Protect Our Chief-Chapter 566 - 41: Gathering Storm! Open and Secret Struggles_2

A drop or two of stone marrow? Fourth-Grade Blood Tempering Pill?

Lu Xianghui was somewhat dry-mouthed. The value of these two items amounted to several thousand Qian Gold. And his total annual expenses were no more than five or six hundred Qian Gold! Without eating, drinking, or cultivating, it would take eight or nine years to afford them.

Of this five or six hundred Qian Gold, two hundred was a subsidy from the family, which had already strained its resources to provide it...

Before he could speak, Wang Liyao brushed her storage ring, and several bottles of elixir appeared before him: "Here is a Blood Tempering Pill, which should help you break through to Middle Grade D. There’s no need for you to say more, Senior Brother Lu; the account will be noted, and you can repay after your successful cultivation."

"Yes, Miss." Lu Xianghui took a deep breath, regaining his composure and said, "I will certainly strive for you, Miss." 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

After Lu Xianghui left.

Wang Liyao took out a package sent by her father, which, besides some cultivation materials, included a letter. It contained some admonitions from her father, essentially telling her that the Shouda Trading Company had already established a presence, and everything was going smoothly within the family, so she need not worry excessively and should just cultivate well under Celestial River Zhenren.

Wang Liyao understood that her father feared she might meddle in too many affairs at her young age, which could cause the academy’s leadership to have opinions of her. Moreover, even her master, Celestial River Zhenren, might struggle to suppress the Qiaan Family.

The Longzuo Qian Family was an established Fifth-Grade Purple Mansion Family with a complex and solid network; they were not easy to deal with casually through relationships.

The struggle with the Qiaan Family was not a matter of days or months. Everyone relied on their own means.

...

At the same time.

Longzuo County City.

In the prosperous county city, various shops were countless.

In an ordinary-looking shop selling southern and northern goods, a seemingly ordinary woman in a hood arrived.

With the shop assistant’s guidance, the woman entered the backyard. After several twists and turns, she arrived outside an inner courtyard room. Removing her hood, it was none other than the present-day Qiaan Family’s matron, Cao Lina.

"Lina wishes to see Ninth Granny," she said softly.

"Come in." A gentle, drifting voice came from inside.

Cao Lina gracefully entered. Inside the room stood a beautiful young lady with an ethereal aura. Upon seeing Cao Lina, she said, "It seems the Yuwen Family has refused your Qiaan Family."

Her voice was light and fluttering, like a fairy whispering in one’s ear.

Seeing this lady, Cao Lina showed a worshipful expression, saluting gracefully with clenched teeth, "Reporting to Ninth Granny, we didn’t expect that the newly-promoted Ancestor Fire Fox from the Yuwen Family seems to have a deep relationship with the Wang Family. He even expelled our Qiaan Family’s elder."

This "Ninth Granny" was Cao Youqing, a Direct Lineage Celestial Pride from the Liaoyuan Cao Family, arranged by the family’s ancestor to enter the Lingyun Sacred Land since childhood. Now, at just over a hundred years old, she had already reached the Heaven-Human Realm Seventh Layer.

Within the Sacred Land, she was a renowned Celestial Pride, and in the family, many younger members looked up to her.

Cao Lina grew up listening to Ninth Granny’s stories and once hoped to follow in her footsteps to the Sacred Land. However, the family needed her to marry into the Longzuo Qian Family to expand the family’s influence. A young woman like her had little power to control her own fate. Despite her intense unwillingness, she had no way to act.

"Nonetheless, if the Yuwen Family fails to recognize this, teaching them a lesson together would suffice." Cao Youqing said indifferently, "The Longzuo Qian Family ultimately holds massive commercial energy, and with full effort, can suppress the Yuwen Family."

"Ninth Granny, those elders in the Qiaan Family are so cowardly," Cao Lina said angrily, "Talking about the way of commerce, valuing peace. Such a minor setback led their Elder Council to unanimously decide to reconcile with the Wang Family. They even picked someone’s legitimate son, Qiaan Xuehan, as the representative. If he actually succeeds, wouldn’t that be a slap to Xue Rui’s face? It would certainly ruin his status within the family."

Cao Youqing nodded calmly: "The Qiaan Family, being merchants, prioritizes profit over reputation. Making such a decision is not surprising."

"Ninth Granny, what about Xue Rui?" Cao Lina asked tensely, "I originally wanted him to achieve great deeds so that the ancestors would list him as the second Purple Mansion Seed, utilizing family resources to cultivate him. But now... If the Qiaan Family reconciles with the Wang Family, wouldn’t Xue Rui be sidelined?"

"Ninth Granny, if Xue Rui and I cannot control the Qiaan Family’s voice, that’s still a minor issue. I just fear it will delay your and son’s major plans."

"Oh? You seem quite perceptive." Cao Youqing said with a faint smile, "Go on, tell me, what major plan do my son and I have?"

"Well..." Cao Lina hesitated but mustered the courage to say, "Actually, I’ve heard some small rumors. That matter likely won’t occur for another two hundred years. If Ninth Granny were planning it secretly, letting Xue Rui gradually control the Qiaan Family’s voice, it’s mostly for that matter..."

The significance of that matter was immense, and even without anyone around, Cao Lina dared not speak too openly.

"So be it." Cao Youqing said lightly, "Actually, that person’s lifespan isn’t some great secret; many tribes with keen senses or clarity have felt the undercurrents. Yet the old noble families play deaf and dumb. Firstly, because the situation is unclear. Secondly, they are awaiting valuation."