——

A sense of dread filled him after he finished reading.

Both the "Immortal Ancestor’s Oath" and the phrase "Soul Returns to the Wilderness" struck him as inexplicably strange.

Cheng Zongyang, who had been staring at Zhang Guangwen, saw his expression change and knew what was on his mind. He said,

"The Cheng Family has many secret methods, almost all passed down through generations of ancestors. It is only that our descendants were not worthy, and the family fell into decline. We have only begun to recover in recent times. Of course, you don’t have to decide right now.

Signing the contract must be done with a willing heart. We don’t force anyone; it is entirely voluntary.

This pamphlet contains the story of our Cheng Family’s first Immortal Ancestor, passed down through the generations. Whether you believe it is up to you, of course. You can take it back with you to look over. Within three days, have the Chief Steward bring you to me.

Tell me your decision then. If you agree, you just need to sign your name, prick your finger, and press it to the contract. The Sect Hall will arrange for the conditions we’ve discussed.

If you are unwilling, it will not affect your life in the village or your ability to earn Contribution Points. Everything will remain as it is."

"Yes, thank you for your understanding, Young Clan Leader. I... I’ll go back and think it over," Zhang Guangwen said, cupping his hands with some embarrassment.

Cheng Zongyang waved a hand, dismissing him.

Zhou Hansong had witnessed the entire exchange. He nearly burst out laughing when he heard the tale of the Immortal Ancestor, seeing his eldest nephew recount it with such a straight face.

But he had to admire his nephew’s overwhelming presence. Had he not known the truth beforehand, even he would have believed the story.

Zhang Guangwen left, and Zhou Hansong didn’t try to persuade him. Everything was purely voluntary.

Helping someone reach Entry Grade was already a considerable feat. To advance further naturally required consuming more of the Cheng Family’s resources. The Cheng Family had painstakingly gathered these resources; they certainly weren’t going to give them away for free.

’Though he personally felt this Immortal Ancestor’s Oath was useless, if someone didn’t even dare to sign such an Oath Contract, how could they expect to keep using the Cheng Family’s specialized resources?’

"Uncle."

Cheng Zongyang looked at Zhou Hansong beside him and said with a solemn expression,

"The Immortal Ancestor is not a fabrication. From the shadows, our ancestors watch over us. In the future, when you are responsible for having Outsiders sign the Immortal Ancestor’s Oath, you must remember one thing.

After they sign their name and press their blood-fingerprint, if the signature and print are still there after three breaths, it proves they signed willingly. If the ink and blood both vanish, it means the Cheng Immortal Ancestor knows they were unwilling, and the contract is void."

In the future, such matters would be handed over to his uncle, so he had to explain everything clearly beforehand.

As for how the blood and ink could simply vanish, he didn’t care what his uncle thought. He just had to pass on the instructions.

Not everything needed a clear explanation.

Just as expected, Zhou Hansong was perplexed by these strange words.

But seeing that his nephew had no intention of explaining, and because it involved the so-called Immortal Ancestor of the Cheng Family, he didn’t press the matter.

No one dared to speak ill of ancestors; to do so would be gravely disrespectful.

’And yet, here his nephew was, not only fabricating stories about their ancestors but even using them to create this so-called Immortal Ancestor’s Oath.’

’Of course, he was also curious. Would it really vanish on its own? And if it did, was it truly the protection of their ancestors?’

Zhou Hansong had no intention of disturbing Cheng Zongyang, who was busy writing. With a brief farewell, he left the ancestral hall, his mind filled with questions.

Holding the animal hide and the pamphlet, Zhang Guangwen left Henei in a daze, walking toward his home Beyond the River.

「Beyond the River」

Zhang Changjiang, who was waiting for news, saw his friend return and immediately ran over, asking excitedly,

"Guangwen! How did it go?"

Seeing his friend’s excitement, Zhang Guangwen just shook his head slightly. "Let’s talk back at my place."

Seeing his friend’s tormented expression, Zhang Changjiang, though burning with curiosity, could only follow him home.

At Zhang Guangwen’s home, Zhang Guangwen had his wife pour a cup of water for Zhang Changjiang.

The two families were neighbors and quite close; they were sworn brothers who had supported each other through thick and thin.

