Shen Gaoyuan had actually taken the initiative to bow to Xiao Chen.
Seeing this, the members of the Chen and Ma Families were all stunned, frozen in place.
Chen Muxue collapsed straight to the ground.
‘She just couldn’t understand it.
Why would Shen Gaoyuan, an Elder of the Jue Mountain Sect, voluntarily bow to Xiao Chen with such humility?’
Paying no mind to the reactions of the Chen and Ma Families, Xiao Chen said coolly to Shen Gaoyuan, “A formal apology at your doorstep won’t be necessary.
I just hope the Jue Mountain Sect won’t come looking for trouble with the Xiao Family again in the future…”
“Of course.
From now on, if anyone dares to move against the Xiao Family, my Jue Mountain Sect will be the first to take action against them.” Hearing Xiao Chen’s words, Shen Gaoyuan immediately gave his solemn guarantee.
‘Confident that the Jue Mountain Sect would never dare to bother the Xiao Family again,’ Xiao Chen dismissed Shen Gaoyuan, letting him leave with the Jue Mountain Sect disciples and Shen Ming’s body.
Then, he turned to the Patriarchs of the Chen and Ma Families.
“Well?
Do you need me to see you out?”
Hearing Xiao Chen, how could the Chen and Ma Families possibly dare to linger?
They didn’t know the terrifying reputation of the East Sword Pavilion, as they were not at a level to have any dealings with it.
But after personally witnessing even Shen Gaoyuan scurry away in fear, they naturally wouldn’t dare harbor any more ambitions.
At Xiao Chen’s single sentence, they immediately gathered their people and made a hasty departure.
Soon, the once noisy and chaotic Xiao Family estate fell silent.
The people from the Jue Mountain Sect were gone, as were those from the Chen and Ma Families.
Finally, at a signal from Mo Jie, Zhang Qiang also left, but not before repeatedly apologizing to Xiao Qing, begging for his forgiveness.
A crisis that could have annihilated the entire Xiao Family was resolved, just like that, with Xiao Chen’s arrival.
After arranging accommodations for Mo Jie and his companions, Xiao Chen went with Xiao Qing to his mother’s residence.
Xiao Chen’s mother was named Bai Ruyue.
The moment she saw him, she excitedly pulled him into an embrace.
One could only imagine how much Bai Ruyue missed this son of hers, who had been away from home for three years.
Mother and son held each other tightly while Xiao Qing stood to the side, watching them with a smile.
After a long moment, Bai Ruyue finally released Xiao Chen.
The family of three sat on a stone bench in the courtyard, her eyes looking him over from head to toe.
In three years, Xiao Chen had grown from the boy she remembered into a handsome young man.
“Chen’Er, you were gone for three years without so much as a single letter.
Do you have any idea how worried I was…?”
Having had no news of Xiao Chen for three years, Bai Ruyue’s tone was gently chiding.
Hearing his mother, Xiao Chen just smiled faintly.
“Mother, I’m back now, aren’t I?
Besides, the East Sword Pavilion’s rules are very strict.
Nominal disciples aren’t allowed to contact the outside world.
The only reason I could return this time is because I finally became an Outer Disciple and was granted leave.”
It wasn’t that Xiao Chen didn’t want to contact his family; he simply couldn’t.
Facing his parents, he held nothing back, telling them everything he had experienced over the past three years, and all about the East Sword Pavilion.
As Xiao Chen spoke, Xiao Qing and his wife listened with rapt attention.
Three years ago, after leaving Lingshan County City, Xiao Chen had first gone to the Imperial Capital of Lingfeng Country.
By a fortunate coincidence, he met the Crown Prince, Mo Jie.
Afterward, they both joined the East Sword Pavilion, starting as nominal disciples.
Within the East Sword Pavilion, the hierarchy is extremely strict.
Disciples are divided into Core Disciples, Inner Sect Disciples, Outer Disciples, and Nominal Disciples.
Regardless of your talent or background, everyone who joins the East Sword Pavilion must start as a Nominal Disciple.
From there, you must rely on your own efforts to climb, step by step, toward the higher ranks.
Of course, the higher your rank, the more cultivation resources you receive and the greater your status.
During their time as Nominal Disciples, they are forbidden from leaving the East Sword Pavilion or contacting the outside world.
Only after becoming an Outer Disciple are you granted one opportunity to visit your family.
That was precisely why Xiao Chen hadn’t contacted his family for three whole years.
These East Sword Pavilion regulations might seem harsh, but they were established for a reason: to allow new Nominal Disciples to immerse themselves completely in their cultivation upon joining the sect.
As is well known, everyone experiences a period of explosive growth right after joining a sect, and it’s crucial to take full advantage of it.
Furthermore, advancing from the Vein Opening Realm to the Yellow Extreme Realm is a major bottleneck.
The earlier one breaks through to the Yellow Extreme Realm, the greater the benefits for their future cultivation.
For instance, take an eighteen-year-old and a twenty-eight-year-old who have both broken through to the Yellow Extreme Realm.
While they appear to be at the same level, the one who reached it at eighteen will absolutely have the advantage in their future training.
After he had told his parents everything that had happened over the last three years, Xiao Qing and his wife finally realized just how much their son had been through.
They looked at their son, their gazes filled with pride.
Their little boy had finally grown up.
Not only had he become an Outer Disciple of the East Sword Pavilion, but he had also broken through to the Yellow Extreme Realm at the tender age of eighteen.
This son was their pride and joy.
After finishing his story, Xiao Chen turned to Xiao Qing.
“Father, have you ever thought about leaving Lingshan County?
Senior Brother Mo said that if you’re willing, our Xiao Family can move to the Imperial Capital.
He’ll arrange everything for us there.”
When asked if he had any thoughts of leaving Lingshan County, Xiao Qing fell silent for a moment before smiling and shaking his head.
“Chen’Er, there’s no need to move to the Imperial Capital.
Your mother and I are used to Lingshan County.
Besides, the Imperial Capital is a nest of vipers.
Even with the Crown Prince’s care, I really have no desire to get bogged down in that quagmire.
Your mother and I have simple wishes.
As long as you’re doing well, nothing else is important.
I don’t have any grand ambitions…”
Since Xiao Qing had no intention of leading the Xiao Family away from Lingshan County, Xiao Chen certainly wasn’t going to force him.
‘It’s fine if they don’t want to leave,’ he thought.
‘After today’s events, no one in Lingshan County should dare to trouble the Xiao Family again.
This way, I’ll have no worries holding me back and can focus wholeheartedly on my cultivation at the East Sword Pavilion.’
With everything settled, Xiao Chen spent the next few days by his parents’ side.
After three years apart, the family deeply cherished this brief reunion.
It was a happy and harmonious time for the family.
During these days, Xiao Qing also took Xiao Chen to meet some of the Xiao Family’s old guard, and Xiao Chen offered some pointers on cultivation to the family’s younger generation.
Meanwhile, the Jue Mountain Sect did not break its promise.
The very next day, the Jue Mountain Sect’s Sect Leader personally came to their door to apologize.
He declared on the spot that from that day forward, the Xiao Family and the Jue Mountain Sect were allies.
Furthermore, every year, the Jue Mountain Sect would grant the Xiao Family ten disciple slots.
Any young person recommended by the Xiao Family could unconditionally enter the Jue Mountain Sect to cultivate, with no assessment required, and would receive the same treatment as any other Jue Mountain Sect disciple.