Inside the Lin Family's Mountaintop deliberation hall, Old Ancestor Lin Meitian, Clan Leader Lin Rugen, and six Elders were secretly discussing how to earn 100,000 Mid-Grade Spirit Stones within six years to participate in the Dao Sect's large-scale auction held every twenty years.
Their goal was to bid for a Golden Core Pill to help the Grand Elder achieve a Breakthrough to the Golden Core Stage and restore the Family's ancestral glory as a Golden Core Family.
Clan Leader Lin Rugen said, "Elders, ever since our Lin Family's founding Old Ancestor passed away, we have declined from a Golden Core Family to a Foundation Establishment Family. Over these many years, the Family's traditional sphere of influence has been continuously eroded and diminished. Now, we are even surrounded by various forces, hindering our development. We are truly ashamed before our ancestors. The Grand Elder is now only one step away from the Golden Core Stage, and the Dao Sect's auction, which will feature a Golden Core Pill, is six years away. If we wish to restore our ancestral Golden Core Family status, we must go all out this time to secure the Golden Core Pill for the Grand Elder's Breakthrough. Now, each of you should tally the maximum annual income from the industries you oversee. The Sixth Elder will compile the statistics, and finally, we'll calculate how many Mid-Grade Spirit Stones are still needed so we can make further plans."
First was Grand Elder Lin Ruping, whose Dan Refining Hall was also a major source of Family income. Grand Elder Lin Ruping said, "The Family has one Second Tier Elementary Alchemist, five First Tier Alchemists—two Elementary, two Intermediate, and one High Grade. Annually, we can refine three thousand Qi Refinement Stage Medicinal Pills, mainly Bi Gu Dan, Gathering Qi Pill, Heqi Pill, and a small amount of Protective Meridian Pills and Nourishing Meridian Pills. After deducting refining losses and medicinal material costs, we can earn over five thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones. The Second Tier Elementary Gathering Spirit Pills I refine are limited by the scarcity of Second Tier Spirit Medicine, so I only open the furnace four or five times a year. The Medicinal Pills produced aren't even enough for Family members, and we still need to purchase more from outside." Four Elder Lin Ruzhi said, "That means the Family's Dan Refining Hall can earn over five thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones annually, which can be exchanged for over seven hundred Mid-Grade Spirit Stones."
Second Elder Lin Ruhe then said, "I manage the Family's Spirit Field cultivation, which yields fifteen thousand catties of spiritual rice annually. After the Family uses five thousand catties, ten thousand catties of spiritual rice can be sold. Currently, the market price is one Low-Grade Spirit Stone for two catties of spiritual rice, so we can sell it for five thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones, equivalent to five hundred Mid-Grade Spirit Stones. As for Spirit Medicine cultivation, we mainly grow Spirit Medicine for Gathering Qi Pill and Heqi Pill, all of which are supplied to the Family's Dan Refining Hall for Alchemy, so there is no direct Spirit Stone income from that."
Then Third Elder Ru Tai said, "The Family's Weapon Crafting Hall is limited, firstly by raw Ore Materials, and secondly by the low skill level of the Family's Artifact Refiners, leading to a high failure rate. The Magical Artifacts we refine are barely enough for the Family's needs, and we currently cannot refine any Magic Treasure. Thus, the only Spirit Stones we earn annually come from mining Second Tier refined copper Ore. Under normal circumstances, with the current mining intensity, we can sell one thousand catties annually. Based on this year's market price, this could yield over eight thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones. If the Family requires it, we can increase manpower and intensify mining to boost output, selling up to one thousand five hundred catties of Second Tier refined copper Ore annually, which is the current limit. This would bring in twelve thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones, equivalent to one thousand two hundred Mid-Grade Spirit Stones."
Fifth Elder Lin Ruhui, who was in charge of punishments, had no income and thus remained silent. Four Elder Lin Rulan said, "The five shops in the Family's market can earn over ten thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones annually, which can be exchanged for one thousand Mid-Grade Spirit Stones. The Family takes a 30% share of the market, yielding twenty thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones annually, which can be exchanged for two thousand Mid-Grade Spirit Stones." At this point, Lin Rulan spoke up, "Actually, we could try forming a caravan to trade in other markets, bringing out local specialties and bringing back external resources to earn the difference in price. If managed properly, I think it has great potential."
