Immortality and cultivation begin with alchemy and accounting.

Unexpectedly, Bai Jinghe then changed the subject: "However... right now, the family is going to wage war against Jinlan Island, and we urgently need elixirs."

"Cultivators at the early stage of Qi Refining have limited role to play in battle."

As for late-stage first-order cultivators, their numbers are limited.

In reality, the main participants in the battle were cultivators at the mid-stage of Qi Refining.

"As a result, the demand for mid-grade first-level pills has increased."

Not to mention that besides the Bai family, we also need to share profits from selling some pills to the other families that are conquering Jinlan Island.

The family only has a dozen or so first-tier mid-grade alchemists, and losing even one would cause a shortage of pills.

I was just about to suggest that Brother Jingmu delay his retirement by a year or two, so he could continue to do his best for the family.

"There's no rush to hand over this No. 8 fire vein. In any case, it will eventually end up in the hands of our third branch."

The "Uncle Jingmu" mentioned in Bai Jinghe's words is the former outsourced alchemist of the No. 8 Fire Vein.

Upon hearing this, Bai Qingbai was immediately taken aback.

Bai Jinghe's arrangement was completely unexpected.

Moreover, it's incredibly awkward.

While the reasoning is reasonable, since you intend to delay Bai Jingmu's rest for a year or two, why not bring it up at the family council meeting when the four branches are vying for the fire vein?

He used his evening rest time to create opportunities for the younger generation of alchemists.

It was only when the younger generation of the family had a mid-grade first-level alchemist that this issue was raised.

Bai Jingyu, who was standing to the side, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and glanced at Bai Jinghe almost imperceptibly, a thoughtful look flashing in his eyes.

Bai Jinghe, as the eleventh elder of the family and the head of the third branch of the clan, had made his decision and had irrefutable reasons.

For the sake of the family, even though Bai Qingbai still wanted to recommend Bai Xuanjing, he couldn't argue his case.

In the end, he had no choice but to accept Bai Jinghe's arrangement.

However, he immediately followed up with, "Since Bai Xuanjing's alchemy skills have reached the mid-grade level of the first rank, shouldn't he be allowed to accept a mid-grade level first-rank alchemy task according to clan rules?"

Accepting a mid-grade first-level alchemy task may seem like an increase in responsibility.

But for alchemists, it is actually a benefit.

After all, once a mid-grade first-tier mission is issued, the pills and materials are all provided by the family.

For a newly promoted alchemist with a success rate of only about 30%, the family assigns them tasks and distributes spiritual herbs and materials.

The family can obtain virtually no profit.

However, alchemists can use these ingredients to quickly improve their alchemy skills.

Bai Qingbai was thinking that since the No. 8 Fire Vein couldn't be emptied, he had other ways to solve the problem of a mid-grade first-order spiritual fire.

As long as Bai Jinghe is willing to approve the pill ingredients, it can still serve the purpose of cultivating Bai Xuanjing's alchemy skills.

Unexpectedly, upon hearing Bai Qingbai's words, Bai Jinghe calmly replied, "The Bai family's first-grade mid-level alchemy materials are limited."

"These are extraordinary times, and extraordinary measures must be taken. All alchemy materials should be prioritized for combat. The training of disciples can be postponed..."

Upon hearing this, Bai Qingbai felt a pang of jealousy. He narrowed his eyes and looked at Bai Jinghe: "I can tell. Is Elder Eleven planning to make things difficult for me today?"

Upon hearing this, Bai Jinghe quickly said, "Uncle Qingbai, you flatter me. I know you are wholeheartedly devoted to the development of the family's future generations, so how could I possibly make things difficult for you?"

He then explained with a wry smile, "At the beginning of the year, Uncle Qingbai, you mentioned giving the disciples a discount. At that time, the Third Branch's accounts were in such dire straits, but I still agreed."

"Why would we make things difficult for you on this matter right now?"

