Family Council

The next morning.

Green Maple Valley, Family Assembly Hall.

The six family elders were already waiting in the assembly hall.

"Second Elder, I didn't expect you to quietly break through to Body Cultivation Grand Perfection. Congratulations!"

Several elders congratulated the Second Elder with beaming smiles.

The Second Elder chuckled, stroked his beard, and said humbly, "It was just luck. You all need to work harder. Time waits for no one, and there isn't much time left for us old folks."

The Third Elder, Li Xuanyong, sighed.

He shook his head and said, "My talent is too poor. I'll probably be like this my whole life. I'll just focus on guarding the family's money bag for the Patriarch."

Everyone chuckled at his words.

They chatted idly, making small talk.

Until a loud voice sounded from outside the door...

"The Patriarch has arrived!"

Li Xinge strode in with steady steps.

After Li Xinge took his seat in the Patriarch's chair, the elders, except for the First Elder, rose in unison and cupped their fists. "We greet the Patriarch."

"Please be seated, elders."

Li Xinge said with a smile.

Seeing everyone sit back down, Li Xinge announced that today's family council was officially in session.

"Patriarch, the specific casualties from the battle with the Mangshan Su Clan have been tallied."

The First Elder spoke first.

"In this battle, 17 cultivators of my Li Family died and 9 were injured or disabled, all of whom were cultivators in the Body Forging Realm."

Li Xinge nodded after hearing this, his expression somewhat heavy.

"For those who died in my Li Family, we will issue a one-time compensation of fifty taels. For those injured or disabled, twenty taels, and we will arrange suitable positions based on their individual circumstances. All participating clan members will receive a reward of five taels."

No one had any objections to Li Xinge's arrangements.

At this moment, the First Elder spoke again, "Patriarch, the Hao Family fought for my Li Family in this battle and also suffered considerable casualties. Should my Li Family not show some gesture? Otherwise, I fear the world will be disheartened and say my Li Family is unfeeling."

Li Xinge thought for a moment and felt the First Elder was right. The Hao Family had contributed significantly to the battle to destroy the Su Family.

The Hao Family Patriarch, whom he had named Hao Zhongli, had even killed a Body Realm cultivator of the Su Family.

So he nodded and said, "The First Elder speaks wisely. Let us reward them with five hundred taels, and furthermore, bestow the small iron mine in Ximei Mountain upon the Hao Family. What do you all think?"

A one-time reward of five hundred taels was already quite generous.

For a small family like the Hao Family, their annual income was probably around that amount.

As for the iron mine in Ximei Mountain, its reserves were not high, and mining it was complex.

It was like a chicken rib to the Li Family – tasteless to eat, but a pity to discard.

It was better to give it to the Hao Family as a favor and win their hearts.

This time, even the stingy Third Elder said nothing.

Seeing that no one had any objections.

Li Xinge then asked, "Does the First Elder have anything else to say?"

The First Elder shook his head.

"No."

"Then, next."

Li Xinge said calmly.

"Second Elder, are there any recent issues with the Hall of Law Enforcement?"

"Not enough manpower."

Li Xinge chose to ignore it directly.

The Li Family had expanded its influence significantly now, and manpower was lacking everywhere.

The Third Elder spoke, "Patriarch, the reception of the Su Family's assets is complete and proceeding smoothly. However, we probably cannot handle their largest mine."

Li Xinge's brow furrowed at this.

He knew about the Su Family's mine; it was their most valuable asset.

"Is someone interfering?"

Li Xinge asked coldly.

The Third Elder shook his head, "Not exactly. It's just that the Su Family's mine has already been mortgaged out."

"Mortgaged?"

Li Xinge was a little confused.

"Yes, it was mortgaged to the Myriad Treasures Pavilion."

The corners of Li Xinge's mouth twitched slightly.

On the other side, upon hearing this, the Sixth Elder Li Yanzhao slapped his thigh hard.

