Crafting an Immortal Race with Daily Hexagrams-Chapter 430 - 213: Golden Core Flood Dragon Corpse (Part 6)
"Starting with this year’s sacrifice, the Shen Family will no longer provide salaries to everyone and their families."
"Of course, the spiritual objects, spirit rice, and various items you harvest also don’t need to be fully handed over. You just need to offer a portion as tribute, and the rest can be freely distributed."
"Each year, the Clan Court will send someone to notify you of the required tribute, and no excuses will be accepted for any delays."
Upon hearing this, the expressions of the people present varied.
This method is actually the same as how the Danzhou Immortal Sects managed the families under their jurisdiction.
Tribute is paid annually, and if a family is capable, any surplus resources for cultivation won’t concern the main family.
For them, this has both pros and cons.
The benefit is that there’s some autonomy over the territories under their control, and if they’re lucky, they can accumulate a bit of a foundation.
But likewise, the downsides are also evident.
If their territory faces unexpected incidents, greatly reducing the harvest, they still must pay the required tribute.
If they can’t provide the tribute, the main family won’t easily forgive them.
"The second issue."
Shen Li didn’t give them much time to think, continuing, "Each family can recommend Immortal Seedlings to my Shen Family, and present Exotic Treasures and rare items. My Shen Family will give rewards accordingly."
"Many clan rules still have changes, and the Clan Court will send the newly revised rules to each family later."
"So everyone will be informed."
"Lastly, I’ll say this."
Shen Li quietly surveyed everyone and said in a deep voice, "The Shen Family will not interfere with the external expansion of each family, but please act within your means and don’t provoke troubles you can’t handle."
"If at that time, the Shen Family is unable to provide rescue, and everyone faces annihilation, it would be a pity."
The people present showed varied expressions upon hearing this.
Over the years, several affiliated families have accumulated considerable power, with many cultivators under their domain, though they have no one in the Fetal Breathing Realm, they have numerous in the Qi Cultivation Perfection Realm.
As their strength has increased, their ambitions have grown.
Especially with the invasion of the Southern Border, the Immortal Sects have withdrawn from the Yangnao Land.
Large tracts of territory around have been left vacant.
The Golden Core forces of the Southern Border and the Danzhou Immortal Sect are different, as they only came to harvest blood for food and pay little attention to governing their territories.
This provides them numerous opportunities.
"Does everyone remember the words of the Clan Chief?"
"If there are no other matters, please disperse."
Shen Chongming slowly raised his head, looking at everyone, and said.
The people present got up one by one, cupped their hands, and then left.
In the ancestral hall, the brother and sister stood side by side, watching the crowd vanish into the distance. Shen Chongming said gravely, "I decided on this matter privately without consulting grandfather. I don’t know if it will sow the seeds of disaster."
With no outsiders present, Shen Li relaxed her demeanor slightly, smiling, "Brother Chongming needn’t worry. Some things you have to try to know if they’re possible."
"Grandfather often told Li’Er that he also made some wrong decisions back in the day. Yet, hasn’t our Shen Family come this far now?"
"Brother Chongming is merely a cultivator in the Fetal Breathing Realm, not a celestial deity, so how can he not make mistakes?"
"Currently, our Shen Family has enough strength to bear the cost of mistakes. At worst, we can change things when needed."
Upon hearing this, Shen Chongming turned to her with a smile, "You have a very good mindset, little girl."
"And you are very good at comforting people."
"Forget it, since we’ve taken this step, let’s see where it leads."
"This move at least effortlessly resolves the salary issue for each family."
"Next, our Shen Family can guard Yunshui City and develop in peace."
He has always advocated for a clear distinction between immortals and mortals, believing that cultivators shouldn’t be entangled by worldly matters.
When he held the position of Patriarch in the past, he profoundly felt this, and now formally assuming the role, daily handling of family affairs has been exhausting, leaving little time for quiet cultivation.
