Beast Taming Immortal Clan

Chapter 146 Open Source and Cost Reduction: A Discussion on Reform [Please Subscribe]

Inside the Zhongping Hall at Baota Peak.

Today, all the Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Zhou family gathered in the Zhongping Hall, not to discuss any major event that would affect the life and death of the family.

However, the importance of the matter being discussed is clearly no less than that of such a major event.

Especially after the Zhou family's financial problems were exposed, all the elders were shocked.

In the past, the Zhou family elders had the right to inquire about clan affairs, and even more so, the responsibility to supervise.

However, unless the clan leader is facing a major decision and cannot make a decision easily, and actively invites the elders to participate, the elders will not inquire about clan affairs much.

This is partly to show trust in the clan leader, and partly to avoid wasting time on these matters.

After all, the true value of these elders to the family lies in the powerful combat strength they can provide and the cultivation techniques they possess.

Therefore, the clan leader is in charge of the clan's internal and external affairs and is responsible for governing the clan, while the elders are responsible for focusing on cultivation and providing combat support. This is the operating model of many cultivation families and even sects.

The Zhou family was no exception.

However, the fact that the elders do not usually inquire about these matters does not mean that they are completely unaware of family affairs or the harm that certain things can cause to the family.

After all, those who can become family elders have cultivated for decades or even centuries and have experienced all sorts of things, big and small.

With this experience alone, even someone with little talent can discern the good from the bad and understand the seriousness of certain matters.

The saying "Having an elder in the family is like having a treasure" applies here as well.

Therefore, when Zhou Chun mentioned the potential financial crisis facing the Zhou family, all the elders present immediately took it very seriously.

Indeed, as Zhou Chun said, although the population crisis is equally serious, it takes a long time to take effect and can be resolved gradually.

However, the fiscal payment crisis is completely different.

The effects of a fiscal payment crisis can be seen very quickly.

If we wait until the crisis is triggered before we try to find a solution, it will be too late!

So at this point, all population issues were temporarily put aside by the elders; they only cared about one thing.

How to resolve or delay a potential fiscal payment crisis?

Facing the expectant gazes of Clan Chief Zhou Daoyi and the other clan elders, Zhou Chun spoke eloquently: "To resolve the clan's current financial crisis, there are essentially two solutions: increase revenue and reduce expenditure!"

"The family currently has too few ways to make money, which severely limits the family's income. Therefore, we must find ways to expand new ways to make money and improve the profitability of existing ways!"

"Cutting back on spending naturally means controlling and stopping some temporarily unnecessary expenses to reduce expenditures."

At this point, Zhou Chun stated without hesitation, "In fact, I have analyzed and studied the family's income and expenditure records over the past ten years or so, and discovered that if it weren't for the huge profits generated by the Crimson Iron Mine and the Touch of Despair, the family's financial crisis would probably have started two years earlier!"

Although he was boasting, what he said was true.

Clan Chief Zhou Daoyi nodded sincerely in response, "Yes, if it weren't for Zheng Chun's discovery of the Crimson Iron Mine and your help in developing the Despair Touch Poison to stabilize the number of guests at the Spirit Beast Hall, the clan would indeed have run out of spirit coins long ago!"

The other family elders naturally knew that these were all Zhou Chun's achievements, and at this moment, their gazes toward him were filled with admiration and gratitude.

Zhou Chun shook his head and said, "But now the Crimson Iron Mine is almost exhausted and will soon lose its value for large-scale mining. The raw materials for the Touch of Despair have also increased in price, so it will be difficult for this item to bring much effective profit to the family."

"Then what should we do? Zhengchun, you just mentioned open source, do you have a better idea?"

Fourth Elder Zhou Jiarui looked at Zhou Chun with expectant eyes and asked, hoping that this amazing younger generation of the family could make further contributions to the family and extend its life.

The others also turned their gazes toward Zhou Chun, their eyes filled with anticipation.

Upon seeing this, Zhou Chun immediately nodded and said, "Let's talk about the family's ways of making money now."

"Currently, the family makes money mainly through three channels: shops in the market, rent from independent cultivators, and trade with other forces."

"As for the shops in the market, although things seem stable right now, it's already quite good that they can maintain their current revenue given the strong competition. Any further high growth would require us to launch a new product that is both effective and has high production volume!"

