Generous Rewards Bestowed

Wu Tong's eyes trembled slightly. She took a deep breath to steady her emotions.

Three months ago, she had already felt a faint premonition.

Yang Lingqing had prepared a flawless set of reasons to explain why Yang Lingrui and the others were returning late.

To her, this explanation was airtight, and her tone and expression revealed no cracks at all.

Yet, that perfection was the true flaw.

Explaining everything so thoroughly and cleanly only made it seem terribly deliberate.

That night, Wu Tong did not sleep at all. Tears soaked her robes, and the grief in her heart nearly caused her to collapse from exhaustion.

At that moment, Yang Yuanhong, still in her womb, seemed to sense something. He actually fed his own blood qi back to his mother, allowing Wu Tong to recover her strength.

It was only after that night that Wu Tong slowly pulled herself together.

A few days ago, she sought out Yang Lingqing. The two had a private conversation in her room, bringing the matter completely to light.

Yang Lingqing was astonished that Wu Tong could stand firm after enduring such a devastating blow.

Wu Tong's answer only deepened the respect Yang Lingqing held for her sister-in-law.

"We are in a time of great turmoil," Wu Tong had said. "Our family has suffered this disaster, and Yuanhong is still young. I cannot afford to indulge in sorrow and despair. Senior Brother dedicated his life to the family and died a worthy death. I cannot let his spirit down."

Yang Linghu's severed arm was buried in a newly opened courtyard behind the Restricted Grounds.

This was Yang Guanfeng's plan before his departure. He had decreed that in the future, when cultivators of the main Yang family lineage fell, they should all be buried here.

He had originally prepared this place for himself. He never expected that the first person to be buried here would be Yang Linghu.

"Ah... waaah..."

As everyone observed a moment of silence, Yang Yuanhong struggled in Wu Tong's arms, wanting to be set down.

Wu Tong carried him to the grave and gently placed him on the ground.

Yang Yuanhong did not truly understand what was happening. He could only sense the heavy sorrow surrounding them.

But within this mound of earth lay an aura he desperately wanted to be close to.

Swaying on his feet, Yang Yuanhong slowly toddled over to the tombstone. He looked up at the portrait carved at its peak, and an inexplicable wave of grief surged into his heart.

"Da... ah, waaah-"

In the next moment, Yang Yuanhong threw his arms around the tombstone and wailed loudly.

Seeing this, the final taut string in Wu Tong's heart snapped. She fell to her knees, pulling Yang Yuanhong into her embrace as tears streamed down her face.

"Sister-in-law!"

"Sister-in-law!"

Yang Lingqing and the others stepped forward and knelt beside her. The remaining cultivators of different surnames all dropped to their knees as well, bowing deeply toward Yang Linghu's grave.

Elder Yu did not enter this courtyard. He knelt alone by the cliff, facing east, and bowed his head to the earth.

"Patriarch... this old servant is useless..."

Mother and son wept for a long time, and the Yang family stood silently in attendance.

Yang Yuanhong's small arms stubbornly clung to a corner of the tombstone, refusing to let go. Only when he finally cried himself to sleep did Wu Tong carry him back to their courtyard.

Yang Linghu's funeral was a quiet affair. The mortal Yang clan at the foot of the mountain and the other vassal families received no word of it at all.

Yang Xiaolei only learned of the matter after Elder Yu returned to Sanglu Valley.

If not for Elder Yu sustaining him with a technique, the Second Master of the Yang family would have nearly fainted on the spot.

He had rarely seen Yang Linghu in recent years. Both father and son possessed rough, unyielding temperaments, and Yang Xiaolei had always assumed there would be plenty of time to see each other in the future.

He never imagined that their parting half a year ago would be their last.

Ten days after Yang Linghu's severed arm was laid to rest, Gao Hui and a Wangchao Cultivator at Qi Gathering Perfection arrived at the Songshan Yang Family.

This Perfection stage cultivator brought a formal commendation document from the Wangchao. It detailed the final reward settled upon the Yang family following the Seize Treasure incident.

First was the reward for completing two secret edicts: forty thousand points of Wangchao merit.

Next was the compensation for the two cultivators the Yang family had sacrificed: four Premium Marrow-Washing Pills.

Then came the additional reward for Yang Lingrui slaying Wang Weiming: a seat as a direct disciple of the Myriad Transformations Sect.

Furthermore, because the Yang family had secured the inheritances of two secret treasure grounds, coupled with He Shenglai's vigorous recommendation, Yang Lingrui earned the qualification to travel to Chongtian City in three years' time to observe Li Yuande's Qi-Fall Condensed Origin demonstration.

These were the rewards issued by the Wangchao. The He Family also extended their own gestures of goodwill.

They gifted the Yang family an Ancient Willow that had reached Qi Gathering Perfection.

