Protect Our Chief

To the point that even those minor clans that didn’t rank on the scale started cultivating "Spirit Platform Species," trying to break into Ninth Grade. And the Ninth Grade ones began cultivating their second, even third Spirit Platform Realm Cultivator, planning to charge toward Eighth Grade. As for those Noble Families that were already Eighth Grade, their heads were full of plans on how to advance to Seventh Grade.

In the final analysis, all of this was thanks to riding on the coattails of the Wang Family’s industrial chain.

Just as Zhongshan Island was boiling over with excitement, the curtain of the Flying Chariot rippled slightly, and a figure in a blue robe appeared silently before Xiangyang Ancestor, without a trace.

It was Wang Shouzhe.

He returned a formal bow toward Xiangyang Ancestor, and his warm, modest voice followed: "Xiangyang Ancestor, you are a true elder of the previous generation—please don’t put Shouzhe on a pedestal like that."

Zhong Xiangyang heard this and hurriedly supported Wang Shouzhe with a laugh: "Shouzhe gracing my Zhong Race with your presence brings glory to my humble house~"

So many years had passed that this oldest Ancestor of the Hundred Islands Zhong Family was already withered and decrepit, about to be promoted to the ancestral memorial tablet of the Zhong Race.

Taking the chance, Zhong Xiangyang sized up Wang Shouzhe and found that he still looked like a handsome young man; in fact, he was even more suave and dignified than before, and his gaze had become deeper and steadier by far.

But that was nothing.

What left him most speechless was that he could no longer see through Wang Shouzhe’s cultivation at all—it was like a bottomless, icy pool.

The gap was simply too big.

Truly, comparing people to people makes you want to die, comparing goods to goods makes you want to throw them away.

After the two sides exchanged a few brief courtesies.

Wang Shouzhe’s expression straightened at once as he moved to the main topic: "May I trouble Xiangyang Ancestor to take us to see Brother Zhong one last time."

Us? Could it be that that one has come as well?

Zhong Xiangyang glanced at the Flying Chariot, his heart jolting. He hadn’t expected that person to cherish old ties so much.

He no longer dared to delay and hastily said, "Patriarch Shouzhe, please follow me."

"Thank you for the trouble, Xiangyang Ancestor."

Then Zhong Xiangyang and Zhong Wannian, the two Ancestors in the Celestial Human Realm, led the way in front. The Wang Family’s Twin-Crane Flying Chariot didn’t stop at the harbor at all, but flew straight toward the depths of the island, landing directly in the main residence of the Zhong Race.

Only then did Ancestor Longyan step down from the Flying Chariot and exchange greetings with the two Zhong Ancestors.

Afterward, under the guidance of the two Ancestors, Wang Shouzhe and Ancestor Longyan quickly arrived at Zhong Xingwang’s courtyard.

Zhong Xingwang had never married in his lifetime. At this moment, those attending outside the door were all from his grandnephew’s branch.

All of a sudden, Ancestor Longyan, veiled, halted her steps.

A complicated look appeared in her eyes. "Shouzhe, go look at his condition first, then report back to me."

"Yes, Ancestor."

Wang Shouzhe answered.

Personally led by Zhong Xiangyang and Zhong Wannian, the two Celestial Human Ancestors, he was quickly brought to Zhong Xingwang’s bedside.

By the bed, a few of Zhong Xingwang’s nephew-line male descendants were standing guard. Seeing the three arrive, they immediately rose and bowed. "Greetings, Ancestors."

Zhong Xiangyang waved his hand, signaling them to move aside and not block the bed.

At this moment, Zhong Xingwang lay on the bed with his eyes tightly closed, his breath as faint as gossamer.

Wang Shouzhe had no mind to exchange greetings with those juniors. He immediately stepped forward, grasped Zhong Xingwang’s wrist, and sent a wisp of Life Origin Profound Qi along his meridians into his body to probe his condition.

Wang Shouzhe’s brows furrowed, and he said to himself inwardly, "This is bad."

Brother Zhong’s Lifespan had been completely exhausted, his vitality entirely cut off. Even his Life Origin Profound Qi was powerless to turn things around.

Nourished and stimulated by that strand of Profound Qi, Zhong Xingwang roused slightly, lifting his dim, spiritless eyes to look at Wang Shouzhe, and said weakly, "Shouzhe, you’re here."

"Brother Zhong."

Wang Shouzhe’s expression dimmed. Holding his withered hand, he recalled how, back when he’d still been a green youngster, Brother Zhong had helped him again and again, and his heart couldn’t help but ache with grief.

"Shouzhe." Zhong Xingwang’s face flushed with color, as if in a final rally before the end, and his spirit grew much livelier. "Don’t be sad. Your old brother’s life was worth it!"

"If not for you begging for Longevity Elixirs from Eternal Spring Valley for me time and again, your old brother would’ve been gone long ago."

Under normal circumstances, the maximum Lifespan of a Spirit Platform Realm Cultivator was two hundred years. But that was just the theoretical limit; in reality, not many Spirit Platform Realm Cultivators could live past one hundred and ninety.

Yet Zhong Xingwang had already lived to two hundred and eighteen.

This was actually because Wang Shouzhe had used Life Origin Profound Qi several times to help him comb through his meridians and nourish his blood and qi, thereby greatly extending his Lifespan.

However, Wang Shouzhe did not want the rare secret art of his ability to extend others’ lives to be publicized, which would only bring all sorts of unnecessary trouble. So outwardly he claimed he’d obtained Longevity Fruit and Longevity Pills from Eternal Spring Valley.

"Patriarch Shouzhe." Xiangyang Ancestor also offered comfort. "Lifespan is ordained by Heaven. For Xingwang to live to this day is already thanks to your blessing."

Xiangyang Ancestor had indeed thought about extending his own life, but now, at over three hundred and ninety years old, he was already considered extremely long-lived among Celestial Human Ancestors. Even if he paid a huge price to seek out Heavenly and Earthly Treasures for extending life, he wouldn’t gain more than a few extra years.

He’d thought it over and decided to forget it; better to leave more Qian Gold for the children~

"Brother Zhong, do you have any unfulfilled wishes?" Wang Shouzhe asked.

"My grandnephews are all doing well. With the Zhong Race taking care of them, I don’t need to worry." Zhong Xingwang shook his head, then looked toward Wang Shouzhe, a faint hint of hope appearing in his eyes. "If I must say I have some last wish... I just hope Senior Sister can break through to the Purple Mansion Realm as soon as possible and become a Purple Mansion Ascendant who dominates the skies. Then may she live her whole life free of calamity and danger, brilliantly and wonderfully."