2: Is this how you manage your family?

"Esteemed Elders, why the panic?"

As the faint voice echoed in everyone's ears, all present showed expressions of disbelief and shock.

Did the Clan Chief really emerge from seclusion?

But wasn't he in seclusion to resolve the strange poison? Could it be?

A jolt went through everyone's hearts, and then their faces collectively lit up with joy.

The Clan Chief was a Late Stage Core Formation mighty expert; once the poison problem was resolved, the Wang Family would no longer have to worry about its standing in Wutan City.

However, thinking of the topic they had just been discussing, the atmosphere couldn't help but fall silent.

They merely rose and bowed to Wang Chen.

"Greetings, Clan Chief."

"You may dispense with the formalities, Esteemed Elders. It has been a long time."

Wang Dong said faintly as he walked in.

He looked around and, seeing the sparse number of people, couldn't help but frown.

He had noticed the scarcity of Family members along the way.

Roughly estimating, the entire vast Wang Family Territory combined had less than two hundred people.

At first, he thought everyone had gone out on missions.

But now, seeing only about thirty Family Elders in the main hall, he realized something was amiss.

One must know that fifteen years ago, when he announced his seclusion, there were at least a thousand Family Disciples.

There were also over a hundred Family Elders qualified to attend meetings.

Yet now, the numbers had more than halved.

What on earth happened?

Wang Dong had doubts in his heart.

Just then, the Grand Elder, who was seated at the head, nimbly moved to another chair, yielding the main seat to Wang Dong.

Wang Dong didn't stand on ceremony and calmly sat in the main seat.

"What? I just asked why the panic, and still no one is speaking?"

As he spoke, Wang Dong inadvertently revealed a trace of Purple Mansion pressure.

Although everyone had trusted him when he was in power fifteen years ago, after fifteen years, how many remained loyal to him was an unknown.

Necessary displays of power were essential for him to revitalize the Family.

After all, he was now bound to the Family's Luck; helping the Family develop was helping himself improve.

And for the Family's development to be swift, it could not be constrained by anyone.

A unified voice was necessary to concentrate strength on important matters.

This is?

Purple Mansion!

When the people in the deliberation hall felt this pressure, they all looked shocked.

They were already somewhat stunned that the Clan Chief, who had been on the verge of death from the strange poison fifteen years ago, had appeared alive.

And now he had even broken through to the Purple Mansion realm?

The Grand Elder stood up with a start, stammering, "Clan Chief, you have achieved Purple Mansion?"

The moment this question was asked, everyone held their breath, eager to hear Wang Dong's answer.

After all, the Wang Family, though one of the four great families in Wutan City, had not produced a Purple Mansion True Person for nearly a thousand years.

To think that today, the Clan Chief had turned misfortune into a blessing?! It was simply dreamlike!

Wang Dong did not disappoint and nodded.

"The day before yesterday, I condensed my Purple Mansion and completely eradicated the strange poison."

His calm words fell in the hall, and the atmosphere immediately became so thick it seemed to solidify.

But then, everyone cheered.

"Heaven has eyes! Our Wang Family has produced another Purple Mansion True Person after a millennium!"

The Grand Elder couldn't help but sigh, looking up at the sky.

"Since the Clan Chief has achieved Purple Mansion True Person, it seems it is time for us to settle accounts with the other three families."

"There's no need to rush. We'll have plenty of time later. In my opinion, it's better to first hold a Purple Mansion Grand Ceremony to announce the boundless good fortune of our Wang Family."

...Seeing the Esteemed Elders, there was also a suspicion of flattery.

Wang Dong waved his hand, "These are matters for later. Tell me what happened in the fifteen years I was away. Why are there less than two hundred Family Disciples, and why are so many Family Elders missing?"

"This..."

At these words, the Grand Elder's body stiffened. After a moment of hesitation, he still spoke truthfully.

"Initially, for ten years after your seclusion, Clan Chief, nothing happened. Although two families were eyeing us from the side, with the arrangements you left before your seclusion and our alliance with the Zhou Family, there were no major concerns."

"But five years ago, the junior from the Zhou Family, who was engaged to our Wang Family, was found to have exceptional Aptitude and was taken by the Qingxuan Sect to become an Inner Sect Disciple. In the year that followed, the Zhou Family repeatedly demanded resources from our Wang Family under the pretense of aiding her cultivation."

"If we refused, they threatened to dissolve our alliance. Left with no choice, we could only open our resources to them, even giving up a mine we originally controlled. This led to a shortage of cultivation resources for us, ultimately causing the departure of Disciples from the branch families, along with some Family Elders."

He spoke cautiously, constantly observing Wang Dong's expression. Seeing only a frown and no other actions, he breathed a sigh of relief.

But he still dared not sit down.

Although he was the Grand Elder, his status was second only to Wang Dong.

After fifteen years as acting Clan Chief, his authority had further increased, but he still dared not challenge Wang Dong's prestige.

This was not merely because Wang Dong's cultivation was higher.

It was also because before Wang Dong's seclusion, his authority was immense, and his methods were firm.

Even the main conspiracy of the Wu and Zheng Families back then was to cripple this revitalizing lord of the Wang Family.

Even if he had been in control for fifteen, twenty, or thirty years, he likely wouldn't have been as popular as Wang Dong.

"So that's how it is."

Wang Dong glanced faintly at the Grand Elder, then suddenly slammed the table.

A thunderous sound exploded in the hall, and everyone fell silent in fear.

"Before my seclusion, I entrusted you to guard the Wang Family well, to consider assisting the Zhou Family as appropriate, and to maintain the alliance."

"But you! To curry favor with the Zhou Family, you neglected your own Family, causing the Disciples of the branch families to become disloyal. An outsider would think our Wang Family was a subordinate of the Zhou Family!"

Wang Dong's tone remained calm, but everyone could hear the furious anger.

In just five years, the Wang Family had gone from prosperity to decline.

Everyone present bore responsibility.

After all, major decisions were made and executed based on their collective votes.

"I was foolish and failed the Clan Chief's trust!"

The Grand Elder's face was filled with shame.

All the Elders also acknowledged their guilt.

Seeing this, Wang Dong snorted coldly.

"Forget it. Since I'm back, we'll slowly settle accounts. Whatever the Zhou Family took from my Wang Family, they will spit it all back out."

"Furthermore, it is indeed time to settle matters with the Wu and Zheng Families. Soon, Wutan will be unified, and my Wang Family will prosper again."

His words made everyone's blood boil, and their faces glowed with excitement.

But just as Wang Dong was about to arrange specific matters, someone suddenly raised a hand.

Wang Dong glanced at him, "Speak."

"Clan Chief, it's not that I want to be a spoilsport, but the current Zhou Family cannot be touched!"

"That's right, Clan Chief, things are not what they used to be."

"That Zhou Family produced a Zhou Siyu, and now they have a great connection with the Qingxuan Sect. We are afraid..."