Chapter 255: Reform

After hearing the total accounts reported by Song Changfeng, a trace of worry gradually arose in Song Qingming's heart. This clan council could be considered a wake-up call for him. Although the Song clan's finances were not yet in a state of exceeding income, continuing like this would indeed easily lead to problems.

There were more and more mortals and cultivators in the clan, but there were only a few places that could earn spirit stones. If they didn't find a way to increase revenue and reduce expenditure, the Song clan's financial income would definitely become less and less in the future, falling into a vicious cycle.

"Sixth Uncle, how many spirit stones are currently in the Golden Treasury's accounts?"

Seeing Song Qingming, who hadn't spoken yet, suddenly ask a question, Song Changfeng hurriedly took out the accounts and continued, "As of this year's income from all parties, there are currently 2,246 spirit stones in the treasury. Other magic tools, spiritual talismans, and other spiritual items add up to about 700 spirit stones. The total is about 2,900 spirit stones."

The others present didn't have much reaction after hearing this number. After all, in order to upgrade the spiritual vein, the Song clan not only emptied their hundred-year accumulation all at once, but also had all cultivators not receive their salaries normally for almost three years. It wasn't until five years ago that the clan finally paid off all these owed salaries. Being able to save nearly 3,000 spirit stones over these years was already considered not bad.

In the entire scene, only Song Qingming, the clan's Supreme Elder, felt in his heart that the clan was still a bit poor. After all, as a Foundation Establishment cultivator with relatively wealthy assets, his perspective on this matter was naturally different from those present. With only this many spirit stones in the clan's treasury, it was indeed a bit too little for a Foundation Establishment family; they couldn't withstand any trouble at all.

"Over these years, I have received the clan's salary, but most of my energy has been focused on cultivation, and I haven't come out to ask about clan affairs much. It is indeed a bit negligent.

Nowadays, the clan is developing too quickly, which has suddenly revealed many shortcomings in our foundation in all aspects. If we continue like this without finding a way to make some changes, I'm afraid there will be too many hidden dangers in the future.

For example, in the area of cultivation skills, I found that our Song clan's gap compared to others is a bit too large. From now on, the clan must start to attach importance to this area. I think it's better to directly implement some incentive measures. From now on, whoever can raise their cultivation skills to the first-grade top-quality can automatically receive a portion of the clan's subsidy, so as to encourage clan members to attach importance to this area."

Hearing Song Qingming say this, everyone present showed a trace of surprise. Nowadays, the Song clan's finances were not in deficit, and all aspects were in a relatively good state. Where were there any major hidden dangers?

What was somewhat strange was that although everyone present felt in their hearts that what Song Qingming said seemed a bit excessive, no one spoke up to respond. It seemed that everyone had long been accustomed to Song Qingming's arbitrary behavior.

After all, the Song clan being able to have today was, to put it bluntly, mainly the credit of this Supreme Elder. This included Song Qingyu's Foundation Establishment, which was also the result of Song Qingming's vigorous support. Although most of the people present were his elders, everyone was still quite convinced by Song Qingming from the bottom of their hearts. Regarding the opinions put forward by this Foundation Establishment cultivator of the clan, as long as it wasn't too outrageous, generally no one would speak up to oppose it.

Song Qingming naturally saw the reaction of the crowd, but he didn't intend to explain too much. After all, he was just putting forward a policy for managing the clan. Whether this policy would be beneficial or harmful after it was implemented in the future still needed time to verify. No matter how well he said it now, not everyone would be able to understand and believe him immediately.

Not to mention whether this idea was good or not, no matter what the result was, they could try it first. If it really didn't work, calling it off at any time wouldn't have much impact on the current Song clan.

Song Qingming, who had made up his mind to make some changes recently, then put forward several ideas, all about the clan's future development direction, including accelerating the pace of cultivating new spiritual veins, building mortal towns, saving spirit stones consumed by local formations, and increasing investment in clan spiritual fields, etc.

Regarding these ideas that Song Qingming put forward later, they were basically things that could be seen with the eyes. Everyone didn't have any opinions and one after another expressed approval of the ideas he put forward. This council lasted for more than an hour before it ended, spending much more time than in the past.

After the council ended, everyone left one after another. Song Qingming and Song Changfeng discussed specific affairs for a while before slowly returning to their cave dwelling step by step.

Just as he reached the top of the mountain, Song Qingming saw from afar a delicate figure looking up at the starry sky in the night.

"Is it because you've stayed on the mountain for too long these years that you want to go down the mountain?"

Two years ago, Song Qingyu's mother passed away. After hesitating repeatedly, Song Qingming still let her go down the mountain for a few days. As a result, Song Qingyu became even more silent after returning. Seeing her standing there alone, he thought she was thinking of her mother again.

Song Qingyu turned her head, looked at Song Qingming, and smiled lightly, "Seventh Brother, ever since I established my Foundation, I feel that I have become more and more accustomed to the days of staying alone these past few years. Besides you, other people in my heart seem to no longer appear so important."

"After cultivation reaches a certain realm, one always calmly accepts loss. No matter who it is, as long as their cultivation cannot keep up with you, they will eventually only live in your memory."

Song Qingyu said, "Then wouldn't it be fine to find someone who can keep up with you?"

"Have you found one?"

"I haven't, but you have." Song Qingyu looked at Song Qingming with her big eyes and revealed a trace of a sly smile.

"As for my affairs, I understand them myself. You'd better not worry blindly."

After Song Qingming glared at her lightly, he turned his head and looked at the deep sky in the distance.

Seeing that he was going to brush it off again, Song Qingyu suddenly couldn't help but say with a serious face, "Seventh Brother, for so many years, Sister-in-law has always been very good to you. You know this. You have always left her in Qinghe Square like this; isn't it too unfair to her?"

"She likes running a restaurant, and I respect her. What's wrong with that?" Song Qingming replied indifferently.

"It's true that you respect her, but do you really not know what she actually likes?" Song Qingyu's tone was full of a trace of suspicion.

"Seventh Brother, I can see that you also have feelings for Sister-in-law. Even if her surname is Huang, do you really intend to guard against her like this for a lifetime? Back then, when you went missing and there was no news of you at all, Qinghe Square was in such chaos. When people from the Huang family came to pick her up, she didn't go back, which is enough to show that she is a person of love and righteousness.

Sometimes I even think, if you hadn't given this Foundation Establishment Pill to me back then but had kept it for her, wouldn't you two not have to face loneliness alone like this?"

Hearing these words, Song Qingming looked at the sky for a long time without answering.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 256 =====