Chapter 560: Chapter 256: Eighth-Grade Privileges, Great Zhou Academy, Seventh-Grade Noble Family (Part 3)

The puppet Patriarch of the Shangguan Clan, at this moment, was also busy agreeing:

"Hongyu is absolutely right. The Fu Family has indeed done a great service for our Shangguan Family. To say nothing of leasing the Treasure Ship for ten years, even giving the entire ship to the Fu Family would be warranted."

"Yes, indeed. The Grand Elder and Hongyu have sharp eyes to have initially chosen to support Fu Changsheng from the Fu Family."

"Exactly, if back then we had chosen to support the Zhang Family..."

The Sixth Elder stopped midway, realizing that the Zhang Family was originally chosen by Shangguan Hui, he immediately fell silent. After all, Shangguan Hui’s situation right now was quite pitiful.

Sitting at the end, Shangguan Hui’s previously improving mood turned extremely bad upon hearing the words ’Zhang Family’.

He snorted coldly.

And left with a flick of his sleeve.

Behind him, he was greeted by the jubilant and joyful congratulations of the crowd, as the setting sun cast long shadows over his figure.

In the hall.

Sitting upright at the head, Shangguan Hongyu turned to Shangguan Feng and said:

"Father, although the Fu Family is already qualified for promotion, the entire process from the Court will take some time. To prevent anyone with ill intentions from causing sabotage, should we send Foundation Establishment clan members to garrison several strongholds of the Fu Family?"

Currently.

Besides the ancestral land at Luofeng Mountain in Anyang County, the Fu Family also has the original territory of the Lin Family at Cloud Mountain, as well as the territories in Yunshan County and Pingshan County, equivalent to four strongholds.

With Shangguan Hongyu’s reminder.

Everyone else also snapped out of their joy.

In the whole of South Huai, there remains only one spot for an Eighth-Grade Noble Family, and as the premier Ninth-Grade Noble Family, should the Cui Family harbor any ulterior motives, joining forces with the Qii and Hongg Families to attack any stronghold of the Fu Family, it would be troubling indeed.

Of course.

The most important issue is.

The Fu Family has a visible public enemy, the Gongsun Family.

The Gongsun Family will not let this slide.

Seeing no objections from the crowd, Shangguan Feng immediately allocated nine Foundation Establishment members from the clan, forming groups of three to head to Luofeng Mountain in Anyang County, Cloud Mountain, and Pingshan County:

"The Fu Family’s Yunshan County has Demon-Defying City, capable of slaying a Tier Three Demon King, so there’s no need for us to reinforce it. However, since Changsheng’s Treasure Ship is still at Wanning Marketplace on the way back to Cloud Mountain, just in case, Hongyu, personally go to Wanning Marketplace and escort the Yum Family and others safely back to Cloud Mountain with Changsheng."

"Yes, father."

Shangguan Hongyu agreed readily.

After all.

She hadn’t seen Fu Changsheng for over a decade.

Once everyone had dispersed.

Shangguan Feng cast a Sound Insulation Technique and advised:

"Hongyu, when you meet Changsheng, remind him that the Court’s campaign against the Yinan Tribe has already been scheduled. Let him prepare in advance."

"Yes, father."

Shangguan Hongyu’s expression turned serious.

However.

She hesitated for a moment.

Still, she spoke:

"Father, what is the Court’s ultimate intention in attacking the Yinan Tribe?"

Expanding territories is just an excuse.

After all, there are so many tribes in the Eastern Wilderness, why specifically choose Yinan, which is quite a distance from our South Huai, and on the way, they need to defeat several Foundation Establishment tribes.

Shangguan Feng shook his head:

"This campaign, although initiated by the Court, has the main forces being the Seventh-Grade Luo Family, Wang Family, and Wan Family, only they know the inside story."

Each of these three Seventh-Grade Noble Families possesses several Purple Mansions.

The Eighth-Grade Noble Families of South Huai Prefecture come under the Luo Family.

"Father, why don’t you visit the Luo Family?"

Never fight an unprepared war.

Shangguan Hongyu didn’t want to foolishly follow orders without understanding.

Shangguan Feng pondered:

"The Luo Family has always been indifferent to subordinate families, and we have little contact with them usually. If we approach them rashly now, I’m afraid we won’t glean any useful information from them."

Yet Shangguan Hongyu shook her head.

With confidence she said:

"Father, that was in the past. Now that we’ve brought up an Eighth-Grade Noble Family under us, and as you and I are both Half-Step Purple Mansion, we’re on the verge of a Purple Mansion breakthrough. The Luo Family will surely give us a hint or two because of this."

"Then I’ll attempt a visit."

.....

At the Hee Family Council Hall.

At this moment.

The elders of the Hee Family were puzzled as to why the Patriarch suddenly convened an Emergency Elder Council. Hee Qingshang, who had reached Foundation Establishment three years ago, also sat at a lower seat.

Seeing the irrepressible smile on his father’s face, he hastily asked:

"Father, what joyous event in the clan makes you so happy?"

The Patriarch of the Hee Family had a face marked with seventy percent joy and thirty percent envy.

He glanced around at everyone.

Only then did he say:

"Just now, Yongyi sent me a message that he has returned safely from Jingzhou, and brought back a Ninth-Grade Yum Family; the Fu Family’s promotion to the Eighth-Grade is imminent."

This means.

The Hee Family immediately gains an Eighth-Grade in-law.

The elders upon hearing this.

Each one was grinning with joy.

In the past decade.

The Gongsun Family, holding a grudge against them for their ties with the Fu Family, leveraged their power as a superior family to issue recruitment orders every year, making life miserable for them. This was secondary, as the most crucial issue was that even the Hee Patriarch himself almost met his end in the Netherworld several times.

Now with the Fu Family’s rise to the Eighth-Grade.

Their ability to confront the Gongsun Family strengthens.

The Hee Family can finally escape the bullying of the Gongsun Family.

The Third Elder Hee, eyes moist, kept saying:

"Patriarch, this truly is wonderful news, such a blessing!"

"With the Fu Family’s backing, our Hee Family can steadily develop for another hundred or two hundred years."

"Ultimately, it’s because of the Patriarch’s far-sightedness in choosing the Fu Family as in-laws. Patriarch, I’ve spoken unfavorably in the past; please don’t take it to heart, just consider it foolish words from an old man."