The young boy who walked into the room along with the guard didn't look like the kid who had sparred with Duncan at all. He sported a serious look. His eyes were as if he had learned a lot about the world.
There was a change in the kid's temperament as he stood beside the guard with no haughty pride or any change in expression at seeing the elder who was scrutinizing him. His eyes were tranquil along with his heart. Despite the great opportunity present before him, he didn't feel flustered.
"Truly a good seedling," the elder murmured in surprise. "I didn't expect the Young Master of the Wang Clan to have already stepped into the later stages of the Qi Gathering realm."
"Patriarch, a young boy who is not even ten years old, but has already stepped into the seventh level of the Qi Gathering realm is not an ordinary talent," the elder said composing himself and looking at the patriarch of the Wang Clan.
"If I am not mistaken, with such a talent, you can easily send your son to the Holy Lands to be nurtured. So, I am a little curious as to your thoughts. Why are you sending him to be nurtured by our sect?"
"Esteemed master is indeed right, Shuang-er's talent would even be appreciated by the Holy Lands. However, distant waters couldn't quench my thirst, can they? I am the Patriarch of the Wang Clan. I must think of the Wang Clan as well as my son," the Patriarch of the Wang Clan said with a difficult expression.
"As you may know, the recent beast tide that erupted in the Grasslands even affected the Starmist City. The City Lord of the Starmist City took this opportunity to weaken the clans inside the city. He sent us to the frontlines and reserved his strength in order to weaken us," the Patriarch said angrily.
"All the cultivation clans in the city lost most of their strength in this beast tide. It was doubly so for our Wang Clan. We have lost a lot of our members in this beast tide. We need a lot of time to recover from this catastrophe."
"But, it isn't just the City Lord that we need to be wary of. There are other factions and powers in the city that are targeting my Wang Clan as well. I do not know how long it will take for us to tide through this difficulty or if it is even possible."
"The reason I am sending Shang-er to be nurtured by your sect is twofold. If the unthinkable happened and our clan was wiped out, I do not want Shang-er to become a victim as well," the Patriarch said with a complicated look on his face.
It was clear to the Elder that this wasn't a decision that the Patriarch of the Wang Clan came up with overnight. Despite his unwillingness, the Patriarch had decided to submit to a higher power to preserve their future. The Elder couldn't help but have a high evaluation of the Patriarch of the Wang Clan.
"As you know, the tree that is the tallest will the one to be culled first," the Patriarch continued composing himself. "Shang-er's talent is a huge threat to them and they would never let him live. This way, at least he will be safe and have time to mature."
"I still don't see the reason for you to be sending your son to our sect, Patriarch. You could accomplish the same by sending him to a Holy Land to be nurtured," the Elder smiled benignly, but there was a calculative look in his eyes.
The Patriarch gritted his teeth after seeing the Elder's smile. He knew that inviting these people in is akin to letting wolves through the door, but he had no other option presently.
"The second reason is we would like to obtain the support of your Iron Mountain sect, esteemed master. If we can tide through these difficulties with the patronage of Iron Mountain Sect, we would be forever loyal to the sect for generations to come."
"My son being fostered under your care is both an opportunity for him and a gesture of my commitment to your sect. With Shang-er's talents, I am sure your sect can nurture him into one of the top experts in the empire. This way we both would benefit," the Patriarch said with a smile.
The Elder smiled in return. Both he and the Patriarch knew what it would take to invite Iron Mountain Sect to help. Inviting them might be simple, but the sect would then sink its hook into the clan and the clan would become a subordinate soon.
But, the sect wouldn't act without assurances. Sending the Young Master as a hostage, disguised as a disciple, will be one of the minimum requirements to make the sect act.
What the Patriarch said was true. Distant waters would never quench your thirst. Moreover, if a Holy Land got involved the Star Empire wouldn't look kindly upon them either. So, the best option was to invite a first-rate sect within the empire to take action.
The Patriarch had thought it through. The Iron Mountain Sect was one of the few first-rate sects present within the Star Empire borders. Only the Star Imperial family and the Heavenly Demon Sect stood above them.
Star Imperial family was the power behind the City Lord. Without their tacit agreement, the City Lord wouldn't have taken measures to beat down the cultivation clans in the city like that. Moreover, the fate that befell the Ji family also made the cultivation clans wary of the Imperial family.
As for the Heavenly Demon Sect, they were considered to be one of the foremost demonic sects on the continent. The danger of inviting them was severalfold compared to inviting another righteous sect. Hence, the only recourse was other sects at the same level as Iron Mountain Sect.
The Ancestor of the Wang Clan had a good friendship with the Elder before him before he died. During their younger days, they had both shared life and death with each other. Their friendship was one forged of blood amidst various dangers.
So, instead of inviting an outsider, it was better to invite someone they already had a relationship with. With the relationship of the Elder with the Ancestor, the Elder might even have a favorable view of the clan.
Moreover, the talent of Wang Shang was truly noteworthy. So, the Elder will probably take him in as a direct disciple. If that is the case, both Wang Shang's future and Wang Clan's survival could be taken care of in a single move.
"Patriarch, you don't need to say more. You understand the principles that govern the world well. In honor of my old friendship with your ancestor, I will take this young one as my direct disciple," the Elder smiled amicably.
Hearing those words, the Patriarch put down the heavy weight in his heart. His Wang Clan was saved for now. Other powers wouldn't dare to encroach Wang Clan's properties if they knew that Wang Shang had become a disciple of an Elder of the Iron Mountain Sect.
"Wang Shang greets master," the young boy immediately kowtowed toward the Elder causing the Elder to smile.
"The child has learned well," the Elder smiled and waved his hands.
A gentle power lifted the young boy up. With another wave of the elder's hand, a spirit fruit with dense energy landed in the young boy's hands.
"Take this as my greeting gift," the Elder smiled at the young boy. "From today on, you are no longer the Young Master of the Wang Clan. You will become the fifteenth direct disciple of me, Elder Tiang Buchen."
"Thank you, master," the young man bowed in gratitude.
The Patriarch of the Wang Clan had a complicated look on his face, but he let out a sigh and smiled at his son. He knew that the future of his son was not in his hands anymore. But, as the person in charge of the Wang Clan, there wasn't any other course he could see for the survival of his people.
"Patriarch, let's retire to a more relaxing location. This place isn't fit for our upcoming discussions. Shang-er, go refine this fruit. This is an Earth Aeon Spirit Fruit. The energy in it is gentle and it will help you reach the peak of the Qi Gathering realm soon."
The young boy nodded and retreated along with the guard. Walking out of the room, his eyes flashed with a complicated look. He turned to look at the closed door behind him.
"Young Master, you need not worry. Patriarch has his own plans. All you need to do is to concentrate on increasing your strength. Our clan will definitely tide through these difficult times," the guard said solemnly.
The young boy let out a deep sigh and turned away from that door. The things that happened this past month were like a dream to him. First, there was a mortal who he had been unable to defeat while sparring. Then there was the beast tide. And finally, there were the attacks in the dark from various powers following the beast tide.
His entire life had been turned upside down in a single month.
"Father, hang on, I will definitely become strong and help you relieve this burden. Those who dared to touch our Wang Clan will die without mercy. I will make the City Lord whimper and fawn over us when I become strong. Even the Imperial family will have to give us face," the young boy muttered determinedly.
"I have the strongest talent in the history of our clan. I will become strong and make everyone tremble before me. No one will dare to even think about touching the Wang Clan as long as I am alive," the young boy's eyes shined in determination as he walked away from the area.
*****
A/N: Hey folks!
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