Family Cultivation: Evergreen of the Song Family

With a crushing victory, Song Changsheng showed everyone in the Great Qian cultivation world that he, an outsider, was not a timid worm, but a powerful dragon crossing the river.

He also used a clan council and a trial to show everyone in the Great Qi cultivation world what it means for the Song family's authority to be inviolable.

In a single day, one Golden Core cultivator and twelve Purple Mansion cultivators were publicly executed.

The monks who were secretly observing the trial felt a chill run down their spines.

Different people have different interpretations of this demonstration.

But one core point is common to all: Song Changsheng's sharpness is becoming increasingly apparent.

This seems to be sending a signal to the outside world.

Faced with a potential major war in the future, the cultivation world of the Great Qi needs a leader who can gain the trust of all sides to coordinate forces and unify actions.

In the previous two expeditions, the unanimous leader was Jin Yang Zhenren Su Ding, not only because of his highest cultivation level, but also because he was the most prestigious cultivator in the Great Qi cultivation world, and the cultivation world of Lu Kingdom also trusted him.

Now that Su Ding has passed away, and both Shi Potian and Chen Zhongfang are at the Great Perfection of the Golden Core stage, neither of them can convince the public.

In terms of cultivation, the two were equal, neither willing to yield to the other, and neither willing to concede to the other.

In terms of prestige, Song Changsheng had already surpassed the two by killing several demon kings and winning the top prize in the Five Academies Grand Competition.

This time, they once again forcefully displayed their prowess, seemingly intending to compete with these two.

Although Song Changsheng's cultivation level was slightly lower, no one had ever questioned his strength. After all, the reputation he had now was earned through his own hard work and fighting his way up.

The specific outcome will likely be determined at the Golden Elixir Ceremony soon.

This grand clan council lasted for seven days before it ended. The trial actually took up only a small part of the time; the majority of the time was spent discussing matters related to the integration of various industries, the development of resource points, and the reorganization of the garrison fleet.

The formation of the garrison fleet is of paramount importance.

"According to the resolution of the family elders' council, it is proposed to split the original East China Sea Fleet of the [Jinxiuqi] into the Second Fleet and the Third Fleet, and to draw elites from the family to form the First Fleet."

Each fleet had a clear division of labor and was responsible for its own defense.

The First Fleet, together with the Allied Fleet, will be responsible for guarding the Twin Islands and the surrounding waters.

The Second Fleet is permanently stationed in the Tenglong Islands, while the Third Fleet is responsible for patrolling and guarding the sea frontier.

Does anyone have any objections?

The group of cultivators looked at each other, wondering what opinions they could have, or even if they should have any.

"Since everyone has no objections, let's now proceed to the final session of this clan council. All members of the Song clan, please follow the clan leader to the ancestral hall to pay homage to our ancestors," Song Changsheng said calmly as he stood up from his seat.

Upon hearing this, all the Song clan cultivators present except for those from the Wangyue lineage were stunned. How could Song Changsheng have the nerve to lead us to meet our ancestors after doing such a thing?

Song Changsheng noticed their changing expressions and couldn't help but find it somewhat amusing.

This time, his hands were stained with the blood of his own kind, but he didn't think he had done anything wrong, nor did he have any strange idea that he was ashamed to face his ancestors.

Those ancestors would be grateful to him if they knew this in the afterlife.

If he hadn't used force to pull the straying "Brocade Banner" back, they might have destroyed themselves in another two hundred years.

The current situation is different from the past; those who rely on past achievements and lack ambition will be eliminated.

The crowd followed behind him, barely daring to breathe, and arrived at the ancestral hall in a large group. Under Song Luzhou's direction, they began a complex worship ceremony.

During this time, Song Changsheng's gaze remained fixed on them, with a barely perceptible eerie pattern flashing in his eyes.

The reason for arranging such an ancestral worship ceremony at the end is not only to demonstrate the legitimacy of the family, but also to tell the deceased ancestors that the divided Song family has been unified under his leadership, and they can rest in peace if they know this in the afterlife.

