Qián Yè’s courage to challenge someone three levels above and win is praiseworthy in terms of both valor and strength. However, this world is not short of geniuses, and one cannot always fight beyond their level. If he were to do the same against other clans’ disciples, he might very well return defeated.
Looking at it from another angle, being forced to challenge beyond his level due to insufficient rank would be a strategic mistake.
After discussing Qián Yè, it was natural to bring up the rest of the Sòng clan’s younger generation. Prince Ruì sipped his wine and spoke calmly, “Zǐ Chéng is quite good, with a steady heart and a broad-minded disposition. He does not lack in strategy either. I hear that before the competition, he formed an alliance with Zǐ Níng, ultimately achieving second place in martial arts, first in military strategy, and first in political discourse. Now, he is securely the top successor. Although Zǐ Chéng’s innate talent is only above average, he is diligent and hardworking. His future combat power should reach the rank of Major, if not higher. It is not the highest, but sufficient for maintaining the status quo.”
The members of the Sòng clan all nodded in agreement, and Lady Guógōng also felt the same.
Prince Ruì then furrowed his brows, seemingly indecisive, and after a moment, he continued, “As for Zǐ Níng, it is hard to make a definitive judgment. The ‘Three Thousand Drifting Leaves Technique’ is said to be a form of natural evolution, yet in Zǐ Níng’s hands, its combat effectiveness is no less formidable. His progress is actually extremely rapid, with no signs of instability in his foundation, which is truly rare. However, I have occasionally heard rumors that Zǐ Níng seems to be indulging in women? And is it true that he is betrothed to a woman from a lesser noble family?”
Sòng Zhōngnián and the Great Elder’s expressions became somewhat awkward. This matter, as it turned out, was the result of a collective decision by the council, and it also had to do with balancing the powers within the clan.
Noble families, even those with weaker branches, are generally unwilling to marry their descendants to lower nobles. Zǐ Níng, with a weak paternal and maternal lineage and mediocre cultivation potential, was chosen by the council despite having the title of direct heir. Sòng Zhōngnián, to pacify the clan, tacitly accepted this, making no move to support his grandson. As the head of the clan, he had to make some sacrifices for the family.
Who would have thought that Zǐ Níng would achieve such astounding success? Knowing that the resources he received from the clan could not compare with those given to Zǐ Chéng and Zǐ Ān, yet he still achieved such heights— if this is not called innate talent, then what is?
After the grand examination, Zǐ Níng had become recognized as the first genius of the fourth generation. Not only among his peers, but he also surpassed the previous generation. Moreover, the Heavy Industry Corporation, Níngyuǎn, founded by Zǐ Níng, demonstrated its strength through its sixth-grade armament.
Thus, whether in business acumen or martial arts talent, Zǐ Níng possessed them all, standing out among the young generation of the Sòng clan. As long as it does not affect his cultivation foundation, his libertine nature and love for diverse studies could be considered elegant. To indulge in such pursuits without a solid foundation would indeed be frivolous.
However, the most pressing issue now is that the Sòng clan has already betrothed Zǐ Níng to a lesser noble family. For the empire’s nobility, it is unthinkable to accept a woman from a minor family as the matriarch. And with this engagement, no high-born lady would be willing to become Zǐ Níng’s secondary wife.
Even if the engagement were to be canceled, the stigma would remain. No matter the reason for breaking the contract, it would be criticized by the moralists, and the identity of any noble lady he could marry would be lowered, at least the imperial house would not consider marrying their daughters.
This is Zǐ Níng’s critical flaw. Marriages between two surnames, with blood intermingling, form a reliable and powerful alliance in this uncertain world. Failing to ally with a major noble family is akin to losing half of one’s support.
Prince Ruì’s primary wife was the daughter of Sòng Zhōngnián. In his capacity as the overseer of civil affairs, many matters required the support of the Sòng clan. Therefore, he spoke freely on this occasion. However, he did not intend to overly interfere with the Sòng clan’s internal affairs. Seeing the atmosphere becoming awkward, he decided to change the subject.
After a brief hesitation, Prince Ruì said, “By the way, there are some recent developments that may be worth paying attention to. First, I heard that once Zhāng Bóqián recovers from his injuries, he will challenge King Dìngxuán.”
This news stunned everyone!
