Chapter 558: Chapter 256: Eighth-Grade Privileges, Great Zhou Academy, Seventh-Grade Noble Family

Meanwhile.

Outside the World Suppression Bureau.

The Second Elder of the Gongsun Family also waited outside the doors. After smilingly offering a bribe to the guard, he was finally led to the side hall. The reason for his visit today was the formal conferral of the Noble Family Jade Seal.

After the death of the Gongsun Clan Leader.

For him to take the position of the Patriarch.

More than half of the clan held opposing opinions.

Because it violated the ancestral rules.

Moreover.

The members of the main line weren’t all wiped out.

Coupled with Gongsun Tang and Gongsun Qing who went to Jingzhou, the three of them might have already reached Foundation Establishment. In any case, the position of Patriarch should not be passed to the second branch.

For this reason.

The Second Elder spent a full several months.

Only then was he able to suppress the dissenting voices and forcibly ascend to the position of Patriarch.

"Phew~"

Next.

As long as the Court officially confers him.

He would truly become the head of an Eighth-Grade Noble Family.

With the Gongsun Family in his hands, he would certainly reignite the glory of his ancestors, and no matter what, they wouldn’t decline any further. However, as for ascending to the Seventh-Grade Noble Family, for now, it was just wishful thinking.

After all.

This was a great undertaking that even their ancestors couldn’t accomplish after hundreds of years of effort.

Initially.

The Second Elder was somewhat excited.

But as he finished a cup of tea and drank more than half of the second cup, there was still no one who announced for him to meet Master Xu, and his expression visibly soured.

To say the least.

He was about to become a head of an Eighth-Grade Noble Family.

Yet he was left to cool his heels, and couldn’t help but stand up, lowering his voice to the guard at the door, "Comrade, please inform the Hall Master that I am here to assume the position of Patriarch today."

The last sentence was said with extra emphasis.

The guard glanced around.

After some thought.

He still whispered,

"The Hall Master is busy with the conferral of a new Ninth-Grade Noble Family in the Fu Family’s territory, so I’m afraid you will have to wait a little longer."

"What?"

The Second Elder of the Gongsun Family was taken aback.

When did a Ninth-Grade Noble Family appear in the Fu Family’s territory?!

If he remembered correctly.

Once the Fu Family’s territory indeed produced a Sixth-Grade Noble Family, it would immediately ascend to Eighth-Grade.

The Second Elder of the Gongsun Family couldn’t sit still.

Eighth-Grade Noble Families enjoyed many privileges, including a twenty percent reduction in annual taxes, though this was secondary.

The most critical aspect was.

Upon ascending to Eighth-Grade, they could access various opportunities.

What made everyone envious was the ability to recommend clan members to enter the Great Zhou Academy. The last family member to graduate from the Great Zhou Academy had their family ascend to the Fifth-Grade Golden Core Family.

Of course, this might take a long time.

But!

Once the Fu Family ascends to Eighth-Grade.

Fu Changsheng would have the opportunity to seize chances to advance to the Purple Mansion realm. Despite his unwillingness to admit it, based on Fu Changsheng’s current cultivation speed, he was likely an Earth Spiritual Root, making breaking through to the Purple Mansion utterly feasible.

Once he becomes a Great Cultivator of the Purple Mansion.

That would be the day of extermination for their Gongsun Family.

The Second Elder of the Gongsun Family abruptly stood up:

"The Fu Family must not be allowed to successfully ascend to Eighth-Grade!"

Quickly turning over thoughts in his mind.

The Second Elder of the Gongsun Family’s eyes suddenly brightened.

With his right hand, he cast a Sound Insulation Technique and then took out a Communication Jade Talisman, speaking quickly into it.

The jade talisman quivered slightly.

The Spirit Light receded.

The Second Elder of the Gongsun Family sneered coldly:

"From the Court’s filing to the official conferral, there’s still plenty of time. If the Cui Family isn’t foolish, they’ll know what to do once they hear this news."

Certainly.

Relying solely on the Cui Family is insufficient.

The Second Elder of the Gongsun Family continued to send messages to different people. Once everything was arranged, the unease in the Gongsun Second Elder’s heart dissipated.

He sat back down steadily again.

Took a sip of tea.

His eyes narrowed slightly:

"Fu Changsheng, let’s see how you turn the tide this time?!"

In a pose of remaining composed and confident.

.....

The Cui Family.

The Communication Jade Talisman suddenly lit up on the Cui Clan Leader, who was previously discussing matters in the Council Hall. Once he received the message from the Second Elder of the Gongsun Family.

The Cui Clan Leader’s face changed.

He immediately said:

"Third Brother, send a message to Qiuya at Wanning Marketplace immediately, have her verify whether this information is true!"

"Yes, Clan Leader!"

The news shocked all the Elders in the council hall beyond measure.

The intelligence they previously controlled was.

The Patriarch and Lady of the House of the Fu Family both went into seclusion one after the other.

Aside from that.

The Fu Family members also stayed quietly within the clan, without any actions.

It was unimaginable.

That suddenly the Fu Family’s territory would produce a new Ninth-Grade Noble Family.

Even if it were a magic trick, it couldn’t instantly create a family of a hundred thousand people.

After a while.

Soon.

A message came from Qiuya on the other side of Wanning Marketplace.

Outside the marketplace.

A Treasure Ship from the Shangguan Family was parked, carrying the Yum Family members, which also made them the second Ninth-Grade Noble Family within the Fu Family’s territory.

Upon receiving this confirmation.

The spirit seemed to drain out of the Cui Clan Leader.

Now.

There was only one opening left for an Eighth-Grade Noble Family in all of South Huai, and it had been snatched by the Fu Family. Who knows how long it would be before it’s the Cui Family’s turn.

Third Elder Cui was full of reluctance:

"Clan Leader"

"We spent heavily to cultivate a Tier Two Spirit Vein for Cao Xuerui, and sought out mortals to bolster their numbers. We barely managed to make the Cao Family a Ninth-Grade Noble Family within our territory. Now we are just one Ninth-Grade Noble Family away from ascending to Eighth-Grade in one fell swoop."

"In any case"

"We cannot let the Fu Family beat us to it"

"Though the Second Elder of the Gongsun Family’s message this time might have malicious intent, but... but if we move against one of the Fu Family’s bases now, if we destroy one of their Ninth-Grade Noble Families, before the Court’s conferral is finalized, it won’t be valid"