Xingyun Returns to the Clan

On the peak of Jade Spring Mountain, clouds churned and purple energy flowed from the east.

The morning bell rang nine times, its sound shaking a hundred miles, heard by all within and without.

On the spacious Chen Family Ancestral Hall plaza, the clan leader Chen Tianheng, at the Foundation Establishment mid-stage, stood at the forefront with three Heavenly-ranked, white-haired Qi Refining elders.

Behind the four were the current head of the Chen Family, Chen Xingyuan, who was responsible for handling all family affairs, and the members of the Elder Council led by the Great Elder Chen Xingzhou, all of whom were late Qi Refining cultivators.

Further back were nearly a hundred neatly dressed Chen clan disciples, their expressions either solemn or excited.

They stood in formation according to their generation and cultivation level, silent, with only the mountain wind rustling and blowing through the green bamboo.

Chen Heng's position was in the middle, neither forward nor back, his expression calm.

Truly, he did not rejoice in external gains, nor grieve over personal losses.

Aside from the Foundation Establishment ancestor Chen Tianjing, who was stationed at Little Bamboo Peak and responsible for the Chen Family's spirit mine extraction, and the Foundation Establishment ancestor Chen Tianrui, who was guarding Southern Foothills Market and maintaining order there.

Essentially, all cultivators of the Chen Family with a name and surname, who were free and available, had gathered here.

The reason for such importance was that the three Foundation Establishment ancestors of the Chen Family were all Heavenly-ranked cultivators.

They held extremely high seniority, but were also very old.

Foundation Establishment cultivators lived over two hundred and forty years.

And the three of them had only a few decades left before their Foundation Establishment lifespan limit.

The eldest, Chen Tianjing, was over two hundred years old and had only volunteered to go to Little Bamboo Peak to guard it.

After all, with cultivators from the Azure Profound Sect present, the possibility of encountering accidents like Yao rampages or Mo attacks was very small.

The Chen Family was making such a grand display primarily to deter surrounding forces.

To tell outsiders that the Chen Family had not declined.

After all, before this, not a single person from the Chen Family's Xing generation had achieved Foundation Establishment.

Of course, in Chen Heng's opinion, there was still a high possibility of the Ninth Elder Chen Xingyuan achieving Foundation Establishment.

It would just take some time, perhaps a few years, or perhaps a decade or more.

What was even more needed was a stable cultivation environment.

Now, the Chen Family had produced a Foundation Establishment cultivator who had joined the Azure Profound Sect and practiced lightning techniques.

Even if Chen Xingyun would primarily serve the sect in the future, her mere existence was enough to deter many petty individuals who had designs on the Chen Family.

At this moment.

All eyes were focused on the eastern horizon.

Suddenly.

The clouds in the sky parted as if pushed aside by an invisible giant hand, and a silver stream of light broke through the clouds. Its speed was like lightning, its momentum magnificent, trailing a long spiritual tail as it descended straight towards Jade Spring Mountain!

A pure and majestic pressure, far exceeding that of ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators, descended with the approaching stream of light, causing many early Qi Refining disciples to gasp for breath, their faces filled with awe and reverence.

The silver light abruptly stopped before the mountain gate archway, its radiance fading to reveal a female cultivator dressed in the Azure Profound Sect's inner disciple's moon-white magic robe.

Her appearance was beautiful and refined, her features bright, her eyes holding the glint of lightning, and her brows filled with heroic spirit.

Her posture was as upright as a drawn sword, full of dignity.

Her plain robe seemed woven from clouds, her wide sleeves flowed like the wind, and her entire aura was integrated, subtly resonating with heaven and earth. She was precisely Chen Xingyun, who had successfully achieved Foundation Establishment.

She was not riding a magical artifact but was moving by controlling her Qi, her posture graceful and composed.

"Congratulations to the Thirteenth Elder on achieving Foundation Establishment, may your immortal path be long and prosperous, and your Dao smooth!"

"Strengthen our Chen Clan, protect our homeland!"

Clan leader Chen Tianheng cupped his hands in greeting, his voice like a booming bell, filled with irrepressible excitement.

The other Chen clan members bowed in unison, their voices merging into a single wave that soared into the sky, echoing repeatedly through the mountains, deliberately carried towards the surroundings.

Chen Xingyun took a step forward, a flash of silver light, as if shrinking the space, instantly crossing dozens of feet, appearing before the clan leader. She reached out to lift them.

"Clan leader and all clan members need not be so formal!"

"Without the family's assistance, Xingyun would not have been able to gather enough contribution points to exchange for the Foundation Establishment Pill."

"Now that I have achieved Foundation Establishment, it is merely that I have not failed your expectations!"

Her gaze swept over every Chen clan member present, and seeing the anticipation and excitement in their eyes, her heart also warmed.

Chen Tianheng straightened up, his eyes shining, "Good! Good! Good!" He said "good" three times in a row, his joy reaching its peak.

