Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 1854 - 1116: Immortal City Structure (Part 2)

Most of them are descendants of Golden Core Cultivators, meaning they have Golden Core Cultivators as ancestors.

Hence, they are qualified to live within the second city wall.

After a few days of understanding, Yang Zhenshan also gained a deeper insight into Wanbao Immortal City.

How should one put it?

Wanbao Immortal City is excellent, both for Immortal Cultivator families and Loose Cultivators, providing an ideal environment for survival.

There are abundant resources and opportunities here; with talent and hard work, one can achieve prominence.

However, Wanbao Immortal City also has its drawbacks: the competition is immensely fierce.

The higher the level, the fiercer the competition.

An Innate Martial Artist can easily find a job in the city, and a Foundation Establishment Cultivator with some skills can also survive well in the city.

Yet, it’s not easy for an Immortal Cultivator family to establish a foothold in the city, as most industries are owned, and owning one requires resisting countless covetous eyes.

Moving from the outer city to within the second city wall, also known as the Immortal Clan Square, is even more challenging. The simplest way is for the family to have a Golden Core Cultivator, and then the Wanbao Sect will naturally invite the family to settle in the Immortal Clan Square. Other methods are nearly negligible.

This results in a disdain hierarchy: the Immortal Clan looks down upon the Immortal Cultivator families within the Immortal Clan Square, those families look down upon the outer city’s families, and the outer city’s families look down upon those outside the city.

Actually, besides the five major Immortal Clans, some are at the top of the pyramid, the disciples from the Wanbao Sect.

There are Immortal Clans within the Wanbao Sect, such as the Zhongli family.

Compared to the Zhongli family, the five major Immortal Clans seem insignificant.

The Zhongli family holds a high position within the Wanbao Sect, with the ancestor Treasure True Monarch being one of the sect’s top officials, and the family has two young Golden Core Cultivators, ensuring their enduring prosperity within the sect.

Yang Zhenshan initially hoped to see if the Yang family could enter Wanbao Immortal City, but after understanding, he abandoned this idea.

The reason is simple, as the power structure within Wanbao Immortal City is very stable, making it difficult for outsiders to break it.

Even relying on the Zhongli family’s help to establish in the Immortal City would not be without its troubles.

The five major Immortal Clans would certainly not watch an outsider enter the city to compete for interests, and the Wanbao Sect would likely not wish for a strange Immortal Clan to enter the city.

Although the Zhongli family is strong, they do not have the authority to act independently within the Wanbao Sect.

Furthermore, there’s little significance for the Yang family to enter Wanbao Immortal City; if it’s merely doing business, they can purchase shops in the city anytime and conduct various businesses without squeezing into such a complex society.

Of course, for small businesses within the city, Yang Zhenshan would not need to personally take action. His purpose in coming is to establish cooperation with the Wanbao Sect, or more specifically, with the Ten Thousand Treasures Store.

The Wanbao Sect and Ten Thousand Treasures Store cannot be equated; the store is simply a commercial branch, although it’s the sect’s main industry, the store does not represent the sect.

Yang Zhenshan spent half a month in Wanbao Immortal City before activating the Communication Talisman.

The talisman transformed into a beam of spiritual light in his hand and immediately flew toward the Inner City.

However, the beam did not enter the Inner City; it stopped at the city gate.

The spiritual light seemed to be drawn by something, wobbled into the gate arch, and then disappeared.

Evidently, this was the array stopping the communication, but this isn’t indicative of a problem, rather part of the normal procedure.

Do not forget, the core of the Wanbao Sect is in the Hundred Realms Cave Heaven, and the talisman cannot enter there. Thus, the sect has arranged personnel at the Inner City gate to receive communications.

After sending the communication, Yang Zhenshan waited in the courtyard of the Immortal Fate Inn.

He prepared tea, anticipating Zhongli Xiayi’s arrival.

However, he waited half the day without seeing Zhongli Xiayi, instead came an unfamiliar guest.

A young-looking Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

The courtyard’s array was triggered, Yang Zhenshan waved open the array, allowing the young cultivator to enter.

"This junior Zhongli Jue pays respect to the elder!"

Zhongli Jue appeared to be around twenty, though his actual age should be close to eighty. His cultivation level at mid-stage Foundation Establishment indicates his outstanding talent.

