Chapter 24: The Clear-Headed Patriarch Chen

Fuyun County, Chen Estate.

Inside the Jiying Hall, the clan’s top brass gathered. Elder Chen sat firmly in the seat of honor. Looking at the dejected Chen Liang and his son, it was clear without asking that their attempt at apprenticeship had not gone well.

However, to know oneself and the enemy is to ensure victory in every battle. To understand the situation, they pressed for details. Chen Liang and his son, knowing the gravity of the matter, suppressed their lingering anger and recounted the events. One led the narrative while the other added details, ensuring the Chen cultivators present understood the full truth.

As soon as they sat down, a short-tempered Chen elder slammed the table and stood up, his hair bristling with rage.

"This is outrageous! Our direct descendant went to seek apprenticeship, and our clan head personally visited with heavy gifts, showing the Qiuzhen Temple every ounce of respect. Yet, they refused him like this! Does the Qiuzhen Temple think themselves a cut above our Chen clan?"

"The Fifth Elder is right! That old goat Xuanming is only at the Third Realm. Were it not for his unique status and the complex ties behind him, would our direct descendant ever dream of apprenticing under him? To dismiss our clan head and his son with a mere 'no predestined connection' is sheer bullying! In my view, he may not be senile, but he is certainly muddled; otherwise, how could he be so arrogant?"

"Both of you, calm down. Let us not lose our heads. Sending Qingshu to the Qiuzhen Temple to apprentice under Xuanming in hopes of securing a quota and other benefits was never a foolproof plan. Success always hinged on sincerity and the weight of our gifts; it was a gamble from the start. Success would have been cause for celebration, but failure was within our expectations. Since we failed to move the old Taoist, we should not waste our energy on internal strife and angry rants. The priority is to devise a new strategy to force the Qiuzhen Temple to yield a quota."

"The Third Elder is right. We have known the temperaments of those Taoists for a long time. These people outside the world may not be as crude as martial artists, but they are equally direct; they rarely beat around the bush and only care for their own satisfaction. They do not value face and courtesy as we families do. If we obsess over this, we only lower ourselves and appear narrow-minded. Our immediate goal is to obtain that quota; everything else can be set aside."

"That is not how it works. This is about our—"

Everyone voiced their opinions, and the hall descended into a chaotic debate. Some even began to quarrel.

Elder Chen watched silently, not uttering a word until the arguing reached a crescendo.

*Clack.*

He set down his teacup. Though the sound of the cup hitting the saucer was soft, it silenced everyone in the room. They immediately sat straight.

Elder Chen’s gaze swept across the hall like lightning. He asked in a deep voice, "Is our Chen clan truly so remarkable? Is it that every time someone goes against our wishes, you lot must carry on like this?"

At these words, everyone held their breath.

"When you go to seek apprenticeship, you must be prepared for rejection. If you cannot even accept this, if you lack the courage to admit failure, then I see no reason for you to continue your cultivation. You might as well go off to bear children and expand the family line so you stop embarrassing us, wasting resources, and squandering time—or worse, bringing disaster upon the clan."

Following his words, those who had been shouting admitted their fault. Those who had cursed the Qiuzhen Temple felt ashamed. Chen Liang and Chen Qingshu bowed in apology. With a wave of his hand, the Elder signaled for them to stand.

Elder Chen sighed slightly and continued, "Though our Chen family has inherited a century of legacy and holds sway in Fuyun County, we are but a small clan in a corner of Fengyang Prefecture, barely reaching the status of a third-rate power. In the vast expanse of the Great Xuan Empire, we are not worth mentioning. Even here in Fuyun County, we are far from being able to cover the sky with one hand."

"The Taoists on the mountain may be recluses, but they are not foolish. Because they do not stain themselves with worldly affairs, their minds are relatively pure and their intuition sharp. In some matters, they see things more clearly than those of us below. If you underestimate them, you will only drop a rock on your own feet."

"Apprenticing under the old Taoist Xuanming was always a gamble with more risk than reward. I agreed to this plan not only to try our luck but also to use this failure as an opportunity to wake you up and purge the arrogance that has festered within our clan in recent years. The universe is vast, filled with hidden dragons and crouching tigers. There are always higher mountains beyond mountains, and more capable people beyond people. Do not be frogs at the bottom of a well."

The crowd lowered their heads. Some were deep in thought, some felt guilty, some were suddenly enlightened, and some remained unconvinced.

As the head of the family, Chen Liang looked ashamed. He stood up and declared, "Thank you for your instruction, Ancestor. We will keep it in our hearts, remain vigilant, broaden our horizons, and open our minds." The others followed suit, bowing to show their compliance.

Taking in their reactions, Elder Chen noted those who were merely paying lip service. These people had weak mental states and were difficult to discipline; keeping them was a waste of resources and a potential liability. They would not be trained further or entrusted with heavy responsibilities; they would only serve as cannon fodder for the clan, performing the dirty work and sacrificing their lives when necessary.

Having mentally categorized everyone in the hall, Elder Chen showed nothing on his face. He said calmly, "Since the path of apprenticeship is closed, we shall find another. As long as the two sides have not burned bridges, there is always a way forward."

"Treat others with sincerity, and you shall be treated with sincerity in return. In this world, there are thousands of schemes, but winning hearts is the ultimate strategy."

"Three days from now, I intend to visit Fuyun Mountain myself. I will speak with the Taoists of the Qiuzhen Temple with complete candor, revealing our sincerity first and promising heavy rewards. If they remain unwilling to grant us a quota, then we shall resort to force. It is not too late for that."

Everyone nodded, having no objections. The fierce-looking Third Elder’s eyes brightened as he asked, "Uncle, have you glimpsed that threshold?"

Only then could they truly pressure the Taoists on the mountain.

Elder Chen smiled and nodded. His gaze toward the Third Elder was filled with appreciation. At least there was one sensible person in the Chen clan.

"After seventy years of bitter cultivation, I have not wasted my time, nor have I failed the expectations of our ancestors. I have one foot over that threshold. Within a year at most, I shall enter the Qi Refinement Realm."

The Third Elder was overjoyed. "Congratulations, Uncle!" The others followed suit, cheering and offering their respects.

It was no wonder they were so excited. Aside from the proverb that one can enjoy the shade under a great tree, a noble family’s standing is measured not only by nine generations of prosperity but also by the presence of a Qi Refinement expert. Of the two, the latter was far more important.

When one person gains the Dao, even their chickens and dogs ascend to heaven. Once he broke through, the Chen clan’s resources, territory, power, fortune, and potential would double, and everyone’s own path of cultivation would likely advance. If the family successfully ascended to the ranks of a prominent noble clan, their power would double again, allowing them to occupy a place even in Fengyang Prefecture and become a second-rate force.

Knowing this, Elder Chen was caught up in the atmosphere and laughed heartily as he watched the jubilant crowd.

After everyone dispersed, he stepped out of the Jiying Hall and stood with his hands behind his back, gazing toward the mist-shrouded Fuyun Mountain. His eyes narrowed, flashing with a cold, meaningful light.

"I hope you know what is good for you," he whispered. "Do not force me to choose the hard way after you have refused the easy one, making an old man like me have to reason with you."