Chapter 11 : A Clan's Debt and a Leader's Plight

Not long after, over a dozen clan cultivators at the Vital Essence Refinement Late Stage [the final stage of refining one's foundational life energy] arrived at the main clan hall.

As it was the end of the year, most clan members had returned to the mountain, except for the Grand Elder who was duty-bound to guard Pingyang County Town and could not leave his post. Even the Second Elder had put aside the business at Sunward Market and returned to Green Chariot Mountain to attend this Clan Assembly.

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

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

"Let us discuss several matters at today's Clan Assembly," he began.

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

"Furthermore, this year's success rate for refining the Energy Absorption Pill [a pill that aids in absorbing ambient spiritual energy] has been quite favorable. We estimate sales will bring in over one thousand six hundred Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates 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 family's coffers were filling. The Spirit Stones owed to them and their delayed stipends could now gradually be repaid.

However, at that moment, the Third Elder spoke again. Experience the full epic at audio-novel-dot-com.

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

"I heard that a few years ago, Heavenly Ruins Mountain Path Master Jiang refined a batch of Meridian Nourishing Pill [a pill that heals and nourishes the spiritual meridians] to treat his disciple. It is said three pills from that batch remain."

"Therefore, I intend to set aside these funds. Once we have gathered enough, we can send someone to Heavenly Ruins Mountain to purchase one of those Meridian Nourishing Pill. This would significantly shorten the clan leader'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 [a high-quality pill of the second tier], capable of healing meridian injuries for Foundation Establishment Cultivator [cultivators who have established their spiritual foundation]. For the Chen Clan, the clan leader's swift recovery was 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, even if the clansfolk said nothing aloud, resentment would likely simmer in their hearts.

Most crucially, the prolonged withholding of stipends would severely hinder the cultivation progress of the Chen Clan cultivators. With this thought, Eldrin Chen spoke up.

"In recent years, the clan treasury has been depleted, and none of you have had sufficient Merits [a metaphysical currency representing virtuous deeds and contributions] to use."

"Here is my proposal: henceforth, I will contribute thirty Spiritual Peach [peaches imbued with spiritual energy] to the Clan Treasury each year. They will be exchanged for clan Merits."

His words caused another wave of surprise. While clan Merits were officially exchanged at a one-to-one ratio with spirit stones, their practical value and utility were an entirely different matter.

The Clan Treasury [the central repository for a clan's resources] is now nearly depleted. Even the Merits [a metaphysical currency representing contributions and good karma] are practically worthless. For Eldrin Chen to take thirty Spiritual Peach [a fruit imbued with spiritual energy that aids cultivation] each year and exchange them for Merits, he is essentially using his own personal resources to revitalize the family's coffers.

At least until the clan's deficit is eliminated and the Clan Treasury is replenished, these Merits hold little practical value for Eldrin Chen.

For the clan's cultivators, however, this is a tremendous boon. The Spiritual Peach can enhance one's cultivation base, proving even more effective than Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy].

A single Spiritual Peach is worth five Spirit Stone. Thirty peaches amount to one hundred and fifty stones. With this annual infusion of thirty Spiritual Peach, everyone now has a tangible hope to advance their cultivation.

"This will not do," Third Elder Lior Chen shook his head immediately. "If the Spiritual Peach go into the treasury, what about your own cultivation?"

"It is of no consequence," Eldrin replied. "I have already broken through to the ninth layer of Vital Essence Refinement [the foundational stage of cultivation where one refines the body's vital energy]. From here, it is merely a matter of patient, steady effort."

"Furthermore," he added, "the Spiritual Peach Tree [a mystical tree that bears spirit-infused fruit] yields a surplus of Spiritual Peach beyond my personal needs."

Eldrin Chen stated with unwavering resolve. Hearing this, the others paused briefly, and in the end, offered no further argument.

"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 Mortal Path [cultivators who have not yet transcended the mortal realm].

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

"Since Eldrin has already broken through to the Vital Essence Refinement 9th Tier, then according to the Clan Regulations, he shall assume the role of the family's eighth Elder. Does anyone have any objections?"

Second Elder Verdant River Chen said with a smile, "The family 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 Vital Essence Refinement 9th Tier and officially joined the ranks of the family's key decision-makers.

The meeting proceeded in an orderly fashion, primarily focused on arranging the family's affairs for the coming year, and lasted for a full three Shichen-time [one Shichen-time equals two hours] before concluding. For more chapters, visit audio~novel.com for the complete novel.

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

"Eldrin, after the New Year celebrations, do not return to 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 family's mortal children for the presence of a Spiritual Root [the innate spiritual foundation that determines one's potential for cultivation]."

"I am tied up here and cannot leave, 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, Herding Chen gave a nod of assent.

Testing mortals for a Spiritual Root is no simple task. Generally, the most effective method is to use a Spirit Root Detection Plate [a specialized magical artifact designed to detect and measure spiritual roots].

However, a Spirit Root Detection Plate is a Second Rank High-Grade magical artifact, its value reaching several thousand Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy]. Most weaker cultivation clans cannot bear the expense of purchasing one, and the Chen Clan naturally had no spare funds for such a luxury.

Aside from the Spirit Root Detection Plate, a cultivator who has reached the Vital Essence Refinement 9th Tier and whose Vital Energy [the foundational life force energy cultivated by practitioners] is perfectly harmonized can, with great effort, sense the presence of a Spiritual Root.

Yet this is a crude method. The probability of successfully detecting a Spiritual Root is only eighty or ninety percent, and it can only vaguely sense the elemental attribute of the root.

The method the Chen Clan used to test mortals for Spiritual Root was precisely this crude technique. Currently, the clan had few cultivators at the Vital Essence Refinement 9th Tier, and since Eldrin Chen had recently broken through to that very tier, he was promptly conscripted by the Third Elder and assigned the duty of Spiritual Root detection.

"Eldrin…"

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

Herding Chen halted his steps, noticing that the Sixth Elder seemed to have been waiting ahead for some time. He hurried forward and clasped his hands in a respectful salute.

"Greetings, Twenty-sixth Uncle."

"You are now a family Elder. There is no need for such formality in the future."

Verdant Bud Chen wore a look of deep melancholy. Gazing at the youthful Eldrin Chen before him, his heart grew even heavier with sorrow.

As the Chen Clan's sole First-Rank High-Grade Alchemist, Verdant Bud Chen's innate talent was actually not poor. Born with a Dual Spiritual Root [a rare and favorable spiritual foundation for cultivation], he was full of ambition in his youth. He entered the Vital Essence Refinement [the foundational stage of cultivation where one refines the body's vital energy] at the age of twelve and had already broken through to the Vital Essence Refinement 9th Tier by thirty-seven.

After accumulating experience for over a decade more, he had thoroughly reached the Vital Essence Refinement Peak Stage. Judged by this talent alone, within the Chen Clan's Verdant Generation, he was second only to Verdant Origin Chen, who had been accepted into the Verdant Sun Sect.

Now, Verdant Bud Chen was merely in his early fifties. By the lifespan standards of the Vital Essence 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 Verdant Bud Chen had failed his breakthrough, he should not have deteriorated so severely in spirit and vitality. His current state was likely caused by the immense psychological and spiritual pressure of owing the family a debt he could never repay in this lifetime. This novel is serialized on audio-novel . com. Visit for updates.