43: Let's go through Chapter 43 first.

When Mo Shoutian came out of Xianyuan Pavilion, it was already past noon.

That kneel just now was done with genuine emotion.

Let alone Elder Zhou Xuanze, even he almost believed it himself.

If it were any other Mortal Family, knowing that the children in their clan had the opportunity to Cultivate, they would probably shed tears of gratitude.

But the Mo Family was different.

There was Qingli at home, and Mo Xiaochuan had already reached Foundation Establishment.

The meager opportunity given by the Xuanyang Sect was not really an opportunity for the current Mo Family; instead, it would bring unnecessary trouble to Mo Family Village.

That kneel was, when all was said and done, just to hide the secret of the Mo Family and prevent that Elder Zhou from getting suspicious.

After leaving Xianyuan Pavilion, Mo Shoutian went straight to the Mo Family Inn.

Although it was already past mealtime, the first floor of the inn was still filled with guests.

Mo Chunhe was busy calculating accounts behind the counter. Seeing Mo Shoutian enter, just as he was about to greet him, he was called up to a room upstairs by him.

As soon as the door was closed, Mo Chunhe asked with a smile,

"How are the maidens inside Xianyuan Pavilion?"

Mo Shoutian glared at him.

"From now on, all the businesses of the Mo Family must be placed under the name of the Xuanyang Sect."

Mo Chunhe asked somewhat uncomprehendingly,

"Xuanyang Sect?"

"I have already negotiated with them just now in Xianyuan Pavilion. You notify Dahu, Xiaohu, and the people of the other few shops about this matter."

Mo Chunhe was just about to ask what was going on, but was stopped by Mo Shoutian raising his hand.

"For other matters, I will explain the details to you when we return to the village on the first day of the month to settle accounts."

Seeing that he did not intend to speak now, Mo Chunhe did not ask further.

Mo Shoutian then asked,

"Is there any good teacher near Qingshi Town?"

Mo Chunhe pondered for a moment.

"There is indeed an old gentleman living on the east side of the town who used to teach at the town's school. In recent years, due to his advanced age, he has returned home to rest."

"Go and inquire about this person's character first. If he is a good person, ask him if he is willing to go to Mo Family Village to teach; money is not an issue."

"Alright, I will go and ask in these two days."

Mo Shoutian picked up the luggage placed by the table.

"I still have matters to attend to, so I am returning to the village first."

Mo Chunhe hurriedly asked,

"Brother Shoutian, you haven't eaten yet."

"I won't eat."

When he returned to the village, it was already close to noon the next day.

He went straight to Mo Xiaochuan's room.

Inside the room, Mo Xiaochuan was leading Nannan and Xiao Niuzi to Cultivate.

The two children sat cross-legged on the kang. Hearing the room door open, they both opened their eyes and looked over.

Mo Shoutian let Nannan and Xiao Niuzi go out to play first, and then closed the room door.

He recounted the matter of the Mo Family attaching itself to the Xuanyang Sect, and how the Xuanyang Sect would send people over in Nine Heavens to select Disciples.

After listening, Mo Xiaochuan asked,

"Dad, do you really intend to send the children in the village into the Xuanyang Sect?"

"That Xuanyang Sect doesn't look like a major Sect either."

Mo Shoutian sat on the edge of the kang and continued,

"Dad's meaning is that the children with good Aptitude will stay in the village first and Cultivate following you. The rest will be left for the Xuanyang Sect to pick."

"What if the people from the Xuanyang Sect come and cannot pick anyone?"

Mo Shoutian smiled slightly.

"At that time, the children with good Aptitude will not show up, so naturally they won't be able to pick any. Those who are not selected can just stay in the village to attend the school."

Mo Xiaochuan understood his father's meaning and did not ask further.

"How many children in the village have you tested these past few days?" Mo Shoutian asked.

"I've only tested a few, and their Aptitude is very average. There are also quite a few children who have gone into the mountains with their parents."

"What age of children is most suitable?"

"It's best if they are a bit older than Nannan and Xiao Niuzi; eight to ten years old is fine."

Mo Shoutian thought for a moment.

"Tomorrow I will call all the children aged six to ten in the village along with their parents, and you will test them for them first. After the testing is finished, tell me the results."

"Alright."

"Continue with your Cultivation."

After leaving Mo Xiaochuan's room, Mo Shoutian returned to the main room.

Liu Chunmei was sitting by the table verifying account books, and there were several newly delivered account books on the table.

As soon as Mo Shoutian entered the door, he said,

"Chunmei, have someone call Uncle Changlin and the other main persons in charge to the house, and get me something to eat."

Liu Chunmei put down the account books.

"What happened?"

"Something happened, there are some matters to discuss with them. Have people go and notify them first."

Seeing his exhausted face, Liu Chunmei did not continue to press.

She went out of the courtyard, called several people, had them respectively notify Mo Changlin and the others, and then entered the kitchen.

Not long after, two hot dishes and a few steamed buns were served on the table.

Mo Shoutian had eaten almost nothing since yesterday until now, so he picked up a steamed bun and began to eat it in large bites.

After he finished his meal, Mo Changlin, Mo Qingshi, Mo Shouyi, Mo Shoucheng, Mo Chenghai, Mo Mancang, and others also arrived successively.

