Chapter 23 Gongsun Family "Young Clan Leader

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The Spirit Awakening Pill can improve talent. It is said to be an elixir specifically developed by a certain Grandmaster of Alchemy to enhance human cultivation talent.

That Grandmaster of Alchemy spent his entire life researching and developing the [Spirit Awakening Pill], but the result was somewhat disappointing since the pill only provides slight improvements for those with lower-grade Black Tortoise talent.

Moreover, it only slightly enhances the Black Tortoise talent, not very significantly.

But even so, the Spirit Awakening Pill is already considered a very high-tier "Divine-Level Pill" for a ninth-grade lower-rank noble family like the Ping'an Wang Family.

Especially for someone like Wang Shouzhe, whose Black Tortoise talent is at the lower-grade A tier, it is extremely practical. It's said that he is a young genius, just half a step behind Ancestor Longyan of his time, carrying the hope for the family's future.

However, Wang Shouzhe knew very well that his talent was considered good within the scope of the Changning Guard, with hopes of breaking through to the Spirit Platform Realm in the future. But looking at the entire Longzuo County, it was hardly worth mentioning, just barely meeting the admission requirements of the Purple Mansion Academy, and whether they accept him depends on subsequent tests.

Fortunately, Wang Shouzhe was considered outstanding even within the lower-grade A tier, just a step away from having middle-grade talent. If he had the opportunity to take the [Spirit Awakening Pill], there was a chance he could advance further and join the ranks of middle-grade talent, which would make a world of difference.

Ancestor Longyan, Wang Longyan, was genuinely of middle-grade talent.

With a population of hundreds of thousands in Changning Guard, the probability of someone with middle-grade talent appearing was very low. Once they appeared, even the Purple Mansion Academy would actively compete for them, and they would be a key target for cultivation once they entered the academy.

It's just that the Spirit Awakening Pill is a tier three spirit pill, and its yield is very scarce. Even during the lifetime of Ancestor Zhou Xuan, there was no guarantee he could obtain a Spirit Awakening Pill.

Seeing the constant fluctuation in Wang Shouzhe's gaze, Wang Luojing, standing to the side, said obediently, "Fourth Brother, I will definitely work hard to get the Spirit Awakening Pill for you."

"Luojing, you should not spoil your fourth brother too much." Gongsun Hui laughed, patting her head, "As for these Purple Crystal Spirit Bees, try to keep them alive if you can, but it's not a big deal if you can't. Cultivating a hive of Purple Crystal Spirit Bees from a handful of bee larvae is no easy task. If you fail, consider it gaining experience. Don't put too much pressure on yourself."

"Aunt is right." Wang Shouzhe quickly added, "Luojing, I bought this beehive just for you to play with, so it's okay if you waste it. Accumulating experience as a Spirit Insect Master isn't something that happens overnight."

Wang Luojing was just 12 years old, the equivalent of a sixth grader on Earth. Wang Shouzhe really didn't want to put too much pressure on her.

"I understand, Aunt, Fourth Brother." Wang Luojing responded obediently, then held the Purple Crystal Spirit Bee Hive and pondered over it intently, her gaze extremely focused and fascinated, like she had received her most beloved toy.

Only then did Wang Shouzhe remember that his fifth sister seemed different from ordinary people, having a natural obsession with insects. Even her older brother, Wang Shounuo, had said that Luojing could squat in the yard watching ants for days and nights at the age of two or three.

Oh well, let her tinker as she pleases.

Both Wang Shouzhe and Gongsun Hui sensibly kept quiet, trying their best not to disturb her.

The carriage traveled along the official road, with no bumps, especially once they entered Shanyang Town, where the road was flat and smooth.

The Shanyang Gongsun Family had been operating in this region for over two hundred years, deeply rooted. With some special industries that required high-quality roads, they spent a lot of money on road maintenance every year.

The carriage traveled on flat, solid roads, and upon lifting the curtain, a distant mountain range with towering ridges came into view.

These were the ridges of the Liping Mountain Range, curving around the outskirts of Ping'an Town, piercing through Anjiang, and rising into a prominent mountain ridge.

This segment of the mountain, arched like a dragon's spine, was even more steep and rugged than other parts of the Liping Mountain Range, hence the name Dragon Ridge Mountain.

The northwest side of Dragon Ridge Mountain is called Shanyin, while the southeast side is called Shanyang.

The Gongsun Family rules Shanyang, while the Liua Family dominates Shanyin.

Wang Shouzhe and his companions entered Shanyang via the Changning Ferry from the official road north of the river to purposely avoid the waters of Mountain Eagle Creek, which were controlled by another major family from Ping'an Town, the Zhao Family.

