Protect Our Patriarch

……

Everything seemed to quiet down.

Zhen Shicong was finally saved and looked up with tear-filled eyes.

He saw a figure descending from the sky, clad in white, like a celestial being, gently landing in the courtyard. His gentle brows, graceful demeanor, and naturally commanding presence were truly captivating.

Beside him were Qingsong Daoist, the head of the Green Emperor Valley, the great prodigy Lu Wei of the same lineage, and two other unfamiliar middle-aged men.

These people were naturally Wang Shouzhe, who had been speaking in the Green Emperor Tower earlier, along with Qingsong Daoist and his group.

Originally, Wang Shouzhe and the others were in a meeting, but when this commotion broke out, how could they sit still?

Qingsong Daoist, being the master of the Green Emperor Valley, naturally had to come and check the situation when Chun Lao and Hongyu woke up, as he learned about it through his mutated pine tree, his life-bound celestial plant.

As for Wang Shouzhe, being the master of Wang Lixian and connected to her soul, he immediately sensed something was wrong.

Thank goodness! He was finally saved!

Zhen Shicong shed tears of relief, feeling as if he had narrowly escaped death.

"Xian'er, what happened?" Wang Shouzhe glanced at the mess in the Eternal Spring Garden, his brows furrowing unconsciously. The destruction was quite thorough.

"Father... there were bad people, Xian'er fought them," Wang Lixian began to act innocent and naive.

"Ningxi, you explain," Wang Shouzhe waved his hand.

He didn't believe Lixian's words at all. As this girl matured, she became increasingly mischievous and troublesome, causing him more and more worry.

He had only been away for a short while, and such a big commotion had already occurred.

"Ancestor Grandfather," Wang Ningxi stepped forward and cupped his hands, "This matter isn't entirely Grand Aunt's fault."

Being meticulous by nature, he calmly recounted the events. However, he still defended Wang Lixian in his words.

Wang Shouzhe frowned, "Although there was a reason, Lixian might have deliberately used this as an opportunity to cause trouble, disrupt the class, and avoid studying. This is her usual trick. This behavior cannot be encouraged and must be punished."

With that, he raised his hand, revealing a long vine whip with poisonous barbs. This was the [Lixian Special Punishment Whip] that Wang Shouzhe had painstakingly developed specifically for Wang Lixian.

The whip contained a poison that could directly affect the soul, causing even Lixian to feel pain.

Wang Shouzhe had no choice; with an ordinary whip, even if he broke his hand, Lixian would feel nothing and just laugh, rendering it ineffective as a deterrent.

Upon seeing the whip, Wang Lixian's branches trembled violently.

Oh no, Father is angry!

"Ancestor Grandfather, please calm down," Wang Ningxi hurriedly interceded, "Grand Aunt is actually quite serious about her exams; she's just easily distracted by external things."

"Hmph, that's her usual problem. If this continues, when will she ever graduate?" Wang Shouzhe looked at Lixian with a stern expression, "Will you come with me willingly, or do I have to make you?"

"I... boohoo~ Father, I was wrong, boohoo~ I'll study hard, not get distracted, and not cause trouble anymore," Wang Lixian sobbed, but still obediently followed behind him.

"Hey, you brat, how dare you discipline the Celestial Plant Master?" Great Chun was anxious, quickly blocking Lixian and said fiercely, "If you dare to hit the Celestial Plant Master, I'll fight you!"

"You must be Senior Chun?" Wang Shouzhe coldly cupped his hands, "I respect you as a senior, but this is a family matter of the younger generation. Disciplining my daughter is none of your business."

Great Chun was momentarily speechless.

With such a legitimate reason for disciplining his daughter, he really couldn't interfere.

While Great Chun was in a daze, Wang Shouzhe had already grabbed Wang Lixian and dragged her into a secluded little room. Soon, the sounds of Lixian's cries, pleas, and sobs echoed continuously from inside.

Two moments later.

Order was restored in the classroom. The uneven ground in the courtyard had been smoothed out, and the tables and chairs were set back in place. Wang Ningxi continued his lecture, and everyone else resumed their studies.

Even Yao Chengchao and the mutated little green snake were quietly listening and learning.

Wang Shouzhe was too fierce. Even Wang Lixian, who was usually so arrogant in front of outsiders, was subdued by him. Terrifying, truly terrifying~

As for Zhen Shicong and Yu Nianyun, they didn't escape either.