Now, instead of taking Lu Zhiyuan’s initial proposal, he’s chosen to adopt the past ways the Immortal Sects managed the families under them, implementing bold reforms, allowing the affiliated clans to develop on their own. It’s a kind of experiment.
If this move succeeds, the Shen Family only needs to ensure they have absolute strength to suppress each family, and all the complicated worldly matters can be left for them to handle.
"If you are not inclined to manage the Clan Court, you can entrust it to Mu Chang and Mu Yan with confidence."
"They have followed the master in managing the Clan Court for many years and are capable of handling most matters."
Shen Chongming changed the topic and said.
Shen Li smiled and nodded, "Brother Chongming needn’t worry."
"Cultivating all day is also boring. Grandfather said cultivation should be balanced, so Li’Er sees this as a form of relaxation."
Hearing this, Shen Chongming became slightly curious, "These years, my neglect means I haven’t paid attention to your cultivation. What level have you reached?"
Looking at Shen Li, he could only vaguely sense her aura being around the eighth or ninth layer of Qi Cultivation.
However, when trying to sense more deeply, Shen Li seemed to be shrouded in a dense fog, giving a rather unreal, eerie feeling.
Meeting his gaze, Shen Li smiled slightly, "My realm differs from the Immortal Dao, so it’s hard to explain."
"Brother Chongming only needs to know, with Xiao Jin and Xiao Yin here, an Immortal Dao Cultivator in the Middle Stage of Fetal Breathing is not Li’Er’s match."
Shen Chongming looked at her in some surprise at her words.
The Silver Thread Centipede is currently only in the Qi Cultivation Perfection Realm, and the Golden Toad’s realm, after falling, has just stabilized at the Early Stage of Fetal Breathing.
Was she implying she has strength equivalent to the Fetal Breathing Realm?
"Alright, then I won’t ask further. Anyway, grandfather said you only need to cultivate calmly, and in the future, you’ll certainly become the foundation of our Shen Family, just like Third Uncle."
"Let’s go."
The brother and sister left the ancestral hall side by side.
...
Western Wilderness.
Shen Wen’an was traveling by Sword Control, slaying many short-sighted Great Witch Mountain Demon Cultivators along the way.
However, those he encountered were just minor demons, with the strongest being at most in the Early Stage of Fetal Breathing.
It seemed the powerful demon cultivators were hiding somewhere to cultivate, not intending to govern the territory seriously.
As he got closer to the former gathering place of the Muhe Tribe, Shen Wen’an suddenly noticed something unusual.
He sensed a very faint "momentum" in this area!
Back in Qiyun Valley, his master, Pei Zhao, would occasionally explain things related to "momentum" during casual conversations.
Momentum has a significant relationship with arrays.
Some cultivators with high proficiency in the Array Dao often leverage the momentum between heaven and earth when setting up arrays.
An array that follows the momentum can greatly increase its power.
Moreover, in places where the momentum of heaven and earth is especially prominent, perfectly integrating an array with the "momentum" can produce unimaginable effects.
However, an array set up "against the momentum" will, at best, be weakened significantly, or at worst, fail to be set up at all.
Although Shen Wen’an doesn’t understand arrays, he could sense something unusual about the momentum in this area.
Though faint, the momentum was unmistakable.
With a slight movement of his heart spirit, he halted, controlling his sword in mid-air, closed his eyes, and carefully observed the changes in the momentum around him using his Divine Sense.
A few moments later, he suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze fixed on a bizarre, craggy mountain peak ahead!
"Innate Spiritual Qi?"
He murmured softly, then suddenly darted forward.
A flash of Sword Aura sliced through, severing numerous stone pillars on the rugged mountain peak.
As debris flew, a wisp of earth-yellow energy swiftly fled into the distance.
"Trying to escape?"
Shen Wen’an grabbed a Jade Bottle, formed a seal with his hand, and unleashed a surging Sword Essence, which transformed into a massive Spiritual Power Net, ensnaring the fleeing earth-yellow energy!
