Family Council Meeting (Please Bookmark and Vote)

The spiritual energy at the foot of Lingxiao Mountain was relatively thin; the higher one went, the denser it became.

Halfway up the mountain, the spiritual energy was much richer, and the area was spacious as well. Clan Head Ling Yunhong had opened up a vast level expanse here for the clansmen to build courtyards and cave abodes for cultivation.

Further up was the summit. Aside from the Council Hall, there were more than ten mu of First Rank High Grade Spirit Fields cultivated by Ling Yunhong, a Second Rank Spirit Plant Master. There were even rumors of Second Rank Spirit Fields. As for whether they truly existed, that was not something a Qi Training Middle Stage clansman like Ling Pengyun could know.

Before Ling Pengyun reached the summit, he spotted a white-haired, stoop-backed old man waiting at the entrance to the summit's Defensive Formation.

This man was Ling Ruda, the Ling Clan's Grand Elder. He oversaw the clan's General Affairs Hall and commanded all clan affairs.

"Eleventh Great-Grandfather." Ling Pengyun cupped his hands in greeting.

The clan's cultivators held etiquette in extremely high regard. Whenever juniors met their elders, they had to perform the proper rites.

"Pengyun, wait here first. A few of your clan brothers and younger clan brothers have not arrived yet." Ling Ruda smiled kindly at Ling Pengyun.

Hearing this, Ling Pengyun grew even more curious and voiced his confusion. "There are others?"

"That's right. Child, do not ask any further. Once everyone has arrived and you head to the Council Hall, the Clan Head will naturally explain it to you." Ling Ruda said with a smile.

Seeing this, Ling Pengyun could only let the matter drop.

Not long afterward, Fifteenth Grand-Aunt Ling Yunxi—the one who had previously called for Ling Pengyun to go to the summit's Council Hall—arrived riding an elegantly formed Immortal Crane.

Ling Pengyun was rather envious at the sight.

Possessing a Flying Demonic Beast could be called the dream of every low-order cultivator, especially such a fine-looking Crane-type Demonic Beast.

"Eleventh Uncle, I have informed every person the Clan Head summoned." Ling Yunxi hopped down from the Immortal Crane, waved her hand to store it in a small pink pouch hanging from her waist, then walked to Ling Ruda's side and cupped her hands.

"Good," Ling Ruda said.

"Fifteenth Grand-Aunt." Ling Pengyun cupped his hands.

Upon hearing the greeting, Ling Yunxi looked toward Ling Pengyun. A trace of heartache appeared in her expression, and she let out a soft sigh. She merely nodded slightly, as though she were in a poor mood.

This only left the already bewildered Ling Pengyun even more confused.

After a while, four Peng Generation clansmen like Ling Pengyun arrived one after another at the summit entrance.

These four Peng Generation clansmen were all Ling Pengyun's younger clan brothers. Their cultivation ranged from the second to third layers of Qi Training; not one was at the first layer. Their cultivation aptitudes were fairly decent as well. It could be said that this group would form the backbone of the Ling Clan in the future.

This made Ling Pengyun feel that something was amiss.

Only then did Grand Elder Ling Ruda say, "Everyone is here. Follow closely, and do not wander about."

After saying this, Ling Ruda removed the Clan Token representing the Ling Clan from his waist and suspended it in the air. He then struck it with a special hand seal.

As soon as the hand seal entered the token, it flashed with spiritual light and sent ripples of Green Ripple outward, which touched the light screen covering the summit.

The light screen trembled slightly, and a large gap appeared at the entrance to the main path.

Ling Ruda and Ling Yunxi walked side by side through the gap and entered the light screen first. Ling Pengyun and the others followed close behind, not daring to make any unnecessary movements.

They soon reached the summit by following the main path. However, the summit was shrouded in clouds and mist capable of blocking divine sense. Qi Training Middle Stage cultivators like Ling Pengyun were like blind men feeling an elephant, able to see only a few inches ahead.

This made Ling Pengyun edge closer to the leading Ling Ruda, afraid of getting lost in the mist. Though there was no danger in becoming lost here, it would be far too embarrassing to lose one's way in one's own home...

After following Ling Ruda and Ling Yunxi into the Council Hall, Ling Pengyun discovered that although only a few figures sat inside, the atmosphere was extremely heavy.

"Clan Head, everyone has been brought here," Ling Ruda reported, then took a seat at the long council table with Ling Yunxi.

"Greetings, Elders." Ling Pengyun was quick-witted enough to be the first to bow and speak.

The other four Peng Generation clansmen behind him also followed suit.

Seated at the long table in the Council Hall were all members of the Ling Clan's upper ranks: Clan Head Ling Yunhong in the seat of honor, Grand Elder Ling Ruda, Second Elder Ling Ruxian, and Fifth Elder Ling Yunxi.

The Ling Clan's generational verse was: "With soaring ambition, enter the clouds; ten thousand li of Peng's journey, roam at will." Among the living clansmen, only four generations remained: Ru, Yun, Xiao, and Peng.

Of these four generations, the Ru Generation had the fewest clansmen. After being passed down to this day, only a little more than ten remained.

The Ling Clan had a total of six elders. Apart from the three elders in this Council Hall, three others were outside.

Third Elder Ling Yunfeng was stationed at Lingxiao Talisman Pavilion in Huai River Market Town, the only market town in Huai River County. He drew Spirit Talisman Cave and was also the Ling Clan's only First Rank High Grade Spirit Talisman Master.

Fourth Elder Ling Yunfu excelled at business. She was stationed in Huai River Market Town, managing the business of the clan's two shops, Lingxiao Treasure Pavilion and Lingxiao Talisman Pavilion.

Sixth Elder Ling Yunqian managed the safety of the clan's caravans traveling to and from Huai River Market Town and was often away from the clan as well.

"I summoned you here this time because there is an important matter I wish to discuss with you." Clan Head Ling Yunhong said in a deep voice from the seat of honor.

"Please speak freely, Clan Head." As the eldest Peng Generation member present, Ling Pengyun answered promptly.

"Then I will speak plainly. Three years ago, the clan relocated from the territory of the Pingyun Mountain Yang Family in Fallen Cloud County, Cloudwater County, to An Yang County in Huai River County. Beyond Lingxiao Mountain, we have also occupied quite a few Spirit Veins. Recently, the clan slew all the demonic beasts occupying those low-order Spirit Veins within An Yang County and successfully reclaimed every Spirit Vein in the entire county."

"Our Ling Clan was founded only a little over two hundred years ago, and we do not have many cultivators. Furthermore, we still have Spirit Veins and shops in Cloudwater County, which have taken away quite a number of clansmen. Thus, the clan is now in a situation where we have Spirit Veins but no cultivators to manage them."

"After discussing it with the three elders present, I intend to send you from the clan mountain ahead of schedule to work for the clan. You will occupy and manage the four newly acquired First Rank Low Grade Spirit Veins and one First Grade Middle Rank Spirit Vein for five years."

"Are you willing?" Ling Yunhong asked the five Peng Generation clansmen standing at the Council Hall entrance in a negotiating tone, with a trace of reluctance in his eyes.

Upon hearing this, the doubts in Ling Pengyun's heart instantly vanished like smoke. He secretly thought, So it was only for this matter.

As for leaving the clan to work for it, ever since his cultivation had reached the Qi Training Fourth Layer a year ago, he had thought of it countless times. He had longed to see what the vast and cruel Cultivation World described in the various travel journals of the Technique Pavilion was truly like.