Yang Lingqing

Everyone rose in response, yet none could suppress their curiosity. They secretly lifted their eyes to study Yang Lingqing.

"It's the eldest master's daughter!"

"She became an Immortal Master. Her appearance hasn't changed much, but her bearing is already beyond that of ordinary people."

The Yang Family members thought to themselves.

"Father, Uncle, let's begin."

"Yes."

Yang Feiyun and Yang Xiaolei answered and stepped forward to report on the Lineage's affairs in turn.

The two stood below as usual, laying out every matter before Yang Lingqing according to its urgency and importance.

Facing their own daughter and junior, their expressions remained natural, without the slightest awkwardness or discomfort.

They had grown up following Yang Guanfeng, witnessing him step onto the path of cultivation, and later taking part in his joint consolidation and cleansing of the Yang Family with Elder Yu.

That process had given them an even deeper understanding of what it meant for immortals and mortals to be worlds apart.

Like fish that had come ashore, they belonged to entirely different realms.

The life and death of mortals rested upon a cultivator's single thought.

Once the two had finished reporting, Yang Lingqing also understood the Yang Family's present changes.

The Beast Tide had inflicted enormous casualties and losses upon the Yang Family, but because they had saved most of the common folk, their reputation throughout the surrounding region had risen like water lifting a boat.

During this period, many had come seeking refuge by reputation, including merchants who had originally lived in White Stone Town.

White Stone Town had fallen while the Yang Family remained safe. The difference between them was clear as day—if they did not come here, where else could they go?

Thus, the villages at the foot of the mountain had rapidly expanded in a short time, and their total population now numbered several thousand.

Yang Lingqing nodded slightly, then asked, "How is the situation on the South Bank?"

"Reporting to Immortal Master Lingqing, it has basically all been reclaimed. Though it is not as fertile as the North Bank, it is sufficient to sustain people," Yang Feiyun replied.

"Mm. Have all those who came to seek refuge later move to the South Bank. Leave the North Bank to the large and small clans that endured the Beast Tide."

Yang Lingqing stretched out her hand, and a floor tile at her side was broken open by earth pushing up from below.

The mound of earth rose from the ground and came to Yang Lingqing's side like a living creature. Stone tiles and rubble in its path were crushed like tofu.

As they watched this unfold, the people below were both astonished and terrified.

"Truly the methods of an immortal!"

"Marvelous—marvelous beyond measure!"

Ever since taking the position of patriarch, Yang Guanfeng had not displayed his cultivation before others for a long time. His prestige within the Yang Family was already high enough; there was no need to reinforce it through such means.

But Yang Lingqing was different. To the Yang Family members, she was a completely unfamiliar face.

Many still remembered her as the little girl from over a year ago.

Yang Lingqing naturally understood this. She understood even more clearly that no matter how much she said, it would never be as effective as letting them see with their own eyes.

Sure enough, once she revealed her cultivation and spellcraft, the way everyone below looked at her was no longer the same as when she had first arrived.

Beyond their original reverence, there was now an additional measure of fear.

Their abstract understanding of cultivators had settled upon Yang Lingqing herself.

They now realized that, just like Yang Guanfeng, Yang Lingqing could take hold of their lives whenever she wished!

Yang Feiyun and Yang Xiaolei stood to one side, unable to conceal their excitement, their hearts filled with boundless delight.

What Yang Lingqing had displayed was a method entirely different from Yang Guanfeng's overwhelming strength that crushed ten foes at once.

That meant the Yang Family would have another inheritance in the future!

Together with Yang Lingrui's Gale Wind technique, they should now possess three inheritances!

At that moment, a half-palm-sized earthen command tablet condensed atop the mound, bearing the character "Qing."

"I must trouble Father to carry this token and pass down the decision. From now on, Clan Soldiers will guard the three bridges crossing the river. Those from the South Bank may come to the North Bank to trade, work, and invest, but they may not reside there for long. My Yang Family will have many matters to undertake in the future. If those from the South Bank render meritorious service, they may obtain the right to relocate to the North Bank. That is the first matter."

This was meant to divide those below into ranks, so that the people who had come seeking refuge with the Yang Family would understand the difference between closeness and distance, advantage and harm.

The Yang Family treated its own people equally, but that did not mean it would scatter kindness to every stray cat and dog.

With this arrangement, the Yang Family would sit atop the mountain.

Below the mountain, the North Bank belonged to the various clans that had shared hardship with the Yang Family, protected by Clan Soldiers.

The South Bank belonged to the latecomers. Their lives and deaths were their own responsibility; the Yang Family would not interfere.

