173: Chapter 173 Clan Rules

At a young age, Su Xinrui already displayed an astonishing talent for plants.

His sense of smell was incredibly keen; even with two spirit plants that looked nearly identical, he could accurately distinguish them with just a light sniff.

Under Su Yang's careful guidance for several weeks, he was already able to identify common spirit plants and make preliminary judgments about their age.

Upon learning of this, Su Xuanming and Ruan Ning were both overjoyed.

Their eldest son, Su Xinyou, had always been mischievous and flighty, lacking focus, so the couple placed more of their hopes and expectations on their younger son.

Now that Su Xinrui was showing such promise at only four years old, how could they not feel relieved and happy?

Their younger son was a Genius!

"Father, Xinrui's talent could shoulder the responsibility of the Family's Dao of Alchemy. I wonder if..."

Su Xuanming trailed off, hesitating.

Su Yang understood his son's meaning and immediately nodded with a smile. "Xinrui's talent is extraordinary, so he should naturally be given special cultivation. Although the Family rules are strict, they also emphasize tailoring to the individual and remaining flexible."

"Next time, use the clan's foundation establishment spiritual material to help Xinrui Cultivate the Hunyuan Condensing True Method. Let's strive for him to step onto the path of cultivation as soon as possible!"

The original purpose of exchanging for foundation establishment spiritual materials from the Great Wei was to allow descendants with outstanding talent to condense their Spiritual Roots early; using them for Foundation Establishment Breakthroughs was only secondary.

Therefore, using such precious resources on Su Xinrui was already part of Su Yang's plan. Even if Su Xuanming hadn't mentioned it, he would have started using foundation establishment spiritual materials to condense a True Spiritual Root for Su Xinrui this year.

Su Xuanming and Ruan Ning were delighted to hear this and hurriedly expressed their thanks.

With foundation establishment spiritual materials to condense his Spiritual Root, Su Xinrui would most likely possess a True Spiritual Root by this year or the next.

Starting early on the path of Immortal Cultivation meant being faster at every step.

Facing the heartfelt gratitude of his son and daughter-in-law, Su Yang only smiled, but his mind had already begun to consider deeper matters.

As the Family grew day by day, clear and comprehensive rules for the distribution of Cultivation resources had to be established as soon as possible.

Although the special approval of foundation establishment spiritual material for Xinrui was part of his plan, in the eyes of the clansmen, it was no different from a snap decision. It was hard to guarantee that this wouldn't plant seeds of hidden trouble among future descendants, leading to dissatisfaction and disputes.

"Xuanming, take note."

Su Yang's smile faded, and his tone became solemn. "From now on, there must be fixed rules for the distribution of Family resources."

"All descendants of the second generation of the Su Family may directly use foundation establishment spiritual materials to condense True Spiritual Roots to ensure they can all step onto the Immortal path as early as possible."

What the Su Family lacked most right now was not foreign servants with cultivation, but Su clansmen with pure Bloodlines who could truly step onto the Immortal path.

The first and second generations of the Su Family were the Foundation of the Family's Bloodline. Only when all of them stepped onto the path of Immortal Cultivation could they hope to truly protect the Family business and ensure external enemies dared not lightly provoke them.

Therefore, both the first and second generations were required to step onto the Immortal path and, through necessary tempering, become solid pillars supporting the Family.

"As for the third generation of Su descendants, they shall, in principle, use ordinary Five Elements Materials to condense their Spiritual Roots. If someone displays astonishing talent and exceptional ability from a young age, they may use foundation establishment spiritual materials only after being certified by the Family."

He paused briefly before continuing, "Furthermore, Mortals without Spiritual Roots among the third generation can choose whether to Cultivate at the age of twelve. If they choose not to step onto the Immortal path, they can change their minds before the age of twenty."

"But once they pass twenty, there will be no more room for change or regret."

Su Yang's tone shifted, adding a touch of flexibility. "Of course, while the clan rules are established, they are not set in stone. In special circumstances, adjustments can still be made. The specific judgment shall be left to the current Head of the Family."

Most people in the Immortal Realm matured early; by age twelve, their minds were already developed enough to make choices regarding their life path.

If they chose to remain a Mortal at that time, they could still change their mind and return to the Immortal path before reaching twenty.

Starting Cultivation at twenty might be too late for ordinary people, but for descendants with a firm Dao Heart and the backing of the Su Family's massive resources, there was still hope of pushing for Foundation Establishment before the age of sixty.

As for those who only realized their mistake after twenty and wanted to step onto the path of Immortal Cultivation again, the Family would need to weigh the situation carefully.

Starting to Cultivate after twenty made the possibility of a successful Foundation Establishment extremely slim.

Su Yang's success was because he had a cheat; it couldn't be viewed as a normal reference standard.

However, the Su Family rules had always advocated for flexibility, so Su Yang didn't set the rules in stone, leaving a loophole.

What if a descendant in the future suffered the loss of a loved one and regretted not having stepped onto the Immortal path, deciding then to Cultivate for revenge?

The Dao-seeking heart of such people was often firmer than that of ordinary Cultivators. With the full support of the Su Family's resources, it was entirely possible for them to successfully reach Foundation Establishment within thirty or even twenty years.

The Immortal Realm was vast and boundless; such precedents were not unheard of.

Su Xuanming carefully recorded every word Su Yang said, incorporating them into the clan rules.

After a moment's thought, he asked, "Father, do you mean to temporarily hide the 'Hunyuan Condensing True Method' from the third generation and beyond until they are twelve years old?"

"Exactly," Su Yang nodded. "The first and second generations are the Family's Foundation and must all step onto the Immortal path, but this itself brings hidden dangers."

"Although you, Xuanjing, and the others try your best to hide your identities outside, no wall is completely windproof. No matter how careful you are, there will eventually come a day when you are exposed."

"Jiang Wuyu was the first to glimpse the signs. Fortunately, we eliminated him in time before a great disaster occurred."

Su Yang frowned slightly and continued, "The first and second generations are few in number and can still be managed. But by the third generation, the number of clansmen will inevitably surge. It will be even harder to keep it hidden then."

"Therefore, the Su Family must have Mortal descendants without Spiritual Roots."

"After all, not all clansmen desire to be Cultivators. There will always be some who only wish to live a stable life. They have no grand ambitions and only seek a peaceful life, some even willing to be playboys enjoying life."

"For such clansmen, the Family can satisfy their needs. As long as they don't cause major trouble, they can actually provide a layer of cover for the Family, helping to prevent the secret of the 'Hunyuan Condensing True Method' from leaking out."

This way, it would further confirm that the first and second generations of Su descendants all had Spiritual Roots because Su Yang had consumed a Heaven And Earth Treasure in his youth.

By the third generation, the effect of the Heaven And Earth Treasure would weaken, and Mortals without Spiritual Roots would begin to appear.

In any case, there were countless rare treasures in the world; with the mix of truth and lies, who could say for sure that what Su Yang said was false?

After hearing his father's words, Su Xuanming had a look of realization.

If he were a third-generation descendant, perhaps before the age of twelve, he too would have been full of longing for Immortal Cultivation.

But on the day he had to choose his life path at twelve, if he found that what he truly loved was business and management, he might have given up the Immortal path.

However, with his personality, by the time he reached twenty, he would probably start longing for longevity again, desiring to manage the Family for a long time and witness the Su Family's enduring prosperity with his own eyes.

People's pursuits are naturally different and often change as they grow older.

There are indeed those who are content with the Mortal world and do not seek the Immortal Dao.

To be able to spend a life in peace and happiness under the protection of the Family is not necessarily less fulfilling than stepping onto the perilous path of Immortal Cultivation.