Clan Establishment Order

"Husband, there's no need to overthink it now. The fact that the Myriad Pills Pavilion is powerful is a good thing for us!"

"At the very least, if anything happens to our Lu family, others will have to show some consideration for the Myriad Pills Pavilion. As long as Xiao Ting can keep her master's favor, that's all that matters."

Baili Qiuyue replied.

"Sigh, our decision back then was too rash. Sending her out to work at such a young age."

"I'm afraid things aren't easy for Xiao Ting at the Myriad Pills Pavilion. After all, her talent is truly terrifying; she is bound to face jealousy and attacks from others."

"I wonder how she's been handling it?"

Lu Wanyuan wore a worried expression.

"You're right. It's been almost two months since we last saw her. Should you go and visit her?"

Seeing his reaction, Baili Qiuyue suggested.

"Hmm, you're right. I should go and see how she's doing at the Myriad Pills Pavilion."

"I'll have to trouble you to look after Lei'er. I told you a while ago to go buy some servants, but you wouldn't listen. We aren't short on those few Spirit Stones anymore!"

"Look at the Lu residence now—it's so big, yet there are only the three of us here. It's awfully lonely, and the younger brother and sister rarely come back; they all stay where they work."

Lu Wanyuan said with a look of complaint.

"Hmm, that is true, but I haven't had the time. Let's look into it when I'm free, shall we?"

"No, let's do it now, otherwise we won't have time later!"

"Let's go together and get this settled. Once we buy the servants, we'll have time for other things. We can let the servants handle those trivial daily chores."

"After that's settled, I'll go see Xiao Ting!"

"Hmm, my husband is right. Ever since Lei'er was born, I don't think I've cultivated even once!"

Baili Qiuyue said, lost in thought.

"That's for sure. Since Lei'er was born, you didn't trust anyone else to look after him and insisted on doing it yourself—it's no wonder you're tired. This is just one child; when we have a few more later on, you can't just spend all your time raising them!"

Lu Wanyuan looked at her with a mischievous expression.

"You only think of such pleasant things. Do you think I'm a sow, that I have to give birth to them all? Expanding and strengthening the family isn't my responsibility alone. I think, to quickly grow our Lu family, you should take a few more concubines; that way, the family tree can branch out even more."

"Or, let the Second Brother and Third Brother get married sooner. They should also contribute to the family's growth. They're old enough now to settle down and start their own lives!"

Baili Qiuyue shot him a glance, her expression filled with resentment.

"As for the major life events of the Second Brother and Third Brother, it's not really my place to interfere. It will happen when the time is right; once they find their Cultivation Partners, they will surely get married!"

"How could that work? If things go on like this, when will they ever find a Cultivation Partner? Five years, ten years, fifty years, a hundred years—are they just going to keep looking forever?"

"This is definitely not a good solution. In the end, the pressure will just fall on me!"

Baili Qiuyue's voice rose by several decibels.

"I think it would be better to find them a few concubines first, let them produce some offspring, and only then will the Lu family be able to flourish!"

"Husband, what do you think of my suggestion?"

After speaking, Baili Qiuyue looked at him with a smug expression.

There is no way you can refuse an idea like this, she thought to herself.

If you think I'm going to be the only one giving birth to so many children, forget it!

Hearing this, Lu Wanyuan felt incredibly awkward; he hadn't expected Baili Qiuyue to be so resistant.

However, she was right. The flourishing of the Lu family could not be her burden alone. If they wanted to rapidly expand the family, they would certainly need to take in more women.

After a moment of silence, he said, "Hmm, you are absolutely right. But this matter of expanding the family isn't something that needs to be rushed; it is a long-term process."

"Besides, our Lu family isn't stable yet. We haven't even obtained the Clan Establishment Order. Even if we do get it, I'm afraid it will still take some time."

"Establishing a cultivation family is a major undertaking, especially when it comes to choosing a Spirit Vein for the family. We must consider it with the utmost caution."

"This concerns the future development of the entire cultivation family; it is the very foundation of our existence."

"The true cultivation family hasn't even been established yet, so worrying about the expansion of the Lu family's population right now is probably getting a bit ahead of ourselves."

