When Chen Xi had returned to the Mortal Dimension while he was cultivating in the Immortal Dimension, he’d utilized Emperor Yu’s Nine Continent Divine Cauldron to take the minor world, Ancient Hall, and the Dark Reverie’s Nine Radiance Sword Sect with him to Dao Emperor Academy.
In other words, Chen Xi’s friends and loved ones from all those years ago were living in Dao Emperor Academy.
At this moment, the atmosphere within the Grand Hall of the Pine Mist City’s Chen Clan was solemn.
Chen Xi sat upright at the central seat in the hall while his parents were seated on his left.
Chen Hao was standing on Chen Xi’s right instead.
It was the second day since Chen Xi had returned, and Chen Hao intended to allow all the clansmen of the Chen Clan to meet Che Xi and their parents.
After all, numerous years had pa.s.sed since Chen Xi left the last time, and there had been many new descendants and disciples of the Chen Clan throughout this period.
As members of the Chen Clan, it would definitely not make any sense if they couldn’t even recognize Chen Xi, Chen Lingjun, and Zuoqiu Xue.
Chen Xi naturally had no objections towards such arrangements. He wanted to see how many new descendants had appeared in the Chen Clan throughout this period.
Of course, Chen Xi had found out about all of this from the memories of his clone, but he still had to carry out these formalities.
If a clan didn’t have its rules and order, then it would definitely be unable to survive forever.
Not to mention that Chen Lingjun and Zuoqiu Xue had returned. Even though they’d heard about the transformation of the Chen Clan from Chen Xi, they hadn’t witnessed it with their own two eyes. So, Chen Xi and Chen Hao naturally had to satisfy their parents’ wishes.
According to Chen Xi’s intentions, the position of Patriarch should naturally be given to Chen Lingjun since he’d returned. However, Chen Lingjun had refused, and it was even to the extent that he refused to take the seat of the host and have an audience with the juniors of the Chen Clan.
So, Chen Xi had no choice but to sit alone at the central seat of the host.
“Let’s begin.” Chen Xi waved his hand casually when he noticed that it was time.
Chen Hao immediately stepped forward and spoke in a low voice. “Disciples standing outside the hall, enter according to your seniority and greet the seniors of our clan!”
As soon as he finished speaking, Fei Lengcui, Qing Xiuyi, and Fan Yunlan walked into the hall.
“Father, Mother.” The three of them stepped forward and bowed as they greeted Chen Lingjun and Zuoqiu Xue with respectful, shy, and various other expressions.
Chen Lingjun smiled as he nodded. On the other hand, Zuoqiu Xue withdrew a hairpin, jade bracelet, and jade pendant before giving them to Fei Lengcui, Qing Xiuyi, and Fan Yunlan.
After that, the three of them walked over to stand behind Chen Lingjun and Zuoqiu Xue.
Even if their cultivations were extraordinary, and they had varying dispositions, they didn’t dare violate the formalities of the clan at such a moment.
Chen Xi and Chen Hao couldn’t help but exchange glances and smile when they noticed this.
Meanwhile, another group walked into the hall.
The figure in the lead was Chen An, and he had his wife Wei Zitong by his side. Chen Yu was also beside him, and he was walking with his wife, Yue Wenting.
“Grandfather, Grandmother.” The two pairs of husband and wife stepped forward, knelt down, and kowtowed respectfully to Chen Lingjun and Zuoqiu Xue before they bowed to Chen Xi.
Chen XI glanced at his son, Chen An, before he glanced at his nephew, Chen Yu. He thought about how these two little fellows had been young children all those years ago while he was in the Darchu Dynasty. Yet now, they were independent and mature men who’d established their own families, and it truly made Chen Xi sigh endlessly with emotion.
“Rise.” Chen Xi waved his hand, and then he spoke seriously. “As sons of the Chen Clan, both of you must shoulder the responsibility of protecting the glory of the clan. Remember my words well.”
Chen An, Chen Yu, and their respective wives listened solemnly before they stood at the side of the hall.
“What are you afraid of? It’s not like my father would eat you!”
“It’s not that. I….”
