Chen Yang slept for three months.
Over those three months, the cultivator forces marching east to quell the unrest swept forward all the way, wiping out the bandit scourge along their route and swiftly bringing this calamity to an end.
For the Tiger Chasing Dynasty, this was naturally good news, but for the various local lineages, only they knew whether the water was warm or cold.
Because of the Dynasty's decree, the high-level combat strength of each lineage's cultivators had been drafted to the Eastern Region border to suppress the unrest.
This caused the strength of many lineages to decline to varying degrees.
For the small number of powerful lineages, losing one or two high-realm cultivators did not have much of an impact, because there were still people in their households who could take their place.
But for most small lineages still crawling and struggling at the bottom, the impact was nothing short of earth-shaking.
Those lineages that had relied on a single cultivator to prop up their facade now became no different from ordinary mortal families once that person left, losing all their former competitiveness.
And because they had made many enemies through their actions while backed by cultivators, it was not long before they faced the suppression and encirclement of their various hostile forces.
There were even small lineages whose cultivators, in order to ensure their descendants retained power, raised the butcher's blade against their own kin and carried out a great purge before leaving!
They pruned away every collateral branch that posed a threat. Such a method could stabilize the main branch's position, but it undoubtedly greatly weakened the lineage's overall strength. It was an utterly selfish and worst possible choice.
There were also some whose circumstances were still decent. After the Patriarch was drafted away, one or two people remained, but most were only at the First or Second Level of Qi Gathering. They could barely protect themselves, yet could not truly stand alone, and their influence diminished greatly.
Then there were those with some strength, such as the Zhang Family of Sanglu Valley. After Zhang Tianqi left, they should still have had three cultivators: one at the Fifth Level of Qi Gathering, one at the Third Level of Qi Gathering, and one at the Second Level of Qi Gathering.
Their strength was still passable.
But because of Zhang Chen's disappearance, only two people actually remained in the valley.
Though Zhang Yao was Zhang Tianqi's eldest son, with his father gone and no one left to deter others, he could not control the situation. The conflicts long hidden within the Zhang Family also began to surface.
His uncle at the Fifth Level of Qi Gathering seemed to have developed some unsettling intentions. Before even a month had passed, Sanglu Valley unexpectedly announced that it was sealing the valley and would no longer communicate with the outside world.
The plight of these lineages showed just how important and precious unity of purpose was to a lineage.
Fortunately, Yang Guanfeng had noticed this more than a decade ago. With Elder Yu's assistance, he had thoroughly swept away the chronic sickness of infighting for power and profit within the lineage.
Thus, during this period of violent upheaval, while the other lineages were a tangled mess, the Songshan Yang Family stood as steady as Mount Tai, utterly unaffected by the shock.
Whether in production and daily life or in their various businesses, everything proceeded in perfect order.
Not only that, while other lineages shrank their enterprises as much as possible to protect themselves, the Yang Family seized the opportunity to carry out a wave of annexation and expansion.
Now, between Willow Leaf Town and White Stone Town, the Yang Family owned shops along ten streets and had also purchased two small mines from other families at low prices.
The population below the mountain steadily increased, and the situation on the South Bank gradually got on track, with two new villages established.
The Yang Family's influence throughout the entire region was now even greater than it had been when Yang Guanfeng was still around.
Two things had created this situation: the Yang Family had many cultivators, and Yang Lingqing was skilled at governing the household.
Sensing the Yang Family's strength, quite a few lineages sent people to visit, hoping to establish ties with the Yang Family or obtain at least a little protection.
The day Chen Yang awakened happened to coincide with the Yang Family's customary council meeting.
When he cast down his consciousness, he discovered that besides Yang Lingqing, there was also an unfamiliar Qi Gathering Cultivator in the council hall.
This person's realm was not high, only the First Level of Qi Gathering, and he was currently speaking with Lingqing.
"Liang Yi pays respects to the Patriarch."
"Mr. Liang, there is no need for such formality. Please rise and speak."
"Thank you, Patriarch!"
Liang Yi rose, and Yang Feiyun led him to a seat beside Yang Lingqing.
Yang Lingqing looked at him and asked with a smile, "Mr. Liang, what do you think of the conditions I mentioned last time?"
Liang Yi hurriedly nodded heavily.
"My Liang Family has no objections whatsoever to the Patriarch's arrangements!"
"Good. Did you bring the register of your family members?"
"I brought it all. Please inspect it, Patriarch!"
With that, Liang Yi took a paper scroll from his sleeve and handed it to Yang Lingqing.
After Yang Lingqing read it, she passed it to Yang Xiaolei and instructed, "Let them in according to the register."
"Yes! I obey Immortal Master Lingqing's decree!"
After making the arrangements, Yang Lingqing turned back to Liang Yi. "Mr. Liang, rest assured. The farmland, residences, and businesses have all been prepared. Once the Liang Family joins the Yang Family lineage today, you can begin operating them tomorrow."
Liang Yi was deeply moved upon hearing this and rose once more to bow in thanks.
The Liang Family had originally been a lineage in Willow Leaf Town. There were two cultivators in the family: Liang Yi at the First Level of Qi Gathering, and his elder brother Liang Yuan at the Fourth Layer of Qi Gathering.
With a Qi Gathering Mid-stage cultivator overseeing them, the Liang Family had always possessed some standing in Willow Leaf Town. After the Yang Family moved away, their days grew even better.
But good times did not last. The Dynasty's decree struck the Liang Family like a thunderbolt out of a clear sky.
Liang Yuan had to head east to suppress the unrest, leaving only Liang Yi, a mere First Level of Qi Gathering cultivator, at home.
Looking at their former rivals, every one of them still had cultivators at the Second Level of Qi Gathering supporting them.
Barely a month after the transfer order arrived, the Liang Family's external mines were forcibly seized, while their other businesses suffered suppression to varying degrees.
Their shops in town were smashed for no reason, their merchant caravans were hijacked, and later, even junior family members began disappearing when they went out.
Liang Yi, who had always worked under his elder brother's wing, had no way to handle such matters. Within days, he was left frazzled and exhausted in body and mind.
Only then did he begin to regret becoming arrogant and complacent after reaching Qi Gathering, relaxing his cultivation and believing that as long as his elder brother was there, everything would be worry-free.
But matters had already come to this. No amount of words could help, so he could only grit his teeth and hold on, seeking a way out for the family.
Then, by chance, he learned news of the Yang Family.
At the time, the Liang Family's situation in Willow Leaf Town was already extremely difficult. With the mindset of making one desperate gamble, he came to visit the Yang Family.
The moment he saw Yang Lingqing, he knew he had come to the right place.
"The Yang Family truly is as powerful as the rumors say. This little girl is only around fifteen years old, yet her realm is already above mine!"
Afterward, he learned that Yang Lingqing was the current patriarch of the Yang Family, which shocked him even more, and he hurriedly knelt to kowtow.
During their subsequent conversation, he increasingly realized just how formidable Yang Lingqing's methods were.
The many carefully prepared arguments he had arranged beforehand were all effortlessly defused by her.
She did not even need to threaten him with force. Her words and manner alone made Liang Yi wholeheartedly convinced.
"Compared to her, my ability to manage a family is simply children playing house." Liang Yi reflected bitterly.
To his delight, the Yang Family agreed to let him bring his family to submit to them, though they also put forward many conditions.
Liang Yi accepted them one by one. Compared to the harsh environment for survival in Willow Leaf Town, these conditions were nothing.
He then returned home to discuss it with his clansmen. Two months later, the entire family relocated to Pine Mountain.
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