Setting Out, Awakening

Yang Linghu felt it was somewhat inappropriate for Yang Lingqing to personally venture to the hidden cache, so he made a trip to Songshan to discuss the matter with her.

He proposed leading the group himself, but the moment the words left his mouth, Yang Lingqing flatly rejected the idea.

"This is absolutely out of the question. Sister-in-law is still nurturing her unborn child. How could I possibly send you out?"

Yang Lingqing said sternly.

"Lingqing, you are now the Patriarch of the Yang family. If any mishap occurs to you on this journey, who will step up to take care of such a massive household?"

Yang Linghu shook his head at her reaction, stepping forward to argue. "You must know clearly in your heart that sending me is the most suitable choice. That Black Snake Hidden Cache only permits those at the early Qi Gathering stage to enter. With my current strength and methods, even disciples hailing from a Sect would not be my match."

"Anyone in this family can face danger, but not you."

"Do you still remember the instructions the late ancestor left before his passing? He personally decreed that should external matters arise, I am to be sent first. Unless it is an absolute emergency, you must never act yourself!"

Yang Lingqing stood with her back to Yang Linghu, her brows tightly furrowed.

"How could I not understand what you are saying? But the circumstances are different now."

"I shall have Wu Tong brought here to live with you, and I will journey to the hidden cache."

"No!"

"Even that will not do! Why are you being so utterly unreasonable today!"

Seeing that his elder brother and sister were on the verge of a quarrel, Yang Lingrui hastily stepped between them.

"Brother Hu, Sister Qing, please do not be anxious. There is still time before we must set out. We can deliberate on this matter slowly."

With that, he guided them back into the room one by one, and the three of them sat back down upon their meditation cushions.

"Each generation bears its own mission and responsibilities. That is what you once told me."

Yang Linghu said softly, looking at Yang Lingqing.

An uncommon trace of vexation surfaced in Yang Lingqing's eyes. "Sister-in-law is pregnant. I cannot allow you to go out and risk your life."

"I understand your intentions, but this Wangchao secret order was personally delivered by He Shenglai. It bypassed Gao Hui completely. You should comprehend the underlying meaning of this."

Yang Linghu analyzed, "They have invested so much in our family precisely because they expect to see a Return at this time. This is the first step the Yang family is taking under the Wangchao's arrangements! If we stumble on this initial move, it will be difficult to secure their trust in the future, and I fear we will be reduced to abandoned pawns!"

As his words fell, the room descended into a heavy silence.

If Yang Linghu could see through these matters, how could Yang Lingqing possibly fail to perceive them?

The Wangchao secret order bore a golden seal; she was acutely aware of its immense gravity.

Unlike the tasks He Shenglai had previously handed down through Gao Hui, if the mandate upon this secret order was not completed, the Wangchao would undoubtedly hand down punishment.

Whether in terms of sheer strength or practical experience in spells and martial arts, Yang Linghu surpassed her.

Whether viewed from the perspective of a Patriarch or the goal of fulfilling the secret order, sending him was the best choice for this journey.

Under ordinary circumstances, Yang Lingqing would not have hesitated in the slightest.

Yet right now, Wu Tong was pregnant, and the child had yet to be born.

Should any misfortune befall Yang Linghu on this journey, Wu Tong would be forced to endure the agonizing pain of losing a beloved partner once more. The child in her womb would never even get a chance to lay eyes upon its own father.

As the three remained locked in silence, a disturbance rippled outside the house; someone had entered the Formation.

Yang Shu came jogging up to the dwelling, his voice ringing out clearly, "Patriarch! A letter has arrived!"

Yang Lingqing rose and walked out. Upon taking the letter and unfolding it, her expression froze momentarily.

It was a letter handwritten by Wu Tong.

It contained a mere twelve characters.

"Patriarch, do not worry for me. Prioritize the clan's affairs above all else!"

Yang Shu stood to the side with his head lowered, murmuring, "Sister-in-law insisted that I deliver this. I could not persuade her otherwise..."

"It is fine. I understand."

Yang Lingqing folded the letter neatly along its original creases and held it firmly in her hand.

"I have truly lost my composure today. I did not resemble a Patriarch in the slightest."

She offered a self-deprecating remark, then turned to look back inside the room, restoring her customary tranquil demeanor.

"Yang Linghu, Yang Lingrui, receive your orders."

"Present!"

The two figures flashed forward in response, sinking to one knee before Yang Lingqing.

"I now command the two of you to lead the group. You are to journey to the secret cache treasure land and Seize Treasure. Set out in seven days."

