Ancestor's Manual for Raising Idiots

"Did you hear about the news of the recent tycoon?"

"Oh, the one who brought 6 of the most expensive mansions of Jade Dragon Heights, right?"

"Yeah, all six! Can you imagine the cost?"

"I heard from someone on the inside… It was just a whim."

Even as Ao Shen and Xiao Jun were new faces in the party, they seemed to be already quite popular in that party.

"News sure travels fast in high society." Xiao Jun remarked that his senses could pick up every little noise of even a sand particle falling on the floor; these murmurs were way louder.

"That's how it is..." Ao Shen chuckled whilst grabbing a drink from a walking by waiter, "The weight of your worth is felt, not spoken."

Xiao Jun quietly smiled; both were standing over in the corner of the party hall, conversing among themselves, and more so because Ao Shen was interested in hearing others rather than speaking out himself at the moment.

'Every action has its own timing...' Ao Shen smiled, with eyes quietly observing his surroundings, but just then one certain shrill and cocky voice caught his attention.

"So what?" a young man seemingly not much older than 25 years old, he sneered, "What kind of idiot buys six mansions for show? He is probably just flipping them for profit."

He chuckled, "After all, who buys 6 mansions, all worth hundreds of millions, just for show? They must just want to sell them at a higher price; it's business! Business! Not a lifestyle! Even the three great families don't throw around money like that. You think some random guy can do it on a whim?"

He scoffed, and drinking another sip of alcohol in hand, he remarked again, "You know who I'm doing you?! Zhan Wei! My uncle is the owner of Jade Dragon Heights, Zhan Tianyi! He told me about those poor bastards; they aren't big shots like all the rumours you are spreading."

"Huh?" Ao Shen couldn't hold himself and stepped into that conversation between all the youngsters, "You say you are the nephew of Zhan Tianyi?"

"Y-yes?" That young man, Zhan Wei, seemed shocked and somewhat intimidated as Ao Shen's eyes fell over him. "Y-yes, I'm his second nephew... Why do you ask?"

"Nothing, I just recently got to meet him yesterday." Ao Shen chuckled, showing off Zhan Tianyi's name card over his hand. "Since you are here, I assume he must also be present at this party, right?"

Ao Shen smiled softly looking at that young man with cold narrow eyes. Zhan Wei seemed a bit taken aback, but holding his composure, he explained, "M-my uncle isn't here yet, but he did promise to be here before the party starts; he must be coming any minute now."

"I see." Ao Shen chuckled, and with a smile, his attention diverted towards others gathered in that circle, most were of similar age as Xiao Jun, young 3rd generation of rich family and high officials.

'As expected...' the smile over his became deeper, 'The rich can indeed afford cultivation resources; even their cultivation techniques are better than the common folks outside.'

"It's nice to meet you all." Ao Shen extended his greetings; his light smile was like a peek into heaven, for a moment all women there seemed flustered with cheeks glowing red. "My name is Ao Shen; this is my nephew Xiao Jun."

"Pleasure meeting you." Xiao Jun also greeted, though not as charming as Ao Shen, he himself was candy to female gazes; a sweet-looking, soft-faced man was quite the trending choice among the current women of this age.

"N-nice to meet you."

"I'm Liu Yan, nice to meet you!"

"Zhang Yu..."

"Pleasure to meet you."

Everyone unconsciously accepted the greeting, exchanging their names, by the time Zhan Wei realised the focus of everyone around him had already been taken away by Ao Shen and Xiao Jun.

'What the hell?' He frowned, "By the way, which family are you from? We never saw you here before." Zhan Wei questioned

"Family?" Ao Shen questioned, "We aren't from clans or family; I'm new to this city, just recently bought a residence, and decided to stay since my nephew seems to like it here."

Ao Shen explained with a chuckle, "New to the city, you say?" a dark grin emerged over his face

Xiao Jun noticed, so did Ao Shen, with an amused smile. He observed as Zhan Wei's grin widened, and he leaned forward slightly, swirling the drink in his glass. "Well, that explains a lot." His tone carried the smug arrogance of someone who believed he had already won.