At this time, Clan Leader Lin Rugen said, "That means the Family's current total income, for the entire Family combined, amounts to five thousand seven hundred Mid-Grade Spirit Stones per year. Over six years, that's thirty-four thousand, still lacking over sixty thousand." Everyone in the Immortal Cave looked troubled. Then, the Lin Family's Old Ancestor Lin Meitian said, "Just do your best, don't force it. Each person has their own Dao affinity. You have all reached the Foundation Establishment Stage, and you should also plan for your future Cultivation. Do not be negligent." After speaking, she closed her eyes to rest and said no more. Clan Leader Lin Rugen said, "Elders, remember the Old Ancestor's words, strengthen your Cultivation, and safeguard the Lin Family. Also, after this, think carefully about where we can increase the Family's income to ensure we have enough Mid-Grade Spirit Stones to bid for the Golden Core Pill in six years. Additionally, I also think the Fourth Elder's idea of forming a caravan is feasible. Fourth Elder and Sixth Elder, discuss a plan after this and try it on a small scale first.
At the same time, we must increase the cultivation of the Lin Clan, especially in the hundred arts of cultivation. The teachers in the academy should guide them in various ways, fostering their enthusiasm and interest from a young age. Encourage the Lin Clan to have more children; with a larger population base, more children with Spiritual Roots will be born, and naturally, more Cultivator Lin Clan will emerge. If a Family has no successors, how can it speak of strengthening or revitalizing the Family?
I hope that we, the predecessors, plant trees for the future generations to enjoy the shade. Regarding the hundred arts of cultivation for the Lin Clan, I hope the Elders will not be stingy with their knowledge. When the Lin Clan's hundred arts of cultivation grow, they can also give back to the Family, lighten the Family's burden, and increase Spirit Stones and other Cultivation resources for the Family. Especially the Dan Hall, the founding Old Ancestor was a Third Tier Alchemist and left some crucial Pill Formulas for the Family, such as the Foundation Establishment Pill Formula for Breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Stage, and the Second Tier High Grade Spirit Expansion Pill Formula, etc. However, due to the Lin Clan's Cultivation Realm not reaching the required level and the lack of key main Spirit Medicine, these cannot be refined. Currently, the Family has no Second Tier High Grade Alchemists, and cannot even refine the Foundation Establishment Pill for Breakthrough to Foundation Establishment, leading to many Lin Clan being unable to establish their Foundation. This is our dereliction of duty as Elders. I hope all Elders will contribute more to the Family and grow together with the Family." The Elders unanimously approved the Clan Chief's opinion. After the discussion, the Elders rose and left the Old Ancestor's Immortal Cave.
At the Family academy, Lin Zufeng arrived at the lecturer's room. As soon as he entered, Lin Zufeng excitedly shouted, "Seventh Grandfather, Seventh Grandfather, I've entered the Qi Refining Stage!"
The old man Lin Zufeng called Seventh Grandfather was Lin Rufa, a Cultivator of the Lin Family's Ru generation at Refining Qi Level 9. Because he injured his Foundation during a fight in his youth, his Cultivation had stagnated ever since. Now, at over one hundred and thirty years old, with not much time left, he had volunteered to take on the responsibility of educating the Family's younger generation, contributing his last bit of effort to the Family's development.
At this moment, Lin Rufa said with a smile, "Little Lin Zufeng, when did this happen? Yesterday after school, you were still sensing Qi. How did you enter the Qi Refining Stage overnight? Don't be too impetuous; you must lay a solid Foundation!"
Lin Zufeng continued in a childish voice, "Seventh Grandfather, it was this morning. I Cultivated normally according to the Mind-Cultivation Technique, sensing the external Spiritual Qi, and suddenly, the external Spiritual Qi flowed through my Meridians into my Dantian. I completed a grand cycle of Cultivation this morning! I entered Qi Refining Level 1." Lin Rufa said, "Oh, congratulations, Little Lin Zufeng. Entering Qi Refining Level 1 at eight years old, even if you have a Two Spiritual Root, is uncommon in the Cultivation World. Don't be too hasty. Cultivation is not an overnight endeavor; perseverance is key. You must lay a good Foundation during the Qi Refining Stage to reduce resistance when you Breakthrough to Foundation Establishment."
Lin Zufeng said, "I understand, Seventh Grandfather. I will definitely remember Seventh Grandfather's teachings and lay a solid Foundation." The old man then said, "If you have any questions about Cultivation in the future, you can always come to me." "Yes, yes, I know, Seventh Grandfather. As long as Seventh Grandfather doesn't find me annoying, I will definitely come often to bother Seventh Grandfather and ask for advice on Cultivation problems."
After leaving Seventh Grandfather, Lin Zufeng went to the academy and began his day of Family studies. Now that he had entered Qi Refining Level 1, he was even more dedicated to his studies.