The Meng clan youths who had rushed in were all running, shouting excitedly. Their commotion immediately drew the attention of the many clan members in the ancestral mansion. Everyone froze in surprise. What? Did they hear correctly? Meng Chuan had mastered a secret technique?
"Stop right there!" a clan member grabbed one of the speeding youths. "Explain clearly—what exactly happened?"
"Uncle, it's Senior Brother Meng Chuan!" The thirteen-year-old youth beamed, unable to contain his excitement. "Today was the day of the Mirrored Lake Dao Academy selection for slots. Senior Brother Meng Chuan stepped onto the arena and unleashed the Fallen Leaves Blade secret technique, Three Autumn Leaves. Even the dean and the instructors were thrilled."
"The Fallen Leaves Blade secret technique, Three Autumn Leaves?" The burly clan member's eyes widened. "He's only fifteen, right? Fifteen… and he's mastered a secret technique?"
All across the ancestral mansion, clan members gathered around the youths, asking questions, their excitement rising to a fever pitch.
A bald, thin old man squinted and listened quietly, his eyes lighting up as the youths babbled on. He murmured, "Heaven bless… Heaven bless the Meng family."
"Third Elder, it's a tremendous blessing! Meng Chuan has mastered a secret technique!" another clan member ran over to report.
"I know!" The bald, thin elder still wore a stern expression as he turned away—but the corner of his mouth twitched upwards slightly.
…
The Meng family ancestral mansion was vast, housing over two thousand clan members.
In one of the training grounds, a group of youths practiced with swords, axes, and spears, while the chubby Meng Dajiang sat watching.
"Huh? Why is it so noisy outside?" Meng Dajiang frowned slightly. The commotion approached, and even with his Wu Lou Stage strength, he could hear words like "Meng Chuan" and "mastered a secret technique."
A shiver ran down his spine, as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over him. His head felt dizzy.
"Did I hear that wrong?" he muttered anxiously, yet instinctively he stood and headed toward the training ground's entrance.
"Dajiang! Dajiang!" A refined elder, accompanied by several clan members, approached, his face flushed with excitement.
"Fifth Uncle," Meng Dajiang greeted as he hurried over. "What's happened?"
"A momentous occasion! A momentous occasion!" The elder could barely contain his joy.
"Oh?" Meng Dajiang's heart pounded. Though he had some inkling, he wanted the full story.
The refined elder explained, "Some of the younger clan members at Mirrored Lake Dao Academy reported back: your son, Meng Chuan, during the academy's selection, unleashed the secret technique Three Autumn Leaves. The dean, the instructors, and thousands of disciples witnessed it firsthand. It's true! Hahaha… Heaven bless the Meng family, truly bless the Meng family!"
"Meng Chuan unleashed Three Autumn Leaves?" Meng Dajiang felt his head heat up, his heart burning. That was his son!
"Dajiang, your son is extraordinary."
"The Meng family will prosper even more—perhaps a dual Godfiend lineage is in sight," the clan members exclaimed. They didn't know that Meng Xian'gu had been seriously injured; only the elders and clan head were aware.
"Two elders, Xian'gu requests your presence," a clan member reported.
"We're coming."
Meng Dajiang and the refined elder walked together, Meng Dajiang feeling as if he were floating.
…
Meng Xian'gu and the clan head, Meng Yanping, had been playing chess but now paused. Eight elders had gathered in the courtyard, all elated. Some elders were not yet at the mansion and unaware of this monumental news.
"The youths ran so fast," the bald, thin elder said, energized. "All talking about Meng Chuan unleashing the Three Autumn Leaves."
"This is incredible… mastering a secret technique at fifteen… his talent rivals Mei Yuanzhi."
"Dajiang, you've truly raised an extraordinary son."
"Dajiang's guidance played a part," the elders added, brimming with pride.
Meng Dajiang laughed foolishly—this was the happiest day in years.
