Chapter 735: Changes in Family Cultivators, Working Together to Develop (Happy Mid-Autumn Festival)

Half a month later, in the Song family discussion hall.

Song Qingming, Huang Siyuan, and Song Qingyu, the three Core Formation Old Ancestors, sat at the head, and the other Foundation Establishment elders of the Song family were already sitting on both sides of the hall.

After setting the strategy for the family’s northward development with Song Qingyu and Huang Siyuan, Song Qingming notified Song Yuanfang to recall the family’s Foundation Establishment elders from outside to "Mount Funiu" to discuss this matter.

The demonic beast turmoil had passed for more than twenty years. Now, the overall family strength of the Song family had not only recovered to the level before the turmoil but was also stronger than before.

Looking at the many Foundation Establishment elders sitting in front of them, Song Qingming and Song Qingyu and the others also showed satisfaction with the development and changes of the family over the years.

In addition to the three Core Formation Old Ancestors of Song Qingming, the Song family added three more Foundation Establishment elders in these ten years. Now the number of Foundation Establishment cultivators had reached sixteen, not worse than the peak of the Ma family back then.

These three newly promoted Foundation Establishment elders were Song Xuanying of the "Xuan" generation, and Song Linfeng and Song Linrui of the "Lin" generation.

Among the three, Song Linrui had the best cultivation aptitude and was the second dual-spiritual root cultivator of the Song family. He was just over thirty years old and had already successfully established his Foundation, and his cultivation speed was even faster than Song Yuanli, who was also a dual-spiritual root back then.

This was also thanks to the fact that the Song family was now a Core Formation immortal family, and its strength was far better than when Song Yuanli went up the mountain back then. The cultivation resources the family could provide to Song Linrui were also better than what Song Yuanli had back then.

Song Xuanying and Song Linfeng were both three-spiritual root aptitudes with no particularly outstanding cultivation talent. Both of them successfully established their Foundation in their forties, which was not much different from Song Qingming back then.

However, Song Xuanying had good talent in spiritual planting. Before he successfully established his Foundation, he had already raised his spiritual planting level to the second-grade low-tier, and his spiritual planting talent was not worse than Song Yuanxue back then.

It was also thanks to such a powerful immortal cultivation technique that Song Xuanying could gather enough merits to exchange for Foundation Establishment pills among many peers in the clan, successfully establish his Foundation, and become a family elder.

In addition to these three newly promoted Foundation Establishment elders, the cultivation of other Foundation Establishment elders of the Song family had also changed significantly after so many years.

Except for Song Yuanli, who had not yet returned, those who chose to leave the family to travel and experience had now returned to the family one after another, and each had gained a lot in their experience.

Among them, Song Changze and Liu Yuxin, a couple who went to the Qin Kingdom, increased their knowledge a lot while traveling outside. The two also found an opportunity in the market and explored the cave dwelling of a Core Formation cultivator who had passed away for many years together.

Although they went late, someone had already arrived first. However, the careful Liu Yuxin still found a third-grade spiritual item that was missed. After the two sold this item, they also exchanged for many spirit stones.

With these spirit stones, Liu Yuxin not only successfully broke through to the late stage of Foundation Establishment, but Song Changze’s cultivation also went further and reached the eighth level of Foundation Establishment.

Now, the couple Song Changze and Liu Yuxin were both late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators. In the eyes of many Song family cultivators, they had become seeds for the family to form the Core, and their prestige had gradually exceeded other family elders, only worse than Song Yuanfang, who had managed the family for many years.

Song Yuanhao, who chose to go to the Song Kingdom in the southeast of "Taiyue Lake," also had good opportunities.

After arriving in the Song Kingdom, he got his wish and found an opportunity to participate in a secret realm trial opened by the "Hunyuan Sect." Not only did he obtain many spiritual items from the secret realm, but he also found a third-grade low-tier spiritual herb.

However, when Song Yuanhao was competing with others for spiritual items in the secret realm, he was a bit unlucky and encountered a late-stage Foundation Establishment expert with strong strength.

