Establishing the Clan and Opening the Ancestral Hall

Qingjiang County, Dongxi Village.

Countless carriages and horses streamed into this ordinary village like a flowing river.

Over twenty Xu Family guards, clad in standard black and red attire, were directing the traffic to prevent congestion.

"The head of the Wang Family from Qingping County, along with his Madam and son, has arrived!"

"The head of the He Family from Qingping County, along with his son and daughter, has arrived!"

"The eldest son of the Cao Family from Qingping County has arrived!"

"The head of the Yan Family, along with his wife and children, has arrived!"

"The eldest son of the Shen Family has arrived!"

"Lord Wu, the County Magistrate of Qingping County, along with his wife, has arrived!"

"County Lieutenant Yang of Qingping County, along with his wife and children, has arrived!"

"Lord Fang, the County Lieutenant of Qingping County, has arrived!"

Those whose names were announced as being from Qingping County were either from prominent families or officials. The rest were wealthy merchants or influential figures within the county.

Chen Ergou's family and Chen Daming's family were also invited guests.

Seeing the wealthy merchants and influential figures coming and going, Chen Daming couldn't help but sigh, murmuring, "Ergou, it's all thanks to our father's keen insight. If he hadn't looked after Xu Chuan since we were young, our Chen family would likely not be able to set foot here today."

"Big Brother, that's you. My relationship with Brother Chuan is quite something. It's normal for you to be invited, but they definitely wouldn't forget me."

Chen Ergou said smugly.

Xu Yan surveyed her surroundings, a flame of jealousy burning in her heart.

"We are all members of the Xu Clan, descended from the same ancestor. Why is Xu Chuan's lineage so distinguished, while our branch is gradually declining?"

The woman beside Chen Daming suddenly tugged at his sleeve and whispered, "Husband, do you think the Xu Family will resent us for asking them for their cultivation secrets for Green Jade Pears a few years ago?"

She was Chen Daming's wife, Madam Lü.

"It should be fine. Otherwise, they wouldn't have invited us."

"Besides, we didn't gain any real benefit. We planted the Green Jade Pear seeds for several years, but they never bore fruit. Instead, they nearly bankrupted our family."

After speaking, the two fell silent.

They walked on.

Suddenly, a guard blocked their path. "Excuse me, this road has been sealed off by our Xu Family today. Only those with an invitation can pass."

Chen Ergou cheerfully stepped forward, pulled out an invitation from his pocket, and then turned to Chen Daming, saying, "Big Brother, take out your family's invitation too. They need to see it."

The Xu Family guard glanced at it, nodded, and returned it to them, making a gesture to allow them through. "The invitation is valid. Please proceed straight ahead. Where the crowd gathers is where our Xu Family is located."

"I know this road well."

As they approached the Xu Family mansion, the crowd grew like a tide, eventually reaching the entrance.

They saw a spacious area, the ground neatly paved entirely with bluestone slabs.

"Second Nephew."

Chen Ergou suddenly spotted Xu Mingyuan chatting with some wealthy merchants and waved, shouting.

His shout attracted the attention of many.

"Judging by the situation, he's calling out to the Second Young Master Xu. Could he be from the Xu Family as well?"

Someone wondered, thinking if they should go over and greet him.

Xu Mingyuan, now approaching the level of a Second-rate Martial Artist, had sharp hearing and keen eyesight, and naturally heard the familiar shout.

He turned around and walked over with a smile.

"Uncle Ergou, Uncle Daming, Daniu, Fangfang, you've arrived."

"Where is Brother Chuan?"

Xu Mingyuan gave a wry smile. "Uncle Ergou, there are too many guests today, and it's an important day for our Xu Family's establishment. The occasion is solemn and grand. You should be more respectful and not speak so casually."

"I understand, Second Young Master Xu. Then, may I ask where the head of the Xu Family is?"

"My father is in the inner chambers, conversing with the heads of several prominent families, as well as County Magistrate Wu, County Lieutenant Yang, and County Lieutenant Fang. The establishment ceremony will begin at noon. If you know anyone, you can chat with them first, or you can go into the mansion to see Grandpa Chen."

"He will be presiding over this ceremony."

"My father?!"

Chen Daming and Chen Ergou exclaimed in unison, exchanging glances, finding it unbelievable.

"Then let's go see my father first."

Both of them said so.

After all, there were very few people they were familiar with present.

Noon.

Outside the Xu Family's main gate.

The incense table for sacrificing to heaven and earth had been neatly set up, with the three sacrifices of ox, pig, and sheep, everlasting candles, and other pastries placed upon it.

