The territory of the Changkong clan was vast, so expansive that one could not see its end from high above.

Now, having learned of their army’s triumphant return, the entire clan was decorated with lanterns and streamers, radiating a joyous atmosphere.

The night sky was dark, yet this place was as bright as day.

"We’ve been waiting forever, and they’re finally back."

"Hahaha, who would have thought it would be our Changkong clan to establish dominion and rule over this land? What a rare achievement."

"From now on, the Erzhu Race and the Muri clan will have to obediently fall back..."

The people across the land were overjoyed.

Even though they hadn’t participated in the Xuan-Yu War, as members of the Changkong clan, they shared in the glory of the achievements of Sen Yue and the others.

However, the Changkong clan was vast, far too vast.

Where some celebrated, others were naturally filled with bitterness.

The Sen branch’s dominance over the main lineage of the Changkong clan for many years had long since bred discontent among certain people.

Among them were the likes of Lin Shenghuang!

’Sen Yue...’

Lin Shenghuang’s gaze darkened as she looked up toward the grand army in the distance.

She was tall and slender with a delicate, beautiful face, her eyes as still as an abyss.

She was originally the Dao Seed of the great Lin branch, but because of her ruthless methods—destroying the Frost and Snow Mountain Range on a whim and poisoning numerous tribes as well as scions of the Golden Clan—she had been forcibly suppressed by Sen Yue and exiled back to her clan’s lands.

She hadn’t participated in the latter half of the Xuan-Yu War at all, let alone entered the Xuan-Yu Blessed Land.

She and Chen Kui were once known as the Twin Jewels of the Changkong clan.

Unfortunately, Chen Kui had already become a Saint.

As for her, she planned to enter the Thunder Saint Academy before seeking an opportunity to face her tribulation and ascend to Sainthood, hoping for a smoother process.

’Sen Yue has already become a Saint, and Sen Wei has also consolidated her power.’

Lin Shenghuang mused, ’Do I really have to follow Elder Su’s suggestion and hinder Fang Yang’s growth?’

As she pondered, her gaze swept the distance, searching.

Before long, she finally spotted a handsome, upright figure standing on an ancient bronze war chariot.

In truth, whether Fang Yang admitted it or not, most people considered him to be part of the Sen branch’s faction.

The most obvious sign of this was that the Fang Clan’s status within the larger clan had been gradually rising recently, all due to Fang Yang.

Therefore, to those like Lin Shenghuang who chafed under the Sen branch’s authority, Fang Yang was a thorn in their side.

If Fang Yang was allowed to grow and develop unimpeded, he could truly become a Tier Six Saint, or perhaps even a Tier Seven Saint.

At that point, the Sen branch’s position and power would become even more secure!

The night grew thick, yet the area remained bright as day.

Fang Yang followed the army. Though they were in the same region, he felt as if he had instantly stepped from night into day.

WHOOSH... BOOM...

As the army returned, fireworks bloomed across the sky, as if celestial maidens were scattering blossoms from above, and all sorts of wondrous phenomena appeared.

Even more fervent were the people singing and dancing, their expressions ecstatic with celebration.

’Endless celebration, a year of great harvest,’ Fang Yang mused.

Afterward, Sen Wei, representing her brother Sen Yue, ascended high into the sky, her Cyan Lotus Dharma Aspect blotting out the heavens.

Like an empress on high, she accepted the adoration of the masses, delivered a speech, thanked the clan for their support, and inspired the people.

Under her direction, each part of the ceremony was completed in succession.

Four hours later, the members of the various branches departed from the main host and returned to their own territories.

Fang Yang bid farewell to Sen Hui and led Second Uncle Fang, Uncle Qi, and the others back to the Fang Clan’s lands.

「Fang Clan Ancestral Hall.」

Divine Tablets lined the hall, and the air was thick with the smoke of burning incense, creating a solemn and majestic atmosphere.

A massive crowd of people stood outside the ancestral hall.

Besides Fang Yang, Fang Hao, Fang Min, and a few others, many members of the Fang Clan had participated in the Xuan-Yu War.

