Family Cultivation: Evergreen of the Song Family

As dawn broke, Song Changsheng and his wife left the Wanxiang Palace early after paying their respects to the two True Lords in the palace.

Outside the Wanxiang Palace, countless eyes were watching them, both openly and secretly. The two then returned to Tianlong Peak hand in hand in a seemingly dignified manner.

Seeing the two of them so relaxed shattered the illusions of some people.

They initially thought that the Vientiane Palace sending two elders to take the two away was an act of accountability, because they had been raising protests during this period.

Thinking that no matter what, even if Wanxiang Palace was just putting on a show, they would still reprimand them and then make the Song family give some benefits to appease their emotions.

It turned out they were just deluding themselves. Judging from their drunken and affectionate demeanor, they didn't look like they had been reprimanded at all; they were probably just having fun.

"Damn it, why would Song Changsheng make a move? Aren't they enemies? Aren't they mortal enemies? Why is this happening?"

Doesn't the Vientiane Palace prohibit internal strife? Why did they allow it to annex the palace?
Birds of a feather flock together!

Inside Thousand Blade City, after obtaining the intelligence from the scouts, Shen Xunyan could no longer contain his emotions and began to vent his anger unrestrainedly.

He and the Hanhai Chamber of Commerce meticulously planned this "accident," intending to take advantage of Zhuang Yuechan's breakthrough, which filled the last gap in the Wangyue Song Clan's strength, to severely damage the [Jinxiu Banner] and forcibly escalate the conflict between the two clans.

Once the two races have fought to the death, he can join forces with the Hanhai Chamber of Commerce to gradually devour the other islands and resource points of the [Jinxiu Banner], except for the Tenglong Islands.

In their view, Song Changsheng, an outsider, would definitely need to maintain good relations with them, his "allies," if he wanted to establish himself in the East China Sea after annexing the Brocade Banner.

There's no way they'd spit out the meat they'd already eaten.

Despite all their calculations, they never anticipated that Song Changsheng would personally intervene in the East China Sea battle, swallowing the Embroidered Banner whole without leaving them a single drop.

His protests to Wanxiang Palace were ignored. He had taken so many risks to plan all this, only to have it all benefit Song Changsheng. He was so angry he felt like vomiting blood.

"Lord City, Master Kuoshui from the Hanhai Chamber of Commerce has come to pay a visit," a steward called out tremblingly from the outer gate.

Shen Xunyan frowned, suppressing his anger, and said, "Please."

Master Kuoshui strode into the main hall. Seeing the mess on the ground, he immediately understood what had just happened and couldn't help but sneer, "Fellow Daoist's temper is just like my daughter's. She likes to smash things when she gets angry."

"If you've come to me just to argue, then you can get lost now," Shen Xunyan said coldly.

"It seems you haven't grasped the seriousness of the situation and are only concerned with immediate gains. Haven't you thought about what will happen in the future?"

"What do you mean?"

Master Kuoshui gritted his teeth and said, "The Song family's foreign affairs elder just sent a message to the Chamber of Commerce, unilaterally suspending all the cooperation agreements that were previously made, including the large-scale trade that was just agreed upon with the Wanlong Chamber of Commerce three years ago. The direct loss is tens of millions of spirit stones, and the indirect losses are incalculable!"

This is a warning, you know that? Warning!

"Has Song Changsheng gone mad? We created an opportunity for him to annex the Embroidered Banner, and not only does he not think of repaying us, he also broke the contract. What is he trying to do?"

"On the way here, I thought about it carefully, and I'm afraid we've touched a nerve with Song Zixu this time," said Master Kuoshui with a solemn expression.

"Where does this come from?"

"Song Zixu's repeated displays of power over Tianlong Peak prove that he actually had the strength to defeat the [Jinxiuqi] long ago, but he has not taken any action."

Because from the beginning, he never intended to destroy the Embroidered Banner, but rather to annex it.

His cultivation has improved too quickly over the years, and the development of the Wangyue Song Clan simply cannot keep up with his pace.

Swallowing the former main branch of the Brocade Banner would undoubtedly be the fastest way to strengthen himself, so he was actually waiting for the right opportunity.

We did create a perfect opportunity for him to enter the game this time, but we also got ourselves involved.

If Song Zixu wants the people to submit, he must draw a line between himself and us. The termination of cooperation is just the beginning.

In order to win public opinion and popular support, his suppression will probably be even more ferocious than the original "Brocade Banner". We have lost the East China Sea Alliance as an ally, but instead have encountered an even more powerful opponent. We have made a huge mistake in this step! "Master Kuoshui's originally calm tone turned slightly agitated.

