Chapter 609 85: An Excellent Match

Three days passed in a flash, and the "war reparations" that the Rong Clan had scraped together were delivered to Song Changsheng.

To usher Song Changsheng and his people away as soon as possible, Rong Mingtao made an exceptionally generous offer this time.

The Spirit Stones alone amounted to 200,000.

There was also a dazzling array of other cultivation resources, such as vast quantities of Tier Two Spirit Medicines and Spiritual Materials. Including the Spirit Stones, the total value was no less than five hundred thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones.

Even with the wealth the Rong Clan had accumulated over several centuries, after paying out this "reparation," the entire clan would have to tighten their belts to survive.

This was especially true after the Rong Clan lost all its external sources of income, which would make life even more difficult.

After receiving the resources, Song Changsheng divided them into three portions. One was payment for Luoxia City's support. Another was distributed among the various vassal forces in Ling Province who had contributed greatly during the war. The final portion was for the compensation and reward of the Song Clan's own Cultivators.

He then honored his promise, leading his people out of Xiang Province.

Thus, this far-reaching campaign of vengeance concluded with the destruction of the Lieyang Sect and the Rong Clan sealing their mountain in seclusion for a hundred years.

However, Song Changsheng did not immediately return to Vast Mist Peak. Instead, he lingered at Celestial Yang Peak, the former headquarters of the Lieyang Sect. There, he summoned the leaders of the seven major families—Chu, Shangguan, Bai, Gan, Li, Shen, and Luo. Before their very eyes, he held a trial and executed Rong Xingzhou and five others.

They might not have recognized the others, but there were few in the entire Daqi Cultivation World who didn't know Rong Xingzhou, the Clan Leader of the Rong Clan.

To them, he was a monumental figure, someone who stood high above the clouds.

Watching with their own eyes as the clan leader who held the authority of a Purple Mansion Family was sent to the executioner's block caused an uproar throughout Yang Province. This set a precedent that hadn't been seen in a thousand years!

After this horrifying trial, any clever little ideas that the seven great families of Yang Province might have harbored—ideas born from the fact that the Song Clan had not completely destroyed the Rong Clan—instantly vanished. They became as docile as lambs.

Looking down at the trembling clan leaders, Song Changsheng let out a cold laugh and turned to Chi Huo Old Ghost. "See that? With people like them, you have to knock them down a peg every now and then. Otherwise, their egos would soar to the heavens.

If I weren't concerned with maintaining stability in Yang Province, I'd have certainly picked one or two of them to make an example of!"

"The Young Master is absolutely right. That's exactly how one should handle such worthless dogs," Chi Huo Old Ghost chimed in with a bow.

At this, Song Changsheng shifted into a slightly more comfortable position. "A pity the clan is short on manpower at the moment," he said. "Otherwise, we'd have no use for them at all."

Speaking of which, Song Changsheng paused and turned his gaze to Chi Huo Old Ghost, who stood respectfully at his side. "Chi Huo, you were once a member of the Taotie Demon Hunting Team, roaming the northern lands for years. Then, by a twist of fate, you came to follow me for the past decade or so. It seems you've always been on your own.

Now that you're a Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivator, I'd like to know: do you intend to continue chasing immortality, or would you prefer to start a family and carry on your line?"

Hearing this, Chi Huo Old Ghost thought for a moment before replying seriously, "Young Master, this old servant's aptitude is mediocre, and I have wasted many years. If not for the Jade Peach you gifted me, I might still be stuck at Late-stage Foundation Establishment.

Being able to reach Foundation Establishment Great Perfection has left this old servant deeply content. I dare not extravagantly hope to reach the Purple Mansion realm.

Therefore, if I have the chance, this old servant hopes that the Young Master might bestow upon me a plot of land, so that I may start a family and my descendants may pledge their loyalty to you for generations to come."

Chi Huo Old Ghost was no longer a young man. Seeing that his path on the Dao was likely at its end, it was perfectly normal for him to have thoughts of taking a wife and having children.

After all, the older one grows, the more one fears loneliness.

Upon hearing Chi Huo Old Ghost's thoughts, Song Changsheng's face broke into a smile. "So that's how it is. As it happens, an excellent place has just become available. Are you willing to go?"

A jolt went through Chi Huo Old Ghost. He immediately dropped to one knee and declared, "Chi Huo is at the Young Master's disposal!"

Song Changsheng stood up, stamped his foot, and asked with a laugh, "Tell me, how does Celestial Yang Peak strike you?"

"Ah... Young Master, that's impossible! Celestial Yang Peak has a Tier Three Spirit Vein. What virtue or merit does Chi Huo possess to occupy such a treasured land?" Cold sweat beaded on Chi Huo Old Ghost's forehead; he thought Song Changsheng was testing him.

Song Changsheng smiled helplessly and pulled him to his feet. "It's only a Tier Three Spirit Vein. It's not such a big deal.

I have a special purpose in mind for having you occupy Celestial Yang Peak.

For the foreseeable future, the clan won't be able to spare anyone to govern Yang Province. I'm worried that over time, certain people might get restless and start having ideas they shouldn't.

Therefore, I need a trustworthy person to be the clan's proxy in Yang Province—someone to stand guard for the clan while also supervising these seven families. I don't have many people I can rely on for this, and you are the ideal choice.

Since you have this rare desire to start a family, and given our bond as master and servant, I certainly can't treat you unfairly. From this day forward, Celestial Yang Peak will be your...

...oh, right. 'Chi Huo Old Ghost' is the name you go by, but I don't believe I know your actual name."

Song Changsheng's words brought tears to Chi Huo Old Ghost's eyes. He bowed deeply and said, "A name is merely a label. After all these years, this old servant has long forgotten his own. This old servant is so bold as to ask the Young Master to grant me a surname!"

"Hmm... Very well. From now on, your family shall bear the surname 'Chi.' After all this time, I imagine you've grown quite used to it."

"Thank you, Young Master, for bestowing this surname!" Chi Huo Old Ghost was overjoyed and immediately prostrated himself on the floor. For him, and for the family he would one day create, this was an unparalleled honor.