122: Patriarch Ceremony, System Vulnerability

Under the high-speed operation of the Xu Family's massive machine, the entire Cloud Mist Mountain was meticulously arranged, imbued with a solemn ceremonial atmosphere.

On the day of the Xu Family's Clan Chief inauguration ceremony, people from all lineages of the Xu Family gathered early at the plaza on the mountainside where the Ancestral Hall was located, though the Seven Kill Lineage was on the outermost periphery.

Even though they had formed their own lineage, fundamentally speaking, they could only be considered retainers of the Xu Family, and thus could only be spectators at this grand ceremony. Of course, high-ranking individuals like Hai Dagui were allowed to participate in the ceremony.

Besides members of the Xu Family, those who came to the Xu Family this time also included the Profound Yellow Pavilion and the Prefecture Chiefs and Deputy Prefecture Chiefs from its one hundred and three Profound Yellow Prefectures.

During these days, the Xu Family provided them with an excellent Cultivation environment, with three meals a day consisting entirely of delicacies imbued with the power of Law, showing meticulous care and fully displaying the magnanimity of the host Family.

To emphasize the solemnity of the ceremony, Xu Ming even referenced the inauguration ceremonies for Clan Chiefs and Sect Masters of various major powers in the Tianguan Realm, compiling a brand-new ceremonial scroll for the Xu Family's Clan Chief inauguration, leaving a process for future Clan Chiefs.

The first step of the Clan Chief ceremony was to pay respects to the ancestors, with the Elders accompanying the successor to the Clan Chief to the Ancestral Hall to offer sacrifices to the Xu Family's ancestors.

Thus, on the day of the grand Clan Chief ceremony, Xu Qing, with his hair tied up, wore the Clan Chief attire designed by Xu Ming and the other Elders: a purple-gold crown with twelve dangling beads, and a luxurious purple-gold immortal robe embroidered with the sun and moon of heaven and earth, surrounded by myriad stars, and beneath them, mountains, rivers, and vegetation!

Afterward, on this day, Xu Qing, dressed in this manner, under solemn ceremonial music and presided over by Xu Ming, informed the Xu Family's ancestors of the major events that had recently occurred in the Xu Family, and also conveyed the news that he would be the new Clan Chief of the Xu Family.

And from this moment on, the Xu City Xu Family officially announced its end, replaced by the Xuanhuang Xu Family, an Eternal Family destined to ascend to the highest power on the Eternal Continent.

Then, Elder Xu Zhenyang read out the Xuanhuang Xu Family rules, reminding the incoming Clan Chief and numerous Xu Family members to always be vigilant, not to violate the Family rules, and to uphold the excellent Family education of the Xuanhuang Xu Family.

After these rituals were completed, they proceeded to the Taiji Hall for the inauguration ceremony.

However, this time, only the high-ranking members of each lineage were present to observe the ceremony. Xu Ming read out a document, listing Xu Qing's achievements, indicating that the Xuanhuang Xu Family did not appoint a Clan Chief casually, but rather after a strict assessment, confirming that Xu Qing possessed the qualifications to succeed to the position of Clan Chief.

Subsequently, Xu Ming personally, on behalf of the ancestors, bestowed upon Xu Qing the ritual artifact symbolizing the power of the Xu Family Clan Chief.

This was a sword artifact, its grade reaching the standard of a top-tier Imperial Weapon. This sword artifact was a Legacy from that high ancestor of the Xu Family. Originally, it was only an Elementary Spirit Treasure, but due to its special significance, the Xu Family spent resources to upgrade it.

After the ceremony, all the Xu Family members simultaneously bowed and paid respects to Xu Qing, the new Clan Chief.

As the sound emanated from the Taiji Hall, all the Xu Family lineages simultaneously bowed towards the Taiji Hall, their sounds of reverence shaking the one hundred thousand miles of Cloud Mist Mountain.

Thus, Xu Qing officially became the Xu Family Clan Chief, taking control of the Xuanhuang Xu Family's great power.

However, the ceremony was not yet over.

First, the masters of each hall and lineage came forward one by one to pay their respects. Xu Qing offered a few words of encouragement, affirming their political achievements.

Afterward, the Profound Yellow Pavilion and its one hundred and three Profound Yellow Prefectures all presented congratulatory gifts. Xu Qing met with them one by one. Since the Xu Family was leaving, and had already promised Tang Yuan to take all Imperial Realm experts, then in the future, the Tianguan Realm could only be governed by these Profound Yellow Prefecture Chiefs.

Therefore, Xu Qing extracted the Wang Family members, as well as Lan Ningbo and Lan Yuangang, and reorganized the Profound Yellow Pavilion, promoting the two servants of the Tiangang Sect to the positions of Pavilion Master and Deputy Pavilion Master, and bestowed upon them identity cards of Half-Step Imperial Realm experts.

The remaining Elders of the Profound Yellow Pavilion and all one hundred and three Profound Yellow Prefecture Chiefs were all bestowed with identity cards of Peak Divine Venerables, while the remaining three hundred and nine Deputy Prefecture Chiefs were all bestowed with identity cards of Top Divine Venerables.

