Protect Our Clan Leader

"Of course, getting a bit away from your father has made my mood much more pleasant," Lady Bilian said with a delicate laugh, "Once the mood is pleasant, one naturally looks radiant. By the way, I heard that your family caught a Green Jiao. Congratulations, I hope it soon successfully transforms into a dragon and becomes the Wang family's Clan Guardian Spirit Beast."

She couldn't help but think to herself, once the Wang family has a Purple Abode Realm Clan Guardian Spirit Beast, surely they won't keep desperately clinging to our Family's Firefox Ancestor, right?

"Zong'an has been away from home for some time," Wang Zong'an replied with grace, "and I only learned about this through letters. I just didn't expect to encounter you here in Shangjing City. Meeting an old acquaintance in a foreign place, Zong'an is truly delighted."

Delighted my foot.

Lady Bilian secretly rolled her eyes.

She has stayed at her parental home for so long, wasn't it because your family head coerced and tempted her? I, Shangguan Bilian, born a direct daughter of a Grade Four family, yet have been tricked and tied down by your father.

Most crucially, she hasn't managed to gain any advantage from Wang Shouzhe yet.

However, these words could not be spoken aloud, and Lady Bilian feigned a smile with crafted grace, "Speaking of which, this can also be considered fate. Tonight, at the welcoming feast, let us drink a few more glasses together."

Afterward, the two engaged in a series of insubstantial exchanges. However, these quickly enlivened the atmosphere.

Off to the side, Shangguan Yunque frowned secretly. His sister's relationship with the Changning Wang family was deeper than he had thought—she even knew a lot of family secrets.

First, there was Wang Liyao, then Wang Zong'an, both influenced by his sister Shangguan Bilian behind the scenes, which made him think extra hard.

Immediately, he coughed and said to Wang Zong'an, "Young Clan Leader Zong'an, you and the Commandery Prince's arrival together can't possibly be exactly as the rumors say, that your Changning Wang family and..."

He left his sentence half-finished, eliciting keen glances from all the Shangguan clan members.

"The rumors are true," Wang Zong'an replied with a light smile, "Our Changning Wang family has indeed decided to support An Commandery Prince in the competition for the Emperor's son as much as possible. My older sister's visit to the Imperial Capital to boost her reputation is also to create momentum for An Commandery Prince and our Wang family."

Upon hearing this, Shangguan Zhenhai and another Purple Abode Realm Great Elder, Shangguan Liyan, showed no change of expression, as if everything was within their expectations.

The Challenger of Heaven battles have always been purposeful, and this time's purpose was not difficult to guess.

They were all experienced and cunning figures who understood that this was mostly a publicity stunt by An Commandery Prince's faction, presenting a symbolic Great Sky Pride banner to rival Kang Commandery Prince's Gong Yang Ce.

And in this Challenger of Heaven battle, Miss Liyao's achievements far surpassed Gong Yang Ce's initial ones; her prestige shines high in the sky, slowly eclipsing Gong Yang Ce's.

One can imagine that in the competition following the Emperor's son, Liyao Great Sky Pride will inevitably become a formidable opponent that Gong Yang Ce cannot ignore.

Although Gong Yang Ce has already advanced to the Purple Abode Realm first, at the level of Great Sky Pride, it's more about factors such as bloodline potential, willpower, and nature.

Usually speaking, the elevation to Purple Abode Realm among Great Sky Prides doesn't exceed 250 years old, and the process is as natural as water flowing in a channel. With Liyao Great Sky Pride's bloodline talent, when the competition for Saints truly starts, she will naturally already be a Purple Abode Realm powerhouse.

Among them all, only Shangguan Yunque appeared slightly embarrassed, as he was the one supposedly used by Wang Liyao to boost her reputation. Now all over Shangjing City, there were rumors that he, Shangguan Yunque, had been beaten to a pulp in a private battle with Wang Liyao.

But the reality was, he, Shangguan Yunque, had only barely lost by a small margin. And that margin was due to equipment—if he too had been assisted by a Divine Spiritual Treasure, the outcome of that battle would still be uncertain.

But that was an unavoidable situation; aside from families with profound heritages like the Imperial Household, which family can just produce a Divine Spiritual Treasure at will? Now being merely a Grade Four, obtaining such level treasures, even if desired, where could he borrow from?

And these rumors were most likely stirred up by Prince Dexin's faction, aimed at diverting everyone's attention to lessen the focus on Little Commandery Prince Wu Zhixing's disastrous defeat.

Shangguan Yunque, feeling irritated, said indifferently, "An Commandery Prince, Young Clan Leader Zong'an. Please forgive my boldness, Shangguan Yunque, but even with Liyao Great Sky Pride backing you, your odds of victory are still somewhat weak.

Moreover, our Shangguan family are loyal servants of the crown, irrespective of which Commandery Prince inherits the throne, we support them unconditionally."

His attitude was very clear. His statement also represented the true stance of the Shangguan family, politely declining An Commandery Prince's proposal under the guise of neutrality, suggesting that it was better not to voice some potentially hurtful truths and avoid discomfort for everyone.

With Great Sky Pride Shangguan Yunque at the forefront, should any change arise, Family Head Shangguan Zhenhai hadn't even spoken yet, still leaving room for maneuver.

"Yunque has misunderstood," An Commandery Prince seemed to have anticipated their reaction and laughed freely, "Wu's visit to the capital is not to leverage Liyao's momentum to persuade the prominent families to take sides with the Prince. The specific matters will be handled by Young Clan Leader Zong'an."

Upon hearing this, the Shangguan family members glanced at each other, then looked at Wang Zong'an with half-doubt, half-belief.

Wang Zong'an cleared his throat and seriously said, "Let's not talk about the Emperor's son for now. In the end, whoever it is that inherits the Emperor's position in the future, we in Da Qian, all large and small prominent families, must continue with our lives and cultivate our successors."