94: Promote virtuous people without avoiding relatives

The Little Divine Tree was planted in a stone pool about ten feet square. The pool had no water, filled only with sparse soil.

But what was strange was that the soil, despite being illuminated by the Little Divine Tree's precious light, did not appear equally extraordinary.

Instead, it remained an ordinary blackish-yellow, yet within its sparse texture, a rich and extremely potent earth-attribute Spiritual Qi emanated.

Lin Shiming couldn't help but walk forward. He had previously been focused on the Little Divine Tree and had completely forgotten about the soil and the stone pool.

Now, upon inspection, he realized this was no ordinary soil; it was all Third-Grade spirit soil.

And this hall, with the Formation broken, also emitted the Spiritual Qi of a Third-Grade Spiritual Vein.

Everything became clear. Cultivator Wu had indeed found a good place. No wonder he infiltrated the Lingnan Seven Fiends. This Third-Grade earth-attribute Spiritual Vein was just like the one in the Qingyun Mountain Range.

It was most suitable for the growth of the Little Divine Tree, and there was so much Third-Grade spirit soil, a whole stone pool full, far more than in the Qingyun Mountain Range.

However, he estimated that the Little Divine Tree likely had specific requirements for spirit soil, and when it was taken from the Spirit Beast Sect, a large amount of spirit soil was probably taken with it.

Lin Shiming joyfully turned his gaze back to the Divine Tree.

Intense precious light flowed, as if containing wondrous natural scenery within, beautiful and magnificent.

And just standing beside it, it felt as if the sound of the Dao resonated around him.

This Little Divine Tree only grew to about ten feet tall in its entire life, which was exceptionally short compared to other spirit trees.

But it required a full two hundred years to mature.

Two hundred years of Spiritual Qi essence all concentrated into a single fruit, after which the tree would wither.

One must know that even a single Minor Divine Power Fruit could allow a Purple Mansion Cultivator to comprehend an additional Minor Divine Ability, undoubtedly elevating his standing on the Purple Mansion Dao path.

Even among Purple Mansion Cultivators of a Sect, not everyone could comprehend a Minor Divine Ability.

Judging by its current height, the Little Divine Tree was only sixty years old, meaning it still needed another one hundred and forty years to mature. This made Lin Shiming a little regretful.

But for such a treasure, merely obtaining it was an immense stroke of Luck. If it were truly close to maturity, the value of the precious tree would be even greater, and his chances of acquiring it would be even more minuscule.

Lin Shiming was now also a Second-Grade Medium Grade Spirit Planter. He hesitated whether to transplant the Little Divine Tree. Transplanting would surely harm the Little Divine Tree, but if he didn't, there was no longer a Third-Grade spirit-isolating Formation, leaving it here.

Being close to the Qingyun Mountain Range, who knew how many Yao Beasts would come? The worst-case scenario was the fear of Cultivators arriving.

If word got out, it wouldn't be Foundation Establishment Families and Purple Mansion Families coming to trouble the Lin Family, but absolutely the Qingxuan Sect and the Spirit Beast Sect.

At this thought, Lin Shiming made up his mind to take the Little Divine Tree with him in a jade box.

To avoid prolonged complications, Lin Shiming didn't hesitate. He took out the highest-grade spirit-nourishing liquid, combined with his wood-attribute magical power from the Purple Wood Heart Sutra.

However, he discovered with a bitter smile that his wood-attribute spiritual power and the spirit-nourishing liquid were completely useless.

At this moment, he could only, like a Loose Cultivator, forcibly move the Little Divine Tree with brute strength.

Lin Shiming used his Flying Sword to lift both the Little Divine Tree and the spirit soil, then took out a jade box and cast several spirit spells.

He placed the Little Divine Tree into the jade box. The jade of the box immediately began to show cracks, clearly unable to withstand the immense Spiritual Qi. Lin Shiming had to place another jade box outside to prevent excessive loss of the Little Divine Tree's Spiritual Qi.

After securing the Divine Tree, the burden on Lin Shiming's heart finally lifted.

