Chapter 886: Chapter 31: Why?! What’s So Special About That Man?

...

At the same time.

The Patriarch of the Shangguan Family, Shangguan Zhenhai, the Grand Elder Shangguan Liyan, and the Great Celestial Pride Shangguan Yunque, were all in an indescribable state of shock.

The small Sixth-Grade Noble Family, the Changning Wang Family, had unexpectedly produced two Great Celestial Prides.

Although Wang Zong’an, at sixty-five years old, was only in the Third Layer of the Celestial Human Realm, weaker than his sister by a fair margin, it all depends on who you compare him to...

Back then, at sixty-five, Shangguan Yunque’s cultivation level was similar. How much stronger could the Junior Prince Wu Zhixing have been at sixty-five?

The Shangguan Family members’ gazes toward Wang Zong’an changed immediately, and their level of regard for the Changning Wang Family in Longzuo County significantly elevated.

Two Great Celestial Prides emerging from the family at the same time, with one taking the Academy Sacred Land route, and the other pursuing the path of clan stabilization, would surely lead the Wang Family to rapid and immense growth. As long as they endure for about five hundred years, the two Great Celestial Prides can both advance into the Divine Power Realm.

With Wang Shouzhe’s ability to generate wealth, supporting a Great Celestial Pride would likely not be much of a problem.

At that time, the Changning Wang Family would become exceptionally powerful, directly advancing into the Upper Three-Grade Noble Families.

Even if the Shangguan Family advanced to Third Grade by then, the Wang Family, with the academy and family achieving Dual Divine Techniques, would still surpass the Shangguan Family significantly, despite the restrictions Liyao may face within the academy.

Moreover, Liyao’s Great Celestial Pride Bloodline is extraordinary and could possibly contend for the position of Saint Son.

If she truly becomes the Master of the Saint Land in the future... the Wang Family would soar unstoppably, becoming one of the top families on par with the Second-Grade Family, the Mansion of Duke Protector of the Nation. (PS: There’s a BUG earlier, the Duke’s Mansion belongs to the Zhao Family, the Chen Family is Third Grade.)

Which family would dare underestimate such a family with immense potential?

Silence.

After a long time of silence, enough to take dozens of breaths, the members of the Shangguan Family gradually recovered from their intense shock, barely regaining their composure.

"The potential of Young Clan Leader Zong’an is truly enviable," commented the white-haired Grand Elder Shangguan Liyan wistfully. "People often say that the difference between a Celestial Pride and a Great Celestial Pride is just one tier of bloodline, and with some effort, one can catch up. But such sayings have some market before reaching the Purple Mansion Realm. Only when one reaches the Purple Mansion Realm do they realize that the gap between the two is like an uncrossable gulf."

"For us Celestial Prides, advancing each step in the Purple Mansion Realm is akin to moving mountains and filling seas, fraught with difficulties. Let alone pursuing the path of Divine Techniques, which is as arduous as ascending to heaven."

No wonder Shangguan Liyan sighed; the greatest strength of a Great Celestial Pride is that, for them, reaching the Purple Mansion Realm is just the beginning of an ascent that ordinary Celestial Prides could only ever look up to.

It’s not that Celestial Prides can’t cultivate once they reach the Purple Mansion Realm. Those with very high bloodlines, reaching Upper Grade A, may still have a slight hope of advancing into the Divine Power Realm.

But everything depends on resources, and resources are always limited. All noble families will plan meticulously and use them wisely, focusing on cost-effectiveness.

Instead of investing heavily in a Purple Mansion Ancestor whose potential is exhausted, it’s better to save the resources to nurture the younger generation, producing more Celestial Humans, or facilitating succession in the Purple Mansion.

After all, the maximum lifespan for the Purple Mansion Realm is only about eight hundred years, with little hope of achieving divine powers. Throwing resources around recklessly would only ruin the family, and no Patriarch would dare act so recklessly, as it would incite public anger within the clan.

"Your praise is too kind, elder." After displaying his own prowess, Wang Zong’an gracefully withdrew his aura and returned to his initial modest demeanor. "It’s a matter of luck that I became a Great Celestial Pride. I went to the Longzuo Purple Mansion Academy merely to add some prestige to my name, who could have foreseen that I would be favored by the Longevity Tree senior, receiving a gift of Essence of Wood, and obtaining a Longevity Tree Spirit Seed?" 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Heartbreaking indeed~

Putting aside Shangguan Yunque, who is quite lucky in his own right, Shangguan Zhenhai and Shangguan Liyan felt a heartache so intense it made it difficult to breathe. Why hadn’t they the fortune of being favored by the Longevity Tree senior?

The Longevity Tree in the Longzuo Academy, they had heard, was now at the peak of Tier Eight. Perhaps one day, the Longevity Tree senior would surpass the Transformation Tribulation and become a Tier Nine Demon King.

At that time, wouldn’t that mean another formidable backing for the Changning Wang Family? A Tier Nine Demon King is akin to a human Divine Power Realm Immortal. Unlike the Celestial River Zhenren who doesn’t have many years left, the Longevity Tree is renowned for its longevity, outliving even turtle-type spirit beasts.

As long as Young Clan Leader Zong’an lives, or as long as the young Longevity Tree remains with the Wang Family, this bond will persist unendingly.

"Young Clan Leader Zong’an, earlier you mentioned bringing us along to prosperity? Could you elaborate on the situation?" Shangguan Zhenhai asked, awkward yet polite, to change the subject.

He couldn’t continue with the previous topic, as a deep sense of frustration had already arisen within him.

"Everyone, please take a look at our plan for the Anbei Guard." Wang Zong’an produced a Celestial Secret Recording Disc and activated the images stored within. "This is our experimental farm, where we grow high-yield pearl rice and Ziran. The vast green grassland around is filled with alfalfa."

"Pearl rice, as a high-yield grain, is extremely storage-resistant. It serves as prime feed for superior war horses, carriage horses, and working oxen, as well as being used as provisions for military and disaster relief. Ordinary people can also use pearl rice as a side dish, with additional benefits like improving bowel movements."