Chapter 59 - 59 - 57: Arrangements (Please Subscribe) _1

Chapter 59 – 57: Arrangements (Please Subscribe) _1

The distribution of the Minor Foundation Building Pills has been settled, and Lin Shihua, as the Clan Leader, stood up and began to speak:

“Now, let me report on the family’s situation over the past five years!”

“As of today, the family has a total of 175 cultivators, with 12 from the Shi generation, 98 from the Xing generation, and 65 from the Tian generation. (Note: Female cultivators who marry into the Lin Family are counted by their husband’s generation for the purpose of family records. For example, Ren Yuxuan, Lin Tianming’s mother, is recorded under the Xing generation without changing her name.)”

“Among them, there are four at the Foundation Establishment Stage, one at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage, eleven at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, and the rest are all below the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining.”

“In the past five years, after expenditures, the family has a remaining total of more than 11,000 Accumulated Spirit Stones. The recent production of Minor Foundation Building Pills consumed the accumulation of over twenty years, making it hard for us to allocate funds for the next decade!”

Upon reaching this point, Lin Shihua couldn’t help but reveal a look of worry, which quickly returned to calm.

The family is still too poor; fortunately, Lin Tianming brought back a large quantity of Hidden Spirit Grass. With the addition of a large amount of other auxiliary medicines and spending tens of thousands of Spirit Stones, the family managed to refine fifteen Minor Foundation Building Pills. Thankfully, the results were satisfying, and obtaining a large number of the pills could boost the family’s overall strength in a short time.

Just as Lin Shihua finished speaking, Lin Shikang, who had been immersed in thought, continued the conversation!

“Looking at the current situation, the family’s funds are almost depleted, only enough to pay one year’s monthly stipends, so I suggest organizing a large group of family members above the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement to form Monster Hunting Squads. In batches, they should enter the Luoyun Mountain Range for training. Not only can they hunt Demonic Beasts to earn Spirit Stones, but they can also look for Spirit Grass. By using what they find, we’ll engage in lots of alchemy and crafting, then sell the items in the market. This will quickly increase the wealth of the family members and the family, as well as significantly expedite their breakthroughs in cultivation. It’s truly a win-win-win situation.”

“As for the Monster Hunting Squads, they will be led by Shi Ji, each team consisting of ten members. As long as they don’t venture too deep into the mountain range, safety isn’t a major concern. Regarding the schedule, they will rotate every six months.”

“Additionally, we’ll use the family’s stored elixirs and Spiritual Artifacts as rewards to motivate everyone. The spoils obtained by the family members will be the responsibility of Shi Lu for crafting and Shi Gong for alchemy. The sales will still be handled by Xing Rong. What does everyone think?”

Lin Shigong was the first to speak up, “I agree with Third Brother’s suggestion!”

“I also agree with Third Brother’s suggestion!”

…

Lin Shilu and other Foundation Establishment Cultivators echoed their agreement, and several elders from the Xing generation also expressed their support.

Lin Shikang nodded, very satisfied, as nearly half of the family members had already agreed.

“Does anyone else have any opinions?”

Lin Shikang’s gaze swept over the younger generation of the family in the grand hall, lingering on Lin Tianming for a few moments longer.

Seeing this, Lin Tianming stood up and took the initiative to speak.

“I strongly support Third Grandfather’s proposal. I’m willing to be the first to sign up and be part of the first group to enter the mountain range, to set an example for the younger members of the family.”

Lin Shikang and others were very satisfied with Lin Tianming’s response, and their expectations of this junior increased!

Flowers nurtured in a greenhouse will never grow strong; only by enduring storms will they progress further on the path of cultivation.

After fifteen minutes of discussion, the direction for the family’s strategic planning for the upcoming years was basically decided.

As Clan Leader, Lin Shihua spoke once more.

“Now let’s discuss the situation with the other four major families. Everyone is welcome to speak freely.”

At that moment, a Clan Member from the Xing generation stood up, his face serious as he began to speak.

“Recently, the open and covert struggle between the Jin Family and the Sun Family has become increasingly fierce. Both are secretly accumulating strength, stockpiling various elixirs, Spiritual Artifacts, and talisman papers. All signs indicate that the two families are likely to break out into large-scale clan warfare in the coming years.”

