Beast Taming Immortal Clan

Chapter 127 A Conservative Strategy Amidst Raging War [Please Subscribe]

When a major event occurs that affects the fate of all cultivators in the entire family, the clan leader and all the elders must discuss and make a decision together, and the decision must be approved by the Supreme Elder.

This is the rule of the Zhou family, and also the rule of many sects and families.

Only with this rule in place can we minimize the possibility of a family or sect suffering significant losses due to the inconsideration of one individual.

If a decision made after discussion still causes significant losses to the family and sect, the responsibility will not be placed on any one person, but will be shared by the entire decision-making team.

This way, the clan leader and sect leader won't be forced to step down after a single wrong decision causes significant losses to the clan or sect.

Therefore, whether it was the previous discussion about who to send to Yunzhou to apply for the position, or the current discussion about dealing with the Hualong Sect's detachment that had infiltrated Lanzhou, Zhou Daoyi and Zhou Chun, as the clan leader and acting clan leader, immediately summoned the clan elders to hold a meeting to discuss the matter.

At this moment, faced with the question posed by Zhou Chun, several Zhou family elders frowned and showed deep thought.

Since it concerned the future and safety of the entire family, they had no choice but to be cautious.

After pondering for a long time, Fifth Elder Zhou Jiahe spoke first: "I believe that this matter should not have as great an impact on my Zhou family as it does on other families."

"Currently, my Zhou family's properties outside the mountain gate are only two: one is the Crimson Iron Mine, and the other is the shops in Hongyafang Market."

"Leaving aside the shops in the market, we can transport several months' worth of inventory there first, and see how the situation changes."

"As for the Crimson Iron Mine, after years of mining, there shouldn't be much profit left. If it's really attacked, it's fine to just give up."

"Therefore, as long as we guard the mountain gate well, prevent the experts of the Dragon Transformation Sect from sneaking in and causing damage, and try to control the number of times our clansmen go out, there shouldn't be any problems!"

Although the elders of the Zhou family do not usually participate in the management of family affairs, they are generally aware of the family's general situation and can come to Zhongping Hall at any time to check the documents and learn about the family's situation.

This allows them to supervise the clan leader and also makes it easier for them to offer suggestions and opinions during discussions.

Therefore, after Zhou Jiahe expressed his opinion, the other two elders nodded slightly in agreement.

However, after listening to Zhou Jiahe's words, Zhou Chun frowned and said, "The Fifth Elder's words are not without reason, but our Zhou family has few businesses outside and is quite dependent on external forces."

"Whether it's the materials for refining various pills, the special ingredients for feeding demonic beasts, or finished pills, talismans, and other items, they all have to be purchased from outside."

"If those members of the Dragon Transformation Sect really target this point, the family's losses will still be substantial!"

A major power will not allow itself to have any weaknesses and will strive to be self-sufficient, which is something that many major powers are trying to do.

But that's something for powerful forces with long histories and vast territories to consider.

For a cultivation family like the Zhou family, especially one that has only been established locally for a little over a decade, self-sufficiency is simply impossible.

There's simply no way we can produce our own raw materials.

The reason the Zhou family still uses the merit system is that most of the family's income is spent on purchasing resources.

Moreover, there are many suppliers of these resources, half of which come from market purchases and the other half from other cultivation families and independent cultivators.

Some resources are delivered to your door, while others require you to send someone to pick them up.

This is a major reason why we cannot easily close off mountains and shut down our doors.

"Zhengchun, what you said makes sense, but the family's savings should be enough to last for a few months, right? I think that a few months should be enough for the situation in Lanzhou to become clearer, and the battle situation in Yunzhou should also change."

"In short, we don't send anyone out, but we also don't refuse delivery to others. This way, no one can find any major fault with our approach."

The one who said these words was the Second Elder, Zhou Chongshan.

He had served as acting clan leader several times before, and his understanding of the clan's situation was better than that of the other two new elders present.

Moreover, he can be considered a conservative in the Zhou family, and he tends to be conservative in certain decision-making processes.

However, as the only member of the Zhou family with the character "Chong" in his name, he still has a lot of influence. Even the clan leader, Zhou Daoyi, sometimes takes his status and face into full consideration.

So at this moment, Fourth Elder Zhou Jiarui also looked at Zhou Chun and said, "Zhengchun, do you have any better suggestions? If not, I also think that the suggestions of Second Elder and Fifth Elder are good and can be submitted to the Supreme Elder for a decision."

Zhou Chun originally had some ideas.

But now that he saw that the elders had almost reached a consensus, he didn't want to bring it up again.

The acting clan leader is only acting; he has not yet been officially appointed.

If you don't get a permanent position in a day, you may lose the opportunity to do so due to a major mistake.

Therefore, although Zhou Chun felt that the elders' suggestions were somewhat conservative, he decided to play it safe and not say anything more for his own sake.

From this perspective, he was somewhat selfish and unable to be selfless.

