"Greetings, Eunuch Mu Yan." The two people who came over said. They were Lady Lingyi’s uncles and aunts.
"Greetings to all seniors!" Mu Yan greeted them back, a bit surprised there were so many talented people in the Hua family.
Then he suddenly remembered... the siblingship they talked about was likely just them being close to each other in the family, but their real blood relationship was likely far away.
There were also ways to improve the talent of the children, but such a thing was extremely harmful. Just look at Lady Lingyi, why was she so weak even though the family she came from was so wealthy?
Lady Lingyi retold the story of both her children’s awakening and their talent.
"Is that so? Well, Lifan, you have gotten quite lucky this time!"
"Hehe, luck, I don’t know. I only know that my Lingyi has raised two excellent children, and that they have been assigned to an extremely talented eunuch!"
"You’re such a braggart!" Lingyi’s aunt complained while laughing.
The two talked a bit more before becoming serious, waiting for Anyu and Lifan to talk about the matter.
Mu Yan saw this opportunity and smiled, "Let me first tell you about an additional matter. Both Yuanhan and Yuanyun already possess the bloodline and literary foundation to reach the third stage. They only need to refine their powers and slowly reach those stages."
Before they could express their doubts, Mu Yan called out to his children, "Yuanhan, come here and perform the Ice Phoenix Dance."
Yuanhan walked over when she was called.
She nodded to Mu Yan before closing her eyes.
Ice blue light spread from her body –
Her hair and eyes transformed icy-blue like a frozen glacier in the north.
Looking at the sky above, she jumped high with one step –
When falling down, it was like a swan swaying to land, graceful and elegant, every movement precise.
Jumping to the left with a fast move, she seemed like a frozen shadow. Instantly turning to the audience, her nails up front, it was like a phoenix’s claws spreading and attacking.
Instead, she lowered them and pushed herself back with only one hand, turning to the right.
The dance continued. It was like a dance of a phoenix attacking in the frozen winter. There was no flame but a supreme cold that pierced everything!
This power was superb and her body control was beyond what mortals could do.
Finally, she finished, bowing to the audience.
Mu Yan smiled. "You did very well, Yuanhan!"
He then turned to Anyu, Lifan, and the other two, "I need a third-grade piece of Ice Divine Wood."
And just like before, he allowed for no refusal, instead calling out again, "Yuanyun, it’s your turn. Speak your poetry."
Yuanyun, prepared, nodded and raised the tightly gripped scroll in his hands.
Unfurling it with his hands, he presented the outer to his grandparents while reciting it, "In the years of prosperity, we all find ourselves satisfied. But satisfaction is the poison that slows us –
It’s the rust on our weapons, the dry ink on our brushes!
Colour be colour,Life be life.
An eternal prosperity,One we shall pry from the heavens themselves!"
ClapClapClap
Mu Yan clapped loudly, "Very well done!"
Naturally, this poem was a bit awkward and didn’t have the precision nor beauty of those Poetry Masters, but for his age, it seemed like an excellent work!
Mu Yan turned back to them and said, "I need ten copies of the works of third-grade Literary Masters, split between Poetry and Governance."
This time, he allowed them to talk.
But after being proven two times, they didn’t know what to say.
Finally, Lingyi’s mother spoke up, "If we give you these two materials, how long do you estimate it would take for both to advance to the Foundation Building stage?"
"The arts they chose are transcendent arts, and there are many spells and techniques. I estimate they can reach the Foundation Building stage in three to five years."
"So fast?"
"Even a Middle-High talent wouldn’t advance this quickly..."
"Seniors, you seem to have forgotten that I am of the Royal Path. As long as I bless them, I am sure to achieve this speed. The range depends on how fast I advance to the middle-stage of Foundation Building. If I advance early, naturally so will these two."
"Alright, then we’ll get the Ice Divine Wood, which is more difficult to obtain." Lifan didn’t hesitate and instantly promised an item.
"Very well, then we will get the ten copies. Both of us know a few, so it won’t be an issue." Lingyi’s uncle and aunt said, seemingly having made up their mind.
Although this wasn’t their grandchild, the investment they gave was nearly the same as the grandparents. This was naturally because in the world of cultivation, bloodline and such were secondary. On the first line were benefits.
With this in mind, investing such a heavy sum will naturally result in many future benefits!
Not to mention that this level of investment was rather cheap.
Mu Yan was instantly delighted when he heard this!
He knew more than anyone else how huge the benefit would be.
"I will make sure Yuanhan and Yuanyun know the kindness of seniors!"
Another round of polite chatter followed before Mu Yan told them the last time of discussion, "I have already chosen a specific assignment.
It’s the Stone Lotus County."
"That county?" Lifan’s brother asked in surprise.
"You know it?" his sister turned and asked, Lifan and Anyu also listening.
"That county is a bit infamous among us merchants. It’s a promising county which unfortunately has never grown to its full potential because of the various dangers. Are you sure you want to take that?"
"I sense my path there." Mu Yan only said this sentence, but everyone became quiet, not questioning further.
The sense of opportunity and danger of those following the Royal Path is nearly as strong as prophets! If he sensed it was good, maybe it was truly good!
"Hmm... I do happen to know a family there. It’s the Liang Family, a fourth-grade family. They had a few relations with me in trade. I can contact them to form an alliance beforehand."
"Although I don’t have any connections, I can try to see whether any of my contacts has a relationship with them."
In these matters, as long as one has a connection point, forming an alliance is easy.
If one didn’t have any, one would have to arrange such gatherings and win them over. This was extra work Mu Yan would be happy to refuse, which was why he thanked them repeatedly.
Although some benefits would have to be given up, with an alliance, at least the growth of his two children would be secured!