Only then did he have the leisure to examine the hall. The hall was a hundred feet square. Apart from the stone pool in the very center where the Little Divine Tree had been, the rest of the area was very spacious, with only a few stone tables and a meditation cushion.

At the end of the hall, there were several stone chambers.

Lin Shiming walked into the first stone chamber and immediately discovered dozens of unrefined gold-iron stones placed inside.

The second and third stone chambers were a cultivation room and a bedroom, respectively. Both were exceptionally simple, with nothing left behind, which extinguished Lin Shiming's hope of finding more treasures.

After checking, Lin Shiming took out a defensive Formation, activated it, and placed it in the stone hall to minimize the outflow of Spiritual Qi.

Then, he used an Earth Escape Talisman again and headed towards the surface.

After looking around and finding nothing unusual, Lin Shiming released his Golden Luan Eagle to observe the situation, then headed towards Fangmu Mountain without looking back... On Fangmu Mountain, the lotus flowers in the spirit pond were still blooming beautifully.

Lin Xianzhi and Lin Houyuan were in the pavilion, brewing tea and discussing the Dao.

After the battle at Xing County Market, Lin Houyuan had recognized many of his shortcomings. Upon returning, he repeatedly practiced and frequently sought advice from Lin Xianzhi.

Lin Xianzhi, being in the Late Foundation Establishment Stage, possessed cultivation experience that was extremely valuable to Lin Houyuan.

However, in the next moment...

"Houyuan, what do you think of Shiming?" Lin Xianzhi took a sip of spirit tea, suddenly changing the topic from the Dao he had been discussing.

This made Lin Houyuan a bit puzzled, so he could only ask,

"Does Seventh Grand Uncle refer to...?"

"How about letting him be the Family Head?" Lin Xianzhi suddenly asked.

"This... Shiming, though talented, is still inexperienced and needs more tempering. Perhaps let Hou Shou take it instead." Lin Houyuan replied with some hesitation.

Although he had long known Seventh Grand Uncle's intentions, and he indeed yearned for Lin Shiming to succeed, the twenty-five-year-old Lin Shiming still made him feel a bit young.

"Are you still regretting the matter with Shui? But you must remember to recommend the capable, regardless of kinship. Since Shiming has the ability, why not let him try? Whether it was the Auction or the Huang Family's Purple Mansion Cave, his foresight is even greater than yours and mine," Lin Xianzhi responded with some admiration.

Just then, a flash of Spirit Light appeared nearby and landed in Lin Xianzhi's hand.

After glancing at it, Lin Xianzhi smiled and said,

"Speak of Shiming, and Shiming arrives."

Lin Houyuan heard this and looked strange. When Lin Shiming had applied to go to Lingnan County, he had said the timing was uncertain and that he needed to temper himself.

Less than half a month later, he was already done tempering?

Lin Xianzhi, however, vaguely guessed something. With a wave of his hand, a spirit talisman message flew out.

Before long, Lin Shiming arrived at the pavilion.

"Seventh Grand Uncle, Father!" Lin Shiming respectfully greeted the two elders.

Then, he spoke with excitement,

"Seventh Grand Uncle, Father, I discovered a gold-iron stone ore vein in Lingnan County!"

As soon as these words were uttered, the two, who were drinking tea, instantly stood up, their faces filled with shock.

"Are you sure it's a gold-iron stone ore vein?" Both spoke with trembling voices.

Although the Lin Family was now much better off than before among Foundation Establishment Families, the Family's finances were a huge problem. The Li Family was targeting them in Qingyun Market and assassinating the Lin Family's demon-hunting team in the Qingyun Mountain Range. The Family's stipends had increased significantly, but income had dropped too much.

Even with the recent income from Xing County Market and Spirit Fish, the Family's development was still hampered by Spirit Stones. One must know that the Lin Family now had an Ascension to Immortality Assembly every three years, and the Shi Generation already numbered almost eighty people.

Facing the elders' disbelief, Lin Shiming immediately took out a palm-sized gold-iron stone for them to examine.