Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 1154: Chapter 775: Return to Divine Wood Island (Part 2)

Simply put, he only needed to be able to wield those natural forces, without requiring an understanding of the true natural ways of heaven and earth.

For Yang Zhenshan, this was actually not a difficult task, because he possessed the Taoist Intent Sacred Lotus.

The Taoist Intent Sacred Lotus existed precisely to help him better master this ability.

Of course, what is termed easy is only relative, Yang Zhenshan would still need continuous cultivation and understanding to grasp this ability, which might take decades, even centuries, or perhaps he could achieve it after his cultivation improves.

Time passed swiftly; before they realized it, it was already the thirty-eighth year of Spirit Origin.

Calculating the days, Yang Zhenshan had left Divine Wood Island for ten years.

Nowadays, Divine Wood Island was already one of the top powers in the Ten Thousand Miles Sea Domain.

Although Yang Zhenshan took almost all the major forces from Divine Wood Island before he left, the island still retained quite a bit of power.

Yang Mingzhi and Jiang He personally held the fort, along with many members left by affiliated families; Divine Wood Island had more than ten Innate Martial Artists.

In recent years, Divine Wood Island also became a Holy Land for cultivation for the Da’an Dynasty and Dajing Dynasty, attracting many martial artists from Da’an and Dajing to seek cultivation techniques or to stay on Divine Wood Island to train.

Although Yang Zhenshan had left, Divine Wood Island still had many advantages, the biggest of which was the large amount of Spiritual Spring Water left by Yang Zhenshan, turning it into a Blessed Land.

This Blessed Land might be considered a barren spirit field, with spiritual energy concentration not as rich as Lingxi Mountain, but for Da’an Dynasty and Ten Thousand Miles Sea Domain, it was already a very rare Blessed Land.

Therefore, over these ten years, Divine Wood Island had produced quite a few Innate Martial Artists.

With ten years of development, Divine Wood Island also became increasingly prosperous, with its population reaching three hundred thousand, making it one of the most prosperous seas and islands in the Ten Thousand Miles Sea Domain.

Nonetheless, facing all this, Yang Mingzhi felt very unhappy.

By Wannian Lake, Yang Mingzhi lay on a rocking chair, holding a fishing rod as he gazed at the sparkling lake surface.

Ten years!

Dad still hasn’t returned!

Big brother, third brother, and fourth brother haven’t returned either!

He felt like an abandoned child, always accompanied by loneliness.

And as he aged, he lacked the enthusiasm he once had, he no longer wandered around, nor did he enjoy causing trouble; the only thing he could do now was to guard Divine Wood Island, waiting for Yang Zhenshan’s return.

Although his current cultivation had already reached the peak of the Innate Realm, comprehending the wood attribute Dao Intent, he still felt unhappy.

His peak Innate Realm was actually the peak of the Qi Sea Stage, his wood attribute Dao Intent was akin to what Yu Qingyi had before, merely simple control over plant growth.

Yet within the Ten Thousand Miles Sea Domain, he was already a top-tier presence.

Back then, when Yang Zhenshan left, he said he would return in seven or eight years, but now ten years had passed.

"I wonder where they went; if they don’t come back soon, I’ll venture into the Stormy Sea Area!"

Yang Mingzhi thought to himself.

At that moment, Jiang He walked over slowly, no longer the easily overlooked person he once was.

His black hair was streaked with silver threads, deep wrinkles lined his eyes, yet his dignity was undiminished. His face was rugged, thin lips tightly pressed, his gaze deep and sharp, as if he could see through everything.

He wore a finely tailored robe, his movements full of the grace and authority of a person in power.

Hold the position, emit the aura.

He had been in charge of Divine Wood Island for more than twenty years, his cultivation also reached the peak of the Innate Realm, and although he wasn’t as strong as Yang Mingzhi, he was still considered a strong figure in the Ten Thousand Miles Sea Domain.

He could no longer be associated with his former goofiness.

"Second brother!"

Jiang He sat next to Yang Mingzhi and tossed a jug of wine to him, "This is the best jug of Drunken Immortal Brew!"

Yang Mingzhi took the jug, sat up, and shook it, "Ugh, with dad not here, we don’t even have wine to drink!"

When Yang Zhenshan left, he left a lot of Spiritual Wine, but after ten years, it had all been consumed, leaving only a little bit that Jiang He had stashed away.

The two sat by the lakeside, and in no time, they drank up the last jug of Drunken Immortal Brew.

