Chapter 63

"You brat." Watching Su Fan greet him respectfully, Su Shaoquan stroked his beard and smiled. He was very satisfied with Su Fan.

At first, when he learned that his brother's grandson had a very poor spirit root, he was quite saddened. After all, his own brother was gone, and now only Su Fan remained of that lineage. A poor spirit root meant that there wouldn't be much development in the future.

But he hadn't expected that the latter's cultivation speed would be extremely fast, even startling the Great Elder Su Shi'an.

If it weren't for the fact that the Ancestor Su Wanjun had been in seclusion, perhaps even the Ancestor would have been alarmed.

In the end, they reached the conclusion that he had a special constitution, though they weren't sure exactly what kind.

But seeing that his cultivation speed was no worse than a three-spirit-root cultivator, he was already very gratified.

In this way, there was a high possibility that he could reach the ninth layer of Qi Refining in the future, and perhaps even have a chance to obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill to break through to Foundation Establishment.

Of course, the latter possibility was very small.

As the family's Business Elder, he was very clear about the family's finances. After sixty years of quiet development, the family could now afford to buy one Foundation Establishment Pill.

But the possibility of Su Fan obtaining it was almost zero.

After all, a Foundation Establishment Pill must be consumed within ten years, otherwise, the medicinal effect would be lost.

Within ten years, could Su Fan break through to the ninth layer of Qi Refining? It was unlikely, and even if he reached the ninth layer, it would be hard for it to be his turn.

As for the future, the family's finances were not great; it had taken sixty years to barely accumulate twenty thousand spirit stones. After buying the pill, the family treasury would be empty, and the next time would likely take another fifty years.

However, none of this was for him to consider; by that time, he would likely be in the ground. Children and grandchildren have their own fortunes; at most, he could give them a little benefit. After all, he was an elder of the Su family and had to consider the Su family first.

"I suppose you met your big brother just now, and he should have told you why I asked you to come."

"Yes, Big Brother told me. Grand-Uncle, you are looking for me regarding family business. Is there something you need me to handle?"

Su Fan nodded and said.

"Correct. You are an adult now, and family rules state that every adult disciple must contribute to the family."

Su Shaoquan spoke calmly, yet with unquestionable authority. Everyone in the family had to contribute, even to the point of fighting to the death.

The Su family's current standing was not just due to the Ancestor Su Wanjun, but also those disciples who gave their lives for the Su family.

"Grandson understands. What task does Grand-Uncle have for me?"

Su Fan nodded without hesitation. Working for the family certainly wasn't for free; there was a salary, and it was a bit more than what he received before. He was eager to do more because he was short of spirit stones.

He needed them for cultivation or to purchase pills.

"I am gratified that you think this way." Stroking his beard, Su Shaoquan smiled and said, "Don't worry, your Grand-Uncle is the Business Elder, after all; I will give you an easy task."

"It just so happens that the family discovered a hidden first-grade mid-tier spirit vein at Baiyun Feng. We elders discussed it and decided to open up a few acres of spirit fields there and arrange for some mortals to establish a small town."

"I heard you know the Spring Breeze Rain Technique, so I intend to send you there to be in charge of this matter. What do you think?"

Su Shaoquan was doing this entirely for Su Fan's benefit. This task was not too difficult, nor was it dangerous, as Baiyun Feng was entirely within the Su family's territory.

He would almost never encounter external enemies.

Developing fertile fields was certainly not a simple matter, but Su Fan had already learned the Spring Breeze Rain Technique. This was an extremely difficult auxiliary spell to learn; although it belonged to the first-grade high-tier, it was more difficult than many second-grade spells.

It was not a combat spell and did not improve personal strength, but it was the most important spell for a spirit planter.

This spell condensed the surrounding spirit energy into rain to irrigate the fields.

Spirit fields were different from ordinary fields; the spirit herbs and plants grown there required spirit energy, and the Spring Breeze Rain Technique was created specifically for this purpose.

