A few days later.
Jiang Clan's station.
"The Divine Son is back!"
"Greetings, Divine Son!"
At this moment, the Nine Dragon Chariot broke through the Void Realm, with dragon roars shaking the heavens and golden light shining brightly, passing through layers of immortal formations and descending above the Jiang Clan's station.
"The Divine Son is back!"
"Greetings, Divine Son!"
Countless Clan members looked up at the sky, bowing in reverence and excitement.
Jiang Ye's name now resounded throughout the heavens. He was in the King Sealing Realm before reaching adulthood, suppressing Prodigies, and even topping the Ascension Road.
Such achievements were unprecedented, even within an ancient immortal Family like the Jiang Clan.
The Nine Dragon Chariot slowly descended and moved forward.
Immortal mist swirled, and colorful clouds streamed, the surrounding scenery like a fairyland.
Majestic divine mountains and islands floated in the Void Realm, with ancient trees towering, spiritual waterfalls cascading like inverted rivers of stars, and immortal birds and Divine Beasts occasionally flapping their wings, soaring through, spewing divine radiance, all displaying an ancient charm.
Passing through countless divine mountains and immortal islands, a magnificent, boundless palace, like a celestial abode, appeared on the horizon, majestic and solemn.
In front of the Divine Son Palace, a figure had been waiting for a long time.
The Jiang Clan Chief, Jiang Yuliang.
"Your Highness, the Empress has asked me to invite you over," Jiang Yuliang said with a smile, a hint of admiration for the younger generation in his eyes.
Jiang Ye nodded slightly, threw the already restrained Xu Yang out of the chariot, and said indifferently:
"There were minor twists and turns along the way. I'll hand this person over to the Heavenly Prison Hall. Be sure to investigate his true situation thoroughly."
"I suspect he's controlled by some secret technique, not like an ordinary person."
Jiang Yuliang nodded, waved his hand, and the Void Realm cracked open. A divine prison seal locked Xu Yang, taking him into the Forbidden Land.
"We already know about the spirit boat incident," Jiang Yuliang said slowly. "This matter has been widely spread throughout the heavens recently. I've already sent people to the Xu Family ahead of time."
Jiang Ye nodded lightly, his eyes as deep as an ancient pool.
"Send the Xu Family an invitation, saying that I, Jiang Ye, invite them."
Jiang Yuliang smiled faintly upon hearing this, a cold glint flashing in his eyes: "The Xu Family arrived at the Jiang Clan a few days ago for the Divine Son's coming-of-age banquet, but we can certainly send another letter of inquiry."
Jiang Ye nodded in agreement, then his gaze shifted, and he asked indifferently, "How is the thorough investigation of the Jiang Clan progressing?"
He naturally hadn't forgotten his plan.
Purging internal traitors, and using the destruction of the Hidden Killers Pavilion to give various Dao lineages a way out, while also diverting the trouble to the Ancient Immortal Domain.
On one hand, it was to remove internal threats for the Jiang Clan, and on the other, it was to warn the minor powers of the heavens not to act rashly, like killing a chicken to scare the monkeys.
This was both paving the way for the Jiang Clan's future and establishing its prestige.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yuliang's old face bloomed with a look of relief, the wrinkles around his eyes seemingly smiling, and he said repeatedly:
"Thanks to the Divine Son's planning this time, our Clan mobilized the entire fighting force of the Tiangang Immortal Palace, sending them to various domains. Besides the Tian Yin Louzhu (Tower Master of Heavenly Shadows), the other three Hall Masters perished, and all remnants were completely wiped out."
"And within the Jiang Clan, numerous spies and villains planted internally were purged. Even some Loose Cultivators and revered Elders who secretly colluded with the enemy were also cleared out..."
"Our Clan's operation this time was quite smooth and progressed well. Several Quasi-Emperors and Supremes took action, and at the same time, Empress Hongye also strongly supported this matter, deterring many minor scoundrels..."
"Recently, the aftermath in various regions has also gradually subsided, and the relevant documents and records have only just been compiled and reviewed."
Jiang Yuliang continued, his tone carrying a hint of surprise:
"After reviewing, we found that the resources and manpower spent on this operation, compared to the final gains, even resulted in a considerable profit! The compensation paid by those Dao lineages that secretly planted spies, in order to quell our Jiang Clan's wrath, was incredibly generous!"
