[You left Yunluan Mountain and returned to the Xie Family with Xie Qiaoxuan.]
[Unlocked Location: Wutong Prefecture]
[Unlocked Power: Wutong Xie Clan]
[Xie Family, a 'Prefecture-level Noble Clan' in Wutong Prefecture, has had Third Realm cultivators guarding it for generations, comparable to a prestigious large sect. The current ruling person, Xie Qiaoxuan, is the Patriarch of the Xie Family. He personally took you to the ancestral hall and recorded your ancestry, regardless of others' gossip and rumors, it made no difference.]
[Once at Xuanqing Lake, the Xie Family heir, Xie Qiaoxuan's eldest son, who had a confrontation with you and was quite resistant to you, your nominal uncle, had a lot to say about this decision.]
["Father, this child is from Xuanqing Lake, the son of the Jiao Demon 'Gua Hua,' raised in Xuanqing Lake since childhood, fierce and untamed. The Young Palace Master Yunluan took him away, why did you bring him back again?"]
["Our Xie Clan is prosperous; if you want direct descendants, any of the juniors would do. Keeping this child, just in case that wretched Jiao Demon, who we don't know where it lurks, returns for revenge..." said Xie An, dissatisfied.]
["Then let me handle it alone." Xie Qiaoxuan, with his hands behind his back, looked arrogantly at his eldest son.]
["Xie An, put away your ridiculous prejudices."]
["Or rather... if you break through the 'Great Innate' threshold today and reach the Third Realm, I will never interfere in Xie Family affairs again. Do you think you can do that?"]
["This trip to Yunluan Mountain, although the orthodox inheritance has declined, the Sword Master still hasn't comprehended the 'Fourth Step' True Master to inherit the blessings of the previous generation."]
["But that Song Brahman Mirror... in my observation, is not far from the Third Realm, and how old is she?"]
["She's just from Xie Wei's generation, only a few years younger, yet a whole decade younger than you, and she's surpassed you!"]
["Now, I'm not going to live another thirty or fifty years. If you don't show some promise soon, at my twilight years, how much of Xie Family's glory can you still enjoy?"]
Wutong Prefecture, Xie Clan.
Ancestral Hall!
Under an old locust tree.
When Song Chai Xin was brought back to the Xie Family, some opposed, some remained silent.
Faced with Xie An's opinion, Xie Qiaoxuan showed no tolerance.
After all, Xie Qiaoxuan was not Song Brahman Mirror.
On Yunluan Mountain, the Third Step Peak Yunluan Sword Master is Song Brahman Mirror's father, who stays in seclusion at the Celestial Pool, not concerned with worldly affairs.
Each of the three real power Elders, when mentioned, are renowned Third Step experts.
Although the position of Young Palace Master Song Brahman Mirror is esteemed, the authority in her hands is actually quite limited.
Even if Yunluan Mountain has become increasingly desolate, a thin camel is still bigger than a horse.
Once dominating Baoping State, now only lying between Wutong Prefecture and Baoping State, to have a voice here, Third Step cultivation is indispensable.
But the Xie Family is different!
From top to bottom, the entire network of relationships is supported by Xie Qiaoxuan alone. He is the Stabilizing Needle that ensures the Xie Family does not fall in Wutong Prefecture.
Moreover, he is the Xie Family's only Third-Step cultivator, supporting the Xie Family's 'Prefecture-level Noble Clan' status, preventing the clan from falling into a lower 'City-level Noble Clan.'
In the Xie Family.
Xie Qiaoxuan's word is as good as gold, firm in his decisions!
And beneath him, only four direct bloodlines with the names 'An, Ping, Yuan, Wei' get to speak.
Xie An is his eldest legitimate son, the expected future heir of the Xie Family. Focusing on family honor, he naturally does not want the Wutong Xie Clan to be shamed, but...
His father did not save him any face in front of the elders of the clan and several siblings. He was scolded until his face turned red and he could not utter a word.
Seeing this, Song Chai Xin felt a wave of satisfaction.
This good uncle, once so high-spirited at Xuanqing Lake, is now so embarrassed.
"Since father says so, I have nothing more to say."
"Arrange the elders to change his surname and name in our family register."
Xie An suppressed a sigh and unwillingly agreed with Xie Qiaoxuan.
No choice,
In Wutong Prefecture Xie Family, the old man is like the sky.
If he says go east, no one dares to go west.
But...
