Chapter 11 : A Clan's Debt and a Patriarch's Hope

Not long after, more than a dozen cultivators of the clan who had reached the Qi Refinement, Late Stage [the advanced phase of the initial stage of cultivation] arrived at the Clan Affairs Hall.

As it was the end of the year, most clan cultivators had returned to the ancestral home. Only the Grand Elder [the highest-ranking elder] remained, unable to leave his post guarding Pingyang Town. Even the Second Elder had set aside the business at Yuyang Market [a trading hub for cultivators] and returned to Verdant Chariot Mountain to attend this clan assembly.

The assembly was once again presided over by the Third Elder, who managed clan affairs. He served as the clan's nexus, possessing a broad understanding of all matters and the clearest grasp of its financial situation.

For once, the usual look of worry was absent from his face, replaced by a rare smile.

"Let us first discuss several matters at today's assembly," he began.

"The first item: thanks to everyone's efforts these past few years, the clan's external debts have been fully repaid."

"Furthermore, the success rate for refining the Qi Gathering Pill [a pill that aids in gathering spiritual energy] this year has been quite favorable. We estimate sales will bring in around one thousand, six hundred Spirit Stones [minerals that store and radiate spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation]."

Hearing the Third Elder's report, the assembled members could not help but show expressions of excitement.

An influx of one thousand, six hundred Spirit Stones into the clan treasury meant the clan now had funds. The Spirit Stones owed to them as back pay and stipends could gradually be reimbursed.

However, at that moment, the Third Elder spoke again. Find this and other novels at audi novel.com.

"The Clan Patriarch's injuries show no sign of improvement. If this drags on any longer, there is a danger they may worsen further."

"I heard that a few years ago, Jiang the Daoist of Celestial Ruins Mountain refined a batch of Meridian Nourishing Pill [a high-grade pill that mends damaged cultivation meridians] to treat his disciple. Three pills from that batch remain."

"Therefore, I intend to set this money aside. Once we have gathered enough, we will send someone to Celestial Ruins Mountain to purchase one Meridian Nourishing Pill. This will shorten the Clan Patriarch's recovery time."

Upon hearing this, everyone was momentarily taken aback, but no one voiced any objection.

The Meridian Nourishing Pill is a Second Rank High Grade Pill capable of healing meridian injuries for Foundation Establishment Cultivator. For the Chen Clan, the Clan Patriarch's swift recovery is the most pressing matter at hand.

Eldrin Chen listened quietly. He understood that if stipends remained unpaid for years and borrowed funds were never returned to the clansmen, grievances would inevitably fester in their hearts, even if unspoken.

Most crucially, the prolonged withholding of stipends would severely hinder the cultivation progress of the Chen Clan's disciples. Contemplating this, Eldrin Chen spoke.

"In recent years, the clan's treasury has been depleted, and all of you have lacked sufficient contribution points for your needs."

"Here is my proposal: henceforth, I will contribute thirty Spirit Peach [peaches infused with spiritual energy] to the clan treasury each year, to be exchanged for clan contribution points."

His words caused another stir. Although clan contribution points were officially exchanged at a one-to-one ratio with Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy], their practical value was a different matter entirely.

The clan treasury is now nearly depleted. Even if one has merit points, they are practically worthless. For Eldrin Chen to contribute thirty Spirit Peach [a fruit imbued with spiritual energy that enhances cultivation] each year in exchange for merit points is essentially him using his own resources to revitalize the clan's coffers.

At least until the clan's deficit is eliminated and the treasury is replenished, these merit points hold little practical use for Eldrin Chen.

However, for the other cultivators of the clan, this is a great boon. Spirit Peach can enhance one's cultivation base, even proving more effective than Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy].

A single Spirit Peach is worth five Spirit Stone, so thirty peaches are worth one hundred and fifty stones. With these thirty Spirit Peach available each year from now on, everyone will have a glimmer of hope to sustain their cultivation journey.

"This won't do," Third Elder Lior Chen shook his head immediately. "If the Spirit Peach go into the treasury, what about your own cultivation?"

"It is of no consequence. I have already broken through to the ninth layer of Qi Refinement [the initial stage of cultivation where one refines their vital energy]. From here, it is merely a matter of patient, steady effort."

"Furthermore, the Spirit Peach Tree [a spiritual tree that bears cultivation-enhancing fruit] still yields a considerable surplus of Spirit Peach."

Eldrin Chen stated with unwavering resolve. Hearing this, the others paused briefly and ultimately offered no further objections.

"You..."

Third Elder patted Eldrin Chen on the shoulder, shaking his head with a sigh of resignation. He then turned his gaze to the assembled group and said:

"The second matter to announce concerns the appointment of the Eighth Elder."

"Since Eldrin has broken through to the Qi Refinement Ninth Layer [the ninth and final stage of Qi Refinement], then according to clan regulations, he shall assume the position of the clan's Eighth Elder. Does anyone have any objections?"

