Secret Deliberations

Azure Lotus Mountain. On a certain imposing azure pavilion, a plaque bore the three large golden characters: "Azure Lotus Pavilion."

Inside the spacious hall, two broad carved wooden chairs stood at the central seats of honor. Below them, rows of azure wooden chairs lined both sides, each chair carved with an azure lotus on its back.

Six Wang Family Clan Elders sat in the azure wooden chairs on either side. They were all elders of the Yao generation and had already retired behind the scenes. Ordinarily, they taught the younger generation or guarded the family ancestral hall, rarely involving themselves in lineage affairs. However, whenever the lineage made a major move, Wang Mingyuan would discuss it with them.

"Sixth Brother, what happened this time? The last time Mingyuan gathered us, it was to have the younger clansmen start working two years early. He can't be planning to move it up again, can he? Sixteen-year-old clansmen have low cultivation and understand little. If clansmen under sixteen are sent out to work, that would be even worse." An elderly man in a long azure robe spoke.

The old man was lean-faced, with a goatee and several deep wrinkles across his forehead.

The azure-robed elder was Wang Yaoheng, eighth among the Yao generation. He was sixty-two this year.

Wang Yaoheng possessed Four Spiritual Roots. After cultivating for many years, he had only reached the Fifth Level of Qi Refining. He taught at the Lecture Hall and was responsible for imparting basic cultivation knowledge.

"Probably not! Mingyuan couldn't possibly have overlooked that. Besides, the lineage currently has no new source of income and doesn't need that much manpower. Having some of the Chang generation clansmen come out to work early is already enough to deal with the current situation." A somewhat hunchbacked elder shook his head as he replied.

The hunchbacked elder was Wang Yaocong, sixth among the Yao generation. He was sixty-three this year.

Wang Yaocong possessed Five Spiritual Roots and was only at the Third Layer of the Qi Refining Stage. He was proficient in the Five Elements Spells and was responsible for teaching the younger generation cultivation.

"Mingyuan really is something. He gathered us here, yet he hasn't shown himself. I still need to go back and look after my grandsons! I don't have much time to waste." A kind-looking White-robed Elder furrowed his brows and complained.

The White-robed Elder was Wang Yaochen, tenth among the Yao generation. He was fifty-five this year.

Wang Yaochen possessed Four Spiritual Roots. After cultivating for many years, he had only reached the Fourth Level of Qi Refining and was skilled in the art of cultivation.

"Twelfth Brother, where did your wife go? Doesn't she usually take care of the grandsons?" Wang Yaocong asked in confusion.

"This year's Spirit Mulberry Trees are growing well, and a great many Spirit Mulberry Leaves can be picked. The womenfolk are too busy to manage, so she went to help. The heavy responsibility of looking after the grandsons fell onto my shoulders. Those two little brats, Changjing and Changlong, run all over the place and refuse to stay put. I had to chase after their behinds until these old bones of mine nearly fell apart. I finally managed to coax them to sleep." Wang Yaochen's words were full of complaint, but when he spoke of his grandsons, his face brimmed with happiness.

His aptitude was poor, and he was already advanced in years. His greatest pleasure was no more than playing with his grandchildren, a sweet in his mouth and joy in his arms.

Wang Yaocong waved a hand. "All right, Twelfth Brother, stop grumbling. It must be something important for Mingyuan to call us here. If you're worried that no one is watching Changjing and Changlong, I'll have your Sixth Sister-in-law go over and take a look. Her legs may not be in good shape, but looking after two three-year-old children won't be a problem."

"No need, Sixth Brother. I just coaxed them to sleep. They probably won't wake up for at least an hour." Wang Yaochen tactfully declined.

"Changjing and Changlong are still young. It won't do if no one is watching them at home. They possess Spirit Roots and are the lineage's future; there can be no carelessness. Sixth Brother, you should still have Sixth Sister-in-law watch over them. That way, everyone can rest easy," Wang Yaoheng suggested.

"Eighth Brother is right. I'll go right—"

"No need. I already had Second Sister-in-law go and look after Changjing and Changlong." Wang Mingyuan's voice suddenly rang out.

As soon as he finished speaking, Wang Mingyuan walked in alongside a tall Yellow-Robed Elder.

The Yellow-Robed Elder was Wang Yaozong, the Wang Family's only Foundation Establishment Cultivator. He rarely showed himself in public.

"Second Brother, why are you here?" At the sight of Wang Yaozong, Wang Yaocong and the others all rose to their feet.

"Mingyuan has an important matter to announce, so he asked me to come as a witness."

Wang Yaozong walked to the seat of honor and sat down.

Wang Mingyuan stepped to Wang Yaozong's side. He Smiled Slightly at Wang Yaocong and the others, then said solemnly, "Sixth Uncle, Eighth Uncle, I have good news for you. Within Peaceful County, which we control, a small Profound Gold Mine has been discovered."