After saying this, he looked at Baili Qiuyue.

The Clan Establishment Order was a reward-like decree issued by the local hegemon, the Qingyun Sect, to incentivize surrounding Rogue Cultivators or Rogue Cultivator families.

Possessing a Clan Establishment Order allowed one to establish a cultivation family within the territory belonging to the Qingyun Sect. Naturally, such a cultivation family had to be built upon a Spirit Vein.

It was common knowledge that only a cultivation family built on a Spirit Vein could sustain long-term development.

After all, if a cultivation family were to flourish without a Spirit Vein, every family member would have to rely on Spirit Stones for their cultivation. The family simply could not afford enough Spirit Stones for so many members, and it would certainly not be able to develop for long.

This was the reason why cultivation families had to be built upon Spirit Veins.

Furthermore, the higher the grade of the Spirit Vein, the better. A higher grade meant that the Spirit Qi provided was richer and purer, which could support more cultivators and satisfy the needs of those at higher cultivation realms.

Conversely, the higher a cultivator's realm, the higher the grade of Spirit Vein required to sustain their daily cultivation. Otherwise, if the Spirit Qi were insufficient, a high-level cultivator might even suffer a regression in their cultivation realm.

The classification of Spirit Vein grades corresponds to cultivation levels: a First-Grade Spirit Vein corresponds to the Qi Refining realm, a Second-Grade Spirit Vein corresponds to the Foundation Establishment realm, and so on.

Moreover, each level is divided into four smaller grades, from low to high: Low-grade, Mid-grade, High-grade, and Peak-grade.

The classification of Spirit Veins is primarily based on the number of cultivators of the same realm they can support.

For example, a Low-grade First-tier Spirit Vein can provide enough spiritual energy for two Qi Refining cultivators to practice, while a Middle-tier First-tier Spirit Vein can support four, and so on.

A Top-tier Spirit Vein can provide the necessary spiritual energy for eight cultivators of the same realm to practice.

Spirit Veins are locations where the spiritual energy of heaven and earth has gathered over thousands of years. They are capable of absorbing spiritual energy from the world—especially from the earth's ley lines—which is why they always manifest in the form of mountain ranges. Spirit stone mines are essentially the remnants left behind after the spiritual energy of a Spirit Vein has completely dissipated.

Because of this, such Spirit Veins are not found everywhere, and their appearance is always accompanied by bloody struggles and conflict.

These Spirit Veins are strategic resources for cultivation; therefore, all Spirit Veins within the jurisdiction are registered by the Qingyun Sect and are under its protection.

If this were not the case, the cultivators throughout the region would be constantly at war over these veins.

Furthermore, by controlling the Spirit Veins, the Qingyun Sect limits the number of cultivation families, thereby consolidating its position as the hegemon.

They distribute these resources to cultivation families through a system of rewards.

This serves several purposes: first, it limits the number of cultivation families to highlight their own hegemonic status; second, it allows them to rally vassal cultivation families, as there are always tasks that require cannon fodder.

This means that the Qingyun Sect recognizes the family and provides them with protection, preventing Rogue Cultivators from wantonly plundering them. Of course, the family must pay tribute to the Qingyun Sect in return.

However, such a Clan Establishment Order is not easily obtained; it is generally only granted to those who have performed great service for the Qingyun Sect.

Typically, the Qingyun Sect only brings out the Clan Establishment Order as a reward when opening up wild, untamed territories.

Yet, such expeditions are essentially one-way trips, resulting in heavy losses and countless casualties.

"Husband, you have that backwards. A cultivation family must be prosperous and populous to develop; it is precisely because a family is thriving that they consider obtaining a Clan Establishment Order to formally establish a cultivation family."

"It is not a matter of waiting until you have a Clan Establishment Order to start worrying about the family's population."

"Therefore, I suggest we have Second Brother and Third Brother take on several more concubines as soon as possible so they can spread their branches and leaves to strengthen the Lu family!"

After speaking, Baili Qiuyue looked at Lu Wanyuan with a grin, wanting to see what he thought.