It was obviously impractical for all of them to enter the ancestral hall to pay respects at the same time.

Therefore, even for the ceremony of reporting their battle achievements to the ancestors, they had to proceed in order of precedence.

At that moment, the highly respected Elder De slowly walked out from inside the ancestral hall.

Behind him followed a group of white-haired old men.

"Ah Yang, well done."

"Cultivate diligently, but don’t be too eager to break through."

"If you run into any trouble within the clan lands, just come and find us..."

Unexpectedly, this group of elders all gathered around Fang Yang, fawning over him.

Being treated like the center of the universe left Fang Yang stunned.

Fang Yang knew his status was now considerable, but he never expected it to be so high that a group of clan elders would willingly place themselves at his disposal.

He discreetly glanced around and saw the stunned and bewildered expressions on his uncles, older female cousins, and other senior relatives.

Clearly, everyone was just as shocked by the elders’ behavior.

"Ah Yang, you go in first. Xiaomin and Haozhi will be after you..."

Elder De stroked his white beard as he made the arrangements.

His words caused an uproar, leaving the rest of the crowd stunned and speechless.

Because no matter how talented Fang Yang was, he was still only a junior.

According to proper tradition, it should never have been his turn to offer the first incense!

Offering the first incense to the ancestral Divine Tablets was a supreme honor, an indirect testament to a person’s lofty status.

"Ah Yang is certainly worthy, but he doesn’t have the seniority, does he..."

"Isn’t Elder De favoring Ah Yang too much? There’s no need for this. Letting Uncle He do it would have been fine."

"Whew... It’s a good thing I never bullied him just because he was a loner. How fortunate."

"I haven’t seen him in a few years. To think that foolish kid from back then would have such a meteoric rise and become a powerful figure I have to look up to..."

At this moment, clan members like Fang Lanxi and Fang Xili finally understood.

The Fang Yang of today had truly risen to prominence, becoming an untouchable, powerful figure!

Even the clan elders had to rely heavily on Fang Yang now.

Fang Lanxi was overjoyed. As Second Uncle Fang’s daughter—Fang Yang’s younger cousin—she was happy for his transformation.

Fang Xili felt a knot of unease in his stomach. As a member of the Internal Affairs Hall, he had once skimmed profits from the restaurant and winery under Fang Yang’s name.

But fortunately, while he had been dismissive of Fang Yang in the past and had wished he would never rise to prominence, he had never gone out of his way to target him.

In that instant, Fang Yang stood at the center of the crowd.

Fang Yang’s eyes swept across the crowd, taking in everyone’s different reactions.

He had only ever dreamed of a scene like this.

In the fifteen years before his Enlightenment, he had been a mere nobody during every Thunder Festival, always standing off to one side.

He would stand silently in a corner, watching from afar as powerful figures entered the ancestral hall to offer incense and receive the reverent gazes of their clansmen.

But now, the feeling of a dream come true filled his heart, and a pleasant shiver ran through him.

He savored the feeling for only a moment, then casually pushed the elation away.

Then, under the watchful eyes of the crowd, he turned, strode into the ancestral hall, accepted three sticks of incense, and paid his respects before the ancestral Divine Tablets.

Behind him, other outstanding figures like Fang Hao and Fang Min also paid their respects to the ancestral Divine Tablets in turn.

But when he heard Elder De and the others fervently chanting the praises of that scoundrel, Fang Nian, Fang Yang’s expression turned a little strange.

In the end, however, he suppressed his feelings.

With Elder De’s assistance, he continued to act as the leading figure, guiding Second Uncle Fang, Fang Min, Fang Xuan, and others through a series of rituals.

It had to be said, the rituals made the atmosphere far more fervent.

The feeling of estrangement from having been away so long was fading bit by bit, like fallen leaves returning to their roots, allowing them to blend together once more.

’Is this the bond of a clan, of a shared bloodline?’

Fang Yang stood with one hand behind his back, his eyes glinting thoughtfully. ’When this power erupts, it is truly terrifying.’