After the battle ended, Patriarch Liu Baishan immediately led the clansmen in clearing the battlefield and collecting the spoils.
The clansmen from the Lineage's General Affairs Hall busied themselves recording the merits of those who had fought and calculating the Lineage contribution points each had earned.
Fair and impartial rewards and punishments were essential to preserving a Lineage's cohesion and fighting strength, allowing it to flourish without decline.
Countless Lineages and sects had learned this lesson in blood. Many that had once enjoyed great prosperity had fallen into decline and destruction because unfair rewards and punishments had scattered their people's hearts.
Once everything was finished, Grandfather Liu Baishan led everyone from the Lineage back to Peach Blossom Mountain.
When they returned to Peach Blossom Mountain, First Elder Liu Qiusheng, who had stayed behind to guard the Lineage, led the remaining clansmen in holding a ceremony to warmly welcome the victorious fighters home. For a time, joyful laughter rang out all across Peach Blossom Mountain.
After returning to Peach Blossom Mountain, Patriarch Liu Baishan immediately convened the Elder Council.
At the meeting, Liu Baishan spoke first. "Today, we won a very important victory. We wiped out the Azure Wind Wolf Pack that had wandered into our Lineage's territory. But this also sounded a warning for me. What should we do if an even stronger wolf pack comes next time?"
Upon hearing Liu Baishan's words, the elders present all sank into thought.
Fourth Elder Liu Baichuan was the first to break the silence. "The situation around our Lineage is indeed worrying. Fortunately, Heaven protected our Liu Household this time. Had the wolf pack been any larger, or had there been a second-tier demon beast among them, it would have been a calamity that drowned us all. We cannot always pin our hopes on good luck! Therefore, I believe the Lineage should do everything in its power to nurture a Foundation Establishment cultivator."
Liu Baishan said, "Yes! Our Lineage cannot rely on good luck every time. But at present, we do not have a single suitable candidate for Foundation Establishment!"
Generally speaking, a cultivator suitable for Foundation Establishment had to reach the Great Perfection of Qi Refinement and be no older than sixty.
Once a cultivator passed sixty, the decline of their body's blood and vitality reduced their chances of successfully achieving Foundation Establishment to almost zero.
Grand Elder Liu Qiusheng spoke up. "Among our Lineage's cultivators under sixty, Shisheng and Shihao have the highest cultivation. What does everyone think of this? Whichever of them reaches the Great Perfection of Qi Refinement first will receive the Lineage's support to attempt Foundation Establishment first."
After hearing Liu Qiusheng's suggestion, all the elders expressed their agreement.
Father Liu Shihao and Liu Shisheng, in particular, both silently began competing with each other.
Patriarch Liu Baishan continued, "Both of them still need some time to reach the Great Perfection of Qi Refinement. So, apart from speeding up our efforts to nurture a Foundation Establishment cultivator, does anyone have a good way to strengthen the Lineage in the short term?"
Liu Baichuan said, "Watching Changxu fight today gave me some inspiration. I feel our Lineage's cultivators lack coordination when fighting enemies. We should strengthen their cooperation in battle from now on."
Patriarch Liu Baishan was delighted to hear Liu Baichuan praise his grandson. Smiling, he said, "I think Baichuan's suggestion is excellent. The wolf pack was so powerful because its members had clear roles and coordinated well in battle. We should learn from them and at least establish some basic cooperation. Baichuan, I'll leave this matter to you!"
Liu Baishan went on, "Our Lineage's organizational structure and the division of duties among the elders also need improvement. Let us discuss that as well!"
On this topic, which directly concerned their own interests, the elders became much more eager to speak. One offered a suggestion, another added his own, and they discussed it for a full half day before finally settling the organizational structure and the elders' responsibilities.
The meeting passed the following resolutions:
The patriarch would manage the Lineage's daily affairs and would be elected by the Lineage's Elder Council.
The Lineage's elders would serve as members of its Elder Council. The Elder Council would be the Lineage's highest deliberative body.
A Lineage cultivator who reached Late Qi Refinement and had committed no serious violations of clan rules could become an elder upon confirmation by the patriarch and the Elder Council.
The Lineage currently had eight elders, as follows:
Grand Elder Liu Qiusheng, sixteenth of the Qiu generation, at the Great Perfection of Qi Refinement.
Second Elder Liu Qiushui, seventeenth of the Qiu generation, at the Great Perfection of Qi Refinement.
Third Elder Liu Baihe, second of the Bai generation, at the Great Perfection of Qi Refinement.
Fourth Elder Liu Baichuan, seventh of the Bai generation, at the ninth layer.
Fifth Elder Liu Baiqiang, twelfth of the Bai generation, at the ninth layer of Qi Refinement.
Sixth Elder Liu Shisheng, fourth of the Shi generation, at the eighth layer of Qi Refinement.
Seventh Elder Liu Shihao, fifth of the Shi generation, at the ninth layer of Qi Refinement.
Eighth Elder Lin Yulian, at the seventh layer of Qi Refinement.
Eight halls would be responsible for managing specific Lineage affairs:
First was the General Affairs Hall, responsible for issuing Lineage missions, recording merits, and managing the Family Treasury. Its hall master was Grand Elder Liu Qiusheng.
Second was the Teaching Hall, responsible for training the Lineage's younger members and managing the Teaching Academy and the Scripture Repository. Its hall master was Second Elder Liu Qiushui.
Third was the Clan Guard Hall, responsible for organizing the clan guards to fight external enemies and managing the Lineage's Demon Hunting Team. Its hall master was Fourth Elder Liu Baichuan.
Fourth was the Spirit Plant Hall, responsible for organizing the Lineage's Spirit Planters to cultivate spirit herbs, spirit fruits, spirit rice, spirit timber, and the like. It managed the Lineage's Spirit Fruit Garden, Spirit Herb Garden, and Spirit Fields. Its hall master was Seventh Elder Liu Shihao.
Fifth was the Alchemy Hall, responsible for training and evaluating the Lineage's alchemists and organizing them to refine pills for the Lineage. Its hall master was Third Elder Liu Baihe.
Sixth was the Talisman and Formation Hall, responsible for training and evaluating the Lineage's talisman makers and formation masters. It organized them to produce talismans and formations for the Lineage. Its hall master was Fifth Elder Liu Baiqiang.
Seventh was the Artifact Refining Hall, responsible for training and evaluating the Lineage's artifact refiners and organizing them to refine magical artifacts for the Lineage. Its hall master was Sixth Elder Liu Shisheng.
Eighth was the Commerce Hall, responsible for the Lineage's external trade and for managing and operating its merchant caravans and outside shops. Its hall master was Eighth Elder Lin Yulian.
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