"Two Spirit Platform Realm experts?" The middle-aged man sneered, "Do you hold Wang Shouzhe in such high regard that you invite his clan ancestor to participate in a clan duel, which is a taboo in Daqian? How many in-law ancestors would dare to risk breaking the taboo for him?"
"Last time, Gongsun Mang was already pushing the boundaries. But he wasn’t the one who initiated; it was you who ran into him, and he could use self-defense as an excuse. Besides, conflicts in the Outer Domain are perilous, and no one dares to guarantee they’ll not fall."
"Senior, we know this reasoning," Liu Zhide said helplessly, "As they say, prepare for the worst. In this battle, the Liu and Zhao Clans cannot afford to lose."
"Hmph, prepare for the worst, indeed your preparations are quite wide." The middle-aged man said coldly, "Our clan has always been a law-abiding noble family in Daqian and would never send clansmen to get involved in other families’ conflicts without reason."
Liu Zhide and Zhao Bojun looked disappointed, with a hint of grief. If they couldn’t find reinforcements here, where else could they look?
"However," the middle-aged man said coolly, "I have a friend at the mid-stage Spirit Platform Realm. He’s a loose cultivator with no sect or family ties, and he’s extremely honorable and likes to help the oppressed. As long as he’s paid enough, he’ll do anything."
Liu Zhide and Zhao Bojun were overjoyed, as if grasping the last straw: "Please, Senior, no matter the cost, we’ll hire him."
"Wang Longyan is very formidable; anything less than ten thousand Qian Gold, he probably won’t agree."
"If you can’t afford it, then forget it."
"We can afford it, even if we have to mortgage the clan’s possessions!"
Early the next morning.
After a night of exploration, Wang Shouzhe eagerly went to Longyan Residence to pay respects to Ancestor Longyan.
Entering Ancestor Longyan’s chamber was, of course, not allowed.
She entertained Wang Shouzhe in a pavilion and noticed a hint of joy on his face. She said, "Shouzhe’s brows carry happiness; it seems you successfully awakened your bloodline. Congratulations."
She wasn’t sure about the effectiveness of the Stone Marrow and couldn’t determine whether that drop of Stone Marrow would help Shouzhe awaken his bloodline.
Thus, seeing Wang Shouzhe’s successful awakening made her genuinely happy for him.
"Ancestor," Wang Shouzhe said with a salute, "I’ve awakened a Wood Bloodline Talent, but I’m not sure which kind within the Wood Element."
Human bloodline talents vary greatly, even within the same element, leading to differences and even fundamental discrepancies.
"Wood Bloodline Talent?" Ancestor Longyan frowned slightly but still praised, "It seems quite alright. In the Academy, there is a Changchun Ascendant with a Wood Bloodline Talent, uh... whose lifespan seems quite long. I also have a senior with a dual Wood Bloodline, who is very... resilient. Shouzhe, show me an example; don’t be discouraged. Awakening a bloodline is better than not having one."
From Ancestor Longyan’s expression, it seemed she wasn’t very impressed with the Wood Bloodline, and her examples sounded rather forced.
Wang Shouzhe’s heart sank a little.
He felt his Wood Talent was quite strong, with a wide array of applications.
Yet, why did Ancestor seem unimpressed?
Immediately, with a nervous heart, he performed a demonstration: starting with a dead branch in the courtyard, reviving it back to life.
Then, taking a withered flower and making it sprout anew, grow buds, and bloom into a fresh flower, all in less than a few breaths.
Following that, he demonstrated his ability to heal and rejuvenate wounds.
After a series of dazzling techniques, he nervously asked Ancestor Longyan, "I haven’t tried it on internal injuries or detoxification, but I feel it should work. Ancestor, what exactly is my Wood Bloodline Talent?"
Unexpectedly, Ancestor Longyan’s body stiffened on the spot. She looked Wang Shouzhe up and down and said in a haunting voice, "You call this a Wood Bloodline Talent? Are you joking with me?"
"Uh... Ancestor, is something wrong?" Wang Shouzhe asked in slight confusion.
"Nothing’s wrong, it’s just different from any Wood Bloodline Talent I’ve seen," Ancestor Longyan said drearily.
"Ancestor, how is it different?"
"Shouzhe, it’s different in every way."
"..." Wang Shouzhe was bewildered; he had never seen a Wood Bloodline Talent before but felt strongly that his was one. Helplessly, he asked, "Ancestor, then what exactly is my bloodline talent?" The rıghtful source is 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭•𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦•𝘯𝘦𝘵
After spending some time digesting her shock, Ancestor Longyan said, "The ancient bloodlines of our ancestors were numerous, and over generations, they’ve spawned some mutant bloodline talents. I’m ultimately just a Spirit Platform Realm, with inevitably limited knowledge. I couldn’t identify what your bloodline talent is. For now, let’s consider it a Wood Bloodline Talent."
What does it mean to ’consider it as such’?
Wang Shouzhe felt uneasy about having an uncertain talent. But since Ancestor Longyan couldn’t identify it either, he could only temporarily consider it a Wood Bloodline Talent.
After all, he wasn’t the only one with a similar situation in the family. His niece, Wang Lici’s bloodline talent, also evaded Ancestor’s identification.
However, even if it’s unidentifiable, she will probably still be dubbed as such.
Being dubbed as such is no shame.
Moreover, in the family, the sisters and nieces are all fierce. With Wang Shouzhe’s talent, he could at least ensure their safety.