"You see," Zhan Wei, turning his eyes towards the others in the circle, "This city is quite wild. Just wealth isn't enough to help you survive here; you need a lot of good connections. I assume you don't have any."

Some of the onlookers exchanged glances, but none dared to interrupt. Zhan Wei's uncle held considerable sway, and few wanted to be on the wrong side of that influence.

Ao Shen smiled faintly, sipping his drink as if he hadn't heard a word. Xiao Jun, standing beside him, crossed his arms but remained silent, his sapphire eyes glinting with amusement.

Zhan Wei took their silence as encouragement to press further. "People respect heritage, family, and connections. And you people…" He gave Ao Shen and Xiao Jun a dismissive once-over. "How do either of you not from any reputable lineage plan on surviving here if you offended someone here in the party?"

One of the young women in the circle fidgeted uncomfortably, glancing at Ao Shen, clearly enchanted by his presence yet nervous about the confrontation.

"I wonder how?" Ao Shen's smooth voice cut through the awkward silence like a blade.

Xiao Jun snorted softly. "Is that how it works here? Lineage over actual capability?" His tone was light, but the sarcasm was unmistakable.

Zhan Wei scoffed. "That's exactly how it works. You might be able to impress a few ladies with flashy cars and expensive mansions, but when it comes to real influence—"

"Who's been making judgements on 'real influence' in my name?"

A new deep voice interrupted Zhan Wei, all attention suddenly diverted towards that well-dressed man.

He was a familiar personality, Zhan Tianyi, Zhan Wei's uncle and the owner of Jade Dragon Heights.

"U-Uncle Tianyi!" Zhan Wei straightened abruptly, his arrogance evaporating into nervousness.

Ao Shen's eyes gleamed with amusement as he raised his glass in greeting. "Mr. Zhan, it's good to see you again. I was just getting acquainted with your… nephew."

Zhan Tianyi's eyes flickered toward Ao Shen, and in an instant, his demeanour shifted. His stern expression softened into a polite smile. "Mr. Ao Shen. It's an honor. I didn't expect to see you here tonight."

Everyone noticed that shift in tone. Zhan Wei's jaw tightened in confusion as his uncle extended his hand toward Ao Shen with genuine respect.

Ao Shen shook it, his grip firm yet casual. "I couldn't resist an invitation to the Bai family's party. And since you weren't here earlier, your nephew was kind enough to entertain us."

Zhan Tianyi's gaze slid to Zhan Wei, and the younger man visibly flinched.

"Entertain?" Tianyi repeated with a subtle edge to his voice.

"Mm. Quite the lively storyteller." Ao Shen chuckled. "He was telling everyone about me, the mysterious tycoon who bought 6 of your mansions."

'?!?!'

All those who heard suddenly widened their eyes; the realisation that the mysterious man who spent billions on a whim and Ao Shen were the same was tough to swallow.

Zhan Wei's face turned pale. "I—I didn't mean anything by it, Uncle. I was just—"

Tianyi held up a hand, silencing him. "Mr. Ao is an esteemed guest. You'd do well to remember that."

Ao Shen took a casual step closer to Zhan Wei, lowering his voice just enough for him to hear. "You might want to be careful with your assumptions. Some people's wealth isn't for 'show.'"

Zhan Wei swallowed hard, nodding stiffly.

"I apologise for whatever my foolish nephew had been talking about; why don't you join us in the VIP section?" Tianyi gestured for Ao Shen and Xiao Jun to join him.

As they walked away, Xiao Jun turned his head back, watching Zhan Wei's petrified face as everyone suddenly started to avoid him like a shit spotted in the middle of the road; he smirked. "That is one dead face."

Ao Shen chuckled quietly. "You have to let them dig their own holes sometimes. It's fun watching them fall…"

With light sniggers they left the hall, making their way to deeper parts of the enormous hall where real big shots were gathered, leaving behind a breathing dead man.

"... I'm so fucked."