The Third Cultivator of a Foreign Surname

After obliterating the four intruders, Chen Yang fully unfurled his immense consciousness, encompassing all the lands along both the north and south banks.

In that moment, a violent tremor shook the hearts of all the mortal commoners living under the Yang family's rule.

"Please calm your wrath, Immortal Master..."

"Please calm your wrath, Immortal Master..."

They stumbled out of their homes in terror, chanting their pleas as they repeatedly kowtowed and prostrated themselves toward Songshan.

The four streaks of light that had just torn across the sky toward the south bank, combined with the uncontrollable, intense unease gripping their hearts, made them acutely aware that some disaster had occurred today, angering the Immortal Masters on the mountain.

Chen Yang reached out with an incorporeal, sweeping hand, his awareness brushing over every single mortal commoner from south to north, leaving none untouched.

Since those four had voluntarily revealed themselves, there was no guarantee that other wicked elements were not still lurking in the shadows.

In the past, he had worried that such an intrusive probe might frighten the mortals at the foot of the mountain. Now, however, it seemed necessary to carry out this method periodically to ensure the Yang family did not fall prey to malicious schemes.

Through this sweep, he indeed discovered a late-stage cultivator hidden on the south bank, enduring in complete silence.

The man had used some sort of concealment method to mask his cultivation, disguising himself as an ordinary mortal.

While such a trick could evade a mere observational gaze, it had absolutely nowhere to hide beneath the tactile brush of Chen Yang's consciousness.

"Not good! There is an expert!"

The instant Chen Yang's awareness touched his body, this person sensed danger. Just as he attempted to circulate his cultivation technique, his eyes rolled back, and he collapsed unconscious to the ground.

To prevent the spy from taking his own life, Chen Yang had directly used his overwhelming conscious power to strike him senseless.

He then transmitted a thought with the person's location to Yang Lingqing, who immediately dispatched Zhao Qi to retrieve him.

Even after completing the sweep, Chen Yang still felt uneasy. He probed the entire area a second time, only feeling reassured once he confirmed there were no further anomalies.

"They were all concentrated on the south bank. It seems they knew the power of the north bank's warning formation and did not dare approach recklessly. In the end, they only managed to send that Zhou boy inside."

Chen Yang mused inwardly.

Including Zhou Qing, a total of six people had infiltrated the Yang family's domain this time. Every single one of them was a late-stage cultivator at the eighth level of Qi Gathering.

With such strength, if placed in the current Wangyue Region, they could effortlessly flatten the vast majority of Qi Gathering clans.

If not for Chen Yang presiding over the Yang family, and Yang Lingqing's foresight to upgrade the clan protection formation to Qi Gathering Perfection, these five might have directly breached the main compound. The family would have suffered a disastrous loss today.

Although the crisis had ultimately been resolved without casualties, it still served as a stark warning to both the Yang family and Chen Yang.

The Yang family was now entangled in the shifting tides of the wider world. Because their foundation was still fragile, they could easily be targeted by hostile forces.

Tightening their governance over the mortal territories was now imperative.

Attention returned to the Yang family's rear courtyard, where the aptitude testing had been halted.

By the time Zhao Qi hauled back the unconscious eighth-level cultivator, Zhou Qing-who remained pinned to the ground by the formation's might-had already withered from a child barely over ten into a frail, white-haired old man.

In the eyes of everyone gathered in the courtyard, this horrifying transformation had occurred in less than half a quarter of an hour.

If not for the few strands of spiritual energy Yang Lingqing had injected into him to sustain his life, Zhou Qing would already be dead.

The price of forcing a mortal body to wield eighth-level cultivation was the complete exhaustion of his lifespan.

Chen Yang transmitted a thought to Yang Lingqing, instructing the Clan Soldiers to lock the intruder in the prison, allowing the aptitude testing to resume.

Now that the grand formation was active, Liu Zihao had also descended the mountain and arrived on the scene. He stood firmly behind Yang Lingqing, personally holding the main command token for the array.

With him maintaining the formation and Chen Yang's boundless consciousness sweeping the area for absolute vigilance, no further chaos would break out within the Yang family's lands.

Having received the immortal decree, Yang Lingqing felt a great sense of peace. After ordering Zhou Qing dragged away, he raised a hand and announced, "Do not panic. The wicked elements have been eradicated. The testing shall continue."

