Soon, Wang Shoujie followed the servant girl's guidance and arrived at the Lu Clan's main residence, where Ming Sheng Old Ancestor was cultivating in seclusion.
This place was located by the banks of Yingxiu Lake, and the tall and majestic pavilion could take in half of the lake's scenery. The lake breeze, the sound of the waves, the jumping fish, and the chirping birds all blended the building into nature.
Standing in front of the pavilion named "Ying Xiu Ascending Bright Moon Pavilion", Wang Shoujie cupped his hands and said, "Wang Shoujie of the Ping'an Wang Clan, requesting to see Ming Sheng Old Ancestor."
A warm voice directly sounded in Wang Shoujie's ear.
Wang Shoujie followed the instruction and stepped onto the thick wooden stairs, ascending to the high floor of the pavilion. Outside the window, an old man in gray robes was sitting with his back to Wang Shoujie, fishing in Yingxiu Lake with a long fishing line.
His posture was very casual, but to Wang Shoujie's eyes, he was as inscrutable as a towering mountain or a deep, bottomless lake.
Next to him was a 12- or 13-year-old girl in red clothes, who was none other than Wang Shoujie's cousin Lu Xiao Xiao. She was pouting and staring at Wang Shoujie, clearly still angry.
"Grandpa, you said that my brother Shoujie is very mean," Lu Xiao Xiao said with a pout, "why does that Wang girl have an Amethyst Spirit Bee hive, but I don't?"
"So, what do you think I should do to teach your brother a lesson? You said last time that you liked your brother Shoujie the most," the old man said with a hint of mystery, "don't you like him now?"
"I do like him, but Mother said that the Wang Family is in a difficult situation and lacks money everywhere," Lu Xiao Xiao said with a serious face, "I think my brother must be very short of money, so why don't you, Grandpa, give him 500 gold coins to buy an Amethyst Spirit Bee hive for me? That way, I won't be angry with my brother Shoujie anymore."
"Why 500 gold coins?" The old man asked in surprise, "I remember that an ordinary Amethyst Spirit Bee hive only costs two or three hundred gold coins. Has the price really skyrocketed to this extent?"
"My brother Shoujie had a hard time buying the hive too."
This conversation almost made Wang Shoujie spit out blood. This Lu Family cousin's logic was really strong. She was willing to let Ming Sheng Old Ancestor pay for it just to get a hive. This was unbearable, and Wang Shoujie immediately coughed twice and said, "Shoujie has seen Ming Sheng Old Ancestor."
However, Ming Sheng Old Ancestor didn't pay attention to Wang Shoujie at all and continued to talk to Lu Xiao Xiao, "If your brother Shoujie buys an Amethyst Spirit Bee hive for you, will you listen to Grandpa's words?"
"Yes!" Lu Xiao Xiao nodded firmly.
Ming Sheng Old Ancestor slightly nodded, turned around, and smiled at Wang Shoujie, casually tossing a few gold notes towards him.
Wang Shoujie hurriedly caught them and took a closer look, only to find that they were five 100-gold notes, leaving him stunned. What was happening? Was it...
"Did you hear that, Shoujie?" Ming Sheng Old Ancestor's face, which looked like it was only in his 50s, revealed a hint of playfulness, "Go buy an Amethyst Spirit Bee hive for your cousin Xiao Xiao, and consider the rest as your running errand fee."
"This, Old Ancestor," Wang Shoujie's face was covered in cold sweat as he hastily said, "this is absolutely impossible, my cousin Xiao Xiao really likes the Amethyst Spirit Bee hive, I'll find a way to buy one for her."
"Enough, you know what kind of situation your Wang Clan is in, don't you?" Ming Sheng Old Ancestor waved his hand impatiently, "Take this gold first and prepare some cultivation resources. You can buy the Amethyst Spirit Bee hive when you have the means."
Wang Shoujie's heart warmed slightly, and he cupped his hands to say, "Thank you, Old Ancestor, for your support." It seemed that Ming Sheng Old Ancestor was willing to support him, his nephew, so he naturally didn't refuse and took the money.
"Thanks to you, Little Sister," Ming Sheng Old Ancestor said with a smile. "If it weren't for her persistence, I wouldn't have parted with this 500 ounces of gold." For the Lu Clan, 500 ounces of gold was no small sum, and after deducting various large expenses, it was uncertain whether they could save up this amount in a year.
"Thank you, Little Sister," Wang Shoujie also said with a bow.
"Hmph." Lu Xiao Xiao turned her head away, letting out a soft snort, as if she didn't want to bother with him.
"Heh, Little Sister, you must strive to excel and not be surpassed by that Spirit Insect Master girl," Ming Sheng Old Ancestor said with a teasing tone. "If you can successfully learn the Array Master technique and become a first-rank Array Master, I guarantee that your cousin will look at you with new eyes."
Wang Shoujie was shocked: "Old Ancestor, do you mean Little Sister has a talent for array techniques?"
"How can you allow the Wang Clan to produce a Spirit Insect Master but not allow our Lu Clan to produce an Array Master?" Ming Sheng Old Ancestor said with a hint of a smile.
Wang Shoujie's forehead was beaded with cold sweat: "Old Ancestor, I didn't mean it that way, I'm just a bit surprised. Congratulations, Old Ancestor, congratulations, Little Sister."
In his heart, he was marveling at how unpredictable talent could be. He vaguely remembered that Lu Xiao Xiao had learned the Nine Chapters Calculation Sutra (maths XD) poorly, yet she still had a talent for array techniques...
"Grandfather, from now on, I will definitely work hard and not be lazy anymore," Lu Xiao Xiao said obediently. "When I become a first-rank Array Master, I'll make that Spirit Insect Master girl green with envy, and I won't let cousin look down on me."
"Good spirit, this is like my Lu Ming Sheng's granddaughter," Ming Sheng Old Ancestor said with a pleased expression, but he casually waved his hand at Wang Shoujie. "Nephew, you should go attend to your business."
This feeling was like being treated as a tool, right?
Wang Shoujie thought to himself, but being a tool for 500 ounces of gold was worth it. Moreover, Lu Xiao Xiao had a talent for array techniques, which was a great thing, and she was his close blood relative.
However, it was rare to see Ming Sheng Old Ancestor, and Wang Shoujie didn't want to waste the opportunity. He immediately bowed and asked: "Old Ancestor, I have some difficulties in my cultivation. I hope you can give me some guidance."
"You little rascal, don't get too greedy," Ming Sheng Old Ancestor said with a scowl. "Your Ancestor Longyan is knowledgeable and experienced, do you still need me to guide you?"
"It's always good to hear different opinions," Wang Shoujie said with a silly smile. "Having multiple perspectives can be beneficial for my cultivation path. I think the environment here is great, and my cultivation will definitely progress rapidly..."
He put on an act as if Ming Sheng Old Ancestor wouldn't guide him, he wouldn't leave. As a junior, it was no problem to play a little trick on his great-grandfather.
"Fine, fine, ask your questions quickly, and then leave, don't disturb my quiet cultivation," Ming Sheng Old Ancestor said helplessly.
Wang Shoujie hastily asked his prepared questions one by one.
Ming Sheng Old Ancestor, despite his pretence of disdain, actually took Wang Shoujie's cultivation questions seriously and answered them one by one after careful consideration. However, as Wang Shoujie's questions continued, they became increasingly tricky, and even Ming Sheng Old Ancestor needed to think carefully before answering.
The pre-transmigration Wang Shoujie was a dull and ignorant person who only knew how to cultivate on his own, and sometimes he had many questions but didn't dare to ask Ancestor Longyan. But the current Wang Shoujie was completely different, influenced by modern Earth thinking, and had accumulated many cultivation questions from different angles.
This was one of the differences between a noble family's children and a rogue cultivator, having family elders to guide and clarify.
"Enough, enough, Old Ancestor is also cultivating," Ming Sheng Old Ancestor said after more than two hours, feeling overwhelmed. This kid had so many strange and weird questions, if he continued to ask, he might not be able to answer them all.
For things he didn't understand, he couldn't just make something up, or it would harm the younger generation.
He really couldn't take it anymore!
Lu Xiao Xiao had initially been listening on the side, pretending to be interested, but as she listened, she became increasingly confused and bored, and eventually fell asleep.
"Thank you, Old Ancestor, for clarifying my doubts," Wang Shoujie said, seeing an opportunity to leave. "I wish Old Ancestor an early breakthrough the Spirit Realm and ascend to the heavens."
This remark made Ming Sheng Old Ancestor quite happy, although he was still struggling on the path to the Spirit Realm, but who wouldn't want to progress further?
To know that in the Spirit Realm, everyone was mortal, with a lifespan of at most 100 years. After achieving the Spirit Realm, one could extend their lifespan by half, with a maximum lifespan of 200 years. This was why the Spirit Realm was called the "Old Ancestor" realm, because they would live to see their children and grandchildren die before them.
[Heartfelt thankyou for the support! SlaySaga]