Chapter 25 One layer upon another

Two more months passed, and the spirit rice fields within Black Magpie Mountain welcomed the autumn harvest again.

The autumn atmosphere was rich. Chen Li carried his eldest daughter, Chen Songli, on his shoulders, while Zhu Lingyue held their second son, Chen Songyan, by his side. The couple strolled through the golden spirit rice fields, enjoying the breeze, followed by a green ox. The Family of four walked leisurely among the golden spirit rice.

Brother Ox was the MVP for planting and harvesting this year, having grown into an all-around expert.

The most important news these past few months was that the Lu Family had invited all the Qi Refining Family Heads in the Prefecture to discuss tribute matters three days later.

This was because the Golden Core Luo Family, to whom their Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan paid tribute, had become the Golden Core Yang Family.

The Nanwu Kingdom now had a second Golden Core Family. With only fifteen Prefectures in the Nanwu Kingdom, this sudden division meant taxes would likely increase again. In front of Golden Core True Persons, they, the Qi Refining Cultivators, could still negotiate, but before a Golden Core Cultivator, whatever they said was final.

Three days later, in the Lu Family's main hall, the thirteen Qi Refining Immortal Clan Heads from Yuanwu Prefecture gathered once more.

After taking their seats, Lu Xilou got straight to the point: "Everyone has likely heard some rumors. True Person Yang, the retired Elder of the Beast Hunting Sect, has claimed jurisdiction over our Prefecture.

I summoned everyone here today because True Person Yang requires us Foundation Establishment Immortal Clans to increase our tribute to the Luo Family by two-thirds on the existing basis. However, we are powerless to bear such a large increase.

I am being frank today; it is not that we Foundation Establishment Immortal Clans are insatiably greedy for more taxes, but that the Golden Core True Person above us demands it!"

After he finished speaking, the Qi Refining Immortal Clans below erupted into a clamor. A Family head at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining said, "Senior Lu, we dare not question a Golden Core True Person, but asking us Qi Refining Families to increase our tribute by two-thirds on the original basis is truly difficult for us. Does Senior Lu have any other solutions?"

Lu Xilou shook his head and replied directly, "I have not thought of any other solutions. I wonder if you gentlemen can think of something!"

At the table for Liangxi County, Chen Li and the others exchanged glances. How familiar this felt! Last time it was Zhang An; this time it was someone much higher up. Zhang An, a foolish Foundation Establishment Cultivator, could be ganged up on and killed! Murder a Golden Core? They would need a hundred heads, and they still wouldn't be enough to withstand a single move from that person.

The discussions at the other tables were also extremely heated. Some Qi Refining Immortal Clans, who had been in the Prefecture for over a decade, were even heard saying, "We truly cannot afford the tribute anymore. We are preparing to abandon our clan and establish ourselves elsewhere, moving to another territory."

At this moment, a Family head at the Eighth Level of Qi Refining suddenly spoke up: "Senior Lu, True Person Yang has just established his clan and must need quite a few personnel. I wonder if we could send some Non-Clan Cultivators with cultivation levels over to him? If we do this, our tribute could be reduced somewhat. I wonder if Senior Lu could report this to True Person Yang and see if it is feasible?"

As soon as this idea was proposed, the eyes of some Qi Refining Immortal Clans below lit up.

Huh? This seemed viable. All these families collected Mortals with Spiritual Roots from the Mortal world and sent them to Cultivate within the Family. Most of them reached the early Qi Refining stage.

Chen Li thought this was some brilliant solution, but this trashy idea was truly malicious. Those who were originally Mortals and were later found to have Spiritual Roots would certainly be grateful to the Qi Refining Immortal Clan that discovered them first. If they were sent away now, what would the Cultivators sent away later think?

Furthermore, Chen Li's Family currently had no Non-Clan Cultivators. His plan was to wait until the song generation matured a bit before Chen Li would even consider recruiting Non-Clan Cultivators!

His thinking was that if he recruited Non-Clan Cultivators, he couldn't just ignore them, right? They would require cultivation resources. Moreover, if the first generation of his own Family's Cultivators was inferior to the Non-Clan Cultivators, would his Chen Family still be the Chen Family?

On the main seat, Lu Xilou considered it for a long time. Although this method might chill the hearts of some Non-Clan Cultivators, these Non-Clan Cultivators could be gathered from the Mortal world every year. After cultivating diligently for four or five years relying on the Heaven and Earth's Qi, they could reach the First Layer of Qi Refining.