They had calculated many things, but they hadn't calculated Song Changsheng's true thoughts.

As the saying goes, one wrong step leads to another.

Shen Xunyan said coldly, "He's an outsider. It's like a python trying to swallow an elephant; it would take hundreds of years to digest him. What makes him think he can do that?"
"If our two families join forces, a little mischief will send him into a frenzy."

"If this was also at the behest of the Myriad Manifestations Palace, don't you think the Myriad Manifestations Palace is being too lenient with Song Zixu?"

Shen Xunyan's breath hitched, and he said in a deep voice, "What do you mean?"

"In three months, it will be Madam Song Zixu's Golden Core Ceremony. Let's prepare a generous gift and find an opportunity to talk to them again."

"Talk? That's more like groveling." Shen Xunyan said without any attempt to hide his true feelings.

Master Kuoshui said calmly, "If you insist on thinking that way, then so be it. We can't just continue down this wrong path. We are no match for them."

I have come here today to inform you of our past alliance, not to seek your opinion or to discuss anything with you!
I will prepare a generous gift and arrive on time for the Golden Elixir Ceremony; whether you go or not is up to you.

Having said that, he left Thousand Blade City without stopping.

His expression shifted dramatically, and Shen Xunyan said in an icy tone, "Song Changsheng, since you've started the first day of the month, don't blame me for starting the fifteenth!"

……

“Ninth Grandfather, you’re back. I’ve already suspended the cooperation between the Hanhai Chamber of Commerce and Thousand Blade City. Now it’s up to them to decide their attitude.”

"You've done well; you've been relatively well-behaved lately, haven't you?"

"The cleanup is underway, and there are just too many people involved. Many of them are indeed innocent. I discussed it with my great-aunt and my aunt, and we decided that as long as they voluntarily confess their crimes, their sentences could be reduced depending on the circumstances. We have uncovered quite a few people."

However, some people felt their sins were unforgivable and tried to escape while you and the mistress were away, but they were caught red-handed.

The dungeon is almost overflowing now. My great-aunt and I have made a rough estimate that there are probably around 800 people who will be sentenced to death, and another 3,000 or more who will have their cultivation revoked and be exiled.

Among these people are many cultivators at the Purple Mansion and Foundation Establishment stages, as well as quite a few promising talents. Song Youfu's tone revealed a hint of regret; it was such a pity that such a powerful force could not be used by the family.

"Some blood must be shed, otherwise even more blood will be shed in the future."

From the moment their crimes were confirmed, they were no longer our people, but our enemies. We must never show mercy to our enemies.

Song Youfu grinned, scratched his head, and said, "Grandson understands, it's just a sentimental remark."

We've already planned out the trial process. Before the clan council, we'll have Song Yuqing personally conduct a public trial of these people, allowing the victims to testify to their crimes, and then let them decide whether or not to kill them.

Let's just stay out of it; that way, we can minimize the resistance from the [Jinxiuqi] faction.

These people's crimes are undeniable and abhorrent to both gods and men; unless their entire clan protects them, they are certain to die.

"We'll save the main culprits like Song Daoling and Song Wuji for trial at the clan council. We'll bring in all the affiliated forces then, to show them our power and ensure they'll be obedient for the next few hundred years."

Seeing how excited he was getting, Song Changsheng couldn't help but pat him on the shoulder and said with a smile, "It seems you've really grown a lot over the years. How about I give you some more responsibility?" Feeling the weight on his shoulders, Song Youfu suddenly felt like crying. He really shouldn't be too eager.

"This...this is not necessary."

"Once Qingxi breaks through to the Golden Core stage in seclusion, I will promote you to the position of Grand Elder, so that you can contribute more to the family. How about that?"

“I think this responsibility is just right. How could someone as thin as me bear such a heavy burden? Besides, there are so many elders to look after,” Song Youfu said with a dry laugh.

"Young people are full of energy."

"Then there's Xiao Linzi, why don't you choose him? He's the most suitable."

Song Changsheng pretended to ponder and said, "Although Youlin is suitable, if I step down as clan leader in the future, who should I let take over the mantle?"

"Is Ninth Grandfather preparing to step down?"
Chieftain, hello Chieftain! You leave everything to the elders and do whatever you want.

"Wouldn't it be wonderful if I could succeed as clan leader and be a hands-off manager like my Ninth Uncle?"

Thinking of this, Song Youfu immediately volunteered, "Ninth Grand Uncle, what do you think of your grandson?"

"You are qualified, but you are still inexperienced."