Because Wang Lici had expressed their determination to "study" and "seek refuge" to Fourth Uncle, Wang Shouzhe was quite pleased and made an exception by adding two sets of desks and distributing two sets of test papers to them.

The two of them "smoothly" became part of the painful study squad.

Not far from the classroom.

Hosted by Qingsong Daoist, a tea gathering was set up again.

The participants in the tea party increased from five to seven, with Great Chun and Hongyu included.

Among them, Great Chun glared at Wang Shouzhe with hostility, while Hongyu assessed Wang Shouzhe with interest.

The atmosphere was quite delicate.

"Shouzhe, let me introduce you. These two are Senior 'Chun' and Senior 'Hongyu,'" Qingsong Daoist skillfully mediated to prevent awkwardness, "Seniors, this is Shouzhe, our Green Emperor lineage's honorary disciple who just received the inheritance of the 'Green Emperor True Method.'"

Although Shouzhe's inheritance was bought, he was still considered one of their own, and Qingsong Daoist regarded him as a junior disciple.

"Shouzhe greets Senior Chun and Senior Hongyu," Wang Shouzhe formally greeted them, his every move graceful and poised.

"Hmph! So you're also a junior of the Green Emperor Valley," Great Chun glared at Wang Shouzhe, feeling sorry for Lixian, "Xian'er is such a noble existence, and you, you, you dared to treat her so harshly!"

As he spoke, his aura erupted, a powerful pressure enveloping Shouzhe.

The pressure was vast and overwhelming, seemingly containing the passage of time, the cycle of plants from germination to fruition, from life to death, inspiring awe.

Wang Shouzhe let out a small sound of surprise.

For an ordinary Purple Mansion Realm cultivator, facing the pressure of a peak Divine Realm expert would have turned them pale. However, Wang Shouzhe was used to being "baptized" by Emperor Longchang's pressure at home, so he didn't feel much.

Instead, he was intrigued by the unique nature of Great Chun's pressure, as he sensed a hint of the embryonic form of time laws within it.

Time laws were rare and powerful.

However, even if Great Chun touched upon time laws, he only grasped a tiny bit. Otherwise, he wouldn't be stuck at the peak of the tenth level, unable to advance.

If it were a celestial plant truly mastering the time laws, it would at least be an immortal species.

"Hey, hey, what are you doing, old tree grandpa? Don't bully my father!" In the classroom, Wang Lixian, who was busy with her exercises, suddenly raised a branch, glaring angrily at Great Chun, "Or else I'll never let it go."

Although she had just been punished by her father, it was because she was at fault. A father's discipline is a natural duty, a manifestation of fatherly love.

As a daughter, how could she truly blame her father?

"Alright, Miss Xian'er," Great Chun's expression froze, feeling aggrieved.

He was standing up for Miss Xian'er, yet she didn't appreciate it and even scolded him. He felt like "Pigsy looking in the mirror"—not human inside or out.

But no matter how aggrieved he felt, Miss Xian'er's opinion was more important.

Reluctantly, Great Chun withdrew his pressure, still glaring at Wang Shouzhe with a look that said, "I'm only letting this go for Miss Xian'er's sake."

"Xian'er, focus on your studies," Wang Shouzhe sternly reprimanded, "No distractions."

"Yes, Father," Wang Lixian was startled and quickly returned to her exercises.

Father loved her, but he was also strict with her education. It was really tough for her~

Seeing this, Great Chun was infuriated.

Our Miss Xian'er is so pitiful, having such an unreasonable father.

Qingsong Daoist watched with amusement.

Great Chun, a dignified tenth-level celestial plant, a peak Divine Realm powerhouse, couldn't do anything to Wang Shouzhe, a mere early Purple Mansion Realm cultivator.

It truly was a case of one thing subduing another.

As for Hongyu, although she cared about the celestial plant, her attention shifted to Wang Shouzhe once he appeared. She even chose a seat close to him.

She sniffed lightly, as if detecting a special scent from Wang Shouzhe, and smiled charmingly, "So you're one of us, no wonder your aura feels so familiar. By the way, Shouzhe, do you have a life-bound celestial plant?"