"The rental income from the cultivation of rogue cultivators is quite promising. Our Zhou family has a very good reputation now, which has attracted many rogue cultivators to settle and cultivate around Nine Peaks Ridge. If three to five hundred rogue cultivators can use our Zhou family as their cultivation place, the annual rental income alone will be considerable!"

"Therefore, I suggest that the Zhou family allocate funds to form a security team to protect the safety of the independent cultivators residing around Jiufeng Ridge and to severely crack down on acts of robbery and murder in the surrounding area, thereby attracting independent cultivators to settle here!"

"Of course, the consequences of doing this are also obvious. It will attract some bandit cultivators to target us, and we may also be targeted by forces that are jealous of our Zhou family. Whether or not we should do it depends on the opinions of the elders."

"Finally, there's trade revenue with other powers; this area also offers great potential!"

As Zhou Chun spoke, his gaze involuntarily turned to the Third Elder, Zhou Daoquan.

"The Zhou family's trade income with other forces previously consisted mainly of large quantities of family specialty medicines and monster food."

"But actually, the demonic beasts raised by our Zhou family can also become best-selling items!"

"I did a rough calculation, and given the current rate of increase in the family's cultivator population, the reproduction rate of many of the demonic beasts raised by the family will be faster than the increase in the family's population."

"High-quality monster species such as the Emerald Crown Flying Serpent, the Eight-Horned Water-Splitting Deer, the Rock-Armored Earth Python, and the Crimson Flame Wolf will reproduce faster than ordinary monster species, provided they are given enough food."

"If the Beast Garden could supply even ten low-level demon beast cubs of various kinds to outsiders for contracts each year, it would generate several thousand spirit coins for the family!"

After he finished speaking, the other elders also turned their gazes to the Third Elder, Zhou Daoquan.

He has always been in charge of the Zhou family's animal enclosure, and he is responsible for all the breeding tasks.

He knew better than anyone whether he could increase the production of monster cubs in the Beast Garden.

Under the gaze of the crowd, Zhou Daoquan hesitated for a moment before speaking, "Let's forget about the Eight-Horned Water Deer. The population is currently insufficient even for our own family. It's not suitable for sale until the population exceeds fifty individuals!"

"As for the other young demon beasts, some of them can indeed be released for sale and profit; ten a year shouldn't be a problem!"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Chun immediately said, "That's great, it can be considered as opening up a new channel."

At this moment, Fourth Elder Zhou Jiarui suddenly changed his expression and said, "By the way, how is that Crimson Flame Vajra Monkey doing now? It's been seven or eight years, it should have become a first-tier high-grade demon beast by now, right?"

"The Crimson Flame Vajra Monkey did indeed become a top-tier first-order demonic beast last year, but it is not yet fully mature and has not yet mated with a female Crimson-tailed Monkey!"

Zhou Daoquan continued, "But it should be soon. At most three years, at most one year, it should be challenging King Kong Monkey's position as the Monkey King!"

Hearing this, Zhou Jiarui sighed softly, "Alas, I hope it can pass on its bloodline, so that my Zhou family can truly have another powerful battle beast!"

Zhou Daoquan initially proposed two routes for cultivating the Crimson Flame Monkey population.

Several years have passed, and the King Kong monkey has neither been able to breed with the Red-tailed monkey to produce a new Red Flame King Kong monkey, nor has it been able to give birth to a new King Kong monkey.

The only hope for truly realizing the Crimson Flame Monkey population rests on that Crimson Flame Monkey.

Zhou Chun then continued, "As far as open source is concerned, these are the only open source methods that can be implemented at present."

"Now let me talk about cost-cutting!"

"Cutting costs is actually harder than increasing revenue, because the family was already saving wherever possible, cutting expenses in every aspect!"

"I can only think of two ways to cut costs. One is to change the rewards for future family missions, turning the original pure merit rewards into a combination of merits and treasures accumulated in the treasury, and clearing out some useless inventory."

"Secondly, we encourage clansmen to accumulate good deeds, which can be used to exchange for Foundation Establishment spiritual items in the future!"

Cost-cutting does not mean reducing the welfare benefits of our clansmen!

Zhou Chun was well aware of this.

Besides blood ties, the unity of a family also stems from the significantly better benefits and treatment that family cultivators receive compared to independent cultivators.

Cutting the welfare benefits of one's clansmen should never be done unless absolutely necessary!

Even so, after hearing his advice on cutting expenses, Second Elder Zhou Chongshan still said, "Exchanging for Foundation Establishment spiritual items... I'm afraid we should be cautious about this matter!"

