The Clan Head's Invitation

This year's Coming-of-Age Ceremony was undoubtedly the most grand and lively one the Yang Family had hosted in recent years.

Because Yang Chen's astonishing performance and earth-shattering talent had delighted the Yang Family's higher-ups. Simultaneously, it had also led to negotiations with many external clans.

Negotiations about what? Naturally, about cooperation.

Under normal circumstances, a family wouldn't open its Coming-of-Age Ceremony to outsiders. But why do the Great Wilderness Hundred Clans like to hold theirs openly? Because a Coming-of-Age Ceremony is a prime opportunity for a clan to showcase its strength.

If a family's Coming-of-Age Ceremony produced no geniuses, what future would such a family have? Even cooperation would be meaningless. But if a family had countless geniuses, it would signify the clan's future prospects. Cooperating early would bring a hundred benefits and no harm.

Yang Chen's performance today even rivaled geniuses personally nurtured by major clans. Furthermore, the Li Family Commerce Association's announcement of cooperation with the Yang Family amplified the Yang Family's prestige. Leaders of smaller external clans were all vying to discuss cooperation with the Yang Family.

Some clan heads from external clans even proposed marriage alliances, intending to marry their most outstanding young women to Yang Chen to solidify ties between their families.

However, the Yang Family Patriarch was a shrewd individual. Knowing Yang Chen had become a hot commodity, he wasn't about to rush into arranging Yang Chen's marriage. When negotiating, he absolutely refused to mention any marriage proposals involving Yang Chen.

Yang Chen was completely unaware of this. He had already dedicated himself entirely to practicing the 'Hunyuan Spear Technique'.

This practice continued, and a night passed by unnoticed.

When Yang Chen opened his eyes, it was already early morning. A knock on the door startled him. Yang Chen got up, surprised, and opened the door, only to find the young girl Gu Mingyue had sought him out early.

"Mingyue, what's the matter so early in the morning?" Yang Chen asked curiously.

Gu Mingyue, perhaps due to nervousness, looked at Yang Chen and her pretty face instantly flushed like a delicate, vibrant apple. She lowered her head, her heart pounding uncontrollably, and she even hesitated to look at Yang Chen.

This emotional shift had actually occurred overnight. Previously, she had considered Yang Chen a good-for-nothing, and she wouldn't have felt awkward interacting with him. But now, it was different. Yang Chen's performance yesterday had completely solidified his towering image in her heart.

What maiden doesn't harbor romantic feelings? Yang Chen's performance yesterday had conquered the young women of external clans, and naturally, it had conquered Gu Mingyue as well.

This made Gu Mingyue's heart pound whenever she saw Yang Chen. Clutching the corner of her clothes, she softly said, "Young... Young Master, the Patriarch just sent someone to tell you to go see him. He has some important matters to discuss with you."

"Oh? The Patriarch wants to see me?" Yang Chen raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised, but quickly regained his composure.

He clasped his hands behind his back and said, "Have the outsiders all left?"

"Yes, the Patriarch and the clan's higher-ups spent the entire night seeing off those outsiders. As soon as it got light, they sent Mingyue to fetch you," Gu Mingyue replied softly, as docile as a little bird.

Yang Chen nodded thoughtfully, "Alright, I'll go see the Patriarch. Please help me pack a few clothes."

"Yes, Young Master." Gu Mingyue's heart fluttered with excitement.

Yang Chen didn't pay much attention to Gu Mingyue's emotional fluctuations. He glanced down at the blushing Gu Mingyue and smiled slightly, "Mingyue, you look much prettier in your new clothes than before. If you need any spiritual stones, just ask your Young Master."

His words were unintentional, but they were deeply felt by Gu Mingyue. Just as she had calmed her inner turmoil, hearing Yang Chen compliment her beauty made her heart pound again. She quickly said, "Young... Young Master, Mingyue will get your clothes ready."

As soon as she finished speaking, the young girl darted away like a streak of light.

Yang Chen chuckled, not taking the matter to heart. After a short while, he changed his clothes and headed to the Yang Family Patriarch's residence.

