Just as Song Wanníng finished putting things away, Song Qingyun flew over from a distance, his body fully recovered.
His presence rolled off him like a vast ocean, deep and unfathomable.
Never before had Song Qingyun sensed the world around him with such clarity. It was as if everything—heaven and earth alike—had taken on new meaning, revealing truths he had never understood before.
"So this… is what Divine Transformation feels like."
A faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he descended gracefully into the crowd.
People immediately stepped forward to bow and offer their congratulations. Regardless of their true feelings, none dared show anything but respect on their faces.
The Song family of today was no longer the Song family of yesterday.
The various Patriarchs put on their brightest smiles, offering endless congratulations. What was done was done—they could only pray that the Song family wouldn't bear any grudges.
Song Qingyun raised his brows at Song Wanníng, a flicker of inquiry in his eyes.
Song Wanníng simply smiled and said, "Congratulations, Father, on advancing to Divine Transformation."
"Good, good, good!"
Song Qingyun was so delighted he said "good" three times in a row. Gratitude welled up in his heart for his daughter. If she hadn't been willing to give him such a precious pill, how could he possibly have made the breakthrough?
The power contained within that inner core had been enough to shake him to his core. That great beast must have been terrifyingly strong in life.
"This Lord is in a fine mood today. How about a drink at the Song estate, Patriarchs?"
Song Qingyun shifted into his new identity without hesitation, referring to himself as "this Lord" with total ease.
The Patriarchs were practically seething with jealousy, but still had to smile and politely refuse.
"We still have matters to attend to. Next time, we will surely visit in person."
"Yes, we'll take our leave for now."
They hurried away. The longer they stayed, the more likely they'd be bled dry.
Besides, with the Song family's sudden rise, they needed to return and discuss countermeasures.
As he watched them leave in a rush, a trace of cold light flashed in Song Qingyun's eyes.
"Let's go. Time to head home."
…
"What did you say? Song Qingyun broke through to Divine Transformation?!"
The He Patriarch shot to his feet. The jade brush in his hand snapped clean in two, falling to the floor.
The elder who had come to report the news looked grim. "We just received confirmation. Song Qingyun successfully endured his tribulation."
"Damn it! What were those nearby Patriarchs doing?! How did they let him pass the tribulation unscathed?!"
The He Patriarch's face flushed red with rage. He had just been planning to take action against the Song family, and now they'd taken off like a shooting star.
Were they trying to drive him insane on purpose?
"Report—!"
Another disciple called out at the door and rushed in.
"Reporting to the Patriarch: we've just confirmed that Song Wanníng has already advanced to Divine Transformation as well."
Clink—
The remaining half of the jade brush slipped from the He Patriarch's hand and hit the floor.
He stared at the disciple in shock. "Say that again! Who advanced?"
Wasn't Song Wanníng still at peak Nascent Soul?
Over the past two years, her cultivation had already skyrocketed from mid-stage Nascent Soul to its peak, enough to provoke envy in others.
But no matter how fast she was moving, it shouldn't be possible to reach Divine Transformation so soon!
Divine Transformation wasn't some cabbage being handed out on the street!
It was the highest level a cultivator in the lower realm could attain!
But the disciple shattered his disbelief. "It's absolutely true. Song Wanníng has stepped into Divine Transformation. The Song family now has three Divine Transformation cultivators."
"…"
The He Patriarch felt his breath catch in his throat. He stood there for a long time, unable to speak.
The elder beside him was just as shocked, eyes filled with disbelief.
"The Song family… they're really rising to power now."
Jealousy surged wildly in his chest. They had all been large clans once. In the blink of an eye, the Song family was about to break into the ranks of the top-tier families.
"No. We can't let this go so smoothly."
The He Patriarch snapped back to himself, face darkening.
"Even if they've become a top-tier clan, we can't just hand over the resources so easily!"
The He and Song families had been rivals for ten thousand years. Now, to be suddenly left behind like this—it was a bitter pill to swallow.
A thought struck him. A dangerous gleam flickered in his eyes.
Once he had dismissed the elder and disciple, the He Patriarch took out a small arrow, its surface gleaming with silver light.
He whispered something into the arrow, then tossed it into the air.
With a flash, it vanished into a streak of light.
"Song Qingyun, Song Wanníng… don't think you'll get to enjoy your breakthrough so easily. I won't let things go your way."
…
At the Song estate's main hall, the air was filled with joy. Every face beamed with pride and excitement.
Two more Divine Transformation cultivators—what a monumental honor!
From now on, even when they stepped outside, they could hold their heads high with pride.
In high spirits, Song Qingyun opened the treasury and handed out spirit stones to every disciple as a reward. The hall rang with laughter and grins so wide you could barely see their eyes.
Once the disciples had been dismissed, the core members gathered in the council chamber.
The benefits of these breakthroughs were obvious, but so were the looming challenges.
"With three Divine Transformation cultivators, the Song family now qualifies as a top-tier clan. But those three clans have monopolized that position for generations. They won't just hand over the benefits quietly. We should be prepared for resistance."
Song Qingyun saw the situation clearly. The structure of top-tier families hadn't shifted in over a thousand years. Now, the sudden rise of the Song family would surely rattle the others.
Still, rules were rules. Even if the other clans disliked it, they'd have to agree—at least on the surface. Behind the scenes, though, sabotage was inevitable.
It wasn't about morality. It was about family interests. If the roles were reversed, they might have done the same.
"They've probably already heard the news. I wouldn't be surprised if they're meeting right now to discuss a response."
The Grand Elder snorted, his expression darkening as he recalled the scheming Patriarchs.
"No family wants to see us flourish. Even the ones we worked closely with before are probably just waiting to laugh at our missteps."
The Song family's rise had triggered a storm of emotions in the other families—envy, fear, resentment.
"They're just jealous! Some of them even wanted to strike at the Patriarch today. If not for Wanníng's intervention…"
They could have fended off the other Patriarchs, but it would've turned into a real fight.
Unlike them, when Wanníng made her move—it was absolute domination.
"You should've seen those Patriarchs. Not only did they kneel through the entire tribulation, they even had to deliver congratulatory gifts afterward. All thanks to Wanníng. That was beyond satisfying!"
One comment led to another, and soon everyone was talking about Song Wanníng.
She had always been the pride of the Song family.
In the past, it was because of her alchemy. Now, it was her strength.
Her position had never been shaken.
Watching the girl they'd raised grow stronger with each step—even advancing to Divine Transformation—brought warmth and pride to every heart present. Quietly, they wished only the best for her.
Feeling the kindness in their gazes, a warmth bloomed in Song Wanníng's chest, and her lips curved into a gentle smile.
Only the Song family had ever loved her without conditions.
Even in her past life, when she fell into demonic cultivation and was hunted by the entire cultivation world, these elders never abandoned her. They chose to stand with her, no matter what.
And in the end, she had dragged them all to their deaths.
Song Wanníng's gaze darkened.
In this life, she would make sure everyone in the Song family lived better and better.
===
In here Song Qingyun use 本尊 (běnzūn) as self address, it somewhat similar with 本宫 (běngōng). If you didn't know, bengong is used by high ranking female in royal/imperial setting. It can be translated as "This Palace" for the Empress, "This Concubine" or "This Princess" based on who is the one that use it.
本 (běn) = "This" but with arrogance/ownership, hinting that they rank is elevated.
Another example that may you find is 本座 (běnzuò) = "This Seat".
In short, 本 carries both literal and contextual meaning:
Literal: "This" (as in "original" or "of myself").
Elevated "I": When used in self-referential titles, it becomes "I" that asserts authority.