Protect Our Chief-Chapter 476 - 8: Prince! Wu Dianshan
...
Longzuo County City.
It has always been a place where dragons and snakes mixed, a gathering of low-strength loose cultivators trying their luck, as well as the prestigious Purple Mansion families with millennia of heritage.
Yet, among the myriad of beings, the most revered and admired is none other than the hereditary Prince Zhenzuo of the Longzuo County Prince’s Mansion — Wu Dianshan.
Nominally, the lineage of Prince Zhenzuo is entrusted by the King to guard Longzuo County as a sealed prince. However, after the founding of Daqian, the true governing system implemented is the Commander system.
The Governor’s Mansion is the genuine institution under the capital’s jurisdiction, overseeing all affairs of the county.
The lineage of Prince Zhenzuo has always been a nominal seal with little actual power. The current County Prince, Wu Dianshan, never showed much ambition or talent from a young age; he favored indulging in pleasures, at most associating with some loose cultivator experts, remaining merely in gentlemanly and distant friendships.
If some noble families encounter difficulties and seek help from the Prince’s Mansion, they are generally aided compassionately. Therefore, the lineage of the County Prince holds a fairly good reputation overall.
The Prince’s Mansion is not far from the Longzuo Wang Family, situated in the core area of the county city. This also reflects that during its peak, the Longzuo Wang Family was very powerful.
However, the Prince’s Mansion is much grander, with the main residence area being several times that of the Longzuo Wang Family.
Wang Shouzhe and Ancestor Longyan, according to protocol, submitted a visitation card. The credentials included the Changning Wang Family, and the named discipleship under Changchun Ascendant and Binglan Ascendant, with an identity token from Changchun Ascendant attached.
Immediately, they were respectfully invited to the side hall by the doorkeeper steward. Servants and maids presented exquisite pastries, fruits, and spirit tea, all of which were spiritual objects.
As expected of the Prince’s Mansion, the foundation is indeed extraordinary.
Even the maids and servants were young Qi Refining Realm cultivators with some achievements, and their appearances were quite upright. The doorkeeper steward was a Spirit Platform Realm cultivator.
Wang Shouzhe and Ancestor Longyan maintained an expression of calm as usual, simply sipping the spirit tea. After all, the income of the Changning Wang Family far exceeds that of typical Celestial Human Realm families, and they are well accustomed to such scenes.
In no time at all.
A Chief Steward dressed in a brocade robe stepped into the side hall, laughing heartily: "Today, the spirit sparrows in the mansion’s aviary are singing joyfully, clearly indicating the arrival of distinguished guests. To my surprise, it is the recently renowned Changning Wang Family. I am Wu Zhong, Chief Steward of the Prince’s Mansion, greeting Patriarch Shouzhe of the Wang Family and Ancestor Longyan."
A wave of enthusiastic and hearty aura rushed forth, allowing Wang Shouzhe to feel his warmth. He never once mentioned the two ascendants, as if truly being this enthusiastic for the sake of the Changning Wang Family.
But Wang Shouzhe knew that in this short time, the Chief Steward Wu Zhong had clearly reviewed the information on the Changning Wang Family and responded quickly.
As Longzuo County’s top noble family — the Prince’s Mansion, collecting and summarizing intel from various cities and defenses is only natural. Today, the Changning Wang Family is no longer the small eighth and ninth-grade family it once was.
"Shouzhe pays respect to Chief Steward Wu." Wang Shouzhe stood up courteously, showing elegance and full decorum, retrieving a substantial tribute from his storage ring, "This little gift is merely a token of respect."
Chief Steward Wu Zhong, well-experienced, glanced over without looking at the gift list, estimating the tribute’s worth, fearing it was no less than thirty thousand Qian Gold.
In his quiet astonishment, Wu Zhong hurriedly declined: "Patriarch Shouzhe, your presence alone is enough; there’s no need for such generous gifts. Please, take them back." He remembered the brief intelligence snippet about the Changning Wang Family—that Patriarch Wang Shouzhe had considerable talent in management, and the Wang Family was quite wealthy.
A casual tribute worth thirty thousand Qian Gold, either shows the Wang Family’s extraordinary wealth and indifference to money, or indicates their significant request.
"It’s just a ceremonial gift, nothing more," Wang Shouzhe smiled, "Indeed, I come with a request for the Prince that I hope, in view of the favor from Changchun Ascendant, His Highness could introduce us to Master Dan Ding."
Wu Zhong immediately understood and laughed heartily: "Ah, so Patriarch Shouzhe also comes for the matter of Master Dan Ding accepting disciples. Frankly, many families approached His Highness with this request, but he rejected them all."
Before Wang Shouzhe could respond, Wu Zhong continued: "However, considering the favor from Changchun Ascendant, the Prince would likely be pleased to accommodate this matter."
Just as expected.
With Changchun Ascendant’s token, the outcome is different.
This is the worldly wisdom and connections of the Black Tortoise World. If His Highness agrees to this, it is undoubtedly for maintaining a favor with Changchun Ascendant, to ensure a return favor when needed sometime in the future.
"Ultimately, though, the decision rests with His Highness the Prince." Chief Steward Wu Zhong saluted and clasped his hands, "Please rest awhile, and allow me to report to His Highness the Prince."
After exchanging pleasantries.
Wu Zhong hurried away, returning to the side hall in less than an hour: "Congratulations to Patriarch Shouzhe and Ancestor Longyan. His Highness the Prince happens to be free today and has decided to personally entertain you for a meal. Please, both esteemed guests, follow me."
Afterwards.
Under Wu Zhong’s arrangement, Wang Shouzhe and Ancestor Longyan met with Prince Zhenzuo Wu Dianshan in an elegant courtyard.