The Old Ancestor Zhu from Lingchuan County below said, "Everyone, sending Non-Clan Cultivators seems inappropriate! I assume all of you have Non-Clan Cultivators in your families who have grown up; they are the middle force of your clans! If we send away Non-Clan Cultivators now, won't it create a rift with those grown Non-Clan Family Cultivators? We must not lose the watermelon to pick up a sesame seed."

As soon as these words fell, a Late Qi Refining Family head who supported sending Non-Clan Cultivators retorted, "Some grown Non-Clan Cultivators must have consumed the Family's resources; we certainly won't let them feel slighted! We only need to inform those who were just recruited, those at the early Qi Refining stage, of the reason. I imagine they would be eager to Cultivate in a Golden Core True Person's Family. By then, they won't need any persuasion from us; they will volunteer!"

As soon as this was said, the words Zhu Old Ancestor was about to retort were swallowed back as Lu Xilou interrupted, "Good, this method is feasible. We will discuss it with the other Foundation Establishment Cultivators and notify everyone once there is news."

Seeing that Lu Xilou approved, the words Zhu Family Old Ancestor was about to say were swallowed back.

At this moment, Chen Li watched as the majority in the hall approved, and he fell silent.

His demand for two-thirds might actually be fulfilled. He couldn't kill the Golden Core Cultivator now; perhaps in the future, they would demand a Second-Rank Formation in addition to the original tribute, which would be enough.

...

After the meeting adjourned, Chen Li returned to Black Magpie Mountain and relayed the news to Zhu Lingyue.

Inside Concentric Heart Hall, Zhu Lingyue worried, "I wonder if this True Person Yang will cause any more trouble in the future. I hope the peaceful days last a little longer!"

Chen Li sighed, "The Luo Family yielded half so cleanly this time. I suppose the territories under the Luo Family's Prefecture are also facing a similar tax increase! Alas, in the end, it is us Qi Refining Immortal Clans who are being harvested."

Zhu Lingyue looked at Chen Li and said resolutely, "I believe Husband will also reach the Golden Core stage one day. When that time comes, our Chen Family will certainly not be pushed around by others."

...

Taihu Mountain Range, Luo Family territory.

In a magnificent, golden palace atop a mountain peak, the Luo Family's Golden Core Old Ancestor, Luo Huan, sat on the main seat atop a high platform. Below him were seven direct descendants of the Luo Family at the Foundation Establishment stage.

One Late Foundation Establishment Stage Luo Family Cultivator said, "Old Ancestor, are we just going to let Yang Jing take away the seven Prefectures of our Nanwu Kingdom?"

Luo Huan replied calmly, "Yang Jing's cultivation has fallen to the Early Stage Golden Core, and I am also at the Early Stage Golden Core, so he is not worth fearing! However, the Beast Hunting Sect has two Grand Elders. One has just finished seclusion, and the other has been traveling for a hundred years and has not returned. Yang Jing was one of the disciples of that Elder who has been traveling for a hundred years and has not returned."

The Late Foundation Establishment Cultivator of the Luo Family instantly understood. The Old Ancestor wasn't considering Yang Jing's personal standing, but rather the Nascent Soul Old Monster behind him!

Nascent Soul Cultivators were the pinnacle strength on this continent. A single Nascent Soul Cultivator could support an entire Sect. Most Nascent Soul Old Monsters could live for about fifteen hundred years, and with some life-extending secret pills, some could even reach a lifespan of three thousand years!

They could even achieve Possession to be reborn for another life; their Divine Abilities were extremely formidable.

In the past few thousand years, whether due to the spiritual energy of Heaven and Earth decreasing or other reasons, the speed of advancement slowed drastically after reaching the Golden Core stage. Even Cultivators with Heavenly Spiritual Roots were no exception.

The number of Cultivators advancing to Nascent Soul had become increasingly rare over the years, so Nascent Soul Cultivators generally stopped their fights before causing fatal harm, not easily deciding life or death. The value of a Nascent Soul Cultivator was exceptionally high!

As for the even higher Soul Transformation stage, that was a story from ten thousand years ago. In the last ten thousand years, there had been no news of any Nascent Soul Cultivator successfully advancing, nor was there any news of a Soul Transformation Cultivator appearing on this continent.

Luo Huan continued, "Let's not worry about Yang Jing's matter for now. I have obtained several foundation establishment pills. Have Hao Yun and the others return to go into seclusion and attempt Foundation Establishment!"

"Yes, Old Ancestor."

...