“You can go in yourself if you continue hesitating. I, Chen Nuo, will just act like I’ve never known you!”
“Nuo’nuo calm down. I’m just a little nervous…. Err, I’m coming!”
Meanwhile, the sound of argument resounded from outside the hall, and then a man and woman walked into the hall.
The woman in the lead had a slender figure. Her long hair was tied up in a bun behind her head, and she was beautiful to the extreme. She was around 70% similar in appearance to Fan Yunlan, and only her brows that were pitch black like ink resembled Chen Xi.
She was Chen Xi and Fan Yunlan’s daughter, Chen Nuo.
There was a very ordinary looking man following closely by her side. But while he looked ordinary, his entire body emanated a firm and steady aura. However, he couldn’t avoid becoming nervous upon entering the hall, and he lowered his head slightly while he didn’t know where to put his hands.
Chen Lingjun couldn’t help but ask when he saw this. “She’s Nuo’nuo? She really is a pretty young lady. Especially those brows of her, they are simply exactly alike to Xi’er.”
Fan Yunlan hurriedly said from behind him. “Father really has a discerning gaze. Nuo’nuo, quickly come over and kowtow to your grandfather!”
Chen Nuo disregarded the agreement of the man by her side and just pulled him over to Chen Lingjun and Zuoqiu Xue before she knelt down and greeted them. “Grandfather, Grandmother.”
As soon as she finished speaking, she noticed that the man by her side was sweating profusely and seemed to be unable to speak. Chen Nuo’s beautiful brows instantly knit together, and she said angrily. “Are you mute? Why aren’t you speaking?”
Fan Yunlan glared at Chen Nuo. “Nuo’nuo, don’t be disrespectful!”
Chen Lingjun and Zuoqiu Xue were very amused by this scene, and they didn’t mind at all. “Nuo’nuo, who’s he?”
Chen Nuo puckered her lips, shot a sideways glance at the man, and then said, “You tell them yourself! You’re usually completely composed and are even unafraid of death, so why are acting so fearfully today? Could it be that you’ve been acting all along?”
The man smiled bitterly when he heard this. He was nervous to the point his clothes were drenched with sweat, and he seemed to be in a rather embarra.s.sing state.
Chen Nuo grew even angrier when she saw him like that.
It was the grandest ceremony of the sect today, and every single clansman of the Chen Clan was deeply afraid of making mistakes, so they’d been waiting outside the hall since last night. But this fellow actually made such an embarra.s.sing display at such a moment, so Chen Nuo truly wondered how she would hold her head up high in the Chen Clan from now on.
“Alright, I’ll introduce him.” Chen Xi who’d been silent until now suddenly smiled as he pointed a finger at the man and spoke. “His name is Chen Yan, and he’s a disciple I took while I cultivated in the Nine Radiance Sword Sect all those years ago. However, I never imagined that he would have actually grown to such a state after so many years have pa.s.sed, and he has taken over the position of Sect Master in the Nine Radiance Sword Sect. He really didn’t disappoint me.”
Chen Xi’s voice was faint like the wind yet it sounded like the chanting of the Grand Dao when it entered Chen Yan’s ears, and it caused his anxiousness to be completely wiped away and be replaced by calm.
“Haha! Big Brother, there’s something you aren’t aware of. This fellow, Chen Yan, and that little girl, Nuo’nuo, have been together for many years, and all they lack is the ceremony to become Dao Companions.” Chen Hao roared with laughter as he spoke.
“Since it’s like that, then why haven’t they become Dao Companions?” Chen Xi was surprised.
Chen Nuo puckered her lips and remained silent. Chen Yan was just about to explain when Chen Nuo glared at him and caused him to instantly shut him mouth while revealing an embarra.s.sed expression.
Fan Yunlan had no choice but to explain when she saw this. “That little girl was too stubborn, and she refused to listen to anyone. She insisted on waiting until you return before you personally hold the ceremony for her.”
Chen Xi was stunned, and then a wisp of guilt couldn’t help but surge into his heart as he said, “Leave it to me. Since my daughter is about to be married, then it naturally has to be a grand ceremony! Feel free to tell me about any requests you have. Father will definitely satisfy them all.”