Hearing these words, the crowd in the courtyard awakened as if from a dream and hurriedly scrambled back to their original positions.

The children from the south bank had never witnessed such a terrifying display and were deeply shaken. When Yang Feiyun called their names, their eyes brimmed with fear, none daring to step forward and ascend the high platform.

Seeing this, Yang Feiyun did not waste words. He simply called out the names one after another, skipping anyone who hesitated to approach.

"Ninety-ninth, Dai family, Dai Wei."

As the ninety-ninth name rang out, a youth with delicate features and bright, spirited eyes squeezed his way out of the crowd.

"Answering the Eldest Master, Dai Wei is willing to ascend the platform."

"Mm. Go on."

Dai Wei walked up to the faintly glowing platform. He took a deep breath to steady his racing heart, then climbed the steps with a firm and even stride.

"To harbor fear yet refuse to shrink back. He has courage and clarity. A fine lad."

Chen Yang focused a sliver of his awareness on the scene, praising the boy inwardly.

Moments ago, when his consciousness had swept over all the mortals living under the Yang family, he had already sensed that this child possessed complete Qi Channels.

If the boy had been too frightened to climb the platform like the others, Chen Yang had planned to privately remind Yang Lingqing about him later.

But as it turned out, such intervention would be unnecessary.

Dai Wei arrived before Yang Lingqing, bowed deeply, and offered a perfectly standard salute.

"Dai Wei pays respects to the Clan Leader, the three Immortal Masters, and the Young Master."

"Mm. Extend your arm."

"Yes."

Yang Lingqing simply rested his fingers lightly against the boy's arm, and a smile quickly surfaced on his face.

"Not bad at all. Go stand behind Immortal Master Zhao."

A surge of wild excitement washed through Dai Wei's heart, though he struggled to keep his face composed.

"Yes!"

Watching Dai Wei be selected by the Immortal Master, the remaining south bank children below stared with burning envy.

With this alone, Dai Wei's family on the south bank would immediately be elevated into a north bank clan!

Further, as long as Dai Wei successfully stepped onto the immortal path, his family's status would only continue to climb. It was truly a case of when one person attains the Dao, even chickens and dogs ascend!

Realizing this, the terror in the children's hearts faded considerably, replaced by a renewed, eager desire to climb the platform.

Unfortunately, after the remainder of the screening was complete, not a single one of the remaining children was found to have complete Qi Channels.

"The testing is concluded. Now, we shall hold council."

Once the children had been led away, Yang Lingqing declared that the family council would convene right here in the rear courtyard.

The various stewards and leading figures of the clan took their respective positions, bowing respectfully beneath the high tower.

"Pass down my decree: from this day forward, official names are to be given to the villages on both the north and south banks. Clearly define their territorial borders, and construct defensive walls along the riverbanks and the boundaries."

Looking out over the gathering, Yang Lingqing continued, "Henceforth, any family wishing to migrate into our lands must first be recorded in the Wangchao registry at Baishi Town before they are permitted entry. Traveling merchants must likewise carry official Wangchao transit documents to cross our borders. As for the flow of people between the north and south banks, and the customary adoption of children, we will place no new restrictions for now-carry on as before. However, a new monthly mountain-worship ceremony shall be established, to be observed simultaneously on both banks."

"Do you understand?"

"We understand! We respectfully obey the Clan Leader's decree!"

After Yang Lingqing and the other two elders escorted the chosen children back up the mountain, Zhao Qi immediately set off once more. Activating a Spirit Concealment Talisman, he slipped silently out of the Yang family estate and headed toward the Sanglu Valley branch clan to inspect their situation.

The Sanglu Valley branch was only a third the size of the main estate. Because it consisted strictly of established clan families, refused outside migrants, and was guarded by a formation, it had remained completely untouched by this attack.

The forces that infiltrated the Songshan Yang Family had likely realized that the valley's rugged terrain made it easy to defend but terribly difficult to assail, and thus had not chosen it as a target.

Upon learning of the events at the main estate, Elder Yu traveled to Baishi Town alongside Zhao Qi.

At noon the following day, the three of them arrived back at the main Yang family estate together.

Down in the prison, Gao Hui gazed at Zhou Qing, who had already lost all signs of life.

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