Family Cultivation: Evergreen of the Song Family

A hundred-foot-long sword aura swept across the sky, as if it had crossed space from an extremely distant place, instantly filling Hei Min's field of vision.

The timing of this sword strike was perfect, almost exactly the instant it emerged from the Daoist domain.

"Do not--"

Black Min's face was filled with terror. Driven by a strong will to survive, the demonic energy within his body suddenly erupted, condensing into countless small shields resembling fish scales in front of him. These small shields transformed into a torrent that surged towards the sword energy.

Like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, or a moth drawn to a flame.

Even with all their might, they could only hold off the attack for a fleeting moment.

The sword energy slashed at its chest, splattering blood everywhere, almost splitting its demon king form in two.

"Roar……"

Hei Min let out a painful howl, then abandoned his physical body and used his remaining demonic energy to envelop his demon core, trying to escape as quickly as possible.

But how could Zhuang Yuechan give it that chance? With a thought, the Jade Cleansing Sword transformed into a streak of light and chased after it.

At this moment, the Tai Chi Bagua diagram in the air suddenly contracted, and the Yin and Yang energies acted like chains, locking the demon core that had not yet escaped the range in place. The Jade Cleansing Sword followed closely behind, its sword light condensing at the tip, hovering less than an inch above the demon core, radiating a deadly threat.

Seeing this, the morale of the Blackscale Clan army, which was still putting up a stubborn resistance, almost collapsed. Their king had fallen...

As the Daoist domain dissipated, Song Changsheng's figure slowly emerged from the smoke of battle. Behind him, the spatial barrier shattered, and amidst the shimmering light, it silently testified to the ferocity of the battle.

The fact that Hei Tong self-destructed his inner core at almost his peak condition was indeed somewhat unexpected for Song Changsheng. Fortunately, he reacted quickly enough and used the techniques of [Flower Blooms in an Instant] and [Space Folding] to dissipate most of the impact. Apart from some turmoil in his blood and qi, he suffered almost no loss.

He was just a little disappointed about the demon core that had been lost.

We've used too many [Breakthrough Pills] in recent years, and our stock is almost empty. It's time to replenish it.

Moreover, without borrowing that head, it lacked some of its deterrent power.

Song Changsheng smiled slightly and said, "My wife's sword strike was just right. This time, the Jade Cleansing Sword is the biggest winner. It can now unleash nearly half of its peak strength."

"They act decisively. If the [Brocade Banner] had even a fraction of their strength, their progress wouldn't have been so smooth," Zhuang Yuechan said, looking down at the dying Song Tianyuan below and shaking her head slightly.

“A family that has stood strong for thousands of years has a very strong ability to withstand risks. The decline of the [Jinxiuqi] to this point is not something that happened overnight. Their fate has run out. It is time for the Song family to change the world.”

At its peak, the [Jinxiuqi] had six Golden Core cultivators. Even after suffering a major defeat and being wiped out in the East Sea, they quickly trained Song Tianyuan to fill the gap.

But even the most established families can't withstand a continuous decline.

From the moment they chose to exploit their collateral branches instead of striving for self-improvement, their fate was sealed; they lost what was most crucial to them.

Song Changsheng glanced at Zhan Tianxia, ​​who was still wreaking havoc on the battlefield, and said softly, "The situation is settled. Help your uncle clean up the mess. There have been enough casualties today. It's better to end this sooner rather than later."

I'm going to see Song Tianyuan.

Landing on the main island of the Tenglong Islands, he looked at the thin, almost invisible defensive shield in front of him, tapped it lightly, and said in a calm tone, "Do you think it can stop me?"

Song Zhexuan and the others surrounding Song Tianyuan exchanged glances. Before they could respond, Song Tianyuan took out his waist token and activated the defensive array. He said in a hoarse voice, "Fellow Daoist has come from afar. I cannot personally welcome you. Please forgive me."

Song Changsheng landed in front of Song Tianyuan and approached step by step. Although the elders of the Brocade Banner guarding the area were somewhat uneasy, none of them dared to step forward to stop him.

"I never imagined that when we met again after that battle, it would be like this."

As the first opponent he faced after breaking through to the Golden Core stage, he acknowledged Song Tianyuan's strength, recognizing that his talent surpassed that of Song Daoling.

Aside from qualifications, the biggest difference between the two lies in their character.

If he can gain real power, the Embroidered Banner might actually be able to regain its vitality in his hands.

And that's why he's been struggling with this.

If we can subdue him, we can not only preserve the strength of the [Brocade Banner] to the greatest extent, but his status and prestige can also promote the annexation, just like Song Yuqing.

The problem is, how could someone as absolutely loyal to his family and willing to give everything easily submit to him?

Keeping him is not an option, killing him is not an option either; it's a complete hot potato.

But to be fair, if he had known the news immediately, he would still have chosen to come directly to his rescue.

After all, he was a talented person, and it's such a pity that he died at the hands of the demon race.

Even if he regrets keeping it, that's something to worry about later.

Song Youfu's decision was very decisive, directly saving him from all trouble.

"Cough cough cough..."

"Fellow Daoist is joking." Song Tianyuan struggled to get up, but his golden core essence was almost completely burned away, and he was only holding on with his last breath. Let alone getting up, even moving his body was extremely difficult.

Song Zhexuan and the others felt their eyes sting with tears; a dignified Golden Core cultivator had ended up in such a state.

Song Changsheng sighed, flicked his finger, and a stream of pure life essence entered Song Tianyuan's body, instantly restoring some rosiness to his originally pale face.

With Song Zhexuan's help, he stood up and solemnly bowed to Song Changsheng, saying, "On behalf of the nearly ten million members of my clan here, I thank you for your righteous act of helping me despite past grievances. I will repay this kindness in my next life."

"We thank you, Master, for your great kindness and virtue we will never forget."

All the cultivators of the [Splendid Banner] present bowed down, and this time, they were truly sincere.

If it weren't for Song Changsheng, and if it weren't for the East China Sea Alliance, they would have been devoured by the demon long ago.

It's important to understand that the two sides are still adversaries. In a sense, their existence is actually to guard against the East China Sea Alliance.

This is actually the main reason why the Black Scale Clan was able to break through their defenses so quickly. Most of their attention was focused on the east, and they never expected that the Black Scale Clan would directly bypass the defenses of the Han Hai Chamber of Commerce and Thousand Blade City and strike right into their heart.

Song Changsheng accepted their bow with composure and said calmly, "Although you have acted absurdly over the years, the blood flowing in the veins of our two races is the same after all. Your deaths are not a pity, but the millions of mortals on the island are innocent."

Moreover, the sea race is the common enemy of the human race. Since the East Sea Alliance is located in the East Sea, it will naturally act in accordance with the rules set by the Myriad Manifestations Palace. If it were any other force today, I would not stand idly by either.”

"No wonder the Song family of Wangyue was able to rise to prominence in just two hundred years. Fellow Daoist's vision and ambition truly put Tianyuan to shame."

Today's defeat at the hands of the sea tribe is due to inferior skill, and Tianyuan has no regrets.

I only hate those parasites within the clan, cough cough cough...

The family's millennia-old legacy has been ruined by these people!
How can we face our ancestors in the afterlife?

Song Tianyuan beat his chest and stamped his feet, two lines of turbid tears streaming from the corners of his eyes, his heart filled with despair.

He didn't know where the [Brocade Banner] would go after his death. The [Brocade Banner] cultivators present all showed expressions of shame upon hearing this; strictly speaking, they too were parasites on the family.

They also bear some responsibility for the family's current decline.

Song Shouhe's expression kept changing, and finally he mustered up his courage to stand up. He knelt down in front of Song Tianyuan with a "plop" and said with a resolute face: "Ancestor, please listen to your grandson. There is still a way out for the family."

Having already guessed his intentions, Song Zhexuan's expression changed drastically. Ignoring Song Changsheng who was still in front of him, he shouted angrily, "How dare you! How dare you spout nonsense here!"

"No, Zhexuan, let him speak."

I... don't have much time left. If I don't listen now, I'll never have the chance again.

"You've kept the elders of the collateral branches silent for hundreds of years. Today it's time for me to hear their true feelings. They're all part of the family, so why the favoritism?" Song Tianyuan closed his eyes and sighed deeply.

Although he has been stationed in the East China Sea for many years, he is actually aware of many things, but he is just pretending to be confused.

Because he knew that with his current power, he couldn't change anything at all, and would only exacerbate the conflict and contradictions.

He could only wait, waiting for the right opportunity to turn things around.

I just never expected it to end up like this.