Besides these, there is one more important thing, which is about the family's fortune.

When he was refining the [Chengyuan Sword], he deliberately severed the connection of destiny between his family and the [Jinxiu Banner].

Therefore, theoretically speaking, the two races are completely independent in terms of their destiny and do not affect each other.

This resulted in Song Changsheng not noticing the drastic change in the fortune of the [Splendid Banner] in the first instance.

The first to alert him were Song Yuqing and Song Yuchun. After he exerted his power on Tianlong Peak for the second time and issued an ultimatum to the [Jinxiu Banner], the two of them began to leak their aura.

Later, he consulted ancient books and secretly helped the two stabilize. At that time, he realized that the problem was with the Golden Lotus of Fortune that was suppressing the collective fortune of the Embroidered Banner. However, he didn't take it seriously at the time, thinking that it was because he had diminished their prestige.

Until this time when he returned to Tianlong Peak, all the cultivators with the [Splendid Banner] he saw showed signs of losing their fortune, including Song Tianyuan and Song Daoling. Several decades have passed since he discovered this, and it has never stopped during that time.

This goes against common sense.

Therefore, the first thing he did after taking control of the [Splendid Banner] was to send Song Yuqing to find the [Golden Lotus of Fortune], but in the end, they found nothing.

Even Song Daoling and Song Wuji didn't know where it went.

As a treasure used to suppress the fate of a clan, it couldn't have simply disappeared into thin air. So there's only one explanation left: it was taken away by someone.

Within the [Splendid Banner], besides these few people, there is only one other person who can access and take away the [Golden Lotus of Fortune], and that is Song Minghuang, who has been in seclusion for many years.

Song Changsheng strongly suspected that the other party was cultivating by relying on the power of the Qi Luck of the Golden Lotus.

This was extremely risky, almost gambling with the future of the entire [Jinxiuqi], but the results were equally remarkable.

Given that Song Minghuang was already halfway to his death and extremely self-serving, Song Changsheng was not at all surprised that he would do such a thing.

Although he destroyed the spatial portal and cut off Song Minghuang's way back, the other party is still alive and well, and the situation of his luck leaking out has not changed, and there is even a trend of further aggravation.

If we don't intervene now, it will eventually lead to serious problems.

The best way to stabilize their fortune is to suppress them with even more powerful secret treasures.

However, this is only a temporary solution and not a permanent cure.

We will then need to help them sever their connection with the [Golden Lotus of Fortune] and then rebuild the collective fortune.

Both of these steps require the participation of the [Chengyuan Sword], so they came here.

Under the guidance of the [Chengyuan Sword], the leaking fortune of Song Zhexuan and others was finally contained.

Although the group could not directly sense the presence of the power of destiny, they felt as if they had an extra layer of something on their bodies, and they felt a strange sense of comfort.

This feeling was fleeting and was quickly forgotten by everyone as they solemnly and meticulously worshipped the densely packed memorial tablets in the ancestral hall.

While they were worshipping, Song Luzhou began to recount the history of the Wangyue Song Clan.

In just over six hundred years, which is only the lifespan of a slightly longer Purple Mansion cultivator, it is enough to cover the entire development history of the [Wangyue Song Clan].

Over the past six hundred years, this family has grown from nothing to its current state.

It has experienced prosperity, it has experienced decline, and it has even been betrayed.

Countless cultivators willingly sacrificed their lives for it, generation after generation, overcoming countless crises and defeating countless powerful enemies.

What was [Jinxiuqi] doing at the same time?

Bloodsucking! Living off past glories! Internal strife!
They do everything except for serious business.

For most of the people present, this was the first time they had witnessed the development history of the Wangyue Song family, and the process amazed them.

In particular, the choices and actions of the family leaders, such as Song Yungui, Song Yunhan, Song Xianming, and Song Xianyun, even made them slightly doubt whether such a united and resilient family really existed in the world.
Are there really power holders who would sacrifice everything for the benefit of their family?
In fact, whether they believe it or not, everything before their eyes is a given fact.

