Conclusion

[System Update Complete]

[System Features Activated]

"Open System Window" Yu Yan called excitedly. He felt like he had been waiting for this moment for two lifetimes.

[System Window]

[Host Information]

[Name: Yu Yan]

[Affiliation: Yu Clan - Legacy]

[Age / Lifespan: 16/ 2203 (+2000)]

[Body Cultivation: Body Tampering Level 12]

[Qi Cultivation: Qi Condensation 1st Layer]

[Mental Cultivation: - ]

[Abilities: - ]

[Qi Cultivation Talent: Mortal Roots Level 9]

[Comprehension: 102 (Average 60)]

[Physique: Undying Sage Body (Ultimate Max)]

[CLAN INFORMATION]

[Patriarch: Yu Yan]

[Title: Immemorial Patriarch]

[Clan Reputation: Known / Skeptical]

[World Reputation: Cunning/ Puppet]

[Clan Renown: Small Clan/ Infamous]

[Clan Peak Strength: Half-Step Soul Forging]

[Clan Average Strength: Foundation Establishment]

[Clan Bloodline: Nil]

[Clan Traits: High Perception / Comprehension]

[Note: The Yu Clan is afflicted with a Qi Curse:

[Curse: Raging Energy: Restricts Qi flow and hastens body degradation when using intent]

[System Shop: Purchase items from the universe with Glory points]

[Note: Glory Points can be gotten from reputation earned by clan or clan members]

[Information Update: Get real-time information about general world events and tagged clan members]

[Milestone Rewards: Earn rewards from milestones reached by Host or Clan]

[IMPORTANT NOTE: Host dies if the clan is exterminated or becomes irrelevant]

Yu Yan was stunned for a moment by the information he just received. The system seemed to be more than he had thought. There was even a shop!

Unfortunately, there was no lottery but what he saw was still more than wonderful.

[Ding!]

[Milestone Reached: Become Clan Patriarch]

[Reward: Clan Defense Array (Chaos Treasure]

Another Chaos Treasure? Yu Yan felt increasingly pleased with himself.

***

The next day Mei Hua came to see him and was followed by a group of twelve young women.

"Who are they?" Yu Yan asked in surprise as he walked into the meeting Hall.

"I got them from the slave market." Mei Hua replied and before Yu Yan could ask any more questions, she took his hand and led him to a side room.

"What's going on?" Yu Yan asked feeling very confused.

Mei Hua looked directly at him, her eyes full of both pride and worry that made Yu Yan's heart start to beat. After all, this girl was his wife.

"I don't know much, so I can't tell you much, and I'm not strong enough, so I can't help you, but after I leave, you'll be alone here," she started.

Yu Yan could now begin to understand her concerns. Mei Hua had always been by his side for as long as he could remember. Whenever she would leave for the sect, he would be by himself, and by the time she returned, she would find a very unkempt Yu Yan. No one bothered to feed him or help him wash or anything.

Although the circumstances had changed, Mei Hua had very little trust in her adoptive father the Sixth Elder. She was still worried about Yu Yan being alone in a clan of people who didn't seem to truly care about him.

"These maids, and your guards, they haven't been exposed to anyone else in the clan. Make sure to keep them here in your courtyard and under your control. Whatever you want done, use them to supervise it. Don't blindly trust the Elders; you are Patriarch now; you don't need their permission to do anything. You understand?" she started to instruct, and for a moment, Yu Yan felt like a husband whose wife was going on a long trip.

This was the equivalent of, "There's some food in the fridge," and "Don't eat takeout all the time, try to make something for yourself sometimes."

He nodded simply feeling blessed and proud. Mei Hua was someone he did not work for, someone he never had to impress, someone who simply cared for him without any strings attached. Be it on earth or here, such a woman was rare.

And to top it off, she was truly powerful. Now, after taking sips from the Chaos Spring, his mental strength was stronger than it had ever been, and he could sense the approximate strength of the people he met.

The Ninth and First Elder were the strongest people he had ever met and Mei Hua Lin was about as strong as the Sixth Elder even though her Cultivation was lower.

"I'll be okay," he gently replied to his wife, slowly lifting her chin so he was looking into her eyes.