"Xian'er is my life-bound celestial plant," Wang Shouzhe replied honestly.

"Oh~ that's such a pity," Hongyu looked regretful, then shyly said, "Would you mind having another... ordinary celestial plant? My previous master passed away hundreds of years ago, and I haven't found a suitable new master since."

Realizing her words, she added, "Oh, I should introduce myself first. I'm a spiritual species, a Hongyu Spirit Peach Tree. In the right environment, I can bloom every thirty years, bear fruit every thirty years, and mature every thirty years."

"Each time, I can produce over a hundred Hongyu Spirit Peaches, each with healing, qi and blood replenishing, and slight bloodline and lifespan enhancement effects. They can be used for personal use or sold externally. In normal years, each Hongyu Spirit Peach can sell for around thirty thousand Top Gold."

This Hongyu Spirit Peach is quite powerful~

Wang Shouzhe quickly calculated that having such a Hongyu Spirit Peach Tree would equate to an annual output of about thirty thousand Top Gold.

For the Wang Clan, thirty thousand Top Gold wasn't much, but having a stable annual output of thirty thousand was already a decent industry.

For an ordinary seventh-grade family, possessing such a Hongyu Spirit Peach Tree could gradually strengthen them, accumulating capital for upward advancement.

Moreover, as a ninth-level celestial plant, even if weak in combat, it was still a ninth-level plant. Even a third-grade family would consider it a clan-stabilizing celestial plant.

Of course, you first need an excellent Gathering Spirit Array environment to sustain a Hongyu Spirit Peach Tree, which ordinary families couldn't provide. However, the Wang Clan had a very good large Gathering Spirit Array, perfectly capable of accommodating the Hongyu Spirit Peach Tree.

Seeing Wang Shouzhe seriously calculating, Qingsong Daoist couldn't help but feel uneasy.

He said with a hint of panic, "Senior Hongyu, please don't do this. You're the Green Emperor Valley's lineage-stabilizing celestial plant; you can't just follow anyone."

"Shouzhe isn't just anyone; he also cultivates the Green Emperor True Method," Hongyu argued earnestly.

"That's true, but Shouzhe is the head of a family, financially and otherwise separate from our Green Emperor Valley," Qingsong Daoist said helplessly.

He already felt that the Longzuo Academy's Changchun Valley was almost becoming Wang Shouzhe's. Now it seemed the situation was even worse than imagined; was Shouzhe here to empty the Green Emperor Valley's coffers?

"Qingsong, you're wrong," Great Chun sternly criticized, "We old fellows followed the past masters of the Green Emperor Valley, staying because of the past masters' kindness and the valley's generous environment. But that doesn't mean we're bound to the valley for life."

"Besides, we've been contributing to the valley with our life-bound major divine abilities. Take my major divine ability [Spring Blossoms and Autumn Fruits], for example; how many spiritual herbs, grains, and fruits have I nurtured for the valley? It's a win-win situation."

"We promised our past masters to protect the valley, but that doesn't mean we're bound to it for life. We're free, and leaving doesn't make us traitors, does it?"

"Yes, Senior Chun, you're right. You certainly have the freedom to leave. But for the sake of the Green Emperor Valley's ancestors... you can't just leave, right?" Qingsong Daoist was sweating, struggling to maintain his casual demeanor.

If Hongyu left, it would be a huge loss for the valley. But if Great Chun left, half of the valley's foundation would be gone.

"Don't worry, Qingsong," Great Chun said, "I know the valley's foundation wasn't easy to establish, so I won't just leave. But since Miss Xian'er has emerged and is stuck with an unreliable father."

He couldn't help but glare at Wang Shouzhe before continuing, "Miss needs someone to take care of her, or I won't be at ease. How about this: I'll leave my main body in the Green Emperor Valley and keep an avatar by Miss Xian'er's side to protect her. It's settled."

"That's a good idea," Hongyu agreed, "I'll also leave an avatar with Young Master Shouzhe, no, Miss Xian'er. I'm best at cooking various celestial plants and fierce beasts, ensuring they'll be well-fed."

"This... is a good idea," Qingsong Daoist, though feeling aggrieved, realized there was no room for negotiation after the two celestial plant seniors spoke.

Oh well~ it's just two avatars being taken away; it's better than losing the main bodies.