The Second Elder, Chen Riverius, said with a smile, "The clan gaining another elder alleviates some of our current difficulties. How could we possibly object?"

With the highly respected Second Elder having spoken, everyone present naturally agreed with smiles.

Thus, at the age of eighteen, Eldrin Chen became the first cultivator of the Nian Generation to reach the Qi Refinement Ninth Layer, and officially joined the ranks of the clan's few key decision-makers.

The meeting proceeded in an orderly fashion, its content primarily focused on arranging the clan's affairs for the coming year. It lasted a full three Shichen-time [one Shichen-time equals two hours] before concluding. Immerse yourself in the complete world at audio~novel.com.

After the meeting adjourned, the Third Elder specifically asked Eldrin Chen to stay behind.

"Eldrin, after the New Year celebrations, do not return to the Spirit Isle Lake immediately."

"Oh?"

Seeing Eldrin Chen's puzzled expression, Lior Chen explained with a smile, "After the New Year, it will be time for the annual testing of the clan's mortal children for Spiritual Root [the innate spiritual affinity that determines one's potential for cultivation]."

"I am currently unable to step away, so I wish for you to go and test the children's Spiritual Root [the innate spiritual affinity that determines one's potential for cultivation]."

Hearing this, Chen Alistair nodded.

Testing mortals for a Spiritual Root [the innate spiritual affinity that determines one's potential for cultivation] is no simple task. Generally, the most effective method is to use a Spirit Root Detection Plate [a specialized magical artifact used to detect spiritual roots] for the assessment.

However, a Spirit Root Detection Plate [a specialized magical artifact used to detect spiritual roots] is a Second Rank High Grade magical treasure, its value reaching several thousand Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy]. Most weaker cultivation clans cannot bear the expense, and the Chen Clan naturally had no spare funds for such an item.

Aside from the Spirit Root Detection Plate [a specialized magical artifact used to detect spiritual roots], a cultivator at the Qi Refinement Ninth Layer [the ninth and final stage of Qi Refinement, where one's vital energy becomes perfectly harmonized] possesses perfectly harmonized Qi [the vital energy that flows through all living things] and can, with effort, vaguely sense the presence of a Spiritual Root [the innate spiritual affinity that determines one's potential for cultivation].

Yet this is a crude method. The probability of accurately detecting a Spiritual Root [the innate spiritual affinity that determines one's potential for cultivation] is only eighty to ninety percent, and it can only vaguely discern the elemental attribute of the root.

The method the Chen Clan used to test mortals was precisely this crude technique. Currently, the clan had few cultivators at the Qi Refinement Ninth Layer [the ninth and final stage of Qi Refinement]. Since Eldrin Chen had advanced to this realm, he was promptly enlisted by the Third Elder for this duty of spiritual root detection.

"Eldrin…"

After exiting the Clan Affairs Hall, Chen Cedric suddenly called out to Eldrin Chen, his expression hesitant, as if words were caught in his throat.

Chen Alistair paused mid-step, noticing the Sixth Elder seemed to have been waiting ahead for some time. He hurried forward and clasped his hands in greeting.

"Greetings, Twenty-Sixth Uncle."

"You are now the Clan Patriarch [the recognized leader of the clan]. There is no need for such formalities in the future."

Chen Cedric wore a look of profound melancholy. Gazing at the youthful Eldrin Chen before him, a wave of sorrow washed over his heart.

As the Chen Clan's sole First Rank High Grade Alchemist [a master capable of crafting the highest quality pills within the first rank], Chen Cedric's innate talent was not poor. Born with Two Spiritual Roots [a rare and favorable spiritual aptitude for cultivation], he was full of ambition in his youth. He entered the Qi Refinement [the foundational stage of cultivation where one refines their vital energy] at the age of twelve and had already broken through to the Qi Refinement Ninth Layer by the time he was thirty-seven.

He later spent over a decade accumulating his foundation, thoroughly reaching the peak of the Qi Refinement realm. Judging by this innate talent alone, among the Chen Clan's Qing Generation [the generation bearing the character 'Qing' in their names], he was second only to Chen Corin, who had been accepted into the Green Sun Sect.

Now, Chen Cedric was merely in his early fifties. By the lifespan standards of one at the Qi Refinement, Peak Stage, he should still be in his prime. Yet, his hair had already turned grey, making him appear prematurely aged and weighed down by a palpable air of decline.

Logically, with the aid of a Foundation Establishment Pill [a precious pill that aids in the critical breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment realm], even if Chen Cedric had failed his breakthrough attempt, he should not have suffered such a severe depletion of his vital essence. His current state was likely caused by the immense psychological and spiritual pressure of owing the clan a debt he could never repay in this lifetime. Original publication: audio-novel . com - The source of this chapter.