"Who succeeds as clan leader isn't a decision I can make on my own; it mainly depends on the elders' opinion. With your lazy nature, surpassing Youlin might be quite difficult."

"Uncle, have you not heard the saying, 'A prodigal son who returns is more precious than gold'? I have long since reformed. Please give me a chance."

"Of course I believe in you, but you'll have to sort things out with the elders yourself. If you really want to compete for this position, put away your laziness and perform well during this time."

After saying this, Song Changsheng offered him a few more words of encouragement before leaving.

"Pfft"

After walking a distance, Zhuang Yuechan couldn't help but burst out laughing: "You, you, are you really going to fool the younger generation like this?"

"If it were Youlin, I definitely wouldn't use this trick, but this kid, the more you ask him to do something, the more he wants to slack off. Only in this way can you make him fall into the trap himself."

He is quite capable; as long as he can gain the approval of the elders, he will be a qualified clan leader.

As for what he will do after becoming the clan leader, that's something we can't know for sure right now.

"That kid really thinks this position under my butt is so easy to sit in? Let him try it then, and see if he comes crying and begging to resign later."

"Aren't you afraid that he'll realize what's happening later and just give up and quit?"

Song Changsheng shook his head slightly and said confidently, "Although he likes to slack off, he is not irresponsible. He has always done a good job in completing the tasks within the clan."

There will definitely be some minor emotional outbursts, but we can just smooth things over with a bit later.

"You always like to force things into your own hands."

Stretching lazily, Song Changsheng said without a hint of shame, "No one else is even qualified for me to chase them away. Let's go see our martial uncle. He's been working hard these past few days."

……

Three days before the Great Clan Council meeting, Song Yuqing, who had officially taken over the power within the [Jinxiuqi] clan, personally presided over the public trial, which was attended by tens of thousands of [Jinxiuqi] cultivators.

According to the procedures established by Song Youfu, after each trial, the corresponding victims and witnesses would be found to testify and make accusations.

At first, most of the [Jinxiuqi] cultivators were resistant to the prospect of judging so many people, feeling that it was an attempt to expand the crackdown and eliminate dissidents.

But when their crimes were revealed and one by one their witnesses came forward, they realized that these people's crimes were real.

From major schemes and framing to minor misdeeds involving the family's salary and resources, almost everyone present was implicated.

If it weren't for this public trial, many people would still be kept in the dark.

The crowd was immediately agitated, and the number of witnesses increased from one to countless.

The scene spiraled out of control on the first day of the public trial, with an elder in charge of task assignments being attacked by a mob during his trial.

If it weren't for the timely intervention, coupled with his powerful physique at the Purple Mansion stage, he would have been beaten to death.

The reason for the beatings was simple: he assigned tasks based on the bribes he received for a long time, and those who did not offer bribes were maliciously targeted by him, resulting in many deaths and disabilities.

During his decades in office, he accepted bribes totaling millions of spirit stones, with over a thousand victims.

Such examples abounded in this public trial. In the end, just as Song Youfu had said, not a single one of those who deserved to die was spared, and there were even more than that.

Song Yuqing's personal prestige reached its peak with this public trial.

Most importantly, it allowed the public to see the true colors of Song Daoling's faction, clearing the way for the subsequent trial at the clan council.

Now they wish Song Wuji and his ilk would go to hell, let alone uphold or remember them.

And so, on an ordinary day, Cangmang Peak welcomed its first major clan council since the Song clan unified the country.

The Song Clan of Wangyue alone has more than sixty Purple Mansion cultivators, including its various branches, which is comparable to the Tianmai Sect, which produces a great number of Purple Mansion cultivators.

This is the number of people remaining after the East China Sea battle and the subsequent purge.

Prior to this, the [Splendid Banner] had nearly a hundred Purple Mansion cultivators, far exceeding any Golden Core force in the Great Qi.

And this is not even the data from the peak period. At its peak, the [Splendid Banner] could rank among the top three in the Great Qian Dynasty, with more than a hundred Purple Mansion cultivators.

Such a family was annexed, and their supreme elder and two previous clan leaders were put on trial right before their eyes.

The group of affiliated forces who were invited to participate were stunned by what they saw, feeling completely disoriented.

It was far too surreal for them.

"Master Zixu has arrived—"

As the deacon called out the names, everyone in the hall stood up reflexively and said in unison:

"Welcome, Clan Chief..."

……

P.S.: Sorry to keep you waiting, fellow Daoists. This update counts as yesterday's. I will continue to update during the day, and I will add more when I have time.

I've added 8,000 words this month so far, and I've kept my promises. Thank you for your support, fellow cultivators. (End of Chapter)