187: Chapter 187 Ye Family Meeting

Dali Courtyard

Over a dozen Elders of the Ye Family arrived one after another. Their faces were etched with a trace of sorrow and the exhaustion of battle. Upon taking their seats, they all turned their gaze toward the center of the courtyard, where Old Ancestor Ye Rongming sat, and fell into silence.

According to intelligence gathered from various sources, among the three major families of Cangjiang Prefecture, the Ye Family had suffered the fewest losses in this Yao Beast tide.

Only two Martial Ancestor powerhouses had fallen in battle!

The losses for the other two families were far greater; the Wei Family had lost thirteen Martial Ancestor powerhouses, and the Wang Family had lost eight.

As for the other losses, they were still being tallied, and only rough figures were known.

"Tuanbang, have the statistics for the losses been compiled?" Ye Rongming asked once most people had arrived.

"Old Ancestor, the specific data is still being tallied by the various stewards. Based on the reports received so far, we have made a rough estimate: a total of over 12,000 mu of Tier 2 and Tier 3 spirit fields have been destroyed. According to the stewards managing the spirit fields, only about 5,000 mu can be restored in the short term. The remaining spirit fields have been too severely damaged and cannot be restored for cultivation without decades of nurturing." Ye Tuanbang gathered his composure, suppressing his sorrow, and stood up to report to Ye Rongming.

"The Tier 2 and Tier 3 spirit plants planted in the surrounding areas have been swept away, completely devoured by the Yao Beasts."

"Furthermore... two Elders and 315 Martial Masters have fallen in battle."

At this point, Ye Tuanbang could not help but choke up. Losing a child in his old age—there were few things in this world more heartbreaking than that.

"None of the various halls and mountain peaks of the Family suffered any losses."

Just as the Yao Beasts broke through the Formation, Ye Rongming and Zhao Zuoxiang had rushed over. They had not yet had time to attack the various mountain peaks, which could be considered a stroke of luck amidst the misfortune.

In this Yao Beast tide, the low-ranking members of the Ye Family did not suffer any losses. Once they grew up in a few decades, they would undoubtedly become a great asset to the Family.

"Tuanbang, you have worked hard." Ye Rongming walked to Ye Tuanbang's side, gently patted his shoulder, and comforted him.

In fact, Clan Chief Ye Tuanhui had originally wanted to let Ye Tuanbang rest for a few days and leave the post-battle statistics to Grandfather Ye Tuantu, but Ye Tuanbang had resolutely refused, saying he could hold on and did not need to rest.

"Old Ancestor." Ye Tuanbang's body trembled slightly. Being affirmed by the Old Ancestor made everything he had done worthwhile.

"Jieguo, what is the status of the damage to the foundation of the Family protection Formation?" Ye Rongming turned his head and asked Array Master Ye Jieguo.

"Reporting to Old Ancestor, more than eighty percent of the foundation of the Family protection Formation has been damaged. It is estimated that it is no longer usable." Array Master Ye Jieguo said with a pained expression. Although he was only a Tier 3 Formation Master, he could still distinguish the condition of the Formation foundation.

"Hmm, I understand." Ye Rongming nodded.

Hearing this, everyone's eyes dimmed. Not to mention that a Tier 5 Formation was expensive, one often had to wait in line for an appointment to hire a Tier 5 Formation Master to come to Luomu Mountain and re-arrange the Formation.

"Tuanhui, distribute the compensation for the fallen Family members as soon as possible; do not let the Family members feel disheartened. As for the damaged spirit fields, issue a recruitment order to hire more Loose Cultivator Spirit Planters to assist the Family Disciples in restoring the spirit fields. Do not be afraid of consuming Spirit Stones; what we spend now, we will earn back in the future." Ye Rongming instructed. These words were not only for Clan Chief Ye Tuanhui but also for all the Elders present.

"Yes, Old Ancestor." Everyone stood up and replied respectfully.