Mo Shoutian glanced behind the crowd.

"Where are Dashan and Xiaoshan?"

Mo Shouyi said,

"The two of them took the team into the mountains this morning. Shoucheng and I also just came back today."

"Then we won't wait for them for now."

Mo Shoutian had everyone sit down before bringing up the serious business.

"Starting from yesterday, the Mo Family has officially attached itself to the Xuanyang Sect. From now on, all the businesses of the Mo Family must be conducted under the name of the Xuanyang Sect."

After hearing Mo Shoutian's words, the room instantly fell silent.

Mo Mancang was the first who couldn't help asking,

"Shoutian, after attaching ourselves to the Xuanyang Sect, is it ultimately a good thing or a bad thing for our Mo Family?"

"There are advantages, and there are disadvantages."

Mo Shoutian took out the xuanyang token from his bosom and placed it on the table.

"With this token, the Mo Family can enter Xianrengu Market to do business in the future. Those Loose Cultivators and small Families nearby, knowing that the Mo Family has the Xuanyang Sect behind it, will not dare to easily target us."

Everyone's gaze fell on the token.

Mo Changlin asked,

"What does the Xuanyang Sect want us to do?"

"Deliver tributes once every year in the spring and autumn seasons, mainly medicinal herbs, beast meat, and hides. If the Sect needs grain, carriages, or manpower, the Mo Family must also comply accordingly."

Mo Chenghai frowned.

"Isn't this making us work for the Xuanyang Sect?"

"It inherently is."

Mo Shoutian did not conceal it.

"We use the name of the Xuanyang Sect to do business, and they take things from the Mo Family. If nothing needs to be given out, why on earth would they protect us?"

"Although the Mo Family has earned a lot of silver this year, as the business grows larger and larger, the Cultivators we come into contact with are also increasing. Without a Sect backing us up, sooner or later we will be targeted by others."

Mo Changlin asked,

"Are there Spirit Stones among the tributes?"

"Yes. Fifty blocks will be handed over first this year, and starting next year, one hundred blocks every year."

Hearing this number, the expressions of several people changed.

Mo Changlin said,

"Could it be that they know about us being able to get more than a dozen Spirit Stones a month?"

Mo Shoutian shook his head and said,

"They don't know. The people of the Xuanyang Sect said they let us go to Xianrengu Market to do business; inside there are all nearby Cultivators. They said that Spirit Stones can be earned inside."

After hearing this, Mo Changlin and the others' expressions couldn't help changing slightly.

"Let me do business with those Cultivators?"

Mo Shoutian nodded and said,

"Yes, the Xuanyang Sect will protect us."

Mo Changlin asked after hearing this,

"Can they be relied upon?"

"It should be fine. They currently do not know that we have obtained Spirit Stones. Since they proposed that we offer Spirit Stones as tribute, naturally there won't be any problems."

After hearing this, everyone nodded.

At this moment, Mo Shoutian continued,

"There is one more matter."

"Every three years, the Xuanyang Sect will select Disciples from its affiliated Families once. Nine Heavens later, they will send people to Mo Family Village."

Mo Chenghai's eyes lit up.

"Then wouldn't the children in our village also have the opportunity to Cultivate?"

Several other people also began to discuss among themselves.

Mo Shoutian waited for them to talk for a while before raising his hand to press down.

"Before the Xuanyang Sect selects people, we will pick through them ourselves first."

Mo Shoucheng asked,

"Do you want Xiaochuan to test the children's Aptitude first?"

"Correct."

Mo Shoutian said,

"Tomorrow, call all the children aged six to ten in the village along with their parents, and let Xiaochuan test them one by one. Those with good Aptitude will stay in the village first and Cultivate following Xiaochuan. The remaining children will then be picked by the Xuanyang Sect."

Mo Mancang was somewhat uncomprehending.

"The better the Aptitude, shouldn't they be sent to the Sect all the more?"

"That was the past."

After saying this, Mo Shoutian looked at everyone in the room.

"In the past, the Mo Family did not have Cultivation methods, and children who wanted to Cultivate had no choice but to enter a Sect. Now that Xiaochuan can teach, why should we still send the best children out?"

"Entering the Xuanyang Sect, in the future one is first a Disciple of the Xuanyang Sect, and lastly a member of the Mo Family. Remaining in the village makes them Cultivators belonging to our own Mo Family."

After several people understood, they stopped speaking.

Mo Changlin slowly said,

"This matter cannot be spread out. Even less can we let others know that we have our own Cultivators."

"Therefore, what is said today, once leaving this room, no one is allowed to speak recklessly about it."

Mo Shoutian looked at Mo Shouyi.

"Shouyi, compile the statistics of the children aged six to ten in the village this afternoon."

Subsequently, he looked at Mo Chenghai again.

"Chenghai, send a few people to chase after the team that went into the mountains. Whichever Family's children are of this age, have them rush back tomorrow afternoon."

Both of them agreed.

Mo Shoutian finally said,

"Tomorrow afternoon, bring all the children currently in the village aged six to ten and their parents over."

"No matter how the Xuanyang Sect selects nine days later, our Mo Family must first close our doors and pick through our own children once."