CHAPTER 288: CHAPTER 275: ZHOUYANG’S DECISION

Please reconsider, Clan Leader!

Zhouyang looked at the large group of people kneeling on the ground within the council hall, and his expression slightly changed, his eyes full of heavy concerns.

The wrath of the people is hard to defy!

Even if he is the Clan Leader of the Zhou Clan, even if he is a Purple Mansion Stage cultivator, he cannot completely ignore the emotions of all the clan members and make decisions that they absolutely cannot accept.

He can change the ancestral laws, he can change the ancestral systems, because cultivators are not that concerned about these, at least not compared to their own fundamental interests.

Moreover, those reforms ultimately benefit all the Zhou Family cultivators, so naturally, there isn’t much opposition.

However, when it comes to the fundamental interests surrounding the "Foundation Establishment Pill," even if he is a Purple Mansion Stage cultivator, even if he is the Clan Leader, those Zhou Family cultivators who have not yet established their foundation would fight to the death.

For they are fighting not only for their own interests but also for the interests of their descendants.

Just as Zhou Yuanliang said, if outsiders with outstanding talents can obtain the Foundation Establishment Pill from the Zhou Clan, what would be the point of the family contribution points they have worked hard to accumulate?

If their descendants cannot obtain the Foundation Establishment Pill just because their spirit root talent is inferior to outsiders, why should they even have descendants?

Of course, these people do not know that Zhouyang still has four demon pills that can be refined into Foundation Establishment Pills.

But Zhouyang understands that even if he reveals this now, no one among the enthusiastic clan members would yield.

Because, relative to the population of the Zhou Family, a dozen or so Foundation Establishment Pills are still far from enough!

So, after pondering for a while, he waved his hand and said, "Fellow clan members, please rise. The clan meeting is precisely for gathering everyone to discuss significant family matters. Since all fellow clan members feel that this matter is not feasible for now, let’s put it aside for the moment!"

Upon hearing Zhouyang’s words, Tan Qiu’s face slightly changed, and then his eyes dimmed, feeling utterly disappointed in his heart.

He had thought that the usually open-minded Clan Leader would understand his painstaking efforts, but it seems he had expected too much.

Indeed, a cultivator born and raised in the family, one who has enjoyed the benefits of the family since childhood, how could they betray their family to speak for outsiders!

"This time, my proposal has angered so many people, probably my position as Foreign Affairs Elder will be revoked too!"

"But if it’s revoked, so be it! Anyway, I don’t have many years left, and Hong’Er and others have the inheritance from Yuan Chun and me, which is enough for their lifetime!"

Feeling despondent, he mused over these thoughts with a melancholic and dejected expression on his face.

Of course, at this time, apart from Zhouyang, no one noticed these things.

The Zhou Clan members kneeling and pleading were relieved after hearing Zhouyang’s words, loudly exclaiming "Long live the Clan Leader" as they stood and returned to their seats.

These individuals, including Tan Qiu himself, failed to notice the words "not feasible for now" from Zhouyang’s mouth.

Only Zhou Xuanhao and Zhou Guangxiang, their eyes flashing with a strange light, looked at Zhouyang without speaking.

Both of them, along with Zhouyang, are, of course, aligned in thought: whatever decision Zhouyang makes, as his father and ardent admirers, they would choose to support him.

However, as fellow members of the Zhou Clan, even though they have already succeeded in Foundation Establishment, they still lean towards their clan brethren, hoping not to see Zhouyang opposed by all clan cultivators over the Foundation Establishment Pill issue.

So, though they remained silent on the surface after discerning the deeper meaning of Zhouyang’s words, they contemplated discussing the matter with him after the meeting concluded.

Just then, Zhouyang spoke again.

"However, even though the Foundation Establishment Pill cannot be handed over to outsiders, recruiting outstanding talent from the outside is something we must persist in. I wholeheartedly agree with Elder Tan’s previous statements; the family can indeed allocate a portion of our savings to set up a special assistance fund to support those honored guest elders who truly have talent. Furthermore, when seeking suitors for the female cultivators in the family, priority can be given to these individuals!"

Upon hearing Zhouyang’s words, Tan Qiu couldn’t help but raise his head, his dim eyes showing a glimmer of delight.

He had thought that after Zhouyang’s earlier remarks, his proposals would be completely rejected, but unexpectedly, a part was retained, proving that his painstaking efforts were not in vain.

As for the Zhou Family cultivators who previously opposed, such as the steward elders Zhou Yuanpeng, Zhou Yuanchang, Zhou Yuanliang, while they frowned slightly after hearing Zhouyang’s words, none of them came forward to oppose again.

In all fairness, Tan Qiu’s proposal is indeed beneficial for the Zhou Family, and opposing it would be without sound reason.

Moreover, one must not be overly greedy.

Zhouyang had just made concessions, and if they continued to oppose for the sake of opposing, it would truly disregard the authority of the Clan Leader and the Purple Mansion Stage Cultivator.

"Alright, since everyone has no objections, this matter is settled."

Zhouyang nodded and immediately decided on the matter.

Then he shifted his gaze to the Finance Elder Zhou Guangyun and said:

"Guangyun, make a record now. Starting tomorrow, any Zhou Family offspring born with a Low-grade Spiritual Root will receive 20 Low-grade Spirit Stones per year, starting from birth until the age of thirty. If they are born with a Middle-grade Spiritual Root, the annual subsidy increases to 40 Low-grade Spirit Stones. For a Top-grade Spiritual Root, it’s 100 Spirit Stones per year!"