"If I die knowing this, I could die peacefully," he said.
"Heaven bless the Meng family," the elders repeated.
Though many were nearing the limits of their lifespan, they had always hoped for the family's prosperity. A thriving family meant their siblings, children, and grandchildren could live well. Over the years, they had become inseparable from the clan.
"Look at all of you," Meng Xian'gu smiled. "It's indeed joyous that Meng Chuan mastered a secret technique, but you're celebrating too early."
The elders froze in surprise.
Meng Xian'gu continued, "Meng Chuan has only taken his first step. He is far from becoming a Godfiend. He still needs to master blade stances, condense the core, and survive the ultimate life-and-death trials. These are three major thresholds… Don't elevate him too high or let him become arrogant. He must train diligently. Ideally, he should master the blade stance before twenty. Only then does he have a chance to enter Yuanchu Mountain, and if he succeeds, he will surely become a Godfiend."
"Yuanchu Mountain!" The clan head Meng Yanping and the elders' eyes brightened.
It was the oldest and most revered cultivation site in the world, mysterious and powerful. In the past century, only one Zhang family ancestor from Dongning Prefecture entered Yuanchu Mountain, making the Zhang family the head of the Five Godfiend Families.
"If he cannot enter Yuanchu Mountain, his cultivation path will be perilous," Meng Xian'gu added. "I myself, at sixteen, mastered a secret technique, but only at twenty-two did I comprehend the stance. Unable to enter Yuanchu Mountain, I was merely an outer disciple. I survived nine near-death experiences before barely becoming a Godfiend. Of my team, all equally talented, only I survived."
"Three major thresholds… and he must comprehend the blade stance before twenty to meet the cultivation speed requirement," Meng Xian'gu stressed.
The elders calmed down. Becoming a Godfiend was exceedingly difficult. Meng Chuan, for now, was merely a promising youth, giving the family hope.
"Dajiang," Meng Xian'gu instructed, "go to Mirrored Lake Dao Academy and fetch Meng Chuan. Prepare him for the Yu Yang Palace Demon-Slaying Festival. Afterward, when he's calmed, bring him to me."
"Yes," Meng Dajiang replied respectfully.
"And you all may leave," she instructed the elders. "Do not excessively praise Meng Chuan—let him remain humble, lest it ruin him."
"Yes," the elders chorused solemnly.
Anyone who dares harm Meng Chuan would make an enemy of the entire Meng family.
Soon, the elders departed, leaving only Meng Xian'gu and the clan head siblings in the courtyard.
"Third Sister, you've almost scared them," Meng Yanping chuckled. "I know you're thrilled."
"Of course I am," Meng Xian'gu sighed. "I've been a Godfiend for nearly eighty years, accumulated merits in Yuanchu Mountain, and have many friends. Without a promising youth in the family, all that effort is wasted. Now Meng Chuan has remarkable talent. If I assist him fully, his path will be far smoother than mine."
"He will become a Godfiend," Meng Yanping said.
"He will!" Meng Xian'gu's eyes glimmered with anticipation.
…
At Mirrored Lake Dao Academy, Meng Chuan was walking out, junior disciples calling out in unison, "Senior Brother Meng!" Their enthusiasm was boundless.
Meng Chuan nodded slightly in response and continued walking.
"Huh?"
At the main gate, he saw a group waiting outside. Leading them was the chubby Meng Dajiang, flanked by the bald, thin elder, the refined elder, and several other family elders.
"Father, elders," Meng Chuan greeted.
"You rascal," Meng Dajiang ruffled his head, laughing. "You really startled your father."
Meng Chuan endured the head ruffling, looking pitiful, though his mood was exceptionally good.
"Hahaha, even we were startled."
"Meng Chuan, well done," several elders smiled, clearly pleased.
"Let's go home," Meng Dajiang said happily. With such a son, what more could he ask for?
"Mm."
Meng Chuan responded and followed his father and the others home.