Only Wang Shouzhe and his wife were left, staring daggers at each other.

"Wang Shouzhe, since the children aren’t here, let’s clear things up. If you dislike me, feel free to say it."

"My dear, don’t misunderstand, it was just a slip of the tongue."

"Slip of the tongue? Humph, the image of the artifact spirit system you created, who is it supposed to be? Why is the body so... big... Tell me which family’s girl it is, I’ll personally propose for you."

"The artifact spirit system was an exaggerated anime character... not a real person, purely imagined."

"What is anime? Never mind, even if it’s just a fantasy of yours, it still proves you’ve grown tired of me... Husband, no, Wang Shouzhe..."

"Liu Ruoling? Oh no... Ancestor, help... Ancestor Longyan, help!"

"You Wang, on this vast earth, no one can save you."

"My dear, don’t be like this! Don’t think being a Spirit Platform Realm spirit body makes you remarkable, I’m going all out with you..."

In the distance!

Some clan members who were preparing to report something to Wang Shouzhe immediately changed their expressions, stopped, and turned away. In recent years, such scenes have become more and more frequent; the peculiar habits of Patriarch Shouzhe and his wife were too embarrassing.

Meanwhile, Ancestor Longyan, who was cultivating in the Longyan Residence, merely lifted her eyelids slightly before continuing her meditation. Clearly, she had long grown accustomed to this couple’s playful bickering style of love.

Previously, she would nervously rush to help Wang Shouzhe, only to almost intrude on their private matters. After several times, how could she continue to interfere?

She, Wang Longyan, was merely a hundred and thirty-six years old, having consumed the Longevity Fruit to replenish her losses. According to the four-century lifespan of a Celestial Human Realm cultivator, she was still a young and vibrant single fairy.

"Alas~ Shouzhe and Ruolan, those two are wonderful in every way, except... their habits... Alas~~ so embarrassing."

...

Half a month later, at the East Sea Guard’s Hundred Treasures Pavilion.

In just a short time, branches of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion span across the Longzuo County, even having branches outside the county.

However, in the region of the Six Southern Guards, the Hundred Treasures Pavilion in each guard offers ordinary treasure trades, but some extraordinary treasures are only auctioned biennially at the East Sea Guard’s Hundred Treasures Pavilion.

Wang Shouzhe hasn’t missed any of the recent auctions.

As soon as the Wang Family’s invitation was submitted, Wang Shouzhe and Ancestor Longyan were invited by the Spirit Platform Realm manager to the exclusive top-tier box for Celestial Human Realm families, with arrangements for the best maids and a lavish spread of Spirit Fruits and Spirit Tea.

It’s said that shortly, even the deputy pavilion master of the East Sea Hundred Treasures Pavilion will personally meet with Wang Shouzhe and Ancestor Longyan.

Besides the fact that the Changning Wang Family is a Celestial Human Family, it mainly comes down to the Wang Family’s always generous spending, being VIPs of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion.

Of course, before becoming a Celestial Human Family, Wang Shouzhe would always conceal his identity on visits. And the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, respecting VIPs, provided corresponding confidentiality services.

But this time.

Wang Shouzhe and Ancestor Longyan formally appeared at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, without any pretentiousness.

The situation has changed.

Previously, to deal with the Huangfu Family, the Wang Family had to hide some strategic treasures, keeping them as trump cards for critical moments.

But now that the Wang Family has risen, they need to make a show, openly adding strategic magical treasures for the ancestor, and letting many Celestial Human Families know.

This is like a beast baring its fangs, warning and intimidating some potential adversaries, expressing "I’m not to be trifled with, weigh your options before challenging me." This way, unnecessary troubles can be avoided relatively.

For a noble family to grow and thrive, it requires a long-term stable and solid big environment. Always pretending to be weak and slyly retaliating is inviting others to commit crimes, deliberately creating conflicts.

With Wang Shouzhe’s "first" formal appearance at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, this news spread like dandelion seeds, drifting far and wide with the wind.

One of the hosts of the East Sea Guard — Tuoba Gaozhan, the patriarch of the Tuoba Family, immediately rushed over to meet Wang Shouzhe. Upon entering, he first paid full respects to Ancestor Longyan.

Then, Tuoba Gaozhan complained slightly to Wang Shouzhe, "Patriarch Shouzhe’s visit to my East Sea Guard wasn’t informed in advance, we Tuoba Family could have sent someone ahead to welcome and properly entertain Ancestor Longyan."

