Family Cultivation: Evergreen of the Song Family

"Elder Zhexuan seems a bit tired. How have you been these past few years?"

Song Changsheng lowered his eyes.

In terms of shared experiences, Song Zhexuan can be said to be the one with the most interactions with the [Jinxiuqi] besides Song Yuqing. From their first meeting at Cangmang Peak to the present, the changes they have undergone are truly indescribable.

The two impressions made me feel like I was with completely different people.

Although all of this was inseparable from his behind-the-scenes manipulation, the main reason was that the [Jinxiuqi] family was rotten to the core. People like Song Zhexuan would only find it difficult to do anything, and even had to be constantly on guard against their own people stabbing them in the back.

“A true master has eyes and ears everywhere; how could he not know the reasons behind this? Why ask about these irrelevant questions that are not related to the negotiations?” Song Zhexuan tried to straighten his back, trying to appear more confident, but all of this seemed more like self-deception.

Because the current "Banner of Splendor" has lost its most basic protection, any ambition and grand words seem so pale and powerless.

If Song Changsheng wanted to, he could wipe out more than half of the family cultivators on Tianlong Peak. Even Song Daoling, Song Tianyuan, and Song Minghuang, who was still in seclusion in the small world, could not stop him.

First place in the five-academy competition.

This is not just a title; it represents ability and talent.

They lost this encounter again.

A loser is a loser, and he has no right to stand tall in the face of a winner.

With his hands behind his back, Song Changsheng slowly walked up to Song Zhexuan on the cauldron, looking down at him and said, "The reason I chose to negotiate is because I still have some lingering affection for our blood ties and do not want to cause too much bloodshed. That's all."

This does not mean that there is any real need for negotiation between us.

The last time I came here was because Song Wuji acted perversely and allowed his cronies to harm his own people.

The reason for this visit is that Song Jiyuan has acted in a despicable and unscrupulous manner.

The two races intended to clash fairly and squarely, but you chose to resort to such underhanded methods. Don't blame me for bullying the weak; you brought this upon yourselves.

Elder Zhexuan, I advised you before that returning to the clan would only make you a victim of power struggles, but you were full of passion and loyalty, believing that the innocent will remain innocent and the guilty will remain guilty.

So many years have passed, I wonder what Elder Zhexuan would think if he heard these words again?

After a long silence, Song Zhexuan said softly, "The innocent will remain innocent, and the guilty will remain guilty; the truth is always right."

"Yes, that makes sense, but you just happened to be born into an unreasonable family."

How glorious the [Brocade Banner] was back then! Before Uncle Lu Ke's death, we received this kind of education from childhood. In the minds of our generation, it was a glorious clan with a history of ten thousand years. Even we, who were born in a remote border region, were proud of it.

We may remember history more vividly than you do.

Looking at it now, it doesn't resemble its former self at all; it's just a shell.

It's both laughable and pathetic that people like Song Wuji and Song Jiyuan could become clan leaders one after another.

【Jinxiuqi】 is a typical example of someone who played a good hand badly. Although they suffered a major setback in the East China Sea, they still have ten thousand years of accumulated strength. As long as they grit their teeth and persevere, they will get through it.

However, Song Wuji chose the fastest and most extreme method, using the means of plundering luck and bloodsucking to prolong the life of the [Brocade Banner].

From the moment they actually implemented it, the [Brocade Banner] was already entangled in karma and karmic burdens.

He, Song Changsheng, was the first to stand up, but he was definitely not the last.

For such a group, the only options are to either exterminate them and sweep them into the dustbin of history.

Then, the only solution is a thorough cleanup from beginning to end, to completely wake them up with buckets of cold water.

The lower-level cultivators are all blindly obedient. The Song Xiangjie and others who were dealt with back then were just small fry. Only by solving the root cause can we achieve a fundamental effect.

Divide and transform them, then govern them, and finally swallow them up.

This is his three-step strategy for the "Brocade Banner".

The first step was to divide them by exploiting their internal conflicts.

He had been secretly creating and amplifying conflicts, and the reason he was standing here now chatting with Song Zhexuan about things that didn't seem like negotiations was to set the stage for igniting the conflict and directing all the blame at Song Wuji and the others.

The majority of people need to understand that all of this was caused by a small number of people. Since it was a small number of people who sowed the seeds, why should everyone have to bear the consequences?

When they had this thought, Song Changsheng had already taken the first step.

