CHAPTER 290: CHAPTER 277: SECRET MANEUVERING

"Elder Tan, please come to my cave dwelling tonight."

Outside the Zhou Family Council Hall, Tan Qiu walked out with mixed emotions. As he was about to return to his cave dwelling, Zhouyang’s voice suddenly echoed in his mind.

Upon hearing the voice, he was slightly startled, then quickly responded in his mind, "As the Clan Leader commands."

After responding, his mood suddenly improved significantly.

Initially, he thought someone would propose removing him as the Foreign Affairs Elder during the family council meeting, and Zhouyang would agree to it.

Unexpectedly, due to Zhouyang’s three decisions, everyone was immersed in great joy, rendering them to forget this matter.

Of course, although no one mentioned removing him as the Foreign Affairs Elder, because of his previous proposal, since he walked out of the council hall, not a single Zhou Family Cultivator was willing to greet him.

Many Zhou Family Cultivators even looked at him with vigilance and disgust, regarding him as a treacherous villain intending to undermine the Zhou family’s legacy.

Even some Zhou Family Cultivators who previously had good relations with him walked past coldly without the slightest intention of acknowledging him.

Moreover, even his son and daughter, two cultivator descendants, lingered in the council hall on purpose, unwilling to exit with him, fearing criticism.

Human relationships grow cold; nothing surpasses this.

Realizing this, Tan Qiu’s feelings were understandably complex.

However, with Zhouyang’s voice echoing in his ears, his mood improved significantly.

No matter how others view him, clearly Zhouyang does not regard him as an enemy because of his words.

The address "Elder Tan" from Zhouyang was the best indication.

That night, Tan Qiu came quietly as instructed by Zhouyang to pay respects outside Zhouyang’s cultivation "Qianyang Cave."

Upon being permitted to enter the cave dwelling, he found not only Zhouyang but also Zhou Xuanhao and Zhou Guangxiang, two Foundation Establishment Cultivators from the family.

"Please have a seat, Elder Tan."

After Tan Qiu performed the ceremonial greeting, Zhouyang gestured for him to sit down at the lower seat.

"Thank you, Clan Leader, for granting a seat."

Tan Qiu respectfully offered a salute and sat at the lowest seat, upright and attentive, waiting for Zhouyang to explain the purpose of summoning him.

"Elder Tan’s proposal during the day was very good, but the timing was wrong. Although the Zhou Family is now much stronger than before, everyone has not fully adapted to the Zhou Family’s changes, and the family’s development has not reached a bottleneck that requires external power to propel progress!"

Zhouyang looked at Tan Qiu, first acknowledging his suggestion during the family meeting, then pointing out its inappropriate timing.

Upon hearing this, Tan Qiu was filled with joy.

Zhouyang’s words revealed that this Clan Leader, who holds the family’s power, indeed agreed with and affirmed his daytime proposal.

Immediately, he quickly cupped his hands and said, "The Clan Leader’s advice is correct. After returning to my cave dwelling during the day and reflecting on it carefully, I also found inappropriate aspects. The suggestion at that time was indeed my overzealous haste!"

Seeing this, Zhouyang nodded slightly and said, "Although somewhat untimely, your suggestion is indeed a good one, which is why I summoned you here. Now, as there are no outsiders, you can elaborate your plan in detail."

"Since it’s the Clan Leader’s request, I’ll explain my original thoughts."

"According to my initial idea, to attract loose cultivators with Foundation Establishment Pills, they should either have at least Top-grade Spiritual Root talent, a stable foundation, and be under thirty years old."

"Or they should possess Middle-grade Spiritual Roots and exhibit extraordinary talent in the arts of alchemy, artifact refining, talisman making, and array formations, being able to refine Tier Two Middle-grade Elixirs or Artifacts, or demonstrate much higher success rates in crafting Spirit Talismans and Arrays compared to normal peers."

Tan Qiu looked at Zhouyang, his expression complex as he revealed his thoughts.

He was not unaware that attracting outsiders with Foundation Establishment Pills would provoke dissatisfaction among Zhou Family Cultivators.

Yet he thought, under such stringent conditions, even if they could find someone suitable to attract to the Zhou Family, the number would surely be few, possibly only a few individuals in a hundred years.

Thus, considering the long-term development of the Zhou Family, some foresighted Zhou Clan Members should not react too strongly.

But reality had shown him that his thoughts were utterly wrong!

When it comes to matters of personal interest, even those longstanding Deacon Elders, whom he thought had keen insight, behaved foolishly like impulsive radicals, opposing him fiercely.

This was a situation he never anticipated.

Of course, afterward, when he returned to the cave abode, he sat down, calmly thinking it through, and also understood the root of the others’ opposition.

But understanding it afterward couldn’t change the result anymore; he could only take this as a lesson and swallow this bitter fruit himself.

And Zhouyang, after hearing his thoughts, nodded repeatedly and said, "A very good idea. If those people can truly meet the conditions you mentioned, it’s indeed worth a Foundation Establishment Pill!"

Even Zhou Xuanhao and Zhou Guangxiang, who had been watching their exchange, nodded slightly at this moment, showing approval on their faces.

Having an Upper Grade Spiritual Root Cultivator consume a Foundation Establishment Pill is almost equivalent to gaining another Foundation Establishment Cultivator for the clan, which is far more reliable than giving the pill to Middle-grade Spiritual Root Cultivators.

Moreover, once an Upper Grade Spiritual Root Cultivator successfully establishes their foundation, they have the opportunity to challenge the Purple Mansion, something many Middle-grade Spiritual Root Foundation Establishment Cultivators cannot achieve.

As for those who demonstrate extraordinary talent in the Hundred Skills of Cultivation, their value is even greater.

If such individuals are nurtured to the Foundation Establishment stage, the value they create in their lifetime will be tens or even hundreds of times the value of a Foundation Establishment Pill!

It is known that in the Hundred Skills of Cultivation, aside from Talisman Making, whether Alchemists, Artifact Refiners, or Array Masters, there are geniuses who have set precedents for refining Tier Four Spirit Pills, Magical Artifacts, and arranging Tier Four Arrays during the Foundation Establishment phase.

For example, the Yellow Sand Sect’s only Tier Four Alchemist is currently a Ninth-Layer Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

The Zhou Family once had a Grand Elder Zhou Guangqian, who refined the Tier Three Lower Grade Array "Earth and Metal Spear Array" with Qi Cultivation Great Perfection cultivation.

"How about this, you, the Foreign Affairs Elder, if you really find such a good seedling, can still report it here. Then, I will personally verify the authenticity of the matter. If there truly is such a good seedling willing to serve the Zhou Family, I can sponsor them with a Foundation Establishment Pill without using the clan’s inventory!"

Zhouyang looked at Tan Qiu, pondering slightly before finally revealing the real reason he called him over.

With his two lifetimes’ experience, he understood better than anyone the drawbacks of "closing the country to the outside world".

The examples from his past life were there, where the seemingly robust and powerful giant was quickly devoured by a group of robbers due to its isolation.

And one of those robbers, continuously absorbing outstanding talents from around the world, quickly became the new generation giant.

The principle applies to both nation-state and family.

If a great nation can operate in this way, why would a clan be an exception?

For the Zhou Family to maintain its strength, not only does it need high-tier cultivators like him to suppress the clan’s fortune, but it also needs a steady emergence of excellent heirs.

The best heirs would carry the bloodline of the Zhou Family, and even if they lack the Zhou Family bloodline, as long as he, the most powerful cultivator of the Zhou Family, remains, no heir would ever dare to turn the tables!

In the world of cultivators, no conspiracy can compare to absolute strength. Against absolute cultivation strength, all conspiracies and schemes are just paper tigers, breakable with a single strike.

Zhouyang confidently believed that as long as he lived, those outsiders in the Zhou Family service could never usurp authority from within, forcing the Family into submission.

As for what would happen if he died, if that day truly comes, even without outsiders’ interference, Zhou Family lacking qualified successors would inevitably decline and vanish!

"Is the Clan Leader speaking truly?"

Tan Qiu looked at Zhouyang with a face full of delight, almost doubting what he had heard.

Seeing this, Zhouyang couldn’t help but look at him with displeasure and retort, "Why? Do you think I, a dignified Purple Mansion Cultivator, the head of the clan, would deceive you? Or do you think I cannot produce a mere few Foundation Establishment Pills?"

"Tan Qiu is fearful, please forgive me, Clan Leader, Tan Qiu absolutely did not mean such!" Tan Qiu hurriedly bowed to apologize, full of joy on his face.

This is truly "the end of the road, and beyond doubt, a sudden bright prospect emerges."

Beforehand, he never expected Zhouyang to deny his proposal at the clan meeting, but now privately call him over to affirm it.

While he was rejoicing, Zhouyang sternly looked at him and warned, "However, you must remember that this matter must be kept strictly confidential. Apart from the four of us present today, it must not be disclosed to a fifth person, otherwise, if it leaks, I won’t acknowledge it!"

Upon hearing this, he promptly assured, "Please rest assured, Clan Leader, Tan Qiu understands the significance here and will definitely not let anyone else know about this matter!"

Seeing his earnest attitude, Zhouyang nodded with satisfaction, "It’s good that you understand. Currently, other clan members have some opinions of you; don’t mind them. You can take this opportunity to go out, relieve yourself, and scout for news regarding this matter. If there are any discoveries, feel free to contact me and Guangxiang."

Tan Qiu realized that Zhouyang’s words meant he wanted him to make concessions and leave to avoid the trouble.

Among the seven deacon elders of the clan, he, the Foreign Affairs Elder, was the least occupied usually, even if he left the clan for a while, it wouldn’t hinder the clan’s operations.

Having received Zhouyang’s private promise, his earlier frustration almost dissipated entirely. Naturally, at this moment, he had no reason to oppose Zhouyang’s decision.

Immediately, he respectfully replied, "Your subordinate understands, and will leave the mountain overnight!"