Chapter 22: News from the Main Family
Song Changsheng scratched his head awkwardly and said with a wry smile, “I thought I was being discreet enough, but you still saw through it.”
Just as Xia Yunxue had said, when he released Chang Tianhua, he had secretly injected a trace of fire qi into his body. This fire qi would travel along his meridians and invade his dantian qi sea.
Once Chang Tianhua tried to cultivate, he would feel an excruciating, burning pain in his dantian.
This fire qi was a unique ability from the cultivation technique Song practiced, it could only be removed before it reached the dantian.
Once it got inside, even a Foundation Establishment cultivator would be helpless. Unless Chang Tianhua’s father, the sect master, could find some rare and exotic treasures, Chang Tianhua’s cultivation path would essentially be over.
It had to be said, mother and son truly were cut from the same cloth, using eerily similar tactics.
Such underhanded methods might seem despicable, but mercy toward an enemy was cruelty to oneself, it was merely a matter of differing standpoints.
“These spirit stones are for your cultivation.” Xia Yunxue handed over all the spirit stones the Earthfire Sect members had gathered, more than a thousand in total to Song Changsheng.
He accepted them without protest. On one hand, they were from his mother; on the other, his cultivation was expensive and he truly needed the spirit stones.
Just like that, Song Changsheng suddenly became a “wealthy man” carrying over two thousand spirit stones.
But while that sounded like a lot, they would be spent quickly. To reach Foundation Establishment, this amount was far from enough…
Not long after, the third elder, Song Luoyao, arrived as well. She had just slain a mid-grade second-rank beast and having sensed Foundation Establishment cultivators battling, she had rushed over in fear that Xia Yunxue might be outnumbered.
Once Xia Yunxue explained the situation, she returned to the mortal city, which was where she should be.
After seeing her off, Song Luoyao glanced coldly at Song Changhu and said, “Your cultivation is lacking and your temperament is reckless. Go to the back mountain and reflect in solitude for a month.”
“Yes, Elder.” Song Changhu became as obedient as a rabbit in front of her and showed no discontent over the punishment.
Then Song Luoyao turned to Song Changsheng. Her icy expression finally softened slightly. “You’ve done well. Your mother has raised a fine son. Once the trial ends, I’ll personally request a commendation for you from the Grand Elder.”
“Thank you, Elder. It was simply my duty,” Song Changsheng replied at once.
“Hmph, overly modest, just like your father,” Song Luoyao said coldly, then announced the end of the trial and told them to prepare to return to the clan.
...
Three Days Later. Clan Council Hall.
The elders who had stayed behind and the respected senior clan members gathered in the council hall.
The main seat was still empty, indicating that Song Xianming had not emerged from seclusion. This was not good news for those present, as today was an important clan meeting.
The patriarch’s absence could only mean that his condition was not optimistic.
“The hour has arrived. Let’s begin,” Grand Elder Song Xianyun said, looking around.
“News has already come back from Lu Ke’s side, the main family will soon be refining a new batch of Foundation Establishment Pills. According to our prior agreement with the main family, we should receive about three to five pills. This old man believes the clan should quickly gather spirit stones, lest we miss our window.”
An elderly clan member with white hair rose and spoke seriously.
Song Xianyun turned his gaze to Song Luzhou, who looked like he’d just eaten bitter melon. “Luzhou, you oversee the clan’s finances and the Hall of Hundred Arts. Give me a clear answer, how many spirit stones can we muster right now?”
“Twenty-First Uncle, it’s not that I’m slacking off… but the truth is, the clan simply doesn’t have many spirit stones left.
“The trade route through Falling Sunset City has been cut off for years. Just that alone costs us thousands of spirit stones annually.
“The demon-hunting squads are down to two. They bring in only a few hundred stones a year, barely enough to matter.
“As for the spirit stone mine, we had to give up ten percent of the profits to those five families, costing us thousands more per year…”
Song Luzhou began pouring out his woes, exaggerating the clan’s financial woes as though it was about to go bankrupt. His tone, expression, and gestures all seemed designed to win sympathy.
“Bang!”
A clan elder slammed the table and stood up, his beard bristling and eyes wide. “You brat! Acting like it’s the end of the world. I ask you this, how much can you actually produce? The clan’s worked hard for generations. Don’t tell me we can’t afford it! If not, you must be lining your own pockets!”
Song Luzhou immediately shrank back and cried out, “Uncle, now that’s just slandering me!”
“Then tell us, how much?”
“100,000. At most 100,000 spirit stones, not a single coin more,” Song Luzhou said stubbornly.
“100,000? You think that’s enough for five Foundation Establishment Pills?” the elder fumed, slapping the table repeatedly.
Everyone around rushed to calm him, afraid the century-old elder might have a stroke on the spot.
Once he had been soothed, Song Xianyun cleared his throat and said, “Luzhou, while the main family is offering us a discount, each pill still costs at least 30,000. 100,000 isn’t enough. See if there’s anywhere else you can squeeze from.”
Still, Song Luzhou held firm. “Unless we borrow from the entire clan, I can’t find another coin.”
“Sigh…” Song Xianyun sighed deeply. He knew Luzhou was telling the truth. Though stingy, Luzhou had never skimped on clan affairs.
If he said 100,000 was the limit, then the family’s finances had already been squeezed dry.
“Send out the notices. I’ll swallow my pride, we’ll borrow from the clan members,” Song Xianyun said in a heavy voice.
“I’ll offer 300,” said one elder, standing up.
“I’ll give 200.”
“I’ll give 400.”
…
One by one, the elders stood and pledged what little they had. As mere Qi Refining cultivators, their contributions were nearly all they had.
“I’ll put up 3,000,” Song Xianyun declared.
“I’ll give 2,500,” Song Luzhou said, his face full of pain.
When it came to Third Elder Song Luoyao, however, she coldly stated, “Everyone, I believe it’s still too early to be raising funds.”
She had barely finished speaking when Song Luzhou jumped up. Ninth Sister, I’ve already dug up my coffin savings for this—you’re not getting cold feet, are you?”
Song Luyao shot him a displeased look and said: “Not everyone is as money-grubbing as you. Twenty-First Uncle, I have my reasons for saying this.”
Song Xianyun nodded. “Explain in detail.”
“The last time we received Foundation Establishment Pills from the main family was eight years ago. That time, we were supposed to receive six pills. But the main family gave us all kinds of excuses and withheld three.
“In the end, the remaining three pills created two Foundation Establishment cultivators, sister-in-law and Twelfth Brother.
“We all know that the so-called reasons given by the main family were just excuses. In reality, they gave the three pills that should have been ours to another branch of the family.
“And the reason is simple: after that battle, our patriarch lost his chance to break through to the Purple Mansion realm and our clan suffered heavy losses. The main family no longer holds us in high regard, we’ve been downgraded to a mere Foundation Establishment clan.
“In other words, while we’re theoretically entitled to five pills this time, we might struggle just to secure three. That’s all I have to say.”
Song Luoyao’s words cast a shadow over everyone present, because what she said was entirely plausible.
(Chapter End)