After a great battle, Song Yuanhao successfully escaped with the second-grade high-tier spiritual talisman given by Song Qingming, but he was seriously injured because of this and spent more than a year to slowly recover.

Because the injury delayed a lot of cultivation time, Song Yuanhao’s cultivation only successfully broke through to the seventh level of Foundation Establishment a few years ago, and his cultivation was instead one step slower than Liu Yuxin.

However, Song Yuanhao’s trip outside also increased his knowledge and fighting ability. Coupled with the fact that he was an alien spiritual root cultivator who was not inferior to dual-spiritual roots, as long as he cultivated diligently, he would still have a great chance to overtake the couple Song Changze and Liu Yuxin in the future and successfully form the Core one step ahead.

Song Yuanqian and Song Yuanxue also left the family to travel and experience one after another, but compared to others, their opportunities were a bit worse, only increasing some knowledge and not obtaining any high-grade spiritual items.

Now their cultivation was still at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, which was a bit worse than the cultivation speed of Song Changze and others.

Among them, Song Yuanxue had already cultivated to the sixth level of Foundation Establishment, not far from the late stage of Foundation Establishment. Because Song Yuanqian established her Foundation relatively late, her cultivation had just broken through to the fifth level of Foundation Establishment not long ago.

Now, many Foundation Establishment elders of the Song family who had been arranged by Song Qingming to travel and experience had returned to the family, except for Song Yuanli, who had been in the Wu Kingdom for more than ten years and had not returned yet, which made Song Qingming worry a little in his heart.

If it weren't for the fact that Song Yuanli had sent letters back during this period and the life tablet he left in the family had not had any accidents, Song Qingming would have planned to go out to find him.

Many Foundation Establishment cultivators of the family went out to travel and experience. Some were lucky enough to find their own opportunities, and some were unlucky and had mediocre gains. These were all within Song Qingming’s expectations.

After all, personal opportunity was something that was hard for people to figure out. It was not that you would definitely encounter it if you went out to travel and experience.

No matter whether these family juniors had gains outside or not, as long as they could return safely, Song Qingming was very gratified in his heart.

Now, the family’s more than ten Foundation Establishment cultivators, except for Song Yuanli who had not returned from outside and Song Xuanting who was guarding "Shuangfeng Mountain," had all come to the family’s "Discussion Hall."

Currently, the Song family had a total of sixteen Foundation Establishment elders, among whom there were four late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators, namely Song Yuanli, who had already cultivated to the eighth level of Foundation Establishment before going out to travel and experience, Song Changze, who successfully broke through a few years ago, and Liu Yuxin and Song Yuanhao, who were at the seventh level of Foundation Establishment.

There were six mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators, among whom Song Yuanfang and Song Yuanxue had already cultivated to the sixth level of Foundation Establishment, and Song Yuanqian, Huang Leqing, and Song Xuanting were still at the fifth level of Foundation Establishment.

The last mid-stage Foundation Establishment elder, Song Xuanqing, successfully broke through to the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment a few years ago, and his current cultivation was only at the fourth level of Foundation Establishment.

The remaining six early-stage Foundation Establishment elders, Song Xuanfeng, Xuanyu, Xuanling, Xuanying, Linfeng, and Linrui, had not established their Foundation for a long time, and basically all successfully established their Foundation after the demonic beast turmoil.

Currently, their cultivation was still at the first or second level of Foundation Establishment, and only Song Xuanfeng’s cultivation was slightly higher, already at the peak of the third level of Foundation Establishment, not far from breaking through to the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment.

In addition to the changes in Foundation Establishment cultivators, the number of Qi Refining stage cultivators and mortals in the Song family had also increased significantly over the years.

After the demonic beast turmoil, after more than twenty years of recuperation, the overall number of cultivators in the Song family also ushered in an explosion, and now it had exceeded more than six hundred people.

Although it was still some distance from the nearly one thousand cultivators at the peak of the Ma family back then, as long as the family developed slowly, there would be a day when the number of Song family cultivators would exceed this number.

Thanks to the peace in Qinghe County for so many years, the number of family mortals had also increased steadily, and it had been counted as more than 900,000 not long ago, not far from exceeding one million.