"Ancestor, please forgive my bluntness, but without destruction there can be no construction. If those two mountains within the clan do not fall, the clan will never have any hope of reform."

I climbed my way up from the bottom to the family elders' council, and I consider myself to have been diligent and made some contributions over the years.

My two grandsons and twelve great-great-grandsons all sacrificed their lives for the family without complaint, nor dared they, because there were many like me in the collateral branches.

We have made the greatest sacrifices, received the fewest resources, and wielded the least say.

This family is absolutely rotten.

We used to be proud of our surnames, but now we just want to escape this place.

If we can't see hope, we'll go find it ourselves.

Master Zixu is my choice. Only he can continue to uphold the glory of the Song family!

Today, I believe you have seen through the true colors of those people.

In this battle, our sons once again charged ahead, and despite the vast disparity in strength, they did not retreat a single step.

The debt of gratitude owed to my family for raising me should be repaid.

I, we, will never return to the rule of those people.

From this day forward, we will acknowledge Master Zixu as our clan leader.

At this moment, Song Shouhe was completely reckless, venting all the injustices he had suffered over the years.

His words resonated with all the elders of the collateral branches present, and they all knelt down in front of Song Tianyuan. Although they did not say a word, it was as if they had said everything.

"Cough cough cough..."

Song Tianyuan's chest heaved violently, and each cough was accompanied by blood.

Angry? No, because he knew that what Song Shouhe said was true.

“This is what you all truly feel... This is the first time I’ve heard this in all these years.”

Song Tianyuan straightened his back and looked at Song Changsheng, saying, "May I ask, fellow Daoist, how will you treat my juniors after I die?"

Song Changsheng met his gaze frankly and said without any pretense, "Those who obey me will prosper, and those who oppose me will perish."

"So it seems that you, fellow Daoist, have long harbored the intention to annex our territory. Then, your previous statement that you would only punish the ringleaders was also sincere?"

"Of course it's true. Although I've killed countless people, I'm not one to kill indiscriminately."

Regardless, the two races share the same blood.

"Ahem, since that's the case, please give me some time, fellow Daoist. I would like to meet Yuqing and the elders of the clan."

“Okay.” Song Changsheng didn’t hesitate at all. He also wanted to know what Song Yuqing would choose at this moment.

When he came to provide support from Bailong Island, he brought Song Yuqing with him. He immediately threw himself into the battlefield and greeted Zhuang Yuechan. The other party quickly found Song Yuqing, who was covered in blood.

Shortly after they arrived, the surviving elders of the [Jinxiu Banner] also rushed back to see Song Tianyuan one last time.

"Let's go, let's go help our martial uncle."

Song Changsheng did not disturb them, but instead led Zhuang Yuechan to the battlefield to encircle and annihilate the scattered Black Scale Clan army.

"Aren't you afraid they'll take the opportunity to escape back?"

Song Changsheng said coldly, "It doesn't matter who escaped, what matters is who chose to stay. Song Shouhe has already laid his cards on the table, and now is the time to choose sides."

To flee means to continue being my enemy, while to stay is to sever all ties with the [Brocade Banner].

"The enemy has only one path: death, even if they share the surname Song!"

With three Golden Core cultivators attacking simultaneously, the Black Scale Clan was almost completely wiped out. Looking around, the sea was littered with the corpses of sea monsters, and the seawater was dyed crimson, exuding a murderous aura.

After this battle, this Blackscale Clan was completely decimated.

After confirming that no one had escaped, Song Changsheng turned his gaze to the location of Song Tianyuan and the others and said, "Alright, it's time to hear their choice."

When Song Changsheng and the others returned, they found that all the cultivators of the [Jinxiuqi] were kneeling on both knees facing the direction of the main hall, weeping uncontrollably.

Seeing this, Song Changsheng immediately understood what had happened and sighed softly, "Song Tianyuan has fallen."

"He was quite a talent; it's a real pity he ended up like this." Zhan Tianxia's tone revealed a hint of regret.

"For him, this may be the best ending."

Zhuang Yuechan saw this clearly. For someone like Song Tianyuan, it was better to die for the country now than to watch his family and state fall into ruin, so that he could rest in peace in the afterlife.

"Kang Dang"

The tightly closed doors of the main hall were pushed open, and Song Yuqing slowly walked out carrying Song Tianyuan's emaciated body, followed by a large group of elders who had survived the battlefield... (End of this chapter)