Chapter 50: The Dragon in the Clouds

The next morning, Yang Qi and his three sons, after a refreshing bath, appeared in the family council hall, once again convening all the elders to discuss major matters.

The four had practiced in a secret room for seven days and seven nights, each of their powers greatly increased. During these seven days, they also transferred military and financial control to many of the family branches.

Yang Zhan entrusted all the supervisory work to the council of elders.

He wanted to see how sincerely these elders would obey the authority of the family head.

"Hmm?"

In the deep autumn morning, a thick layer of frost covered the ground, white and snow-like, with a chill in the air. The morning breeze blew, causing the withered leaves of some trees to fall. The Yang family's servants swept them away, maintaining the cleanliness and tidiness of the entire estate.

The servants of the Yang family now all had rosy complexions, walking with pride, full of vitality.

Even the lowest-ranking servants now had Qi-gathering pills to support their cultivation, greatly enhancing their material foundation. The family's cohesion had never been stronger.

However, what was even more astonishing were the over twenty members of the family council.

When they saw Yang Zhan walk out, they all sensed a new, more powerful aura emanating from him.

Especially Yang Xingshi and Lady Yan.

Both were Qi Masters and naturally understood what had happened to Yang Zhan.

Yang Zhan was radiant, his eyes as deep as the stars. Every movement he made gave the impression that he was about to transcend the world and ascend to the heavens.

His body was as steady as a mountain, yet it also gave the impression that it could move at any moment, appearing instantly anywhere.

"Yang Zhan? You have refined the Sky-Attracting Grass within your body?"

Yang Xingshi seemed to know something and suddenly stood up.

"Yes, with Qi's help, I finally refined the Sky-Attracting Grass." Yang Zhan laughed heartily, his tone steady and regal. His gaze swept over the elders, and they all felt a piercing intensity, involuntarily lowering their heads. Even Lady Yan felt the pressure, struggling to breathe.

She now realized that she was not only no match for Yang Qi but that Yang Zhan had far surpassed her.

"My Qi cultivation has increased three to five times compared to seven days ago, and the Sky-Attracting Grass within me has been completely transformed into true Qi." Yang Zhan smiled again, and suddenly his body moved.

The others only saw a flash of movement, and in the next breath, Yang Zhan was back in his seat. Far away, several thousand steps away, a large hole appeared in a tree, created by Yang Zhan's bare hands.

In just one breath, Yang Zhan had crossed several thousand steps and returned. Such speed, who could resist? It was not just his Qi, but the speed of his body.

His body had already surpassed all Qi Masters, transformed by the Sky-Attracting Grass. His lifespan had even surpassed that of a Qi Master.

A typical Qi Master could live for two hundred years. Yang Zhan was definitely beyond that.

As for Yang Qi, his body, transformed by the Divine Elephant Imprisoning Technique, had surpassed Yang Zhan by more than ten times.

"Three to five times..." Yang Xingshi nodded with difficulty, swallowing hard, not daring to say more. Yang Zhan's momentum was already formed, and even if he and Lady Yan joined forces, they could not resist.

Many of the elders bowed their heads deeply again. With the son almost invincible and the father making rapid progress, the Yang family's power was firmly in their hands, unshakable.

In time, Yang Zhan would establish an emperor-like authority within the family.

"Father, Elder Brother, Second Brother." Yang Qi stood up. "Since the family matters are settled, I can set off to register at the Tianwei Academy. The family must be cautious of the Yan family in the city."

"I will find a time to spar with Yan Gufeng, thoroughly defeat him, and let all the noble families in Yan Capital know the might of our Yang family, so they will come to us." Yang Zhan said proudly.

Yang Qi nodded. "If so, I will take my leave."

"Do you need to take anything with you? How about taking the Great Thousand Mirror for cultivation?" Yang Zhan asked.

"No, my cultivation technique does not require the Great Thousand Mirror." Yang Qi shook his head. He had once tried to use the Divine Elephant Imprisoning Technique in the Great Thousand Mirror, but unfortunately, the mirror had no effect. It seemed that the Divine Elephant Imprisoning Technique was too advanced for the Great Thousand Mirror to calculate.

"Father, I will be leaving now."

"Be careful on the road. Take the map, don't get lost. The journey to the Tianwei Academy will cross a third of the continent, passing through hundreds of cities, spanning ten thousand miles. Take enough Qi-gathering pills. Also, when you arrive at the Tianwei Academy, don't show off, remember to hide your true strength." Yang Zhan waved his hand.

At that moment, Yang Qi flew out in one step, like a bird soaring into the clouds, disappearing from sight.

Even a Qi Master could not do this. Yang Zhan could only sigh in admiration, able to float in the air but not fly like a bird into the clouds.