Because of the development of the family, these family mortals were no longer limited to "Mount Funiu" and were scattered in every corner of Qinghe County.

Qinghe Market, Chiyan Market, Shuangfeng Mountain, Baiyang Mountain, basically wherever the Song family’s industry was involved, there were family mortals living here to help cultivators manage these industries.

Even in "Tuoyun Mountain," thousands of miles away, there were Song family cultivators who left mortal bloodlines there.

Glancing at the many family elders in front of him, seeing that everyone had arrived, Song Qingming took the lead to state the purpose of gathering everyone.

"The purpose of asking you to come back to discuss matters today, Yuanfang should have already told you, so I won't repeat it too much."

"The family is developing so fast, we certainly cannot always be limited to this small piece of land in Qinghe County, and we should find a way to expand our influence."

"Otherwise, sitting in a corner, no matter how many cultivation resources there are, they will sooner or later be consumed by us, which is not conducive to the family’s development in the future. I have decided to organize cultivators to go north to open up wasteland and expand territory in the near future."

"You are all family elders. If you have any opinions or ideas, you can say them now. Everyone can speak freely, don't be too restrained."

"The demonic beast turmoil has just passed, and now is a great opportunity for family development. I agree with the clan leader’s idea to expand territory northward!"

"Sixteenth Uncle is right. The family now has sufficient manpower, and there are dozens of vassal families in Qinghe and Pingyang counties that can be deployed. It has long been possible to expand our influence."

"Now there are no powerful demonic beasts in the many spiritual mountain territories north of Jinshan Market. Without the need for several Old Ancestors to take action, we can easily sweep away all spiritual mountains within a thousand miles."

"I also agree to expand territory,"

Hearing the idea of the family expanding territory northward from Song Qingming, the clan leader, Song Yuanfang, who was sitting at the head below, immediately stood up to echo.

Other many family elders also stood up to express their agreement, and no one had any objection.

Any low-grade immortal cultivation family in the cultivation world, once they advance to become a high-grade Core Formation or Nascent Soul force, will basically expand their influence outward rapidly.

The Song family had been a Core Formation immortal family for many years, but had only created one market, "Chiyan Market," and had never vigorously expanded its territory outward. Many cultivators in the family had long been dissatisfied with this.

Over the years, including Song Yuanfang, many family elders had also put forward suggestions to expand territory outward. However, due to the fact that the family had just advanced to a Core Formation family not long ago, the lack of cultivators and the unstable foundation, Song Qingming’s main energy was focused on his own cultivation and supporting Song Qingyu and the two to form the Core, and he had always been relatively conservative about the family’s expansion of territory.

At this moment, hearing that Song Qingming, the clan leader, had the idea of expanding territory outward, these Foundation Establishment elders were naturally very agreeable in their hearts, and each of them showed excitement on their faces.

The expansion of family influence could also bring a lot of resources to the Song family. At that time, every family cultivator could benefit from it, and these Foundation Establishment elders could naturally share a lot of benefits.

These were all interests related to all of them, and they wished that the family could expand as soon as possible, so naturally no one would jump out to oppose it at this time.

The Song family territory, the west and south directions were other counties and counties of the Wei Kingdom adjacent to it, and there was no space for expansion, so they could only develop to the east and north.

The "Cloud Mist Mountain" in the east, although there were no high-grade demonic kings, was surrounded by mountains, and there were miasmas in many places that were not suitable for mortals to survive, which was very troublesome to govern.

The Song family had only found "Chiyan Market" as a relatively suitable place to develop eastward. After so many years of development, although many new territories had been expanded, the development space was also relatively limited.

The place bordering the Floating Cloud Mountain Range in the north, although there were many mountains, the terrain was relatively flat, and the living environment was much better than "Cloud Mist Mountain," which was also the best direction for the Song family to expand territory at present.

Hearing the generous and impassioned words of everyone, Song Qingming smiled and nodded slightly: "Since the family has decided to expand territory northward, naturally we cannot just make a small fuss and only take some second-grade spiritual mountains, otherwise I wouldn't have called you all back."