Due to ancestral grudges, Zhāng Bóqián never held back when it came to the Sòng clan. But with Lady Guógōng around, he did not make any major moves. However, if Zhāng Bóqián successfully ascends to the rank of Heavenly King, even if the Zhāng clan remains inactive, there might be many people in the court and the wild who start thinking differently. Many neutral observers might shift their allegiance to the Zhāng clan.
Everyone from the Sòng clan wore worried expressions, but Lady Guógōng seemed unconcerned. She asked, “Are there any other pieces of information?”
Prince Ruì said, “During our recent tour of the major noble families, we found that in the last few years, a batch of young talents have made significant progress, and they show no signs of an unstable foundation.”
“They are not merely boosted by elixirs; almost each one has cultivated a commander-level secret technique or skill to a significant degree while still in the warrior phase. For example, the second son of Duke Chéng’ēn of the Zhào clan, Zhào Jūnhóng, like Zǐ Níng, has advanced continuously since the Tànxuán Spring Hunt, nearing the threshold of the commander level. And the crown prince of the Wèi clan from the Far East has risen four ranks in just the past year!”
“Such cases are also seen in the Zhāng and Bái clans, and there are a few in other families. It won’t be long before we see a group of commanders in their early twenties.”
This news once again moved everyone.
The direct descendants of noble families, provided they have enough talent, need not worry about resources, and thus place great importance on a solid foundation. Compared to the children of lesser noble and common families, they do not advance as quickly before reaching the commander rank, sometimes even more slowly. However, the rate of breakthrough to the commander rank is much higher, and due to their solid foundation and pure primal energy, once they ascend, their combat power shows a significant increase.
According to the empire’s tradition, becoming a commander before the age of thirty is a mark of genius. For example, Báilóngjiǎ of the Bái clan, who reached the commander rank just before turning thirty, bypassed the rank of colonel and attained the combat power of a general upon his breakthrough.
There are two recognized paths to breaking through the commander rank: the first is through natural progression, where one cultivates step-by-step until forming a vortex of qi, then ascends. The second is to suppress the rank, during which one repeatedly refines primal energy, purifying and condensing it, so that when one breaks through, they gain even greater power as their primal energy approaches the source of dawn.
However, not everyone can take the second path. Most people, when forming a qi vortex, are unable to accommodate and control the immense amount of primal energy and must ascend. Descendants of noble families, on the other hand, have various secret methods to try suppressing, but generally, if they can hold back for a year after the initial formation of the qi vortex, they are considered geniuses. Like Zhào Jūndù, who stayed at this stage for a full five years, there is only one such person in the entire empire.
But now, Prince Ruì’s implication is that there will be a group of commanders in their early twenties, without compromising their achievements after the breakthrough?
Sòng Zhōngnián said gravely, “Could this be… a sign of the empire’s revival?”
Centuries ago, during the “Guānwǔ Revival,” numerous heroes emerged. Former geniuses paled in comparison during this revival. At that time, countless generals galloped on the battlefield, driving the dark races into retreat, not only integrating the eastern continent into the empire but also occupying a third of the Flame Continent.
In the later stages of the Guānwǔ Revival, the number of imperial clans grew from three to nine. Since the establishment of the Qin Empire, the criteria for clans have remained unchanged, so an increase in numbers also means a surge in strength.
Could the empire, after hundreds of years, be entering another period of revival?
“It seems so,” Prince Ruì nodded. “Most of my brothers and I think the same.” However, his face showed little joy.
The faces of the Sòng clan members were also grave.
An empire’s revival also signifies a period of great turmoil, not only on the battlefield against the dark races but also within the court and the wilderness. There is also an unspoken fact: today, the imperial house is far weaker than during the Guānwǔ era.
Since the founding of the Qin Empire, the realm has been jointly governed by the imperial house and the noble clans. The foundation of the empire lies in the awakened and powerful noble families, whose countless descendants have laid down the territories of the four continents and provided a safe haven for the human race to grow and thrive.
For 1,200 years, the noble families have enjoyed special privileges while fulfilling their duty to defend the land. In their descendants’ minds, family, surname, and bloodline are the most important. The imperial house rules the land and governs the provinces, but it is difficult for them to interfere in the internal affairs of the noble clans. In the eyes of the world, clan laws are often more effective than imperial decrees.
Under such circumstances, during the revival, there will be many strong figures, and the imperial house will also see the emergence of talent. However, the base numbers of the imperial house and the noble clans are different, with the former being significantly fewer. In the next ten to twenty years, as this group of young people matures, the imperial house’s control will weaken to a dangerous level.
