Chen Biandao stood outside the Sword Tomb, waiting with a calm expression.
There were two reasons for awakening the Ancestor of the Venerable Realm from the secret realm: firstly, to assume the position of Chen family patriarch, and secondly, Chen Jiuyang’s brilliance was too overwhelming. He, a half-step Heavenly Realm cultivator, could no longer protect Chen Jiuyang. Only by inviting the Ancestor of the secret realm to be the patriarch and serve as Chen Jiuyang's protector would he feel at ease.
He was unsure which Ancestor of the Chen family Chen Jiuyang had awakened.
However, no matter which Ancestor it was, upon seeing Jiuyang’s talent, they would undoubtedly nurture him with great care.
The Earth Realm had a lifespan of 120 years, the Heavenly Realm 150 years, and the Venerable Realm’s lifespan began at 180 years.
Three days passed. Chen Biandao remained patient and composed. Chen Jiuyang’s venture into the sixteen secret realms of Shu Mountain would surely be without any safety issues.
As he waited, suddenly, an ineffable power descended upon this place. The Sword Tomb immediately erupted with terrifying malevolent energy and sword intent, attempting to resist this power.
“They’re out.”
Chen Biandao’s expression tightened. Immediately, two figures emerged from the white mist that enveloped the great hall.
One of the figures was very familiar to him. This ineffable power was not directed at Chen Jiuyang.
Instead, it was aimed at the figure beside Chen Jiuyang!
The sound of sword cries soared into the sky. After an unknown period, the figure beside Chen Jiuyang trembled slightly. This ineffable power then instantly dissipated, and the Sword Tomb quieted down.
Chen Jiuyang and the figure slowly walked out of the Sword Tomb.
Only when they drew closer did Chen Biandao recognize the figure. His expression immediately changed, and he bowed respectfully, cupping his fists. “Chen Biandao, a descendant of the 397th generation of the Chen family, greets Ancestor Chen Fengge!”
Chen Fengge nodded slowly. “No need for such formality. I have been sealed for too long; my actual age is not much different from yours.”
Chen Biandao’s expression remained unchanged, and he continued respectfully, “Family rules and etiquette cannot be abandoned.”
At this, Chen Fengge showed a look of satisfaction. “Very good. It seems our Chen family’s traditions and rules are still intact. No wonder, after such a long time, our Chen family can still cultivate such outstanding descendants.”
Chen Biandao wore a proud smile. “Ancestor Fengge, Jiuyang is one of the top prodigies of the younger generation in our Han Chinese Dragon Country.”
Chen Fengge nodded slowly. “I already know. Let’s go to the ancestral residence to change the patriarch. Otherwise, I cannot hold on for much longer.”
Chen Biandao said with a serious expression, “Yes, Ancestor.”
Immediately, Chen Biandao led Chen Jiuyang and Chen Fengge towards the Chen family ancestral residence. At the same time, he was inwardly shaken. Chen Jiuyang had only been inside for a few days, and his cultivation had advanced from the fourth layer of the Earth Realm to the fifth layer. The attainments in martial arts cultivation of an Ancestor of the Venerable Realm were truly incomparable to a mere half-step Heavenly Realm cultivator like himself.
At the Chen family ancestral residence, thousands of Chen family members stood densely packed inside and out.
As Chen Fengge entered the ancestral residence, the thousands of Chen family members immediately bowed in unison, cupping their fists, and shouted loudly, “Greetings, Ancestor!”
A sense of belonging washed over Chen Fengge, and his steps lightened slightly.
Then, Chen Fengge sat on the main seat of the ancestral hall and said, “Rise.”
The thousands of Chen family members immediately straightened up.
Chen Biandao stepped forward and said, “In the Jiazi year, by the grace of the blessings of the Chen family ancestors, the Chen family is prosperous. Our descendant Jiuyang has achieved great fame, bringing glory to our Chen family lineage. We now invite Ancestor Fengge to return to the secular world.”
Immediately, Chen Biandao turned and walked to the incense burner where incense was burning. He lit three sticks of incense and said loudly to the densely packed ancestral tablets, “I, Chen Biandao, a descendant of the Chen family, have held the position of patriarch for over forty years. In my forty years of service, I have been diligent and have not failed the Chen family ancestors or the living members of the clan. As I am no longer young and my strength has waned, I now summon the clan members to abdicate and yield the position to Ancestor Fengge, so that I may enjoy my twilight years. I hope the ancestors and the living clan members agree.”
