Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 1080: Chapter 739: Secret Skill Pavilion (Part 2)

More than sixty thousand people, there’s really no need for too much management, just everyone doing their respective jobs and following the rules.

Arriving at the Clan Hall, Yang Zhenshan found Yang Chengmao.

Currently, Yang Chengmao is the director of the Clan Hall, roughly equating to Yang Zhenshan’s assistant, with most affairs handled by Yang Chengmao himself.

As for the Elder Council and Clan Council, Yang Zhenshan has already closed the Elder Council because the initial requirement for becoming an elder was the enlightenment into Dao Intent.

However, at that time, they misunderstood Dao Intent, and now having reached the Sea of Spirit, acquired the Energy Introduction Skill, everyone gradually cultivated it, increasing their cultivation, stepping into the Earth Evil Stage, thus the previous system of the Elder Council designed by Yang Zhenshan became unsuitable.

Therefore, Yang Zhenshan simply closed the Elder Council, as it originally had no functions, closing it would have no impact.

Yet, the Clan Council still retained some functions, hosting several meetings annually to plan the development of the Spirit Source Land and establish or amend laws, etc.

“Grandfather!”

Seeing Yang Zhenshan arriving, Yang Chengmao stood up with surprise and delight.

Yang Zhenshan smiled and nodded, “I’m here to see how your research on runes is progressing.”

Yang Chengmao hastily led Yang Zhenshan towards the Secret Skill Pavilion on the western side of the Clan Hall.

The Secret Skill Pavilion is an institution specifically set up by Yang Zhenshan for researching Rune Secret Skills.

“Currently, we have sorted out 382 runes, among which 320 have had their meanings and functions clarified, and discovered 1,832 two-order combinations, 467 three-order combinations, 71 four-order combinations, and 3 five-order combinations!”

The Dao of runes is exceedingly profound and complex, with the most basic runes numbering in the hundreds, and multiple rune combinations producing different effects.

The so-called two-order, three-order, is essentially the effect produced by combining two or three runes.

During these five years of research, although the Spirit Source Land is still unable to utilize Rune Secret Skills in alchemy and artifact refining, it possesses some in-depth understanding of runes.

According to Yang Zhenshan’s comprehension, these so-called runes are akin to characters endowed with special functions, deciphering these functions and thereafter continuously researching and experimenting to derive various rune combinations.

Artifact refining and alchemy essentially involve recording rune combinations onto elixirs and artifacts, enhancing the original efficacy of the elixirs and artifacts and endowing them with additional functions.

This method of research appears quite useless, even seemingly a waste of effort, but Yang Zhenshan has always believed that studying runes in this manner is correct.

In his view, most alchemists and artifact refiners in the Sea of Spirit only know how to use certain rune combinations according to their lineage but don’t understand the true meaning of each rune and rune combination.

At present, however, the rune research in Spirit Source Land still remains on paper; to genuinely utilize these runes, a true rune lineage as a reference is needed.

Now that Yang Zhenshan has already broken through to the Heavenly Gang Stage, he is about to take action to acquire the Golden Body Skill, pondering whether to seize the opportunity to procure a genuine rune lineage back, hence his special trip to view the rune research at the Clan Hall.

The Secret Skill Pavilion has one Pavilion Master, undertaken by Yang Chengze, three Vice Pavilion Masters, namely Wang Mingzhe, Liang Jinyan, and Qu Shaogong.

Although Yang Chengze was a military general before, he also has considerable achievements in the scholarly arts, being a direct descendant of the Yang Family lineage himself. Initially, most folks at Yang Family Village were illiterate, like Yang Mingwu, Yang Chengxu, Yang Chengche, and others, starting their education and literacy only after joining Yang Zhenshan in the army.

But not Yang Chengze, who was cultivated by Yang Zhengxiang from a young age towards the direction of being a Clan Leader, hence had to be adept both literarily and martially, albeit at a modest level at the time. Yet, after following Yang Zhenshan in the army, he taught himself a lot.

To call him a great scholar would not be accurate, but as for researching various unconventional approaches, Yang Chengze ranks among the top in the entire Yang Family, including the Yang family.

Similarly, Liang Jinyan and Qu Shaogong, both coming from noble families, received excellent education from a young age, thus naturally not an inferior type.

Wang Mingzhe himself is a physician and an alchemist, most interested in runes, most eager to use runes in crafting Spirit Pills.

