The scene was plunged into a deathly silence.

"The time is almost up. Are there any more challengers?" Song Luzhou stood beside Song Changsheng, taunting the group from the Earth Fire Sect with a sinister look.

Qu Jinsheng’s expression was as foul as if he’d eaten shit. He shot Song Changsheng a vicious glare, but ultimately said nothing, storming off with his people in tow. The Qiu Clan followed close behind.

Clan Leader Yu cast a complicated glance at Song Changsheng, who was enveloped by the Tai Chi Diagram. After giving Song Luzhou a cupped-fist salute, he too led his wounded party back toward their encampment...

In the end, the arena battles concluded with the defeat of the three great powers. In less than a week, Song Changsheng’s name swept across all of Ling Province, and he came to be known as the "number one cultivator below Foundation Establishment."

The title was a bit audacious, but for the Song Clan Members, it was the perfect shot in the arm. They had been oppressed and dejected for far too long—so long that they had forgotten their clan’s past glory.

After that battle, Song Changsheng’s prestige within the clan skyrocketed, almost reaching a level comparable to that of the Elders.

As a result, a long-shelved proposal was brought forth once again by the Elder Council for public discussion.

The proposal posed a question: "If we were to select the clan’s first Young Clan Leader in a century, who would you choose?"

A few years ago, when Song Changsheng had first begun to distinguish himself within the clan, Song Luyao had proposed at a clan meeting that he be appointed Young Clan Leader. The idea was later personally vetoed by Song Xianming, who only agreed to elevate his status to that of a "Purple Mansion Seed."

Now, however, the old topic had been revived and put on the table for all clan members to discuss.

The proposal immediately sparked a fierce debate throughout the clan. Ultimately, Song Changsheng’s approval rating reached a staggering eighty percent.

The vast majority of the clan believed that if Song Changsheng became the Young Clan Leader, he would be able to lead the clan back to its former glory—and perhaps even write a new, more brilliant Chapter—once the current Clan Leader stepped down.

The small minority who remained held a more conservative view, believing that talent alone wasn’t everything.

However, such arguments were quickly drowned out. Overall, the support for Song Changsheng was overwhelming.

In light of this, Song Xianyun, along with several other members of the Elder Council, once again petitioned Song Xianming to appoint Song Changsheng as Young Clan Leader...

The matter caused such a stir within the clan that it unexpectedly overshadowed another major event—Song Lutong’s imminent seclusion to attempt his breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment realm...

Inside a stone chamber carved out of the heart of Vast Mist Peak, Song Changsheng gave Song Lutong a solemn, cupped-fist salute. "I wish you swift success and a prosperous immortal journey, Uncle."

Song Lutong slung an arm around Song Changsheng’s neck, gave him a friendly thump on the chest, and said boisterously, "Don’t you worry. This seclusion is practically in the bag. Once I’m through, I’ll have your back."

’It’s good that he has such a positive mindset before his seclusion,’ Song Changsheng thought. He chuckled and said, "Then I’ll be counting on you in the future, Uncle."

"Of course, of course. You’d better hurry up yourself, kid. Don’t let that talent of yours go to waste," Song Lutong said, putting on the airs of a worldly senior.

"I understand." 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

"Alright, I’m heading in then." Song Lutong clapped Song Changsheng on the shoulder and walked into the stone chamber without a backward glance.

Song Changsheng watched the stone door grind shut, a knot of worry in his heart. ’Foundation Establishment is a massive hurdle, after all. One misstep could lead to complete annihilation, body and soul.’

Even though Song Lutong had consumed the Stalactite Spiritual Liquid, his chances of success were only fifty-fifty. Changsheng truly had no idea what the final outcome would be.

Song Luhuai, having been through this himself, chuckled and reassured him, "Lutong is a Body Refining Cultivator with outstanding talent. He’s spent years building a deep foundation, so breaking through to Foundation Establishment should be a natural culmination of his efforts. He’ll be fine. He’ll finish his breakthrough in as little as a year or as long as several. Don’t you worry."

"I understand. Thank you for standing guard, Twelfth Uncle." Song Changsheng felt his heart lighten a bit.

As soon as he stepped out of the seclusion area, he saw Song Xianyun flying toward them on his sword. Song Changsheng quickly moved forward to bow in greeting.

Song Xianyun looked delighted, his face beaming. He stroked his beard and chuckled. "Regarding your appointment as Young Clan Leader, I and the Elder Council have submitted the petition again. It’s sure to be approved this time."

Song Changsheng was taken aback and quickly waved his hands in dismissal. "Grand-uncle, I am far too inexperienced. How could I possibly bear such a heavy responsibility?"

This wasn’t false modesty; it was what he truly felt. ’The Young Clan Leader is, to put it bluntly, the next Clan Leader,’ he thought. ’That position is no joke, and I don’t feel I have the ability to handle it yet.’

"Stop being so modest. This isn’t just the opinion of the Elder Council; it’s the shared wish of hundreds of our clan members. Once your grandfather emerges from seclusion, the matter will be settled. The clan will certainly throw a grand celebration for you then."

It seemed the matter was no longer up for debate. Song Changsheng could only respond with a wry smile.

After bidding farewell to Song Xianyun, Song Changsheng headed to the clan’s Contribution Hall. There, he used the Contribution Points he had accumulated over the years to redeem a piece of Tier Two Earth Core Flame Iron from the Clan Treasure Vault.

He had previously seized a piece of Jellyfish Refined Steel from Chang Tianhua. Although the Earth Core Flame Iron was of considerably lower quality, the combination of the two—one water, one fire—was exactly what he needed to refine his Lifebound Spiritual Artifact, the Water and Fire Treasure Gourd, to the Tier Two Low Grade level.

His Artifact Refining Technique had been stalled at Tier One Top Grade for a long time. Having recently gained some new insights, he decided it was time to attempt to cross that threshold.

Because he wanted to experiment with a few of his own ideas, he chose not to attempt his breakthrough on Vast Mist Peak, returning to Little Cyan Mountain instead.

Upon his return to the island, Song Qingxi immediately latched onto him, chattering endlessly in his ear about daily trifles—how the number of Spirit Fish in the lake had increased, how the Cyan Plum Tree’s Spiritual Attribute had grown stronger, and so on.

He had only been gone for half a month, yet it felt as if he’d been away for ages.

After placating the young girl with a small gift, Song Changsheng entered a state of seclusion. This time, he was determined: he would not emerge until he had broken through to become a Tier Two Low-Grade Refiner!

Spring passed into autumn, winter into summer. A year slipped by. Then, on one ordinary day, Song Changsheng experienced something extraordinary.

After countless failures, he had finally succeeded in refining his first Tier Two Low-Grade Artifact. Looking at the small, round shield in his hand, Song Changsheng’s heart filled with joy.

Ever since his Water Element Shield had been shattered, he had planned to refine a new Defensive Spiritual Artifact. Now, his wish had finally come true.

This, too, was a round shield. Although it was Tier Two Low Grade, the materials used were nothing special and couldn’t compare to those of the Water Element Shield. He named this, the first Tier Two Spiritual Artifact of his life, the Celestial Spirit Shield.

After his breakthrough in artifact refining, Song Changsheng spent some time consolidating his new skills before turning his attention to re-refining his Treasure Gourd.

The technique he intended to use this time came from the artifact refining legacy left behind by Hee Yunxuan. It contained a unique Refining Method for a so-called "Spirit-Slaying Gourd"...