"So what are your plans Wu Tianmo?"
Wu Tianmo took a moment before speaking,
"I, Wu Tianmo, hereby request the permission of the Seniors to start a Wu Clan within the new village"
The patriarchs didn't speak for a few moments, an extra rogue cultivator to defend the village was fine. Especially one with the prowess of Wu Tianmo.
A whole Wu Clan was different, the patriarch's had already sensed that he was different, that he had a unique background. If he had this prowess at the bottom of the Body Reforging realm, could they really contain him when he broke through the Meridian Opening realm?
Surprisingly, it was Chen Baoliang that first spoke up,
"Why go through all that trouble? Marry into the Chen Clan instead."
He smiled slyly,
"Will that not also continue your Wu bloodline? As it happens, this old man has a beautiful niece that isn't married ye---"
This caught both the Liu and Zhang clan patriarchs off guard, right now all of the clans had suffered losses. The once balanced state was now tilted in the Zhang clan's favor.
Zhang Guowei's face darkened and tactfully refused on Wu Tianmo's behalf before Chen Baoliang could finish,
"Chen Baoliang"
His voice was calm but heavy,
"Little Xiao has already spoken his intentions, why must you bury them?"
How could Zhang Guowei allow someone like Wu Tianmo to join the Chen clan?
Liu Changfeng sat there, slightly flustered. He too had the idea of bringing Wu Tianmo into his clan, his clan had many beautiful female mortal members. It couldn't be that difficult to sway a simple minded youth....
Chen Baoliang thought to himself,
Who knew that Zhang Guowei would act so domineeringly, what a Zhang Guowei!
Liu Changfeng interjected into the conversation,
"Brothers! We have just achieved a great victory and we all need one another. Let us not quarrel."
He smiled pleasantly,
"The young man has earned the right to establish a clan, why not allow it? After all.... One person alone cannot shake the balance of the village."
Wu Tianmo sighed, it was as if he wasn't here. These old geezers were deciding his fate like he was an item to be passed from clan to clan.
This was the fate of the weak, at least it seemed like he would accomplish his objective.
Zhang Guowei looked Wu Tianmo up and down,
"You performed well against the Silverback Tigers, I foresee the Wu Clan being formidable in the future."
Zhang Guowei drained his cup of wine,
"Enough. The Zhang Clan supports you in establishing a clan."
Chen Baoliang smacked the table speaking loud and hastily,
"Brother Guowei!--"
Zhang Guowei lifted his hand for Chen Baoliang to be silent and continued,
"If within the next 30 years you don't have a cultivator heir. Your family registry will be stripped and you will be excommunicated from the village. This will not always be a small village, this will be a great town that rivals the capitals one day. A cultivator lineage is required to have status here."
Chen Baoliang sneered but he wasn't in a position to challenge the Zhang Clan. Zhang Guowei's intention is to establish his families rule over the village. He had the most cultivators, and the highest cultivation out of the three Patriarchs.
He was at the 9th stage, the Peak of the Meridian Opening Realm.
This difference between the minor stages is wide, but between the 8th and 9th it is like a wide chasm. At the 9th Stage ones meridians and the channels connecting them are all open and clear. Offering perfect circulation between them, plus the more meridians you have open the faster qi flows through them.
Chen Baoliang was at the 8th stage of the Meridian Opening Realm.
"Brother Guowei truly plans far ahead, but our village cannot afford weakness. If the visitors see a patriarch stuck in the Body Reforging Realm, they will laugh at us and I Chen Baoliang will die of embarrassment."
Chen Baoliang looked sternly at Wu Tianmo,
"You have 5 years, you must breakthrough to the Meridian Opening realm."
Zhang Guowei looked at Chen Baoliang intensely then nodded,
"Agreed."
Liu Changfeng sat there dumbfounded,
"Breaking through to the Meridian realm in five years? Brother Chen... Brother Zhang... All of us are well into our 60's. This kid doesn't look to be even 20 years old! Unless he is some heaven defying talent there is no way to accomplish this. This old man recommends...--"
Chen Baoliang sent a wave of killing intent toward Liu Changfeng,
Liu Changfeng released a pulse of his aura,
"Chen Baoliang, Who do you think you're looking at?"
If this had been before the fight, Liu might have been more reserved around the Chen Patriarch. However, now his puppets are destroyed, he is unlikely to have many more. His strength without them was pitiful, and he could only use his aura to pacify the juniors in the Body Reforging Realm.
Wu Tianmo observed the situation calmly,
I have a high level cultivation technique. Breaking through in 5 years? Make it one I still wouldn't care.
Wu Tianmo should have cared, he was still at the first stage of the Body Reforging Realm. High level technique or not, it doesn't matter. Tempering the body is about the amount of suffering one is willing to go through to change their vessel. The level of technique doesn't shrink the time, simply makes the end result better.
Chen Baoliang laughed,
"Brother Liu, do not take things too seriously."
He waved his hand lazily,
"Fine, let us make it 10 years, even then I doubt the boy will succeed."
Zhang Guowei nodded and declared,
"Then it is settled."
He looked at Wu Tianmo,
"Wu Tianmo, your contributions have earned you the right to have a family registry within our new Heimu Village."
Wu Tianmo couldn't help but smile,
I did it...
Zhang Continued,
"You have 30 years to have an heir with the ability to cultivate and you have 10 years to break through the Meridian Opening Realm."
Wu Tianmo smile grew,
30 years? No problem.
These old men underestimate me.
Chen Baoliang sneered.
Liu Changfeng sighed.
Wu Tianmo smiled agreeably.
Zhang raised a finger,
"However our support to you will be limited. The Chen Clan will construct a walled estate with a single building for you."
Wu Tianmo could already imagine all the different ways he was going to outfit his future estate.
Zhang Cleared his throat,
"However there will be plenty of space to add more facilities within the walls. Your clan's prosperity or downfall will fall entirely onto your shoulders after that. You don't have a problem with this, right Brother Chen?"
Chen Baoliang nearly bit his tongue off in displeasure, this was clearly an attempt to imply the Zhang Clan could order his Chen Clan around...
Chen Baoliang was a spiteful man, but he wasn't stupid. He would remember this, while the Zhang Clan was strong now. The Chen Clan had all the opportunity to rise in the future.
Chen Baoliang nodded,
"It's a simple request, Brother Zhang I agree. What is a clan without an estate. Tsk..."
Chen Baoliang looked at Wu Tianmo with a smile but his eyes revealed disgust,
"Ten years to reach the Meridian Opening Realm? 30 years to produce a cultivator heir? Heh... This old man looks forward to seeing whether the Wu Clan has the ability"
Wu Tianmo finished his drink, stood, and turned towards the door, paying no attention to the Chen Clan's remarks.
"Then it is settled"
Wu Tianmo glanced back at three patriarchs,
"From this night forward, I am Patriarch of the Wu Clan, Wu Tianmo"