While Ling Fan was smiling, Scholar Jin continued, "If that's the case....regrettably this Scholar needs to mention Patriarch Deiming. It was he who modified the ritual... Matriarch must remember his taste for drink and women."
The darkest scowl fell on Zhao Wen's face like a shadow. "Grandfather!? He's the one responsible and now we have to pay an extra 10% in donations to the Temple!?"
Scholar Jin replied, "Matriarch, unfortunately that's the case. If not, the issue was going to be reported to the Temple Master and most likely both I and Youngest Master would have been arrested for Blasphemy."
"Grandfather, Why!? Why even after so many years, you are still causing problems for our Zhao Clan. You-You make sure not to inform Grandmother of the matter."
Inwardly, Ling Fan snickered. Little Punk's headaches were a lot worse than hers.
"And Youngest Master, should we inform him?"
Zhao Wen rubbed her glabella. "This! This matter, I'll pass onto him myself. You may retire to the library."
"As you command," curtsied Scholar Jin. Turning about he made to leave. Just as he reached the exit, Zhao Jia walked in and startled both Zhao Wen and the venerable scholar.
Zhao Jia's eyes narrowed as she began to suspect they were discussing things about her. However, before she could say word, Ling Fan immediately jumped into her arms.
"Strongest Boss! You're here! Your servant just heard stories on how you walloped both Old City Lord and City Lord Zhang. Strongest Boss is mighty!"
Zhao Jia was instantly distracted. Pinching Ling Fan's adorable cheek, she said, "Child you say the sweetest things."
Taking advantage of the delay, Zhao Wen quickly waved Scholar Jin out. She sighed with relief as soon as he exited. Just mentioning her Grandfather's name would cause a ruckus in the clan like no other. Inwardly, she mightily praised Ling Fan for her preemptive action.
"Child to what do we owe this visit? Is the Wine Master here to report an issue to the Duchess?"*1
Ling Fan shot a wink at Zhao Wen and said, "Young Strongest Boss invited your servant for pointers. Look, how do you like my swords?"
Bringing out her twin butterfly swords, Ling Fan presented the weapons. Her puppy dog eyes batted as she peered up anxiously awaiting for praise.
"Oh my these are your weapons? Ah I remember these, they belonged to Yao Ruolan. Child your mother was very dangerous with these weapons. Eh! You can use this weapons already? Only kings should be able to handle these."
Zhao Wen slipped over to examine the weapons. "Grandmother, you're correct. These are Yao Ruolan's King weapons. Junior, for you to wield these swords...have-have they accepted you as their master?"
"Mhm...our Elder Bing has confirmed it."
Both Empyrean's eyes marveled in delight. Could this child be a once in a generation genius?
Rubbing Ling Fan's head, Zhao Jia suggested, "Child, why don't we head over to the training grounds and you demonstrate your current fighting level."
"Mhm!"
Several breaths later, Ling Fan demonstrated her sword routine modified from her experience as Reina. As she twirled about like a whirlwind of blades, the two Empyreans analyzed every minute detail.
"Those clearly aren't her orginal weapons. Those forms are suited for more narrow blades," commented Zhao Jia.
"Grandmother is right, however even as a Martial Adept she's clearly able to fight Martial Masters. Those king weapons are even a trump card for her. She would cut Martial Adepts and Masters like tofu."
"The king weapons are both a blessing and a curse. She needs a weapon that matches her cultivation. Only by using that will she learn her physical limits and push herself to seek higher cultivations."
"Mhm," agreed Zhao Wen.
"Child, come here."
Sweat pouring like beads down her face, Ling Fan huffed up to her idols.
"Child you are very talented. Should you continue diligently, you will indeed grow into an paralleled powerhouse."
"Grandmother's words are correct but there is a serious gap in your forms. Your dear Mother's weapons....its too soon for you to be using them. In addition, its clear that the form your using is not the original style. You should reserve their use as a trump card."
"Trump card?" asked Ling Fan.
"Wen'er lets show her," said Zhao Jia. Pointing to a boulder, Zhao Jia throat gurgled and then spat at it. The saliva reacted like acid and burned innumerable holes and turned it into a beehive."
Ling Fan jolted in surprise, her eyes popping out to the extreme. And in the next instant, she jolted again.
Zhao Wen dug into a nostril and flicked a fat one. The same boulder shattered into pieces.
What did Ling Fan just see?
Zhao Jia chuckled, "Child these are just small demonstrations of a trump card. If I spat into an opponents eyes, clearly they would be blinded. If Wen'er was weaponless, she could use her disgusting technique to launch a deadly attack."
Using a cloth to clean her hand, Zhao Wen said, "There will be a time when you need a trump card to survive, something a stronger enemy or several enemies would never expect. It's best to develop more than one trump card."