Behind it were seven cushions.

Arranged in two rows.

Two in the front, and five side-by-side behind them.

Xu Chuan's family, along with the county magistrate, the County Lieutenant, the county captain, and the heads of some influential families, walked out from the main gate.

Uncle Chen stood beside the incense table.

With graying hair and beard, his face weathered by time, he was already over sixty years old.

He was considered quite elderly among the people of Dongxi Village.

As the closest elder to the Xu Family, Xu Chuan had invited him to preside over the ceremony this time.

"Descendants of the Xu Clan, please come forward."

"Light the incense!"

Seven household guards stepped forward to light the long incense in the hands of Xu Chuan and the others, then retreated.

Uncle Chen glanced around, his expression solemn and reverent, and read from the silk cloth in his hand: "We, the Xu Clan, hereby inform heaven and earth: In the year Yisi, during the Ruyin period. Heaven is pure, earth is serene, the two realms create images, clouds move, rain falls, and all things take shape. Embracing greatness, nurturing our common folk, may the spirits bestow blessings, boundless grace upon us. We respectfully follow the old ways, and solemnly pray for your enjoyment."

After finishing, he threw the silk cloth into a bronze cauldron to be burned.

"Kneel!"

"First bow! Second bow! Third bow!"

"Kneel again!"

After three kneels and nine bows, Xu Chuan led everyone in offering incense.

Then they proceeded to the Xu Clan Ancestral Hall.

Before opening the ancestral hall, it was also necessary to recite a prayer to appease the ancestors and honor their achievements.

"We, the Xu Clan, establish this clan and build this ancestral hall to honor the virtue of our ancestors and to arrange the lineage. We have now chosen a propitious location in Qingjiang, with green mountains behind and flowing water in front, a continuous dragon vein, and a magnificent aura. The hall is built in three sections, with a ceremonial gate at the front, a hall of worship in the middle, the spirit tablets enshrined at the rear, and side rooms on either side to store the genealogy records."

"This hall is not merely a place to house the spirits, but truly a foundation for strengthening kinship, uniting the clan, and educating future generations. Descendants who enter this gate in the future should remember that founding a family is difficult, and maintaining it is not easy. They should be prudent in their conduct, thrifty in their spending, and bring glory to the family name."

After reciting the prayer and burning the silk cloth, Uncle Chen shouted, "Open the ancestral hall and welcome the ancestral tablets!"

Household guards, with serious expressions, carried the spirit tablets and entered the Xu Clan Ancestral Hall, placing them in their proper positions.

Xu Chuan was the third generation counting from his grandfather, while Xu Mingwei and the others were the fourth generation.

However, in the eyes of others, Xu Chuan was the true founder of the Xu Family's prosperity.

Before him, several generations of the Xu Family had been ordinary common folk struggling to survive. Xu Chuan's father had even merely been a long-term laborer for the Xu Family.

"I heard that the Xu Family had five sons, each with extraordinary talent, yet the head of the Xu Family was not well-known."

"I also heard that the Xu Family's rise to prominence happened in just over a decade, and the head of the Xu Family was a long-term laborer for the Xu Family in Dongxi Village when he was young."

"The Xu Family has produced talented individuals for two generations; no wonder they have such a prosperous appearance!"

Everyone looked at the Xu Family members kneeling and bowing before the ancestral tablets of the Xu Clan, their faces filled with envy.

The five sons of the Xu Family were all outstanding.

Their fame not only spread throughout Qingjiang County but even to several surrounding counties.

The eldest son, Xu Mingwei, needed no introduction. Three years ago, he was already considered a first-class martial artist. Before the age of twenty, he had reached Houtian Peak, and was widely acknowledged as having the potential of a Grandmaster.

The second son, Xu Mingyuan, befriended people from all directions and attracted wealth from all corners.

The current prosperity of the Xu Family owed a quarter of its success to him.

He was truly a business prodigy, multiplying the Xu Family's wealth by tens or even hundreds of times in just a few short years.

The third son, Xu Mingxuan, studied at the Tianlong Martial Arts School and had also reached the realm of a third-class martial artist, enjoying a reputation as a genius martial artist in Qingjiang County.

The fourth child, Xu Mingshu, possessed extraordinary talent. Rumor had it that she could communicate with beasts and control exotic White Tigers, and she was equally renowned, being a sought-after marriage prospect for many influential families.

The fifth son, Xu Mingxian, appeared unremarkable to outsiders, but many speculated that he was the most talented person in the Xu Family.