Digging a Pit

"It looks like there's no chance of receiving resources from the clan."

At Jiang Guiyuan's single remark, the situation was reversed. Jiang Sihai sighed inwardly.

Bone aptitude was the fatal weakness!

He had witnessed Jiang Chen's growth with his own eyes, so naturally, he believed in Jiang Chen's cultivation speed.

But the clan members didn't know that.

All they saw was Jiang Chen, who had Ordinary Bone Aptitude, possessing cultivation at the Three Qi and Blood Gates.

Naturally, they would search for all kinds of reasons to explain this abnormal, unreasonable phenomenon.

They would either suspect that Jiang Chen had taken forbidden medicine or guess that he had been cultivating bitterly throughout the past six months.

In short, even if they talked until the sky split open, they would never believe that someone with Ordinary Bone Aptitude could cultivate to the Three Qi and Blood Gates in two months.

"What do you mean, deceiving everyone? The clan rules clearly state that any younger-generation clan member with hope of entering the True Martial Realm may receive clan resources."

"Third Granduncle, esteemed clan elders, I acted according to the clan rules. There's no problem with that, right?"

Although hope was slim, Jiang Sihai still had to fight for it with all his might.

There was no other way.

Martial cultivation cost far too much.

The pills Jiang Chen needed in one month now amounted to an entire year's harvest for his family.

And that was only at the Three Qi and Blood Gates. Once he entered the True Martial Realm, the resources required would certainly be even more astonishing—at the very least, several times greater.

With only his family's savings, he simply couldn't bear Jiang Chen's expenses.

"This..."

Hearing Jiang Sihai's words, the clan elders exchanged glances, not knowing what to say.

Just moments ago, they had been invoking the clan rules. Now, Jiang Sihai had turned around and used those very rules to pin them down.

Although Jiang Chen had Ordinary Bone Aptitude, given his cultivation speed, he truly had a great chance of entering the True Martial Realm.

If they refused to allocate resources to Jiang Chen, it would be no different from slapping themselves in the face.

But if they allocated resources to Jiang Chen according to the clan rules, they would delay Jiang Xuan.

If they had known this would happen, they would never have gone out of their way to summon everyone to the Ancestral Residence. What a mess.

"Jiang Sihai, your son has Ordinary Bone Aptitude. Does he also deserve to compete with my son for resources?"

Seeing the clan elders fall silent, Jiang Junyue could no longer sit still.

It would be one thing if he failed to obtain the resources from Jiang Sihai's family. But if the clan's resources were distributed as well, they would truly be losing the chicken while getting no rice.

"So you mean the resources contributed by the various branches can only be used by your son?"

"If all the clan elders think the same way, then amend the clan rules and publicly inform every branch. I have no objection."

Jiang Sihai was extremely seasoned. He clung tightly to the clan rules and refused to get entangled over bone aptitude.

This only deepened the clan elders' silence.

Every branch had descendants, and quite a few of the younger ones were nearing the age to begin martial training.

If one of their descendants happened to possess martial bone aptitude next year, then the clan rules amended today would amount to sealing off that younger generation's path in martial cultivation.

Who would dare speak?

As the saying went, as long as they were human, they would have selfish motives.

When their own interests weren't affected, they could invoke the greater good of the clan to pressure others.

But once their own interests were involved, that greater good had to step aside.

"Sihai, in previous years, someone in Chen'er's situation truly should have received the clan's cultivation support."

"But this year's circumstances are truly special. Business in every branch has been poor, and the resources contributed are limited. Therefore, for the survival of the entire clan, we can only wrong Chen'er."

Just as Jiang Junyue was about to argue, Jiang Guiyuan rose and spoke.

His attitude was sincere and frank.

He said nothing about whose bone aptitude was good or bad, nor did he say who should or shouldn't receive resources. Instead, he took the standpoint of the clan's survival.

"Third Granduncle, I understand the clan's situation, and I also believe that you have no selfish motives."

"But I want to know: what is the reason you and the clan elders have decided to nurture Xuan'er? Is it because his bone aptitude is good, or because his cultivation speed is fast?"

Seeing Jiang Guiyuan enter the fray, Jiang Sihai knew there was no room to turn things around, so he began digging a pit.

"What do you mean by that?"

Jiang Junyue frowned. Weren't good bone aptitude and fast cultivation speed the same thing?

"Then let me put it another way. If Chen'er can catch up to Xuan'er, how should that be handled?"

Jiang Sihai spoke.

"Your son catching up to mine? Jiang Sihai, are you dreaming?"

At those words, Jiang Junyue couldn't help laughing. He felt it was utterly absurd.

The other clan elders were likewise astonished, unable to understand why Jiang Sihai would say such a thing.