What he wanted to express was very simple: no matter how much we fight, the blood flowing in our veins is the same. He was mindful of our relationship and did not want to inflict this terrible consequence on everyone.

However, some selfish and cowardly people hide in the shadows while pushing others out to bear the brunt of it all.

When the top and bottom are at odds, the group will fall apart, making it easier for him to complete the second and third steps.

Song Changsheng even went so far as to say, "You have come to negotiate with me on behalf of the [Jinxiu Banner] time and time again. To be honest, your courage is commendable."

I've considered killing you more than once, because you pose a far greater threat than trash like Song Wuji.

It seems I was overthinking it. People like you are ultimately a minority within the [Embroidered Banner], and you yourselves will naturally handle them for me.”

Song Zhexuan twitched the corners of his mouth, unsure whether to laugh or cry upon hearing these words.

Throughout Tianlong Peak and even within a radius of a thousand miles, everyone heard Song Changsheng's words, and the vast majority of the [Jinxiuqi] cultivators turned their gazes toward Song Jiyuan, Song Daoling, and the others.

Everyone has their own moral compass. They see these people's actions clearly, but they dare not speak out against them.

The Jinxiu Banner was once a powerful and respected clan, but now, just hearing about their origins evokes disgust, ridicule, and deliberate wariness and alienation, forcing them to conceal their identities.

Where had they ever been treated like this a hundred years ago?

These gazes, whether overt or covert, were filled with scrutiny and resentment, and they came from all directions. Even Song Daoling, a Golden Core cultivator, could hardly withstand such pressure and could only force himself to remain calm.

Needless to say, Song Jiyuan's forehead was covered in cold sweat, which spoke volumes.

He felt that the owner of those gazes might rush up at any moment and tear them to pieces.

"Master, our clan was indeed in the wrong first. What are your conditions? Please state them as soon as possible." Song Zhexuan felt that this negotiation was like torture, constantly tormenting him until he became somewhat numb. Now he just wanted to end it all as soon as possible.

"First, I have heard that this sorcerer has a Daoist partner. You must hand him over and not harbor him."

Secondly, you must also hand over who instructed him, so that I may deal with them personally.

Third, you must compensate our clan with a complete set of five Yang-type spiritual objects.

Fourth, I demand that you, in front of everyone, confess the crimes of the "Brocade Banner" and kneel down to repent!

As soon as Song Changsheng finished speaking, an uproar erupted both inside and outside Tianlong Peak.

If his first three conditions were harsh, then the last one was to utterly humiliate Song Zhexuan and even the [Jinxiuqi].

The glory of the "Brocade Banner" has long been torn apart, and its dignity was shattered in half by Song Changsheng last time. It has no intention of leaving the other half behind.

Although somewhat disappointed, Song Tianyuan still stepped forward: "Fellow Daoist, isn't this last point a bit too much? Our clan is willing to compensate in other ways." He had only just learned about Song Zhexuan's experiences over the years from others.

The other party has already suffered too much because of the internal strife within their family; he cannot stand by and watch them suffer such humiliation any longer.

Song Changsheng lowered his eyes and said indifferently, "That's going too far. Why didn't you think about it before doing these things?"
Someone must repent for what you've done. If you feel that Song Zhexuan has been wronged, then let Song Jiyuan do it.

Upon hearing this, Song Jiyuan trembled, fearing that Song Tianyuan would agree. He quickly transmitted his voice and said, "Elder, everything I have done is for the sake of the family. If I kneel down and repent, what will become of the family's reputation?"
Circumstances dictate our actions. Let's agree to Song Changsheng's conditions. I will make it up to Zhe Xuan in the future.

"Once our ancestor breaks through to the Nascent Soul stage, we'll make him pay tenfold, a hundredfold!"

Song Tianyuan looked up at the sky and sighed, tears glistening in his eyes. How did things come to this?

Is he really just too indecisive?
"Fellow Daoist, on behalf of my family, how about I apologize to you?" Song Tianyuan descended from the sky and bowed deeply to Song Changsheng.

"Kneel down, and don't make me repeat myself!"

"Boom"

As Song Changsheng roared, thunder roared in the sky, startling everyone below.

Song Daoling and Song Jiyuan both chose to remain silent.

"Fine." Song Tianyuan steeled his heart, ready to accept the punishment, but Song Zhexuan knelt down in front of Song Changsheng first.

