"We're still short by over 1,400 spirit stones. The younger generation of the family must also contribute."
"Mid-stage Qi Refinement cultivators should contribute 15 spirit stones each, and early-stage Qi Refinement cultivators six each. With the 80 or so remaining family cultivators, we should be able to gather another 400 spirit stones."
"The remaining 1,000 spirit stones will need us to find ways to cover the deficit," said the Fifth Elder, Chen Qingwan, a high-grade first-tier artificer. She added, "I'll take on some crafting commissions, which can bring in several dozen spirit stones annually to help offset the deficit."
Elian felt a twinge of emotion. Setting aside the family stipend, earning even a few dozen spirit stones in a year was no small feat. For Chen Qingwan to do this, she would likely have to sacrifice her own cultivation time and devote most of her efforts to crafting.
The Fourth Elder, Chen Qingyuan, also nodded.
"I can take commissions to transplant spiritual herbs to contribute as well."
A grand-uncle of the Chang generation added, "Since Qingmeng failed his Foundation Establishment attempt, he can't just idle around. Once he recovers, he should craft some pills annually to help fill the gap."
The group exchanged ideas and came up with several ways to generate spirit stones, enough to cover the 1,000-stone deficit within a few years.
However, in the interim, everyone would need to tighten their belts, and family stipends would have to be suspended temporarily.
Seeing that the situation was largely resolved, the Third Elder breathed a sigh of relief and said, "To address the family deficit, we must also think of ways to generate more revenue."
"I believe Linghu Isle has potential. If we develop a few more acres of spirit fields on the island, we can grow more spirit rice and significantly increase our income."
"That's a great idea."
The others nodded, their eyes lighting up.
Linghu Isle was a remote location with a high-grade first-tier spiritual vein. Since it lacked many cultivators consuming the spiritual energy, the surplus could easily support several acres of spirit fields.
The excellent water quality of Linghu Isle, capable of sustaining spiritual fish, would likely also be highly suitable for cultivating spiritual herbs and rice.
Thinking of this, the Fifth Elder, Chen Qingwan, said, "With the death of the Fourteenth Grand-Uncle, Linghu Isle no longer has a late-stage Qi Refinement cultivator overseeing the formation. We'll need to dispatch someone at that level to guard it."
"Developing spirit fields will also require a spirit planter, and the Fourth Elder is already responsible for managing the 17 acres of spirit fields on Qingyuan Mountain."
As she spoke, her gaze naturally shifted to Elian, who seemed like an ideal candidate.
In the Chen family, apart from the Fourth Elder, who was a high-grade first-tier spirit planter, Elian was arguably the second-best in the role.
Among the many arts of cultivation, alchemy was the most coveted profession, followed by artifact crafting, formation mastery, and talisman making. Spirit planters were less in demand but incredibly rare.
Transplanting high-level spiritual roots required the expertise of high-level spirit planters, as survival was otherwise improbable.
Elian understood the importance of the cultivation arts. In truth, he had always wanted to learn alchemy.
However, alchemy required substantial resources to develop. Without spiritual herbs to practice with, no amount of theoretical knowledge could improve one's skills.
The Chen family's supply of spiritual herbs was limited and precious, making it unthinkable for them to let him practice on them. As a result, every harvest was entrusted to the Sixth Elder for refining.
With no opportunity for alchemy, Elian instead studied spirit planting under the Fourth Elder, hoping to deepen his understanding of herb properties and lay a foundation for future alchemy practice.
Unexpectedly, he displayed a natural talent for caring for spiritual herbs and had advanced to become a mid-grade first-tier spirit planter, an impressive achievement for someone his age.
With his late-stage Qi Refinement cultivation and spirit planting expertise, Elian naturally became the best candidate to develop the spirit fields on Linghu Isle.
Sure enough, the Third Elder looked at him and asked directly, "Elian, I didn't want to send you down the mountain."
"But with the family short on manpower and your ability to handle things independently, would you be willing to go to Linghu Isle?"
"Linghu Isle..."
Elian considered it. Linghu Isle's high-grade first-tier spiritual vein was sufficient to sustain his cultivation.
Moreover, its secluded and peaceful environment, coupled with the protection of its formations, made it an ideal location for practicing the Primordial Purple Qi. It was, indeed, a good choice.
With this in mind, he nodded. "I will."
Once it was decided that Elian would take charge of Linghu Isle, the family meeting gradually came to an end.
That night, Elian visited the residence of the Seventh Grand-Uncle, Chen Changqing, to check on him.
By then, Chen Changqing had regained consciousness but was visibly frail, his breath weak, and his complexion pale, clearly nearing the end of his life.
Seeing Elian, the elderly man, too weak to rise from his bed, beckoned him over with great effort.
Elian hurried to his side and took his hand, finding it cold to the touch.
The old man held his hand tightly, his gaze filled with a mixture of attachment to the world and quiet hope.
"Elian, I don't have much time left."
"I've saved 123 spirit stones over the years. I've already given 100 to the family. The remaining 23 stones…"
"Along with two talismans and a Greenleaf Sword, I leave them all to you."
Chen Changqing had exceptional talent as a dual-spiritual-root cultivator, reaching the ninth level of Qi Refinement by the age of 32, second only to the clan leader, Chen Changxuan, in his generation.
Unfortunately, his opportunities fell short. During the demonic beast chaos 60 years ago, the family lost two Foundation Establishment cultivators, and Chen Changqing suffered severe injuries, missing his chance at Foundation Establishment. His cultivation even regressed to the eighth level of Qi Refinement.
Afterward, he gave up cultivation entirely, dedicating himself to crafting talismans for the family and amassing significant earnings.
Last year, when the family purchased the Foundation Establishment Pill, Chen Changqing contributed 500 spirit stones, a significant sum.
Now, as his life neared its end and with no descendants possessing spiritual roots, he intended to leave his remaining resources to Elian.
"Grand-Uncle, how can I accept this…"
Elian tried to refuse, but Chen Changqing stopped him and continued.
"Elian, you've been exceptionally gifted since childhood."
"Perhaps one day you'll achieve immortality. Perhaps even as a rogue cultivator, you might go further."
"But I hope you'll stay with the family and contribute to its survival."
"If the family can't hold on..." The frail old man's voice trembled.
"Tens of thousands of Chen family mortals in Pingyang County will become fodder for demonic cultivators and beasts. They are our kin."
"Grand-Uncle…"
Elian, overwhelmed, took the jade box from Chen Changqing with tears welling in his eyes.
The elderly man truly loved the Chen family. He saw Elian as the family's hope and entrusted him with the mission of preserving the family's legacy, ensuring it endured through the ages.
As Elian accepted the jade box, the old man smiled faintly and peacefully passed away.
"Elian, remember the Chen family's motto."
"Everlasting Green, Mindful of Ancestors; Support and Revitalize the Clan, Ascend to Immortality."