Chapter 883: Chapter 30: I, Zong’an, the Great Celestial Pride! Send Money_2

What is Shangguan Yunque’s strength? He is a Great Celestial Pride at the Heaven-Human Realm Seventh Layer, how could he possibly lose to a woman not yet seventy years old?

Just as Shangguan Yunque was diligently cultivating, a Gatekeeper Family General suddenly hurried over, whispered a few words to Shangguan Yunque.

Shangguan Yunque’s expression changed from stupefied to surprised, then to solemn. After giving some instructions to the informant, he removed his battle armor and left in haste.

Two hours later, within the main residence of the Shangguan Family.

In the waterside pavilion "Immortal Guest," specially used to entertain honored guests, a group of young and beautiful servant girls moved gracefully, serving dish after dish of exquisite delicacies, dried meat and fish, candied fruits, and other delicious treats like flowing water.

No matter which type of these snacks, all were made from the finest ingredients and were exquisite treasures.

And these attending servant girls were all young, beautiful, and possessed exceptional temperaments. Their deep and reserved auras indicated that all were maids with Black Tortoise Cultivation.

At this level, if these maids were placed in the localities of each county and guard, they would surely be the cherished daughters within Eighth and Ninth-Grade Noble Families.

Such a grand arrangement is indeed worthy of a noble family with thousands of years of heritage accumulation.

However, even within the Shangguan Family, this was already a very high standard for entertaining guests. Not every guest had the privilege to enjoy such a reception.

In the "Immortal Guest" pavilion, there were only a few people present, each a man of exceptional temperament, as majestic as mountains and rivers.

Seated in the main position was a man in a purple formal dress, exuding a calm and restrained aura.

His temperament was gentle and warm, and every move he made exuded maturity and steadiness. When exchanging polite words with a smile, his attitude was neither overbearing nor servile, yet made people feel a warm spring breeze and a sense of hospitality.

His name was Shangguan Zhenhai, a talented genius from the direct lineage of the Shangguan Family, who had held the position of the Patriarch for two hundred years. Since taking office, although he could not say that he had made the Shangguan Family soar across ten thousand miles, it had been thriving, different from the past.

It could be said that he was a Patriarch with quite an accomplishment.

Shangguan Zhenhai was born as a Celestial Pride. Although he had not made it to the ranks of the Top Ten Outstanding Youth in his younger years, he also had various glorious moments. He was best at the Shangguan Family’s inherited Black Tortoise Swordsmanship, the "Breaking Army Sword Technique," with bold and vigorous Sword Momentum, earning the elegant nickname "A Sword Suppresses the Vast Sea."

Fifty years ago, Shangguan Zhenhai had already broken through the shackles of the Celestial Human Realm to become the fifth Ancestor in the Purple Mansion Realm of the Shangguan Family. Generally, a Patriarch of a Fourth-Grade Noble Family would relinquish the position to focus on cultivation after reaching the Purple Mansion Realm.

However, firstly, Shangguan Zhenhai was doing well, and the family was thriving under his rule.

Secondly, the Shangguan Family was fortunate to have a Great Celestial Pride born, with the potential to advance to the Third Grade in the future. Therefore, the standard had to be raised one more level, everywhere aligning with the Third Grade.

Because of this, the members of the Shangguan Family tacitly continued to support Shangguan Zhenhai as the Patriarch to adapt to the situation in advance. Subsequent heirs to the position of Patriarch of the Shangguan Family would also have to meet or exceed the level of Shangguan Zhenhai.

In addition to this Purple Mansion Realm Patriarch, Shangguan Zhenhai, the main person responsible for hosting was a similarly imposing Grand Elder in the Purple Mansion Realm with grayish-white beard and a pride of the Shangguan Family, the Great Celestial Pride Shangguan Yunque.

Also present was a mature, beautiful woman with a temperament as sweet as a honey peach—Shangguan Bilian.

Normally, Lady Bilian, being a woman married outside the family, ought not to be involved in her original family’s affairs. However, among the honored guests arriving this time, there was a Young Clan Leader from the Changning Wang Family in Longzuo County.

Lady Bilian and the Changning Wang Family, both Sixth-Grade Noble Families in Longzhou, maintained frequent contacts. Her presence made exchanges smoother.

Previously, a visitor from the Changning Wang Family, which was barely known by name, need not have been given much attention. At most, out of respect for the "Sixth-Grade Noble Family" title, a normal Celestial Human Realm Elder would be dispatched to greet them.

But ever since the Great Celestial Pride Liyao swept the Imperial City, the status of the Changning Wang Family rose with the tide, suddenly entering the view of the influential figures. No one dared to underestimate the Changning Wang Family, even if it was just out of respect for the Great Celestial Pride Liyao.

Nevertheless, the Young Clan Leader of the Changning Wang Family alone was not enough to warrant such attention from the Shangguan Family. The reason for this distinguished reception was because, among the accompanying visitors, there was also a Quasi-crown prince, Prince Anjun.

Even if Prince Anjun was not as prominent as Prince Kang, he was still a Quasi-crown prince, a grand Celestial Pride level Prince. Even if he failed to vie for the throne in the future, he would still become a Divine Power Realm royal in the future.

Would such a person be neglected by the Shangguan Family?

After some polite exchanges, they sat according to guest and host, the atmosphere somewhat serious and solemn.

In the eyes of the Shangguan Family, Prince Anjun coming to the capital this time, accompanied by the Young Clan Leader of the Changning Wang Family, was most likely trying to get the Shangguan Family to take a side?

If they refused, would it cause discord with Prince Anjun?

For this reason, the members of the Shangguan Family, though saying nothing on the surface, felt somewhat uncomfortable at heart. "Prince Anjun, aren’t you being a bit too ’inconsiderate’? Bringing such an unlikely matter to the table, doesn’t it make it difficult for everyone to step down?"

"Hee hee hee~" Seeing the tense atmosphere, Lady Bilian laughed charmingly and said, "I didn’t expect to see Young Clan Leader Zong An here while visiting my parents’ home in the Imperial City for a short stay. It’s been just a year or two since we last met, and the elegance of the Young Clan Leader is even more remarkable than before, with a bit of Patriarch Shouzhe’s calm demeanor."

Wang Zong’an responded with a smile, "Lady Bilian flatters me. In terms of elegance, Zong’an can’t match my father by even a tenth. It’s Lady Bilian who looks ever more radiant, I almost didn’t recognize you just now."