Weathering the Storm Together

Song Taiyi, the Old Ancestor of the Wangyue Song Clan, had been an exile from the Brocade Banner Song Clan, a Golden Core Family.

After the Lineage struck his name from its rolls, he came to Ling Province in utter dejection and founded a clan, calling it a branch of the Song Clan. In truth, however, the Brocade Banner Song Clan had never acknowledged it.

Song Taiyi's greatest regret before his death had been that he never regained the Ancestral Lineage's recognition. In the end, he died with that regret in his heart.

That regret was eventually inherited by his descendants. From top to bottom, the Song Clan worked toward winning recognition from the Ancestral Lineage.

But such efforts were futile. The lofty Golden Core Family would not even spare them a glance.

This continued until a century ago. Although Song Yungui had been severely injured at the time, the Song Clan was still, after all, a Purple Mansion Clan, a renowned presence in the Great Qi Cultivation World.

Meanwhile, the Ancestral Lineage suffered an enormous upheaval, causing heavy losses among its young and middle-aged clansmen and leaving it in a state where the old had not yet gone while the young had failed to rise.

Only then did that lofty Golden Core Family finally lower its head to look at these scattered branch clans.

They sent people to Vast Peak. At the time, the clan was at the height of its prosperity, and the visitors were greatly satisfied, verbally recognizing the Wangyue Song Clan's status as a branch.

Since they had returned, there naturally had to be a division of benefits and obligations. The benefit was that the Ancestral Lineage would regularly provide the branch with Foundation Establishment Pills and other precious Cultivation Resources. Naturally, they had to pay for them.

Other than that, there were no further benefits.

The benefits were simple, but the obligations were many. The most important was that they had to offer tribute once every ten years. That was not much pressure for the clan.

Another condition was crucial: they had to send outstanding clansmen back to the Ancestral Lineage. This was mandatory, and every so often someone would come personally to make their selections.

Faced with such a humiliating treaty, the then-Patriarch, Song Yunhan, signed it despite pressure from all sides.

The reason was simple. Song Yungui was about to pass away. Without that pillar holding up the sky, the other powers in Ling Province would surely rise up against the clan's rule.

The clan needed Foundation Establishment Pills to cultivate enough Foundation Establishment Cultivators to maintain its standing.

Yet the clan did not grow the raw materials for Foundation Establishment Pills. It had always relied on buying them from various places, which was not only unstable but also expensive.

On the Ancestral Lineage's side, Foundation Establishment Pills were not particularly rare, and their supply was stable.

Thus, this unequal contract was signed—a compromise born of helplessness.

Facts proved that this move had been wise. After Song Yungui passed away, the clan successfully preserved itself and cultivated many Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

But as the clan failed to produce any new Purple Palace Cultivators, the Ancestral Lineage gradually stopped valuing them. In recent years, not only had the supply of Foundation Establishment Pills dwindled, even contact was nearly severed.

That was why Song Luyao had said those words at the meeting. There was only a pure relationship of interests between them; one stroke might write two Songs, but they had long since become two separate Song clans.

If they could not generate sufficient benefits, the Main Family would only kick them aside again, without sparing them another glance.

Song Xianyun let out a deep sigh. "Even so, it is only speculation. We still need to prepare Spirit Stones based on five pills—at least one hundred and fifty thousand. If we do not need them all, we can return the rest to everyone."

For a moment, everyone fell silent. Such was the sorrow of having no Foundation Establishment Pill ingredients...

Hearing this, Song Luyao said no more and stated directly, "I can contribute eighteen hundred."

The Others also generously opened their purses and took out their entire Family Fortune. These clan higher-ups gathered nearly thirty thousand Spirit Stones in total; the rest would have to come from the other clansmen.

"Then it is settled. Once the Spirit Stones are gathered, we will send them to Lu Ke. However many we can secure is however many we can secure," Song Xianyun declared, making the final decision.