But how many people in this world are truly without selfish motives?

People who are selfless and devoted to the public good are certainly admirable, but that's all they are capable of being admired.

For cultivators, seeking immortality is the most important thing in life, the most crucial matter.

Therefore, when it is beneficial to this important matter, private interests should take precedence over public interests, and private interests should outweigh public interests.

Therefore, Zhou Chun, completely selfish and without any remorse, said directly, "This junior has no objections. Then please, Second Elder, go and see the Supreme Elder to explain this matter!"

"Very well, I will go see the Supreme Elder now."

Zhou Chongshan responded and immediately went to the mountain cave on Pagoda Peak to pay his respects to the Supreme Elder Zhou Mingde.

Actually, the task of meeting with the Supreme Elder Zhou Mingde should have been undertaken by the acting clan leader Zhou Chun.

But for some reason, although the clan chief Zhou Daoyi often said that the Supreme Elder Zhou Mingde praised him highly and admired him very much,

However, Zhou Chun has never had the opportunity to meet the Supreme Elder Zhou Mingde alone.

Even now that he has become the acting clan leader, the task of reporting to the Supreme Elder Zhou Mingde has been handed over to the Second Elder Zhou Chongshan.

Zhou Chun had certainly considered this matter.

However, Elder Zhou Mingde was the pillar of the Zhou family, and even if he had any thoughts in his heart, he dared not reveal them.

He could only console himself that his cultivation level was not high enough to have a direct confrontation with a cultivator at the Purple Mansion stage.

Zhou Chun and the others were not kept waiting long. About an hour after Zhou Chongshan left, he returned with the decision of the Supreme Elder Zhou Mingde.

"The Supreme Elder has basically agreed to our suggestion, allowing us to proceed with the plan. He will also be ready to intervene at any time!"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Chun immediately said, "Then let's do it this way. I will arrange for people to notify all cooperating forces and complete the contraction as soon as possible."

So once the elders had left, he issued several orders, instructing some clansmen to take letters and leave Jiufeng Ridge to deliver messages to various forces that cooperated with the Zhou family.

Among them, Zhou Chun revealed that if they were attacked by the Hualong Sect, they might temporarily abandon the Chiyao Iron Mine, which has a very deep cooperative relationship with four families: the Wang family of Hongyao Valley, the Mu family of Biyun Mountain, the Sun family of Jinfeng Ridge, and the He family of Qingzhu Mountain.

He's done what he could, and what other families think or do is none of his business.

In the following period, due to the infiltration of a detachment of the Dragon Transformation Sect into Lanzhou, all the major cultivation families in Lanzhou felt a sense of unease, as if every bush and tree was on high alert.

There are quite a few families that adopt a conservative strategy, just like the Zhou family.

In particular, several families that were deeply involved with Qinglian Temple actually closed their doors and shut themselves off from the temple.

It is not difficult to see that the Hualong Sect's extermination of families closely related to the Qinglian Temple in Yunzhou had a truly significant deterrent effect.

The foundation of Qinglian Temple's rule has indeed been greatly shaken.

At the same time, a reinforcement force from Qinglian Temple, which rushed from Lianzhou to Lanzhou, also quickly entered Hongyafang City.

To Zhou Chun's delight, Liu Shiyun's master, Daoist Mingxia, was also among the reinforcements.

Ever since they established a relationship with Daoist Mingxia by using the information on the members of the Dragon Transformation Sect, the Zhou family has never stopped making offerings to this Purple Mansion cultivator from the Green Lotus Temple.

Most of the spirit honey produced by the Zhou family's Jade Spirit Bees was given as a gift to this female Daoist of the Qinglian Temple. They also specially designed a growth package for her spirit beast and arranged for someone to deliver the corresponding supplies every few months.

Although, Master Mingxia did not make any promises to the Zhou family because of these things.

But since she accepted the gift, she should definitely reciprocate in some way in the future.

Otherwise, if she only takes in money and doesn't give it out, not only will it anger the Zhou family, but once word gets out, other forces will no longer dare to have any expectations of her, which is tantamount to cutting off her own source of income.

So now that Daoist Mingxia has come to Lanzhou, the Zhou family has undoubtedly gained another powerful ally.

From now on, we can completely rest assured about the safety of the mountain gate.

The arrival of Daoist Mingxia and his group shows that Qinglian Temple still values ​​Lanzhou, a crucial rear base. This reassured the various cultivation families who were previously filled with anxiety.

Some families living closer to Hongyafang City have even resumed their normal activities.

But danger was already creeping in!

In a gathering place for independent cultivators in Lanzhou, a dignified middle-aged man dressed in a black robe is listening to a report from his subordinates.

The man's black robe was embroidered with a dragon pattern in fine gold thread. This was the protective battle robe of the Hualong Sect, indicating that he was a black dragon protector of the Hualong Sect.

"Guardian, we have collected and investigated all the information on the various cultivation families in Lanzhou. As per your request, we have listed the families that are most suitable as targets. Please take a look."

