Chapter 30: Mingsheng Old Ancestor (Seeking
Recommendation Tickets)_i
Translator: 549690339
Soon, guided by the maid, Wang Shouzhe had arrived at the backyard of the Lu Familyâs main residence, where Elder Mingsheng, the reclusive cultivator, resided.
This place was close to the Yingxiu Lake, a towering and magnificent building, from where almost half of the lakeâs scenery could be seen. The lake breeze, the wave noise, the leaping fish, the singing birds, all these elements integrated this architecture into nature.
Standing before a tower called âYingxiu Ascending Moonâ, Wang Shouzhe greeted, âWang Shouzhe from the Pingâan Wang Family is seeking an audience with Elder Mingsheng.â
âCome in.â
A gentle voice sounded directly into Wang Shouzheâs ear.
Following the instruction, Wang Shouzhe climbed up the solid wooden steps to the high floor of the tower. Outside the tower window, a grey-robed old man sat with his back to Wang Shouzhe, fishing in the Yingxiu Lake from his chair. His posture seemed casual, but Wang Shouzhe couldnât see through him at all, as if he was an insurmountable mountain range, or a deep and unfathomable lake.
Next to him was a twelve or thirteen-year-old girl in red clothes, which was Wang Shouzheâs cousin, Lu Xiaoxiao. She was glaring at Wang Shouzhe, obviously still angry.
âGrandpa, you know how annoying Cousin Shouzhe is.â Lu Xiaoxiao pouted, âWliy does that Wang girl get the Purple Crystal Spirit Beehive, and Xiaoxiao doesnât?â
âUhâŠâ Wang Shouzhe found it funny and put his hand on his nose, realizing that this silly girl even ran here to tattle on him.
âSo how should I discipline your cousin?â The old man asked nonchalantly, âYou said last time that you liked your cousin Shouzhe the most. Now you donât like him anymore?â
âI still like him, but my mother said that the Wang Family is in a bad situation and they are lacking money everywhere.â Lu Xiaoxiao answered earnestly, tilting her head, âI think cousin Shouzhe must be very short of money. How about you give cousin Shouzhe five hundred Qian Gold so he can buy a Purple Crystal Spirit Beehive and give it to me? Then I wonât be angry with cousin Shouzhe.â
âWhy do you need five hundred Qian Gold?â the elder asked surprisedly, âas far as I remember, a common Purple Crystal Spirit Beehive costs only two or three hundred Qian Gold. Could it be that the prices have risen so much?â
âItâs hard for Cousin Shouzhe to go buy the beehive.â
Pfft!
Wang Shouzhe almost spat out blood upon hearing this. His cousinâs logic was truly powerful. To get a beehive, she was even prepared to make Elder Mingsheng pay. He couldnât listen to this anymore, and immediately interrupted, coughing twice, âShouzhe meets Elder Mingsheng.â
Unexpectedly, Elder Mingsheng ignored Wang Shouzhe completely, and continued talking to Lu Xiaoxiao, âSo, if your cousin Shouzhe bought you a Purple Crystal Spirit Beehive, would you listen to grandpa?â
âI would!â Lu Xiaoxiao nodded firmly.
An elder Mingsheng nodded slightly, turned around, smiled at Wang Shouzhe, and threw several gold tickets towards him.
Wang Shouzhe hurriedly caught them, taking a closer look, they were actually five hundred Qian Gold tickets. He was taken aback. What was going on? Could it be thatâŠ
âShouzhe, did you hear that?â Elder Mingshengâs face, which appeared to be only fifty years old, showed a playful smile, âGo and buy a Purple Crystal Spirit Beehive for your cousin Xiaoxiao on the way back. The rest is your running fee.â âElderâŠâ A cold sweat was dropping from Wang Shouzhe. He quickly said, âThis really canât happen. If cousin Xiaoxiao really likes the Purple Crystal Spirit Beehive, Iâll find a way to buy one.â
âEnough, you donât know what situation your Wang Family is in right now?â Elder Mingsheng waved his hand irritably, âTake these Qian Gold first, prepare more cultivation resources, and talk about the Purple Crystal Spirit Beehive when you have spare money.â
There was a little warmth in Wang Shouzheâs heart. He bowed and said, âThank you, Elder, for your support.â It looked like Elder Mingsheng intended to support him, and he naturally wouldnât be pretentious. He took the money for now.
âYou should thank your cousin Xiaoxiao.â Elder Mingsheng laughed, âIf wasnât for her persistence, I wouldnât be willing to give up this Qian Gold.â For the Lu Family, five hundred Qian Gold was quite a large amount of money, after various huge expenditures, a year might not even be able to save up this much. âThankyou, cousin Xiaoxiao.â Wang Shouzhe also bowed in thanks.
