In the far west, lay the boundless Shanhai.
This vast Shanhai was endless and harsh, with very few places suitable for human survival; only a few desert oases were habitable.
Jade Spring Lake was one such place, forming an oasis within a hundred-mile radius around the lake, appearing like a green tear in the golden Shanhai when viewed from ten thousand feet above.
At the center of the lake was a mountain Peak named Yuquan Peak, a thousand meters high, covered in trees and shrouded in mist.
The Yuquan Chen Family was the owner of this oasis.
At this moment, inside an Immortal Cave.
With each breath, Chen Changsheng slowly refined the Spiritual Qi into his body, absorbing it into his own Dharma power.
Several hours later, he slowly concluded his Cultivation.
“Phew… In another month, I should be able to Breakthrough to the Qi Refining Sixth Layer,” Chen Changsheng murmured to himself.
Having been in this world for sixteen years, he deeply understood that Cultivation was a painstaking endeavor, so ever since he embarked on the path of Cultivation, he had never been negligent.
Moreover, born into a gradually declining Qi Refining Family, if he were still to neglect his Cultivation, he would eventually fade into obscurity, failing the Family’s expectations.
…
Just as he was about to continue Cultivating, a sound transmission talisman flew in from outside the Immortal Cave.
“Changsheng, come up to the Clan Affairs Hall for a Family meeting.”
A slightly weathered voice sounded, it was Seventh Uncle.
As one of the few Cultivators in the Family, Chen Changsheng had already guessed the general purpose of this Family meeting.
In this desert, the Chen Family had been established for hundreds of years.
“Laying the foundation, accumulating good fortune, blending with the world, and enduring prosperity.”
These sixteen character generations had already reached the ‘Chang’ generation.
Decades ago, the Chen Family had nearly a hundred Cultivators, over ten thousand Mortals, and a Foundation Establishment Old Ancestor overseeing the Clan.
However, in the desert, Cultivation resources were scarce, and the water level of Jade Spring Lake, where the Chen Family resided, had been gradually declining over the years.
Furthermore, after a major battle, the population, industries, and resources had significantly decreased.
Among the two generations of Cultivators, only three remained.
The current Chen Family was no longer as prosperous as it had been decades ago, and with the declining water level of Jade Spring Lake, it was getting worse by the day.
Currently, it only had over ten thousand Mortals under its jurisdiction, seven Qi Refining Cultivators, and one and a half Spiritual Veins, one of which was on Yuquan Peak.
The half Spiritual Vein was in Chen Changsheng’s Immortal Cave; because its Spiritual Qi was significantly weaker compared to a complete first-grade Spiritual Vein, it could only be considered half a vein.
As for industries, they mainly relied on two and a half acres of Spiritual Fields and Spiritual Fish produced in Jade Spring Lake.
The Spiritual Fields cultivated Low Grade Star Spirit Grass, a primary Material for refining Qi Gathering Pill.
The Chen Family was established on Alchemy; at its Peak, it could refine various Medicinal Pills, which were very valuable whether for nurturing Clan members or selling at Sand Sea Market.
However, now, they could only refine the lowest-grade Qi Gathering Pill; although there was no shortage of sales, Qi Gathering Pill was too common, and the profit was meager.
Coupled with the decline in Jade Spring Lake’s water level, the Spiritual Fish income also decreased daily.
If they couldn’t stabilize the water level of Jade Spring Lake, the Chen Family might lose even its Family residence within a few years.
This was the Hellish situation currently facing the Chen Family.
This was also why, in recent years, the Chen Family had only added three new Chang-generation Immortal Seeds.
…
After ascending the mountain, as soon as Chen Changsheng arrived at the Clan Affairs Hall, he heard an argument.
“Sending Changsheng to Huangsha Sect is absolutely out of the question! Changsheng is the Immortal Seed with the best Spiritual Root our Chen Family has seen in decades. If he’s sent to Huangsha Sect, what future does our Chen Family have? Moreover, Huangsha Sect is not a righteous Sect; if Changsheng enters, wouldn’t it be…”
“Fourth Brother, it’s precisely because Changsheng has good Aptitude that he must be sent to Huangsha Sect! You know the current situation of our Chen Family—the Spiritual Fields are deteriorating, and the decline of Jade Spring Lake’s water level is worsening. Now the Family is operating at a deficit; if we don’t send Changsheng to Huangsha Sect for cultivation, the Chen Family will be even closer to extinction!”
