Yang Lingrui accepted the jade bottle and drank it in one gulp without the slightest hesitation, then began meditating to digest it.
Though he did not know exactly what it was, he was certain of one thing: anything bestowed by the ancestor had to be good stuff.
"This power is so pure—so powerful!"
The moment he began refining the spiritual liquid, he felt its might.
Within only a few breaths, the sixth Qi Meridian gave way like a blade cutting through bamboo. Then the momentum only grew fiercer, smashing through the seventh Qi Meridian in one fell swoop as well!
Yang Lingrui realized just how extraordinary this spiritual liquid was. He immediately cast aside all distracting thoughts, focused completely, and began charging at the Qi Meridians with all his strength.
It took Yang Lingrui a full five hours to completely refine the spiritual liquid. He did not awaken until night had fallen.
By then, eleven Qi Meridians within his body had already been opened!
He was only one step away from condensing a vortex of spiritual energy!
Upon awakening, Yang Lingrui hurriedly knelt before the ancestor who had guarded him all along.
"Disciple Yang Lingrui thanks Ancestor for bestowing this treasure!"
Yang Guanfeng smiled and helped him up, saying gently, "Ling Rui, you are a fine seedling. The fate of the Yang Family over the next hundred years will depend on you."
"Ling Rui understands! I will certainly cultivate diligently without slacking, and will not fail Ancestor's trust or the Lineage's expectations!"
Yang Lingrui replied respectfully.
Yet he suddenly recalled something and asked, "Ancestor, regarding what happened today, my brother and sister..."
Yang Guanfeng was intrigued when he heard this and asked in return, "How do you intend to explain it?"
After pondering briefly, Yang Lingrui raised his clear eyes.
"I will tell my brother and sister the truth. They are the people closest to me, and they will also be the pillars supporting my Yang Family in the future. There should be no concealment between us!"
"Good! Ling Rui has thought this through well. Go back and rest."
"This disciple takes his leave."
After this simple exchange, Yang Guanfeng finally set aside the last lingering concern in his heart.
He had indeed worried that Yang Lingrui was still young and had not been born into the main branch. Now that he was receiving focused cultivation, would he become arrogant because of his talent?
It seemed he had overthought matters.
"I seem to have underestimated the younger generation of my Yang Family." Yang Guanfeng shook his head with a self-mocking smile.
When Yang Lingrui returned to the side room, Yang Linghu and Yang Lingqing came forward curiously to question him.
When they learned that he had received a reward from the ancestor and had already broken through eleven Qi Meridians, both of them nearly leaped for joy.
They were even more excited than if they themselves had broken through.
"Ling Rui, you did incredibly well! In the future, you must become the main pillar of our Yang Family!"
"Good lad, you've pulled far ahead of us now!"
Yang Linghu draped an arm around his shoulders and said, "Little Qing, this is wonderful. Our family will soon have another Qi Gathering Cultivator!"
Faced with his brother and sister's praise, Yang Lingrui's face flushed faintly, and he revealed a shy smile.
"Brother Hu, Sister Qing, I will definitely work twice as hard in my cultivation from now on!"
The next day, Chen Yang noticed the changes in Yang Lingrui's spiritual energy.
"Hah, this kid really has what it takes. He's about to successfully open his Qi Meridians. Spiritual liquid sure is useful."
Seeing that Yang Lingrui was about to reach Qi Gathering, Chen Yang thought again of that earlier matter.
One more Qi Gathering Cultivator meant another increase in taxes. Could the Yang Family withstand that?
That evening, after the children had returned.
Chen Yang got off work and was brought back to the room by Yang Guanfeng.
Elder Yu followed close behind and entered as well. "Patriarch, why have you summoned this old man?"
"Have all the matters outside been prepared?"
Yang Guanfeng asked.
Elder Yu nodded upon hearing this. "Everything is ready. The location, timber, stone, and all kinds of materials have already been transported out of the town. The new spirit fields are ready as well; they only need Spirit Infusion to stabilize them."