"On behalf of my family, I repent for the crimes I have committed, and I beg your forgiveness!"

"Elder!"

The cultivators of the Embroidered Banner were furious; as they knelt, they felt as if something inside them had shattered.

They had all seen Song Zhexuan's character and sacrifices. His initial confinement by Song Jiyuan had caused some discontent, but now he was suffering such humiliation on Song Jiyuan's behalf, which directly aroused the dissatisfaction and anger of the vast majority of lower-level cultivators.

Some of these emotions were directed at Song Changsheng, but most were directed directly at Song Jiyuan.

Song Changsheng quietly looked at Song Zhexuan kneeling in front of him, not rushing to help him up, but silently waiting for the emotions of the crowd to ferment.

The reason for targeting Song Zhexuan was because of his prestige and influence within the clan.

Now, what appears to be his humiliation of Song Zhexuan is actually an attempt to further expand his influence and exacerbate the conflict.

Feeling that it was about time, he said calmly, "I'll give you half an hour to meet my requirements, or you'll stay kneeling."

"Go quickly!"

Song Tianyuan's eyes were bloodshot as he roared at Song Jiyuan behind him. If it weren't for his status as the clan leader, he would have loved to slap this bastard to death.

Even with Song Zhexuan kneeling there, Song Jiyuan still didn't dare to be negligent and immediately presented Yu Xinchou's wife and a complete set of Five Elements Yang-attribute spiritual objects to Song Changsheng.

Along with him was Song Yuchun, who took the blame for him.

Song Changsheng also knew the identity of this person; he was just an ordinary elder of the [Jinxiu Banner], a marginal figure with no background or power.

He originally thought that Song Jiyuan would at least send someone of some standing to take the blame for him, but he didn't expect that he would find such a person to be his scapegoat.

Song Yuchun's face was ashen, and she knelt on the ground with her head drooping, waiting for Song Changsheng to pronounce her fate.

Song Changsheng said with a hint of sarcasm, "I never expected that someone as insignificant as you could command the family's retainers. That's quite a peculiar."

Since you dared to do it, you can't blame anyone else. Come back with me to face judgment.

These words directly ripped away the last fig leaf covering the faces of Song Jiyuan and the others.

The discontent in everyone's hearts had reached its peak and could erupt at any moment.

"How long will it take to repair the great formation?"

Song Daoling harbored deep resentment and secretly transmitted his thoughts to the array masters within his clan.

"We are doing our best to repair it, it will be fixed soon."

"ASAP!"

"As ordered."

……

Song Changsheng's spiritual power was incredibly sharp, and he had already seen through their little tricks.

They had already been quietly preparing countermeasures.

He deliberately expanded Song Zhexuan's influence in order to push him to passively confront Song Jiyuan.

However, the forces behind the two sides are not balanced, so it is necessary to slightly weaken the strength of Song Jiyuan's faction.

He waved his hand to disperse the thunder, then used the power of the laws to imprison Song Yuchun, deliberately turning around and revealing a small but significant opening.

Unable to contain his murderous intent any longer, Song Daoling unleashed his surging magical power, crushing a jade pendant in his hand.

In an instant, a terrifying sword beam shot into the sky, shaking the universe.

Sensing the sudden surge of power behind him, Song Changsheng's [Night-Shining Divine Bird] shone brightly, and a golden crow emerged from it to confront the sword energy head-on.

At the same time, he directly activated the [Third Killing Array in the World] within his body, and the extreme killing intent surged out, condensing into a blood-red spear in the air.

"scoff"

The crimson spear moved with unstoppable force, piercing towards Song Daoling with lightning speed.

He never expected that Song Changsheng would retaliate so quickly.

In his haste, he could only take out a small shield for self-defense, but it was easily shattered by the blood-red spear formed from killing intent, which pierced through his body, leaving a horrifying bloody hole.

At this moment, the defensive array of Tianlong Peak finally restarted, firmly protecting him.

"As expected, a leopard can't change its spots. Song Yuqing is still a hostage in our clan, yet you act so recklessly. It seems you have completely given up on him."

Even I feel sorry for Song Yuqing. She sacrificed herself to save a bunch of ungrateful wretches.

Since that's the case, then I don't need to dwell on past grievances anymore.

Today is just a lesson; next time, it will be the time to take your life.

"If one person stands with you, I will kill that person; if your entire clan stands with you, then I will exterminate the entire clan!"

...(End of chapter)