104: Chapter 104 Return to the Valley of Oblivion

The door of the quiet room slid open silently.

Su Yang, clad in a plain white Daoist robe, stepped out slowly. His aura was unremarkable, his handsome face still youthful and sharp, and his deep eyes, like settled stars, held the weight of ages.

This secluded cultivation yielded a small Breakthrough, advancing him from Seventh Layer of Qi Refining to Qi Refining Layer Eight, but his goal was far beyond that.

The Su Family needed a Foundation Establishment Cultivator to anchor them. Song Baiqing could only be a backup; only by having a strong self could the Family truly prosper.

Su Yang emerged only to take a breath of fresh air; afterward, he would immediately resume his seclusion to attempt a Breakthrough to Qi Refining Layer Nine.

Now, the Su Family did not require his constant management in every matter, allowing him to focus wholeheartedly on Cultivation.

With Su Xuanming's current capability, he could perfectly control the Su Family's developmental direction. Su Xuanheng and Su Xuanxiao could serve as the Family's sharp blade and shield, while Su Xuanjing could generate wealth for the Su Family.

The Su Family had already passed the most difficult initial phase and entered the stage of protecting and nurturing the growth of their descendants.

The Su Family's Foundation was completely solid; the next step was simply waiting for this great tree to grow and blossom.

Su Yang only informed his wife about his emergence from seclusion.

Qin Jiangmei was standing at the doorway and offered him a bright smile.

The couple walked hand in hand, using a Spell to conceal their forms as they strolled leisurely within the Clan Territory.

Qin Jiangmei recounted the various matters of the Family during his absence. When she mentioned Qin Chuanxing, Su Yang couldn't help but ask,

"What is this child's character like?"

"He is taciturn, and his thoughts run a bit deep," Qin Jiangmei replied truthfully.

Su Yang placed great importance on the character of the Su Family members. Beyond teaching knowledge, the Su Clan Academy also instructed the students on morality and their core values.

For affiliated Family descendants with Spiritual Roots, like Ji Shulan, after receiving moral education at the Academy, Qin Jiangmei would still guide her core values when she entered the Su Family inner court.

This showed how much the Su Family valued character.

Su Yang was acutely aware that the most fatal flaw for a Family was not weak descendants, but descendants with poor character, which could lead to internal strife or invite annihilation from external forces.

This was also why Qin Jiangmei questioned immediately upon hearing that Qin Chuanxing was sent to the Su Family inner court at the age of six.

If Qin Chuanxing had been sent to the Su Family inner court at age three, even with a Pseudo Spiritual Root, the Su Family would have exerted all efforts to nurture him. But Qin Chuanxing had stayed with the Qin Family until he was six, meaning his character and values might have already been influenced by that Family.

An innocent child at this age could still have their values reshaped, but a child with many hidden thoughts was unpredictable.

"First, let him focus on Martial Dao Cultivation and observe his temperament. If he becomes impatient or raises objections to this, then send him back."

When Su Yang heard that Qin Chuanxing's thoughts ran deep, he already leaned toward refusal.

However, out of respect for the Qin Family, he chose to observe him for a period longer.

Since Qin Chuanxing had a Pseudo Spiritual Root, achieving anything would require cultivating both the Dao and the Martial Path. Therefore, focusing on the Martial Dao was not an issue; Su Yang, as someone who had gone through it, had the most say on this matter.

...

The couple wandered in the Clan Territory for a long time before suddenly sensing a massive spiritual energy fluctuation coming from the sky.

They looked up and saw a flying boat rushing in from the distance like a streak of light, breaking into Qingyuan Market before slowly landing in an open area.

Su Yang spotted quite a few familiar figures; they were covered in the smell of blood, and their faces were flushed with excitement.

It was the dozen or so Family Cultivators who had gone to Wangchuan Valley—they had returned from their Grotto-Heaven experience!

However, compared to the number who left, the current group was clearly missing more than half.

Yet, these people showed no sadness or solemnity on their faces, only the joy of returning and the excitement of their gains.

Su Yang narrowed his eyes and saw Jiang Linyuan among them, thinking to himself that this fellow had indeed survived!

The group of Qi Refining Cultivators disembarked one after another, exchanging bows and parting ways, eager to return to digest the Opportunity they had gained this time.

The last to step off the flying boat were Cheng Lan and Jiang Wuyu. Of the three Foundation Establishment Cultivators in Qingyuan, only Cheng Lan and Jiang Wuyu had gone to Wangchuan Valley.

Both wore beaming smiles, clearly having benefited greatly from the trip.

But the number of returning Cultivators from both Families was pitifully small.

Before leaving, each side had nearly thirty Cultivators; now, the total was less than twenty.

How could they still be smiling about this?

Su Yang couldn't help but shake his head. In the eyes of these people, the lives of their descendants were probably only slightly more valuable than those of Mortals; as long as the training yielded rewards, any sacrifice could be compensated for.

"Isn't this Young Friend Su? All well, I see. Did you come specifically to welcome us?"

Jiang Wuyu was in high spirits. He saw through Su Yang's minor invisibility Spell at a glance and took the initiative to greet him.

"Senior Jiang seems to be in a good mood. Your Junior was just passing by and unexpectedly ran into your return, Senior."

Su Yang replied with a faint smile: "It seems there truly were many treasures in that Grotto-Heaven. Your Junior deeply regrets missing this Opportunity."

Jiang Wuyu laughed heartily, feeling extremely pleased.

"Young Friend Su, this time was truly regrettable. There were abundant Opportunities in that Grotto-Heaven. Next time you have a chance, do not miss it again."

"Senior speaks the truth."

Su Yang nodded, appropriately displaying an expression of regret.

This was what pleased Jiang Wuyu the most; his favorite thing was seeing others suffer loss and discomfort, and the thing he hated most was suffering loss and discomfort himself.

Cheng Lan put away the flying boat. As he passed by, he merely shot a cold glance at Su Yang and Qin Jiangmei before striding away.

"He really is a petty Foundation Establishment Cultivator," Qin Jiangmei transmitted via spiritual sound.

Su Yang shrugged helplessly: "Cultivators are ultimately human. If there are petty people, naturally there will be petty Cultivators."

Because he refused to go to the Grotto-Heaven with the Cheng Family and rejected the marriage alliance between the two Families, Cheng Lan held a grudge against the Su Family. Even after so much time had passed, he still held the grudge—if that wasn't pettiness, what was?

Cheng Lan's magnanimity was even less broad than Old Dog Jiang's.

"Husband, do you think they truly gained a huge harvest from this trip?"

Seeing the returning Cultivators' expressions showing deep fatigue yet unable to hide their joy, without the slightest trace of solemnity over the death of their clansmen, Qin Jiangmei felt a mix of emotions.

So, besides the cold-blooded nature of Sect Cultivators, Family Cultivators were the same?

Fellow disciples without a Bloodline connection made indifference somewhat understandable, but such cold-bloodedness among those sharing the same parents was truly difficult for her to comprehend.

"I don't know how much others gained," Su Yang said calmly, "but Cheng Lan and Jiang Wuyu definitely benefited greatly."

He paused, a flash of understanding in his eyes: "It's likely that half of the so-called Opportunities came from the Cultivators who traveled with them."

"It's a good thing Husband didn't travel with them," Qin Jiangmei said thankfully.

"It's true I didn't travel with them." Su Yang shook his head helplessly, his tone carrying a trace of self-mockery, "But because of that, I offended Cheng Lan, a Foundation Establishment Cultivator."

"Let's go. We should return and Cultivate together in seclusion. Breaking through to Foundation Establishment as soon as possible is the Righteous Path."

"Mmm, I'll listen to Husband."

Qin Jiangmei nodded lightly and naturally linked her arm with Su Yang's. The two walked side-by-side toward the Su Residence.

...

Time flowed by, and two short months passed.

On this day, a wave of spiritual energy fluctuation signaling a Cultivator's Foundation Establishment suddenly spread out from the Jiang Family courtyard!

The entire Qingyuan Market was shaken!