CHAPTER 138: CHAPTER 136: CLAN MEETING (PART 2)

Why did Zhouyang change the welfare offerings for Zhou Family cultivators from Spirit Stones to Contribution Points?

Was it because the Zhou Family’s finances were tight, and they couldn’t afford Spirit Stones?

Definitely not!

Even when he took over the Zhou Family years ago, the Spirit Stones on the family’s accounts were sufficient for disbursement.

Therefore, the reason he issued Clan Contribution Points was not to cheat others with empty promises, but to use Contribution Points to bind all the family cultivators, making them more reliant and loyal to the clan.

The more Contribution Points a Zhou Family cultivator holds, the less likely they are to betray the clan, because once they do, all the Contribution Points they’ve accumulated through hard work would become worthless.

Since Contribution Points can be transferred and inherited, when a Zhou Family cultivator inherits the accrued points from ancestors and parents across several generations, whether the points are many or few, it feels like a heavy burden, making them less willing to see the painstakingly accumulated legacy turn to waste.

However, Contribution Points shouldn’t just be issued without being reclaimed, nor should they merely act as a substitute for Spirit Stones; they should have more significant functions, such as exchanging for Foundation Establishment Pills.

Spirit Stones cannot buy Foundation Establishment Pills, at least not in the Boundless Desert Sea Cultivation Realm.

But Contribution Points from the Zhou Family can be exchanged for Foundation Establishment Pills.

When Zhou Family cultivators feel that the types of treasures available for exchange in the clan’s treasure vault with Contribution Points are not as diverse as those outside, they may distrust the effectiveness of Contribution Points and want to exchange them for Spirit Stones, which is natural.

But Zhouyang also knows that even if he actually listens to these suggestions, spending the family’s stored Spirit Stones to buy treasures from outside and filling the clan’s treasure vault for exchange, it’s only a temporary fix, unable to solve the actual problems.

Today, one clansman lacks this treasure and wants the clan to purchase it for him; tomorrow, another clansman lacks a different treasure and also wants the clan to purchase it for him. Wouldn’t that cause chaos?

Therefore, Zhouyang needs a fundamental solution, a plan that all clan members would willingly accept and support.

Currently, the Foundation Establishment Pill is the best means he has thought of.

An ordinary person may work tirelessly and save diligently for half a lifetime just to exchange for their own house.

Let alone a Ninth-Layer Qi Cultivation cultivator, willing to pay any price to obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill.

The attraction of Foundation Establishment Pills to Ninth-Layer Qi Cultivation cultivators is undoubtedly tenfold, a hundredfold more than the attraction of a house to ordinary people.

A house represents status and wealth, but what the Foundation Establishment Pill represents goes beyond these, adding power and life.

So when Zhouyang brought out the Foundation Establishment Pill as a powerful incentive, the small faults of Contribution Points not being able to exchange for certain things were immediately selectively ignored by those Zhou Family Ninth-Layer Qi Cultivators.

Why exchange for other things if Contribution Points can be exchanged for Foundation Establishment Pills?

As for the proposal to open the option of exchanging Contribution Points for Spirit Stones, this suggestion became a non-issue immediately after Zhouyang announced that Foundation Establishment Pills could be exchanged with Contribution Points.

Now, anyone who wants to exchange Contribution Points for Spirit Stones doesn’t need to do so with the clan; once they speak up, many family cultivators would be willing to exchange with Spirit Stones.

If loyalty could be displayed as data, once Zhouyang announced this news, a large chunk of loyalty +15 data would definitely float above the heads of those Zhou Family Ninth-Layer Qi Cultivators present.

"Alright, I’ve finished speaking. If there’s no objection, I’ll start discussing the next topic."

Zhouyang looked at the eyes heated with enthusiasm from everyone present and smiled with pride in his heart.

Opposition is impossible; whoever dares to oppose the use of Contribution Points to exchange for Foundation Establishment Pills would be the enemy of all the Zhou Family Ninth-Layer Qi Cultivators.

So, Zhouyang quickly moved on to his next topic.

"Through this demon chaos, I’ve discovered significant issues and risks in the division of duties within the family, so I intend to reform and optimize the personnel distribution of the family."

"In the past, various clan elders were in charge of different family affairs, which can’t be called wrong, but when encountering emergencies like this demon chaos where clan elders need to fight on the frontline, if the elder in charge can’t hand over their duties in time, the temporary successor would find themselves unfit for the new task, causing everything to be a mess."

"Moreover, to be honest, being able to become a clan elder, or even for me as Clan Leader, only indicates their cultivation talent surpasses others, but it doesn’t mean their management and strategizing abilities are superior to others. Previously, when we let clan elders and seniors have authority to manage various family affairs, it was more for their prestige and strength than their abilities."

"If our Zhou Family were still a small clan with only dozens of people, where all major family decisions relied solely on the Clan Leader, despite its many shortcomings, such a system could still function."

"But let’s think carefully, with the current growth rate of cultivators in our Zhou Family, when the number of clan cultivators reaches hundreds or even thousands, can this patriarch-centered system still manage effectively?"

