Chapter 2250: The Tri-Petal

The four ruling powers were very ruthless in their attempts to take over Virtue Archives; otherwise, the academy would have never been willing to take their students to the Higher Realm as part of an exchange program, as this would give the four ruling powers a chance to recruit their students.

However, the students had already arrived, so it was too late to regret the academy’s choice.

It was clear that all of the students’ eyes had lit up. Independent cultivators were always lacking for resources, while the students from powerful clans and families were even more eager to join the four ruling powers. There was no way out of this trap.

When Lu Yin had first arrived in the Perennial World at the Bei family’s home, he had already learned that Virtue Archives had somehow changed. The changes taking place were quickly affecting the academy's neutrality and internal structure. The four ruling powers' attempts to recruit the students and the God of Food's helplessness both demonstrated what was happening: the God of Food could no longer protect Virtue Archives.

The Higher Realm was much smaller than the Middle Realm, but it still took the paper boat five days to reach the Wang family’s homeland from the Cloud Shuttle. Without the speed of that boat, it would have taken the students several months at the least to make the journey.

As for the God of Food, he had no choice but to also visit the Wang family’s home land, but how could he be willing to accelerate matters?

During the several day journey, Lu Yin, Prof. Wei, and Mr. Tang all spoke with Wang Miaomiao. She was familiar with Mr. Tang, as the two had met before. As for Prof. Wei, she and Wang Miaomiao spoke extensively, though no one knew what was said. When the two women were chatting, Lu Yin and the others kept their distance.

The descendant of the Wang family’s direct line who was present on the boat, Wang Xiaofan, never spoke a single word to Wang Miaomiao, and Wang Miaomiao never even looked Wang Xiaofan in the eye.

They rapidly approached the floating landmass that was the Wang family’s headquarters. Lu Yin had recently been to this place when he had captured Wang Zheng and Long Ke, and he was returning already.

The Wang family was a monster in the Perennial World, though it was a mystery as to why Wang Miaomiao had been sent to greet the people from Virtue Archives.

When they arrived at the Wang family’s home, a group of the high-ranking members of the Wang family welcomed the students and faculty. Even Semi-Progenitor Chai was present.

"Senior God of Food, it’s been a long time." Semi-Progenitor Chai politely welcomed the God of Food when the group from Virtue Archives approached.

The God of Food gave a small smile. "It’s true, it has been a long time. I’m quite surprised to see that you haven’t died."

Everyone from the Wang family was quite upset to hear the God of Food’s rudeness. After all, Semi-Progenitor Chai was a guardian of the Wang family, and insulting him was no different than insulting the Wang family.

However, Semi-Progenitor Chai himself did not mind at all. "You’re surprised that I’m not dead?"

The God of Food earnestly responded, "You practice the Art of Retiring Gods, and you lost the use of your legs when you became a Semi-Progenitor. With further progress, you’ll lose the use of your hands, or even your brain. How is such a state any different from being dead?"

"Haha, it seems you think very highly of me, Senior. Others curse me to die, yet you think so highly of me!" Semi-Progenitor Chai laughed.

The God of Food shook his head and turned his attention to the members of the Wang family who were present.

They were led by the acting patriarch, a man named Wang Yan. He was a two-tribulation Envoy, and while such strength was certainly not bad, it was nowhere close to enough to qualify to be the patriarch of a top power like the Wang family. This was why the acting patriarch was being actively supported by Semi-Progenitor Chai.

Wang Zheng was still missing, and Wang Su and Wang Yi were both absent, as was Elder Wang Si. Having so many powerhouses missing was not unique to the Wang family, as the other ruling powers had also sent people to the rear battlefield and to the Fifth Mainland.

The White Dragon Clan was in the worst condition, as they did not have even a single disciple from the younger generation who could step up to shoulder some responsibilities.

"I wonder, what has the Wang family prepared to test the students that I’ve brought with me?" the God of Food asked as his eyes briefly swept across Wang Yan and the others before they refocused on Semi-Progenitor Chai. The Semi-Progenitor was clearly the decision maker.

