Chapter 80

The Yang family had an unwritten rule for their son-in-law: the son-in-law must have at least reached the Martial Human Realm, so that while taking in a son-in-law, they could also bring in a skilled expert to strengthen the family's power.

However, experts in the Martial Human Realm were often proud and arrogant, and being a son-in-law was not a particularly glorious thing. Therefore, the sons-in-law the Yang family sought for their daughters were mostly those who were independent cultivators, with no ties or burdens, and had reached the Martial Human Realm.

Yang Junshan’s ninth uncle, Peng Shidao, was not an independent cultivator. The Peng family had been a cultivator family in Qingshi Town for generations, and their prosperity far exceeded that of Yang Junshan’s maternal uncle’s family. Peng Shidao’s father was a cultivator at the second level of the Martial Human Realm, and was considered a skilled expert in Qingshi Town.

Yang Tianling, the ninth daughter of Yang Junshan’s grandfather Yang Lie, was the younger half-sister of Yang Tangan and the ninth of the second generation of the Yang family, born to the Wang family. She and Peng Shidao had been childhood sweethearts and grew up together. By the time they reached adulthood, they were determined to marry no one but each other.

However, the stubborn father, Yang Lie, insisted on the conditions for a son-in-law, firmly refusing to allow the two to marry. The Peng family, though not as powerful as the Yang family, was unwilling to send their son to the Yang family as a son-in-law. Thus, the two families were at an impasse, leaving the young couple to suffer in pain.

Despite the opposition from both families, the two remained determined to be together. Peng Shidao, in order to quickly meet Yang Lie’s requirements, forcibly broke through to the Martial Human Realm. Although he succeeded, he ultimately injured his foundation, and his cultivation did not advance further. His internal injuries often recurred, and the once spirited young man became a sickly person.

Even if Peng Shidao was willing to be a son-in-law in the Yang family, how could Yang Lie be willing to let his daughter marry such a man who seemed to be on the verge of death? Moreover, with his foundation injured, Peng Shidao could hardly contribute much to the Yang family and might even become a burden.

Unexpectedly, it was Yang Tianling who now threatened to die if she could not marry Peng Shidao. This made Yang Lie even more furious. Yang Tangan, Yang Tianfang, and other female descendants had all pleaded for mercy, but were driven away by Yang Lie one by one.

In the end, it was Yang Junshan’s great-aunt, Yang Yan, the third sister of Yang Lie, who persuaded her brother to agree to the marriage. The Peng family, though unwilling, seeing the young couple’s determination, finally agreed.

Qingshi Town was rich in spiritual mines. The Peng family had been able to sustain for generations because they operated a fractured stone mine, which produced a small amount of fractured powder each year. This was a medium-grade spiritual material widely used in alchemy, talisman making, and array formation.

Five years ago, Peng Shidao’s father and his only brother were buried in a sudden collapse of the mine. Despite his cultivation at the Martial Human Realm, Peng Shidao’s father could not escape his fate and died along with his son in the mine disaster.

This left the Peng family with only Peng Shidao, who had already been in poor health, and his young sister, Peng Shitong, who was still a minor. Upon hearing this tragic news, Peng Shidao’s injuries worsened.

At that time, there were voices within the Yang family suggesting that they take over the Peng family’s mines and land. Yang Tangan and his wife threatened to die if this happened. Yang Tangan, who was then competing for the position of the Yang family’s patriarch, strongly condemned those who had such thoughts, but this also offended many clan members, causing them to side with Yang Tianlei, which laid the groundwork for Yang Tangan’s eventual failure in the competition for the patriarch position.

Over the past five years, due to the efforts of Peng Shidao and his wife, the Yang family had not been able to make a move. However, Peng Shidao had exhausted himself, and his old injuries recurred, leading to his early death. After Peng Shidao’s death, the Peng family’s assets were quickly taken over by the Yang family.

After resting at his maternal uncle’s house for a night, Yang Junshan returned to the Yang family’s old residence the next day to pay respects to his grandmother, Wang Shi. Wang Shi, the daughter of a True Human Realm elder of the Heaven-Shaking Sect, Wang Qian, had a considerable cultivation when she married Yang Lie. After Yang Lie’s death, her cultivation at the fourth level of the Martial Human Realm made her the top expert in the Yang family, which was one of the reasons she could maintain control over the Yang family.

Wang Shi, though dignified in appearance, was well-preserved, and it was hard to see the traces of her youthful beauty. With a lifespan approaching a hundred years, her cultivation had not advanced since she married into the Yang family, suggesting that she had lost the possibility of further improvement. However, due to her long-term leadership of the Yang family, she exuded a commanding presence, and her eyes occasionally flashed with a piercing light, making people feel uneasy.

“Grandson greets Grandmother!” Yang Junshan’s expression was calm and respectful.

