Chapter 17: Family Trial

"Clang..."

Accompanied by the dull tolling of a bell, the family coming-of-age ceremony officially began.

The Patriarch did not attend this time either, and only three of the five Elders were present. The ceremony was presided over by the First Elder, Song Xianyun.

On the high platform, Song Xianyun stood with his back to the crowd, facing the thousands of extinguished soul lamps in the Soul Lamp Hall with a solemn expression, and bowed: "Song Xianyun, a fourth-generation descendant of the Song clan, hereby reports to the ancestors of the family.

Today, fourteen juniors of the family have come of age and are about to descend the mountain to serve the family. I humbly ask the spirits of our heroic ancestors to protect the sons of the Song clan, that our fortune may flourish and our path to immortality remain evergreen!"

"We humbly ask for the ancestors' protection!" everyone present bowed in unison, their voices piercing the clouds.

Song Qingxing, who had been standing in the crowd unmoved, was forcibly pressed down by Song Qingxi.

After three shouts, Song Xianyun solemnly produced a scroll, which recorded the ancestral teachings laid down by the ancestor Song Taiyi.

Song Xianyun channeled his spiritual power and read out in a resonant voice: "All descendants of the Song clan must be kind as fathers and filial as sons, affectionate as brothers and respectful as younger siblings; there shall be no acts of brothers harming one another. You must respect the old and honor the virtuous, be close to your kin and harmonize the clan; there shall be no acts of rebellion or insubordination..."

After thousands of words were spoken, the fourteen cultivators, including Song Changsheng, ascended the high platform.

Elders Song Luzhou and Song Luhai presented them with their coming-of-age gifts in turn.

These included one standard first-tier mid-grade flying sword, two standard Daoist robes, one communication jade token, and one portion of cultivation resources.

This would be the last portion of cultivation resources they would receive from the family for free. In the future, apart from their annual stipend, the family would no longer provide them with any free resources.

Anything else they needed would have to be exchanged using contribution points.

After this segment concluded, it was time for the Foundation Establishment Elders to preach. This was the highlight of every event; the three Foundation Establishment Elders took turns speaking, an opportunity that only came once a year and was extremely rare.

When the preaching ended and the others had left, Song Xianyun looked at Song Changsheng and the others and said: "Children, from this moment on, you are adults. Soon, you will be heading out in all directions to contribute to the family.

But before that, the family has prepared a trial to test the results of your cultivation within the family over these years."

"Grand-uncle, just tell us what the trial is," Song Changhu said, stepping forward, unable to contain his impatience.

Song Xianyun said slowly: "The content of this trial is to assist the family's monster-hunting squads in clearing out demonic beasts."

"Clearing out demonic beasts?" Song Changsheng raised an eyebrow. This mission was considered quite dangerous, but it was also better for honing practical combat skills.

"May I ask what the destination is?" a tall woman asked.

Song Changsheng had some impression of her; her name was Song Changxiu. She had three-element spiritual roots and was not a candidate for Foundation Establishment, but her cultivation speed was fast, on par with Song Changhu, and she was also at the sixth level of Qi Refining.

The two of them were the highest in cultivation besides Song Changsheng.

"The destination this time is the periphery of the family's mortal world. The Fifth Elder reported to the family some time ago that demonic beasts have been appearing frequently on the outskirts of the mortal world recently, threatening the safety of our clansmen.

Therefore, the family has decided to send you to clear out those beasts. Do not feel too much pressure; it is not just you this time. Two monster-hunting squads from the affiliated families and the family Law Enforcement Team will participate in this clearing operation as well.

If you encounter beasts you cannot defeat, you may use your communication jade tokens to seek support.

At the same time, the Fifth Elder and the Third Elder will oversee the overall situation. Should any second-tier demonic beasts appear, immediately call for help from the two Elders.

In short, prioritize your own survival above all else. Do not be reckless, do not be arrogant. Do you understand?"

Song Xianyun looked at everyone very seriously. The difficulty of the family trials was actually not very high, and there were Foundation Establishment Elders to ensure safety.

However, occasionally there would be one or two arrogant fools who paid the price for their own conceit and recklessness, so he had to warn them in advance.

Especially Song Changhu; this guy was the most reckless and was a key target of concern.

Hearing that there were so many people, Song Changsheng immediately understood that they were just there to make up the numbers; they were not the main force at all.

But thinking about it, among them, only Song Changsheng was in the late stage of Qi Refining. If they were sent alone, wouldn't that just be providing a snack for the beasts?

"Rest well tonight. We depart with the Law Enforcement Team tomorrow at the hour of the Snake (9:00 AM to 11:00 AM)."

"Understood!"

...

The next morning, Song Changsheng rose early. After absorbing the essence of the sun as usual, he headed to the departure point to meet the others.

Song Changhu and the others arrived early. Seeing Song Changsheng arrive, they all came over to greet him, leaving the previously most popular Song Changhu and Song Changxiu standing to the side.

"Hmph!" Song Changhu felt a bit annoyed, but he also understood that the gap between him and Song Changsheng could not be bridged by mere unwillingness to accept it.

"The Third Elder is here," the previously silent Song Changxiu suddenly said.

Not far away, a small squad of cultivators in black tight-fitting gear escorted a female cultivator as they approached. Everyone immediately gathered around to pay their respects.

The female cultivator in the center, surrounded like stars around the moon, was the Third Elder of the Song clan, Song Luyao. A mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, she headed the family's Law Enforcement Hall and oversaw the family's interrogations, patrols, and security.

The Law Enforcement Team under the Law Enforcement Hall could be called the family's most elite force, composed entirely of cultivators over eighteen and under sixty, with cultivation at the mid-stage of Qi Refining or higher and rich combat experience.

They could be seen on many important occasions, and this monster-clearing operation was no exception. They were actually the main force; Song Changsheng and the others were just there to tag along.

This time, two squads were dispatched, totaling twenty people.

"Since everyone is here, let's head down the mountain." Song Luyao was a very cold and serious person; wherever she was, people always felt a sense of oppression.

The group of thirty-plus people traveled on foot toward the mortal world. Along the way, if they encountered any demonic beasts, Song Luyao would send Song Changsheng and the others to eliminate them, treating it as pre-battle practice.

Passing through the place where they had previously fought the demonic cultivators, Song Changsheng felt a thousand emotions as he revisited the site. If he had possessed his current cultivation back then, the outcome would certainly have been different.

Unfortunately, there are no "ifs" in this world...

Just as the First Elder had said, many demonic beasts had appeared inexplicably on the outskirts of the mortal world. Song Changsheng and the others could hear the roars of beasts from time to time.

This was a very abnormal phenomenon. One had to know that the demonic beasts in this area had once been completely wiped out, and the monster-hunting teams paid close attention to this place every year.

Logically speaking, it was impossible for so many demonic beasts to appear here.

Where there is an anomaly, there must be a demon. Song Changsheng secretly heightened his vigilance.

After arriving outside the city, they did not enter. Song Luyao had them set up camp on the spot before she went to meet Xia Yunxue and the heads of the two monster-hunting squads.

...

(End of chapter)