This Ancient Willow was a rare treasure of the He Family. Its bark could be crafted into talisman paper, its sap used as a spiritual medium in alchemy, its branches harvested as artifact refining materials, and its tender leaves steeped directly into tea to clear the mind and calm the spirit. Long-term consumption could strengthen and expand a cultivator's Divine Sense.

This specific Ancient Willow spirit plant was entirely unique to the He Family within the borders of the Zhuhu Wangchao. Many factions had offered vast sums for a sapling at the initial stage of Qi Gathering to cultivate on their own, but the He Family had refused them all.

This alone was proof of how highly the He Family now regarded the Yang clan.

To ensure the Yang family did not accidentally kill the Ancient Willow, the He Family also bestowed a matching secret method for cultivating the spirit plant.

Finally, He Shenglai personally sent ten thousand Spirit Crystals to the Yang family under his own name.

Added together, all of these could undoubtedly be called a generous reward!

Many of these items simply could not be measured by the value of Spirit Crystals.

A direct disciple seat in the Myriad Transformations Sect, for instance, meant that a Yang family cultivator now had the opportunity to access Spirit Communion techniques and walk the path of spirit control.

And the qualification to observe the Qi-Fall Condensed Origin process was a supreme opportunity that countless aristocratic heirs would break their heads trying to obtain.

In addition to these bestowals, the Wangchao Cultivator delivered one final piece of good news.

Due to the Yang family's outstanding performance in this matter, as well as their unwavering loyalty, they were granted five years of peace to recuperate and develop their strength.

During this time, even if the Wangchao mobilized again, the Yang family would not be drafted into service.

"Songshan Yang Family, are the terms clear?"

"Reporting to Your Excellency, the Yang family understands clearly. We thank the Wangchao for its profound grace!"

Yang Lingqing knelt on one knee, raising both hands to accept the commendation document.

"Mm. The Wangchao looks highly upon your clan. You must continue to strive diligently in the future. Do not grow complacent with your merits, nor slack in your cultivation."

"We shall carve Your Excellency's words into our hearts. We will certainly not fail the Wangchao's great expectations," the Yang family cultivators replied in unison.

"With this matter settled, I must make a trip to the eastern border. I will not linger here."

With those words, the Wangchao Cultivator leaped into the air and swiftly vanished from their sight.

"Town Chief Gao, that man mentioned heading to the eastern border. Could it be..."

As soon as the envoy departed, Yang Lingqing quickly rose and tentatively asked Gao Hui.

"Indeed!"

Gao Hui nodded emphatically. "Because of the great merit the Yang family established this time, the old patriarch has also earned a chance for promotion. Breaking through to the late stage is now a certainty!"

Upon hearing this, the Yang family members were filled with joy.

Their Ancestor had been stationed in the distant borderlands for years. Not only had the family been unable to offer him any support, but they had also relied on him to slay enemies, earn merit, and send his rewards back home.

This had always weighed heavily on Yang Lingqing and the others.

Knowing they could finally do something to aid Yang Guanfeng brought them a deep sense of peace.

After Gao Hui left, the Yang family began to distribute the resources internally.

The four Premium Marrow-Washing Pills were given to Yang Lingqing, Yang Lingshu, Yang Yuanhong, and Wu Tong.

The direct disciple seat in the Myriad Transformations Sect was assigned to Yang Lingshu.

To serve as his companion in cultivation, and to fulfill their promise to Lü Lianshun, the recommendation for an ordinary sect disciple that Gao Hui had offered over two years ago was handed to Lü Fangxuan.

As for how to allocate the Wangchao merits and Spirit Crystals, detailed planning was still required, so the matter was temporarily set aside.

With these affairs settled, Yang Lingrui arrived at the ancestral hall in the Restricted Grounds.

Chen Yang bestowed the fourth spirit bead. As soon as the bead entered Yang Lingrui's body, it seemed to leap with joy.

However, after circling through his meridians several times, the spirit bead failed to settle down.

This was not because Yang Lingrui's physique was lacking, but because his aptitude was simply too exceptional. Every part of his foundation was profoundly suited to house the bead, leaving the spirit bead unsure of where to anchor itself.

It was the first time Chen Yang had ever seen such a thing. He could not help but wonder where the spirit bead would ultimately be refined.

Yang Lingrui, deep in meditative focus, seemed to realize this as well. He slowly circulated his cultivation method, gently guiding the spirit bead.

Under the influence of the Nether-Spirit Dao-Seeking Scripture, the spirit bead began to dissolve.

Yet, it did not refine into a specific point in his body. Instead, it transformed into an ethereal, formless force that merged seamlessly into Yang Lingrui's very being.

"This is!"

Sensing the profound shift, Chen Yang incredulously swept his consciousness into the young man's body.

Only when the spirit bead was completely refined did he finally confirm his suspicion.

Driven by the cultivation technique, this spirit bead had actually transformed into a wisp of Providence, taking root within Yang Lingrui!

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