Top-level Qi Luck: Leading My Clan to Cultivate

Chapter 56 The Dust Settles_1

Having returned to their small courtyard, mother and sister were overjoyed to learn of Lin Tianming's return to the family and rushed back to this humble home.

The family reunited for dinner, with only Lin Xingrong still away in Luoyun Market, a significant regret.

After dinner, mother and sister each went to their cultivation, leaving only Lin Shigong and Lin Tianming to sit in the courtyard for a casual chat.

'Grandfather, Fifteenth Grandfather asked me to tell you that at dawn tomorrow, we should go to the Elders' Council for a clan meeting, and he wants me to join as well,' Lin Tianming said.

Lin Shigong, sipping his Spiritual Tea with a calm expression, replied,

'I suspect it's to fulfill the promise of the three Minor Foundation Building Pills for you and to discuss the development of the family for the next few years, as well as external relations. The family has been silent for a long time now, and it's time to take a step forward.'

'With my twelfth brother and I successful in Foundation Establishment, the number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators in our family is no less than that of the Golden Horn Mountain Jin Family. Although there is a slight gap in cultivation, the Lin Family is not the same as before and naturally can no longer yield in every situation.'

'Golden Horn Mountain Jin Family!'

'Is the Jin Family very strong?' Lin Tianming asked immediately, his interest piqued.

'Grandfather, what is the actual strength of the five major families of the Luoyun Mountain Range like?' he inquired eagerly.

Seeing Lin Tianming's interest, Lin Shigong opened up to explain. Sooner or later, Tian Ming would have to deal with those families, and knowing both oneself and the enemy would ensure he would not be defeated. Understanding more would not be harmful.

'According to investigations, out of the five major families in the Luoyun Mountain Range, the Golden Horn Mountain Jin Family has four Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the open, but whether there are more in hiding is unknown. Moreover, a person of exceptional talent has emerged from the Jin Family, known as Jin Qishan, who is twenty-six, possesses Dual Spiritual Roots, and has already reached the Qi Refining Eighth Level—an innate prodigy.'"

'In addition, the Flying Eagle Mountain Sun Family has three Foundation Establishment Cultivators, while the Jiuhua Mountain Wu Family and Baiyun Mountain Luo Family each have two.'

'Currently, the Jin Family's strength is the strongest, and aside from the Sun Family, none of the other three can deal with them alone.'

'The Jin Family and the Sun Family have always been at odds with each other. Under the mutual restraint of the Jin and Sun families, our Lin Family and the other two have banded together for mutual warmth, allowing us to secure a foothold in the Luoyun Mountain Range. However, the taste of survival in such a narrow gap is truly stifling.'

As Lin Shigong said this, he shook his head with a helpless expression on his face.

Over two hundred years ago, the Lin Family was the strongest, monopolizing forty percent of the market profits. In just over a century, they had completely declined, and although they were not the weakest among the five major families, they were not much stronger.

'Grandfather, let's take it slowly. The family is getting stronger and stronger, and it's just a matter of time before we regain our past glory,' Lin Tianming comforted.

The younger generation of the Lin Family had shown excellent talent, including an individual with Dual Spiritual Roots and several with Three Spiritual Roots—a true gathering of exceptional talents.

After more than half an hour of casual conversation, Lin Tianming also gained a general understanding of the other four major families, including some key members, committing them firmly to memory.

The next day at dawn, Lin Tianming followed his grandfather to the Clan Elders' Assembly.

In the Council Hall of the Elders' Assembly, more than ten family members had already arrived, with Lin Shihua and Lin Shixin chatting among themselves.

Seeing Lin Shigong enter, everyone quickly stood up, and Lin Tianming greeted everyone politely.

Those attending the Clan Elders' Assembly were all the core strength of the Lin Family, mostly those with real power. Nearly everyone who could make it was there, save for those who were indispensable elsewhere.

Before long, two figures entered the Council Hall together; it was Lin Shikang and Lin Shilu arriving last.

The crowd stood up to greet them, and Lin Tianming also stepped forward to salute.