"I already have a goal in my heart, to directly take down the third-grade spiritual vein of White Lion Ridge as the front line for our Song family to fight against the northern demonic beasts in the future, so that the flames of war will not easily affect the territories of Pingyang and Qinghe counties."

"If no one has any objection, then this matter is settled."

"Except for Yuanfang, Yuanqian, Leqing, Xuanfeng, and Xuanqing who will stay behind to guard the family, everyone else will follow me to set out for White Lion Ridge in two months."

"Follow the clan leader’s orders!" As soon as Song Qingming issued the order, the many family elders who were selected were overjoyed and shouted in unison.

Only Song Yuanqian and Song Xuanqing, who were personally named by Song Qingming to stay behind, showed disappointment on their faces, feeling regretful that they were not selected to participate in the family’s next expansion of territory.

Although the Song family was a family force, from the beginning of the establishment of the clan, the ancestors established the family "Treasury Pavilion" by imitating the merit system of the "Xiaoyao Sect" to evaluate and manage family cultivators.

Every Song family member would have their own account book in the family "Treasury Pavilion," and all their merits and demerits in the family would be recorded.

All those who made contributions to the family, regardless of the size of the contribution, could get the family merits issued by the "Treasury Pavilion," and then use them to exchange for various spiritual items and cultivation resources they needed in the "Treasury Pavilion."

To prove their value to others in the family and get more support from the family, the family merits recorded in the "Treasury Pavilion" were the most important proof for evaluating every clan member.

For every Song family member, family merits were the things they had always dreamed of and wanted to get most.

Because in the future, if the family supports Foundation Establishment or Core Formation, if there are not enough "Treasury Pavilion" merits in hand, it will be difficult to compete with others in the selection, and they can only miss the opportunity and the path in vain.

But for ordinary cultivators, it was not easy to obtain family merits, and they must have the ability to make contributions to the family.

Moreover, daily cultivation also required a lot of cultivation resources, all of which would consume family merits. Some newly promoted Qi Refining stage clan members, like Song Qingming when his cultivation was low back then, could not save much merit all year round.

Even these Foundation Establishment elders of the family rarely had the opportunity to obtain family merits except for guarding spiritual mountain industries for the family and occasionally using their immortal cultivation skills to undertake family tasks.

Only people like Song Yuanxue, who had a very outstanding high-grade immortal cultivation skill, earned family merits faster than others, and their lives would be relatively well-off.

Encountering the family’s expansion outward, it was a great opportunity for all Song family members to make contributions to the family. They were not selected, so they were naturally very regretful in their hearts.

Just after the family meeting ended, Song Yuanqian and Song Xuanqing specifically found the family’s chief steward, Song Yuanfang, wanting him to help speak in front of several Old Ancestors and give them an opportunity to contribute to the family this time.

Regarding this, Song Yuanfang was also helpless. This major event of the family expanding northward could not be done in a day or two.

With so many cultivators in the family, including Old Ancestors like Song Qingming, leaving the family, they must leave some cultivators to guard the spiritual mountains everywhere in the family. No matter who Song Qingming chooses, there will always be people who will miss this opportunity.

"You two have the heart to contribute to the family, I naturally agree with this. But there are so many industries in the family now that cannot be left without anyone to look after, don't you think?"

"To tell you the truth, if it weren't for Seventh Great-Uncle personally naming me, I would also want to go to the front line. I have always been in the family all these years, and my hands and feet are getting more and more numb."

"Since the Old Ancestor chose us to stay, he also trusts us. Everyone should patiently do their own work and don't think too much. I believe that when he returns, he will definitely not forget us."

Hearing Song Yuanfang’s comfort, Song Yuanqian, who was standing on the side, couldn't help but sigh: "Alas! It’s hard to have an opportunity to contribute to the family, but it was missed in vain. We are really unlucky this time."

Having traveled and experienced for many years, but never found an opportunity, and finally returning empty-handed, Song Yuanqian had always envied Song Changze and others who went out and found opportunities.

Now that the family had a great opportunity to expand outward, but she could only watch it being missed in vain. At this moment, Song Yuanqian couldn't help but sigh that her luck had been too bad all these years.