"Moreover, any Zhou Family Cultivator who produces more than three Spiritual Root Cultivator offspring will be rewarded with 1000 Special Contribution Points, gaining an additional 1000 Special Contribution Points for each subsequent group of three, with no upper limit!"

Ten thousand Special Contribution Points can be exchanged for one Foundation Establishment Pill, according to Zhouyang’s original statement.

Now, having three Spiritual Root offspring earns a reward of one thousand Special Contribution Points. It’s undeniably generous.

When Zhouyang uttered these words, a fervent look appeared in the eyes of many young Zhou Family cultivators.

Compared to older cultivators, these young ones are undoubtedly less wealthy, and many profitable contribution point tasks and duties in the clan are occupied by those with higher cultivation and seniority.

This is the case for regular contribution points, and even more so for special contribution points.

Although Zhouyang mentioned many ways to earn special contribution points, which among them doesn’t require at least Late-Stage Qi Cultivation to even attempt?

Even for Middle-grade Spiritual Root Cultivators, reaching Late-Stage Qi Cultivation might take until they’re thirty or forty years old, which is hardly acceptable for some younger cultivators.

However, things are different now. With Zhouyang’s newly established rule, they can completely earn Special Contribution Points through offspring, while also garnering substantial Spirit Stone subsidies, effectively achieving two goals at once.

In this aspect, their youthful vitality is far more beneficial than that of the older cultivators!

Seeing the fervent gleam in the eyes of these young cultivators, Zhouyang realized that the Zhou Family would soon experience a surge of newborns.

"Why do I feel like I’ve become a head of a birthing campaign office?"

He chuckled inwardly and shook his head without dwelling further, simply watching Zhou Guangyun, the Finance Elder, who had noted down his previous remarks, say: "Alright, the discussion on population development will halt here for now. Guangyun, please report on the financial income and expenditure situation of the clan, and clarify the sources of income and expenditure so that all clan members have a clear understanding."

The family’s financial situation has always been the focus of all cultivators’ concerns. Hearing Zhouyang speak on this topic, all Zhou Family cultivators perked their ears and widened their eyes, looking at the Finance Elder Zhou Guangyun.

This clan meeting is the first meeting involving all clan members since the Zhou Family’s ascension to Purple Mansion Clan status.

Many are eager to know how life has improved since achieving Purple Mansion Clan status.

"Regarding the clan’s financial sources, Clan Leader, they mainly come from the following aspects."

"The first aspect comes from the output of Spirit Fields on various Spirit Mountains. The clan currently possesses one Tier Four Spirit Mountain, seven Tier Three Spirit Mountains, fourteen Tier Two Top-Grade Spirit Mountains, seven Tier Two Middle-Grade Spirit Mountains, and five Tier Two Lower-Grade Spirit Mountains, which altogether amounts to 2,486 acres of Spirit Fields!"

"The Spirit Grain produced from these 2,486 acres, after deducting the family cultivators’ daily consumption, brings in a profit of fifteen thousand Low-grade Spirit Stones annually from the sale of Spirit Grain!"

"The second aspect comes from the output of mining sites. The clan presently has one large Red Flame Iron Ore vein, one medium-sized Refined Iron Ore, one medium-sized Wutie Ore, one medium-sized Red Brilliance Stone Ore vein, one small-sized Refined Iron Ore, one small-sized Purple Copper Ore, one small-sized Red Gold Ore, one small-sized Yellow Rock Jade Ore, one small-sized Light Jade Ore, one small-sized Spirit Jade Ore, and one micro-sized Misty Jade Ore!"

"The extraction of these ore veins has commenced, though some veins are still ramping up production due to initial setup. Nevertheless, the mining sites provide the family with profits exceeding twenty-three thousand Low-grade Spirit Stones annually!"

"The third aspect is derived from the output of the Spirit Beast Garden, Spirit Medicine Garden, and Spirit Fruit Garden. The clan currently has ten Tier Two Top-Grade Spirit Beasts known as Flying Fire Bats, eight Tier Two Top-Grade Demon Beasts Golden Rock Sheep, twenty-six Tier Two Top-Grade Spirit Beasts Flame-devouring Spiders, a hundred and forty-two Tier One Top-Grade Spirit Beasts Shatuo Beasts, forty-six Tier One Top-Grade Spirit Beasts Fire Rabbits, four hundred and seventy-six Tier One Middle-Grade Demon Beasts Red Fire Chickens."

"Additionally, the clan now totals over five hundred and thirty acres in the Spirit Medicine Garden and over seven hundred and ten acres in the Spirit Fruit Garden. Though most of the yield from Spirit Beast Garden, Spirit Medicine Garden, and Spirit Fruit Garden is consumed internally, the annual profit from sales exceeds five thousand Low-grade Spirit Stones!"

"The fourth aspect originates from the marketplace shops. This is currently hard to quantify as Liuyun Square has been operational for less than a year, and our stores in Ping’an Marketplace have long since closed. If required to guess, I predict that within five years, the Zhou Family will earn at least twenty thousand Spirit Stones annually from the marketplace shops!"

"The fifth aspect stems from tributes by vassal clans. Currently, there are five Foundation Establishment cultivators subservient to the Zhou Family, as well as Huang Yi’s Huang Family and the Dong Family at Red Fox Ridge. According to the terms given to vassal cultivators, such as Ma Shaoyang, thirty percent of their Spirit Mountain’s output will be tributed to the Zhou Family, this revenue is estimated to reach five thousand Spirit Stones per year!"