...
Very soon, Wang Shouzhe, under the guidance of the maid, arrived at the backyard of the Lua Family's main residence, Ancestor Mingsheng's secluded place for cultivation.
This area is near the shores of Yingxiu Lake, and the towering and majestic pavilion offers a view of half the lake. The lake breeze, sound of waves, jumping fish, and chirping birds all merge the building into nature.
Standing in front of the pavilion named "Yingxiu Rises with the Bright Moon," Wang Shouzhe cupped his hands and said, "Wang Shouzhe of the Ping'an Wang Family requests to see Ancestor Mingsheng."
"Come in."
A gentle voice sounded directly in Wang Shouzhe's ear.
Following the voice, Wang Shouzhe went up the solid wooden steps to the upper level of the pavilion. Outside the window, an elder in a grey robe sat with his back to Wang Shouzhe, seated in a Master's chair, fishing with a long fishing line in Yingxiu Lake.
His posture was very casual, but to Wang Shouzhe's eyes, he was utterly impenetrable, like a high and insurmountable mountain or a deep and unfathomable lake.
Beside him was a twelve or thirteen-year-old girl dressed in red, precisely Wang Shouzhe's cousin Lua Xiaoxiao. She was glaring at Wang Shouzhe with puffed cheeks, evidently still angry.
"Grandpa Zeng, you see how annoying cousin Shouzhe is." Lua Xiaoxiao pouted, "Why does that Wang family sister have a Purple Crystal Spirit Bee Hive, and I don't?"
"Uh..." Wang Shouzhe rubbed his nose, feeling helpless. This little girl Xiaoxiao really came to the Ancestor to complain.
"Then tell me how I should teach your cousin a lesson? Last time, you said you liked cousin Shouzhe the most." The elder spoke faintly, "Don't you like him now?"
"I do, but mother said the Wang Family is not doing well right now and lacks money everywhere." Lua Xiaoxiao tilted her head and said seriously, "I think cousin must be very short on money. How about Grandpa Zeng giving cousin five hundred Qian Gold Notes to buy a Purple Crystal Spirit Bee Hive to give me? Then Xiaoxiao won't be mad at cousin Shouzhe anymore."
"Why five hundred Qian Gold Notes?" the elder asked in surprise, "Grandpa Zeng remembers ordinary Purple Crystal Spirit Bee Hives are only two or three hundred Qian Gold Notes. Could it be that prices have risen so much?"
"Cousin Shouzhe would find it hard to buy a hive too."
Pfft!
This statement almost made Wang Shouzhe spit blood. His cousin's logic is indeed strong. To get a bee hive, she's even trying to make Ancestor Mingsheng pay extra. This is unbearable for him, so he coughed twice and said, "Shouzhe greets Ancestor Mingsheng."
Unexpectedly, Ancestor Mingsheng didn't acknowledge Wang Shouzhe at all but continued talking with Lua Xiaoxiao, "Then if your cousin buys you a Purple Crystal Spirit Bee Hive, will you listen to Grandpa Zeng?"
"I will!" Lua Xiaoxiao nodded firmly.
Ancestor Mingsheng nodded slightly, turned to Wang Shouzhe with a smile, casually threw several gold notes towards him.
Wang Shouzhe hurriedly caught them and looked closely. Shockingly, they were five hundred Qian Gold Notes, instantly leaving him bewildered about what had just happened. Could it be...
"Shouzhe, did you hear?" Ancestor Mingsheng's face, appearing only in his fifties, showed a hint of jest, "Later, buy a Purple Crystal Spirit Bee Hive for your cousin Xiaoxiao, and the rest can be considered your running fee."
"Ancestor, this..." Wang Shouzhe said with a cold sweat, "This must not be done. If cousin Xiaoxiao truly likes the Purple Crystal Spirit Bee Hive, I'll find a way to buy one."
"Alright, now, don't you know what state your Wang Family is in?" Ancestor Mingsheng impatiently waved his hand, "Take these Qian Gold Notes first, prepare more cultivation resources, and discuss the Purple Crystal Spirit Bee Hive when you have the means."
Wang Shouzhe felt a slight warmth in his heart, cupped his hands and said, "Thank you Ancestor for your support." It seemed Ancestor Mingsheng intended to support his great-grandson, so he naturally wasn't too polite and took the money.
"Thank your cousin Xiaoxiao." Ancestor Mingsheng said with a smile, "If I hadn't been unable to resist her pestering, I wouldn't have given these Qian Gold Notes. For the Lua Family, five hundred Qian Gold Notes isn't a small sum; after various huge expenses, even in a year, they might not save this amount."
"Thank you, cousin Xiaoxiao." Wang Shouzhe also cupped his hands and said.