Seeing this, Song Yuanfang’s expression changed slightly, and he immediately shook his head and scolded: "Your cultivation is only at the fifth level of Foundation Establishment, and you haven't even reached the late stage of Foundation Establishment, so why do you keep thinking about forming the Core?"

"Being so ambitious, how can you achieve the Core Formation Dao? I think you should learn more from Changze and the others and improve your cultivation steadily, which is the right way."

Since being recognized by Song Qingming, the clan leader, Song Yuanfang had been responsible for managing the family’s affairs all these years, and his prestige in the family was not comparable to that of ordinary Foundation Establishment elders.

Even people like Song Yuanli and Song Changze, whose cultivation was higher than his now, were respectful in front of Song Yuanfang and very respectful to this family chief steward.

Seeing this elder brother, who had always performed very kindly in front of people, suddenly change his face and get angry, Song Yuanqian was also shocked and hurriedly lowered her head, and the atmosphere on the scene suddenly became a bit awkward.

Seeing this, Song Xuanqing, who was standing on the side, hurriedly stepped forward to smooth things over for her: "Haha! Sixteenth Uncle is right. Our cultivation is still shallow now, and it is indeed too early to talk about forming the Core."

"Moreover, the Core Formation Dao is so difficult. There are more than tens of thousands of cultivators in our Wei Kingdom, and how many people are lucky enough to successfully form the Core?"

"Even in the Xiaoyao Sect, there are not many people who have this confidence. Why should we seek this trouble for ourselves? It is better to improve our cultivation steadily and wait for the opportunity."

"When Seventh Great-Uncle went out to form the Core back then, although my cultivation was shallow, I already remembered things. I know how difficult it was for him at that time, which is not as simple as you think."

"Not to mention us, Eighth Uncle has been in the Xiaoyao Sect for many years, and his cultivation aptitude is not worse than ours. Even if he has the support of the sect and obtained the Core Formation spiritual item, he still couldn't pass this level."

"You are an elder who has established the Foundation for so many years, but in cultivation, you are not as transparent as Xuanqing." Hearing Song Xuanqing’s words, Song Yuanfang nodded slightly to express approval, and his face eased a little.

Song Yuanqian, who had been reprimanded, saw that Song Yuanfang’s face looked better at this moment, so she hurriedly nodded humbly: "I was just saying it in my mouth, I didn't mean anything else, Sixteenth Brother, don't be angry."

Song Yuanfang heard this, and his face was calm and sighed: "I know you are unintentional, but the family is developing so fast now, and there are many people, so it is inevitable that there will be many mouths. You should pay more attention to the influence in everything."

"Now is the time for the family to expand its territory outward. Your words just now were not conducive to the unity of the family. It’s fine for you to say it in front of me, but if the Old Ancestors on the top of the mountain heard it, how would you explain it?"

"Don't just seek temporary pleasure in your mouth when things happen, think more about the consequences."

"Sixteenth Brother, I know I was wrong, I will definitely pay more attention in the future." Hearing Song Yuanfang’s explanation, Song Yuanqian also came to her senses at this moment, realized that her words were wrong, and hurriedly agreed to the other party’s reminder.

Seeing this, Song Yuanfang also waved his hand with some gratification: "It’s fine if you know. I will remind Seventh Great-Uncle about this matter when I have a chance."

"He has always been fair in doing things, and he will definitely not treat us badly. You don't have to worry about this little thing. You can rest assured and go back."

"No matter who in the family has the opportunity to form the Core in the future, I hope you don't think too much."

"Now the family’s development momentum is good, as long as we can all work together, the days will always get better and better in the future. Maybe everyone of us will have the opportunity to form the Core, why be in a hurry for a moment."

"Hmm! Then thank you, Sixteenth Brother, we will go back first and not disturb you."

Knowing that Song Yuanfang had already taken this matter to heart, Song Yuanqian and Song Xuanqing were overjoyed, nodded hurriedly, and bid farewell to him.

Knowing that Song Yuanfang had already taken this matter to heart, both Song Yuanqian and Song Xuanqing revealed a trace of joy on their faces and hurriedly nodded to take their leave.