Everyone took their seats according to clan custom.
As clan head, Mo Shi occupied the seat of honor, his wheelchair placed at the head of the hall. Mo Que'er stood gracefully at his side.
Mo Xuan, as an Immortal, held a transcendent status and was seated in the position of secondary honor.
All present were pillars of the Mo family, so Mo Xuan skipped unnecessary pleasantries and went straight to the point.
"Grandfather, I would like to see the genealogy."
Mo Shi nodded to Mo Que'er. She went inside, retrieved the clan register, and presented it to Mo Xuan with both hands.
Mo Xuan smiled faintly at her and began flipping through the pages.
Previously, the Mo family had not only several bachelors in their twenties and thirties, but also six old bachelors over a hundred years old, and seventeen between fifty and one hundred.
However, once word spread that Mo Xuan had become an Immortal, the family's status rose overnight. Matchmakers flooded their doors.
In just over a year, ten of the sixteen bachelors over fifty had found wives. As for those over a hundred—well, no matchmaker would push a good young woman into a pit of fire. But the men in their twenties and thirties? They became highly sought after. Some wealthy families from other regions even waived bride prices and offered generous dowries to marry their daughters into the Mo clan.
Mo Xuan nodded in satisfaction, set the genealogy down gently, and inquired about the clan's spiritual field yields and the education of younger generations.
Although the tuition for elementary academies was high and beyond the reach of most families, over the centuries at least a few clan members had studied and earned the title of "Scholar," enabling them to teach reading and writing within the family. Illiteracy had been avoided.
Mo Shi laughed heartily and pulled Mo Que'er forward as if presenting a treasure.
"Xuan'er, this is little Que'er. She's only studied for two years, and this year in the Grand Examination she ranked fourth in the entire prefecture!"
Mo Xuan nearly jumped in shock.
Fourth place!
Ordinary people might not understand the weight of that ranking—but he did.
The so-called Grand Examination was largely symbolic for commoners. The top three places were essentially predetermined. Back when Mo Xuan had placed third, it had only been possible because Teacher Kong had pulled strings to delay one reserved spot to the following year.
He had only learned this truth later.
The Supreme Academy's exchange system even offered a staggering option: one million points in exchange for a guaranteed academy slot.
Any family that purchased it would receive exam questions in advance—ensuring a top-three ranking.
This was no secret among noble clans. They coordinated among themselves each year to divide the three spots. As for children of ordinary families? At best they earned the title of Scholar—something to aspire to, nothing more.
It wasn't exactly corruption. It was simply resource allocation.
When cultivation slots were plentiful, commoners had made it onto the list often enough. But now resources were scarce. Noble clan disciples could ascend to Immortality within decades and contribute by mining the void. Commoners might need two or three centuries.
If you had to choose, whom would you pick?
It wasn't about talent—only resources.
And so Mo Xuan understood just how extraordinary that fourth-place ranking truly was.
Among hundreds of thousands of examinees, she was effectively first.
In ancient terms, she would have been the champion.
Mo Que'er.
His many-times-great granddaughter.
Mo Xuan smiled with emotion. "So it's little Que'er. No wonder you looked familiar. Last time I saw you, you were still running around in split pants. Now you've grown so much."
Mo Que'er flushed deeply and lowered her head in shy embarrassment.
Mo Xuan laughed and asked to review her copied examination papers.
Her handwriting was elegant and flowing, like drifting clouds and flowing water. Even a faint trace of spiritual resonance shimmered in the strokes—short of perfection, but not far from it.
As for the content—her comprehension of the Daoist Classics was astonishingly thorough.
Even with his current Immortal insight, Mo Xuan could hardly find a flaw.
Activating his spiritual sight, he examined the aura of her writing. The entire scroll shimmered with clear azure energy, nearly pure—within it, a faint trace of violet.
He nodded approvingly.
This was true first-place caliber.
The Mo family had indeed produced a phoenix.
He tested her with several casual questions.
She answered flawlessly.
He raised the difficulty.
She pondered briefly—and answered correctly again.
Mo Xuan nodded repeatedly. "Good. Good. Good."
Mo Shi beamed. "With her ability, she'll surely make the top three next year, right?"
Mo Xuan hesitated slightly before replying ambiguously, "Her writing is certainly sufficient."
Laughter filled the hall.
Another Immortal would rise from the Mo clan!
But Mo Que'er caught the subtle shift in tone. Her confidence was absolute. If her writing was sufficient—what was lacking?
Was the Grand Examination truly only about writing?
Her expression changed faintly.
Mo Xuan saw it all, smiling as he gently patted her head.
"Don't overthink it. Study diligently. Never grow complacent. Qing Mountain Prefecture is only a small region. At the Supreme Academy, true talents are everywhere."
She bowed respectfully.
Mo Xuan smiled outwardly—but inwardly, he felt the weight.
One million points.
Nearly enough to build an Immortal Garden.
Even a brand-new transport vessel cost only six hundred fifty thousand.
And an Immortal could borrow only fifty thousand per year.
He remained calm, continuing family conversation.
Outside, children peeked curiously through the doorway.
Why did Immortal Great-Grandfather look younger than our older brothers?
Suddenly, Mo Xuan stood.
"Grandfather, uncles, brother—I'll go receive Father and Mother."
He vanished in a gust of wind.
Reunion on the Road
Two ox carts rolled slowly along the dirt path.
The lead cart had a simple straw canopy. The second was a flat cargo cart.
The oxen walked steadily without urging.
Inside the cart, Mo Tian weighed a heavy purse and puffed on his pipe, wrinkles relaxing with satisfaction. With Xuan'er now an Immortal, the family no longer needed to support him. This harvest would go toward dowries for clan marriages.
Though their status had risen, good marriages still required proper gifts.
Beside him sat Jiang Di and Jiang Xiao—once famed beauties, now aging women, weathered by centuries of shared life.
Then the oxen halted.
A handsome youth stood in the road, just as he had two centuries ago.
"Father. Mother. Aunt. Xuan'er has returned."
He knelt.
Tears streamed freely.
His parents had once been radiant. Now they were old.
Time had not spared them.
"Xuan'er!"
They rushed down and lifted him up, embracing him tightly.
The Banquet
That night, the Mo estate bustled with celebration.
Five great cooking cauldrons burned outside. Tables filled the courtyard. Chickens were slaughtered. Sheep prepared. Rice washed.
Three moons rose overhead.
After fireworks, the banquet began.
Three hundred and two clan members filled twenty-eight round tables.
Mo Shi, Mo Tian, Mo Xuan, Mo Zhu, and other key elders sat at the central table.
Wine was poured.
Children drooled over the feast.
Laughter grew loud.
Some young brides secretly glanced at Mo Xuan.
An Immortal looked so young.
Compared to their sun-darkened husbands, the difference was stark.
Others nudged their older husbands—go toast the Immortal ancestor!
Mo Xuan saw everything, smiling faintly.
He ate lightly—having survived on fasting pills in the void.
Finally, sixty-three-year-old Mo Ming, pushed by his twenty-three-year-old wife, approached to toast.
They knelt.
Mo Xuan raised a hand—their knees lifted gently before touching the ground.
He shared a cup, then handed Mo Ming a small porcelain bottle.
"You look somewhat depleted. Take one pill morning and night."
Then he gave the wife a box containing a thousand-year ginseng.
"Steep this in wine. Drink two small cups with each meal. It will help you conceive."
The couple was overjoyed.
Behind them, a long line had already formed.
And thus, under three shining moons, the Mo clan celebrated—while a true phoenix quietly prepared to spread her wings.