Chapter 43

Chapter 43: Changes in the Regional Situation

Chen Yang slept for three months.

During these three months, the team of cultivators dispatched for the Eastern Campaign to quell chaos swept through, eliminating banditry along the way and quickly putting an end to the disaster.

For the Zhuhu Dynasty, this was naturally a good thing, but for families in various regions, it was a matter of knowing the warmth and coldness of life.

Due to the dynasty’s orders, the advanced combat strength of each family was drawn to the eastern borders to restore order.

This caused many families to experience varying degrees of decline in strength.

For a small number of powerful families, the loss of one or two high-level cultivators did not significantly impact them, as they still had others at home to take their place.

However, for most small families, still struggling at the bottom, the impact was nothing short of earth-shattering.

Those families that typically relied on a single cultivator to uphold their reputation suddenly found themselves no different from ordinary families once that person was gone, losing all their previous competitiveness.

Moreover, their actions while supported by a cultivator had created many enemies, and it wasn’t long before they faced suppression and pursuit from rival forces.

Some small family cultivators, in a bid to preserve their own offspring’s power, even turned against their own kin and conducted a major purge before leaving!

They completely eliminated any threatening branches, which could stabilize the main branch’s position, but undoubtedly also significantly weakened the overall strength of the family, making it a highly selfish and unwise choice.

In addition, there were situations that were still somewhat manageable; after the Master was reassigned, there remained one or two individuals, mostly at the first or second level of Gathering Qi, who could barely protect themselves but were incapable of truly standing alone, resulting in a greatly reduced influence.

Then there were families with some power, like the Zhang Family from Sanglu Valley, who lost Zhang Tianqi but still had three cultivators: one at the fifth level of Gathering Qi, one at the third level, and one at the second level.

Their strength was still somewhat adequate.

However, due to Zhang Chen’s disappearance, there were effectively only two people left in the valley.

Though Zhang Yao was the eldest son of Zhang Tianqi, with his father gone and no one to intimidate him, he struggled to manage the situation, and the long-hidden conflicts within the Zhang Family began to surface.

His uncle at the fifth level of Gathering Qi seemed to have unsettling thoughts, and not even a month passed before Sanglu Valley announced its closure, ceasing all communication with the outside world.

The experiences of these families highlighted just how crucial and valuable unity was for a family.

Fortunately, Yang Guanfeng had recognized this issue long ago, and with Old Yu’s assistance, he had completely eradicated the family’s problems related to power struggles and greed.

This allowed the Songshan Yang Family to stand firm as a mountain during such intense turmoil, showing no signs of impact whatsoever.

Both their production and everyday activities, as well as their various businesses, proceeded in an orderly manner.

Not only that, while other families attempted to minimize their operations to protect themselves, the Yang Family took the opportunity to expand and digest other businesses.

Now, combining Willow Leaf Town and Baishi Town, the Yang Family had ten streets worth of shops and had also purchased two small mines from other families at a low price.

The population at the foot of the mountain steadily grew, and the situation on the southern bank gradually stabilized, leading to the establishment of two new villages.

Today, the Yang Family’s influence across the entire region surpassed even the time when Yang Guanfeng was present.

The factors contributing to this situation were numerous cultivators in the Yang Family and Yang Lingqing’s adept management.

Feeling the strength of the Yang Family, many families sent representatives to visit, hoping to establish a connection or seek some refuge.

On the day Chen Yang awakened, he happened to encounter the Yang Family’s customary meeting.

As he extended his consciousness, he noticed that in the meeting hall, besides Yang Lingqing, there was also an unfamiliar Gathering Qi cultivator present.

This person had a low level of cultivation, being only at the first level of Gathering Qi, and was currently conversing with Lingqing.

“Liang Yi, I greet the Master,” the person said.

“Mr. Liang, no need for too much formality. Please stand and speak.”

“Master Xie!”

Liang Yi stood up, and Yang Feiyun led him to sit beside Yang Lingqing.

Yang Lingqing looked at him and asked with a smile, “Mr. Liang, how have you considered the conditions I mentioned last time?”

Upon hearing this, Liang Yi quickly nodded his head.

“My Liang Family has no objections to the arrangements made by the Master!”

“Good, have you brought the list of family members?”

“I have brought it all; please take a look, Master!”

With that, Liang Yi took out a scroll from his sleeve and handed it to Yang Lingqing.

After reviewing it, Yang Lingqing passed it to Yang Xiaolei and instructed, “Let the people in according to the list.”

“Understood! I will follow Master Lingqing’s orders!”

Once the arrangements were complete, Yang Lingqing turned to Liang Yi and reassured him, “Don’t worry, the fields, houses, and properties have all been prepared. The Liang Family can start operating under the Yang Family banner as soon as they arrive today.”

Liang Yi felt greatly touched by this and got up to express his gratitude again.

The Liang Family was originally from Willow Leaf Town, consisting of two cultivators, the first-level Liang Yi and his fourth-level brother, Liang Yuan.

With a mid-stage cultivator supporting them, the Liang Family had always held some weight in Willow Leaf Town, and life had improved even more since the Yang Family moved away.

However, good times did not last long; the dynasty’s decree struck the Liang Family like a thunderbolt.

Liang Yuan was called to quell chaos in the east, leaving only Liang Yi, a little first-level cultivator at home.

Looking at their original rivals, they still had second-level cultivators backing them.

Just a month after the orders were issued, the Liang Family’s external mines were forcefully seized, and their other businesses faced various levels of suppression.

Shops in town were randomly vandalized, merchant caravans were hijacked, and soon after, younger members of the family went missing while out.

Liang Yi, who had always followed his brother, found himself unable to handle these matters and soon felt overwhelmed, exhausted both mentally and physically.

It was at this point that he began to regret his previous pride and complacency after achieving Gathering Qi, thinking that everything would be fine as long as his brother was around.

But now, it was too late for regrets; there was nothing to be done but to hold on and seek a way out for the family.

Then, by chance, he caught wind of news about the Yang Family.

Realizing how difficult life had become for the Liang Family in Willow Leaf Town, he decided to take a gamble and visited the Yang Family.

Upon seeing Yang Lingqing for the first time, he knew he had made the right choice.

“The Yang Family truly is as powerful as rumored. This little girl is only about fifteen years old, yet her cultivation level is above mine!”

Later, he learned that Yang Lingqing was the current Master of the Yang Family, which shocked him further, and he quickly knelt to pay his respects.

During their conversation, he felt increasingly impressed by Yang Lingqing’s capabilities.

All the strategies he had prepared in advance were effortlessly deflected by her subtle comments.

She did not even need to use force to intimidate him; her words and demeanor left Liang Yi completely convinced.

“Compared to this person, my ability to manage a family feels like child’s play,” Liang Yi thought with a bitter smile.

To his delight, the Yang Family agreed to accept his family’s allegiance but also laid out many conditions.

After hearing them, Liang Yi accepted each one; compared to the harsh survival conditions in Willow Leaf Town, these requirements were nothing at all.

He returned home to discuss with his family, and two months later, they relocated to Song Mountain.