The Meng Family, a Beast Taming Family.

They had been established in Yunzhou for over five hundred years. Although this couldn’t compare to the history of the Immortal Sects of the Earth Element Star, it was still a remarkable feat in this world.

After all, to grow from a family of mortals into a dominant Foundation Establishment Clan was a position built step by step, paved with blood. Who knew how many life-or-death struggles and plunders they had endured, or how many times they had faced the risk of annihilation?

A peaceful rise to power? Would the other factions even allow that?

「Fuyun Mountain, at the main gate.」

Several young Cultivators flanked the gate, some of them chatting idly.

"SHH!"

One of the Mountain Guardian Cultivators, a short and stout man, was in the middle of a yawn when his eyes darted toward the sky. He snapped to attention. The other Cultivators seemed to realize what was happening and immediately straightened their backs.

A sudden gust of wind swept through as an eagle and a crane slowly descended before the gate.

"Young Miss, Fellow Daoist Chen... Er, no, Senior!"

The short, stout Cultivator blurted out nonsensically the moment he got a clear look at Chen Che’s face.

"Greetings, Senior!"

The other Cultivators hurriedly echoed the greeting.

They had all seen Chen Che during Meng Changtu’s birthday celebration and knew of this ’Tributor Chen’. Back then, they had even speculated that in a few years, this Tributor might marry into the Meng Family.

But who would have known?

In less than a year, he had actually replaced Ye Jingzhou to become the Valley Master of Jinyun Valley.

He had become a figure on par with the family’s upper echelon.

"Mm,"

Chen Che gave a slight nod.

"Let’s go!"

Meng Qingxuan smiled and looped her arm through Chen Che’s, walking toward Fuyun Mountain.

Only after the two of them had passed through the gate did the rigidly standing Cultivators finally breathe a sigh of relief. They exchanged glances, all thinking the same thing:

’Is this the son-in-law returning home for a visit?’

...

「High noon.」

The sky was a clear, washed blue. Fuyun Mountain was sparsely populated.

One could hardly even see a few patrolling Cultivators.

A glance around revealed that, aside from a few important clan grounds that were sealed and guarded, the area was almost completely undefended.

This was the difference between a family clan and a Sect.

A family clan was a power united by blood. Any Cultivator allowed inside was someone they knew through and through, having grown up within the clan. Their relatives and friends were all here; the composition of its members was simple and uniform.

As the pair entered the clan grounds, a member had already gone ahead to announce their arrival. Before long, the sound of hurried footsteps approached, and an old man in a gray robe came to greet them.

"Senior!"

He first bowed to Chen Che before turning to Meng Qingxuan with a hint of reproach in his voice.

"Young Miss, why didn’t you send word ahead of your return? Valley Master Chen’s status is not what it once was. If word of this got out, others would think we were being disrespectful! Besides, it wouldn’t be good for Valley Master Chen’s reputation either..."

Different statuses naturally required corresponding etiquette.

"Uncle Fu, it was a last-minute decision on my part,"

Chen Che explained with a smile.

Although this gray-robed elder was only a Qi Refining Cultivator, his status in the Meng Family was not low.

He had always protected Meng Qingxuan in secret when she traveled abroad. He had also been present during Chen Che’s first meeting with Meng Changtu.

"I’ll remember for next time."

Meng Qingxuan nodded, then looked around. "Where’s my father?"

"The Clan Head is in the meeting hall."

Uncle Fu smiled and stepped forward to lead the way, explaining as he walked, "It’s nothing major, just a small clan meeting. Everyone present is a clan elder. Young Miss, Valley Master Chen, please follow me..."

「A moment later.」

The group stood outside the meeting hall.

Uncle Fu said he would be right back and hurried inside to announce them.

Gazing at the vast, empty space before the meeting hall, Chen Che casually swept his Divine Sense inside. The commotion he detected made the corner of his mouth twitch.

...

"Changtu, I don’t oppose you supporting Jinyun Valley, but to think you actually gave away a Foundation Establishment Pill! A single Foundation Establishment Pill could have produced another Foundation Establishment Cultivator for our clan! This action has utterly disheartened all the Cultivators in our clan who are waiting in line for a chance at Foundation Establishment!"

A toothless old crone with sparse hair slammed her cane heavily on the ground, her face filled with indignation.

"I heard that at the Jinyun Valley auction, that Foundation Establishment Pill sold for a full five thousand two hundred Spirit Stones! After accounting for our own expenses, our clan only has a surplus of about a thousand Spirit Stones a year. You can help outsiders, but you can’t help your own family?"

Inside the Meng Family’s meeting hall, numerous Major Cultivators were seated, chiming in one after another.

Meng Changtu sat at the head seat, his expression dark, not saying a word.

A family clan had its advantages, like everyone knowing each other inside and out.

Even if factional conflicts arose, it would only lead to mutual suppression, not life-threatening danger.

But the disadvantage was that he couldn’t run it like a one-man show.

Half of the Major Cultivators present were his elders, along with several brothers of his own generation. Most of the others were also related in some way. At most, he could only reprimand them. If he were to cause a river of blood, the old patriarch himself would probably be the first to come after him.

Seated to one side, Meng Changhong said angrily:

"Brother Changtu wasn’t showing any favoritism. He obtained that Foundation Establishment Pill himself, so he can give it to whomever he pleases..."

"What if he had kept it for the family? You should know that Foundation Establishment Cultivators are the very foundation of our clan’s power."

As soon as his voice fell, an elder scolded, "The Primordial Sect only sells three Foundation Establishment Pills a year! Including those from other factions, there are no more than seven available annually. To just give one away so casually... my heart is truly bleeding!"

The old crone from before shot a sidelong glance and said:

"Fine, let’s not talk about the Foundation Establishment Pill. Changyuan is still stationed in Jinyun Valley. How can a backwater place like that compare to our Meng Family? Aren’t you just sending him there to suffer? Changyuan is your own cousin!"

"It was Changyuan himself who didn’t want to come back..."

Meng Changhong argued, "Jinyun Valley is lively and prosperous, and Chen Che is a smooth talker. Even I want to go and settle down in Jinyun Valley now."

"You dare talk back to me?"

The old crone took a shuffling step forward and swung her cane right at his head.