Seeing that almost everyone had arrived, Lin Shihua began to speak:

"Fellow clansmen, since everyone is here, let's begin the meeting. The main topics are the distribution of Foundation Establishment Pills and the future development of our clan, as well as our stance towards other families."

"Let's start with the distribution of the Minor Foundation Building Pills. Apart from the three promised to Tian Ming, there are six left. Feel free to speak your minds and let's come together to discuss a fair and just outcome."

Right then, the Hall Master of the Skill Transmission Hall, Lin Shigang, was the first to speak out:

"The remaining six Minor Foundation Building Pills should be allocated from among our clansmen. Whoever first reaches the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage can exchange it for eight thousand good deeds to establish their foundation as soon as possible and enhance the overall strength of the family. When facing the Jin Family, we'll have a stronger foundation!"

No sooner had these words been spoken than a clan member of the Xing generation began to object.

"With only six Minor Foundation Building Pills, the number is still small. Moreover, the clan has already expended a large amount of wealth in their production, depleting most of our funds accumulated over decades. The main ingredient, Hidden Spirit Grass, although we have transplanted dozens of plants, has a low survival rate, and we won't be able to use them to produce elixirs for a hundred years."

"Therefore, for the next hundred years, it will be very difficult for us to obtain spiritual objects that can aid in Foundation Establishment. For this reason, I suggest we keep two pills in reserve, to retain a glimmer of hope in times of crisis, allowing the family to recover as quickly as possible."

Many from the Xing generation supported this proposition, echoing their agreement.

The Council Hall immediately became lively, essentially dividing into two camps: the younger Qi Refinement Cultivators of the Xing generation and the older, yet-to-establish Foundation members of the Shi generation.

The Shi generation was no longer young. Apart from the four who had successfully established their foundation, including Lin Shiji who had failed in his attempt, there were only three others, all at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining. The youngest among them, Lin Shixin, was already over ninety years old, not more than two years younger than Lin Shigong, with hardly any potential left. Even with the aid of Minor Foundation Building Pills, the hope of establishing a foundation was very slim.

Lin Tianming sat silently behind his grandfather, and not only him, but none of the Lin Family Foundation Building Cultivators spoke up, nor did they openly express their stance.

An hour passed, and the two generations could still not reach a consensus.

Lin Shikang, who had been silent until then, communicated secretly with Lin Shilu and the other three, asking for their opinions. After all, the views of those in the Foundation Establishment Stage carried weight and were crucial in deciding major clan issues.

After a long deliberation, Lin Shilu, standing from the perspective of the family, found the words of the Xing generation more convincing. For the Shi generation, even with the aid of Minor Foundation Building Pills, the probability of successful Foundation Establishment was very low. It would be better to give the opportunity to the younger members to maximize the family's strength.

Not only did Lin Shilu think this way, but the other three Foundation Establishment Cultivators mostly felt the same. However, since Lin Shigong had managed to establish his foundation at an advanced age, there was a precedent. To directly cut off the hope of Lin Shixin and others seemed too harsh; after all, no one wanted to die.

After discussion among the few Foundation Establishment Cultivators, Lin Shikang stood up and said:

"Let's divide the six Minor Foundation Building Pills into three parts: one for the Shi generation, three for the Xing generation, and two for the Tian generation. Whichever clan member reaches the Great Perfection first can exchange for them."

As soon as this was stated, the previously bustling Council Hall fell silent as everyone pondered the suggestion.

At that moment, Lin Shixin gratefully looked towards Lin Shikang and the others, nodding his head in thanks. After all, they had still preserved the hope for those of his generation to establish their foundation; it was just a matter of whether they could seize the opportunity.

There was only so much in the way of resources; naturally, the most effective resources should be used for the clan members with the best talents.

After a quiet moment, lasting only about ten breaths, and seeing that there were no objections, Lin Shilu took out the three Minor Foundation Building Pills and handed them to Lin Tianming. The remaining six were entrusted to Lin Shixin for safekeeping, settling the distribution of the pills.

Lin Tianming secured the three Minor Foundation Building Pills into his storage bag. With these three elixirs, there was a good chance his parents could establish their foundation.