Chapter 162
by post_apiChapter 162: Closer to Breakthrough
In the ancestral hall of the Songshan Yang Family’s restricted area,
Chen Yang observed the soul fire representing Yang Guanfeng within himself.
This soul fire burned strangely – neither extinguished nor fully solid, existing as faint shadow.
"Old Yang lives."
After repeated confirmations, Chen Yang concluded Yang Guanfeng survived.
The soul fire’s dimness likely resulted from extreme distance.
"Where’d he chase those Tiger-Chasing warriors? All the way to Eastern Wilderness?"
Chen Yang scratched his head.
At least he’d already shared cultivation insights up to perfection stage with Old Yang. Location mattered less than survival.
The Yang Family’s second Grand Ceremony demanded immediate attention.
The distant Huang Family from Fengling would join this worship. Chen Yang planned to use combined energies to assault the ethereal barrier above.
"We of Songshan Yang Family, born of heaven-earth, worship the Immortal Master…"
Bowing rituals commenced simultaneously at mountain’s base and summit.
Yang Lingqing collected eleven essence blood drops from family cultivators, igniting them with fire talismans.
Yang Lingrui’s group had prepared their essence blood before departing.
Through blood sacrifice to the spirits, Chen Yang channeled extra spiritual power into body refinement.
His physical defense now matched his black armor’s protection without activating it.
Five new soul fires ignited within Chen Yang: Liu Zihao, Xie Chuan, Lv Fangxuan, Wu Tong, Yang Liu.
Then came the true spectacle – under the Protective Family Array, swirling power of wishes coalesced above Songshan.
As density increased, the wish energy formed multicolored cloud formations!
"Now!"
Chen Yang inhaled the massive wish energy cloud whole.
This single gulp equaled years of accumulated wish power from the mountain.
Soon after, wispy wish energy floated from Sanglu Valley into his waiting maw.
Patient waiting brought another substantial wave from southern skies – Huang Family’s contribution.
Though only one cultivator remained, Liu Zihao’s formation-protected territory now housed one-third of Yang Family’s population.
After devouring this energy, Chen Yang focused on the shimmering barrier above.
Dong!
The impact resonated in every heart across Songshan and distant Fengling.
Cultivators and mortals alike knelt when the mental collision echoed.
"The main family’s high-level cultivator acts! Bow now!"
In the Fengling Huang Family, the current Master Huang Lei sensed something unusual and hurriedly led the people under his rule to bow towards Song Mountain. Having received favor from the main family last year that helped him reach the second level, Huang Lei felt deep gratitude and didn’t dare show any neglect during this Grand Ceremony.
In Sanglu Valley, Old Yu similarly guided the valley’s residents to perform ceremonial bows toward Song Mountain.
At the Songshan Yang Family compound, Yang Lingqing knelt in the ancestral hall with Yang Liu, while others knelt in neat rows outside the Forbidden Area’s main courtyard gates. The people at the mountain’s foot needed no prompting – mountain worship rituals had become routine since that incident.
Boom—
Boom—
Boom—
With each of Chen Yang’s impacts against the barrier, every person under Yang Family rule kowtowed in unison.
"Stubborn thing!" Chen Yang glared at the barrier above him, gathering every shred of power of wishes he could muster for a final strike.
CRACK!
A thunderous sound jolted all cultivators and commoners from their trance-like state. Beads of sweat dripped from everyone as they awoke.
"My leg feels better!"
"My stomachache’s gone!"
"Years of back pain – eased!"
"Mother! I can see shapes!"
"Wife! My strength returns!"
People discovered various healings – fractured limbs mending, chronic pains fading, blind eyes seeing, hunched backs straightening.
"Limitless power to the Immortal Master! Eternal life!"
The joyous cries echoed through Yang Family territories.
On Song Mountain, Chen Yang finally saw progress. The impregnable barrier now bore a hairline crack. Wispy strands of energy, fine as hair, began drifting through to settle on him.
Chen Yang focused his awareness. This was true essence of heaven and earth – same origin as spiritual energy, yet fundamentally different.
"True essence!" The realization illuminated his path. "Why mimic human cultivators’ essence condensation? I’m born of heaven and earth – I’ll claim readymade power!"
Hope surged through him. These faint wisps meant complete breakthrough within three years. After thirty-two years as a stone, true mobility neared – soon he’d ride winds like human cultivators, chasing moonbeams across endless skies.
His flickering glow betrayed his excitement, noticed even by Yang Lingqing and Yang Liu in the ancestral hall below. When the glow stabilized, Yang Lingqing nudged Yang Liu forward.
"Yang Family disciple Yang Liu pays homage!" The youth kowtowed. "Our clan survives by your grace. Now entering the Path of Cultivation, I swear never to forget…"
Chen Yang bestowed the character "Yuan". From that moment, Yang Liu became Yang Yuanliu – the family’s first registered third-generation cultivator.
"Yuanhong! Wall-climbing again!" Yang Lingqing spotted the boy sneaking into the main courtyard. The spirit pearl around his neck bypassed all restrictions.
Yang Yuanhong hunched his shoulders, emerging sheepishly from behind the gatepost.