"Such a powerful person has emerged in our Yang family. I wonder what will happen when he enters the Tianwei Academy? Will he shine brightly?"

All the Yang family elders knew that such a remarkable person, even in the Tianwei Academy, which was full of experts, could definitely accomplish great things.

With such strength and potential, and entering the top academy on the continent, what heights would he reach?

Reaching the Life-Stealing Realm was definitely possible.

For a moment, these elders felt that the family had a bright future. If Yang Qi could reach the Life-Stealing Realm, they would also benefit.

Yang Zhan's lineage now had two people entering the Tianwei Academy, and with their high cultivation, the authority of the family head was unshakable.

"Family Head, something is wrong."

At that moment, a skilled member of the family stumbled in, kneeling before Yang Zhan. He was a direct descendant of the Yang family, sent to receive the military and financial control from the various branches.

"What is it? Why are you so flustered?"

Yang Zhan's face turned serious, knowing that something major had happened.

"It's like this. The Yunhai Kingdom has begun to expand its territory, launching a war. They are now besieging Chaolu City. We were unable to enter and take control of the troops and wealth. On our way back, we heard that the City Lord of Chaolu was killed by an expert from the Yunhai Kingdom. The Yunhai Kingdom has now completely occupied Chaolu City, and all the wealth of our Yang family branch has fallen into their hands!"

The skilled member reported.

"What?"

Not only Yang Zhan, but even the over twenty elders of the Yang family were shocked. "How could the Yunhai Kingdom be so ruthless? They even destroyed Chaolu City? The City Lord of Chaolu was also a Qi Master, with many experts under his command, and it involved the interests of a major sect, the Yulu Sect. How could they be destroyed so easily? Does the Yunhai Kingdom have such great strength?"

Yang Xingshi also stood up.

"The Yunhai Kingdom has now established a country, calling itself the Yunhai Kingdom. The City Lord of Yunhai, Yun Zhonglong, has declared himself the Great Yun King." Yang Zhan said slowly. "But I did not expect them to expand so quickly. Where did they get so many troops and experts? Was it Yun Zhonglong himself who killed the City Lord of Chaolu?"

"Reporting to the Family Head, no. It was a mysterious expert from the Yunhai Kingdom, masked, practicing the Sea King Qi Technique. Some say this expert is not human but a sea person! Moreover, during the attack on Chaolu City, many experts wearing strange armor appeared. Some suspect they are from the sea race."

"The Yunhai Kingdom is actually colluding with the sea race?" Yang Zhan's face changed dramatically. "That's bad."

In the sea, there are also humans, known as the sea race, who build cities underwater. They are identical to humans but have gills instead of lungs, breathing through gills. On land, they have difficulty breathing, similar to how humans struggle in water. Generally, they do not interfere with land dwellers, but this time they have emerged to attack the mainland, for unknown reasons.

Moreover, on the Fertile Continent, there is a college called the Sea God Academy, as prestigious as the Tianwei and True Dragon Academies.

The Yunhai Kingdom is by the sea.

Yun Haiyan, who deceived Yang Qi, is the daughter of the City Lord of Yunhai, "Yun Zhonglong."

Yun Zhonglong is rumored to be a genius, reaching the Qi Master realm at a young age. He married a princess of the sea race, giving birth to Yun Haiyan and several extremely powerful sons.

Now, he has launched a war, expanding his territory, with the help of sea race experts. The war will likely soon spread to Yan Capital, and the Yang family will face great difficulties.

"Family Head, Chaolu City is finished. The war will soon spread to Yan Capital. We need to prepare early."

An elder spoke, who used to order Yang Zhan around but now gradually adapted to the new etiquette.

"What a Yunhai Kingdom. Yun Zhonglong's daughter lured Qi, stealing the Dragon Subduing Pill, planning to attack Yan Capital all along."

Yang Zhan suddenly understood. "The Dragon Subduing Pill, rumored to contain dragon blood, can only increase vitality and improve physical condition for ordinary people, but cannot refine the dragon blood within. However, someone with Sea God blood is different. Once they take it, their cultivation will advance rapidly. Yun Haiyan has Sea God blood, and once it is activated, it will be even more formidable."

"Quickly gather everyone..."

Yang Xingshi roared, then paused, remembering that he could no longer make decisions in the family. He immediately asked Yang Zhan, "Family Head, what should we do?"

Yang Zhan glanced at Yang Xingshi, his eyes showing a hint of approval, making the "Great Uncle" feel extremely fortunate.

"Gather all the experts, retreat quickly, and transport all the wealth and troops from the family branches to Yan Capital. Fortunately, we destroyed the Chen family and have another estate, otherwise, we wouldn't have enough space to accommodate the various branches of the Yang family."

Yang Zhan issued orders one by one.

The entire Yang family sprang into action, the smoke of war spreading over Yan Capital.