At this moment.

The large ferry had arrived, and the crowd was boarding in an orderly fashion, with carriages in their designated spots. The docks had been expanded, allowing greater throughput from both sides, with ferries arriving and departing within half an hour. Now, it seemed to be only half full.

After the two small families of Liang Haofeng boarded, suddenly, a large convoy appeared outside the dock. A middle-aged rider rode to the ferry and shouted, "Hold the ferry for a moment, I am Gongsun Qiang, and the Shanyang Gongsun Family wants to board."

The steward responsible for this large ferry was startled before hastily clasping his hands in response, "We obey Ancestor Qiang’s command." These ferries were now under the management of the Wang Family.

And Shanyang Gongsun Qiang was not an ordinary person, even Patriarch Shouzhe would politely call him uncle.

The other passengers, of course, had no objections. The Shanyang Gongsun Family was now an Eighth-Grade Noble Family and was the maternal family of Patriarch Shouzhe, with an extraordinary status.

One by one, the carriages entered the dock.

Since boarding required the separation of people and vehicles, the Gongsun Family disembarked and proceeded to board on foot as per protocol.

"That is Ancestor Mang of the Gongsun Family." Liang Haofeng squinted slightly and said, "In a hurried eighteen years, has Gongsun Mang’s power grown so unfathomably? I can no longer see through him; he might already be at the fifth or sixth layer of the Spirit Platform Realm."

"Ancestor Mang is now merely around a hundred years old," Sun Yunfei also exclaimed enviously, "At such an age with such cultivation, coupled with the Gongsun Family’s current wealth, Ancestor Mang hopes to reach the Celestial Human Realm."

As the two intended to approach and pay respects.

Suddenly, from one of the carriages, an elderly lady was helped down by two middle-aged women. Her hair was already gray, yet she bore a noble and luxurious air, resembling a wealthy grand matriarch surrounded by people.

She gazed at the Changning Guandu and the rolling waters of the Anjiang, and tears fell from her aged eyes: "I remember when I last returned to my maiden home, it was on the day Shouzhe married; it’s been eighteen or nineteen years in the blink of an eye. I never thought I’d live to see Great Aunt Longyan ascend to the Celestial Human Realm. This might be my final return home."

"Third Granny." At this time, the current clan leader of the Gongsun Family, Gongsun Yan, now a mature man in his thirties, personally helped the elderly lady onto the ferry, smiling, "You are only eighty-two this year and still in good health. Didn’t Cousin Shouzhe get a few Longevity Pills from the academy last time and personally send one to you?" 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"You’ll have many more occasions to return home; Nephew Zong’an will also marry in a few years, and you’ll have to come personally, right? Besides, Cousin Shouzhe promised to wait for you before ascending as a Celestial Human."

At the mention of Wang Shouzhe, the elderly lady smiled broadly: "Shouzhe is wonderful in all ways, except he doesn’t know how to be thrifty. My elder brothers Xiaohui and Xiaozhi are all so old..."

Another woman, slightly older but very well-maintained, also helped the elderly lady and said, "That’s because Shouzhe is filial, he said that you are the only one of the Zhen generation left in the Wang Family’s fifth generation, and he’ll do whatever he can for you. Shouzhe always sends people to bring me various skincare and beauty products too."

Seeing this, Liang Haofeng pondered for just a moment before recognizing the two women.

One was Wang Zhenrong of the fifth generation of the Wang Family’s Zhen generation, and the other was Wang Liuyu of the Liu generation. Although they both married directly into the Gongsun Family back then, with the increasingly powerful Wang Family today, their status within the Gongsun Family has also risen with the tide.

After all, Liang Haofeng now survives by relying on the Wang Family, so there’s no reason not to study their genealogy. He immediately approached with a smile and said, "Haofeng greets the Gongsun Family."

Flattery is always necessary to leave a good impression on Patriarch Shouzhe in the future. After all, Patriarch Shouzhe is someone who obviously values family elders immensely.

As they were conversing.

Suddenly!

Someone was crossing the river, flying, and each time he descended, he lightly tapped on the water, soaring like a Great Peng with wings spread wide. Amidst the turbulent waters, his seemingly small figure appeared so tall and majestic.

"That is Ancestor Xiaohan..." Gongsun Qiang said with keen eyes.

"Why has Brother Xiaohan been disturbed to come and receive us?" Wang Zhenrong felt both emotional comfort and an overwhelming sense of nostalgia.

...