More than 600 years ago, Song Taiyi arrived in Lingzhou all alone, without even a place to stay, and had to start everything from scratch.

Six hundred years later, the name of the Song Clan of Wangyue has resounded throughout the entire border region and even spread to the other side of the Tianshan Mountains, where even they must submit.

Such a feat cannot be simply attributed to "luck".

If he hadn't been inspired by the spirit of these predecessors, and if he had been born into a treacherous environment like the Embroidered Banner, Song Changsheng, who possessed Taoist scriptures and had lived two lives, would never have chosen to stay.

Becoming a rogue cultivator might allow him to live a more relaxed and carefree life.

The reason he chose to stay was that, no matter what, his family was his strongest support, and his elders were the people he trusted most, a support that had never wavered.

Because of their existence, he, a soul from another world, found a home, lived a peaceful and contented life.

His elders instilled in him a sense of belonging and honor to the family through their actions, and protected him through his most vulnerable period.

Even now, he can't forget that the Foundation Establishment Pill that Song Luyao handed him came at the cost of his legs.

Until the day he fell, Song Luyao never asked him for anything; all she left him was her profound love and care.

Without his family, he wouldn't be where he is today. Now that he has grown up, it's only natural that he should give back and support them.

Gazing at the moon over Song, embroidered banners flutter.

They share the same ancestry, yet have taken completely opposite paths.

Therefore, Song Changsheng only treated them as a subordinate force and had no intention of truly integrating them into his own forces. Doing so would only tarnish the glory and spirit of the Wangyue Song Clan.

He doesn't expect these people to learn from this spirit; he just wants them to take it as a warning and not follow in their footsteps.

"As expected, the [King of Men Sword] is still superior."

Seeing that everyone's luck had stopped leaking out, Song Changsheng nodded secretly.

Having resolved the issues with these core members, the next step is to seal the remaining members of the [Brocade Banner].

After completing this step, the [Golden Lotus of Fortune] in Song Minghuang's hands will lose its effect.

"After this is over, have Song Yuqing come to me alone." Song Changsheng instructed the steward beside him, then bowed to the ancestral tablet in the ancestral hall and left first with Zhuang Yuechan... "Yuqing greets the clan leader."

"Do you know that you almost met with a terrible disaster?"

"Please enlighten me, clan leader." Song Yuqing was somewhat puzzled.

“Song Minghuang cultivates with the [Golden Lotus of Fortune]. Over the years, the fortune of your entire clan has been dissipating. I have just placed a seal on you to prevent it from leaking out.”

But this is ultimately only a temporary solution. After you return to the clan, you must quickly win back the hearts of your clan members, and I will help you rebuild the clan's fortune.

"What?" Song Yuqing was shocked. He had suspected this before, but he never expected it to come true. Song Changsheng had undoubtedly saved them once again.

"Thank you for saving us, clan chief."

Song Changsheng reached out and patted his shoulder, saying, "Now that we're family, let's not talk like strangers. After returning to the clan, try your best to get the [Jinxiu Banner] on the right track as soon as possible."

Besides that, I have another very important task for you.

"Please speak, clan leader. Our clan will do its utmost."

"Mobilize manpower to secretly search for everything related to this symbol."

Song Changsheng took out a scroll from his sleeve, on which was depicted a special symbol.

"This is... the mark of the Treasure Bottle Sect?"

"you know."

"I once stumbled upon an ancient book with some related records. Are you looking for the ruins of the Treasure Bottle Sect?"

“Indeed, our clan once discovered relevant clues on White Dragon Island. The ruins of the Treasure Bottle Sect may not be far from that sea area.”

Many forces are searching for it now. Whoever finds further clues first will gain the upper hand. This task is extremely difficult, and I don't trust anyone else but you.

Once you return, quickly sort out the intelligence network, make sure you have complete control over it, and connect with the Wind Whisper Palace.

If you can complete this task, I will reward you handsomely!