A black dragon messenger, also dressed in a black robe embroidered with a dragon pattern in fine silver thread, knelt on the ground and respectfully handed a small booklet to the middle-aged man.

The middle-aged man took the booklet, flipped through a few pages, and then his gaze settled on one particular page.

Then he said casually, "Let's go with the Mu family of Biyun Mountain. After all, their mountain gate is just a short distance from the lake!"

"Yes, I will arrange it immediately."

The black dragon envoy, who was kneeling on the ground, straightened his face, bowed again, and then silently retreated to prepare.

Two days later, dozens of members of the Dragon Transformation Sect suddenly appeared on the once beautiful shore of Biyun Lake. The leader was none other than a Black Dragon Protector with the cultivation level of the Purple Mansion stage!

Upon discovering this, the Mu family cultivators were terrified and frantically sounded the alarm.

The bell rang repeatedly, striking eighty-one times in a quarter of an hour!

This is the highest level of alarm, signifying that the family is facing annihilation. Even cultivators in seclusion must be awakened and brought out to meet the enemy.

At the same time, a dazzling magical firework exploded and rose directly from the sky above Biyun Mountain, transforming into a giant blood-red lotus pattern.

The enormous sound of the fireworks explosion, and the blood-red lotus pattern hanging two or three thousand feet in the sky, were all seen and heard within a radius of two hundred miles around Biyun Mountain.

"Father, Father, it's appeared! The blood lotus pattern you mentioned has appeared in the sky!"

In a mountain village a hundred miles southwest of Biyun Mountain, a teenager dressed in coarse linen clothes suddenly ran into the room with a shocked expression and loudly told his paralyzed, bedridden father about the strange phenomena in the sky outside.

"What did you say? Quick, carry me out of here!!"

The old man on the bed was stunned at first, then his expression suddenly changed drastically. He hurriedly struggled to lift the quilt with both hands and let the young man carry him out.

After climbing onto the young man's back and leaving the room, the old man saw the huge blood lotus pattern in the distant sky, and two lines of clear tears immediately flowed from his eyes.

"Father, why are you crying?"

After feeling the coolness on his neck, the young man asked, somewhat puzzled.

"Because Dad's home is going to be gone! His home is going to be gone!!"

The old man wept bitterly, then grabbed the young man's collar forcefully and shouted, "Quick, go and get that jar from my bedside table!"

"Oh, Dad, don't be silly, I know, I'll do it right away."

The young man cried out in pain, quickly put the old man down, turned around and went into the room to bring out a black porcelain jar wrapped in a cotton quilt, which he placed in front of the old man.

Go and fetch a torch.

The old man looked at the porcelain jar in front of him and made his request again.

Then, while the young man went to fetch fire, he carefully opened the moisture-proof cloth cover on the porcelain jar and examined the contents inside.

Inside the porcelain jar was a dark brown granular substance, which filled about half the jar.

Just then, the young man came over carrying a torch and called out, "Father, the torch you asked for has arrived."

The old man reached out and took the torch from the young man's hand. Looking at the young man's face, which resembled his own in his youth, he smiled, a rare occurrence, and said, "Son, do you still remember the Mu Family Village that your father took you to three years ago?"

"Of course I remember, Father. Why did you suddenly bring this up?"

The young man nodded, looking at the old man with a puzzled expression.

Upon hearing this, the old man immediately said in a deep voice, "Then go to Mu Family Manor now and tell the manor lord that my mission is complete, and you can stay there from now on!"

He then waved his hand and said, "Don't ask any questions. Just do as I say, and someone will tell you everything!"

"And what about you, Father?"

The young man seemed to realize something and looked at the old man with a worried expression.

The old man suddenly smiled at him and said, "Your father should have gone down to join your mother long ago, but the task the family entrusted to me does not allow me to end it all myself!"

"Now that's alright, my mission is accomplished. I can finally go and stay with your mother in peace!"

After saying that, he put the torch in his hand into the porcelain jar in front of him.

Instantly, a pungent smell emanated from the porcelain jar, followed by a thick plume of black smoke that rose from it, quickly forming a column of smoke hundreds of feet high.

As the column of smoke rose, those who saw it from dozens of miles away, just like the old man who carried the same mission, quickly lit their own beacon fires.

These beacon fires spread in all directions, and within an hour, the same beacon fires appeared even near Jiufeng Ridge, hundreds of miles away.

At the same time, news of the Mu family of Biyun Mountain facing the crisis of annihilation quickly reached the ears of the patriarchs of various families that were on good terms with them, along with the appearance of these flames of war.

The Qinglian Temple cultivators in Hongyafang also received the news very quickly.

"It turned out the Mu family was the first to step on this landmine!"

On Pagoda Peak, Zhou Chun flew into the air, looking at the column of smoke rising dozens of miles away, his expression very complicated.

There will be another chapter tonight.

(End of this chapter)