Wang Shi’s gaze swept over him, and Yang Junshan felt as if he were being seen through. He knew that the Yang family was checking his cultivation, and he was prepared for it. The Earth Spirit Technique flowed within him, and the hidden spirit acupoint in his bone marrow was concealed by the Immortal Spirit Acupoint in his vertebrae.

“Hmm,” Wang Shi sighed lightly, “Your spiritual energy is abundant, and your foundation is solid. I heard you obtained a medium-grade Bull Yellow Immortal Spirit in Baique Mountain, which is indeed much better than the Earth Yellow Spirit your father brought back from the family. As for your cultivation, reaching the third level at your age is quite remarkable!”

Yang Junshan replied, “Father is very strict, and I dare not slack off for a moment!”

Wang Shi nodded and said meaningfully, “Tangan is bold and meticulous, and I know this. The family arranged for him to be the village chief of Tugao Village to train him further. It seems he has been well-trained, and it shows that the family’s decision was correct. Tugao Village will surely be a stepping stone for the Yang family’s expansion.”

Wang Shi paused and continued, “Mengyu County is the most remote area of Yu Prefecture. Since your father has been well-trained, staying there would be a waste of his talent. Now, our old Yang family is in need of capable people, and it is time for your father to return.”

Yang Junshan sneered inwardly. Wasn’t it the family that forced them to Mengyu County in the first place? Now that his father had achieved something in Tugao Village, the family wanted to reap the benefits. It wouldn’t be that easy.

Yang Junshan said calmly, “All of this must be decided by Father. I will convey Grandmother’s words to him.”

After bidding farewell to Wang Shi and leaving the ancestral hall, Yang Junshan found a brocade pouch in his hand, a gift from Wang Shi. Despite the somewhat formal exchange, the brocade pouch contained only three jade coins, which made Yang Junshan frown. He wondered if the Yang family was really having a hard time or if he, as a non-direct grandson, was not favored, as the reward was rather meager.

After visiting Wang Shi, Yang Junshan hurriedly paid respects to his second grandfather, Yang Xi, his great-aunt, Yang Yan, and his fourth grandfather, Yang Jiao. Each of them also gave him gifts, similar to Wang Shi’s, but the three Law Cloud Pills from his great-aunt, Yang Yan, made him somewhat pleased, though it also suggested that the Yang family’s recent situation was not good.

Having been away from Qingshi Town for more than four years, Yang Junshan had grown significantly, and many clan members no longer recognized the former fourth young master of the third generation of the Yang family. However, Yang Junshan still recognized many people, and as he walked, he engaged in friendly conversations. Upon learning his identity, the Yang clan members’ expressions became more welcoming, even with a hint of flattery, a stark contrast to the bleak departure of Yang Tangan’s family from Qingshi Town.

It seemed that, as his uncle had said, the Yang family’s current situation was not good, and many clan members were enthusiastic about Yang Junshan, the son of the well-provisioned village chief of Tugao Village.

After leaving his fourth grandfather, Yang Jiao’s house, Yang Junshan intended to visit his seventh aunt, Yang Tianyan, but found that her husband, An Xia, had taken the family out for a trip, leaving him disappointed.

On his way back, he passed by a small courtyard. The white banners on the outer wall had not been removed, and Yang Junshan hesitated for a moment before entering. He saw a young woman walking out of the hall, who was his ninth aunt, Yang Tianling.

“Is that you, Xiaoshan?” Yang Junshan’s appearance was increasingly similar to Yang Tangan, and those close to him could easily recognize him.

“Ninth Aunt, I just returned from Tugao Village and visited four elders. I heard about Uncle’s passing and came to pay my respects.”

Yang Tianling’s eyes reddened, and she sighed, “Good child, you have a heart.”

Yang Tianling led him to the altar of Peng Shidao in the hall. Yang Junshan knelt down and bowed several times, then lit a stick of incense. He then saw Yang Tianling take out a small but full spirit bag.

“Ninth Aunt, what is this?”

Yang Tianling forced a smile, “This is the medium-grade Fractured Powder produced from the mine of your uncle’s family. I heard from your father about your purpose for returning to Qingshi Town. Your uncle had promised to prepare some Fractured Powder for you, but now that the mine is no longer in our hands, I can only give you this small bag.”

Although it was a small bag, it was more valuable than the rewards he had received earlier. However, Yang Junshan did not want to accept it.

“Aunt, I can’t take this. With Uncle gone, you and Tenth Sister are left to support each other. You should keep these things for emergencies.”

Yang Tianling’s face turned stern, “Take it, and that’s it. This Fractured Powder has many uses. In the future, when you become successful, your aunt might need your help.”

Yang Junshan, helpless, just as he took the spirit bag, he heard a series of hurried footsteps from outside the courtyard, followed by a voice, “Mother, Tenth Sister ambushed Uncle on the way and is now beating him!”

“What?” Yang Tianling quickly walked to the door and asked urgently, “Where are they now?”

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —