Chapter 234: Chapter 23: Foundation! The Millennium Noble Wang Family
...
Immediately, Wang Shouzhe also stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "I am the Clan Leader of Ping’an Wang Family, Wang Shouzhe, pleased to meet Clan Leader Xiao Rui."
In theory, this Wang Xiaorui is a senior of the Xiao generation.
However, since both parties meet in the capacity of clan leaders, it is natural to adhere to the etiquette between noble families. Furthermore, the blood relation between Clan Leader Xiao Rui and him is relatively distant.
Unlike those close uncles and maternal grandfathers and the like.
Both sides naturally exchanged formal greetings.
Subsequently, Ancestor Longyan, Ancestor Xuanfu, and several Spirit Platform Realm elders on the other side all exchanged greetings with each other.
Especially Ancestor Longyan, being of the Long generation, holds a higher seniority. Among the Spirit Platform Realm elders present, only the elders of the Yu generation are comparable in seniority to Ancestor Longyan.
That elder is called Wang Yuchen, and the Longzuo Wang Family refers to him as Ancestor Yuchen, now over one hundred and fifty years old, significantly older than Ancestor Longyan.
He already looks very aged and probably has only ten to twenty years of lifespan left.
Spirit Platform Realm cultivators enjoy a two-hundred-year lifespan, but not every Spirit Platform Realm can live to two hundred years.
This depends on the age of promotion, any lingering hidden injuries, bloodline and long-term health maintenance factors, etc.
Most Spirit Platform Mirrors live to about one hundred seventy or eighty years and pass away. Living to two hundred or slightly over is considered very long-lived.
Upon seeing Ancestor Longyan, his whole body trembled, his eyes filled with excitement and guilt: "Sister Longyan, it’s been sixty years since we last met. Alas... Brother has let you down; I didn’t offer much help back then."
He sighed deeply, clearly emotional over the events of the past sixty years.
"Brother Yuchen," Ancestor Longyan said calmly, "all this is fate. The help we received from the Longzuo Wang Family back then was already immense. Ancestor Yuchen even accompanied Ancestor Zhubo to run around for us, for which Longyan is immensely grateful."
Ancestor Longyan often stayed with the Longzuo Wang Family during her time at the Academy, naturally fostering a close relationship with Ancestor Yuchen.
On the contrary, Ancestor Xuanfu, although also a granddaughter of Ancestor Zhou Xuan, bears the surname Liu, which makes her slightly less close to the Longzuo Wang Family.
However, she is now a core disciple of the Academy. Naturally, the Longzuo Wang Family also respects her, speaking with an intention to forge closeness.
After the elders exchanged greetings, the juniors stepped forward to respectfully greet them one by one.
Such is the way between noble families.
All these greetings and pleasantries took a good half an hour.
At this time, Wang Xiaorui began to interrupt, saying, "Ancestor Longyan, Clan Leader Shouzhe, this is not the place for conversation; please follow me into the city first."
"In that case, I’ll trouble Clan Leader Xiao Rui," Wang Shouzhe cupped his hands in a salute.
Afterward, the Wang Family members, led by Wang Xiaorui, entered the Longzuo County through the guest gate. About ten carriages passed through the guest passage without even a check.
The Black Tortoise Practitioners guarding the city remained respectful and courteous throughout.
"Soldiers, your hard work is appreciated." Wang Xiaorui slightly cupped his hands. Subsequently, an elder stepped forward and discreetly handed them some compensation.
After the convoy passed.
A newly appointed young soldier asked, "Chief, which family was that? Quite a grand display, with so many Spirit Platform Realm elders."
An older Spirit Platform Realm officer said, "That’s the Longzuo Wang Family, an old Celestial Human family. It’s said to have a history of over a thousand years in our Longzuo County."
"A thousand years?" the young soldier exclaimed, "Wow, that’s almost as long as half of Longzuo County’s history."
"Indeed, the Longzuo Wang Family was once a famous Purple Mansion Family, in its prime," the Spirit Platform Realm officer said, "But unfortunately, after their founding ancestor exhausted his lifespan at eight hundred years old and passed away, they never fulfilled the Purple Mansion succession over the following centuries, leading to their decline."
"In recent decades, the Longzuo Wang Family almost failed the Celestial Human succession. Fortunately, thirty-five years ago, Ancestor Zhubo succeeded in breaching the barrier, allowing the Celestial Human family to continue."
"Now, Ancestor Zhubo is only around two hundred years old, capable of ensuring the Longzuo Wang Family’s security for at least another century. As long as they can complete the Celestial Human succession again, barring any accidents, this family can endure. Therefore, be courteous when you meet them next time."
"Understood, Chief, really envious of these Celestial Human families," the young soldier, clearly born to an ordinary Spirit Platform Family, greatly admired the Celestial Human families.
Amidst the low discussions of the city defense soldiers,
Wang Shouzhe’s group finally entered Longzuo County City.
From the outside, Longzuo County was already a massive entity. It was only from within that one could realize it was an extraordinarily large giant city. The large bluestone road behind the city gate was astonishingly wide, allowing two or three dozen carriages to move side by side.
Moreover, the rules within Longzuo County were very strict. The central path of the main road was reserved only for Celestial Human families or Purple Mansion families. Walking there without the relevant token was a severe crime if caught by the City Defense Army.
On both sides of the road, there were markets, taverns, various shops, and stalls, and further in were the residential quarters.
Those living within Longzuo County City, even commoners, had to possess decent skills to establish themselves amidst the high cost of living in Longzuo County.
Further in, there were the main residences or villas of the Eighth and Ninth Grade Black Tortoise Clans. This area also hosted a large number of businesses, operating various trades and ventures.