Within the Lu ancestral shrine.
The dim spiritual fire kept weakening, occasionally crackling with sharp pops.
The Lu family patriarch, Lu Cidi, was a Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivator. Already more than a hundred and fifty years old, he had a face covered in wrinkles and a short, stocky build, resembling an old farmer. A magical artifact, the Jade Mouth Pipe, hung from his lips, its Purple Smoke Grass burning within and sending up intoxicating smoke.
At that moment, the Lu clan had gathered to discuss family affairs.
Lu Xiaoming was there as well. His expression seemed to flicker between light and shadow along with the glowing embers in the patriarch's pipe.
"Little Eight, how is it?"
Lu Cidi took another puff before finally asking.
"I've already sent family members to urge every business along. We've practically emptied the entire family fortune, and only managed to scrape together 3,567 spirit stones."
Lu Xiaoming stood and bowed. "Adding the clan's reserves, we have 8,500 spirit stones in total. We're still somewhat short of the 10,000-spirit-stone target..."
"Sigh... Xiaotian is the most talented of the Xiaos. He reached the Qi Refining Great Perfection at only thirty-seven, but to break through to Foundation Establishment, he still can't do without the aid of a Foundation Establishment Pill... Without one, forcing his way through the bottleneck would be extremely likely to fail. And once he failed, his meridians would shatter and his life would end..."
Another clan elder sighed. "Can't we get it any cheaper?"
"No."
Another clan elder immediately objected. "The only reason we managed to get through Feiyun Sect's channels this time was because of Grandmother Yun's connections... They've already said that they can make an exception once, but never twice. Besides, not a single one of the 10,000 low-grade spirit stones can