Wang Xuan has returned.

The news of his return brought much excitement to Black and White Mountain.

Although there are thousands of people on this mountain, both old and young, they all rely on Wang Xuan, this Immortal Martial Taoist, a youthful venerable figure of Earth Civilization.

Without him, there wouldn’t be Black and White Mountain, and without him, all these people wouldn’t have gathered.

The relatives and friends from the Wang Family and Li Family all came to meet and congratulate him on his joyous wedding, sharing many festive words.

"Your presence here at Black and White Mountain for my wedding ceremony is an honor to me, I appreciate the thoughtfulness of each and every one of you.

Tomorrow, my wedding ceremony will be held at the main peak; this is the decision of the elders. After the banquet at the main peak, we will have our family celebration here at Black and White Mountain.

The guests coming over there are invited by the elders of my sect. At this wedding ceremony, my appearance is insignificant, while the sect’s appearance is paramount, and moreover, the sect has important matters to discuss.

Tomorrow, Lin Cheng and I may not be able to attend to you all the time, and I feel truly apologetic about it."

Wang Xuan announced this matter publicly. If it weren’t for the requirement of the sect’s elders, the wedding would have been a quiet celebration within Black and White Mountain, and he wouldn’t have mentioned hosting it at the main peak.

Though he has some fame, he does not have the ability to make it world-renowned.

Members of the Wang and Ling families had hoped to invite some unfamiliar dignitaries to the wedding to gain favor and fortune, with many willing to exert great effort to establish such connections.

However, Wang Xuan just wanted a lively time among his relatives, and they couldn’t do anything about it.

Trying to leverage seniority to gain Wang Xuan’s favor might work a couple of times, but if they anger Wang Xuan, they might be reverted to their original state at any moment.

With such a promising relative, they should maintain reverence, allowing him to feel more affection and nostalgia.

If Wang Xuan were pleased, even a tiny favor he casually offers would suffice for them to live in wealth for a lifetime.

"Housekeeper, present the gifts I’ve prepared to everyone now," Wang Xuan waved his hand, bringing joy to those below.

As for the gifts, they were the life-extending elixirs he had already refined, with a moderate effect, only doubling their lifespan, capped at a thousand years.

After all, cultivators in the Body Refining Seventh Realm have a maximum lifespan of one hundred eighty years, and further extension wouldn’t compare to that of an Earth Immortal, determined by the quality of their Essence, Qi, and Spirit.

Of course, if the pills were miraculous, it wouldn’t be impossible for ordinary people to live to a thousand years, but it is feared that they might become weary of life, as extreme longevity can also become a form of suffering.

Wang Kong’s matter was also explained by Wang Xuan on the spot, laughingly without a scowl, but when he frowned, everyone became uneasy.

They knew that Wang Xuan was their relative and support, but also a significant figure who could crush them with a single thought.

While he seemed to be lenient, the appropriate intimidation was undoubtedly present.

"Cousin Wang Xuan, it’s us who became envious and quarreled thoughtlessly, not expecting it to reach your ears.

It was our fault, deserving of punishment. At tomorrow’s banquet, we shall each drink thirty cups in penance!" Wang Kong and others said with dry laughter.

"We’re all relatives; to say this is to be overly courteous.

There is something I want to bring up to everyone. I, Wang Xuan, have brought honor to my ancestors and have gained some capability, but I can’t abandon the relatives of the Wang and Ling families.

After careful thought, I’ve decided to build a city at Dragon Mountain for both families to thrive. If you’re willing, you can move there to live.

If not, I won’t compel you. I’m simply busy with cultivation and may not have the time to meet everyone often, only occasionally visiting Dragon Mountain to see my grandparents."

He spoke casually, but those who disagreed with the arrangement would naturally drift apart over time, eventually living separate lives, leaving them to fend for themselves.

As long as they don’t exploit his name to cause trouble everywhere, that’s fine.

These relatives had only met Wang Xuan a couple of times, and he soon got busy with his own affairs. Though called family, the closest were merely his parents, elder sister, and grandparents.

He didn’t have deep feelings for the others, having left home so young and wandered for many years without returning.

In his darker days, none of these cousins showed much concern, each living their own lives, connected only by a thin bond of blood.

And so it is.

It’s not that Wang Xuan was cold-hearted, for hadn’t these relatives thrived, seeing their assets increase tenfold in recent years?

Yet, such demands couldn’t be perpetually met, knowing that these hundreds of people could live for at least another 150 years.

If this cycle of demand isn’t severed, these people might grow into perpetual dependents; would that be helping or harming them?

Father Wang and Mother Wang were very attentive to Lin Cheng, eagerly waiting for grandchildren, and even the old master, at his age, was happily stroking his beard.

In private, Lin Cheng, who knew Wang Xuan well, asked, "What’s your stance towards these relatives?"

Wang Xuan’s temperament had especially changed since university, and she understood him relatively well, whereas Father Wang and Mother Wang were not entirely aware of the real Wang Xuan anymore.

Holding her in his arms, Wang Xuan said, "In the future, there probably won’t be much interaction with them, that’s inevitable.

Giving them wealth is fine, and if they wish to pursue the path of cultivation, that’s fine too, but I must sever their malevolent tendencies, establish rules, and prevent them from endlessly extending their desires, eventually fermenting into decadent corruption."

"That may be for the best. Through your influence, their wealth and cultivation levels may rise rapidly, yet they are still ordinary people.

When virtue is insufficient, facing temptations and challenges far beyond them, they’ll inevitably go astray, dragging you down and making you worry.

Like me, I know my cultivation talent is average, and my advancement is due to your care; I can’t integrate into circles of my realm’s cultivators.

Truly venturing out with equivalent rank cultivators would only invite hardships and bring further trouble to you."

Lin Cheng understood that Wang Xuan was determined, having faced challenges alone after his talent was once damaged, surviving countless life-and-death crises, yet unwilling to speak of them or return home.

He dislikes burdening others and truly loathes being embroiled in unwarranted troubles, especially petty, demeaning affairs.

Wang Xuan laughed and said, "I’m quite contradictory, sometimes ruthless, sometimes nostalgic."

"In the end, it depends on the person. For those you recognize, you wouldn’t mind them causing trouble. For those who don’t align with your nature, even a glance would disgust you," Lin Cheng replied.

Wang Xuan laughed heartily and kissed Lin Cheng fiercely.

"In this world, aside from myself, perhaps no one understands or knows me better than you."

This woman had known him since he entered university, taking seven or eight years to become truly acquainted and forming a genuine relationship, reaching a significant turning point.

With his achievements now, how could he bear to disappoint such a woman?

Although she is not perfect, incomparable to the exceptional talent of saintesses,

she is the only woman who accompanied him enduringly through his humble beginnings.