[Year 760]
[Your clan is holding its first Grand Tournament for descendants under the age of fifty.
This is to encourage the children in their cultivation. Victors will receive rewards and legacies bestowed by the elders.]
At this moment, Merit City was exceptionally bustling.
The clan had just concluded the Grand Ceremony.
Even Li Dalong had rushed back from the Underworld, bringing Xu Cuihua along with him.
Among the older generation, only Li Yaozu remained in the Forgotten Immortal Domain.
Taking advantage of this rare moment of leisure, the elders watched the martial contests of the younger generation with gratified smiles, while simultaneously discussing important clan matters.
Li Xinnian stepped forward and reported to the elders:
"Currently, the clan possesses sixteen Grotto-Heavens.
Among them, the construction of the Combat Grotto-Heaven is complete.
Our clan is restricted by the Imperial Dynasty regarding the number of troops we can officially command; however, the Combat Grotto-Heaven faces no such restrictions and serves as a hidden training ground.
Now, every ten years, we will rotate the most outstanding Soldiers from there into our Azure Cloud Army."
"The Merchant Lineage, while conducting their trade, is simultaneously recording the vital weaknesses of the major Immortal Clans and Sects.
However, in recent years, the dignitaries in the Imperial Capital have become unwilling to see our Li Clan's merchant influence expand any further.
They have gradually realized the danger of having their economic lifelines controlled by the Li Clan.
I have already instructed Yuanshang to proceed with caution."
"As for the Silver Moon Lineage..."
As Li Xinnian presented his report, Li Dalong and the others nodded slightly in approval.
With every return for the Grand Ceremony, the clan would grow somewhat stronger.
Simultaneously, their own strength would increase.
The more he spoke, the wider the smile on Li Xinnian's face became.
"Each Grotto-Heaven has its own unique yields.
The Silver Moon Lineage is rich in mineral resources; the mountain range there is ancient.
At our current rate of extraction, it could not be fully exhausted even in fifty or sixty thousand years.
There is even news of Fifth-Grade mineral materials deep within.
As for the Combat Grotto-Heaven, they are currently at war with the Wu Tribe, though we cannot openly transport the corpses of the Wu tribesmen back here."
"Regarding the Demon Suppression Grotto-Heaven, our clan disciples go there for experience and training.
Every year, they hunt quite a few Demon Beasts and obtain numerous heavenly materials and earthly treasures.
Uncle Xinghuo's contribution to this has been immense."
"Nowadays, most of the major Grotto-Heavens can maintain themselves through self-sufficiency.
There is even a surplus in production, and the clan members have ample grounds for training."
Seeing the appreciative expressions of the elders, Li Xinnian felt thoroughly at ease.
He looked at the elders with anticipation.
"Not bad. You have truly worked hard these past years."
"I always said this kid Xinnian was capable. He's much better than when Yunbing was the Family Head back in the day."
"Second Aunt??? Back then, you clearly said you couldn't find a Family Head more suitable than me!"
"He's also much better than when Dad managed the family affairs. Old Dad really isn't material for ruling a region. Ah! Dad, don't... don't hit me!"
"Husband, why are you bickering with Old Three? He's already an old man himself; don't beat him in front of everyone, it looks bad."
"..."
Li Xinnian had just been feeling great, but the more the elders spoke, the more cold sweat poured down his back.
If they kept praising him like this, it was going to seriously damage family unity.
Immediately, Li Xinnian hurriedly moved on to another important matter, his voice turning grave.
"Over these years, for the descendants with exceptional talent, aside from their standard earnings, I have not been stingy with rewards to aid their cultivation.
Starting with myself, these debts drawn against future family stipends have been placed on record.
Among everyone, Big Brother Su Chen owes the most..."
A bamboo scroll, fully twenty meters long, unfurled in mid-air, the records upon it incredibly detailed.
Li Yaoqing stared blankly as she scanned the list. "Isn't this..."
Just as she was about to speak, Xu Cuihua's expression tightened, and she hurriedly covered her daughter's mouth.
The members of the older generation all wore peculiar expressions, looking as if they wanted to say something but held back.
Li Xinnian sensed that something was amiss. "Is... is the debt too high?"
"...."
The group of old timers gradually relaxed their expressions and began secretly transmitting their voices to one another.
Li Dalong: "How did this get passed down from generation to generation? Back then, wasn't this just a lie to scare Yaotie, who was using up heavenly treasures without restraint?"
Li Yaotie: "Dad, I wasn't scared. I have thick skin."
Li Yaoqing: "What do we do now? Do we tell them the truth?"
Li Yaowen: "Second Sister, if you tell them, what will they think? That we've been playing them for fools for hundreds of years?"
Li Yunlin: "What?! You mean I don't have to pay back the one hundred and thirty thousand years' worth of debt I owe?"
Xu Cuihua: "The more they owe, and the more they pay back, the more it proves the children's capability. It also serves to restrain them from recklessly squandering the family fortune."
"..."
Immediately, the elders nodded with firm gazes, tacitly agreeing that the children could continue paying it back... slowly.