Yang Lingqing continued, "This journey is fraught with peril; you must not be careless. Should you encounter danger, prioritize your lives above all else. Do you understand?"

"Understood! We accept the Patriarch's command!"

Once the matter was settled, Yang Linghu relocated Wu Tong from Sanglu Valley to Songshan. Baishi Town's head, Gao Hui, personally escorted them the entire way.

For this action, the Yang family brought out all the resources they had saved up.

Vajra Talismans, Mountain-Splitting Talismans, Spirit Shield Talismans, and Divine Movement Talismans, along with various supporting Pills obtained through purchase and trade, were meticulously sorted and packed into the Storage Bags of the six departing cultivators.

Furthermore, Yang Lingqing personally prepared a Spring-Returning Pill for both Yang Lingrui and Yang Linghu.

It went to show that the Wangchao's rewards were not taken for free.

Indeed, a single trip was enough to make the Yang family spit everything back out.

Seven days flashed by, and Yang Lingqing personally held a farewell toast for the six cultivators.

Upon learning of this matter, Gao Hui requested permission from his superiors to accompany the six for a segment of the journey, ensuring their safe passage until they cleared the borders of Wangyue City.

After seeing the six off, Yang Lingqing returned to the courtyard, only to find Wu Tong supporting herself against the doorframe, gazing outwards.

"Sister-in-law!"

She hurriedly went forward to support her, chiding with concern, "You must call for me whenever you wish to come outside."

"Mmh, I know... I just wanted to catch one last glimpse of him," Wu Tong said softly.

Hearing those words, Yang Lingqing said nothing more. She gently assisted Wu Tong to the edge of the cliff. Looking far into the distance from there, one could still faintly discern the retreating back of Yang Linghu.

The two women stood and gazed afar until even the tiny black speck on the horizon vanished, before finally returning inside.

The sun and moon cycled, and a month slipped away in the blink of an eye.

On this particular day, after settling Wu Tong into sleep, Yang Lingqing made her way to the ancestral hall.

Though the home was vast, staying here was what gave her mind the most peace.

Yet, the moment she saw the vacant space in the center, she could not help but think of their Immortal Venerable.

"By my reckoning, the Immortal Venerable has been in Secluded Cultivation for two years now," she mused silently.

The Yang family had managed to safely survive these past two years, delivering the two contracts exactly on time. That their people could venture out today covered in Talismans was entirely due to Chen Yang's hard work during that year.

Had he not made such thorough preparations beforehand, there was no telling what state the Yang family would be in right now.

Hum-

Just as Yang Lingqing was wondering how much longer it would take for the Immortal Venerable to emerge, a resonant chime echoed within her Sea of Consciousness.

She froze for a moment at first, but then a look of profound joy flooded her face.

The Immortal Venerable had ended his Secluded Cultivation!

Sanglu Valley, the cave mansion at the valley's bottom.

Elder Yu watched the slowly opening stone doors of the cave mansion. He bowed respectfully toward the interior, calling out, "We respectfully welcome the Immortal Venerable from his Secluded Cultivation."

"To think I truly slept for two years."

To him, sleeping for two years and sleeping for a single night actually felt no different.

After his Awakening, Chen Yang began to inwardly inspect his body.

Seeing that all seven Soul Flames remained intact, his heart was put at ease significantly.

"Not bad. If I woke up from a nap to find them completely snuffed out, I would have been truly screwed."

He then sent a spiritual transmission to Elder Yu, who stepped forward and systematically recounted every matter that had occurred over the past two years to Chen Yang.

"What unfortunate timing. If I had awakened just a month earlier, I could have placed these spirit pearls into their hands."

Chen Yang had now reached the Qi Gathering Perfection realm. Upon breaking through this realm, he had obtained a new divine ability.

That was the ability to channel the Power of Prayer within the white space inside his body to nurture spirit pearls.

At present, he only knew that these spirit pearls should be capable of being refined by cultivators, but their specific efficacy remained unknown.

Since Elder Yu happened to be present, Chen Yang manifested a single spirit pearl and shot it through the air directly into his body.

Elder Yu initially felt a heat in his chest and abdomen, and then he could sense this peculiar spirit pearl beginning to roam along his Qi Channels.

It appeared to be selecting an appropriate dwelling, but after completing a full circuit without finding a place to settle, it unexpectedly permeated out of his body and flew back to Chen Yang.

"Oh? So that is how it works. Because they are nurtured by the Power of Prayer, these spirit pearls possess their own sentience and will actively select suitable cultivators for themselves."

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