Among the crowd of spectating cultivators were many from other families, and they all hurried to send word to their respective clans.

Whether or not they chose to take a side, this was a major event they absolutely had to be informed about.

The situation developed in a way that exceeded everyone’s expectations, yet somehow, it wasn’t entirely surprising.

Song Qingyun had also gathered the disciples and contacted several allied families.

This included several powers that Song Wanning had secretly helped in the past, all of whom pledged their support. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

However, the three great families had a large number of Divinity Transformation cultivators.

Combined with the Divinity Transformation cultivators from several other major families, they could muster over a dozen Divinity Transformation cultivators.

Their Song Family currently had five Divinity Transformation cultivators, and even with the addition of those from their allies, they still seemed to be at a slight disadvantage.

And with Wan Ning still underground, with no telling when she might emerge...

Song Qingyun narrowed his eyes, snorting coldly to himself. ’Thankfully, we made preparations long ago. Otherwise, faced with this sudden family war, the Song Family would have easily been caught on the defensive.’

"Ning Clan Leader, you’ve brazenly instigated a family war, leading a rebellion against the long-established rules of the Cultivation World."

"That being the case, from this day forward, your three families can forget about maintaining your status as the three great families!"

Not wanting to waste time, Song Qingyun’s voice rang out with another sharp accusation. "Today marks the day your three great families collapse!"

Once all the other families united against them, the three great families would be powerless and would ultimately have no choice but to meekly accept everyone’s judgment.

After all, they were acting in accordance with the rules of the Cultivation World, giving them a righteous cause.

Unlike the three great families.

The Ning Clan Leader’s brow furrowed, and a flicker of indecision crossed his mind.

He was well aware that Song Qingyun was trying to provoke him into attacking first. That way, the Song Family could completely absolve themselves of blame, claiming they were forced to act in self-defense.

But if he waited for reinforcements to arrive, he had no idea if the treasure in the courtyard would still be there, or if someone else might claim it as their own.

More than the Song Family’s resources, he cared about the treasure that could allow them all to advance their cultivation at lightning speed.

If he obtained that treasure, he could advance his own cultivation rapidly. Even ascension would no longer be just a dream.

The opportunity was within his grasp.

The Ning Clan Leader glanced at the several Divinity Transformation cultivators, a fierce glint suddenly flashing in his eyes.

"Charge!!!"

At his command, the Divinity Transformation cultivators once again charged toward the main gate in unison.

The Ning Clan Leader charged right behind them, brandishing the Magical Treasure in his hand, his killing intent radiating outwards.

Seeing this, the remaining Nascent Soul Cultivators and the other clan leaders exchanged glances before also launching their own attacks toward the courtyard.

The great battle erupted in an instant. The Song Family’s Nascent Soul Elders met the challenge, rushing out of the courtyard to join the fray.

For a time, the area outside the courtyard was filled with flashing Spells of every description, their lights flaring and fading in a display of immense power.

The other disciples of the Song Family had taken refuge in the courtyard. Their strength was insufficient; sending them into the battle would be a death sentence. Following the Family Head’s orders, they hid within the Array to prevent needless casualties.

The immense commotion was contained by the Song Family’s Array, which spared the surrounding buildings and cultivators from harm.

Meanwhile, news of the great families besieging the Song Family spread like wildfire, quickly reaching every corner of the land. Forces of all kinds began to converge on the Song estate, while others chose to watch the tigers fight from the shadows, content to stay out of the fray.

...

Song Wanning was completely unaware of the great commotion outside the courtyard.

But she knew the Nine Heavens Divine Thunder would inevitably attract the attention of other powers. Those people had always been envious of the Song Family’s rise, and there was no telling what they might do.

Thus, she remained completely focused, not daring to make the slightest mistake.

Seeing the Spiritual Pearl finally draw near the Dragon Spirit, her gaze sharpened, and she began to chant the mantra once more.

The burning incense smoke began to drift about, flowing from her hands to quickly cover every inch of the surrounding space.

With her repeated chanting of the mantra, the long-slumbering Dragon Spirit finally showed signs of stirring.

It slowly opened its large, hazy eyes. Though it had only opened them a crack, Song Wanning was instantly struck by a wave of immense pressure.

THUD—

She dropped directly to one knee. If not for her Longsword propping her up against the ground, she would have been thrown completely flat.

The Dragon Spirit’s eyes slowly opened all the way, filled with a dazed and innocent expression.

Meanwhile, Song Wanning had broken out in a cold sweat, the bones throughout her body groaning under the pressure.

’As expected of a Dragon Spirit from a supreme dragon vein.’ Even without doing anything, the aura it radiated was more than she could possibly withstand.

She continued to silently chant the mantra as the instructions dictated, never breaking her concentration for even a moment, no matter how difficult it became.

Streams of incense smoke drifted out continuously, landing perpendicularly on the crown of the Dragon Spirit’s head.

There, it transformed into a familiar symbol before sinking into the Dragon Spirit’s body.

The Dragon Spirit let out a low grunt and squeezed its eyes shut in comfort. A long moment passed before it leisurely opened them again.

Only this time, its gaze was no longer muddled and dull, but filled with innocence and curiosity.

It tilted its head, looking at Song Wanning, who had now sat down cross-legged across from it, and tentatively called out, "Mother?"

There was something about the person opposite it that made it feel incredibly close.

It was as if she had hatched it herself; there was an innate familiarity.

Song Wanning froze for a moment at its words, raising an eyebrow in surprise.

’Did the Dragon Spirit just call me?’

’A Spiritual Object nurtured by heaven and earth itself is calling *me* Mother?’

’I’m not powerful enough to have given birth to a kid this amazing.’

But the fact that the Dragon Spirit felt close to her made Song Wanning overjoyed.

Blinking in pleasant surprise, she beckoned to the Dragon Spirit.

"Come here, little one."

The Dragon Spirit and the dragon vein were two complete extremes: one was large enough to span the entire Human Clan, while the other was palm-sized and looked utterly adorable.

The Dragon Spirit wagged its tail excitedly and pounced at Song Wanning, burrowing swiftly into her arms.

But she was knocked flat on her back, unable to get up for a long moment.

The Dragon Spirit looked small, but it was incredibly heavy. That gentle pounce had broken several of Song Wanning’s ribs, and she nearly coughed up a mouthful of blood.

She quickly took out an Elixir Pill and swallowed it, forcing down the mouthful of blood that had risen in her chest.

"Little one, I’m not your mother. I’m your big sister."

Song Wanning tapped the Dragon Spirit’s forehead and said with a laugh, "You have to be a little more gentle. I’m not built to withstand your tackles."

At her words, the Dragon Spirit blinked its large, misty eyes, a look of confusion on its face.

"Big sister?"

"That’s right—"

Song Wanning shamelessly accepted the title.

’The Dragon Spirit wants to be close to me of its own free will,’ she thought. ’It’s not like I’m swindling a child here.’

She was just so used to other heaven-and-earth Spiritual Objects rejecting and despising her that the Dragon Spirit’s affection felt very strange.

But this wasn’t the time to be dwelling on such feelings. She didn’t know what the situation was outside and needed to hurry.

"Little one, now that you’re awake, your big sister has to go out for a bit."