The courtyard is filled with strange and exotic flowers competing to show off their beauty. The courtyard’s pavilions and buildings crisscross with fascinating sights, and within the courtyard itself, there is a pool of water spanning several dozen mu, stocked with many Spirit Fish.
A middle-aged man wearing a Python Robe and a Purple Gold Crown is holding a Purple Bamboo Fishing Rod, fishing leisurely. He does not appear particularly imposing; instead, he exudes a sense of relaxation and ease.
When he sees Wang Shouzhe and Wang Longyan, he doesn’t wait for Wu Zhong to introduce them, but instead greets them with a smile, "These two young talents must be the prized celestial pride disciples of Changchun and Binglan Ascendant, Wang Shouzhe and Wang Longyan, right? Come, come, have a seat and drink some tea."
In a short time, information related to Wang Shouzhe and Wang Longyan had evidently been observed.
The Celestial Pride of the Purple Mansion Academy, their status is indeed extraordinary, and wherever they go, they are respected and flattered, but this does not apply within the Prince’s Mansion. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂
The esteemed Prince Zhenzuo himself is a Purple Mansion Mirror cultivator, and also a Sealed King of Daqian. His status is extremely revered. Although the Academy’s direct disciples are remarkable, they are still far from comparable.
The reason for such a courteous reception from the Prince, aside from Shouzhe and Longyan’s own exceptional talent, mostly comes from the respect for the two Ascendants. Especially since Wang Shouzhe arrived with the Eternal Spring Order, making it clear that Changchun was asking him for a favor.
Even so, even though the Prince does not put on airs and exudes a friendly demeanor, Wang Shouzhe and Ancestor Longyan still maintain their attitude as juniors, respectfully paying their respects to the Prince.
Do not be fooled by the young appearance of Prince Wu Dianshan; he is actually five to six hundred years old, with unfathomable cultivation. How could he be treated lightly?
After adhering to proper etiquette,
the Prince hosted a small banquet by the water within the courtyard for the two of them.
There were no Dragon Liver or Phoenix Gall at the feast, only some ordinary spiritual delicacies, meticulously crafted by the chefs, making one’s appetite open wide.
Originally, Wu Dianshan intended to show courtesy to Ascendant Changchun, but during a casual conversation with Wang Shouzhe, he discovered that Shouzhe’s thoughts were extremely sharp and insightful. Some offhand remarks revealed his unique perspective, often leaving Wu Dianshan somewhat inspired.
"Interesting, interesting, little friend’s insights into worldly matters indeed have sharp angles yet are indescribably wonderful," Prince Wu Dianshan laughed heartily.
As the feast progressed, Wu Dianshan became increasingly appreciative of this junior. No wonder the reports said that the Wang Family rose from a declining Ninth Grade to the Seventh Grade in just twenty years.
"Does the Prince enjoy fishing?" Wang Shouzhe observed a few times and noted that Prince Wu Dianshan seemed to have quite a liking for fishing, having referenced fishing-related anecdotes several times.
"Just something to pass the time when idle. You, Shouzhe, are still young and don’t understand that after living over five hundred years, one has tried everything, and gradually nothing is interesting anymore," said Prince Wu Dianshan. "I have to pace my entertainments for fear that once I grow tired of them, it will be hard to find new enjoyment. Does Shouzhe also enjoy fishing?"
In a past life, I liked it, but in this life, I seldom played.
"Not exactly a hobby, but our Wang Family resides by the Anjiang River, and we often have some fish catches each year." With a swipe of his Storage Ring, Wang Shouzhe pulled out a peculiar seven-foot-long fishing rod, "This fishing rod is a pastime creation of mine, please, Prince, give me some pointers."
"This rod is so short, and it even has some Fine Iron Rings, and what is that spinning wheel beneath?" Wu Dianshan was immediately intrigued, taking the rod with no small amount of admiration, "In all my years, I have never seen such a peculiar fishing rod. Shouzhe, what is the story behind it?"
"This rod is named Lure," Wang Shouzhe explained truthfully. "It is specifically for catching the ferocious predatory Spirit Fish. To craft this rod, the main material is old Purple Bamboo aged five thousand years, and the fishing line is woven from thirty-two strands of Tier Six Spiritual Insect Nine Nether Ice Soul Silkworm silk. As long as the Spirit Fish does not exceed Tier Four, it is challenging to break. Prince, you see, lure bait is different from ordinary fishing bait..."
"It’s actually a fake bait..."
"Indeed, because the essence of fishing is different. Ordinary fishing involves static waiting, but lure fishing requires active engagement..."
Thus, Wu Dianshan clicked his tongue in admiration, exclaiming interest, and was eager to try it out.
Ancestor Longyan on the side found it rather speechless, thinking how this boy Shouzhe seemed to get along with everyone.
...
As time passed in a flash, several days had gone by.
Because Master Dan Ding, like a carefree wanderer, had no residence in the Commandery City, this time his disciple recruitment event was held in the largest Alchemy Workshop in the city—Celestial Essence Pill Workshop.
On the day of disciple selection, countless enrollees had hurried from various parts of the city to seek this opportunity.
Among them were descendants of Noble Families, sons of Ninth Grade Lower-Rank Clans, as well as myriad individuals from other unranked families and loose cultivators, all trying their luck. As if being recognized and taken in as a disciple by Master Dan Ding would lead to immediate success.
Outside the Celestial Essence Pill Workshop, it was a sea of people.
The Seventh Young Master of the Wang Family, Wang Shouye, along with a beautiful maiden, squeezed through the crowd with great difficulty to register and obtain a test number plate. However, it read number three hundred ninety-six.
This made him smile wryly; with so many competitors, he feared he might not even pass the initial trial.
...