I thought this matter would be a great favor to this Half-Demon boy, and he would surely be ecstatic, grateful, and embrace it, but Xie An found out that Song Chai Xin standing beside Xie Qiaoxuan looked as if he had expected it all along, with a calm demeanor,
"I can be entered into the family register, but this surname, this name, are changed by me alone, and I am unwilling to change them again."
"Since leaving Xuanqing Lake, I am no longer the half-demon offspring 'Ancient Moon' of that Flood Dragon, but I have lived my own life as 'Song Chai Xin.'"
Saying this, Song Chai Xin turned his head and seriously looked at Xie Qiaoxuan in his black robe,
"Before coming, I also informed my grandfather, and he personally agreed to this matter, so..."
"Uncle, you can enter it in the family register, but my name and surname cannot be changed!" Song Chai Xin looked at Xie An, seeing the veins on his forehead gradually bulging, his tone firm and unyielding.
"Absurd!"
"The name can be let go, but since you're in the Xie Clan's family register, how can there be a reason to not change even the surname?"
"Patriarch, there is no such rule in the world. If so, how can he still be a member of the Xie Clan, this..."
If earlier, regarding Song Chai Xin's entry into the Xie Family, the elders summoned by Xie Qiaoxuan mostly remained silent.
But now, it was like a rebound from the bottom, one after another they became vehemently vocal, but before they could say a few words, they were overturned by a flick of Xie Qiaoxuan's sleeve!
When the aura of the Third-Step Great Cultivator overflowed, the whole place fell silent!
Only a faint, old voice lingered, indifferent:
"There is no such rule under heaven?"
"Then let it start with me."
"Add him 'Song Chai Xin' to the family register!"
After speaking, he looked at the slightly shocked faces around him and said:
"You think that I am doing this because he is Xie Wei's son?"
"Wrong."
"If anyone can train in the fist arts for three months and perfect it, comprehending 'Namehouse' level insight, then whatever he says, I will agree to anything!"
"Even if it's to have the position of the Young Master of the Xie Family, it's not impossible."
"Which of your descendants can achieve this?"
At these words, the whole place fell into a sudden silence.
Even Xie An was stunned:
"Three months, perfecting fist skills and comprehending Namehouse-level fist intent, him?"
Ordinary people practice fist arts for years, even over a dozen years, and can only perfect one school of fist arts, while the noble children, taught by famous teachers from a young age, are naturally different.
But to perfect fist skills, one must practice from a young age to adulthood, and it depends on opportunities. Of course, the hardest part is not this, but 'insight'!
Deciding the lower limit of a martial artist is called realm.
But deciding the upper limit of a martial artist...
is always how high his martial arts attainment is!
And 'insight' is the first threshold to distinguish an ordinary person from a mediocre talent!
Not to mention...
comprehending it in just three months!
If this matter is true.
Just how frightening must this child's natural talent in fist arts be??
Xie An remained silent.
The elders and Xie Clan seniors present also stopped speaking.
Because they knew, Xie Qiaoxuan...
had no need to fabricate such things.
"Of course, if you insist on your path, you must also understand that the reputation you win is for the Xie Family."
"And the first competition to face is..."
"...the Wutong Prefecture Examination in six months!"
"If you can secure a 'top ten,' I promise your future will be smooth, at least you could secure a city-level guardian position, or if you strive hard, you could even achieve more!"
With a calm brow, Xie Qiaoxuan's words sparked a thousand ripples instantly.
The Prefecture Examination is for selecting talents for the 'Great Zhao Official Mansion.' Every chosen 'Martial Arts Leader' can enter the military rolls for inheritance.
Apart from selecting constables from various 'cities' under Wutong Prefecture, it largely invites the noble and military children to enlist.
Participation happens once every four years.
The Xie Family is only entitled to nominate two candidates. Does the old man really think so highly of this boy?
However...
Recalling the momentary mention of fist insight, those who felt shocked yet resentful fell silent again.
Fist insight, below the Great Innate, few can comprehend it.
Which means...
If, in six months, Song Chai Xin can don the 'Water and Fire Immortal Robe.'
Begin gathering energy in his body, taking his first steps to transcend mortality...
Perhaps, no one would be his match!
Such a person might indeed secure a spot after all.
At the very least, compared to the embarrassing position the Xie Family has held for nearly ten years without achieving good results...
This boy really does serve as a good remedy to bridge the talent gap.
(ps: Please keep following~)