Chen Nuo’s eyes lit up. “Really?”
Chen Xi smiled. “Of course.”
Chen Nuo intended to continue speaking but was dragged away by Fang Yunlan. At the same time, she said to Chen Yan, “You come over as well. Today is a grand day for the Chen Clan, so put those matters aside for now.”
Chen Yan nodded, and then he hurriedly followed Fan Yunlan and stood by Chen Nuo’s side.
Chen Xi couldn’t help but be surprised by all of this. Chen Yan was a quiet, reticent, and firm person, so he really wondered how a lively young girl like Nuo’nuo would have taken a liking to him?
As if he’d seen through Chen Xi’s thoughts, Chen Hao spoke via voice transmission. “Since that little girl, Nuo’nuo, heard that Chen Yan’s character was extremely alike to Big Brother when you were younger, she started to pay attention to him, and they naturally got closer as time pa.s.sed.”
Chen Xi was speechless. He’d suffered a huge calamity in his clan when he was young, and it caused him to become quiet and unsociable. Never had he imagined that that little girl, Nuo’nuo, would actually make it into a standard for her Dao Companion….
However, so long as his children didn’t make huge mistakes, Chen Xi would usually not be against them. Not to mention that Chen Yan was his first disciple in this world, so his daughter wouldn’t suffer any aggrievance if she married him.
Meanwhile, another pair or man and woman walked into the hall. The man was dignified, n.o.ble, and in high spirits, and he had starry eyes and slanted brows. The woman was delicate, cute, and extraordinarily beautiful.
They were Chen Yu and Yue Wenting’s son, Chen Baojing, and Chen An and Wei Zitong’s daughter, Chen Yunzhi.
“Great Grandfather, Great Grandmother!”
Chen Baojing and Chen Yunzhi knelt down and kowtowed, causing Chen Lingjun and Zuoqiu Xue to beam while feeling indescribably happy in their hearts.
Even though they knew that they’d become great grandparents, they still couldn’t help but sigh with emotion and be filled with joy when they saw their great grandchildren.
“Grandfather!”
“Grandfather!”
After that, Chen Baojing and Chen Yunzhi kowtowed to Chen Xi.
“Rise.” Chen Xi smiled. When he met them all those years ago, both of them were only around the age of 5 or 6, yet they’d grown up into adults now. Moreover, they’d even attained the Golden Immortal Realm, and they could truly be said to be dazzling.
After that, numerous other members of the Chen Clan entered the hall in succession, and all of them greeted Chen Lingjun, Zuoqiu Xue, and Chen Xi.
All of them had been recruited into the Chen Clan by Chen Hao while the Chen Clan was still in Pine Mist City all those years ago, and they were considered branch line descendants of the Chen Clan. Even though they weren’t related by blood, they were already considered full members of the Chen Clan as they’d accompanied the Chen Clan as it went through the tests and trials of the past.
Chen Xi finally met all the clansmen of the Chen Clan when night was almost upon them, and the grand and s.p.a.cious hall was filled with over a thousand figures.
All of them were the core forces of the Chen Clan, and they were the foundation that Chen Hao had gradually established through his years as patriarch.
Chen Xi sighed with emotion as he gazed at such a scene. He was very clearly aware that while he traveled the world all of these years, his younger brother actually hadn’t had a moment of rest while growing and strengthening the clan.
On the other hand, Chen Lingjun and Zuoqiu Xue’s hearts surged with emotion. The Chen Clan had been practically destroyed when they left all those years ago, yet not, it hadn’t just recovered its past glory, it was even countless times stronger than it was. So, how could they possibly maintain their calm?
“All of this is thanks to Xi’er and Hao’er!” Chen Lingjun sighed.
Zuoqiu Xue deeply agreed. Amongst the two brothers, one dealt with external affairs and fought throughout the cosmos; the other dealt with internal affairs and rebuilt the entire clan. The Pine Mist City’s Chen Clan would definitely not possess its current accomplishments if it weren’t for the two of them.