"Uncle Qingbai, you may not understand since you haven't experienced battle firsthand. Jinlan Island is powerful, and we must take every possible precaution to deal with the cultivators from Jinlan Island."

"In this battle, a healing pill or a qi-replenishing pill could mean the life or death of a Bai family disciple."

"At times like this, we should prioritize the supply of pills before considering anything else..."

In his words, Bai Jinghe equated the status of the elixir with the life and death of the Bai family disciples.

Even if Bai Qingbai had something to say, he couldn't say anything more. After a fruitless argument, he could only angrily turn and leave.

……

After Bai Qingbai left, the bamboo pavilion fell into a brief silence.

"Brother, you've really offended Uncle Qingbai!"

Bai Jingyu broke the silence with a wry smile.

Bai Jinghe glanced coldly in the direction Bai Qingbai had left, and snorted, "That old man always leaves in a huff whenever he comes here. What's one more time?"

After a moment, Bai Jinghe picked up his teacup and took another sip.

He didn't even look at Bai Jingyu, but simply asked, "Does Third Brother have any doubts about my arrangements?"

Bai Jingyu looked up, somewhat puzzled, and said, "Since Xuanjing has become a mid-grade first-level alchemist, why not let him directly take over the No. 8 Fire Vein?"

Then he gave a wry smile: "Brother, don't try to fool me with the words you used to deceive Uncle Qingbai. The military operation on Jinlan Island is being arranged in an orderly manner."

What impact could a mid-grade first-tier fire vein and a first-tier alchemist have on the overall situation of the family?

There was one more thing Bai Jingyu didn't say.

That was when the Clan Guard Hall promoted Bai Xuangu to be the commander, Bai Jinghe had some objections.

Logically speaking, it should be a good thing for the third branch of the family to have Bai Xuan Gu become the leader of the clan guard hall.

Bai Jinghe's opposition was truly baffling.

However, the Clan Guard Hall is an institution directly under the Bai family and is not directly under the jurisdiction of the Third Branch.

Within the Clan Guard Hall, Bai Jinghe was merely a deputy hall master with limited influence, and ultimately his opposition was ineffective.

Bai Xuan Gu was eventually promoted to the position of commander of the Clan Guard Hall.

Not many people know about this, but Bai Jingyu is very clear about it.

Considering Bai Jinghe's arrangements today, it seems somewhat aimed at the Bai Xuangu brothers...

Thinking of this, he took a sip of tea and said as if casually, "I heard that you and Bai Jingyuan served in the Clan Guard Hall together back then, and you had a fairly good relationship. Moreover, he even saved your life when you were on a mission."

Bai Jingyuan died for his family, why don't you take care of his descendants?

"In this way, you can both preserve the friendship with your old friend and make others feel that you are treating the descendants of a loyal and virtuous person well."

Upon hearing this, Bai Jinghe's expression changed slightly, as if he didn't like Bai Jingyu mentioning Bai Jingyuan.

Bai Jingyuan was Bai Xuanjing's father. He was also a Foundation Establishment seed in the Clan Guard Hall and was in the same class as Bai Jinghe.

It's hard to say who has the higher talent, and their cultivation level and magical techniques are roughly the same.

The Bai family's Foundation Establishment Pills come from the Flowing Cloud Sect, and only one is produced every few years.

We must also take into account the bloodlines of the six branches of the family, uphold the legacy of the Sixth Ancestor, and ensure that no branch of the family is tarnished.

In this way, it becomes impossible to allocate resources arbitrarily.

After obtaining the Foundation Establishment Pill from the Flowing Cloud Sect, the family council first decided on the number of pills to be distributed to each branch of the family.

Then, under the supervision of the family, each branch selects the best candidates to distribute to the younger generation of disciples who are likely to establish their foundation.

If Bai Jingyuan hadn't died, Bai Jinghe might not have been the one to obtain the Foundation Establishment Pill back then.