Wasn't it obvious that this was impossible?

If someone with Ordinary Bone Aptitude could catch up to someone with Medium Bone Aptitude, then why divide bone aptitudes into grades at all? They might as well lump them together.

Jiang Sihai ignored Jiang Junyue's yapping and simply waited for Jiang Guiyuan's decision.

"If Chen'er can catch up to Xuan'er, then we'll follow the clan rules and divide the resources equally. No—two-thirds of the resources will be given to Chen'er."

To demonstrate his impartiality and lack of selfish motives, Jiang Guiyuan made an enormous concession.

"Do any of you clan elders object?"

Jiang Sihai was delighted inside, but not the slightest trace appeared on his face.

"If Chen'er can truly catch up to Xuan'er, that proves Chen'er's talent is in no way inferior to Xuan'er's. It may even be stronger. Compensation should indeed be made."

"I have no objection!"

"I agree as well!"

Seventh Granduncle and the other clan elders nodded.

"Since that's the case, we'll take our leave first."

After obtaining a satisfactory answer, Jiang Sihai didn't linger. He left with Jiang Chen.

"What did Sihai mean by that? Does he truly think someone with Ordinary Bone Aptitude can catch up to someone with Medium Bone Aptitude?"

"That's normal. After all, Sihai isn't a martial artist, so he doesn't understand how great the disparity between bone aptitudes is."

"Still, I truly didn't expect Chen'er to have entered the Three Qi and Blood Gates. His speed is rather fast."

"I estimate that Sihai must have found some sort of secret medicine."

"That's possible. Otherwise, he wouldn't be so confident."

"What a pity. Ordinary Bone Aptitude is ultimately still Ordinary Bone Aptitude. Even with external assistance, it will never catch up to Medium Bone Aptitude."

After watching Jiang Sihai and Jiang Chen leave, the clan elders began chatting among themselves.

No one took Jiang Sihai's words to heart.

The hope of the Jiang Clan was still Jiang Xuan.

"Since the matter is over, let's disperse."

Jiang Guiyuan waved his hand, dismissing the gathering.

"Grandfather, aren't you being too indulgent toward Jiang Sihai?"

After the clan elders had also left, Jiang Junyue couldn't help speaking.

"Indulgent? Do you mean I should use my authority to oppress him?"

Jiang Guiyuan sat down and calmly savored his tea.

"I'm not saying you should oppress him with your authority. But Jiang Sihai has no right to question you, much less force you to make concessions."

Jiang Junyue spoke.

He felt that there was nothing wrong with using authority to oppress others.

In a world where the strong were revered, whoever had the bigger fist naturally deserved to be obeyed.

"When your great-grandfather was alive, he once told me that if you want to lead the entire clan, the most important thing is rules. Without rules, nothing can be accomplished."

"If I used my strength to force the various branches to bow their heads today, then when another branch rose to power in the future, they would all imitate me. By then, the entire clan would certainly fall apart."

Jiang Guiyuan explained the reason.

The various branches relied on the clan because they sought its protection.

But if oppression came from the clan itself, the various branches would break away one after another. No one would willingly be exploited.

And with one fewer branch, the clan's strength would weaken by one part.

If the clan became a commander with no soldiers, it would exist in name only.

"I don't have much lifespan left. In the future, the burden of the clan will inevitably fall onto your shoulders."

"Remember this: you may be tough toward outsiders, but internally, you must remain united. Everything must be handled according to the clan rules. Only then will the various branches accept you, and only then can the entire clan continue for a long time."

Jiang Guiyuan spoke earnestly.

"I understand."

Hearing these words that sounded like final instructions, Jiang Junyue nodded solemnly.

"Grandfather, do you think there's any chance Jiang Chen can truly catch up to Xuan'er?"

But immediately afterward, Jiang Junyue grew worried.

He understood Jiang Sihai too well. That man was a sinister schemer. Who knew what dirty trick he was brewing in secret?

"In all the years I've lived, I've never heard of anyone with Ordinary Bone Aptitude being able to rival someone with Medium Bone Aptitude."

Jiang Guiyuan smiled.

It was precisely because such a thing was absolutely impossible that he had been so magnanimous in making that concession.

The farther one advanced in martial cultivation, the difficulty would multiply.

With the talent granted by Ordinary Bone Aptitude, even with the aid of secret medicine, it would take at least one or two months to break through a single Aperture.

In other words, for Jiang Chen to open all Seven Apertures, even one year would count as fast.

By then, Jiang Xuan would have long since joined the City Guard.

Jiang Chen probably wouldn't even be able to see Jiang Xuan's back, so how could catching up be discussed?

No matter how much one argued, Ordinary Bone Aptitude could never turn the world upside down!