Upon hearing this, Wang Yaocong and the others were startled, then went wild with joy.

"What? A Profound Gold Mine? Is that true?"

"Mingyuan, how large is the Profound Gold Mine? How many years can it be mined?"

"Mingyuan, quickly send people to occupy that Profound Gold Mine."

Wang Yaozong smiled faintly. "All right, don't be so anxious. Let Mingyuan explain it clearly. Fifth Brother and Ninth Brother have already led people over to guard it. Mingyuan, give everyone a detailed account of the Profound Gold Mine."

"Yes, Second Uncle." Wang Mingyuan nodded. "Several days ago, Jiangshi appeared in Green Stone Town of Peaceful County. Changsheng was responsible for guarding Peaceful County. When he learned that Jiangshi had appeared in Green Stone Town, he immediately led people there..."

After hearing Wang Mingyuan's account, Wang Yaocong nodded to himself and asked, "Mingyuan, how much Mystic Gold Ore can that Profound Gold Mine currently produce each day? How many jin of Profound Gold can be refined from it? How long can it be mined?"

"At present, it can produce three thousand jin of Mystic Gold Ore per day. One hundred jin of Mystic Gold Ore can yield one tael of Profound Gold, so three jin of Profound Gold can be refined each day. According to Qinglin's estimate, it can be mined for three or four years. The mined Mystic Gold Ore will be stored in the warehouse, then sold after the Profound Gold has been refined."

"Wonderful! Our ancestors are watching over us. With this Profound Gold Mine, our days will be easier. Changsheng rendered great merit this time and must be properly rewarded." Wang Yaocong was visibly excited.

"Mingyuan, you didn't call us old fellows here merely to tell us this news, did you?" Wang Yaoheng said seriously.

Wang Mingyuan let out a light breath. His expression hardened as he said solemnly, "This Profound Gold Mine can help our Wang Family weather the immediate crisis. All the uncles present know that our Wang Family has always made a living by selling Spirit Grain and silk, with very little income. There are more than a hundred Cultivators in the entire lineage, and everyone's expenses added together amount to a staggering sum. We have barely managed to keep the lineage running by relying on the wealth accumulated by the previous generation. As the saying goes, giving a man a fish is not as good as teaching him to fish. The Profound Gold Mine will one day be mined dry. I plan to select two clansmen from within the lineage and train them, in the hope of cultivating our own Artifact Refiners. What are your opinions, uncles? Speak them, and let us discuss them."

"Train Artifact Refiners? Excellent! Our ancestor Wang Yuangang was a mid-grade Tier 2 Artifact Refiner and left behind more than ten Artifact Forging Blueprints. If not for our lack of sufficient financial support, we would have long since trained a Tier 1 Artifact Refiner. With the support of the Profound Gold Mine, we must train an Artifact Refiner and restore the glory of our ancestors." Wang Yaoheng was the first to give his approval, his expression somewhat excited.

"That's right. Sitting on a mountain and eating it empty, relying solely on farming, is no longer enough to keep the lineage running. We must have a new source of income. Artifact Refining was our ancestors' old trade, and we have a certain foundation in it. I agree."

"I agree as well, but two people are too few. Expand it to five."

Wang Mingyuan frowned slightly and said with some difficulty, "Five? The expense of training two people is already considerable, much less five."

"What I mean is to select five clansmen with talent for Artifact Refining from within the lineage and train them for a period, then assess them and choose the two who perform best for further training. If we simply select two clansmen and directly train them to become Artifact Refiners, first, we may not uncover the best talent; second, talent is difficult to judge. Didn't the lineage fail before when it directly selected two clansmen to train as Artifact Refiners?"

"Sixth Brother is right. Training Artifact Refiners consumes a great many Spirit Stones. We cannot simply pour a vast amount of Spirit Stones onto them based on some talent. Let the facts speak through the assessment. Keep the two most outstanding clansmen and train them further; that way, everyone will be convinced. After all, talent for Artifact Refining is very difficult to determine. We can't possibly decide someone has talent for Artifact Refining just because he has read a few Artifact Forging Manuals and memorized some basic theoretical knowledge, can we? Second Brother, what do you think?"

Upon hearing this, everyone turned to look at Wang Yaozong.

Wang Yaozong thought for a moment, then said, "Sixth Brother is right. It is a good suggestion, and everyone will be convinced that way. If we directly choose two clansmen to train as Artifact Refiners and they fail to become Artifact Refiners, the other clansmen will inevitably gossip. Talent for Artifact Refining is difficult to judge, after all, and it would not be very fair. Only letting the facts speak can convince everyone."

Wang Mingyuan nodded. "Since Second Uncle has spoken, we'll select five clansmen and train them for a time, then choose two from among the five to train as Artifact Refiners. Do any of you uncles have anyone to recommend?"

As soon as he finished speaking, a somewhat rough voice suddenly rang out. "I recommend Wang Changsheng."

Sorry, something came up and delayed me.