Returning from Wanning Marketplace, Shangguan Feng escorted Fu Changsheng all the way to the vicinity of Seven Miles Mountain before stopping. With a flash of dawn light, two boxes floated over to Fu Changsheng as he patted his storage bag:

"Changsheng, Red Jade and I won't be joining in the fun at your Fu Family's fiefdom conferral celebration. This is a token of our goodwill, please accept it. Let me know before you head to your fiefdom, and we'll get in touch then."

On the return journey.

Shangguan Feng had already disclosed that three Eighth-Grade Noble Families had issued the Recruitment Order to the Seven Great Families to handle the matter of the Seven Miles Mountain Demon Cave.

At that time, Fu Changsheng was relieved upon hearing this.

The Demon Cave was discovered.

This indicated that the South Huai Ten Great Families would be busy with this matter in the coming years, which would lower their attention on their newly-promoted Quasi-Ninth-Grade Noble Family—a good thing.

Now is the time for the Fu Family to hide away and cultivate quietly.

Bidding farewell to Shangguan Feng.

Upon returning to Luofeng Mountain.

From afar, he saw the clan mountain brightly decorated, bustling with people, extremely lively.

At the mountain gate greeting guests, were his eldest brother Fu Changren and third brother Fu Changlii, who spotted Fu Changsheng from a distance and immediately greeted him with joy: "Patriarch, you've had a long and tiring journey!"

For the Fu Family to reach its current status.

Fu Changsheng was undoubtedly the greatest contributor.

Eldest brother Fu Changren involuntarily bowed:

"Patriarch, the new Liuu Clan Leader of Anyang County, Lei Clan Leader, and Wu Clan Leader are waiting in the banquet hall. Would you like to go and meet them, or...?"

"Let Meizhen handle it, and besides that, once the guests finish their meal at the conferral celebration, the meeting can be adjourned."

The Ten Great Families are busy handling the Demon Cave matter.

Yet the Fu Family is indulging in festivities; the impact isn't great.

"Yes, Patriarch"

Fu Changren quickly bowed his head, straightening only after Fu Changsheng's footsteps faded into the distance. Meanwhile, third brother Fu Changlii was somewhat puzzled:

"Eldest brother, now that we're among Noble Families, hosting a seven-day and seven-night feast isn't over the top. Isn't the Patriarch being excessively cautious?"

"Watch your words!"

Fu Changren immediately glared at Fu Changlii:

"The Patriarch is not to be criticized by you, his orders must have been carefully considered. We simply follow them."

"Yes"

Fu Changlii mumbled a response.

He naturally dared not defy the Patriarch's decisions.

Fu Changren said:

"Since the Patriarch has spoken, we needn't stay here any longer; let's close the mountain gate."

Both returned from the mountain gate to the banquet hall.

Sitting at the head, the three clan leaders quickly stood up upon seeing Fu Changren:

"Fellow Daoist Fu, has Elder Fu returned from Nanyang Prefecture?"

"Yes, the Patriarch has returned to the mountain, but due to the long and tiring journey, he has gone to the back courtyard to rest. Today, I will accompany you for a few more drinks, appreciating your presence amidst your busy schedules to attend our Fu Family celebration."

Fu Changsheng didn't even make an appearance.

The three clan leaders exchanged eye contact, hesitation flickering in their eyes.

Since they'd been sitting here for most of the day, most Ninth-Grade Noble Families from Anyang County had sent representatives with congratulations, yet neither Shangguan Feng nor Shangguan Hongyu had shown up.

Instinctively.

They suspected something was happening beyond the knowledge of their Qi Cultivation Clan.

For a moment.

They were also confused.

The gap between Qi Cultivation Clans and Noble Families truly was insurmountable.

The three presented their gifts.

Fearing the Fu Family would take old accounts into consideration, they hastily downed a few drinks and took their leave.

Since Fu Changsheng had alredy issued the command.

Fu Changren was decisive, soon escorting the cultivators attending the celebration out of the clan mountain.

Meanwhile.

As Liuu Meizhen checked the gift list and heard of Fu Changsheng's return, she said to Nanny Liuu:

"Nanny, take out the two gifts from the Lei Family and Wu Family and accompany me to the back courtyard."

In the back courtyard.

She found Fu Changsheng sitting under a Silver Star Tree, holding Brother Rong in one hand, carefully reviewing the homework handed to him by Brother Fan in the other, responding occasionally to Yaoyao, perched chirpily on his knee like a Hundred Spirits bird.

Seeing this scene.

A deeper smile appeared on Liuu Meizhen's face.

After watching for a while, she stepped forward and said to Brother Fan:

"Brother Fan, take your younger siblings to the study."

"Yes, mother"

Having not seen her father for a long time, Yaoyao pouted in reluctance, but obediently followed Nanny Liuu to the study, while Liuu Meizhen cast a technique onto the array plate in the courtyard.

Under the Silver Star Tree, a protective light shield quickly rose.

The couple exchanged glances.

Liuu Meizhen spoke tenderly:

"Husband, was the journey to Nanyang Prefecture smooth?"

"Yes, with Uncle Feng, it was rather smooth overall. Moreover, those from the World Suppression Bureau were easier to deal with than expected. By the way, the ones vouching for our Fu Family this time are the Ninth-Grade families, Liang and Lin; in the future, the gift list for their households will match the upper-mid range standard for the Shangguan Family."

Before heading to South Huai, Fu Changsheng had already mentioned the matter of the guarantors to Liuu Meizhen, but at that time did not know who exactly they would be.

Liuu Meizhen hearing this.

Nodded slightly:

"Husband, the Lin Family's fiefdom, Celestial Dragon County, borders our Yunshan County. Now that the Lin Family is willing to vouch for us, it shows they are reliable. As the saying goes, 'A near neighbor is better than a distant cousin,' perhaps we should use the guise of exchanging gifts to foster relations with the Lin Family."

"Oh, Meizhen, do you have something in mind?"

"Yes, I have been paying more attention to the emerging Lin Family of Celestial Dragon County. I remember their direct line has a girl, already twenty years old and unmarried, whose aptitude is only a Pseudo Spiritual Root, but I hear she has a great temperament, well-matched for our third brother."

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