As Zhouyang spoke, he scanned the faces of the various Zhou Family Elders, especially the Third Elder Xuan Lin who had previously embarrassed himself during the financial report. Then, in a serious tone, he said, "I can tell you all with certainty, it absolutely cannot be managed!"

"Therefore, we need to reform this system. We should establish dedicated family stewards to manage specific affairs, emulating major sects and families like the Yellow Sand Sect and the Chen Family. Then, the Clan Leader, Supreme Elders, and Elders will monitor these affairs."

"Currently, our Zhou Family has various places such as mines, medicinal gardens, spirit fields, beast gardens, classrooms, shops, and convoys that all require people to manage and station for long terms. According to my plans, these places will have a family steward and deputy steward assigned for long-term management. The clan will annually provide contribution point subsidies based on their positions and will assess and penalize negligent stewards."

"Candidates for stewards and deputy stewards can be appointed by the Clan Leader, self-recommended, or recommended to the Clan Leader by the Supreme Elders and Elders. Regardless of being stewards or deputy stewards, their status in the clan is not higher than ordinary clan members, nor do they have the authority to order others to handle non-work-related matters."

"Once stewards and deputy stewards accept their appointments, they can apply to the clan to dispatch other clan members for assistance based on the size of their management location and unit. Those clan members who have learned the Hundred Skills of Cultivation and require related venues for practice may also apply to the clan for internships at those venues under the supervision of the stewards and deputy stewards."

"As for important places like the Clan Treasure Vault, Scripture Cave, and Ministry Hall, in addition to the designated stewards and deputy stewards, clan elders need to take turns sitting and guarding while overseeing these affairs."

"Finally, don’t think that without becoming a steward or deputy steward, you can just stay on the Spirit Mountain and collect offerings without contributing. With the new system, those without roles will all become combat personnel, and for any matter involving magical combat, you will be the priority candidates."

Silence!

A moment of silence!

As Zhouyang finished speaking, the plaza outside the Zhou Family ancestral shrine fell into such silence that one could hear a pin drop.

Xuantai, Xuanbin, Xuanlin, and several Zhou Family elders, along with some elders of the ’Xuan’ generation, exchanged glances, their expressions turning unsightly.

No matter how well Zhouyang spoke, it couldn’t change the fact that he wanted to dismantle the power held by these elders and senior members.

Originally, as family elders, they had the authority to manage any aspects, like Xuanbin who managed personnel. If he were unavailable, Xuantai or Xuanlin could manage in his place.

But now, under Zhouyang’s recent proposals, all aspects are to be managed specifically by stewards and deputy stewards, leaving these elders with no reason or power to intervene, only a supervisory role.

Certainly, with several Foundation Establishment cultivators overseeing them, even if they held power, they would not dare to misuse it to harm the family’s interests.

However, without power, even if they wished to exploit it, it would be utterly impossible.

The distinction is huge between daring and wanting to exploit power and finding it impossible to do so!

As they remained silent, Zhouyang spoke again: "As the elders and seniors remain silent, I assume you don’t know what to say, so let me speak on your behalf."

"While my decision appears to be dividing your power, think carefully. If the family doesn’t grow and strengthen, even if you wield power, even if you dare to exploit it, with the family’s current scale, how confident are you that your actions will go unnoticed? And how much family wealth can you realistically embezzle for your own use through such exploitation?"

"Let me do some calculations for you. With your Ninth-Layer Qi Cultivation level, if you don’t have responsibilities, you could venture out to hunt demon beasts and seek spiritual objects or use your learned Hundred Skills of Cultivation to craft and sell treasures for spirit stones. Wouldn’t this be more profitable than being confined within the clan and scheming to embezzle a portion of the family public assets for personal gain?"

This statement unsettled the elders.

Zhouyang had already brought his point to this extent, and with the old Clan Leader Zhou Minghan smiling but remaining silent, if they continued their silence, even if they hadn’t engaged in the exploitation of power before, they might be perceived by other clan members as guilty of such behavior!

Immediately, Zhou Xuantai, the Grand Elder of the family, stood up and spoke: "Clan Leader, your wisdom is evident; our silence does not stem from a reluctance to relinquish power but from concerns about the current manpower shortage. If we relinquish power now, it may not achieve the Clan Leader’s desired outcome and may even exacerbate the situation."

"Second Uncle’s words hold truth. Therefore, I have discussed with Great-Grandfather about a twenty-year transitional period. During these twenty years, we will continue to use the old system while allowing young clan members interested in becoming stewards and deputy stewards to learn from the elders and seniors. Concurrently, we will enhance the teaching of related knowledge to the younger cultivators. After twenty years, the new family system will completely replace the old one!"

Zhouyang smiled faintly, seemingly expecting this response, and immediately presented his prepared solution.

This solution brought a sense of relief to Xuantai and the other elders.

A twenty-year transitional period is not short. After twenty years, half of the present ’Xuan’ generation cultivators will likely have passed away; who will care about the future management of the family elder council then?

Thus, the elders exchanged glances and then together clasped their hands in salute, saying, "Clan Leader, your vision is clear; we have no objections."

"All right, then we’ve set this matter. Let’s move on to the next topic of discussion regarding the adjustment of the childbirth subsidy fund amount and..."