Many of the clansmen present, upon hearing the news, had their faces change dramatically; it seemed the peace that had lasted for over a hundred years might soon be broken.

“I estimate that the outbreak is very likely to occur in three years!”

Hearing Lin Shihua’s words, some clansmen seemed not to understand, Lin Tianming was also in a fog, not clear on why the estimate was set for three years later, but people like Lin Shikang instantly understood.

Seeing some of the younger clansmen looking puzzled, Lin Shikang began to explain.

“Three years from now is the grand competition of the market that happens once every fifty years!”

At these words, a few younger members who had not experienced the grand market competition asked curiously about the reason.

The grand market competition was a contest between the five major families of the Luoyun Mountain Range, held once every fifty years, having been held more than ten times. Based upon the competition’s rankings, they allocated the benefits of the market for a fifty-year period, with benefits primarily involving various rents and ownership of the shops.

The first place in the grand market competition would receive thirty percent, the second would obtain twenty percent, and the last three would each get ten percent. The remaining twenty percent would be distributed among more than ten Qi Refining families.

Such a distribution plan had been implemented for hundreds of years. The best ranking the Lin Family had ever achieved was second place, bringing in twenty percent of the market’s benefits, while the first place had always been occupied by the Jin and Sun families.

The Jin Family and Sun Family were indigenous inhabitants of the Luoyun Mountain Range, their clans established several hundred years earlier than the Lin Family. Although they had never produced a Core Formation Cultivator, the families were numerous, with the number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators never falling below three each year, a sign of their considerable depth.

At the establishment of the clan, considering the well-being of future generations, the ancestor of the Lin Family did not make things difficult for the Jin and Sun families, despite not being able to utilize eighty percent of his strength due to injuries. He simply chose Green Bamboo Mountain as the familial territory.

The Lin Family only achieved a dominant position for nearly a hundred years during the lifetime of the clan progenitor, Lin Renfeng. Leaning on the Core Formation Stage of cultivation, they managed to suppress the local snakes, the Jin and Sun families, for a time.

Because the Jin and Sun families feared Lin Renfeng’s cultivation level and did not dare to offend the Lin Family, they focused on their development peacefully for a hundred years. This allowed the Lin Family to gain a firm foothold, leading to today’s situation; otherwise, it wouldn’t have been so easy to secure a place in the Luoyun Mountain Range.

After Lin Shikang’s explanation, the few clansmen who were previously confused finally came to a realization.

“No wonder the Jin and Sun families are making such moves, their targets might very well be our three families. We must be on guard!”

The perspective of one of the Xing Clan Members was acknowledged by many clansmen.

Lin Shihua also spoke up:

“In these troubled times, regardless of which family they target or what their intentions are, I think it’s necessary for us to be cautious. In the next few years, we must also secretly gather all kinds of resources, but discreetly so as not to alert them. Moreover, the news about Ninth Brother and me reaching Foundation Establishment must not be leaked. Who knows, this might be the Lin Family’s opportunity to rise!”

“Makes sense!”

Lin Shihua’s arrangement received everyone’s agreement!

“Alright, there’s no need to worry too much. We also have four Foundation Establishment Cultivators, and that number will only grow. As long as we are united, we have nothing to fear from the Jin Family.”

Lin Shikang’s words were like a calming pill for the Xing Clan Members; with four Foundation Establishment Cultivators, the Lin Family were no weaker than the Jin and Sun families.

“In the coming years, the Lin Family must keep a low profile, try not to draw the attention of other families. If faced with their provocations, we should avoid friction as much as possible, for the time being, we have to be patient. We will accumulate our strengths in secret, to respond to any unknown threats.”

“Shi Ji, you’re in charge of organizing the Monster Hunting Squad. The faster, the better. Let’s proceed with this plan, everyone go and make preparations!”

“Yes!”

After a full half day of the clan meeting came to an end, many clan members began to leave the great hall. Lin Tianming also followed the crowd out, leaving only Lin Shigong and the three others behind, presumably to discuss some important matter.