As the power of the noble clans grows, it is uncertain whether one or two will emerge with ambitions to rule the world.
During the last revival, Emperor Guānwǔ was unparalleled in both politics and martial arts, and once escaped unscathed from the attack of three dark lords, stunning the world. Thus, although the empire had nine clans, the prestige of the imperial house surpassed the previous era, second only to the founding period.
However, the current emperor seldom appears, rarely leaving the palace. Among the middle generation, Zhāng Bóqián and Lín Xītáng shine, and among the younger generation, Zhào Jūndù is extraordinarily talented. Yet, the imperial house still relies on the two elderly Heavenly Kings, with other descendants showing promise but falling far short of the aforementioned three.
In the heavy silence, everyone gradually had the same thought: a chaotic age is approaching.
Suddenly, Old Man Lǔ said, “If so, the old rules are outdated and no longer useful. In my view, why not make Zǐ Níng the successor and marry Zǐ Yān to Rén Yì? With our Sòng clan’s resources, the child’s previous deficiencies in foundation would be completely resolved.”
These words shocked everyone, and even the Ancestor frowned, pondering silently.
The Sòng clan’s Great Elder smiled bitterly, “Old Master Lǔ, this proposal is too shocking. How would other noble clans view the High Bó Sòng? Besides, Prince Jìn is very interested in Zǐ Yān. Why give up the position of Prince Jìn’s principal consort for a lowborn or possibly a commoner? Setting aside other considerations, wouldn’t this deeply offend Prince Jìn?”
Old Man Lǔ sneered, “Is it not just because Rén Yì’s status is insufficient? Ultimately, you refuse to admit the mistakes of the past and to entrust the clan headship to Zǐ Níng! But even if Zǐ Chéng marries into the royal family, he would only preserve the duke’s title for another generation. Have you not considered the situation of the Sòng clan when real chaos arrives? Instead of clinging to the old ways, why not embrace renewal and rebirth through the fire?”
Sòng Zhōngnián and the Great Elder exchanged glances, both smiling bitterly, but not refuting Old Man Lǔ. Some things are simply unspeakable. Matters are not as simple as he makes them out to be. The established distribution of power cannot be altered with a single word, even from the clan head.
Zǐ Níng’s roots are too shallow, and he is too young. To firmly grasp authority, he would need to uproot several branches to establish his dominance. The faction of the eldest elder, Sòng Zhōngchéng, would surely be among them. In this process, the blood of many Sòng clan members would spill. The direct line of the Sòng clan has always been sparse; it cannot afford such internal strife.
After the fiery trial, they might turn to ashes before achieving rebirth.
Rén Yì is indeed a fine blade, but too sharp. If he becomes a commander, no one in the future Sòng clan could control him, not even Zǐ Níng himself, who would likely struggle. Under such circumstances, Sòng Zhōngnián and the Great Elder dare not marry their direct descendant to him, giving him the power to form a new branch.
Old Man Lǔ’s shocking words had touched on the deeper internal affairs of the Sòng clan. Prince Ruì, listening on the side, could only drink his wine, keeping his head down.
Finally, Lady Guógōng sighed, saying, “Selecting successors from within, ensuring a legitimate lineage, and not marrying commoners are the foundations of noble clans. If we arbitrarily break these rules, our Sòng clan would become enemies with all the noble families, leading to internal chaos even before the turbulent times arrive. Let us reconsider this matter.”
Since Lady Guógōng had spoken, it meant there was no possibility. Old Man Lǔ looked displeased but said no more.
The Sòng clan now teeters on the brink. Moving forward means death, and remaining still means waiting for death. The choice is immensely difficult.
While the atmosphere in the “Liángxīn Small Cottage” was stifling, the “Yúnshēn Hall” courtyard regained its calm. After all was said, Zǐ Níng quickly recovered from his days-long melancholy, inviting Qián Yè for a light drink in the courtyard.
Under the moon, the two sat opposite each other, sharing a bottle of wine, four or five small dishes, and the presence of a beauty pouring wine and singing softly, serving as a farewell feast.
With the grand examination settled, and the situation in Black Stream City potentially changing, Qián Yè did not linger. The next afternoon, he left the Sòng clan, boarding an airship back to the Eternal Night Continent.
Upon returning to Black Stream City, before Qián Yè could brief Sòng Hǔ on Zǐ Níng’s proposed plan, Wei Bai Nian’s personal guards arrived.
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