“You are short-sighted! If he goes to Huangsha Sect, unless he Cultivates to Purple Mansion, Changsheng cannot return to the Family!”
“That’s still better than waiting for death! With Changsheng’s Aptitude, if he’s sent to Huangsha Sect, reaching Purple Mansion in the future might not be impossible!”
Seventh Uncle Chen Tongzhen sat at the head, with Fourth Uncle Chen Chenshui and Sixth Uncle Chen Chenren below him.
The latter two were currently arguing.
Chen Chenshui was responsible for assisting with Family affairs, while Chen Chenren managed the Spiritual Fields and was the Family’s only Alchemist.
As for Seventh Uncle, he was the Clan Chief, overseeing the entire situation, and also the only Qi Refining Ninth Layer Cultivator in the Clan.
“Seventh Uncle, Fourth Uncle, Sixth Uncle.”
“Changsheng is here, have a seat.”
Chen Tongzhen smiled and greeted him upon seeing him.
Chen Chenshui and Chen Chenren also stopped arguing and nodded at him.
As the second in seniority among the Chang generation, although Chen Changsheng could not perform Alchemy, he had considerable Aptitude in Cultivation, possessing both Metal and Wood Spiritual Roots, making him the Immortal Seed with the best Spiritual Root in the Family for decades.
Even within the talent-rich Huangsha Sect, his Aptitude was considered very good.
It could be said that given the Family’s current situation, he was almost the future hope and was cultivated as a core member.
Of course, to protect Chen Changsheng, it was always publicly claimed that he had a three-Spiritual Root Aptitude.
“Changsheng, since you are here, whether to go to Huangsha Sect or not, you make the decision yourself.”
Chen Tongzhen stroked his graying beard, looking at Chen Changsheng kindly.
“From the Family’s perspective, I, Seventh Uncle, hope you stay in the Clan. However, the current situation of the Clan is indeed not optimistic, and resources are limited. I also don’t want to just watch the good sprouts in the Clan lack sufficient soil for growth.”
“After all, from a personal perspective, going to Huangsha Sect would offer a broader future, but whether you go or stay, I, Seventh Uncle, will support you.”
Seeing the Clan Chief speak, Chen Chenshui and Chen Chenren also looked over, wanting to see what choice he would make.
“Seventh Uncle, I choose to stay in the Clan.”
Chen Changsheng did not hesitate at all.
While going to Huangsha Sect would indeed offer better resources and certain advantages, the competition would also be equally fierce. After all, a Sect is not like a Family; there is no kinship to speak of.
Moreover, given the Family’s current situation, if he were to leave, there would be almost no future for them.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call him an ungrateful wretch.
One must know that the Family had poured all its efforts into him. Ever since his dual Spiritual Roots were detected, they had cultivated him almost to their utmost ability.
Among the three Cultivators of the ‘Chang’ generation, he alone occupied more resources than the other two combined. What his peers had, he had; what his peers didn’t have, he also had.
As long as the Family had it, he could almost take it freely, and his elders were very caring towards him.
Furthermore, with the Family having invested so much in him, they even considered his future, whether he should go to Huangsha Sect.
If he just nodded, the Clan would send him there, showing how much he, Chen Changsheng, was favored.
Under such circumstances, how could he possibly go to Huangsha Sect?
Of course, he also lived up to their expectations. Since his Spiritual Root was detected at 14, in just two years, he had already Cultivated to Qi Refining Fifth Layer.
He was only one step away from the Qi Refining Sixth Layer.
“Good!”
Upon hearing this answer, Chen Tongzhen nodded repeatedly with satisfaction.
Fourth Uncle Chen Chenshui and Sixth Uncle Chen Chenren, seeing his choice, also stopped arguing.
After all, their original intention was also for Chen Changsheng’s well-being.
Chen Tongzhen spoke again: “Since you, Changsheng, choose to stay in the Clan, then from today onwards, I, the Clan Chief, officially announce that you, Changsheng, are the Young Clan Leader of our Chen Family, the future Family Head of the Chen Family!”
“All Clan income, thirty percent, no! Forty percent, will all be provided to you as Cultivation resources, to Cultivate you with full effort!”
At these words, even Chen Chenshui and Chen Chenren couldn’t help but be shocked.