35: Chapter 35 Five Years

The banquet lasted for a full day and night.

After the banquet ended, some Qi Refining Cultivators gathered together to hold a trade fair.

Meanwhile, several families took this opportunity to properly temper their younger generation, letting them spar on the Chen Family's arena to broaden their horizons and gain experience.

Of course, the sparring among the younger generation was limited to those under eighteen years old. If those over eighteen were to spar, it would be difficult to control, and if someone accidentally injured or killed the opponent, it would be hard to explain.

The Chen Family also had several members of the younger generation participating. As a newly promoted Foundation Establishment Family, coupled with the resources of the past few years, the strength of the Chen Family's younger generation was much stronger than before. In particular, the sixth older brother, Chen Changyue, had taken the stage three times, resulting in two wins and one draw.

Moreover, Chen Changyue's cultivation was still at the 2nd Layer of Qi Refining. Those he fought against included not only those at the 2nd Layer of Qi Refining, but also one at the 3rd Layer of Qi Refining. If it hadn't been for him holding back at the end, the opponent would have accidentally been beaten to death by him, so in the end, both sides were judged as a draw.

Of course, this was related to the Golden Radiance Art he cultivated. Just like Chen Xuanyi, as a Cultivation Technique focused primarily on combat, its combat power within the same realm far surpassed that of other Cultivators. Therefore, he had always taken Chen Xuanyi as the target of his efforts, hoping to become the sharpest spear of the Family.

After the sparring ended, whenever he looked at Chen Changqing, his eyes always carried a trace of shame. Back then, he was the oldest of them all and had once made up his mind to protect them hard. However, in that final battle against the Wu Family, he was unable to participate due to insufficient cultivation. Even now, Chen Changqing had already reached the 4th Layer of Qi Refining, while he was still lingering at the 2nd Layer of Qi Refining. How could he not feel ashamed?

Chen Changqing was unaware of his thoughts, or rather, every member of the Chen Family shared this thought of protecting their own clansmen.

Over these past few days, ever since he returned to the clan, he was either dragged away to play by Li Qingling or surrounded by Chen Changyue and the others asking all sorts of questions. Although he felt somewhat helpless, he still patiently explained things one by one.

Several days later, most of the Chen Family's Cultivators gathered in the ancestral hall. Today's meeting was mainly about the future development of the Family.

"Since our Family has already become a Foundation Establishment Family, in order for the Family to develop better, our Family system must also undergo certain changes."

"Starting from today, following the example of other Foundation Establishment Families, the position of Elder shall be established. Anyone who reaches the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining cultivation can be promoted to the position of Elder."

"In addition, apart from the ancestral hall, the Family will also establish four halls: the Artifact Refining Hall, the Talisman Refining Hall, the Mission Hall, and the Law Enforcement Hall. As for the specific appointment of which clansmen will serve as Hall Masters, I have already asked Yuanwen to prepare it," Clan Leader Chen Xuanlin said, and then he looked at Chen Yuanwen.

Chen Yuanwen's aura was now extremely powerful. Compared to a few years ago, he had already stepped into the Perfection of the Qi Condensation 7th Layer. He nodded at Clan Leader Chen Xuanlin, took over the conversation, and said, "The Hall Master of the Artifact Refining Hall will be held by Yuanjin, the Hall Master of the Talisman Refining Hall by Changqing, the Mission Hall by Yuanqing, and the Hall Master of the Law Enforcement Hall by myself. If anyone has any objections, you may raise them now." Chen Yuanwen glanced around at the crowd with a stern expression.

Everyone had no objections. Not to mention anything else, as the number one artifact refiner of the Family, Chen Yuanjin naturally had the qualifications to become the Hall Master of the Artifact Refining Hall. Meanwhile, Chen Changqing was currently the only Talisman Master in the Family. In addition, Chen Yuanqing excelled in intelligence and could provide more reasonable arrangements for Family missions, while Chen Yuanwen was the highest-IQ member in the Family, with all regulations formulated by him. In this situation, who would still have any objections?

"Since everyone has no objections, we will do as Yuanwen said," Clan Leader Chen Xuanlin made the final decision.

Then came the remaining topics, such as the current status of the Family.