He realized with a sudden enlightenment, "No wonder they were so flush with cash that day. So it was the prodigal son who mortgaged the family's lifeline."

The crowd burst into laughter.

"Since it was mortgaged to the Myriad Treasures Pavilion, then let's give up. Our Li Family can't afford to offend the Myriad Treasures Pavilion."

Li Xinge shook his head.

He was not like the arrogant protagonists in some novels.

People who couldn't afford to offend were still desperately trying to offend them. Without plot armor, he probably wouldn't survive three minutes in this fantasy world.

As a qualified Patriarch, one must first have a clear understanding of his family's strength.

The Myriad Treasures Pavilion could easily hang cultivators who had reached the Great Perfection of the Qi and Blood Realm. Let alone the Li Family's meager resources.

Although unwilling, everyone knew what kind of existence the Myriad Treasures Pavilion was.

The Fourth Elder did not speak.

It was the Fifth Elder Li Xuanqi's turn.

The Fifth Elder Li Xuanqi also served as the chief steward of the Li Family's lifeline, the Silver Ridge Mine, holding the power of life and death over thousands of mine slaves.

He stood up, cupped his fists, and said, "Patriarch, recently, the mine slave losses in the Silver Ridge Mine have been quite significant. I wish to apply to the family to purchase another two thousand mine slaves. Additionally, the family needs to dispatch a team of elites to suppress the mine."

The Silver Ridge Mine was of great importance and could not be lost.

Therefore, Li Xinge approved the Fifth Elder's request.

As the discussion continued.

Various family affairs were successively decided.

Seeing that no one else was speaking.

Li Xinge coughed lightly and said slowly, "Elders, I have two matters to discuss with you all next."

The six elders' expressions turned serious, and they sat up straight.

"Firstly, this first matter, I intend to adjust the resource supply for the cultivators in the clan. From today onwards, the cultivation resources for the clan's cultivators will be doubled on top of the previous amount."

Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions trembled.

"Patriarch, double the amount? Isn't that too much?"

The First Elder asked uncertainly.

"It's not too much. The family's influence has already expanded more than double, but the family's overall strength has not kept up. It may not be apparent in the short term, but if this continues for a long time, the clan will inevitably run into problems."

Li Xinge said.

The First Elder looked at the Third Elder and asked, "If we double the supply, can the family's finances still keep up?"

The Third Elder gritted his teeth. At this moment, he felt his heart bleeding.

But soon, he said decisively, "We can keep up."

Hearing the Third Elder's reply, the First Elder nodded, "Since that is the case, this old man has no objections."

The Patriarch and the First Elder had nodded, so the other elders certainly wouldn't have any objections.

If they had objections, then tomorrow, the saliva of the clan members would probably drown them.

The first matter was unanimously approved.

"Since everyone has no objections, I will now discuss the second matter."

"I intend to implement a population growth incentive policy within the clan."

Li Xinge said with a smile.

"The clan's population is simply too small, only a little over a thousand. After the clan's influence expanded, it has become somewhat stretched. Now, there is a shortage of people everywhere. If the population cannot keep up, how can we talk about strengthening the clan? Therefore, I plan to have the clan introduce a population incentive policy."

The elders all nodded in agreement.

For a clan, strong individuals were indeed important.

But without enough population to inherit and continue, it would also decline sooner or later.

Unless you could live forever.

"Moreover, with more newborns, the chance of having children with cultivation talent will also increase. The meaning of talented children to the clan, I don't need to elaborate further, do I?"

Li Xinge said with a smile.

The elders nodded like pounding garlic. They agreed most with this statement.

Because a living example stood before them.

"As for the specific regulations, you will be responsible for formulating them. Are there any problems?"

"This matter benefits the clan and is a long-term plan. The Patriarch is wise. We have no objections."

The elders said in unison.

"In that case, elders, let's get back to your respective duties!"