"Yuqing obeys."

……

As the date of the Golden Elixir Ceremony approaches, guests from afar have been arriving at Cangmang Peak one after another.

Almost every force that had ever interacted with the Song family sent representatives to attend.

Needless to say, the cultivation world of the Great Qian Dynasty is also present. Apart from the envoy from the Myriad Manifestations Palace who has not yet arrived, forces such as Ghost King Valley, Hundred Refinements Sect, and Zhenhai Pavilion have all arrived, each represented by a Golden Core cultivator, giving the Song family ample face.

Thanks to the several trade routes that Song Qingxi had previously opened up, he had established connections with most of the cultivation world in the border regions. Taking advantage of this rare opportunity, these Golden Core and Purple Mansion forces all sent elders to participate.

Even those who couldn't make it in time would ask someone to pass on a message, making the scene much more lively than when Song Changsheng broke through to the Golden Core stage.

There were nearly a hundred Golden Core cultivators present in person, not to mention the Purple Mansion cultivators.

These people weren't entirely there because of Song Changsheng's influence. The main reason they were attracted was that the Myriad Manifestations Palace had confirmed its participation in the Golden Core Ceremony.

The Myriad Manifestations Palace rarely participates in such celebrations, and its elders and disciples all conceal their identities, making it virtually impossible for ordinary forces to contact them.

Since it's rare for an elder to make a public appearance, I naturally want to get to know him and become familiar with him.

You should know that most people in the cultivation world only have one Myriad Manifestations Token. This is the threshold to enter Myriad Manifestations Mountain. Who wouldn't be envious?

We should seize this opportunity.

The guests from afar have mostly arrived, and cultivators from Daqi and several surrounding cultivation worlds are also arriving one after another.

As the saying goes, enemies are destined to meet, and Shi Potian and Chen Zhongfang, these two old rivals, coincidentally bumped into each other at the foot of Cangmang Peak.

Although the two had been rivals for their entire lives, there was no sign of hostility between them at this moment.

Looking at the lively atmosphere at Cangmang Peak, Chen Zhongfang put his hands in his sleeves, sighed, and said, "It's really lively. This is probably the first time we've ever seen such a scene."

It will likely be a long time before this happens again.

Unless... someone can reach that level.

"That realm is no easy feat. The Golden Sun Immortal was far superior to you and me, and lived to the ripe old age of 1,300, yet he still failed to take that step and eventually turned into ashes, leaving behind only empty sorrow."

"We've known each other for many years, so there's no need for empty talk now. Fellow Daoist, ask yourself honestly, what are your chances of success?" Shi Potian said quietly.

Chen Zhongfang pondered for a moment and said, "Less than 30%."

Shi Potian laughed, shook his head and said, "Even at this point, fellow Daoist, you still won't tell me the truth."

He held up one finger and said, "One in ten. I'm less than one in ten sure. For me, that's already an optimistic estimate."

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to describe it as a near-death experience.

Chen Zhongfang fell silent. He hadn't told the truth. His confidence wasn't much higher than Shi Potian's. Like the predecessors of the sect, the Great Perfection of the Golden Core stage was almost his peak.

"To recreate such a scene, looking at both the Great Qi and Gusu, only two people have that opportunity: one is the head of the Peng family of the Wanlong Chamber of Commerce."

One of them is on this mountain. Shi Potian turned his gaze toward the mountain peak.

Chen Zhongfang chuckled and joked, "What, fellow Daoist, are you preparing to bow down to the young people?"

"Hahaha, if he wants me to bow down, he'll have to see what he's capable of. My old bones won't give way so easily." A sharp glint flashed in Shi Potian's eyes.

"Absolutely, absolutely. Even if we have to make way for young people, we have to see what their abilities are."

The two climbed Cangmang Peak together like close old friends, which truly surprised all the cultivators of Daqi.

"My two fellow Daoists have come from afar. I have failed to greet you properly. Please come in."