"Qinyuan has already broken through, now he’s stabilizing his cultivation; in a few days, he’ll need you to guide him!" Jiang He said.

Yang Qinyuan was the eldest grandson of the Yang family, the eldest son of Yang Chengye.

Yang Chengye had been Emperor of the Da’an Dynasty for ten years, before handing the throne to Yang Qinyuan, who after seven years as emperor, used the breakthrough as an excuse to pass the throne to his own son, Yang Jijue.

Calculating his age, Yang Qinyuan was already forty-three years old; breaking through to the Innate Realm at this age was considered late within the Yang family.

Being an emperor indeed hindered cultivation.

"Got it, have him come find me when he’s ready!"

Yang Mingzhi answered indifferently.

Jiang He continued, "The Martial God Temple seems unhappy with our control over the sea trade in the Galuo Sea. Recently, they’ve been blocking our merchant ships; do you want to handle this?"

The Yang family’s merchant household was now one of the top in the Ten Thousand Miles Sea Domain and Galuo Sea. Leveraging the convenience brought by the Da’an Dynasty, the family’s merchant ships spanned the entire Ten Thousand Miles Sea Domain and Galuo Sea, even extending to the southern Canglan Sea Domain.

"Is the Martial God Temple still led by Chai Wuji?"

"Yes."

"This old fool, getting confused? How dare he challenge us?"

"I suppose he’s forced into a corner; these years, the Martial God Temple has been continuously clashing with the Da Yue Dynasty. Facing great pressure, and with us controlling their sea trade routes, they need more funds to launch a war against the Da Yue Dynasty, naturally hoping we’d step back!" Jiang He explained.

Yang Mingzhi stroked his beard and frowned, "Such a hassle!"

He didn’t particularly care for the Yang family’s business as Divine Wood Island wasn’t lacking Silver Coin; the amount of Silver Coin was shockingly large.

However, the Yang family’s business supported tens of thousands of people, so Yang Mingzhi couldn’t simply ignore it.

"Let’s wait and see, if the situation worsens, I’ll go personally!"

The Martial God Temple wasn’t a minor force, and Divine Wood Island required Yang Mingzhi’s intervention to suppress it.

While they were talking, a small boat sped across the lake.

Yang Mingzhi and Jiang He saw the small boat and revealed surprise in their eyes.

This was their resting place, generally, no one dared to intrude here. Even if someone had business with them, they would approach from behind Divine Wood City, so why rush in by boat?

Before the boat drew near, an excited voice rang out.

"My lord, the Third Master has returned!"

Yang Mingzhi leapt up, his figure like a startled swan gliding over the lake, landing on the boat.

"Who’s back?"

He asked the soldier who came with the news.

"The Third Master is back, and so is Commander Luo! The ship is already docked at the port!" The soldier said excitedly.

Yang Mingzhi laughed heartily with excitement, "Damn it, finally back!"

...

Soon, news of Yang Minghao’s return spread throughout Divine Wood City.

Figures like birds flitted over the lake, while boats moved as if powered by engines.

At the port, Yang Mingzhi looked at the burly Yang Minghao and stepped forward to give him a punch.

"Damn it, you still remember to come back!"

Yang Minghao laughed heartily, "Second brother, I’ve missed you so much!"

With that, he gave Yang Mingzhi a bear hug.

A flicker of surprise passed through Yang Mingzhi’s eyes.

Though he hadn’t used his full strength with that punch, he had indeed used quite a bit, yet hitting Yang Minghao hadn’t moved him an inch.

"What’s your cultivation now?"

"Haha, I’ll tell you later! It’ll surely surprise you!" Yang Minghao grinned.

"Brother-in-law!"

He then gave Jiang He a bear hug.

Jiang He smiled warmly, "Are father and mother well?"

"Everything is good, everything is good!"

Subsequently, Yang Chengye, Yang Chengyou, Yang Qinyuan, and others arrived one after another, their family reunions naturally boisterous and lively.

Feeling that the pleasantries were enough, Yang Minghao said, "Let the unrelated individuals step back, I’ll go invite dad over!"

"Dad’s back too? Why haven’t we seen him yet?" Yang Mingzhi asked, puzzled.

"Let’s clear the area first!"

Yang Minghao didn’t explain, and Yang Mingzhi asked no further, instructing others to clear away the unrelated people from the port; soon only members of the Yang family remained at the port.