Time Travel: Did My Sister-in-Law Get Slapped in the Face Today?

The guide smiled slightly, hoping to see shock and astonishment in the eyes of this "country bumpkin" from a collateral branch, but to his dismay, Li Lan remained calm and composed.

This country bumpkin can't even sense the power of the First City?

"Come with me."

He led Li Lan forward, and before they reached the Black City, a huge black shadow carved above the city shone two beams of light from its stone-bead-inlaid eyes, which landed on Li Lan.

The original aura of the First Clan appeared on Li Lan's body, and the light disappeared.

The guide led Li Lan into the city.

There were no markets or trading places in the city; instead, there were only layers of palaces and Taoist residences.

This is the ancestral land of the First Clan. All resources are obtained from the clan, and outsiders who approach will be suppressed and killed.

Moreover, although the city was vast, it was quite deserted, with not many people from the First Clan!

In reality, the seven primordial races have very few members, even fewer than the Eternal Royal Family. The main sect has only a little over ten thousand members, while the other branches are scattered elsewhere and can only enter the main sect to pay their respects at specific times.

Although the number of people is small, each one of them is a true elite.

Even while still in the womb, one can receive various primordial substances to enhance one's innate Dao body. After birth, one can obtain ample Dao scriptures and even receive help from powerful beings before achieving immortality, allowing one to re-condense one's Dao body.

Under such circumstances, as long as one has some talent, almost everyone can become immortal.

If one's aptitude is truly too poor, then there is no chance of staying in the clan; one must go outside to fend for oneself.

This is how Li Lan's disguised "twelve side branches" came about, and the first clan alone has hundreds of such branches.

Although these branches cannot obtain the same treatment and status as the main branch, they are required to obey the main branch's summons, just like vassals and servants. If they capture an extraordinary original, they must even hand it over to the main branch.

In a sense, the branches of the seven major clans are not as powerful as some small tribes of different surnames.

Those small tribes can occasionally find some rare primordial substances and give birth to one or two extraordinary geniuses, while the seven collateral clans... are destined to have no future.

"Just wait here!"

The guide led Li Lan into a Taoist palace, where hundreds of young people were already waiting. They had similar expressions to Li Lan and were obviously from other branches of the same lineage.

Everyone wore a look of trepidation and anticipation.

"Is the main sect summoning us on such a large scale to invite us back to the main sect?"

"It's very possible. I was selected from the side branches after a rigorous screening process. If we weren't so useful, why would they choose us?"

"If we can return to the main sect, our future will be bright!"

Many people held this hope, believing that the best future for a branch of the family was to return to the main lineage.

"Heh, returning? Take a piss and look at yourselves, see how much you're worth? Compared to the geniuses of the main sect, what are you worth? You think you're even worth their attention?"

"That's right, don't have too high hopes."

Some people poured cold water on the idea, saying that no matter how you look at it, these people are of little use to the main sect.

Talent, physical constitution, strength... all too weak.

While they waited, more young people arrived, bringing the total number of people from the collateral branches to over a thousand.

Moreover, they are all outstanding talents among the collateral branches.

"The Transmission Elder has arrived!"

Just then, a voice rang out, and everyone turned around to see an old man with white hair walking towards them.

With everyone watching, the old man smiled slightly and said:

“Young men, there is no need to be nervous. Although you are only from a collateral branch, you all have the blood of our First Clan flowing through your veins. We are all of the same origin.”

"I have summoned you here today because of the clan's long-standing traditions. Therefore, I have decided to strengthen the power of the various branch clans and have selected a group of geniuses for me to teach the main clan's techniques..."