"Mm, leave them for now. Once the Secret Realm closes and the surrounding area settles down, begin construction. We cannot delay too long, or the Dynasty will bleed our savings dry."
"Yes, this old man understands."
The two then discussed some further details before Elder Yu finally departed.
From their conversation, Chen Yang learned that Yang Guanfeng had long intended to relocate the entire family.
He had merely been waiting for the right opportunity.
And Ling Rui reaching Qi Gathering was precisely such an opportunity.
His plan was to inform the town mayor of Ling Rui's breakthrough, then pay in full the additional taxes owed this year for one more cultivator.
Then he would move the Yang Family out of Willow Leaf Town and have both Yang Linghu and Yang Lingqing break through outside.
That way, outsiders would see only that the Yang Family had produced another Qi Gathering Cultivator and paid the hefty taxes required.
Then, because they could no longer bear the taxes over the long term, they would decide to relocate the entire family beyond the town.
Three Qi Gathering Realm cultivators were already strong enough to protect a small family in this region, so nothing about it would seem amiss.
This would conceal Linghu and Lingqing, allowing the Yang Family to possess hidden strength unknown to outsiders—a trump card held in reserve.
Yang Guanfeng, who had traveled abroad year-round, knew full well how important it was to hide one's trump cards. At present, no one in the Yang Family knew of the relocation except Elder Yu, who was slowly making arrangements in secret.
In the future, they would also have to rely on this old man to build up the Yang Family beyond the town.
After Elder Yu left, Yang Guanfeng paced back and forth in the room for a long time.
His heart was filled with anticipation for the future, yet also with a trace of unease.
Leaving Willow Leaf Town had both advantages and disadvantages.
The advantage was that without the Dynasty's exorbitant taxation, the Lineage could develop much more quickly.
But by the same token, they would lose the Dynasty's protection, and in the future they would have to rely on themselves in all things.
Relocating the Yang Family was only the first step, and the easiest one at that. The problems and troubles they would face afterward would be many.
Whenever he thought of this, he would feel gratitude toward Elder Yu.
Without this old man's diligent and tireless contributions over the years, the Yang Family could never have achieved its present state.
Yang Guanfeng often wondered what the Yang Family would look like today if he had not jumped into the Yuling River to save someone that day.
He had already made up his mind that in the future, there would be a place for Elder Yu in the Lineage ancestral hall.
He would also become the first person outside the Yang Family surname to be enshrined in its ancestral hall.
Time continued to pass, and this final Qi Meridian truly took considerable effort.
Even with Chen Yang assisting him with all his strength, someone as talented as Yang Lingrui still needed three days to open it.
When spiritual energy truly began flowing through his body, the child experienced for the first time the wondrous sensation of a cultivator comprehending heaven and earth.
That night, Yang Lingrui successfully condensed a vortex of spiritual energy in his dantian.
Over the next five days, he began constructing his qi palace.
With guidance from the two seniors, Yang Guanfeng and Elder Yu, Yang Lingrui completed his qi palace on the sixth day and condensed the first wisp of spiritual power in his life!
At the same time, this heralded the birth of the Yang Family's third Qi Gathering Realm cultivator!
"First Level of Qi Gathering! Two Ancestors, Brother, Sister—I made it!"
The moment Yang Lingrui opened his eyes, he happily announced the news to the four people around him.
Yang Linghu and Yang Lingqing embraced him, their words brimming with joyful tears.
Cultivation sounded simple when spoken of, but only they themselves truly understood the boredom and hardship it entailed.
The two ancestors, Yang Guanfeng and Elder Yu, were even more full of gratification.
With such a result, all their previous efforts and toil had been worthwhile!
By then, the Lesser Treasure Realm outside had already closed, and all the visiting cultivators had dispersed.
But out of caution, Yang Guanfeng chose to suppress this matter for another month.
Only a month later did he send Elder Yu to notify the various forces in Willow Leaf Town.
"My Yang Family has cause for great celebration today. We shall hold a banquet to welcome our guests!"
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