"The previous exchange of Spirit Ascension Fruits caused quite a stir within the clan. While using this to entice clansmen to accumulate merit points might alleviate the crisis of redemption, what if a clansman actually manages to raise enough merit points through borrowing? How will we then redeem the fruit for him?"

Foundation Establishment items are not easy to obtain!

Any kind of Foundation Establishment spiritual item, even one like the Spirit Ascension Fruit, can only be obtained through chance and luck.

Therefore, Zhou Chongshan's statement is not entirely unfounded.

But since Zhou Chun made this suggestion, he must have taken this into consideration.

He immediately said, "Therefore, we need to amend one of our clan rules. When a clan cultivator accumulates five thousand clan merits through welfare offerings and mission rewards, they can become a Foundation Establishment seed for the clan and enjoy priority in exchanging for Foundation Establishment spiritual items!"

"We can even include the virtuous deeds inherited from our deceased fathers, thereby enhancing the loyalty and sense of belonging of the family's cultivators!"

"In that case, if someone can still raise six or seven thousand family merits, it means that he must be someone widely trusted and respected by the clan. Wouldn't it be only right for us to do our best to support him in establishing his foundation?"

After hearing his words, Zhou Chongshan fell silent and fell into thought.

After a while, before Zhou Chongshan could speak, the clan chief Zhou Daoyi clapped his hands and exclaimed, "Brilliant! This plan is excellent, and it makes perfect sense!"

"However, amending the clan rules requires the approval of the Supreme Elder!"

When the clan leader expressed his support, Zhou Chongshan frowned but ultimately did not raise any further objections.

Seeing this, Zhou Chun readily agreed, saying, "Of course. All matters discussed here today should ultimately be reviewed by the Supreme Elder and implemented only after receiving his approval!"

"So, Jung-jun, is there anything else you'd like to say?"

Zhou Daoyi looked at Zhou Chun and asked, his face full of encouragement.

He knew Zhou Chun very well and knew that Zhou Chun's grand display today was not just about these difficulties and troubles, and how to solve them; there must be other things to do.

Judging from Zhou Chun's previous performance, he is clearly well prepared today.

Therefore, he was also looking forward to Zhou Chun's subsequent performances.

Faced with his help, Zhou Chun was very grateful and immediately said, "Clan leader, you are wise. I would also like to take this opportunity to offer some suggestions on the internal reforms of the clan!"

Upon hearing him mention the word "reform" again, Second Elder Zhou Chongshan's eyebrows twitched, and he stared intently at him, saying, "Oh, what do you want to reform? It's not those things from last time, is it?"

Zhou Chun seemed to have anticipated Zhou Chongshan's response and immediately smiled, "Second Elder, rest assured, this time my reforms won't be that radical!"

"Is that so? Then I'm all ears."

A strange light flashed in Zhou Chongshan's eyes, and he replied indifferently.

At this moment, Zhou Chun clasped his hands and bowed to the Zhou family elders in the hall, saying, "Elders, please understand that I have always believed that the original internal management structure of the family was somewhat inefficient, which slowed down the work process and wasted a lot of manpower and resources for no reason."

"Furthermore, through extensive investigations and interviews with numerous clansmen, we have discovered that some clansmen want to do something for the clan and are capable of doing something for the clan, but have been struggling to find the opportunity to do something in a suitable position!"

"Therefore, I want to improve all aspects of the family so that each member can utilize their talents in positions they enjoy and excel in!"

Without waiting for the elders to ask him how he wanted to reform, he took the initiative to state his plan.

"This junior intends to reclaim the power of the peak masters and establish five major halls within the family: the Internal Affairs Hall, the External Affairs Hall, the Beast Hall, the Arts Hall, and the Medicine Hall. These halls will be responsible for the operation of all family affairs. Each hall will have one steward and several staff members, and the personnel will be replaced at a later date!"

"At the same time, three separate deacons were appointed to be in charge of finance, supervision, and punishment, respectively, and were directly under the jurisdiction of the clan chief."

"All deacons are responsible to the clan chief!"

Regarding reforms to the various institutions within the family, do any readers have any good suggestions? I welcome any broad and constructive opinions, but please refrain from suggesting anything too modern! I've always opposed incorporating advanced ideologies into the teaching of cultivation worlds; it feels too out of place!

(End of this chapter)