Ever since the Wang Family’s Celestial Human Banquet, Ancestor Longyan’s fame spread throughout the Six Southern Guards. None of the major families dare to underestimate Wang Longyan, as she has a Purple Mansion Ascendant backing her.

Although the ascendant is from the academy and can’t assist the Wang Family in oppressing other families by rules, should any family wish to oppress the Wang Family, they must consider Binglan Ascendant’s temper.

It’s said that among the ascendants in Longzuo County’s Purple Mansion Academy, Binglan Ascendant is the most fiery-tempered.

Therefore, many Celestial Human Families view the newly risen Wang Family with an attitude of neither bullying nor fearing them, seizing opportunities to form good relationships if possible. But neither would they fawn because the Wang Family has a Purple Mansion Realm backing.

Honestly, there are several Celestial Human Families with a Purple Mansion Realm as their backing, not just the Wang Family.

"Brother Tuoba." Wang Shouzhe returned the courtesy, politely stating, "This time, Ancestor and I came to the East Sea Guard just to see if there’s an opportunity to procure a fitting offensive magical treasure for Ancestor. Currently, we didn’t intend to disturb the Tuoba Family or the Tantai Family."

The East Sea Guard is the Anjiang Alluvial Plain region, possessing numerous fertile lands, broad marine resources. Therefore, the overall wealth and power of the East Sea Guard greatly surpasses that of Changning Guard. That’s also why the auctions were held here.

The two major Celestial Human Families of the East Sea Guard, the Tuoba Family and the Tantai Family, are both relatively strong families. Although Wang Shouzhe relates better with the Tantai Family, he’s cautious about taking sides.

While they were chatting.

Tantai Yongyi, the patriarch of the Tantai Family, also hurried over with his entourage, paying full respects to Ancestor Longyan. Then, openly interacting with Wang Shouzhe in front of Tuoba Gaozhan: "Shouzhe, during the Celestial Human Banquet last time, you were so busy that we couldn’t properly catch up. Now that you’re here in the East Sea Guard, our Tantai Family must extend proper hospitality and reminisce the old friendship."

In fact, in this lifetime, Wang Shouzhe has only met Tantai Yongyi two or three times, primarily in formal settings. As he said it like this, it made it seem like their relationship was profoundly close.

However, Wang Shouzhe does have a good relationship with his son Tantai Heyu, often collaborating in business.

Witnessing Tantai Yongyi’s warmth towards him, Wang Shouzhe felt deeply moved. Back when the Wang Family buried the Liu and Zhao Races, they had even borrowed Tantai Family’s reputation.

At that time, the East Sea King’s Tantai Family was an unattainably high-standing existence for the Wang Family.

But who would have thought, twenty years later, the Wang Family has truly stood shoulder to shoulder with the East Sea King’s Tantai Family, and it’s like being close with Tantai Yongyi.

Wang Shouzhe also understands the intentions of the Tuoba and Tantai Families, both trying to find allies to boost their overall strength and momentum.

Currently, with the situation not yet clarified, Wang Shouzhe doesn’t want to carelessly take sides, which is why he didn’t visit the two races when coming to the East Sea Guard. Visiting either might incite unease or hostility from the other.

"If Patriarch Shouzhe intends to purchase a magical treasure for Ancestor Longyan this time..." Tuoba Gaozhan presented an album and said, "I recommend this rare Middle-Grade Treasure Sword — Purple Thunder Treasure Sword. Although it does not possess the Profound Ice attribute, it’s indeed an extraordinary magical treasure. Originally, my Tuoba Family had our eye on this treasure, intending to claim it. But to congratulate Ancestor Longyan, we’ll refrain from contesting if Patriarch Shouzhe desires it."

"Brother Tuoba, offering something that doesn’t belong to you as a favor, truly impressive." Tantai Yongyi sneered, "If Shouzhe indeed wants this treasure, your Tuoba Family might not be able to compete for it anyway, why unnecessarily owe you a favor?"

Goodness!

Wang Shouzhe subtly frowned, although he had gathered intel before that the relationship between the two major Celestial Human Families of the East Sea Guard was growing increasingly sour. Yet unexpectedly, they’ve reached such a level of animosity, openly displaying hostility.

Hopefully, their conflict won’t disrupt the peace in the Six Southern Guards.

...