Wang Yan remained perfectly calm. He was nothing more than a place-holder so that the Wang family would have the appearance of an acting patriarch. Any actual decisions that had to be made had nothing to do with Wang Yan. As soon as the New Corridor was repaired and Elder Wang Si and the others returned, Wang Yi would be able to take over the position of acting patriarch.

Semi-Progenitor Chai glanced over at Wang Miaomiao. "Did you not tell Senior God of Food? My Wang family has decided to open the Tri-Petal to Virtue Archives’ elite students."

Wang Miaomiao refused to even look at Semi-Progenitor Chai. She was the only member of the Wang family who would not show the Semi-Progenitor even the slightest bit of respect, but to be fair, she refused to show anyone from the family any hint of respect.

Semi-Progenitor Chai arched a brow, but he dropped the matter.

"The Wang family is truly magnanimous this time. I’ll thank the Wang family on behalf of my students," the God of Food responded with a smile.

Soon, the acting patriarch, Wang Yan, personally led the students on a tour of the Wang family’s floating landmass. This was the extent of the man’s responsibilities: to give the students a personal tour as another demonstration of goodwill.

The Wang family’s homeland was something that everyone knew about. But for people from the Middle Realm, it was difficult to even enter the Higher Realm, let alone gain access to the Wang family’s floating landmass. The fact that the students from Virtue Archives were allowed to visit such a place was something that they could brag about for an entire lifetime.

"Ever since my Wang family’s homeland was first established, it has weathered the passage of time, enemy attacks, assassins, Redbacks, and traitors. However, none of them ever managed to escape alive. Do you see that slash mark? It was left by one of my Wang family’s Semi-Progenitors. We tend to focus on unarmed combat, but that particular ancestor loved studying the sword. His swordsmanship was so exceptional that he dominated an era and even managed to suppress a generation of the Liu family.

"Over here is a palm print left behind by another one of my Wang family’s ancestors. That ancestor studied millions of creatures in the Lower Realm to create a million different palm strikes that he then merged into a single technique. He used it to kill Marquis Xiang, one of Aeternus’s Twelve Marquises. The current Marquis Xiang is not the original, as that marquis was killed by my ancestor.

"In the past, the incompetence of the Lu family led to a flood of Redbacks and traitors, which even triggered a massive war. My Wang family led the vanguard, and the five fingers of our homeland were nearly broken, but we managed to put an end to that war. Do you see that red bit of ground? That is the blood of countless of my Wang family’s ancestors. No matter if one looks at the former Lu family or the current Celestial Frost Sect, Shenwu's Sky, and White Dragon Clan, no one can boast as iron-blooded a history as my Wang family’s…"

Wang Yan preened as he showed the students around his homeland, and he gave the story of everything that they saw. It was very obvious that the man was very proud of his Wang family’s history, and he also blatantly disparaged all the other families and organizations that he mentioned.

Still, regardless of what the four ruling powers might have done or how much hatred Lu Yin held towards them, it was undeniable that they had worked hard to fight against Aeternus. They had indeed protected humanity.

The blood on the ground that had been pointed out to the students had dried up eons ago, and it had long since become blackened. Still, there was a hint of a bloody scent that could be detected. Also, seeing the blood of powerhouses who had defended their home in ages past had a profound impact. Such people deserved respect.

Lu Yin observed Wang Yan's eloquent delivery. If he managed to avenge his Lu family in the future, what would the four ruling powers do?

As the group made their way around the Wang family’s homeland, Wang Yan shared excessive historical anecdotes about the Wang family. The family had remained a top power in the Perennial World for countless years, as well as in the Daosource Sect and Heavens Sect before that. While much of the family’s history had become blurred and hazy with the passage of time, it had not been completely lost. It was also irrefutable that many powerhouses had risen from the family. Not to mention the Semi-Progenitors, there had been many Progenitors. Awe could be clearly seen on the students’ faces, and they were captivated by the honor it must be to be a member of such a distinguished family.

This was precisely the reaction that the Wang family had hoped for.

The Progenitor realm was too far away from the students for them to have any real understanding of it, but Wang Yan spoke as though joining his Wang family practically guaranteed that one would become a Progenitor.