"Humph." Lua Xiaoxiao turned her head, giving a cute hum, seemingly unwilling to speak to him.
"Xiaoxiao, you must strive hard and don't let that Spirit Insect Master girl surpass you." Ancestor Mingsheng "instigated" her, "If you successfully learn the Array Master way and become a Tier One Array Master, I guarantee your cousin Shouzhe will admire you."
"Array Master?"
Wang Shouzhe was startled and asked, "Ancestor, could it be that cousin Xiaoxiao has talent for learning arrays?"
"What, the Wang Family producing a Spirit Insect Master is allowed, but not our Lua Family having an Array Master?" Ancestor Mingsheng said with a half-smile.
Wang Shouzhe had a cold sweat on his forehead: "Ancestor, I don't mean that. I'm just a bit surprised. Congratulations to Ancestor, congratulations to cousin Xiaoxiao."
In his heart, he sighed, thinking that talent can indeed be unpredictable. He vaguely remembered that Lua Xiaoxiao was terrible at learning the "Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art," yet she had talent in arrays...
"Grandpa Zeng, from today onwards, I'll definitely work hard and not be lazy anymore." Lua Xiaoxiao obediently said, "When I become a Tier One Array Master, I will infuriate that Spirit Insect Master girl and make sure cousin Shouzhe won't look down on me."
"That's the spirit; it suits my granddaughter Lua Mingsheng. Come, let's build a good foundation first, and Grandpa Zeng will take you to become an apprentice." Ancestor Mingsheng was amiable to Lua Xiaoxiao but casually waved to Wang Shouzhe, "Shouzhe, go about your business."
Isn't this being treated like a tool?
Wang Shouzhe felt speechless silently but was willing to be a tool if it yielded five hundred Qian Gold Notes each time. Besides, the fact that Lua Xiaoxiao has talent in arrays is excellent news since she is his dual-blood cousin, and their blood relations are very close.
Seeing Ancestor Mingsheng was rare, Wang Shouzhe didn't want to waste this opportunity easily, immediately cupping his hands and asking, "Ancestor, I have several obscure points in my cultivation and hope you can guide me."
"You brat, don't push it." Ancestor Mingsheng huffed and stared, "Your Ancestor Longyan is knowledgeable. Do you still need my guidance?"
"Seeking a second opinion." Wang Shouzhe said with a foolish grin, "Having multiple verifications is advantageous for my path on the Spirit Platform. I see the environment here is excellent, cultivation must progress rapidly..."
He presented an attitude suggesting that if Ancestor Mingsheng didn't guide him, he wouldn't leave; as a junior, showing slight insolence to a great-grandfather is entirely acceptable.
"Alright, alright, ask your questions quickly, and leave once done without disturbing my cultivation." Ancestor Mingsheng said helplessly.
Wang Shouzhe promptly threw out the prepared questions one by one.
In dealing with the cultivation questions raised by Wang Shouzhe, Ancestor Mingsheng was certainly not perfunctory, thought each through before answering. Unexpectedly, as the questions progressed, Wang Shouzhe's questions became more tricky, even requiring careful pondering for Ancestor Mingsheng to answer.
The pre-crossing Wang Shouzhe was introverted, focused solely on self-cultivation, sometimes holding many questions without daring to consult Ancestor Longyan. But the Wang Shouzhe now was entirely different; influenced by modern Earth thinking, he accumulated a lot of cultivation questions from various angles.
This highlights one difference between Noble Family Descendants and Loose Cultivators: having family elders to resolve doubts and give guidance.
"You brat, that's enough; Ancestor also needs to cultivate." After over two hours, even Ancestor Mingsheng felt overwhelmed. Where did this brat find so many strange questions? Continuing would surely lead to unanswerable queries.
If unfamiliar issues arise, he cannot just make things up; potential problems could harm juniors?
Cannot endure it any longer!
Lua Xiaoxiao initially pretended to listen, but as the questioning proceeded, she became more baffled and bored, eventually dozing off beside him.
"Thank you, Ancestor, for resolving my doubts; I am truly enlightened." Wang Shouzhe saw the time was right, stood up, and cupped his hands, "I wish Ancestor early Profound Skill success, ascending to Celestial Human."
These words made Ancestor Mingsheng quite happy. Although he was still trudging towards the mid-stage Spirit Platform Realm, every cultivator reaching Spirit Platform Realm aspired to advance further.
It's known that those below Spirit Platform Realm are all mortals, with a lifespan hardly exceeding a century. Upon reaching Spirit Platform Realm, lifespan doubles, reaching a maximum of two hundred years. This is why the Spirit Platform Realm is referred to as an Ancestor: as they live longer, they'll eventually see their descendants pass away before them, one by one.
...