"How did Celestial Maiden Tianyan come to know about this?" Wang Shouzhe calmly sipped his tea.
Celestial Maiden Tianyan's eyes were filled with even more resentment.
This Celestial Maiden had thrown away her dignity, eagerly coming to curry favor with him after obtaining some information. Yet he kept calling her "senior"...
"Zuoqiu Qingyun, although not a direct descendant of the Zuoqiu's Clan, is still a prominent member of the main branch. This is not just because one of his direct ancestors was a Purple Mansion cultivator, but also due to some deeper reasons," Celestial Maiden Tianyan explained seriously after taking a deep breath. "A fourth-rank clan is different from ordinary families. Their greatest strength lies in the fact that, after generations of bloodline optimization, the bloodline talents of their descendants are generally very high."
"Coupled with their large population base, each generation produces a significant number of mid-grade bloodlines. Among them, there are some exceptionally outstanding individuals, born with mid-grade B-level or even the rare mid-grade A-level bloodlines, which we often refer to as 'minor prodigies.'"
"Such individuals, if they use one or two Xisui Dans to enhance their bloodline during the Qi Refining stage, and then take a Wuji Baodan, have a high chance of evolving their bloodline to high-grade C-level, making them quite formidable even among prodigies."
"Zuoqiu Qingyun's innate bloodline was only mid-grade C-level. Thanks to the blessings of his ancestors, he took a Xisui Dan and barely reached the level of a minor prodigy, thus being excluded from the prodigy training sequence of his clan. In the Qing'an Academy, he is also a middling core disciple," Celestial Maiden Tianyan recounted in detail. "Unexpectedly, a few years ago, Zuoqiu Qingyun's luck exploded. It is said he obtained some ancient relic, and his bloodline suddenly advanced to high-grade C-level, just a step away from high-grade B-level."
Wang Shouzhe frowned slightly. "From what Celestial Maiden Tianyan is saying, does it mean that the prodigies of the Purple Mansion Clans are almost never born prodigies? They all rely on postnatal bloodline enhancement?"
"Born prodigies? Those are individuals who are born with high-grade bloodlines and naturally awaken a second-tier bloodline..." Celestial Maiden Tianyan's expression became extremely serious. "Such bloodline talents usually only appear in third-rank or higher clans. The clan would have a series of training plans for born prodigies, with the primary goal of nurturing them to the third-tier bloodline level in the Qi Refining stage at all costs, making them supreme talents. Such individuals, once they advance to the Lingtai Realm, will awaken the fourth-tier spirit body, becoming great prodigies~"
Wang Shouzhe was quite speechless.
He hadn't expected that innate high-grade bloodlines were so rare.
His wife, Liu Ruolan, was indeed a weirdo among weirdos. Before she was even born, she had become a high-grade A-level bloodline thanks to an Innate Dao Embryo Spirit Seed.
Their daughter, Wang Liyao, was also born with a high-grade B-level bloodline.
According to Celestial Maiden Tianyan, with Ruolan and Liyao's bloodline levels, they would be highly valued even in third-rank or second-rank clans. With such bloodlines, reaching the level of great prodigies was almost a certainty as long as resources were invested.
Indeed, Liu Ruolan and Wang Liyao had both become great prodigies with little effort. Especially his wife, Liu Ruolan, who had baffled Wang Shouzhe by becoming a great prodigy after absorbing some energy from the Primordial Water Spirit Pearl.
Moreover, she had always been quite lazy in her cultivation, spending most of her energy on their children. Yet, even with her lackadaisical attitude, her cultivation level always surpassed his by a notch...
This made Wang Shouzhe seriously doubt whether this so-called "supreme talent" of a great prodigy was really her limit.
"Celestial Maiden Tianyan seems to be very knowledgeable." Wang Shouzhe's attitude became more respectful as he cupped his hands and asked, "What is the level above supreme talent?"
"?" Celestial Maiden Tianyan's eyes sparkled as she gave him a sidelong glance. "Young Master Shouzhe, you really dare to think big. This is a taboo topic. Fine, I'll tell you the truth. The level above supreme talent is called 'Innate Spirit Body,' referring to the terrifying talent of reaching the fourth-tier spirit body in the Qi Refining stage. But in reality, the limit for us humans in the Great Qian is reaching the third-tier bloodline in the Qi Refining stage and the fourth-tier spirit body in the Lingtai Realm."
"Unless one possesses extremely special treasures and opportunities, it is impossible to reach the level of an Innate Spirit Body." Celestial Maiden Tianyan hesitated for a moment before whispering, "In fact, there are currently two known methods in the Great Qian that can allow someone to reach the level of an Innate Spirit Body, both extremely difficult. These are tied to the struggle for the national destiny of the Great Qian and the competition for the Holy Land's inheritance. Those qualified to compete for the former are called 'Quasi-Imperial Heirs,' and for the latter, 'Quasi-Holy Sons.'"
"To become a 'Quasi-Imperial Heir,' three conditions must be met. First, royal bloodline; second, Purple Mansion Realm cultivation; third, supreme A-level talent, meaning the best among great prodigies!"
"Young Master Shouzhe has already encountered Long Wuji, so you must understand that the path to the throne has already appeared... The coming centuries will undoubtedly be a time of great upheaval," Celestial Maiden Tianyan's eyes flashed with a strange light. "The sooner you choose a side..."
"Senior, please be cautious with your words." Wang Shouzhe interrupted her directly, his eyes serious. "My Changning Wang's Clan is just a small seventh-rank clan. The struggle for the throne is too significant for us to get involved."
Wang Shouzhe finally understood why Celestial Maiden Tianyan had her eyes on him.
She was likely aligned with a "Quasi-Imperial Heir," and probably not the same faction as Long Wuji. This was the consequence of the clan's rapid development and the exceptional talents of the academy's children.
Especially with Wang Liyao, a great prodigy, being exposed, the potential of the Changning Wang's Clan had become immeasurable. As a result, the Wang's Clan had caught the attention of these higher powers.
In essence, they wanted to win over the Wang's Clan to secure Liyao, the great prodigy, as a bargaining chip in the future struggle for the throne.
But the struggle for the throne was too significant.
Even a fifth-rank clan could be destroyed if caught in such a vortex, let alone a small seventh-rank clan like the Wang's.
Seeing Wang Shouzhe's decisive refusal, a trace of disappointment flashed in Celestial Maiden Tianyan's eyes.
Although the Changning Wang's Clan was currently only a seventh-rank clan, just Liyao alone made its future limitless.
Moreover, the Wang's Clan itself had immense potential, with several suspected prodigies within the clan. In terms of value and potential, it was far superior to an average fifth-rank clan.
"Young Master Shouzhe's caution is admirable," Celestial Maiden Tianyan said seriously, her eyes behind the veil showing a hint of respect. "However, the struggle for the throne will inevitably affect everything. Few fifth-rank or higher clans can avoid being drawn into the vortex. I hope Young Master Shouzhe will make a decision soon to avoid becoming collateral damage."
"Thank you for your advice, Celestial Maiden," Wang Shouzhe nodded and bowed.
He was well aware that for some opportunists, the earlier they joined, the greater the benefits if they won, and their clan could soar to new heights.
However, the Wang's Clan had its own development plan, and getting involved in the struggle for the throne too early was not wise.
Even if they were eventually drawn in, it would have to be after thorough preparation, not in their current passive state.