"Thank you," Zhang Changjiang said, nodding slightly to Zhang Guangwen’s wife, Mrs. Cai of the Zhang Family. He then turned to his friend and immediately asked, "So, tell me what happened. What’s going on? Was there a problem at the Sect Hall?"

The frail Mrs. Cai of the Zhang Family also watched her husband, her expression tense.

After her husband achieved Entry Grade, he had wanted to register at the Sect Hall to see if any new positions or jobs were available, or if he could exchange his points for Martial Arts.

But he had returned with such a troubled look, which couldn’t help but make her worry.

Zhang Guangwen shook his head. "No, it’s not that. Take a look at these two things first. After you’re done, tell me what you think."

Cheng Zongyang hadn’t forbidden Zhang Guangwen from showing these documents to others, nor had he demanded secrecy. So, Zhang Guangwen felt no need to hide them.

He had even heard that the pamphlet about the Cheng Immortal Ancestor’s deeds would later be taught to the children in the Library Hall as a story.

Zhang Changjiang took them and looked at the animal hide first. As he finished reading, his expression grew puzzled, then strange.

Next, he picked up the pamphlet. It wasn’t thick, just a dozen or so thin pages.

It told the story of the Cheng Family’s first Immortal Ancestor, a few subsequent ancestors, and the family’s general situation up to the present day.

It was all fairly standard, until he read that the Cheng Family’s first Immortal Ancestor was actually an Immortal from the so-called "Wilderness Land." That’s what struck him as odd. And the fact that the penalty for breaking the contract was "Soul Returns to the Wilderness" was downright creepy.

He was silent for a long while before saying to Zhang Guangwen, "Are you hesitant to sign because you find this so-called Immortal Ancestor’s Oath a bit strange?"

Zhang Guangwen nodded. "Honestly, so-called oaths are useless in my eyes. If oaths actually worked, the world wouldn’t be in this state. But for the Young Clan Leader to produce something like this for us to sign... it’s just strange.

If the Young Clan Leader had produced an indenture contract or something similar, I’d understand. But with this, even if we break our word, it doesn’t seem to have any real consequence for the Cheng Family."

Zhang Changjiang asked, "But what about the terms? What did the Young Clan Leader promise you in return for signing? This is for ten years, after all."

Zhang Guangwen thought for a moment and recounted the terms he’d been offered. After he finished, he thought it over again and felt he hadn’t missed any major details.

When he finished, Zhang Changjiang’s eyes went wide. "The benefits are that good?"

Mrs. Cai of the Zhang Family, who had been listening from the side, also grew visibly excited and anxious, but she knew it wasn’t her place to speak up.

Zhang Changjiang then looked at his friend, his expression serious. "Would you ever break that oath?"

Zhang Guangwen shook his head. "This good life we have now was hard-won, and it’s far better than our time in the old village. Why would I ever ruin it?"

"Good. Since you have no intention of breaking the contract, what are you worried about? If the thing is useless, what’s there to fear? Unless you’re hiding something. And besides, even if it *is* real, as long as you don’t break the oath, you’ll be fine, won’t you?

With benefits this good, your wife and children’s future will be even more secure. Your own prospects are bright... You... I don’t even know what to say to you! The only reason I’m not signing is because I haven’t reached Entry Grade yet. Otherwise, I’d have signed it on the spot!

And another thing—did you really think we could get more cultivation resources from the Cheng Family without giving anything in return? Even the Contribution Points we have were earned with our blood and sweat. If we hadn’t been lucky enough for the Young Clan Leader to save us back then, would we even be here now?

Let’s take a step back. Suppose the story in that pamphlet is true. If the Cheng Family becomes a great clan in the future, won’t our own status rise with them? A rising tide lifts all boats, right? The Cheng Family is just getting started. If we stick with them, our descendants will be able to flourish and prosper for generations, soaring to new heights alongside the family. We could even become trusted retainers of the Cheng Family one day.

Oh, by the way, where’s that boy of yours, Kun? Tell him to take my little girl out to play. They should get to know each other better. We have to look out for one another—we’re both Zhangs, after all."

"You..." Rendered speechless by his friend’s final comment, Zhang Guangwen finally broke out of his funk.

’Zhang Changjiang was right. Since I never intended to betray the Cheng Family, what was the point of all this worry?’

’Did I really think I could get resources to advance without giving up anything? I was truly asking for too much.’

"Thanks, brother," Zhang Guangwen smiled.