Not long after the armored guard left, the current patriarch of the De Molinos family, upon learning that their ancestral elder had returned from the sect, immediately set aside all family matters. He hurriedly led a grand procession of De Molinos family members out of the family estate.
"Lead the way! Where is the Patriarch?"
Normally composed, Simon now wore an expression of urgency. Upon hearing of Arius's return, the elders and younger generations of the De Molinos family were equally curious and reverent.
In their hearts, Arius was akin to a celestial being! If Arius were to stay with the family long-term, the De Molinos family's growth would surely reach new heights.
"The Patriarch is over there, enjoying tea…"
Seeing the usually reserved Simon and the excited De Molinos family entourage, the guard led them to an elegant teahouse.
At that moment, Arius, clad in a simple gray robe, his white hair flowing, was reclining leisurely on a wooden chair, savoring a cup of tea.
Through the wooden door of the teahouse, the moment Simon and the others laid eyes on Arius, they felt an undeniable connection—a resonance deep in their bloodline.
"Junior Simon, current patriarch of the De Molinos family, leads the entire family in welcoming our ancestral elder home!!"
Thud! Simon dropped to his knees, his voice full of respect and fervor. He bowed deeply, knocking his forehead to the ground three times in reverence.
"Welcome home, Patriarch!!"
"Welcome home, Patriarch!!"
Whoosh!
As Simon knelt, the gathered De Molinos family members also prostrated themselves, performing the traditional three kneels and nine kowtows in unison.
"We are all family. There's no need for such formalities. Everyone, rise…"
Setting his teacup down, Arius spoke in a calm and detached tone as he gazed at the younger members of his family gathered outside the teahouse.
Arius still held a deep affection for the De Molinos family.
Even in the Body Tempering stages, cultivators could not sustain themselves without food. Over the years, Arius's needs for food, clothing, and daily life in the sect were mostly supplied by the family.
After all, the sect was no charity. Providing for tens of thousands of disciples would have been an unbearable burden, even for a powerful entity like the Albigensians Sect.
Having received the family's support, Arius was willing to spend the last decade of his life aiding the family's development as much as he could.
"Patriarch, please take this palanquin!"
"The residence you once lived in has been maintained and cared for by juniors under my instructions…"
"Now that you've returned, Patriarch, the future of the De Molinos family will need your wisdom and guidance."
Simon walked up to a luxurious palanquin adorned with gold and personally lifted the curtain for Arius.
"You are thoughtful."
Seeing Simon's respectful demeanor, Arius gave a small nod. He then turned his gaze to the many De Molinos family members gathered around and spoke in a calm, steady voice.
"That's enough. Everyone, disperse. Rest if you need to. Don't concern yourselves with an old man like me."
Hearing Arius's words, the De Molinos family members dared not disobey. They all moved to the sides of the street, leaving a clear path. None dared walk ahead of him.
Seeing this, Arius climbed into the golden palanquin, and with Simon personally escorting him, the procession made its way toward the De Molinos family estate.
"Patriarch, since your departure for the Albigensians Sect, the De Molinos family has flourished over the past century, with our population surpassing twenty thousand!"
"However, after your generation, no one in the family has been born with spiritual roots… This is the reason our family remains confined to Nezier Town."
"Those cities with populations exceeding a hundred thousand are all controlled by powerful families. My De Molinos family has no chance of competing with them," Simon explained, walking beside the gilded wooden palanquin, keeping pace as he provided Arius with an update on the family's current circumstances and the surrounding powers.
"Especially the Ashfell family of Purple River City—they have repeatedly suppressed our De Molinos family. If it weren't for their fear of your presence, Patriarch, it would have been difficult for us to even hold on to our foothold in Nezier Town."
The Ashfell family of Purple River City was a formidable clan of cultivators. It was said that their family boasted dozens of cultivators among their ranks.
By comparison, while the De Molinos family of Nezier Town appeared prosperous in terms of population, they had only one cultivator: Arius, their ancestral elder.
Around Nezier Town, other families, such as the Xu family, Zhou family, and Bai family, also vied for influence. However, their strength was roughly on par with the De Molinos family's.
Even so, the De Molinos family's position was the weakest among these groups. Should Arius fall, and the family lose its only deterrent, what awaited them would inevitably be decline—or even extinction.
Creak…
After about 30 minutes, the gilded wooden palanquin, carried by four De Molinos family servants, arrived at an elegant and tranquil estate.
The estate featured five grand gates and four side entrances, totaling nine in and nine out—a design filled with symbolism and depth.
As Arius gazed at the estate, memories stirred within him.
Before entering the Albigensians Sect, this was where he had lived and grown up.
"Patriarch, please rest inside the estate," Simon said respectfully.
"We've arranged maids and servants within to attend to your every need. Should you require anything, you need only tell them."
Simon's arrangements left Arius quite satisfied.
Stepping out of the gilded palanquin, Arius entered the estate. The moment he crossed the threshold, he noticed that everything inside the courtyard remained nearly identical to how it had been a century ago.
Faint, blurred memories of his childhood seemed to awaken.
"Greetings to the Patriarch!!"
"Greetings to the Patriarch!!"
Wherever Arius walked, maids and servants bowed their heads deeply, greeting him with reverence.
"All of you, leave," Arius said, his tone calm but firm. "Without my permission, no one is to disturb me."
As someone who had walked the path of cultivation, Arius was accustomed to solitude. It was a habit formed over a century of training.
Although he had only ten years of life left, Arius had not given up.
If he could reach the Bone Tempering Realm, his lifespan would extend by another twenty years. As long as he was alive, there was still hope.
Lost in thought, Arius strolled through the estate's corridors, passed by the gardens, and eventually arrived at a modest, unremarkable courtyard.
This courtyard had once been his father's residence.
Arius's father had also been the patriarch of the De Molinos family, and he had reached the early stages of the Bone Tempering Realm. If not for his father's mistakes in the Albigensians Sect, he might have already been an Inner Sect disciple—or even a core disciple!
If that had been the case, Arius's path to cultivation would have been much smoother under the protection of his father's reputation.
Standing in front of the wooden gates of the courtyard, Arius hesitated for a long time. Finally, he gently pushed them open.
As the gates creaked open, a wave of neatly arranged, timeworn items greeted his eyes.
There were wooden dolls from his childhood, a wooden sword he had begged his father to carve, and a delicate little jar once used to keep crickets.
Beyond Arius's own belongings, there were relics of his mother and father as well.
Seeing these items, Arius felt an invisible force strike his heart.