It was a structure with ranks clearly defined.

"The second matter is conveyed by Lingqing on behalf of the two ancestors. Uncle, please count the number of children of suitable age, from ten to fourteen, among the various clans on the North Bank."

"Yes, I obey Immortal Master Lingqing's decree!"

Yang Lingqing did not explain why the children were to be counted, but anyone present with a bit of sense could discern the clues.

When Elder Yu had selected the Yang Family's three children, they had been within this age range.

Now that another count was being made, did that mean another round of testing and selection was about to take place?

Though these two matters appeared separate, they were in truth part of the same plan, capable of highlighting the North Bank's advantages even further.

Once word spread, the North Bank clans would have more children, hoping to produce a child with aptitude and soar to great heights from then on.

And once the outsiders on the South Bank saw all the benefits enjoyed by the North Bank, they would become even more devoted to the Yang Family in order to obtain a place there. In the future, they would naturally work all the harder.

"Are there any other important matters to discuss?"

"Reporting to Immortal Master Lingqing, there are none."

"Mm. Dismissed."

After everyone left, only three people remained in the council hall.

"Uncle, you have worked hard all this time. I will have to trouble you to take even more care in the future," Yang Lingqing said as she rose.

"It is hardly trouble. It is simply my duty."

Yang Xiaolei quickly waved his hands, then carefully asked, "Lingqing, that child of mine..."

Yang Lingqing smiled at his words. "Linghu has also succeeded in cultivation. He is currently accompanying the ancestor outside, so Uncle need not worry."

"Ah! Wonderful news, wonderful news!"

Yang Xiaolei was overjoyed. After thanking her, he went off to arrange the counting of the children.

"Father."

"Qing'er."

After calling to each other, father and daughter fell silent.

Because her mother had died early, Yang Lingqing had been sensible since childhood and was usually a woman of few words.

Yang Feiyun, meanwhile, had been busy all day long. In truth, there had not been many occasions for father and daughter to speak.

Later, Elder Yu discovered that she had cultivation aptitude. Soon afterward, she was taken to the Forbidden Ground, where she had remained until now.

It had been fine while facing everyone earlier, but now that they were alone, Yang Feiyun discovered that he could not find a topic to discuss with his daughter.

"Qing'er, managing a household is not easy. In the future, while at the ancestor's side, you must observe more and listen more."

After pondering for a long while, Yang Feiyun finally spoke.

Yet the moment the words left his mouth, he regretted them somewhat.

They had not seen each other for so long, and the first thing he said was once again in such a lecturing tone.

"I understand Father's teachings," Yang Lingqing replied, lifting her eyes to look at her father.

Yang Feiyun had only just entered middle age, yet more than half his hair had already turned white. It was clear how much he had labored for the Yang Family.

"Father has run himself ragged for the Lineage. You must still take care of your health."

"Sigh, Qing'er is right. Father will remember that."

After those simple exchanges, silence descended again.

Seeing that his daughter was looking at him, Yang Feiyun lifted his eyes as well.

As their gazes met, a sour ache suddenly welled up in his heart, and he felt deeply guilty.

"Father need not dwell on it. Lingqing understands everything in her heart."

"Yes. Qing'er has always been sensible since she was young."

"Father, there is actually only one thing I wish to know."

"What is it? Qing'er, tell me."

"That day, when the ancestor took me to the Forbidden Ground to cultivate, were you ever proud of me?"

As her words fell, Yang Feiyun stood rooted to the spot.

After being stunned for a moment, he finally came back to himself. When he looked at Yang Lingqing again, tears had already gathered in his eyes.

His lips trembled. Several times he wanted to speak but stopped himself, until at last he stamped his foot fiercely. "It was Father's fault! Qing'er, you do not know—always, all this time! You have always been Father's pride! Whether or not you were chosen by the ancestor, you have always been Father's most, most precious and proud daughter!"

By the time he reached this point, tears were already streaming down Yang Feiyun's face.

He stepped forward, wanting to take Yang Lingqing's hand, but suddenly realized that she was now an Immortal Master. He froze halfway, unable to advance or retreat.

"Father."

Yang Lingqing reached out and grasped Yang Feiyun's hand, which had halted between them. His body trembled slightly, and only then did he raise his other hand to gently touch the back of his daughter's hand.

"Father, this is enough."

With that, Yang Lingqing withdrew her hand and turned away. In the blink of an eye, she had left the council hall.

Yang Feiyun remained standing there in a daze for a long while. Then he let out a long sigh, tightly gripping the command tablet his daughter had given him as he strode outside.