"Everyone, look over there. That statue has become a permanent fixture on my Wang family’s homeland, though the man himself was not part of my Wang family. He had a different surname, but he joined my family because of how much he admired us. His name was Chong Yue. Senior Chong Yue was very talented, and he coincidentally came into contact with elders from my Wang family long ago, and he was eventually drawn in and joined us. My Wang family provided him with all of his cultivation resources, which allowed him to rise up, step by step. He became an Envoy, then a Semi-Progenitor, and eventually, a Progenitor! He became one of my Wang family's Progenitors," Wang Yan pointed to a distant statue as he spoke in open admiration.

Most of the students were amazed and hurried forward to get a better look at the statue.

However, Bai Weiwei stayed back, clearly contemptuous.

Nong Siniang even bared her teeth. "Shameless!"

Lu Yin felt puzzled. "What's wrong?"

Nong Siniang quietly explained, "Progenitor Chong Yue was never part of the Wang family, though he did have a close relationship with them."

Lu Yin blinked. "Then why is there a statue of him here?"

Nong Siniang continued, "From what my elders said, Progenitor Chong Yue did receive help from the Wang family, but it was only a small favor. He was also close to the Lu family, but unfortunately, when Progenitor Chong Yue died, only the Wang family’s Progenitor Wang Fan was nearby. Wang Fan claimed that Progenitor Chong Yue’s dying wish was to be buried in the Wang family’s homeland. Hence, a statue of Progenitor Chong Yue was built.

"Others didn't believe the story, but since it came from Progenitor Wang Fan, no one could refute him. Finally, Progenitor Chong Yue was buried here on the Wang family’s homeland, and that also drew many cultivators from other families to join the Wang family."

Lu Yin then understood, though he had to admit that Wang Fan's actions had been absolutely amazing. Who did not dream of becoming a Progenitor? Unfortunately, it was too elusive a dream. Forget independent cultivators, just how many people from monstrous powers like the four ruling powers, the Nong family, the Liu family, or even the Lu family had succeeded in becoming a Progenitor? The story that the Wang family had raised up an outside cultivator step by step into a Progenitor would naturally have a massive impact on countless cultivators. After all, who could compare to such a story?

People started to believe that it was possible to become a Progenitor with the help and resources of the Wang family, and if given a choice, they would immediately choose to join the Wang family.

Wang Fan's story not only provided the Wang family with any treasures that had been on Progenitor Chong Yue’s body, but it had also recruited countless cultivators into the Wang family. It was a very clever ploy.

Some distance away, many of the students stared at the statue with bright eyes. All young people dreamed of becoming a powerful Progenitor, and so this statue had a powerful impact on the students.

Wang Yan felt quite proud. This statue had become an incredibly useful tool for the Wang family to attract outside cultivators into joining their family. Who could remain unmoved after seeing that the Wang family had given rise to a Progenitor who had been an outsider and that they had even erected a statue for the powerhouse? Who would not wish to have their own statue erected within one of the four ruling powers? Who did not dream of becoming a Progenitor?

"Cultivators from my Wang family periodically pay homage to this statue of Progenitor Chong Yue, and every child born since the last time we paid our respects is brought here to watch. This is the affection and care that my Wang family gives to geniuses," Wang Yan stated.

Nong Siniang’s mouth twisted into a sneer.

Even Xia Shenguang and the others from the four ruling powers could no longer stand listening to the propaganda, so they moved elsewhere.

The God of Food had already become numb to such things. He had visited the Wang family in his youth, and just like the students from Virtue Archives, the young God of Food had also dreamed of becoming a Progenitor. He himself had nearly joined the Wang family. They were truly too cunning.

Few Progenitors had existed throughout all of history, and not all of them had been able to leave records behind. Progenitor Chong Yue had definitely not been a powerful Progenitor, and Lu Yin estimated that man had probably been about as powerful as the Sixth Mainland’s Progenitor of Bloodlines. However, the Wang family had caused Chong Yue’s name to be passed down through the ages. If Chong Yue were still alive, there was no telling if he would be happy or sad over how things had turned out.

A Progenitor had failed to leave his name behind due to his actions against the Aeternals, but instead had been recorded down in history because others had taken advantage of his death. It just felt wrong.