Chapter 147: Chen Family Elder

With the desolate Huajian Mountain now under their control, the Li family's artisans and laborers, who had been idle for years, finally found their purpose. Surplus populations from various towns also found new directions, and vitality surged. Large numbers of craftsmen poured into the foot of the ruined Huajian Mountain, eager to begin construction.

The entire Qingwu ore vein fell into the Li family's territory. They continued to use the array disks left by the Lu family, but without the chaotic interference of the Lu family's cultivators, there was no longer a need to support a group of idle pleasure-seekers at the mine, significantly improving efficiency.

The Lu family had neglected the common people, leading to many tragic scenes in the villages below Huajian Mountain. News of this deeply moved the residents of various towns. The local opera troupe selected a few examples and adapted them into songs, filling the theater to capacity. Even Li Xuanxuan secretly attended half a performance, leaving with a smile and a shake of his head.

This comparison made the previously tiresome prosperous lives of the four town residents feel vibrant and appealing again. With wages in their pockets, men spoke with newfound confidence, and all industries flourished. Everything was progressing positively.

The two mountain territories now boasted over one hundred thousand town residents, with over a thousand infants born annually. One or two individuals with spiritual apertures could be identified among them, though most had moderate talent, not comparable to the Li family's bloodline, which had absorbed individuals with spiritual apertures for decades. Most of them integrated into the Li family and were sent to various towns to manage spirit fields.

Freshly fallen snow blanketed the entire mountain. Li Xuanxuan, beaming with joy, carried a bag of spirit rice up the mountain and quickly entered the courtyard. Once Li Tongya finished drawing the talisman in his hand, Li Xuanxuan approached him with a smile and respectfully announced:

"Uncle, this is the first batch of Yellow Jade Spirit Rice for this year. We produced seventy catties in total."

Yellow Jade Spirit Rice was a new tribute added after the Li family became a Qi Cultivation family. Its price was four to five times that of ordinary spirit rice, and it was much more troublesome to cultivate. It required frequent spirit rain and regular clearing of earth veins. A cultivator at the first layer of Embryonic Respiration, the Profound View Wheel, would need five or six others to manage a single spirit field, while only a cultivator at the fifth layer, the Jade Capital Wheel, could cultivate it alone.

"Excellent."

Li Tongya nodded, took the bag, and observed the spirit rice, which glowed yellow and translucent like jade, brimming with spiritual energy. He couldn't help but smile:

"As expected of cultivation resources for Qi Cultivation cultivators, the spiritual energy is truly abundant."

"Currently, our Li family must submit three hundred catties of Yellow Jade Spirit Rice and two thousand catties of ordinary spirit rice every five years. Miscellaneous supplementary materials for alchemy are easier; we can assign lower-level Embryonic Respiration cultivators to grow them. But these two types of spirit rice, you must manage them well!"

"Rest assured, Uncle!"

Li Xuanxuan cupped his hands and said gravely:

"Now that we have Huajian Mountain, I've already dispatched people to cultivate. Our Li family can now produce four hundred and fifty catties of Yellow Jade Spirit Rice and over three thousand catties of ordinary spirit rice every five years, which is more than enough."

Li Tongya took out another talisman paper, pondered for a few moments, and replied:

"Just one thing to note: try to have cultivators with weaker talents and lower cultivation levels from the Embryonic Respiration stage collectively plant this spirit rice. Don't let cultivators at the Jade Capital Wheel stage spend time on cultivation anymore; instead, have them learn talisman techniques... or strive to break through to Qi Cultivation. You must carefully manage this balance, ensuring people don't feel it's too unfair, yet also not making it too egalitarian."

"Your son understands."

Li Xuanxuan nodded and, turning slightly, whispered:

"I have managed the family for many years now. Cultivators with ordinary talent who use common Embryonic Respiration techniques will never break through to the Jade Capital stage in their lifetime. I know how to arrange things."

"Good."

Li Tongya put away the completed talisman and asked:

"Where is Feng'er?"

"He has already gone to the county with his savings to forge magic artifacts. He left three days ago and hasn't returned yet."

After Li Xuanxuan answered, Li Tongya smiled and said softly:

"Being in seclusion for so long must have stifled him. Let him enjoy himself for a bit."

