousands of pounds of goods. A business deal involving twenty ox carts was a considerable transaction even for Yuchi.

The fat manager and Manager Chai followed the ox carts, standing by to oversee and direct the crew and staff in loading the goods.

Due to the long transport distance and occasional storms in the air, for safety's sake, the goods inside the Yun Yao flying boat were packed in standard large wooden crates, revealing nothing of their contents from the outside.

"Old Tan, judging by your high spirits, this batch of goods must be quite valuable." Manager Chai, a seasoned manager, was keenly observant of details. Noticing the crew's excessive caution, he sensed something was amiss. freeweɓnovel.cøm

He glanced at the fat manager, "We've been brothers for over a hundred years. You should give me a heads-up so I can instruct my men to be extra careful."

Having worked at Yuchi's Carriage and Horse Guild for over a century, Manager Chai had known the fat manager since he was a manager at Yao's Air Transport branch in the Immortal City. They were old acquaintances, so their conversation was naturally casual.

The fat manager chuckled, "Since you're curious, let me show you something."

With that, he led Manager Chai onto the ship and had a crew member open a wooden crate in front of him.

Inside were exquisite glass products, as delicate as artworks, ranging from lampshades to cups, plates, and bowls, in a wide variety.

Manager Chai gasped.

Glass products weren't rare, but ones of such exquisite quality were a first for him, let alone in such large quantities. Considering the value of glass products, this batch was indeed worth a fortune.

He looked at the fat manager with envy, "Glass products are always precious and fragile. Don't worry, I'll make sure my men handle them with care and deliver them intact."

"Thanks for your trouble, old brother." The fat manager was quite pleased, "To be honest, this batch is from a new process in the Eastern Qian Kingdom, with some destined for the Immortal Court's Internal Affairs Department. Any damage would be hard for me to explain."

Manager Chai's eyes turned red with envy.

The Yao Clan, backed by the Chaoyang King, had business reaching the Internal Affairs Department, with each deal being highly profitable. Unlike Yuchi, who earned a hard living.

As they spoke, a crew member transporting goods tripped over something, stumbling and dropping the large wooden crate.

With a dull thud, one corner of the crate hit the ground, causing the lid to pop open slightly. Several black iron ingots rolled out, spinning several times before coming to a stop.

The crew member's face turned pale.

The fat manager's expression changed abruptly, and he shouted, "How are you handling the goods?! Didn't I tell you to be careful? Did my words go in one ear and out the other?!"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

The crew member quickly bowed his head, trembling as he apologized.

After a good scolding, the fat manager finally calmed down a bit, waving the crew member away.

The crew member breathed a sigh of relief, hurriedly picked up the iron ingots, stuffed them back into the crate, and scurried off.

"Old Tan, what's going on here..."

Having witnessed the scene, Manager Chai looked at the fat manager with a peculiar expression.

The fat manager's reaction was too off, clearly trying to conceal the existence of the iron ingots, making Manager Chai suspicious.

"Old Chai, if you still consider me a brother, you must keep this a secret for me." The fat manager, realizing the "situation was not good," turned and grabbed Old Chai as if afraid he'd run away.

"I can keep your secret, but you have to tell me what's going on." Old Chai squinted, his beady eyes gleaming with shrewdness.

"Ah~ since you saw it, I won't hide it from you. The truth is... the Eastern Qian Kingdom discovered a massive black iron ore vein... the reserves are... planning to..."

The fat manager, looking "frustrated," pulled Manager Chai into a corner and whispered the details. After a lengthy explanation, he solemnly reminded, "This is a serious matter, keep it to yourself and don't tell anyone else."

"Don't worry~ we've been brothers for over a hundred years, don't you trust me?"

While Manager Chai agreed verbally, he was already calculating in his mind.

With the Eastern Qian Kingdom discovering such a large black iron ore vein, the price of black iron ingots in the Immortal Dynasty was bound to fall.

Yuchi also had a stockpile of black iron ingots, so he needed to inform the clan head immediately to sell them off. Otherwise, if the price dropped, they'd suffer a huge loss.

The major clans in the Immortal City were always well-informed. Although Manager Chai only passed the news to his clan head, the information about the Eastern Qian Kingdom's discovery of a massive black iron ore vein still spread quietly throughout the Immortal City.

Thus, a meticulously planned "drama" began to unfold.

...

Meanwhile.

In the Northern Territory Wang Mansion, Spirit Bamboo Garden.

The Northern Territory King and Yun Mengyu were accompanying, while the Minister of the Immortal Armament Division, King of the South, was playing chess with Wang Fugui.

As they played, King of the South said, "Fugui, in the final phase of this plan, our Immortal Armament Division also took some risks. We should get an extra share of the black iron ingots, or it will be hard for me to balance with other departments."

"Is Your Highness planning to break the agreement?" Wang Fugui didn't even lift his eyes, placing his piece with a calm demeanor, "I don't mind, but if word gets out, it might not be good for Your Highness's reputation."

"You..." King of the South's beard bristled in anger as he reluctantly placed his piece, "Brat, I'm just negotiating with you, right? After all, our Immortal Armament Division isn't just the Black Armor Department; if the Black Armor Department eats meat, other departments should at least sip some soup, right?"

He was indeed frustrated.

As the King of the South, he had to personally come and negotiate with a young kid about changing the contract.

"Sipping some soup, that's a minor issue." Wang Fugui placed his piece, and before King of the South could respond, he added, "But the soup can't be free, right? Each department should send an additional three hundred trial equipment makers to support the development of our impoverished Eastern Qian."

"You brat, you eat everything but never take a loss! I'm telling you, you'll lose me if you keep this up." King of the South huffed, glaring fiercely.

"King of the South, this is in my mansion." The Northern Territory King, much older and a senior by many generations, supported Fugui, "Eating soup without contributing, where's the fairness in that? Anyone with objections can come to me."

The Northern Territory King, significantly older than King of the South, naturally carried weight in his words.

"Fine, fine, each department will send three hundred trial equipment makers. It's just a few years, they'll be back soon." King of the South agreed reluctantly, then lamented, "It's my fault for being straightforward, not realizing your plan was so grand, with such high expected profits... I regret signing the contract. By the way, Fugui, we have a few young ladies in our mansion who admire you and want to befriend you..."

"Snap!"

Wang Fugui placed his piece, sighing, "Your Highness's mind is unsettled, you've lost."

"…"

King of the South stared at the chessboard for a moment, his expression stiffening, feeling helpless.

Wang Fugui had hit the mark; his mind was indeed unsettled. His lineage hadn't produced a little princess at this critical time...

"Your Highness, the net is cast, you should go back and cooperate with the plan. Don't come running to me without reason, it's too conspicuous." Wang Fugui earnestly advised, "Please perform well, if you mess up, it's your Immortal Armament Division that will suffer."

"Alright, I'll..."

As King of the South rose to leave, he suddenly felt something was off.

Why was he so obedient to this young fellow? This little monster was so young, yet already so capable~ when he grows up, this Immortal Dynasty...

A great storm is likely to arise.