Mei Hua kept his gaze for a while, her cheeks slowly turning red as their eyes fixed on each other. Suddenly she swatted his hand down and turned her face away.

"Don't listen to my father's nonsense about the clan first. Take care of yourself first, don't forget your Cultivation, and remember your safety is the most important thing. If you can't hold on to the mineral mine, let it go. As long as the clan exists there will be a way to care for ourselves"

Yu Yan continued to listen to Mei Hua go on and on for the rest of the day. As night fell, the walker out of the room and into the courtyard chatting freely with smiles and laughter on their faces. It was very late when Mei Hua left and although it seemed pointless, he had one of his guards escort her to the Ninth Elder's courtyard. Since she was married, she could no longer live with the Sixth Elder who was a man.

***

There were only two days left now until the finalization of the Patriarch ceremony. Although through the system and the bonding of the Dao Treasure, Yu Yan already knew that the issue was already set in stone.

On this day, he decided to address his courtyard attendants, so he called for the Zi brothers, Lu Sheng, and the twelve maids from Mei Hua.

"From today, you will all be my people. Your loyalty is not to the clan but to me, Yu Yan. The Immemorial Patriarch" he paused to scan their faces for any signs of displeasure.

Although he hadn't been Cultivating his Qi, he had been visualizing constantly with the Chaos Spring so his mental strength had grown enough for him to sense the emotions of these people who had yet to cultivate.

Through the corner of his eyes, he studied Zi Peng and Zi Han. He didn't fully trust these two attendants because they were his attendants before he almost got killed. He did not know who appointed them, where they came from, or if they were spies for someone.

"For the next two days, I'll personally train you on how I expect you to serve me anyone who falls short will have to leave the Eternal Courtyard"

He decided to name the courtyard after the System.

"Lu Sheng. You will include these maids in your morning training"

Turning to the maids, Yu Yan was confused for a moment since there was no head among them. They were all in their early twenties and had spiritual roots. Although there was no way to test what roots they had, it had been confirmed that they could cultivate.

"You will all care for the courtyard and all its residents. You don't need to do menial tasks yourselves, just supervise the normal maids to do it. You will also be in charge of carrying my orders around the clan and seeing that it is strictly followed. For now, you will train yourselves physically and prepare your minds for cultivation. Until then, stop all attempts to sense Qi"

Yu Yan did not have a good technique yet which was why he wasn't allowing them to cultivate. He had big plans for Lu Sheng's squad, and the maids were gifts from Mei Hua, so he hoped to immortalize them to help him always remember her affection for him.

Not to mention he'll have his own squad of powerful and terrifying angels who will bring fear to anyone they paid a night visit.

Feeling internally pleased with himself. Yu Yan waited patiently for the appointment ceremony.

The day finally came and all family heads in the clan joined Yu Yan and the clan Elders at the Ancestral Mausoleum.

Here, the Elders took a Blood Oath before heaven and earth to follow the orders of the new clan Patriarch Yu Yan, and the Family heads followed suit.

Yu Yan now realized what it was the clan used to restrain the Patriarch's power. It was the Protectors who never showed their faces. None of them came out either during the Patriarch Selection or this appointment ceremony. They did not swear loyalty to him but instead remained in hiding to protect the clan.

He could imagine that if he in any way threatened the safety of the clan, they would protect it from him.

This didn't upset Yu Yan at all though.

"I just have to outlive everyone, and I'll have the clan in the palm of my hands," he thought to himself as he returned to his courtyard under the entourage of his mortal guards.

Seeing that he chose mortals to be his entourage group, the Elders felt relieved. At least he wouldn't disturb their lives by making requests day and night.

There had been reports of Patriarchs who flaunted their power to the Elders after being appointed. Those bitter elders would have nothing to do but endure.

"Zi Han, get me information on all the Clans Apprentice Alchemists," Yu Yan ordered as soon as he entered his courtyard.

"And collect all spiritual seeds you can get, from the lowest level to the highest the clan has. I only need a few seeds of each herb. Make some purchases too from the Capital but don't spend too much money".

Feeling satisfied at having given his first executive order. Yu Yan headed for his room and entered the Pocket World. It was time to finally focus on advancing himself. Getting stronger was the only way he could live up to his title and help the clan.

Only the system could change the clan's situation right now and he could get system rewards simply by advancing.