The founding ancestor of the [Wangyue] Song Clan, Song Taiyi, was once a banished member of the Golden Core-level [Jinxiu Banner] Song Clan.
After being expelled from the family, he became disheartened and traveled to Lingzhou, where he established his clan, claiming to be a branch of the Song Clan. However, the [Jinxiu Banner] Song Clan never truly acknowledged this affiliation.
Song Taiyi's greatest regret before his death was never regaining recognition from the main bloodline he died with that regret.
That longing was passed down to his descendants. The entire [Wangyue] Song Clan strove to earn acknowledgment from their ancestral line.
But their efforts were in vain. The high and mighty Golden Core family never spared them a glance.
This situation continued until a century ago. At the time, though Song Yungui had been severely wounded, the clan was still a Purple Mansion-level family, well-known across the Great Qi cultivation world.
Coincidentally, the main bloodline encountered a major crisis that decimated many of their young and able-bodied members, leaving them with a shortage of talent.
It was then that the proud Golden Core clan finally decided to look toward these scattered branch families.
They sent representatives to Cangmang Peak. The Song Clan was at its peak, and the visitors were very pleased. They verbally acknowledged the [Wangyue] Song Clan as a legitimate branch.
With reacceptance came obligations and benefits. The benefits were simple: the main family would periodically supply Foundation Establishment Pills and other valuable cultivation resources of course, at a cost.
Aside from that, there were no other real perks.
The obligations, however, were far more numerous. Chief among them was a decennial tribute, which wasn't too burdensome for the clan.
The critical clause, though, was that outstanding members of the branch must be sent back to serve the main family in an uncompromising condition. Periodically, emissaries would arrive to handpick such individuals.
Facing this humiliating agreement, the then patriarch, Song Yunhan, signed it under immense pressure.
The reason was simple Song Yungui was on the verge of passing. Without their strongest pillar, other forces in Lingzhou would inevitably rise and challenge the clan's dominance.
They needed Foundation Establishment Pills to cultivate enough Foundation Establishment cultivators to secure their standing.
But the clan lacked the ingredients to produce the pills themselves and had long relied on unstable, expensive markets to procure them.
To the main family, Foundation Establishment Pills were not rare, and their supply was stable.
So, the clan signed the lopsided agreement a reluctant compromise.
In hindsight, the move was a wise one. After Song Yungui's death, the clan survived and successfully raised many Foundation Establishment cultivators.
However, as the clan failed to produce new Purple Mansion cultivators, the main family gradually lost interest. In recent years, not only had the supply of Foundation Establishment Pills dwindled, but communication with the main family was nearly severed.
This was why Song Luoyao had said what she did during the meeting the relationship between the two families had long been reduced to a transactional one. Though they shared the same surname, it was nothing more than ink on paper.
Without providing sufficient benefits, the main family would discard them again without a second thought.
Song Xianyun let out a deep sigh and said, "All that may be true, but it's still speculation. We must proceed on the assumption that we'll receive five pills and prepare enough spirit stones accordingly at least 150,000. If we end up not needing that much, we'll return the extra."
Everyone fell silent. This was the sorrow of not having the materials to produce Foundation Establishment Pills...
Seeing this, Song Luoyao said no more and simply stated, "I can contribute 1,800 spirit stones."
The others also stepped up generously, offering everything they had. Together, the clan's leadership scraped nearly 30,000 spirit stones. The rest would have to come from the wider clan members.
"Then it's settled," Song Xianyun declared. "Once we've collected the spirit stones, we'll send them to Lu Ke. However many pills we get, we'll take."
"Sigh… that child Lu Ke has gone through a lot for the family," a clan elder sighed. "He's been working for the clan ever since he left home as a child."
"The clan won't forget his contributions. If he has a chance to break through to Purple Mansion, we'll support him with everything we have."
"With that settled, I want to bring up something else," Song Luoyao continued. "During the recent clan trials, something happened with the Earthfire Sect…"
She then recounted the entire incident.
Upon hearing the full story, one elder beamed and said, "Those two performed a great service mother and son alike. They must be rewarded."
"That boy Changsheng isn't bad," Song Luzhou added, uncharacteristically offering praise.
Song Luhuai and the other clan elders were also full of praise for Song Changsheng.
"Luoyao, go ahead and say the rest," Song Xianyun said. He knew that Luoyao hadn't brought all this up just to earn compliments for Song Changsheng.
"Everyone, what I want to say is this: judging by Song Changsheng's current talent and strength, we can no longer evaluate him solely based on his spiritual roots.
His roots, among the younger generation, aren't outstanding one could even say they're relatively poor. Yet he's now the most exceptional among our youth.
Moreover, his temperament, courage, and innate ability are all excellent. Therefore, I believe it's time for the clan to select a Young Clan Leader. This would not only be an acknowledgment of Song Changsheng's capabilities but also serve as motivation for the younger generation of the clan."
Her words left the room in stunned silence none of them had expected this was where she was going with the conversation.
Song Luzhou smacked his lips and said, "Changsheng as the Young Clan Leader… I guess that's acceptable. The boy is impressive."
"I agree," added Song Luhuai. "It's been nearly a hundred years since the clan last named a Young Clan Leader. Choosing one now would certainly be meaningful for the younger generation."
However, some elders voiced concerns. "A hundred years ago, Ancestor Yunhan abolished the Young Clan Leader system to prevent any one branch from dominating the clan, which could've led to a division between main and side branches.
History has proven her right. For the past century, we've had no distinction between direct and collateral lines, and that unity has kept the clan strong. Are we going to regress now?"
"I believe it's quite the opposite," another elder argued. "Precisely because those old ideas of main versus sidelines no longer exist, we should reinstate the Young Clan Leader system.
We just need to change how the selection is made no longer choosing from the patriarch's descendants, but based on talent, character, and other merits.
Yes, Song Changsheng is the patriarch's grandson, but neither the patriarch nor the Fifth Elder is present today. This is merely a coincidence. What matters is that he's qualified.
In future selections, we should use him as the benchmark and consider all eligible youths across the clan."
This proposal swayed some of the dissenters. If the position was truly merit-based, they had no major objections.
"Ahem." Song Xianyun cleared his throat and gave a wry smile. "No matter how fiercely we debate it here, the decision ultimately lies with the patriarch.
You all know his temperament. He's the staunchest supporter of Ancestor Yunhan's ideals. Even if he agrees to reinstate the position, chances are he won't choose Changsheng.
Still, I'll bring it up with him and share everyone's views. As for the outcome, I can't promise anything.
That said, I can authorize upgrading Changsheng's status from a Foundation Establishment seed to a Purple Mansion seed. Consider that his reward."
"Excellent."
"Very well."
Everyone expressed satisfaction with this compromise.
And just like that, Song Changsheng none the wiser became one of only two current Purple Mansion seeds in the clan.
Why not the only one? Ever since Song Qingxing was discovered to have a variant spiritual root, he had held that status all along.
-support me in Patreon for more chapter, 30+ chapters in there
patreon.com/LordoftheReader