Currently, the Family possessed a total of five Spiritual Veins. Among them, Qingyang Mountain was a Grade 1 Ultimate Spiritual Vein, the former Red Leaf Ridge of the Wu Family was a Grade 1 High Grade Spiritual Vein, Qingzhu Mountain and Biyun Mountain were both Grade 1 Medium Grade Spiritual Veins, and Wusong Mountain was a Grade 1 Low Grade Spiritual Vein.

Across the five Spiritual Veins, a total of 750 mu of spiritual fields were cultivated, yielding a total of 150,000 catties of spiritual rice each year, along with 27 spiritual fish nurtured by the Spiritual Veins and two black bear cubs.

Besides all these, there was also the Family's income from last year, among which Talismans made the greatest profit. Because Chen Changqing was responsible for Talisman refining, last year the Family earned a total of 500 Spirit Stones in the Talisman shop because of him.

Meanwhile, the artifact shop earned a total of 150 Spirit Stones, and other businesses earned a total of 400 Spirit Stones. That is to say, Chen Changqing single-handedly shouldered nearly half of the Family's income.

Then came the number of Family Cultivators: three from the Xuan generation, eleven from the Yuan generation, and the Chang generation had the most, already reaching fourteen people. There were also eight other female Family members, making a total of thirty-six Cultivators.

Next was the cultivation levels: one Foundation Establishment Cultivator, one Ninth Layer of Qi Refining Cultivator, and four Late Qi Refining Stage Cultivators. As for the Middle Stage of Qi Refining, there were fifteen, and there were also fifteen in the Early Stage of Qi Refining.

This number of people simply could not compare to other Foundation Establishment Families. They had at least over a hundred Cultivators, and some even reached two hundred.

To solve this problem, more than a year ago, the Chen Family had already encouraged Mortal clansmen to work hard on marrying and having children, expanding the number of Mortals and thereby increasing the number of Cultivators.

As for the current Family Cultivators, the efforts in cultivating them were stepped up. Not only were the cultivation resources for the Juniors doubled, but the stipends for all Middle and Late Stage Qi Refining Cultivators were also doubled.

Thus, the Family entered a period of stable development lasting for five years.

...

Five Years later, Qinghe Market.

Inside a Talisman shop, a young man wearing a green robe walked out of his closed-door cultivation room. He was none other than Chen Changqing. By now, he had shed his childishness, and his eyebrows and eyes instead exuded a vigorous heroic spirit.

Chen Changqing came to the main hall of the Talisman shop, and the shop assistants and maids who saw him had looks of surprise and awe in their eyes.

Because his current cultivation was already that of a Qi Refining Cultivator at the 8th Layer, even though he had suppressed his aura to the 6th Layer of Qi Refining through the Breath-Hiding Technique, it was still shocking to people.

In addition, he was now also a Grade 1 Ultimate Talisman Master. Moreover, over these past five years, he frequently went out to hunt Yao Beasts. In terms of being a Body Cultivator alone, his Physical Body had long reached that of a Grade 1 Ultimate Yao Beast, and his Divine Soul cultivation was even more terrifying. According to his own estimation, it was roughly equivalent to the 2nd Layer of Foundation Establishment.

If he were to fight a Foundation Establishment Cultivator one-on-one right now, he wouldn't dare say he would win, but at least he wouldn't be slain by a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. However, facing Qi Refining Cultivators, even one at the Perfection of the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, solving them for him was as easy as flipping a hand.

"Has Qingling still not emerged from closed-door cultivation?" Chen Changqing glanced at the room where Li Qingling was in seclusion and muttered to himself. A few years ago, after this little girl reached the 4th Layer of Qi Refining, she insisted on coming to the market. Her parents initially disagreed, so the little girl took a different path and went to study Talismans. As a result, she actually succeeded, reaching a Grade 1 High Grade Talisman Master in just five years. And this was achieved while ensuring her own cultivation progress; such a speed was simply terrifying. He himself had such a powerful Divine Soul only because of the dao bead.

Ultimately, two years ago, relying on her attainment as a Grade 1 Medium Grade Talisman Master in Talisman refining, she disregarded her parents' opposition and finally came to the market.