He forced a smile, expressing his strong agreement with Great Chun's idea. However, privately, he cast a resentful glance at Wang Shouzhe.

This brat Shouzhe is a disaster~~ he emptied Changchun Valley, and now he's here to empty the Green Emperor Valley?

He just hoped the Holy Son Struggle would start and end quickly, so Shouzhe could leave.

Wang Shouzhe was also speechless at the unexpected turn of events.

He hadn't done anything, right? How did Lixian suddenly gain an "old servant" and a "dedicated chef"?

Soon, the Eternal Spring Garden cram school took on a new scene.

Wang Lixian was diligently working on her exercises.

Great Chun, considering himself a "guardian," stood beside her, fanning her with a fan.

Whether she was hot or not, the appearance of encouraging her studies had to be maintained.

Even though he had issues with Wang Shouzhe, he agreed that Miss Xian'er should study hard and strive to become a cultured celestial plant.

After all, the more knowledge she gained, the less likely she was to be deceived.

In his inherited memories, there were vague recollections of some celestial plants suffering at the hands of humans due to ignorance.

The dedicated chef Hongyu prepared snacks and drinks, cheering, "Miss Xian'er, you must work hard. Let's aim to graduate from the Wang's Clan School within thirty years."

"As they say, 'Thirty years of hard work, ten thousand years of benefit,' 'No pain, no gain, Clan School is tasteless. No struggle, no life.' 'More sweat today, more harvest tomorrow.' I believe you can do it."

Hongyu's words flowed smoothly, her motivational slogans filled with chicken soup for the soul.

Under the care of the two trees, Wang Lixian worked hard, occasionally using her roots to grab snacks, juices, and roasted meats, enjoying them heartily, making the tedious exercise routine less painful.

Wang Lici and Lan Wan'er watched enviously, almost drooling.

Fortunately, Wang Lixian was a tree with a sense of loyalty, secretly using her branches to share some roasted meats with them. To bribe the teacher and his wife, Wang Ningxi and Shangguan Lingbo also received a share.

As for the others... well~

Yao Chengchao, the little green snake, Zhen Shicong, and Yu Nianyun: "..."

Studying was already painful enough, why did they have to be tortured like this?

Time flew by quickly during the days of hard work.

In the blink of an eye, several months passed.

Under the joint urging of the other veins of the Holy Land's nine veins, the current Holy Land Master Jiang Zhencang finally couldn't withstand the overwhelming "public opinion" and officially announced the grand opening of the Holy Son Struggle.

Soon, members from all veins gathered on Lingyun Sacred Mountain.

Lingyun Sacred Mountain was a majestic peak located near the center of the entire Lingyun Mountain Range. The peak was covered in snow, the midsection shrouded in spiritual mist, with spiritual birds flying and celestial palaces and jade towers faintly visible, exuding an aura of a celestial holy land.

The Lingyun Sacred Hall was located at the top of this sacred mountain.

Perhaps to cater to the public's aesthetic, compared to the sometimes bizarre appearances of other veins, the exterior of the Lingyun Sacred Hall was quite conventional, with nothing particularly surprising except for a sense of "immortality."

However, the dense spiritual energy surrounding the sacred hall and the faintly visible seven-colored glow behind it were enough to leave people in awe.

Under the seven-colored glow, the laws of heaven and earth seemed to be drawn, becoming clearer, making one feel as if they might achieve enlightenment at any moment.

It was said that this was where Lingyun Zhenjun, the founder of the Holy Land, secluded himself to comprehend the Dao and broke through to the mid-Void Realm.

It was said that the seven-colored glow was left by him back then.

It was said that those with great fortune and comprehension might be able to comprehend various great Daos within the glow, using it to glimpse the secrets of the Void and soar to great heights.

Of course, these were just legends. So far, no one had truly comprehended any great Dao from the glow.

After briefly explaining to Wang Shouzhe, Yao Chengchao, and other guests watching the excitement, Jiang Zhencang led them to the Trial Hall.

The Trial Hall was located in an inconspicuous side hall of the Lingyun Sacred Hall.

This side hall was usually sealed, surrounded by strict formations to prevent any prying, only opening during each Holy Land Struggle.

Since the last Holy Son Struggle was over three thousand years ago, the elders of that time had long passed away, leaving no one but Jiang Zhencang, the Holy Land Master, knowing what it looked like inside.