“Good!”
The thousands of Chen family members shouted in unison, their eyes filled with respect and admiration for Chen Biandao!
Then, the densely packed ancestral tablets of the Chen family inexplicably trembled, converging into a single syllable that spread outwards: “Good!”
In the next instant, the great position of the Chen family’s destiny, belonging to an ineffable power, left Chen Biandao. Chen Biandao’s appearance instantly reverted from his thirties to his previous fifties, and his aura weakened slightly.
Chen Biandao held the three sticks of incense, turned to look at Chen Fengge seated on the main seat, and said with a serious expression, “I invite Ancestor Chen Fengge to officially assume the position of patriarch of the Shu Mountain Chen family!”
Chen Fengge’s expression was solemn. He rose from the main seat, walked to Chen Biandao, took the three sticks of incense from his hand, and approached the densely packed ancestral tablets, saying loudly:
“I, Chen Fengge, a descendant of the Chen family, shall uphold the rules and etiquette of the Chen family, protect the descendants of our Chen family, bring glory to our Chen family lineage, and not disgrace the ancestors, thereby inheriting the position of patriarch!”
As his voice fell, Chen Fengge inserted the three sticks of incense into the burner.
“Swish, swish, swish!”
A wave of invisible, gentle energy spread from Chen Fengge’s body. The destiny of the Chen family’s great position was thus transferred to Chen Fengge, receiving the blessings of the Chen family’s destiny, as well as the benefits of the Dragon Country’s destiny and the Martial Ranking’s destiny that the Shu Mountain Chen family had previously obtained.
“Hoo!” Chen Fengge let out a heavy breath, as if relieved of a great burden.
Only then could he move freely in the secular world, not bound by the ineffable power from the unseen realms.
Previously, the fifteen families of Shu Mountain had all come to congratulate them, not only for the Chen family producing a king but also for the Chen family’s great fortune, which allowed for the unsealing of an Ancestor of the Venerable Realm from the secret realm.
While the highest martial cultivation in the Dragon Country was generally limited to the Heavenly Realm, noble families with secret realms could still have Ancestors of higher cultivation sealed within.
However, this required the family to possess sufficient destiny from the Dragon Country. Otherwise, the Dragon Country would not tolerate it, and leaving the secret realm would be impossible.
This was the ultimate reason why all the noble families in the Dragon Country’s Martial Ranking had desperately vied for a good ranking this time.
With an Ancestor of the Venerable Realm presiding over a noble family, who would dare to provoke them lightly?
Chen Fengge sat back on the main seat and said with a serious expression, “Now that I have officially taken my position, I shall invite the other powers of our Shu Mountain lineage to hold a grand three-day banquet, to celebrate my return to the secular world.”
“Yes, Patriarch.” The people below cupped their fists in unison.
Then, the news of Chen Fengge, the Ancestor of the Venerable Realm of Shu Mountain, being unsealed and returning from the secret realm spread rapidly in all directions.
The Dragon Country’s enfeoffment of five kings meant that, in theory, five Ancestors of the Venerable Realm could return to the secular world. However, Yan Hongming ranked fifth on the Martial Ranking, meaning at most four Ancestors of the Venerable Realm could return.
Furthermore, due to the special circumstances of this Martial Ranking, the Ancestors of the Venerable Realm from the other three families owed Chen Jiuyang a significant favor.
During the three-day banquet, many important figures from the martial arts world came to offer gifts. However, the other three Ancestors of the Venerable Realm did not attend. Rumor had it that the other three kings had not yet achieved any merit, and even if their Ancestors appeared, they could only remain within their ancestral residences and could not act freely.
The leaders of the nine branches and nine sects of the Demonic Path, totaling 108 individuals, all arrived at Shu Mountain. This was because Chen Jiuyang was the Dao companion of the Han family’s Saintess of the True Demonic lineage, allowing them to visit.
During the three-day banquet, countless people attended, all received and hosted by Chen Fengge and Chen Biandao.
The Chen family of Shu Mountain was, for a time, unrivaled in prestige.