Today, both Yang Chengze and Wang Mingzhe are present, and upon seeing Yang Zhenshan, they approached to greet him.

“How is your research progressing?” Yang Zhenshan asked the two.

Yang Chengze shook his head with a bit of frustration, “Progress isn’t substantial; according to previous assumptions, runes should be engraved onto artifacts using True Qi. We’ve tried many methods but results fell short of expectations.”

“Some indeed have a bit of effect, but shortly thereafter, the engraved runes dissipate.”

Yang Zhenshan nodded lightly; they haven’t managed to figure out how to apply runes onto artifacts yet.

Over the years, Yang Zhenshan contemplated seeking someone for advice, even visiting the Spirit Flame Foundry to get closer to Qiu Jin, yet Qiu Jin was quite tight-lipped, unwilling to divulge anything.

Which is understandable because it’s their livelihood passed through generations, how could they easily disclose it to others?

In other regards, even less likely.

Both alchemists and artifact refiners largely remain within family lineages and seldom bear a master-disciple linkage.

Perhaps the three great sects might have master-disciple tutelage, yet Yang Zhenshan cannot access the three great sects.

So the matter keeps dragging on, having dragged until now.

“Attempting to engrave runes onto other objects can still be tried, but how should we engrave them onto elixirs?”

“I have attempted to use True Qi to etch runes onto elixirs, yet inadvertently damaged the elixirs.”

“I suspect perhaps our thinking might be incorrect; engraving runes might not use True Qi, but other substances.”

Wang Mingzhe said.

Yang Zhenshan stroked his beard contemplating, then encouraged: “Studying runes requires bold speculation and cautious verification. We are still at a basic stage, with no real danger, so be bold; if True Qi doesn’t work, try other substances!”

He has no solutions for this matter either, although over these two years, he frequently studied those runes and attempted using runes to refine Spirit Pills, yet regrettably, all his trials failed.

Chatted some more with Yang Chengze and Wang Mingzhe, Yang Zhenshan then departed from the Spirit Source Land, returning to Lingxi Mountain.

Lingxi Mountain remains the same as before, the Yang family people living off the mere seven acres of inferior spirit fields and the terraced fields on the hillside, occasionally replenished with some Spirit Stones by Yang Zhenshan, though without providing excessive resources.

Still, the Yang family’s cultivation has improved quite a bit, Yang Xiangheng has broken through to the Innate Realm, while Yang Xiangdong, Yang Xiangxi, Yang Xiangwu, and Yang Xiangyang these four have all reached Half-step Innate.

Even though their strength is still insignificant, ultimately there’s progress.

Moreover, Yang Zhenshan and his company have completely integrated with the Lingxi Yang Family, earning their recognition, and have come to regard Lingxi Mountain as their home.

Overall, presently, Yang Zhenshan quite likes the Lingxi Yang Family and views Yang Xiangheng and the others as his own nephews and nieces.

Though two years ago, Yang Zhenghe passed away, this elderly gentleman ultimately did not surpass the age of one hundred, nor did he break through to the Innate Realm.

Yang Zhenshan indeed supplied him Spiritual Spring Water and Spirit Fruit, yet regrettably, his age was too advanced, leaving Spiritual Spring Water and Spirit Fruit powerless.

After Yang Zhenghe’s demise, Yang Zhenshan’s identity as an elder uncle was firmly established.

Since he was acknowledged by Yang Zhenghe as a brother, now even if Yang Xiangheng suggests he isn’t his elder uncle, others wouldn’t believe it, but would rather consider Yang Xiangheng unfilial.

Returning from the Spirit Source Land to Lingxi Mountain, Yang Zhenshan took Li Chang along to Nanqing Mountain.

On Nanqing Mountain, the former ancestral home of the Xiang family has now transformed into Lan Peng’s General Mansion.

Led by the soldiers to the front courtyard, Lan Peng then came forward to greet, “Hahaha, Brother Yang, congratulations, congratulations, haha~~”

“Thanks for the elixir gifted by Brother Lan!” Yang Zhenshan cupped his hands in thanks.

Before entering seclusion for the breakthrough, Yang Zhenshan mentioned it to Lan Peng, and now having just broken through, with the aura somewhat unstable, Lan Peng instantly recognized it.

“Just an elixir, not worth mentioning.” Lan Peng said boldly.