As Jiang Zhencang arrived, the formation outside the Trial Hall automatically opened.

Wang Shouzhe stood behind Jiang Zhencang, looking up.

He saw that the doors of the Trial Hall were made of metal, with a silver-white matte texture. The surface was painted with intricate and mysterious green patterns, and complex inscriptions were engraved, giving it a very retro look, full of the Shenwu Royal Dynasty style.

Jiang Zhencang placed his hand on the door of the Trial Hall, and as his profound energy surged in, the complex inscriptions on the door lit up one by one.

Moments later, the dusty doors slowly opened, revealing the interior.

Wang Shouzhe, peering over Jiang Zhencang's shoulder, was momentarily stunned, showing a rare expression of confusion.

Sleeping pods?

He saw a row of metal pods resembling cocoons standing against the wall opposite them. The shape, material, and structure were exactly like the sleeping pods often seen in sci-fi novels.

What was with this strong sci-fi vibe?

Wang Shouzhe was bewildered, and couldn't help but look around, discovering that the entire Trial Hall was square-shaped. On the left was a massive crystal screen wall occupying an entire wall, and on the right were rows of metal seats resembling a tiered classroom, oddly reminiscent of a cinema.

The front and the walls near the entrance were lined with sci-fi-style sleeping pods.

This scene seemed quite out of place.

Wang Shouzhe felt a sense of foreboding.

Aside from Wang Shouzhe, the reactions of the other vein leaders and disciples were quite normal.

Clearly, they were unfamiliar with these things that seemed so familiar to Shouzhe, and they found them novel and astonishing.

Jiang Zhencang, with an expression filled with "nostalgia," scanned the "sleeping pods," as if reminiscing about the glorious days when he won the Holy Son title.

After a moment, he turned back, his face slightly proud, "Everyone, these are the miraculous creations of the Shenwu Royal Dynasty. The Quasi-Holy Sons and Quasi-Holy Daughters participating in the Holy Son Struggle only need to lie in those 'cocoon pods,' and their consciousness will enter another virtual world."

"The time flow there is different from the outside, and the background can be artificially set. Without bloodshed or complex processes, it can simulate wars, forces, harsh environments, and various details, setting up various test points to evaluate the Quasi-Holy Sons and Quasi-Holy Daughters' abilities in command, charisma, fortune, and more."

"For them, it's both an assessment and a form of training. Even during the Shenwu period, it was a powerful tool for training and assessing the combat abilities of various officers."

Everyone else was in awe, unable to help but look at those things with a sense of reverence.

Who would have thought there were such miraculous things in the world? The Shenwu Royal Dynasty was truly remarkable.

Wang Shouzhe, however, held his forehead, feeling quite speechless.

As expected!

The source of that ominous feeling was now clear. Weren't these things just the full-immersion gaming pods popular in online gaming novels?

Was the Holy Son Struggle really about this? Competing to see who was better at gaming? This was too childish!

A series of questioning marks popped up in Wang Shouzhe's mind.

"Isn't this... the complete set of equipment for training and assessing senior officers from the Shenwu Royal Dynasty? I didn't expect the Lingyun Holy Land to have a set too." Jiang Xingyuan, knowledgeable and experienced, was also slightly shocked.

"Brother," Wang Shouzhe's interest was piqued, and he cupped his hands, "Do you know the origin of these things?"

"Of course, we also excavated two training academy ruins," Jiang Xingyuan said with a hint of pride, "Although those ruins were damaged in the war, we still found many documents and a set of backup military simulation training and assessment equipment stored in an underground warehouse. Our Immortal Palace still uses it. It's quite fun, but unfortunately, it consumes too many immortal crystals each time it's activated, requiring a great cost to participate."

"I see, thank you, brother," Wang Shouzhe expressed his gratitude, while internally pondering.

It seemed he had underestimated this equipment. Although the style was indescribable, if used well, it could be beneficial for future applications to military academies.

Perhaps, after the Holy Son Struggle, he could discuss with Jiang Zhencang about borrowing it?

Meanwhile, Jiang Zhencang frowned in confusion.

Strange, why did he feel a chill behind him?

Little did he know, just a meter away, Wang Shouzhe was contemplating how to exploit the Holy Land's resources, already devising ten to eight plans in that short time.

……