When Song Changsheng emerged bathed in golden light, everyone present broke into smiles. A Foundation Establishment cultivator at such a young age let alone within the Song Clan, even across all nineteen provinces of Great Qi was undeniably a true prodigy.
"Changsheng greets Grandfather, Mother, and all uncles," Song Changsheng bowed deeply and spoke in a clear voice.
"Good, good, very good! At last, the 'Chang' generation of our clan has someone who can carry the mantle." Song Xianyun stroked his beard with a beaming smile.
That Song Changsheng had reached the Foundation Establishment made him happier than anyone else. It meant the clan now had a worthy successor, and the old generation could finally rest easy.
"Sheng'er, did you comprehend the True Meaning of Yin and Yang?" Xia Yunxue asked eagerly, holding onto his arm.
"Yes, Mother," Song Changsheng replied honestly.
During his breakthrough, everything about him had already been exposed there was no way to deny it. Since all those present were elders he respected, there was no need to hide anything.
"You little brat, so you were hiding it from us before." Song Luzhou laughed and scolded him lightly, but didn't pursue it further. As Song Xianming had said, every cultivator has their secrets.
As long as it didn't harm the clan, there was no need to dig too deep. That was the foundation of trust and respect.
"Sheng'er, focus on consolidating your cultivation for now. In three months, the clan will host a joint Foundation Establishment ceremony for you and Lutong. As for your next assignment, your mother will explain it to you," said Song Xianming before turning and returning to the Hall of Clouds. Song Xianyun and the others offered their blessings one after another before taking their leave. Song Changsheng respectfully saw them all off.
Though he was now a Foundation Establishment cultivator, elders would always be elders.
After everyone had left, Song Changsheng grinned and said, "Mother, when did you get back?"
Xia Yunxue glared at him and said teasingly, "You've been in seclusion for over two years! I've been waiting here the whole time. Do you know how worried I was? Just like your father heartless, the both of you."
Song Changsheng scratched his head sheepishly. Had he been in seclusion that long? Truly, time has no meaning when one cultivates. Years pass in the blink of an eye.
"Hey, why didn't I see Uncle Lutong?" Seeing signs that his mother might reach for his ear again, Song Changsheng quickly changed the subject.
"While you were in seclusion, the clan made some small personnel adjustments. Your Ninth Aunt stepped down from her position at the Enforcement Hall due to injuries and will now focus on intelligence work for the clan.
Lutong has been promoted to the sixth elder and will temporarily take over my post guarding the mortal realm." Xia Yunxue explained patiently, clearly aware that he was trying to change the topic but indulging him anyway.
Song Changsheng sighed inwardly. His Ninth Aunt's injuries must be too serious to allow her to appear in public anymore putting her in charge of the Whispering Hall was probably the best outcome.
What surprised him, though, was the arrangement for Song Lutong. With that man's temperament, could he stay in the mortal realm?
Wait a moment if Song Lutong was heading down to guard the mortal realm, then wouldn't that mean…
Seeing the expectant look in Song Changsheng's eyes, Xia Yunxue nodded. "That's right. The clan has appointed me to take over the Enforcement Hall. From now on, the Enforcement and Whispering Halls will be managed separately."
With that confirmation, Song Changsheng brightened visibly, feeling genuine joy for her.
This promotion not only gave Xia Yunxue greater authority, making her a real power within the clan, but it also signified the clan's full recognition of her worth second in importance only to Song Changsheng himself.
"By the way, Mother, what was the new assignment Grandfather mentioned earlier?" Song Changsheng recalled Song Xianming's words, feeling there might be more beneath the surface.
Xia Yunxue took a deep breath and said, "Let's talk about it back home."
Song Changsheng found it a little strange what kind of matter couldn't be said here? But he was smart enough not to press. Heaven and earth may be vast, but in his heart, Mother reigns supreme. Whatever she said, went.
When the two returned to their courtyard, Xia Yunxue went straight to the kitchen to prepare a meal, not mentioning the clan's arrangements at all. Even if Song Changsheng was slow to catch on, he could tell something was off and started to feel a bit uneasy.
Soon, a delicious spread of dishes was laid out on the table. Xia Yunxue called Song Changsheng to sit, but instead of two place settings, there were three sets of bowls and chopsticks. The atmosphere suddenly turned heavy.
Xia Yunxue brought out three wine cups, poured spirit wine into each, and said with a faint smile, "I'm happy today. Come have a drink with your mother."
Song Changsheng had no objection he had already smelled the fragrance of the wine. He lifted his cup in a toast to his mother, tilted his head back, and downed the drink in one go. The spicy burn of the wine made his eyes widen.
"This wine… is it your treasured Drunken Beauty?" he asked, surprised.
"That's right. This was brewed when your father and I first fell in love. It's been thirty years now only two jars left." Xia Yunxue's eyes softened with a trace of nostalgia. Time had passed so quickly; in the blink of an eye, so much had changed.
Song Changsheng let out a quiet sigh. His mother had always treated this wine as a precious keepsake. Even he had only tasted it once as a child almost fainting from it. For her to bring it out now… it was no simple matter.
"Mother, if there's something you want to say, please tell me directly," he said solemnly.
Xia Yunxue refilled her cup and downed it in one gulp. Her expression complex, she took out a palm-sized purple jade token and handed it to Song Changsheng.
Song Changsheng rose to accept it. The jade was cold to the touch. On its front were two lifelike flood dragons, carved in a "dragons playing with a pearl" formation. At the top was a crescent moon, surrounded by auspicious clouds.
At the very center, an ancient script character for "Song" was engraved, dignified and majestic.
The back bore no words only a coiled dragon, exuding an aura of solemnity.
"This is... the token of the Young Clan Lord?" Song Changsheng was shocked. This item hadn't appeared in over a century; he'd only seen fleeting mentions of it in ancient texts.
Xia Yunxue nodded gently and spoke:
"While you were in seclusion, your grandfather made a vow: If you successfully reached Foundation Establishment, you would become the clan's next Young Clan Lord.
It's a tremendous honor.
But I want to know what you think."
Song Changsheng felt as if the moment he said the word "no," the jade token would be taken from him forever.
It was, without a doubt, a weighty decision.
Was being the Young Clan Lord glorious? Absolutely. In the clan's long history, only two had ever held the title each a dragon among men, with the potential to reach the Purple Mansion realm.
In terms of status, the Young Clan Lord was second only to the Clan Lord himself above even the elders, and would receive the clan's full backing. Countless people dreamed of such a position.
But it wasn't just about status and power it also came with immense responsibility. Accepting it meant his life would no longer be his own. The interests of the clan would come before everything else.
Song Changsheng hesitated.
The world was vast, and he longed to see it stand on the stormy shores of the Eastern Sea, to witness the flourishing cultivation sects of Central Shenzhou, to explore the endless deserts of the Far West…
But if he accepted this role, all of that might become a distant dream. Like Song Xianming, he might spend the rest of his life confined to the Hall of Cloudwards.
The room was silent only the sound of their breathing could be heard.
After a long pause, Song Changsheng broke into a radiant smile and said,
"From the moment I laid eyes on it, I felt it was meant to be mine."
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