He then stepped aside and said solemnly, "Please, Thirteenth Elder, enter the Ancestral Hall to report to the ancestors!"

Inside the ancestral hall, the ceremony was simple yet grand.

Incense was offered, and prayers were made.

A jade tablet inscribed with "Chen Xingyun" was placed among the sequence of Foundation Establishment cultivators.

After the ceremony, Chen Tianheng and the three clan elders escorted Chen Xingyun to the high platform in the plaza, facing all the clan members.

Chen Xingyun's gaze swept over the excited and expectant faces below. Her voice was clear but reached everyone's ears distinctly.

"By the grace of the Azure Profound Sect, the blessings of our ancestors, and the support of the family, Xingyun has successfully achieved Foundation Establishment and has been promoted to a true disciple of Lightning Roar Peak."

She paused briefly, and the breaths of those below caught in their throats.

"According to sect regulations, true disciples may choose their own spiritual land within Lightning Roar Peak and construct a cave dwelling."

As soon as these words were spoken, a chorus of hushed gasps rose from below.

This move signified that Chen Xingyun had entered the core ranks of the Azure Profound Sect, her status now incomparably noble.

Chen Xingyun continued, "The sect has bestowed upon me an Azure Profound Golden Token."

With a flip of her slender hand, a token the size of a baby's palm, entirely dark gold, appeared. The front was inscribed with the Dao pattern of "Azure Profound," and the back featured clouds and mountains, flowing with an extraordinary luster under the sunlight.

"Those who hold this token can be recommended by me to directly enter the Outer Sect of the Azure Profound Sect, bypassing the entrance examination."

Whoosh—!

The crowd could no longer contain themselves and erupted in commotion. Direct entry into the Azure Profound Sect!

What an incredible opportunity! The path to soaring to the heavens in a single step that countless disciples from small families dreamed of!

Countless gazes instantly became intensely fervent, fixated on the small golden token.

Even Chen Heng, who had lived two lifetimes, couldn't help but steal a few extra glances.

"Furthermore," Chen Xingyun's voice suppressed the commotion once more, "the sect has granted me two spots for servants to accompany me to cultivate and serve by my side in the Azure Profound Sect."

"Although these two are nominally servants, they can actually experience the atmosphere of the upper sect in advance, cultivate the sect's basic cultivation methods, and if their aptitude and character are exceptional, they may even have the opportunity to be promoted to the Outer Sect, or even the Inner Sect, in the future!"

Another bombshell!

This was equivalent to two spots in a preparatory class, another shortcut to entering the Azure Profound Sect!

Below the high platform, all the Chen family disciples, young and old, had flames of desire burning in their eyes.

Even the family head, Chen Tianheng, and several elders had their breathing quicken.

These two rewards, for the Chen family, were almost as significant as gaining another Foundation Establishment cultivator!

This was the hope for the family's future continuation and rise!

Chen Xingyun took in everyone's reactions and said solemnly, "The Golden Token and the selection of servants are crucial to the family's future and require careful deliberation with the family head and the elders. However!"

Her tone shifted, and her voice suddenly rose, carrying the unique pressure of a Foundation Establishment cultivator, she announced loudly, "From this day forward, the Chen family of Jade Spring Mountain has four Foundation Establishment true cultivators!"

"And we have the backing of the Azure Profound Sect's Lightning Roar Peak! All disciples of our Chen family should cultivate diligently and bring glory to our lineage!"

"If any external enemy dares to offend our clan's dignity, invade our clan's property..."

Her gaze was like lightning, sweeping past several distant directions as if intentionally or unintentionally. The divine senses that had been secretly probing felt as if struck by lightning, instantly retreating in panic.

"The lightning in my hand, along with the rules of the Azure Profound Sect, will show no mercy!"

The sound waves, carrying the spiritual pressure of Foundation Establishment, rolled out, spreading across the land and clearly reaching the ears of all nearby eavesdroppers.

The square was silent for a moment, then erupted in earth-shattering cheers!

"Thirteenth Elder, mighty!"

"Strengthen our Chen clan!"

"Heaven bless the Chen family!"

The clan members were in high spirits, their faces flushed with excitement.

With the Chen family now having an additional Foundation Establishment cultivator, and one as young as Chen Xingyun, backed by an inner sect Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Azure Profound Sect, the Chen family's status would be completely different!

The surrounding forces that had been eyeing them covetously must be trembling with fear right now!

Family head Chen Tianheng looked at the spirited Chen Xingyun beside him, then at the cheering clan members below. His chest swelled with pride, and his eyes felt a little moist.

The decline of the Chen family had finally been halted!

And all of this began with the return of the Foundation Establishment cultivator on the high platform.

Today's welcoming was not just to greet a person, but to welcome this magnificent momentum, the foundation for the Chen family's centuries of prosperity!

Establishing prestige and reputation, all within this welcoming and this establishment!