The two were talking, and in the distance, the morning glow was already visible. The breaking dawn’s brilliance fell into Song Yan’s pupils, then reflected in the distant verdant mountains and waters, the tranquil gardens.
At the exit of the Secret Realm, ripples began to appear as clan members entered from outside, looking around and seeing no one, then looked towards the distant peak of the Ancestral Divine Mountain and saluted from afar.
Song Yan glanced at Elder Ningxin and said, "I’m going."
Elder Ningxin nodded.
Immediately, Song Yan descended from the sky, greeted respectfully from afar.
The entering clan member naturally recognized this outstanding talent of the clan, quickly returning the salutation, then gathered together, chatting and laughing.
Before long, several elder members of the clan arrived one after another, and everyone began chattering away.
Within the crowd, Song Yan picked out Tang Xiaokong, quickly walked forward, and called out, "Foster Father!"
Tang Xiaokong scrutinized him, then laughed heartily, "Our clan’s qilin child, I fear that in this century, your progress has been extraordinary beyond imagination..."
As he finished speaking, an elder beside said, "Xiaokong, you haven’t seen the Celestial Tribulation from a few days ago."
Tang Xiaokong proudly said, "Tang Han’s Celestial Tribulation is truly extraordinary!"
The elder said, "Not just extraordinary, but unprecedented in history!"
After speaking, he immediately pulled everyone to talk about it, describing how the purple thunder like pillars darkened the skies within a thousand miles, and then thunder pillars descended wildly, each equivalent to a terrifying minor Celestial Tribulation, which a Middle Stage of Purple Mansion could scarcely withstand.
Tang Xiaokong, shocked, looked at Song Yan and said, "Does this mean, Tang Han, you endure dozens of minor Celestial Tribulations?"
Before Song Yan could reply, another clan member said, "Ninety-nine, a total of ninety-nine—I counted each one, and each was enough to kill a late stage of Purple Mansion. Tang Han endured all ninety-nine, forging a strand of Purple Thunder Power in his body! This is truly unprecedented! I’ve never seen anything like it!"
Song Yan initially intended to say a few words, but seeing the clan member’s exaggerated performance, he suddenly understood.
This was a plan by Elder Ningxin, the clan leader, and several elders in the clan.
Just as Elder Ningxin was the "mysterious existence capable of communicating with the clan’s Divine Beast," his background also needed to be deified, transforming this deification into the power of the Formless Ancient Race, suppressing and protecting the clan members and competing for interests.
Suddenly, he recalled some stories he had read before transmigration.
In those stories, any great power villain was hyped to the skies before their appearance, but when the protagonist truly fought them, they found that it wasn’t the case at all. Yet, even if the protagonist defeated the villain, others still thought the villain was incredible. The reason why the villain was defeated by the protagonist would be attributed to various reasons, like the villain being in poor shape or severely injured during the fight.
Now, he fully understood.
Those without a background could not have a reputation, and those like him, who were about to take on some family responsibilities and even vaguely being cultivated as future clan leaders, must have a reputation.
In other words, outside, he must become that "hyped to the skies" person.
Sure enough, as soon as one clan member finished speaking, another supplemented with more exaggeration.
Yet no matter how these clan members exaggerated, no one mentioned that wisp of red lightning.
Song Yan could fully imagine that even if there were rumors of red lightning outside, the Formless Ancient Race would collectively deny it. If anyone kept spreading it senselessly, they likely wouldn’t be long for this world.
And just then, an elder suddenly said, "Have you ever read the ’Ancient Scripture’?"
’Ancient Scripture’?
Many people revealed puzzled looks. Logically, with such a grand name, it should be significant, and they couldn’t possibly not know.
Then, a middle-aged woman stepped forward, smiling, "The ’Ancient Scripture’ you mentioned I am not familiar with, but I know the ’Ancient Scripture’ from several temples in the Mortal Country."
Tang Xiaokong looked at his own spouse and said, "Sister Fen, you mean the folklore temples crafting ’Ancient Scripture’ based on legends and adding mystical frauds to fool mortals?"
Tang Yanfen laughed, "Indeed! I enjoy the temple’s incense atmosphere occasionally, so I know of it.
In that ’Ancient Scripture’, the highest god is named the Celestial Venerable, and there was one event where the Celestial Venerable, favored by the heavens, used thunder as his own strength. If met with Great Demons, he could suppress them with the power of thunder and lightning.
In the past, I scoffed at such rumors, wondering who could wield thunder and lightning, thinking the mortal temples exaggerated too much about the Celestial Venerable. From the perspective of true Cultivating Profound practitioners, it was laughable.
But now, it seems true. Tang Han, you are truly remarkable."
Song Yan was speechless.
Soon, a group of elders started gravitating around him, beginning to chatter.
A few days later, some younger generations also began arriving.
As the gathering was about to officially start, a little discord suddenly came from not far away.
Looking over, they saw two young clan members of the Crimson Palace coldly confronting each other, their eyes full of hatred.
Song Yan cast his gaze, and a senior beside him said, "Tang Han, the one on the left is named Tang Jin, and the one on the right is Tang Cheng. They are the most outstanding among the younger generation of our clan. In just over sixty years, they’ve reached the late stage Of Crimson Palace, which is truly remarkable."
Song Yan nodded, then beckoned, "You two little ones, come here."
The two Crimson Palace clan members were taken aback, then stood up. Upon seeing Song Yan, one of them suddenly asked, "Are you the Tang Han who, a hundred years ago, stepped on and killed the Grand Elder of the Night King Ancient Race?"