Su Fan was quite proficient in this spell.

"Thank you, Grand-Uncle. I am willing to accept this task."

By opening up spirit fields, Su Fan could also obtain a certain income in the future. This was considered a reward from the family to the individual. After all, the Spring Breeze Rain Technique consumed a great deal of magic power, which was a significant burden for a cultivator.

However, Su Fan was still quite willing. As long as he could open up three to five acres of spirit fields, Su Fan would make a huge profit.

The annual income would likely increase by more than a dozen spirit stones.

Currently, the Su family only possessed thirty-some acres of spirit fields, with an annual profit of three to five hundred spirit stones.

This was already quite good.

Because for newly opened fields, the developer received a larger share.

This was entirely a benefit for Su Fan. As for leading mortals to build a town, it wasn't too difficult; he estimated that they just hoped Su Fan would sit in charge there for a few years.

The Su family currently possessed about a hundred cultivators, and there were nearly thirty to fifty thousand mortals of Su family blood.

This was very few in Yu County. Like the Wang and Liu families, the mortals they ruled numbered in the hundreds of thousands, or even millions.

Every year, dozens of children with spirit roots were born.

The Su family had been established for too short a time, and with insufficient manpower, they could not expand the mortal population, because once the mortal population increased without enough cultivators, it would attract demonic cultivators.

The Su family had nearly fifty thousand mortals. Under Yunwu Shan, in several county towns, more than ten Qi Refining disciples were stationed in each, including one elder.

Now, the Su family's development required more cultivators, so they had to expand the mortal population. It just so happened that a spirit vein was discovered at Baiyun Feng; although it was only a first-grade mid-tier spirit vein, it could still accommodate a few mid-stage Qi Refining cultivators.

Fortunately, Baiyun Feng was within the range of Yunwu Shan and would not have any major dangers, so they arranged for Su Fan to sit in charge alone.

Upon receiving the family task, Su Fan made full preparations. Three days later, led by an elder, he went to Baiyun Feng.

First, they had to open up the spirit fields, which required consuming one hundred spirit stones, crushing them, and placing them in the fields to turn into nutrients.

This was indispensable; otherwise, the field would lack spirit energy and could not be turned into a spirit field. After the Eighth Elder finished this,

he patted Su Fan on the shoulder and said, "Xiao Jiu, I leave this place to you. For now, the family can only open up three acres of spirit fields; take good care of them."

"As for those mortals, your Sixteenth Uncle will bring people over when the time comes."

The Eighth Elder, Su Shaozhen, was relatively young compared to the other elders, not yet fifty years old.

"Elder, rest assured, I will definitely take good care of this place."

One hundred spirit stones could only open up three acres, but the surroundings could also absorb a little spirit energy. When the time came, they could open up another one or two acres along the perimeter, though that would be a few years later.

For the first year, he would focus on upgrading these three acres to first-grade low-tier spirit fields.

First-grade low-tier spirit fields, although the lowest grade, could still grow some spirit rice, such as Jade Essence Rice, which Su Fan planned to plant.

This Jade Essence Rice was spirit rice consumed by cultivators, containing a small amount of spirit energy. Using it for cultivation probably wasn't great, but it could provide sustenance.

After all, even cultivators at the Foundation Establishment stage still could not abstain from grain.

Moreover, cultivators were unwilling to eat mortal food, so Jade Essence Rice was naturally the best choice.

One spirit stone could buy about twenty catties, and one acre of spirit field, if well cared for, could produce three hundred catties.

This meant nearly forty-five spirit stones a year. Of course, he also had to hand over eighty percent to the family.

However, this was just the beginning. Once the spirit fields were upgraded to first-grade mid-tier, or even high-tier, it would be even more impressive.

Su Fan was confident in turning it into a first-grade mid-tier spirit field; after all, there was a first-grade mid-tier spirit vein here, so the spirit energy was sufficient.