Upon entering Shanyang, in less than an hour, the sound of hooves filled the air as several riders quickly approached along the road.

Among the riders was Wang An, one of the Wang Family Generals. Wang An had been sent ahead as a messenger to inform the Shanyang Gongsun Family of their itinerary.

In front of Wang Shouzhe's carriage, Household Generals Wang Wu and Wang Yong rode forward, maintaining a respectful distance between the approaching riders and the carriage.

This was the duty of the Household Generals, even if someone from their side was among the arriving riders.

"Wang Yong, quickly report to the Patriarch." The riders stopped and dismounted, with Wang An loudly announcing, "The Young Clan Leader of the Gongsun Family has personally come to greet the Patriarch and Lady Gongsun."

The voice was loud, and Wang Shouzhe could hear it from inside the carriage.

"It's brother," said Gongsun Hui, who was normally composed and poised, but now wore a joyful expression like a little girl. However, realizing that there were two juniors, Wang Shouzhe and Wang Luojing, in the carriage, she quickly donned an elder's demeanor, seriously saying, "Zhe'Er, Luojing, according to etiquette, we should disembark to meet your uncle."

Wang Shouzhe found it very rare to see his aunt display such a girlish demeanor, making him smile inwardly. He then realized that, despite her usual stern and dignified appearance, she was only thirty when she married Wang Dingyue as his second wife at nineteen and gave birth to his sister Luomiao at twenty-two.

If they were on Earth in big cities like Beijing, Shanghai, or Guangzhou, there would be many unmarried women at thirty, typically referring to themselves as girls.

But that's beside the point.

The two followed Gongsun Hui out of the carriage as the Gongsun Family's Young Clan Leader approached with two Household Generals.

Gongsun Qiang, the current eldest legitimate son of the Gongsun Family. He was fair-skinned and beardless, with a heroic appearance, and even more striking in his attire, but Wang Shouzhe knew that this Young Clan Leader "uncle" was already thirty-eight years old, with cultivation at the peak of the eighth layer of the Qi Refining Realm.

"Little Sister." Gongsun Qiang stepped forward quickly, smiling warmly, "You've finally made it back to your parents' home, and you didn't even notify your big brother in advance so I could meet you outside Shanyang."

Gongsun Hui was the youngest among her siblings and was often the most doted on, and Gongsun Qiang adored his little sister immensely.

"Brother." Gongsun Hui saluted him graciously and said with a dignified demeanor, "It's my duty to visit father and brother, so I couldn't trouble you to come greet me. Zhe'Er, quickly greet your uncle."

She gave Wang Shouzhe a nudge with her gaze.

Understanding, Wang Shouzhe immediately bowed and said, "Shouzhe greets you, uncle."

Gongsun Qiang glared at Wang Shouzhe for quite a while before finally squeezing out a sentence: "You've grown a lot, Shouzhe. You're indeed a heroic talent, far surpassing your father."

Though he was Gongsun Hui's elder brother, he didn't hold a good impression of Wang Shouzhe's father and was somewhat hostile.

The initial reason, of course, was that his beloved little sister ended up as a second wife to an older man, irking him quite a bit.

Later, due to several disagreements with Wang Dingyue's personality, he simply ceased visiting the Wang Family.

This time, with Wang Dingyue's passing, he, as a brother-in-law, didn't pay a visit but instead sent his family's elders and some direct family members to support them.

Hearing those words, Wang Shouzhe's face darkened. Although he was a transmigrator, the memories of his predecessor had been integrated with him, so he was equally Wang Shouzhe.

Gongsun Qiang's inappropriate remarks could not go without response.

"Brother, you mustn't speak such nonsense." Gongsun Hui's expression turned angry as she spoke sternly, "Apologize! Otherwise, I'll immediately return to the Wang Family."

"Uh! Okay, it's my fault."

Gongsun Qiang quickly chuckled awkwardly and apologized, then bowed slightly to Wang Shouzhe, saying, "Uncle also apologizes to you, hoping you wouldn't take offense. I just don't get along with your father, but thinking deeply, his talent and achievements far exceed mine."

His words were not wrong. At forty, Wang Dingyue had already reached the peak of the ninth layer of the Qi Refining Realm, qualifying to glimpse the Spirit Platform Realm.

As for Gongsun Qiang, reaching that level would still take time and effort.

Even though Gongsun Qiang was thirty-eight, the Young Clan Leader, after all, was just the Young Clan Leader, and his emotions were visible on his face.

But this straightforward character made him not a difficult person to deal with. This was Wang Shouzhe's evaluation of Gongsun Qiang....