Clan Cultivation: Starting with Plundering Demonic Beast Talents

The monster fled, and Lin Zongyue immediately led his men down from the water.

Just now, the Azure Deer King attacked, intending to slaughter the cultivators on the water. He led his men to retreat in time, thus reducing the losses.

After a quick headcount, it was found that more than ten people had died in the battle, including seven cultivators from the Lin family, two of whom were deacons at the late stage of Qi Refining.

As for the Xu family, four cultivators died, leaving only three mid-stage Qi Refining cultivators in the entire family.

Clan chief Xu Jitong also lost an arm. At this moment, he was quite uneasy. Developing this mine with the Lin family was a huge gamble.

If the promise is not kept, this loss will be a near-catastrophic disaster for the Xu family.

Of course, it turned out he made the right bet.

Lin Zongyue immediately bestowed a Yellow Dragon Pill upon him, saying, "Your son has good spiritual roots; let him break through as soon as possible."

The Lin family has survived for a century by employing both kindness and severity, so they naturally understand this principle.

"Thank you, Your Excellency!"

Xu Jitong wept tears of joy. With this Yellow Dragon Pill, his Xu family would have a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator to oversee things, and they would no longer have to worry about the covetousness of the Tribulation Cultivators, thus protecting the spiritual vein of Qishui Pool.

He hurriedly led the remaining two clan elders to collect the remains of his clansmen and rushed back to the water.

Their family had few merits in this battle, and the remaining spiritual treasures were beyond their reach.

Furthermore, the fact that the Xu family was able to secure a 10% share in the subsequent development of the spirit mine was already a result of the Lin family's benevolence.

All the outsiders have left.

Lin Zongyue examined the scale of the mine before crushing a piece of jade in his hand. At the same time, a thousand miles away in Nanhefang, a similarly oval piece of jade shattered, and then a dazzling spiritual light emerged from the market.

Seeing the jade shatter, Lin Zongyue felt relieved and arranged for the remaining people to clean up the battlefield and collect the remains of his clansmen.

Lin Qingyang was still able to move around, so he naturally participated as well, though he was filled with mixed feelings of joy and sorrow.

Having lived in Qingchi Mountain for nearly thirty years, I had interacted with every clansman who died in battle here. Seeing my living relatives die before my eyes, I felt a deep sadness.

Of course, the Lin family won a great victory in this battle!

This battle consumed nearly a thousand spirit stones worth of resources.

However, the cost of killing only a few dozen water pythons and jade deer can be recovered by skinning and bleeding them, whether for drawing talismans or refining weapons.

Second-tier superior-grade Yang Fire Thunder is indeed precious, but the antlers of a second-tier Azure Spirit Deer are also extremely precious spiritual items, which can barely make up for the loss in this area.

Not to mention, the real money comes from the subsequent revenue from the mineral veins.

"I killed more than a dozen water pythons and jade spirit deer, and the spoils I received were enough to plunder two talent paths."

Lin Qingyang was very envious of the talents of these two high-grade demonic beasts, and it was possible that the key to his advancement to a high-grade talisman master lay among them.

Soon after, they received an unexpected surprise.

A group of people stood around the entrance to the mine, their eyes burning with anticipation as they looked at several fawns with their eyes closed and more than a dozen python eggs.

"Brother, I remember that the Taiyan Ancestor passed down a method of incubation."

Lin Zongbo couldn't help but say.

Upon hearing this, everyone present began to breathe heavily.

Lin Qingyang also realized the huge profits involved. If they could tame the Azure Spirit Deer and the Water Python, they might be able to stably produce high-quality demon beast hides and essence blood in a few decades, which would be enough to increase the family's financial income by more than 50%.

Just as everyone was rejoicing, suddenly, two terrifying spiritual pressures emerged from afar.

"He is a Foundation Establishment cultivator."

The two elders of the Lin family seemed to have expected this, but they were not nervous. They led everyone out of the water and confronted each other outside the Qi River Pool.

In just a few breaths, two figures dressed in brocade robes arrived outside the mountain gate, riding flying swords.

Under the pressure of the two Foundation Establishment cultivators, even with the protection of the array, Lin Qingyang felt his breathing become somewhat rapid.

