Zhu Yanfeng led Ji Chenglie, Ji Chengjian, and Liu Yirong along the winding paths of Fragrant Snow Mountain north of the village.
The fresh mountain air carried the fragrance of earth. Sunlight filtered through the treetops, dappling the winding path with interwoven patterns of light and shadow.
The Ji and Liu Families had followed Chen Cong and the others to Chenlin Village. The Chen Clan held an internal agreement-signing ceremony, and the Liu Family and Ji Family officially became its Retainer Families amid great pomp.
Next came the process of integrating the Ji and Liu Families.
First, the Chen Clan arranged several days of visits and study for the Liu Family and Ji Family.
They toured important sites such as the Chen Clan's Ancestral Hall, Zhejiang Studio, library, exchange office, and Logistics Center, gaining a deeper understanding of the clan's cultural heritage and formidable foundations.
The dazzling wealth of books, spirit medicines, and martial skill legacies left them utterly stunned.
Meanwhile, the younger generations of the Liu Family and Ji Family entered Zhejiang Studio, where experienced elders and Clan School instructors taught them martial skills, principles, and lessons drawn from experience.
Not only could they attend the Chen Clan's various lessons and activities, but they could also cultivate and exchange insights with Chenlin Village's young disciples.
These experiences broadened the horizons of the two families' younger generations and strengthened both their abilities and their confidence. After all, Chenlin Village's disciples were spread across the continent's major academies.
Liu Ruyan, Ji Boda, and the others humbly sought guidance from the Chen Clan's elders and instructors, learning about its family traditions, rules, and cultivation insights.
For the Ji and Liu Families, joining the Chen Clan was not merely an opportunity for their families to develop, but also a cleansing and growth of