Chen Yang slept for three whole months.

During this time, the cultivator vanguard dispatched to suppress the eastern rebellion swept across the land, clearing out the bandit dens along their path and swiftly quelling the chaos.

For the Zhuhu Wangchao, this was undoubtedly a triumph. However, for the various local clans, the consequences were bitter and sweet, known only to themselves.

By imperial decree, the peak combatants of every family had been conscripted and sent to the eastern border to put down the uprising.

This caused the strength of many clans to decline to varying degrees.

For a select few powerful families, losing one or two high-realm cultivators did not disrupt their foundations, as they possessed capable successors to step into the void.

But for the vast majority of small clans still struggling at the bottom, the impact was earth-shattering.

Those families that had relied entirely on a single cultivator to maintain their prestige were instantly reduced to the level of ordinary mortal clans the moment their protector departed, stripped of all competitive edge.

Furthermore, because they had made numerous enemies during their days of arrogance, it did not take long for rival factions to descend upon them with suppression and encirclement.

There were even small clans where the departing cultivator, determined to secure power for his direct descendants, turned his blade upon his own kin in a ruthless purge before leaving.

They cleanly severed any threatening side branches. While this stabilized the main lineage, it severely crippled the clan's overall strength-an act of extreme selfishness and the absolute worst course of action.

Others fared slightly better. After the family head was reassigned, one or two cultivators remained, though most were only at the first or second layer of Qi Gathering. They could barely protect themselves, completely unable to project true authority, causing their influence to dwindle.

Then there were those with moderate strength, such as the Zhang Family of Sanglu Valley. Even with Zhang Tianqi away, they theoretically still possessed three cultivators: one at the fifth layer of Qi Gathering, one at the third layer, and one at the second layer.

Such a lineup was still respectable.

However, due to Zhang Chen's mysterious disappearance, only two actually remained within the valley.

Although Zhang Yao was Zhang Tianqi's eldest son, his father's absence left him without the spiritual pressure needed to command absolute respect. Unable to control the situation, the long-festering internal conflicts of the Zhang Family began to break out.

His uncle, the cultivator at the fifth layer of Qi Gathering, seemed to harbor restless ambitions. Within less than a month, Sanglu Valley abruptly announced its closure, sealing its gates and cutting off all communication with the outside world.

The fates of these various clans illustrated exactly how precious and vital absolute unity was to a family's survival.

Fortunately, Yang Guanfeng had foreseen this more than a decade ago. With the assistance of Elder Yu, he had thoroughly cleansed the family of the chronic disease of power struggles.

As a result, while other clans fell into utter disarray during this period of violent upheaval, the Songshan Yang Family remained as stable as Mount Tai, completely untouched by the chaos.

Whether in ordinary production or their various commercial enterprises, everything proceeded in an flawless, orderly fashion.

Not only that, while other families were frantically shrinking their operations to preserve themselves, the Yang Family seized the opportunity to execute a wave of aggressive acquisitions and expansion.

Now, between Liuye Town and Baishi Town, the Yang Family held commercial properties across ten different streets and had purchased two small mineral deposits at rock-bottom prices from struggling clans.

The mortal population at the foot of the mountain grew steadily, and development on the southern bank was gradually getting on track, with two new villages already established.

At present, the Yang Family's influence throughout the region was even greater than when Yang Guanfeng had been present.

This success was built upon two pillars: first, the Yang Family boasted a large number of remaining cultivators; second, Yang Lingqing managed the clan's affairs with exceptional capability.

Sensing the rising might of the Yang Family, many surrounding clans sent envoys to pay their respects, desperate to forge a connection or secure a measure of protection.

On the day Chen Yang finally awakened, he happened to catch the Yang Family's routine council meeting.

As he cast his divine sense downward, he discovered that within the council hall, alongside Yang Lingqing, there sat an unfamiliar Qi Gathering cultivator.

This person's cultivation was modest, only at the first layer of Qi Gathering, and he was currently speaking to Lingqing with deep deference.

"Liang Yi pays his respects to the Family Head."

