Top enlightenment at 100 years old Chapter 3: Clan Leader Ji, Ancestor, and a Cruel Reality

A few days afterward.

Ji Haoyuan brought the resources acquired from the family treasury into the secluded meditation chamber, triggering the chamber's sealing array to full power.

This indicated Ji Haoyuan's current seclusion resembled a death retreat.

Only upon succeeding in his cultivation breakthrough and unlocking the sealing array from inside could he emerge; otherwise, he must wait for the array's time limit to run out and dissolve it.

Throughout this, no outsiders could interfere, let alone break the seal or open the chamber door from without.

Such a seclusion method is usually employed when attempting a breakthrough to Foundation Establishment.

Clearly, Ji Haoyuan now sought to advance to Foundation Establishment.

Yet, apart from his elder brother Ji Haochuan, no one else in the clan knew of his undertaking initially.

In reality, his profile within the family had stayed remarkably low for many years.

Particularly over the last twenty years.

Besides a handful of same-generation elders, the younger family disciples seldom caught sight of him.

They only picked up scattered tales about him from their seniors.

Aware that the family once had an elder with strong prospects for reaching Foundation Establishment.

Thus, days flowed by one by one.

In the twinkling of an eye, one month flew past.

On that particular day.

At last, a clan elder noticed the sealing array in the secluded meditation chamber fully engaged.

This shocked him, prompting swift inquiries into who had quietly and thoroughly activated the sealing array within the chamber.

This was no small issue.

Before long, the news roused all family elders, including the Clan Leader.

All began probing and piecing together details.

Not much later, they pieced together who was undertaking the death retreat.

For an instant, silence gripped everyone.

As family elders, be they from the elder generation or the younger ones, they formed the family's core circle and naturally grasped what the name 'Ji Haoyuan' signified.

'Inform the Old Patriarch of this matter,'

In the end, the current Ji Family Clan Leader Ji Yunfan shattered the quiet.

He was a man around fifty years old.

With a square face, resolute demeanor, and solid capabilities.

And he held peak Qi Refining cultivation.

Thanks to his guidance these years, the family avoided total collapse and retained strong unity.

At that juncture, after speaking, he recalled something and added:

'Notify Fourth Uncle, but about Fifth Uncle’s retreat... On second thought, never mind, don’t tell Fourth Uncle.'

As he reached this, Ji Yunfan abruptly realized a point and shook his head at once.

The 'Fourth Uncle' and 'Fifth Uncle' he mentioned were Ji Haochuan and Ji Haoyuan.

As close siblings, with Ji Haochuan overseeing the family treasury, Ji Haoyuan couldn't enter death retreat without his knowledge.

Bringing it up to him now would only deepen Ji Haochuan’s grief without purpose.

After all, those gathered knew that at a hundred years old, Ji Haoyuan’s odds of succeeding in the death retreat for Foundation Establishment were virtually zero, especially lacking a Foundation Establishment Pill.

Failure meant certain death.

Maybe he sought liberation this way.

Over these years, though the young ones might not know, the family’s inner circle understood Ji Haoyuan’s plight to some degree.

From his viewpoint, none could stay entirely composed in such straits.

Hence.

Ji Yunfan and the rest somewhat comprehended Ji Haoyuan’s choice now.

A brief while later.

Outside a courtyard on the family’s back mountain.

An old man with white hair, stooped posture, and wrinkled, spot-covered skin reclined in a chair, listening as Clan Leader Ji Yunfan recounted the event, staying mute for a long stretch.

Only after a good while did his cloudy eyes pull back from afar, murmuring softly:

'I understand.'

After a beat, a faint bitter smile crossed his face as his dim gaze settled on Ji Yunfan ahead, his voice laced with traces of desolation and sighs.

'That’s fine, you’ve endured much these years.'

Ji Yunfan’s face shifted emotionally, and he bowed deeply with respect, replying sincerely:

'Old Patriarch, your words weigh too much.

Compared to you, my efforts amount to nothing.'

But the elder, Ji Bochang, shook his head.

'If the family hadn’t held you back, with your talent, skills, and prowess, joining the Crimson Sunset Sect might have let you achieve Foundation Establishment.

In the end, it’s the family that shackled you.'

'Old Patriarch, please don’t say that.'

Ji Yunfan shook his head vigorously.

'Without the family, I wouldn’t be where I am. Born a Ji Family member, I naturally devote myself to it.

Besides...'

Here, Ji Yunfan hesitated briefly before declaring firmly:

'This is my path, and I harbor no regrets.'

'Good child.'

Ji Bochang regarded Ji Yunfan with feeling, as though glimpsing the youthful Ji Haoyuan in him.

Yet in the end, he gave a light headshake.

'Enough, enough.

You can withdraw now.

This old bag of bones might squeeze out another year or two for you.

Hurry and prepare.

Be ruthless in cutting what must go, be it people or assets.

I know it’s tough on you, but this reflects our family’s plight.

Time is scarce for us, and options fewer still.'

Hearing Ji Bochang’s words, Ji Yunfan’s heart surged powerfully.

He lifted his gaze to the Old Patriarch, but Ji Bochang had already shut his eyes.

Thus, Ji Yunfan keenly grasped the elder’s resolve.

As he put it, this decision proved brutally hard for him and the whole family.

Yet reality demanded it.

In the brutal cultivation world where the weak fall prey, frailty is the gravest sin.

Once Ji Bochang departed, the Ji Family’s present power couldn’t sustain their holdings.

The wisest course was to ruthlessly trim excess while Ji Bochang yet lived.

This encompassed deliberately forsaking certain people and possessions.

Namely, family businesses and some regular disciples.

With this in mind, resolve hardened on Ji Yunfan’s face.

He bowed profoundly to Ji Bochang, uttering 'I understand,' then turned sharply and departed.