Ling Fan was still stunned. She understood the concept of trump cards but spit like acid?...Snot deadly as a bullet? Would she be forced to learn something like her Master's Silent Killer? Ling Fan shuddered in horror at the thought. What would Zhao Ding think when she farted out her trump card?
"Being from the Ling Clan, you must've inherited some techniques. If they are not a secret, then please elaborate without providing details. After all, they are your inheritances. Wen'er, you should ask Him to provide her techniques."
"Inheritances? Indeed, this one received the blessing of a Heavenly Snow Phoenix. In addition to the innate skills of Snow Phoenix Wings, Piercing Ice Feather, and Divine Ice Domain, this one also has the Astral River body tempering art. Regrettably however, this one has yet to cultivate any of these arts," replied Ling Fan.
Zhao Jia said, "So it seems you we need to find you a Master to train under. One that can help you establish you foundation and allow you to realize your full potential. Unfortunately, neither I nor Wen'er are suitable."
Master to train under? Ling Fan trembled as she remembered Shensheng training Junjie. The only result Ling Fan foresaw was becoming a pancake.*2
Smiling with twitching cheeks, Ling Fan said, "This one is already a probationary disciple to a Master."
Upon hearing her words, both Zhao Jia and Zhao Wen frowned. A genius like her, merely a probationary disciple?
"Humph! Who's your Master, this old lady needs to have a good long discussion on how to treat a disciple. For you to already have a master and not have basic fundamentals...this!"
Zhao Wen's eyes glinted like steel. "You You clearly are being mistreated. We shall go meet your master right now and immediately have them renounce your relationship. This will open the door to find you a worthy master."
Ling Fan's eyes moistened. To think her strongest bosses would care so much for her? Ling Fan bowed deep with respect. "Ling Fan thanks bosses for their concern. However, Master is a peak Grand Empyrean. The reason why, this one is a probationary disciple is because it is a test of my character. In fact, Master is so strong that I must be a Martial King to practice event the most basics of arts."
Grandmother and Grand Daughter threw looks at each other, faces stiff like being splashed with cold water. Clearly, they almost walked to their own deaths.
After a moment, Zhao Wen vigrously cleared her throat. "Junior this indeed is a dilmena...we cannot allow your potential to be buried..."
"Mhm, we must reveal the shining gemstone that she is...Wen'er, go ask him now. He must have a way to help her."
Swoosh! Zhao Wen disappeared in a flash.
"Old Strongest Boss, this? Him?"
Zhao Jia smiled, "Him? It's your savior Zhao Ding, our clan's greatest savant."
"Big Brother Zhao Ding?"
Ling Fan's heart fluttered uncontrollably.
Zhao Wen appeared in Tian Cai's courtyard right after Zhu Shensheng left.
The five year old was rubbing his glabella uncontrollably. Every time, he had conversation with the Divine Pig it was nothing but more stress. Reviving his masters was seeking death three times? A f*cking grand horde of cosmic cockroaches wanted to devour the universe?
Zhao Wen's eyebrows curled, "Cai'er is something wrong?"
Unknowingly, Tian Cai found himself in her arms.
"Tell Mom what's wrong?"
"It's bad Mom, real bad. Some of it I can't say, it might make you drink wine jars by the thousands just like Granny. Son wants to to save you from that."
"Then say what you can."
Tian Cai proceeded to inform her what he found out about his masters and the revival process.
Upon discovering Tian Cai could die with each revival, Zhao Wen's eyes were blazing and her hair was floating straight up. It took several breaths for her to somewhat calm down. After snorthing, she grimly said, "Cai'er Mother will get stronger by herself. No need to acknowledge those geezers as your masters. When Mother reaches Grand Empyrean, she'll send directly send them to hell."
Tears welled up into Tian Cai's eyes. Being an orphan in past life, when...when had someone ever cared so deeply for him.
"Mhm."
After several more moments of silence, Tian Cai asked, "Mom, did you come here with a purpose?"
His question startled Zhao Wen back to reality. Clearing her throat, she said, "Grandmother and Mom are in the midst of giving Junior Ling Fan pointers. In doing so, we discovered large discrepancies in her training. She says she's a probationary disciple to a peak Grand Empyrean and must prove her character until she becomes a Martial King. She has so much potential, to let her flounder by herself without guidance is a disgrace."
Tian Cai closed his eyes nodding with complete understanding. With the Divine Pig as her Master, certainly Tian Cai had his headaches but Big Sis Ling Fan? Didn't she spend every hour with the Divine Pig?
"Mom hopes that you as Zhao Ding can provide her with useful arts. A flame-heat orientated cultivators we are unable to train her properly."
"What do you mean?" asked Tian Cai.
"Her attribute is ice. In fact she's inherited the innate skills of a Heavenly Snow Phoenix."
Heavenly Snow Phoenix? Suddenly, Tian Cai's mind sparked with a deep memory.