"Fellow Daoist Liang, there is no need for such formality. Please rise and speak."

"My thanks, Family Head!"

Liang Yi stood up, and Yang Feiyun guided him to a seat just below Yang Lingqing.

Yang Lingqing looked at him and asked with a slight smile, "Fellow Daoist Liang, regarding the conditions I proposed during our last meeting, have you come to a decision?"

Hearing this, Liang Yi nodded repeatedly without hesitation.

"My Liang Family has absolutely no objections to the Family Head's arrangements!"

"Excellent. Have you brought the lineage registry of your kinsmen?"

"I have brought it with me. Please inspect it, Family Head!"

With that, Liang Yi drew a paper scroll from his sleeve and presented it to Yang Lingqing.

After scanning the contents, Yang Lingqing passed it to Yang Xiaolei and commanded, "Permit them entry into our territory according to this registry."

"Understood! We shall obey the command of Immortal Master Lingqing!"

With those arrangements settled, Yang Lingqing turned back to Liang Yi and said, "Rest assured, Fellow Daoist Liang. The fields, residences, and commercial assets have all been prepared. The Liang family joins our Yang clan today; by tomorrow, you may begin managing your designated businesses."

Liang Yi was deeply moved by her words and rose once more to bow in gratitude.

The Liang Family had originally been a local power within Liuye Town, possessing two cultivators: Liang Yi at the first layer of Qi Gathering, and his older brother, Liang Yuan, at the fourth layer.

With a mid-stage Qi Gathering cultivator anchoring them, the Liang Family had always held considerable sway in Liuye Town, and their fortunes had flourished even further after the Yang Family relocated.

Yet their prosperity was short-lived. The imperial decree from the Wangchao struck the Liang Family like a bolt from the blue.

Liang Yuan was forced to march east to suppress the rebellion, leaving only Liang Yi, a mere first-layer cultivator, to guard their home.

Meanwhile, their long-standing rivals still had cultivators at the second layer of Qi Gathering holding the fort.

Barely a month after the conscription order was enforced, the Liang Family's external mineral deposits were violently seized, and their other businesses faced severe economic suppression from all sides.

Their shops in town were vandalized without provocation, their merchant caravans were intercepted, and eventually, junior members of the family began mysteriously disappearing whenever they left the compound.

Having always relied entirely on his older brother to handle external matters, Liang Yi was utterly overwhelmed by the sudden onslaught. Within days, he found himself physically and mentally exhausted.

Only then did he bitterly regret his past arrogance. After achieving the Qi Gathering realm, he had grown complacent, slacking in his cultivation under the assumption that his brother would shield him from adversity forever.

But regret was useless now. He had to force himself to stand firm and carve out a path of survival for his clan.

By a stroke of fortune, he managed to gather news regarding the current state of the Yang Family.

At that point, the Liang Family's situation in Liuye Town had become critical. Driven by desperation, he decided to gamble everything and traveled to Songshan to seek an audience.

The moment he set eyes on Yang Lingqing, he knew his gamble had paid off.

'The Yang Family truly possesses immense foundations, just as the rumors claimed. This young girl is barely fifteen years old, yet her cultivation already surpasses mine!'

When he subsequently discovered that Yang Lingqing was the ruling Family Head of the Yang Family, his shock deepened, and he immediately knelt to offer his respects.

As their conversation progressed, he became increasingly awed by her sharp, sophisticated methods.

Every negotiating tactic and diplomatic angle he had meticulously prepared beforehand was effortlessly dismantled by her calm responses.

Without a single threat of violence, through sheer bearing and intellect alone, she left Liang Yi completely subjugated.

'Compared to her, my own attempts at managing a clan are nothing more than a child's game,' Liang Yi thought to himself with a bitter, internal smile.

To his immense relief, the Yang Family agreed to accept their submission, though they imposed strict terms.

Liang Yi accepted every single condition. Compared to the suffocating peril of Liuye Town, these demands were trivial.

He had immediately returned to consult his kin, and two months later, the entire Liang Family uprooted themselves and migrated to Songshan.