In total, 44,230 family points were spent. Although the cost was high, these people could never betray the Family for life. Coupled with the Ten Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains, Xu Qing could manifest the Tianguan Realm at any time, and in the future, the living beings of this realm would become the Xu Family's talent reserve.

And Xu Qing's move completely awed these Prefecture Chiefs and Deputy Prefecture Chiefs. This grand gesture left an extremely deep impression on them, so much so that in the years to come, whenever they recalled what they saw today, they would marvel at Xu Qing's methods.

After the reception ceremony, there were performances and banquets prepared by the Xu Family.

The prepared performances included martial arts competitions among the younger generation of the Xu Family, all of whom were elite young talents, and everything had been arranged beforehand to be point-scoring only.

It was just to add some fun.

After this came the banquet.

This grand Clan Chief ceremony lasted for three whole days before concluding!

And by this point, half a month of the three-month period had passed, leaving two and a half months.

Thus, Xu Qing issued his first Law decree after becoming Clan Chief: all experts above Heavenly Venerable in the Family, as well as elite Disciples, were to enter the Ancient Time Land for secluded Cultivation. At the same time, Xu Qing moved the Heaven and Earth Dao Pagoda, the Family Combat Power Pagoda, and the Ten Thousand Spirits Blood Pool Palace into the Ancient Time Land.

Afterward, he also opened the Treasure Pavilion, supplying a large number of treasures for Family members to Cultivate.

Having completed all this, Xu Qing took out the Imperial Weapon rewarded by the System.

As this sword appeared, Myriad Daos and Laws roared around the entire Ancient Time Tree, as if welcoming the arrival of an Emperor.

This was an Imperial Weapon. Even if it was only an Elementary Imperial Weapon, the mere wisp of Great Emperor Qi it casually revealed was like the Nine Heavens pressing down, the Mandate of Heaven rising and falling. All living beings in heaven and earth would prostrate themselves beneath this wisp of Great Emperor Qi!

"System, how much is this Imperial Weapon worth?"

"Ding! This Imperial Weapon is the Natal Imperial Weapon of Great Emperor Mie You, who created the Mie You era in the Middle Ancient Era. He was the only Emperor to achieve emperorship among the twenty-seven eras at the end of the Middle Ancient Era. On the day he became Emperor, he delved deep into the Netherworld and massacred hundreds of domains, encountering a joint blockade from the Great Emperors of the Netherworld, and ultimately perished."

"The Middle Ancient Era also ended with the demise of this Great Emperor. Due to the great battle, eight or nine-tenths of the Imperial Essence within his Natal Imperial Weapon was lost, causing its value to plummet. The System estimates its value at one hundred million family points."

"Pfft!"

Xu Qing instantly spat out a mouthful of tea.

"One hundred million?"

Xu Qing looked at the number above with horror. One hundred million family points! What kind of concept was that? Based on his current monthly territorial output, it would take him 57 years to accumulate one hundred million family points.

"System, this Imperial Weapon can be bought back, right!"

Immediately after, Xu Qing excitedly rubbed his hands. This was the destination he had arranged for this Imperial Weapon.

"This is a System reward and is not eligible for buyback!"

"Uh..."

Xu Qing was stunned upon hearing this. He was a bit unwilling to give up.

"Can't you buy it?"

"No!"

"You didn't say that! You said that anything I didn't need could be recycled, and I didn't hear you say that System rewards couldn't be recycled, did I?"

"Didn't I say?"

"Did you?" Xu Qing seemed to see a glimmer of hope and immediately questioned.

"..."

"Given that the System did not state this beforehand, this Imperial Weapon can be bought back at one-tenth of its market price. Furthermore, from now on, System rewards, as well as items from the Scripture Pavilion, Treasure Pavilion, and Divine Weapon Peak, will not be eligible for buyback!"

Alright, alright! This damned System not only lowballed him but also extinguished all his ideas one by one.

Xu Qing immediately retorted, "One-tenth is too little, no, half!"

...But after waiting for a long time, the System didn't respond.

"Four and a half tenths?"

"Four tenths!"

"Three and a half tenths!"

"Three tenths, I won't sell it for less!" Xu Qing said, exasperated.

"Ding! System received, canceling this transaction..."

"Hey! Hey... Don't do that, I was just kidding! Look, you're getting serious. One-tenth it is! Who told me to be kind? I'm just..."

"Ding! Transaction complete, family points successfully credited!"

Xu Qing hadn't even finished speaking when the System promptly completed the transaction.

W-what the hell... "Damn System, your transaction was too quick! You owe me family points, you give me back my simple and cute System!"

How could Xu Qing not know that the System's transaction price was definitely more than just that little bit? It didn't even bother to hide it.

That scoundrel, how did it become so cunning after upgrading?

Finally, Xu Qing, with a face full of lament, but in reality, ecstatic, clicked open the System Mall.

Nine Emperor Upper Domain, is it! Nine Divine Venerables, is it!

Just wait!