"Senior Lin, there have been insect infestations in the spirit fields recently, which might affect this yearâs harvest. Thatâs why Iâve come to visit my grandfather."
Chen Feng, who had an honest and simple demeanor, spoke up with a smile, revealing his intentions straightforwardly.
Lin Changâan suddenly understood.
The Immortal Cultivation Realm also had all sorts of spirit insects; insect infestations in the spirit fields were quite normal.
Poorer cultivators, unable to afford Spirit Stones, would guard the spirit fields to prevent insect infestations.
Those with slightly better means would buy some Spiritual Medicine aimed at dealing with the spirit insects, or use other methods.
"I see, then quickly go notify Fellow Daoist Chen."
Lin Changâan nodded lightly, then headed towards the market.
However, once the two entered their ancestorâs cave dwelling, Chen Wen showed dissatisfaction and grumbled:
"Chen Feng, canât you stop siding with outsiders? Why did you tell him about this? If the spirit fields yield poorly this year, letâs see what that friend-in-law of theirs uses to continue the lease."
It was obvious that Chen Wen still remembered the time when the spirit fields were not leased to them.
However, beside him, Chen Feng shook his head and said:
"Brother, what are you thinking? Senior Lin leased the spirit fields to the Zhou Family."
Mentioning this, Chen Wen couldnât help but feel jealous, inwardly resenting Lin Changâan for simply currying favor with the Zhou Family.
"Grandfather."
Inside the cave dwelling, Chen Qing listened to their report, his brows furrowing tightly, and eventually he shook his head helplessly.
Ever since reaching Foundation Establishment, although heâs begun to enjoy some benefits, there have also been more trifles to deal with.
Over the past two years, Chen Qing, who had once exuded an efficient and murderous aura as a Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivator, now had a few more amicable touches smoothed by the trifles of life.
"An insect infestation?"
"Yes, grandfather. We dare not be careless with this insect infestation because it concerns a hundred acres of spirit fields, and even the slightest misstep would impact the familyâs development for a year."
Chen Wen said eagerly, wanting to perform, since the family had been on the right track these past two years, unlike before.
If this yearâs income took a dip, it would also affect his cultivation resources.
"No worries."
Regarding Chen Wenâs concern, Chen Qing, being a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, remained calm. After all, as a Loose Cultivator, he had faced too many storms along the way.
"This is a good occasion to visit the Zhou Family to seek that friend-in-law of Mr. Lin, to purchase some spirit chickens. They not only help prevent insect infestations but after a yearâs raising, they can also provide a decent amount of spirit flesh for the clan."
"Senior Linâs friend at Zhou Family!?"
Upon realizing it was to find the in-law who seized their spirit fields, Chen Wen couldnât help but show dissatisfaction, frowning as he said:
"Grandfather, our Chen Family now also has the foundation and roots of spirit fields, and with you, a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, backing us, we should just directly go to the Zhou Family. Why lower ourselves to seek that in-law?"
The Chen Family still didnât know that what Lin Changâan leased to the Zhou Family was a hundred acres of high-quality spirit fields; they always thought it was that in-law Li Erniu relying on the Zhou Family for the lease.
Therefore, Chen Wen voiced his dissatisfaction, thinking that his grandfather was also a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.
Although the Chen Family couldnât compare to the Zhou Family, they were both Foundation Establishment Clans; they shouldnât have to directly approach the Zhou Family, right?
Seeking someone who wasnât even a Foundation Establishment Cultivator was self-demeaning.
"Brother, grandfather naturally has his reasons."
Seeing this, Chen Feng, although confused himself, was not as dissatisfied as his brother. Instead, he believed that, being weaker, he should focus more on cultivation.
Looking at his clanâs future, Chen Qing, this Foundation Establishment Cultivator, couldnât help but sigh softly, revealing a trace of longing on his face.
"You donât understand; do you really think becoming a Foundation Establishment Cultivator means all who reach Foundation Establishment are of the same status?"
Looking at the two, Chen Qing shook his head and began to enlighten his two grandsons.
"Even cultivators of the same level are categorized into different grades. For example, like Fellow Daoist Lin, a Tier Two Rune Master, is not comparable to me in any way. Do you understand?
The income from talismans alone can equal our entire familyâs annual income."
Different circles naturally mean different contacts. In the eyes of the two Qi Refining Cultivators, achieving Foundation Establishment was proof of a Loose Cultivator turning things around.
Yet they didnât realize that even among Foundation Establishment Cultivators, there were vast differences.
Just as Chen Qing felt the gap between himself and Lin Changâan, and similarly the gap between Lin Changâan and Song Tingfeng and other major clans.
"Similarly, do you think that just because our Chen Family now owns this hundred-acre ordinary spirit field, we can rank among Immortal Cultivation Clans and stand shoulder to shoulder with the established Beast Taming Zhou Family?"
Looking at his two grandsons, Chen Qing shook his head and sighed, sharing these thoughts.
Upon hearing this, the two seemed to have their understanding overturned.
Chen Feng was even more at a loss, not expecting that even after achieving Foundation Establishment, there was still a pursuit to be made.
However, Chen Wen frowned and said in a deep voice:
"Grandfather, hasnât the Zhou Family just been developing for a few hundred more years than we have? Is the gap really that big?"
"Legacy! Foundation! Besides this old bag of bones that I am and our hundred-acre spirit field, what else do our Chen Family have?"
Chen Qing shook his head and continued to speak about the deep foundation of such an established major clan as the Zhou Family.
"The tradition of breeding spirit beasts, whether in selling spirit pets annually or the spirit fruits, spirit grass, elixirs needed by the spirit petsâthese are far beyond what we can compare.
Not to mention other less specialized businesses such as the Alchemy Dao, talismans, etc. You think the hundred-acre spirit field is merely an insignificant foundation in their Zhou Familyâs eyes."
The gap here was not just in resources but in accumulation.
The Zhou Family had, through a few hundred years of buildup, established a distinct reputation in Beast Taming.