Chapter 23: In the Same Boat
The founding ancestor of the Wangyue Song Clan, Song Taiyi, was a banished member of the Jinxiu Banner Song family, a Golden Core lineage.
After being expelled and removed from the family registry, he came to Ling Province in utter disappointment. There, he founded his own clan, claiming to be a side branch of the Songs. But in truth, the Jinxiu Banner never acknowledged them.
Song Taiyi’s greatest regret before dying was his failure to regain recognition from the main bloodline. He passed away with that regret unresolved.
This yearning for recognition was passed down to his descendants. Every generation of the Song Clan strived to earn the approval of their ancestral lineage.
But all their efforts were in vain. The aloof and exalted Golden Core family never once spared them a glance.
This continued until a century ago, when the Song Clan, though greatly weakened, still held the status of a Purple Mansion family. In the cultivation world of Great Qi, they were still a well-known name.
At the same time, the ancestral line suffered a great catastrophe. Many of their young and vigorous cultivators were lost, leaving them with a gap between the old and new generations.
Only then did the lofty Golden Core family finally lower their gaze toward their scattered side branch.
They sent envoys to Cangmang Peak. At the time, the Song Clan was at its height. The visitors were very pleased and verbally acknowledged the Wangyue Song Clan as a side branch.
With this “return,” naturally came both benefits and obligations. The benefits included regular supplies of Foundation Establishment Pills and other valuable resources from the main branch. Of course, these were to be paid for.
Aside from that, there were no other advantages.
The obligations, however, were many. The main point among them was a tribute every ten years. This wasn’t too burdensome.
But the critical clause was this, they were required to send outstanding talents back to the main branch. This was non-negotiable. Someone would regularly come to hand-pick candidates.
Faced with such a humiliating agreement, the clan head at the time, Song Yunhan, signed it despite immense pressure.
The reason was simple. Song Yun’gui was about to sit in meditation to pass on, once their pillar was gone, the other powers in Ling Province would certainly rise to challenge the clan’s dominance.
They needed Foundation Establishment Pills to cultivate enough Foundation Establishment cultivators to maintain their authority.
But the clan didn’t possess the ingredients to make those pills. They had always bought them from various unreliable and expensive sources.
To the main branch, however, Foundation Establishment Pills weren’t rare, and their supply was stable.
So, this unequal treaty was signed, a helpless compromise.
And it turned out to be the right move. After Song Yun’gui’s passing, the clan survived and even cultivated many Foundation Establishment cultivators.
But as the clan failed to produce new Purple Mansion cultivators, the ancestral line gradually lost interest. In recent years, even the supply of pills had dwindled and their contact was all but severed.
That’s why Song Luoyao said what she did during the meeting, their relationship with the main family was purely transactional. On paper, they may share the same surname, but the reality was far different.
If they couldn’t provide enough benefit, the main branch would kick them away again without a second glance.
Song Xianyun sighed deeply and said, “Even so, it’s still just speculation. We must prepare as if the price is five pills. We’ll need at least 150,000 spirit stones. If we don’t end up using it all, we’ll refund everyone accordingly.”
Everyone fell silent. This was the sorrow of not having the pill ingredients…
“I can contribute 1,800 spirit stones,” said Song Luoyao directly, no longer pressing the matter.
The others also generously emptied their coffers. Together, the clan elders gathered nearly 30,000 spirit stones. The rest would have to come from the broader clan members.
“Then it’s settled. Once we gather the stones, we’ll send them to Lu Ke. However many pills we get, that’ll have to do,” Song Xianyun concluded.
“Sigh, we’re troubling that child Lu Ke again. He’s been serving the clan ever since he left home as a boy. It hasn’t been easy for him,” a clan elder remarked with emotion.
“His contributions won’t be forgotten,” someone added. “If the main branch ever offers him a chance at breaking into the Purple Mansion realm, we’ll give him our full support.”
“With that done, I’d like to bring up another matter, about the clan trial a few days ago and the Earthfire Sect...” Song Luoyao began explaining the recent events.
After hearing the full story, one of the elders beamed with joy, “That mother and son really performed outstandingly. They deserve recognition.”
“Changsheng really is a fine lad,” even Song Luzhou, not one to praise lightly, spoke well of Song Changsheng.
Song Luohuai and the other elders also expressed their admiration.
“Luoyao, go ahead and say the rest,” said Song Xianyun knowingly. He understood there was more to her words than simply praising Song Changsheng.
“Everyone,” Song Luoyao continued, “I believe that with his current talent and strength, Song Changsheng can no longer be judged merely by his spiritual roots.
“Among the younger generation, his roots are nothing special, even considered subpar. Yet he has become the undisputed leader of the younger generation.
“His temperament, courage, and aptitude are all first-rate. So, I believe the time has come for our clan to choose a Young Patriarch. This would not only be recognition for Changsheng but also a great encouragement to the younger generation.”
Her words left everyone staring at one another in surprise. None had expected this.
Song Luzhou smacked his lips and said, “Changsheng as Young Patriarch? Not a bad choice. The kid’s got promise.”
“I agree,” added Song Luohuai. “It’s been nearly a hundred years since we last had one. Choosing a leader from the younger generation would be very meaningful.”
But some elders voiced concern: “A hundred years ago, Ancestor Yunhan abolished the position to prevent long-term power monopolies that could split the clan into ‘main’ and ‘side’ branches.
“And she was right. For the past century, we’ve had no such distinctions, which is why the clan has remained united. Do we really want to go backward now?”
“I think it’s precisely because we’ve moved past the main-side distinction that we can now reintroduce the position,” another elder argued.
“We just need to change the method, no longer selecting from the clan head’s descendants, but based on merit: talent, temperament, and so on.
“Yes, Changsheng is the clan head’s grandson, but neither he nor the Fifth Elder is present today. This is mere coincidence. The main reason is that he’s simply excellent.
“Future candidates should be chosen from across the clan, based on this same standard.”
These words immediately persuaded the few who had disagreed. If the selection were to be made based on those standards, then it wouldn’t be unacceptable after all.
“Ahem.” Song Xianyun cleared his throat and said with a wry smile, “No matter how heated our discussion, the final decision still rests with the clan head.
“You all know his temper. He was always Yunhan’s strongest supporter. Even if he agrees to revive the Young Patriarch position, he’s unlikely to choose Changsheng.
“Still, I’ll bring it up with him. I’ll convey everyone’s views, though I can’t promise the result.
“That said, I can authorize upgrading Changsheng’s status from a Foundation Establishment Seed to a Purple Mansion Seed. Consider it a reward for him.”
“Well said.”
“Excellent.”
Everyone expressed approval of the arrangement.
And just like that, Song Changsheng, without even realizing it, became one of the clan’s only two Purple Mansion Seeds.
Why not the only one?
Because ever since Song Qingxing was found to have a variant spiritual root, he had already held that title.
(Chapter End)