âHmph.â Lu Xiaoxiao turned her head away and snorted, seeming unwilling to pay any attention to him.
âXiaoxiao, you must prove your worth, donât be outshined by that little girl whoâs an Insect Master.â Mingsheng, the old ancestor on the side âstirred the potâ and said, âIf you can successfully learn the skill of the Array Master and become a Level One Array Master, I guarantee your cousin Shouzhe will be impressed.â
âArray Master?â
âWang Shouzhe was surprised to hear and said: âOld Ancestor, could it be that cousin Xiaoxiao has the talent for Formation learning?â
âWhat, does it mean that your Wang family can produce an Insect Master, but my Lu Family canât produce an Array Master?â Mingsheng jokingly replied. Wang Shouzhe broke a cold sweat: âOld Ancestor, I meant no such thing. Itâs just a bit surprising. Congratulations to you, and to cousin Xiaoxiao.â
In his heart, he was actually marveling at the unpredictability of talent. He vaguely remembered that Lu Xiaoxiao did a poor job learning the Nine Chapter Arithmetic, and yet she possessed the talent for FormationsâŠ
âGreat Grandpa, from now on I will work hard, no more laziness.â Lu Xiaoxiao obediently responded, âOnce I become a Level One Array Master, Iâll show that insect master what Iâm made of. Iâll definitely not let cousin Shouzhe think less of me.â
âThatâs the spirit. Now you are acting like a true descendant of Lu Mingsheng.
Letâs lay a good foundation, and later, Iâll take you to find a master.â Mingsheng was pleasing towards Lu Xiaoxiao. He casually waved his hand at Wang Shouzhe, âShouzhe, you can go about your business.â
Was he being treated as a handyman?
Wang Shouzhe was speechless, but he would not mind it, for the reward was five hundred Qian Golds. The fact that Lu Xiaoxiao possessed the talent for Formations was a great thing. She was his double cousin and they were very close in blood relation.
However, since he had the rare chance to see Mingsheng, Wang Shouzhe did not want to waste the opportunity, so he asked: âOld Ancestor, I have a few obscure spots in my Cultivation. I hope you can give me some pointers.â âYou cheeky boy, donât push your luck,â Mingsheng retorted, âIsnât your Old Ancestor Longyan already knowledgeable enough that you need guidance?â âMore perspectives lead to better understanding,â Wang Shouzhe replied with a grin, âMulti-verification will greatly benefit my path to the Spiritual Platform. The environment here is great for practicing, Iâm sure my progress will be quickâŠâ
He put on a pestering posture as if he would not leave if Mingsheng didnât guide him. As a junior, it was nothing wrong to act a bit cheeky towards his great grandfather.
Alright, alright, ask away, and once you are done, leave immediately. Donât disturb my Cultivation,â Mingsheng helplessly replied.
Wang Shouzhe quickly asked all the prepared questions he had.
Mingsheng, in fact, was merely pretending to be reluctant. And he of course took Wang Shouzheâs questions seriously, carefully considering each of them before answering. But as the questions progressed, Wang Shouzheâs inquiries became tougher and even Mingsheng had to ponder before he could answer.
Before he reincarnated, Wang Shouzhe was a quiet person who only knew how to practice by himself and dared not ask questions to his Old Ancestor Longyan. But the Wang Shouzhe of today was completely different. The modern earthmanâs thinking had influenced him, causing him to ask many cultivation questions from different angles.
This is one of the differences between a child of a Prominent Family and an Independent Cultivator, having elders to guide them in the family.
âYou little rascal, thatâs enough. I also need to cultivate.â After answering questions for over two hours, Mingsheng was exhausted. Where on earth did this boy get so many strange questions? If he continues to ask questions like this, Mingsheng feared he wouldnât be able to answer them all.
For what he did not understand, he couldnât just pretend to know. If any problems occurred, wouldnât that harm the boy?
He was now at his limits!
At first, Lu Xiaoxiao was listening with interest, but as the conversation went on, she became more and more confused and bored. Eventually, she fell asleep. âThankyou, Old Ancestor, for your guidance. I now have a better understanding,â said Wang Shouzhe. He stood up and said, âI wish Old Ancestor a swift completion of the Profound Achievement and hope you ascend to become a Celestial being soon.â
Mingsheng was quite pleased with these words. Being in the mid-stage of the Spiritual Platform Realm, he was still struggling forward. But who among those who reached the Spiritual Platform Realm didnât want to strive further?
Everyone knew that under the Spiritual Platform Realm all are mortals with a lifespan of no more than a hundred years. Reaching the Spiritual Platform Realm, oneâs lifespan would double to two hundred years at its utmost limit. This is why those in the Spiritual Platform Realm were called Old Ancestors as they often outlive their descendants.