His figure stood tall like Green Bamboo, donned in a moon-white silk robe with silver-threaded flowing cloud patterns embroidered on the hem. As he moves, the pattern subtly flickers with golden spiritual light, exuding an aura of purity.

His hair was bound with a Profound Jade Hairpin, the head carved with small Snow Lotus petals adorned with fine star crystals, which gleamed softly in the sunlight; on his waist hung a black shark silk belt affixed with a large warm Jade Pendant intricately engraved with spiritual patterns, seeming to be a Protective Dharma Treasure.

His features were handsome but not ostentatious, with a delicate nose and pale lips. When he raised his gaze, his clear and assured eyes conveyed poise. Every gesture carried the elegance and nobility of an Immortal Cultivator, so naturally harmonious.

Seeing his demeanor, Yang Zhenshan recalled Zhongli Xiayi.

Zhongli Xiayi always dressed elegantly, her jewelry stunningly beautiful.

Looking at Zhongli Jue before him, undoubtedly, he must be family, sharing the same style.

"Zhongli Jue, are you related to fellow Daoist Xia Yi?" Yang Zhenshan asked.

"This junior is Xia Yi Auntie’s nephew."

"Nephew? Is Zhongli Yue your father?"

"Uh, no, Zhongli Yue is this junior’s uncle!"

Yang Zhenshan stroked his beard thoughtfully, saying, "Your father is Zhongli Xian!"

"That’s correct!" A hint of discomfort appeared on Zhongli Jue’s face.

Zhongli Yue, Zhongli Xian, and Zhongli Xiayi are siblings.

Zhongli Xian is second in line, younger than Zhongli Yue by decades, older than Zhongli Xiayi by over two hundred years.

Speaking of their father, he wasn’t outstanding, just an ordinary disciple of the Zhongli family, his cultivation only mid-stage Foundation Establishment before his lifespan ended.

However, he had a good son, a good daughter, and one incapable son.

The good son was Zhongli Yue, a true genius with excellent aptitude since childhood, achieving Foundation Establishment at thirty, mid-stage at sixty, late-stage at a hundred, forming a core at a hundred and eighty-three, becoming a Golden Core True Monarch.

"Prodigious" would not exaggerate in describing Zhongli Yue.

Compared to him, Zhongli Xian was much less accomplished, lacking a Spirit Root, solely practicing Martial Arts, yet not much achieved, ending as a Golden Body Realm Martial Artist.

Zhongli Xiayi was the result of an old tree blossoming, born when her father was two hundred and eighty, well within the three-hundred-year lifespan of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

Selected by Treasure True Monarch, Zhongli Xiayi received training since infancy until reaching maturity, her cultivation reaching Foundation Establishment Stage before leaving the sect.

Previously, her ordinary performance stemmed not from poor aptitude, but from its suppression.

To perfectly harmonize with the Ten Thousand Miles Cloud Robe, Treasure True Monarch suppressed her talents, keeping her at Foundation Establishment for over a century.

With Zhongli Yue as an elder brother and Zhongli Xiayi as a younger sister, Zhongli Xian as the middle child found his position quite awkward.

This is why Zhongli Jue responded so awkwardly when Yang Zhenshan identified his heritage.

He likely felt awkward about his father’s situation.

Yang Zhenshan noticed his discomfort, laughed heartily, "So this is Zhongli Nephew, come in and have a seat!"

He warmly invited Zhongli Jue, who bowed and entered the main hall.

"Back at Taoyuan Mountain, Brother Zhongli mentioned your father, he mentioned not being a good brother in caring for his siblings!" Yang Zhenshan poured him tea.

"Thank you, elder!"

Zhongli Jue graciously accepted the tea, visibly startled at Yang Zhenshan’s words, "Uncle spoke to you about this!"

"Yes, he mentioned it a few times." Yang Zhenshan calmly replied.

He didn’t deceive Zhongli Jue, as Zhongli Yue indeed mentioned Zhongli Xian, only stating they were three siblings, never self-reproachful.

Zhongli Yue probably harbored little affection for Zhongli Xian, focusing his time and energy on cultivation rather than feeling for an unimportant person.

In contrast, his affection for Zhongli Xiayi ran deeper, having watched her grow up, with Zhongli Xiayi almost like a daughter to him.