"Given the grand occasion today, it's understandable that you're overwhelmed. We've fought side by side several times, so we're not exactly outsiders. We're also familiar with Cangmang Peak. Why don't you go and greet the other fellow Daoists from out of town first?"

"In that case, I shall take my leave. Please come in and have a seat, fellow Daoists. Just give me your instructions."

Song Changsheng has been extremely busy these past few days. There are so many Golden Core cultivators present that he needs to personally greet each one to show respect.

At this moment, a steward from the Outer Affairs Hall quickly walked to his side and said, "Clan leader, the Lingxiao True Person, Chenxuan True Person, Caidie True Person, and Chenjian True Person from the Myriad Manifestations Palace have arrived."

"Chen Xuan, Chen Jian?"

Upon hearing this, Song Changsheng was stunned for a moment before realizing that these were the honorific titles of Liu Yunxuan and Baili Yuntu.

He originally thought that sending a few representatives would be enough, but he never expected that they would all come. This was truly the highest level of protocol.

"Quickly follow me to greet them."

Upon meeting, Liu Yunxuan said with a smile, "Fellow Daoist Zixu, you have a lot of influence. Before coming here, I just received news that Ancestor Longxiang will personally attend this Golden Core Ceremony. This is an honor that has not been seen for hundreds of years."

Song Changsheng smiled modestly and said, "It's all thanks to the kindness of the True Lords. Why didn't Fellow Daoist Gu come with you?"

"Fellow Daoist Gu gained the favor of Ancestor Longxiang due to her performance in the Five Academies Grand Competition, and has been following him to cultivate ever since. When the time comes, she will come with the Ancestor."

"If I had known it would be so lively here, we wouldn't have come today." Liu Yunxuan looked at the vast peak in front of him and couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement. Even the Myriad Manifestations Palace rarely saw so many Golden Core cultivators in the same frame at the same time.

"Fellow Daoists, why don't you go inside first? A feast has already been prepared on the mountain."

"How many times is this already?"

A cultivator from the [Jinxiuqi] sect, who was responsible for maintaining order at the foot of the mountain, gestured with his lip towards the backs of the group.

"I can't remember anymore, but our new clan leader really does come from this remote place and has no other background."
When Ancestor Tianyuan broke through to the Golden Core stage, there were only about twenty Golden Core cultivators, right?

"Sigh, judging by this situation, we're doomed. From now on, we'd better just obey orders obediently," another cultivator said dejectedly...

As time went on, the last group of guests arrived.

“Mingtai from Pan Shi City in the Chaotic Ancient Domain comes to offer his congratulations.”

Although Master Mingtai was the furthest away, he was not the last to arrive, which fully demonstrated his emphasis on this matter.

As the first Golden Core cultivator to loyally submit to him, Song Changsheng treated him with the highest level of courtesy.

As the morning light broke through the night, the Golden Elixir Ceremony officially began, and guests began to enter in an orderly manner.

The area around Cangmang Peak was packed with people; a rough estimate suggests that at least several hundred thousand cultivators had come.

These were all cultivators from the Great Qi cultivation world and several surrounding cultivation worlds, and even some from further afield, all there for the Golden Core Dao Discussion following the Golden Core Ceremony.

Lingzhou was overcrowded, and the Song family had to allocate a large number of people to maintain order. With so many people, the consequences would be unimaginable if someone caused trouble.

Just then, a loud bang suddenly came from the sky.

Everyone present looked up at the same time.

Then they witnessed a scene they would never forget.

Suddenly, a huge rift was torn open in the azure sky, and a warship flying the flag of the Palace of Ten Thousand Images slowly sailed out from it...

P.S.: Happy New Year to all fellow Daoists! Wishing you good health, all the best, and continuous advancement in the coming year!

With the strong support of fellow cultivators, this month's monthly votes have reached over 1,300, and I've rounded it up to an extra 14,000 words. Thank you all for your tremendous support.

By the way, this chapter has 6,000 words, so the promised 10,000 words for this month are all done. (End of Chapter)