David York opened the brocade box, and a strange fragrance wafted out. His eyebrows twitched, revealing an expression of excitement. He quickly put the item away and said, “Thank you, Sixth Uncle.”

　　Standing to the side, Matthew York only glanced at it, and immediately felt a surge of jealousy so strong he almost wanted to cough up blood. What Samuel York gave to David York turned out to be a Qi Condensing Pill. He himself had gone through great trouble to obtain one from the Yun Family Fortress, yet Samuel York casually gifted one to David York.

　　Samuel York had doted on David York since childhood, even more than his own son. The others present didn’t dare ask Samuel York for anything.

　　“I’ve prepared something for each of you. Someone will deliver it to you later,” said Samuel York. Naturally, what he gave to the others was not as precious as what he gave to David York. But no one dared to complain.

　　After chatting for a while, they all took their seats.

　　As everyone spoke, the celebration below had already begun. Dragon and lion dances, firecrackers resounding—what a lively scene.

　　“In the five years I’ve been away, Leaf Family Fortress has become somewhat desolate. Could it be that a powerful enemy has come?” Samuel York glanced at Henry York beside him and asked.

　　A faint smile tugged at the corner of Matthew York’s mouth. Finally, they were getting to the main topic.

　　“Three years ago, Charles York was ambushed and his meridians were completely severed…” Henry York said gloomily. “We were worried it would affect Sixth Uncle’s cultivation, so we never mentioned it.”

　　A powerful aura suddenly erupted from Samuel York, his face a mix of shock and anger. He asked in a deep voice, “Who did this?” Five years ago, he had used his profound energy to examine Charles York’s meridians. Among the younger generation, Charles York had the best talent and the greatest chance of reaching the ninth rank. The family’s future prosperity rested on Charles York’s shoulders. But now Charles York had been ambushed—this was tantamount to cutting off the Leaf Family’s future.

　　“It’s still unknown,” said Henry York.

　　“If I ever find out who did this, I will demand an explanation from them!” Samuel York said sternly, then asked Henry York, “Do you know how Charles York is doing now?”

　　Just as Henry York was about to speak, Matthew York suddenly interjected, “When Charles York was rescued, his meridians were completely severed. Three years ago, the clan leader ordered that the entire clan spare no effort to save him, searching everywhere for Qi Gathering Pills to nourish Charles York’s meridians. In these three years, Leaf Family Fortress has lost more than half its industries. That’s why, Sixth Uncle, when you returned, the fortress seemed so desolate.”

　　Hearing this, David York, William York, and the others all looked displeased. It was clear that Matthew York wanted to use the old clan leader to hold Henry York accountable.

　　“But we couldn’t just ignore Chen’er’s life and death!” David York said from the side.

　　Samuel York looked calmly at Matthew York and asked, “If you were the clan leader and faced the same situation, what would you have done?”

　　Matthew York’s heart skipped a beat at Samuel York’s words. If he had been given the position of clan leader back then, the Leaf Family Fortress would never have fallen to this state. He replied, “Personal feelings should never override the interests of the clan!”

　　Samuel York said calmly, “The reason I didn’t give you the position of clan leader back then was precisely because of this. What are personal feelings, and what are clan interests? What is a clan? If a clan cannot provide protection for its members, if it doesn’t care about their lives and deaths, then what is the point of having a clan? If outsiders bully our Leaf Family members, we must do everything in our power to stand up to them, even if it means death without regret. If someone in the clan is gravely injured or ill, even if it means exhausting the family’s wealth and falling into poverty, we must do everything to save them. That is what it means to be the clan leader of the Leaf Family, the backbone of the family! Even if Henry steps down, the next clan leader of the Leaf Family must do the same!”

　　Matthew York’s face turned red. He wanted to argue, but his mouth opened and closed without a word.

　　Standing among the younger generation, Charles York felt his eyes grow moist at Samuel York’s words. From this day on, he felt a deep respect for this uncle he had rarely seen. Thinking of the kindness shown to him by his uncles, aunts, and many brothers, Charles York silently engraved the word “clan” in his heart.

　　“Old clan leader, clan leader, before the ancestral worship, the younger generation is to hold a martial contest to select the successor to the clan leader. Should we begin now?” a clansman nearby asked.

　　Samuel York sighed. Since Charles York’s meridians were severed and there was no way to reverse it, there was nothing more to be done. He could only hope that someone among the younger generation would step up. If the Leaf Family Fortress wanted to survive in these troubled times, someone had to take the lead. The news that William York’s daughter Emily York had gained entry to the Qingyun Sect was a comfort to him. He waved his hand and said, “Let’s begin.”

Chapter 11: Challenge!!

　　The selection of the successor to the clan head was an extremely important ceremony for the family. Once chosen, the successor would participate in all family affairs for a period of time. When the successor was ready to take over, the old clan head would step down and focus on cultivation, just like the old clan leader Samuel York. Even as a successor, their status in the family was considerable.

　　The successor must be the strongest among the younger generation and must accept challenges from all their peers. If defeated by someone of the same generation, they must step down and yield the position.

　　The clansmen had already set up the martial stage and were eagerly discussing who would become the next successor of Leaf Family Fortress.

　　“Other than Xuan’er, who is the strongest among the younger generation?” The old clan leader Samuel York looked at the crowd and asked.