"Alas, we must trouble that child Lu Ke to worry over this again. He left the clan when he was young, yet he has continued working for the clan all this time. He has truly suffered," a Clan Elder said with emotion.

"The clan will not forget his contributions. If the Main Family has a Fortuitous Encounter that can break through to the Purple Mansion, we will also support him with all our strength.

That concludes this matter. What I wish to discuss now is another matter. During the Family Trial a few days ago, the Earth Fire Sect..." Song Luyao recounted the course of events in detail.

After hearing it, one Clan Elder beamed with joy. "That mother and son truly rendered great merit this time. They must be rewarded."

"That child Changsheng is indeed not bad." Song Luzhou, unusually, offered Song Changsheng a word of praise.

Song Luhai and the other Clan Elders were also lavish in their praise of Song Changsheng.

"Luyao, say the rest of what you have to say as well." Song Xianyun understood that Song Luyao had not brought this up merely to have them praise Song Changsheng.

"Everyone, what I wish to say is that, with the talent and strength Song Changsheng has displayed thus far, he can no longer be measured simply by his Spirit Root.

His Spirit Root is not outstanding among the Younger Generation; it could even be called rather poor. Yet he is now the foremost figure among the clan's younger generation.

Moreover, his temperament, courage, and talent are all first-rate. Therefore, I believe it is time for the clan to choose a Young Clan Head. This would not only recognize Song Changsheng, but also serve as encouragement to the clan's Younger Generation."

Song Luyao's words once again left everyone looking at each other. None of them had expected that this was what she intended to propose.

Song Luzhou smacked his lips. "Changsheng as Young Clan Head? I think that would be acceptable. This kid really is outstanding."

"I think there is no problem with it either. The clan has not selected a Young Clan Head in nearly a hundred years. Choosing one would indeed be meaningful for the Younger Generation." Song Luhai also voiced his agreement.

But some Clan Elders raised doubts. "A century ago, Old Ancestor Yunhan abolished the Young Clan Head system precisely to prevent one branch from holding power for too long, eventually causing the clan to split into main and branch lines.

Facts have proven that she was right. Over the past century, the clan has completely done away with distinctions between legitimate and concubine-born lines. That is what has allowed the clan to remain united. Are we now going to turn back the wheel of history?"

"I think it is precisely the opposite. It is because the clan no longer has the notion of legitimate and concubine-born lines that we should select a Young Clan Head again.

Only, the method must change. Rather than selecting one from the Patriarch's descendants as before, we should decide based on talent, temperament, and many other factors.

Although Song Changsheng is the Patriarch's grandson, neither the Patriarch nor the Fifth Elder is here today. Thus, this is merely a coincidence. The main reason is that he is outstanding enough.

When selecting Young Clan Heads in the future, we should use him as the standard and choose from suitable young people across the entire clan," a Clan Elder suggested.

Those words immediately persuaded the few who had opposed it. If the selection followed such standards, then it was not impossible.

Cough, cough. Song Xianyun cleared his throat and said to everyone with a bitter smile, "No matter how fiercely we discuss this here, it is useless. The Patriarch must personally decide this matter.

You all know his temperament. He is the greatest supporter of Old Ancestor Yunhan. Even if he agrees to establish a Young Clan Head, there is a High Probability he will not choose Changsheng.

But this old man will raise the matter with him, and I will also explain everyone's stance. As for the result, that is hard to say.

However, this old man can make the decision to elevate his treatment from that of a Foundation Establishment Seed to that of a Purple Palace Seed. That may be considered his reward."

"That would be excellent."

"Most excellent."

Everyone expressed satisfaction with this proposal.

And so, Song Changsheng became, in a muddleheaded fashion, one of the clan's only two Purple Palace Seeds.

Why was he not the only one? Because from the moment Song Qingxing had been tested and found to possess a Variant Spiritual Root, he had already become the clan's Purple Palace Seed.