Ye Yisong nodded. The Old Ancestor was truly the longest-living Martial Artist in the Family; his vision was simply different. He knew that any problem that could be solved with Spirit Stones was not a problem.

The older generation of Elders in the Family had been poor for too long; they clutched their Spirit Stones tightly and were reluctant to spend them.

"Next, let everyone speak about how the Family should deal with the 100-year Yao Beast tide five years from now." After arranging the various post-battle matters, Ye Rongming threw out another topic, inviting the Elders to speak freely.

This was also the central discussion task of this Family Council. Although the Ye Family had suffered heavy losses in this Yao Beast tide, the top priority was still to find a way to deal with the 100-year Yao Beast tide five years later.

In this sudden Yao Beast tide, the Ye Family had used up most of their stored strategic resources. Just the Tier 4 Talismans reserved for the 100-year Yao Beast tide had been consumed by seventy or eighty percent.

Otherwise, the number of Ye Family Elders who died in battle would definitely have been more than just two.

"Old Ancestor, I believe the Family should issue a recruitment order to absorb some Loose Cultivators with outstanding talent to join the Family and replenish the Family's fresh blood." Grandfather Ye Tuantu combined the practices of the Qi Family during the Prefecture Examination and put forward his own point of view.

"That is acceptable." Ye Rongming nodded in agreement.

"Old Ancestor, our Family currently has two Fourth-Rank Talisman Masters. I think we can use Tier 4 Talismans to exchange for the Cultivation resources our Family needs from major families in surrounding prefectures, so as to improve the strength of our Family Disciples to cope with the 100-year Yao Beast tide five years later." Ye Jiexin glanced at Ye Yisong and put forward the plan he had been plotting for a long time.

"This matter needs further consideration. What if..." Ye Tuanbang's view on this matter was still conservative; he believed that handing over Tier 4 Talismans to other families would likely be detrimental to the Family.

What if the exchanged Tier 4 Talismans were eventually used against Ye Family Martial Artists? How would the clansmen feel!

It was not just Ye Tuanbang; several other Elders also held opposing opinions. Which Family would feel they had too many Tier 4 Talismans?

Especially after this Yao Beast tide, the Elders of the Family felt this point even more clearly.

"Jiexin, Yisong, what is the success rate for you two in refining Tier 4 Talismans now?" Ye Rongming raised his hand to interrupt Ye Tuanbang and asked the uncle and nephew about their Talisman Making situation.

"I have a fifty percent success rate, and this child Yisong has a thirty percent success rate." Ye Jiexin transmitted his voice secretly, not telling the Elders present.

This could be said to be the most core secret of the current Ye Family, which must never be leaked.

Although the Family Elders present did not hear the answer, from the Old Ancestor's surprised look and Ye Jiexin's proud expression, they automatically and infinitely filled in the answer to this question in their minds.

"Good child." Ye Rongming had lived for four hundred years and had seen countless situations, big and small, but he was still surprised by this young man in front of him.

"We shall discuss this matter later. Does anyone else have any suggestions?" Ye Rongming suppressed the opposing opinions of several Elders and temporarily put this matter aside. Even if they were to do this, it would be a matter for two or three years later. In any case, they had to satisfy the Family's needs first, and only when there was a surplus would they make exchanges with the outside world.

"Old Ancestor, I think we should increase the stipends for Family Disciples in the next five years, allowing them to quickly improve their strength. Once their strength is powerful, all schemes and plots will not be worth worrying about." Ye Yisong expressed his opinion in the Family Council for the first time.

"That is acceptable. Tuanhui, you and Tuanbang discuss it and implement this matter." Ye Rongming did not wait for the crowd to discuss it; he immediately adopted Ye Yisong's suggestion and asked Clan Chief Ye Tuanhui to implement it quickly.

Seeing this scene, everyone instantly understood Old Ancestor Ye Rongming's favoritism toward Ye Yisong, and their assessment of Ye Yisong's importance increased once again.

"Furthermore..."