"It can be said to be a gain in both fame and fortune!"
As Jiang Yuliang spoke, he took out an ancient jade slip from his in arms and handed it to Jiang Ye, gesturing for him to read it.
"Your Highness, the Divine Son, the news of your journey to the academy has spread throughout the Clan. Before reaching adulthood, you have already reached the King Sealing Realm and topped the Ascension Road. Such achievements, even in the flourishing era before the Dark Ages, those who were called peerless Prodigies probably couldn't compare to you in the slightest!"
"Now, all the Prodigies in the Clan's various sequences admire you greatly!"
Jiang Ye took the jade slip, casually squeezed it, and his Divine Sense swept through the scrolls within.
It detailed the list of those who had been purged, mostly foreign Cultivators and revered Elders, with almost none being direct Bloodline members of the Clan.
What surprised him slightly was that.
The Jiang Clan's internal members were surprisingly united; there were almost no disputes or conflicts between the direct lineages. Even the usually arrogant ancient lineage Elders had no complaints about him, the Divine Son.
"Are villainous families all this harmonious?"
Jiang Ye was slightly surprised in his heart, but his face remained calm. With a slight movement of his finger, he put the jade slip into his sleeve.
"That's good. I'm going to see my mother."
Jiang Yuliang bowed respectfully, but a hint of awe was hidden in his eyes.
This generation's Divine Son was deeply cunning, ruthless in his methods, yet acted without leaving a trace, already possessing the bearing of a Clan Chief.
Jiang Ye did not linger.
He drove his chariot through thousands of flying palaces, heading to the Jiang Clan's core main mountain.
At the peak of this mountain, immortal light cascaded like a waterfall, and ancient divine temples appeared and disappeared within the sea of clouds, with myriad divine radiance flowing.
The main mountain was quiet and solemn; only the Divine Son and Empress Hongye could enter and exit freely, others needed to be announced.
Jiang Ye, familiar with the way, was not hindered in the slightest.
As he stepped onto the golden-patterned jade steps in front of the main palace, a familiar aura enveloped him, bringing warmth and familiarity.
The moment he pushed the door open, a clear, sweet cry came from inside the hall, filled with deep longing and doting:
"Ye'er, you're finally back. Mother missed you so much."
Before her words finished, a red figure floated over. It was Empress Hongye.
She wore a red dress, her beauty unparalleled.
She stepped forward and immediately pinched Jiang Ye's face, her eyes full of smiles and tenderness.
"Mother..." Jiang Ye's face was helpless, his mouth twitching, letting her knead him.
"Why do you always treat me like a child?"
"You are," Su Hongye said, unconcerned, huffed, and her smile gradually faded, a cold glint appearing in her eyes.
"That Xu Family is so bold, how dare they humiliate my Ye'er like this?"
"If they don't give an explanation at your coming-of-age ceremony, I might just have to shatter their main palace again, like thirty years ago!"
She spoke lightly, yet it was like a thunderclap. The maid beside her turned pale with fright, and even the surrounding hot spring immortal mist subtly rippled.
Jiang Ye, however, only replied softly:
"Mother, the matter of Xu Yang probably wasn't the Xu Family's idea."
"My trip this time was sudden; the Xu Family couldn't have arranged such a trap beforehand."
"Furthermore, his actions were too extreme, almost as if he deliberately forced me to act. This doesn't seem like the work of an Ancient Family, but more like..."
Jiang Ye narrowed his eyes, his voice low, "someone's deliberate act, giving me a legitimate reason to act against the Xu Family."
Su Hongye smiled faintly after hearing this, as if she already knew.
"Even if it wasn't the Xu Family's idea, they still have to bear the responsibility."
"Ye'er, you are the Divine Son of the Jiang Clan. If such a provocation can be tolerated, then wouldn't anyone be able to take a bite out of the Jiang Clan?"
"Mother isn't afraid of you being ruthless, only of you being soft-hearted."
Her smile was gentle, yet filled with killing intent, her eyes reflecting endless stars, as if she could see through all Karma and destiny.
Jiang Ye was silent for a moment, then nodded.