This trip was much smoother than the last. Yang Jinhe's old servant had clearly received permission from Yang Jinhe beforehand. As soon as Yang Chen arrived, the old servant respectfully ushered him inside.

Upon entering, Yang Chen saw all the high-ranking members gathered, which surprised him, as he hadn't attended many such large gatherings. Judging by the setup in the room, it was likely that most, if not all, of the Yang Family's high-ranking officials were present.

Yang Chen recognized Second Master Yang and Fourth Master Yang among them.

"Yang Chen, you're here." Yang Jinhe's attitude towards Yang Chen had undergone a complete 180-degree turn. He greeted Yang Chen with a warm, benevolent smile, as if basking in spring sunshine.

Yang Chen dared not be disrespectful and bowed, saying, "Yang Chen greets all the elders!"

"Yes, Yang Chen, we elders have all witnessed your performance yesterday."

"Haha, well done! Those bandits were so arrogant, did they really think our Yang Family was an easy target? We had to curb their arrogance. If we let them be so overbearing, they would have truly taken advantage of us."

Many of the Yang Family's high-ranking members had changed their attitudes towards Yang Chen and offered him praise.

This made Yang Chen sigh inwardly, thinking how realistic these people were. He also marveled at the benefits that strength brought him. It seemed that in this world, no matter where you were, the primary condition for earning respect from others was having sufficient personal strength.

While lost in thought, Yang Chen maintained a humble demeanor outwardly. "It is the elders' kindness that praises me. What Yang Chen did yesterday was simply what needed to be done."

"Young, yet not arrogant, knowing how to be humble. Excellent, excellent."

"It seems Yang Chen's temperament has been well-honed."

"After experiencing a setback, Yang Chen has truly awakened. How wonderful! Life needs setbacks. I believe the reason why other juniors in our clan did not perform up to par at the Coming-of-Age Ceremony was because they haven't faced any setbacks."

These Yang Family elders expressed their unreserved satisfaction with Yang Chen. Of course, not everyone's attitude towards Yang Chen was sincere. At least Eighth Elder Yang, also known as Eighth Master Yang, who was seated in a corner, had a distinctly different attitude towards Yang Chen.

Yang Chen looked over and saw Eighth Master Yang speaking with a cold expression, "Patriarch, we are here today to discuss important matters. Although Yang Chen is outstanding, he is still a junior and should not be present at this high-level meeting."

"Old Eighth, what do you mean by this? What's wrong with letting Yang Chen gain some experience?" Second Master Yang grumbled.

The two were old rivals within the Yang Family, a fact well-known to everyone, including Yang Chen.

Eighth Master Yang sneered, "It's no secret that Yang Chen is close to you. You naturally speak for him. However, according to the rules, Yang Chen, at such a young age, is sharing this space with us. Where does that leave us old fellows? Esteemed sirs, don't you agree?"

This Eighth Master Yang knew how to rally support. With his opening statement, he addressed the interests of everyone present.

And indeed, a few people were swayed.

Even though Yang Chen had performed exceptionally well yesterday, this kind of occasion was indeed not one that Yang Chen's current status warranted his attendance. If someone of Eighth Master Yang's status could be here, then what was their own status?

Often, those who considered themselves noble were very particular about 'status'. Anything that might make them feel they were demeaning themselves would provoke a swift counterattack, like a fox whose tail had been stepped on.

There was no shortage of such people in the hall.

As expected, after Eighth Master Yang's words, several other high-ranking members of the clan began to point at Yang Chen and whisper amongst themselves, not bothering to conceal their murmurs.

"Yes, that Yang Chen fellow is too disrespectful."

"At such a grand occasion, his presence here is still inappropriate given his status."

"I wonder what the Patriarch is thinking. Does he just invite this kid, and he comes?"

Seeing the situation spiraling towards an unmanageable state, the Yang Family Patriarch, Yang Jinhe, finally let out a cold snort. "Eighth Elder, Second Elder, by arguing like this, do you have any regard for me, your Patriarch? Also, Eighth Elder, you keep saying Yang Chen is not worthy of attending today's meeting. Then let me tell you, the reason for this meeting today is directly related to Yang Chen. So why shouldn't Yang Chen be here? Perhaps we should just disband the meeting for today?"