Li Xuanxuan paused, then suddenly remembered something and whispered:

"Uncle, news has come from the Chen family. Old Man Chen Erniu passed away last night!"

Li Tongya froze slightly, the teacup he had just picked up not reaching his lips before he placed it back on the table. He sighed dejectedly and replied:

"It's inevitable... The old man was a pillar decades ago. He handled matters excellently, and his family was upright—truly rare. We also have marital ties with his family. You should come with me to pay our respects."

Seeing Li Xuanxuan nod, Li Tongya's expression grew complex, and he sighed softly. Unbeknownst to him, the older generation was dwindling: Li Mutian, Liu Linfeng, Li Chengfu, Chen Erniu... He was almost the most senior person left.

A biting cold wind swept down the mountain ridges into Lijing Town. White, abundant snowflakes flew directly into people's faces, making the playing children's cheeks red with cold, yet they continued to chatter excitedly.

"Cousin Pingyi, Uncle Xiewen is the town chief. Last month, most of the clan's cultivators went to Huajian Mountain. Did your father tell you what happened?"

This group of children, either from the Li or Ye families or their in-laws, clustered around the boy in the middle, dressed in cotton clothes, all craning their necks to look at him. Li Pingyi, in the center, glanced left and right at everyone and exclaimed:

"My father said! There are three villages below Huajian Mountain, with just over five thousand people. They've now received orders from the mountain to establish their own towns. The purpose of going there this time was to consolidate and survey the spirit fields."

Li Pingyi was indeed Li Xiewen's eldest legitimate son and Li Yesheng's legitimate grandson. He seemed quite sharp. With the Yuan generation not yet grown, and Li Yuanxiu being quiet and disliking activity, Li Pingyi had become the children's leader, much to his delight.

"Then this... Ah! It's someone from the Clan Affairs Office!"

The children wanted to ask more, but two squads of clan guards suddenly rushed out from both sides, trampling all the snow piles in the street. Upon seeing the children, someone turned back to report.

Instantly, the children screamed in fright and scattered. Li Pingyi, in the middle of the group, was pushed and shoved, tumbling to his knees with a thud, seeing stars. He mumbled:

"Don't run! Don't run! You've all been led astray by your fathers and uncles... Ouch, don't push! They're here for the lazy and tyrannical... We're just children, what's there to run from!"

Before Li Pingyi could finish speaking, the street was already clear of children. When Li Pingyi picked himself up, the street was empty. He looked at the pair of brown beast-hide boots that had appeared before him and, without thinking, cupped his hands and said:

"My father is Li Xiewen! May I ask who you are..."

To his surprise, there was complete silence around him, and the surrounding clan guards were struggling to suppress their laughter. Li Pingyi slowly raised his head and immediately met Li Xiewen's wide-eyed, furious expression. Startled, he pleaded:

"Father! How did you find me here!"

Li Xiewen glared at him, finding it greatly amusing inwardly, yet maintained a stern face and feigned anger as he scolded:

"Damn it! Using my name to do such things out here! I'll settle this with you when we get back! Now, come with me immediately."

While Li Xiewen appeared stern, deep down he was very satisfied with his son. After all, when he was that age, he was far more foolish, constantly infuriating Li Yesheng to the point of cursing. If not for his brothers being even more foolish, it might not have been him accompanying Li Xuanxuan today.

Li Yesheng and Li Xiangping had journeyed together into the Shanyue territory, sharing life and death. Li Xiewen, meanwhile, assisted Li Xuanxuan in managing the affairs of the four towns and two mountains. Although Li Xiewen had married a woman with spiritual apertures, a test before the New Year revealed that his son had none. Secretly, Li Xiewen had already planned Li Pingyi's future path: to follow Li Yuanxiu and inherit the family business from his ancestors and father.

Li Pingyi, following behind him, nervously eyed his white robes, then his eyes darted around, and he whispered:

"Who died? What a grand ceremony."

Li Xiewen nodded approvingly, very pleased with the child's quick wit, and said seriously:

"An elder from the Chen family, one of the earliest town chiefs, and somewhat connected to those on the mountain, has passed away. Maintain a serious demeanor for me. This funeral is important; don't disgrace me."