The Xu family's formation was only a mid-grade first-level formation, and even with the help of the earth's veins, it couldn't withstand the full-force attack of two Foundation Establishment cultivators.

"Is this the oppressive aura of a Foundation Establishment cultivator?!"

The two men made no attempt to conceal their identities, and the Lin family members, their expressions grave, recognized them as the two Foundation Establishment ancestors of their enemy, the Zhao family.

Zhao Jiyu was already a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator with powerful divine sense. He directly passed through the water and discovered the spirit mine below. "What good luck! We actually discovered a cold iron mine."

"What good fortune! It's time for the Zhao family to rise to prominence."

His Daoist partner, Zhao Zhuangning, covered his mouth and chuckled softly.

In just a few words, the two had already accepted the mine as an existing asset.

The Lin family paid such a high price to severely injure the second-tier demon beast, so naturally they could not tolerate this situation.

"This land is a mineral vein, which has already been occupied by my Lin family, and we have reported it to the Qingyuan Sect. You two should not make a mistake!"

Lin Zongyue was not intimidated at all. He raised his hand and released a second-tier jade talisman. The mountain and river patterns that shone with light were the contract order issued by the Qingyuan Sect.

The Qingyuan Sect governs four prefectures and twenty-four counties, and all spiritual veins and mineral veins belong to the sect.

However, because the sects offer good treatment, the number of cultivators they can support is limited. Therefore, many remote spiritual veins are given to affiliated families, and the same applies to mineral veins.

They wouldn't even consider a first-order ore vein like the Cold Iron Ore.

According to the rules of the Qingyuan Sect, unless it is a third-tier mineral vein, for newly discovered mineral veins, the cultivator families who voluntarily report them only need to hand over 20% of the profits.

This means that the Qingyuan Sect can reap the rewards of spirit stones without expending any manpower.

However, once the tribute is accepted, protection will naturally be provided. For a Foundation Establishment cultivator to forcibly seize a mineral vein is undoubtedly a slap in the face to the Qingyuan Sect and a violation of the rules. This will make the affiliated families uneasy and may even lead to a large-scale exodus.

As the biggest beneficiary of the rules, the Qingyuan Sect naturally would not tolerate this situation.

Hundreds of years ago, the number one cultivation family in Cangshan County destroyed a Foundation Establishment family because its Purple Mansion cultivator coveted a newly discovered second-grade high-quality spirit ore.

Because he violated this rule, he was hunted down for thousands of miles by the Golden Core Ancestor and personally killed in the wilderness.

Overnight, more than ten Foundation Establishment cultivators were sent to the front lines of the desolate wilderness, transforming from a powerful Zifu family that dominated an entire prefecture into a minor Qi Refining family.

Upon receiving this order, Zhao Jiyu's expression changed slightly. They had rushed over at full speed after receiving the news, but it seemed they were still a step too late.

Of course, he wouldn't give up. He turned his gaze to the Xu family members inside the mountain gate, "This place is Qishui Pool. The mine should belong to the Xu family, right?"

Instantly, all eyes on the field focused on Xu Jitong, who had lost an arm.

The cultivator at the sixth level of Qi Refining stepped out of the mountain gate, cupped his hands, and said, "Reporting to Senior Zhao, the Xu family, as a subordinate family of the Lin family, was unable to protect the mine and has already offered it to the Lin family."

There was no turning back for him at this point. This first-tier cold iron mine was quite large, producing hundreds of spirit stones every year, enough to buy a Foundation Establishment Pill in a few decades.

He never intended to, nor was he capable of, taking such profits from the beginning.

Even if the Xu family directly reported to the Qingyuan Sect, since they didn't have any Foundation Establishment cultivators in their family, other families could easily slaughter all of their cultivators by spending a thousand or so spirit stones to hire a few elderly late-stage Qi Refining cultivators.

The Qingyuan Sect can help them take revenge, but how can they protect the mine by relying on the Xu family's mortal status afterwards?

Therefore, only Foundation Establishment families can protect mineral veins at the very least.

With the Xu family joining forces with the Lin family, they would receive a share of the profits, earning at least several dozen spirit stones annually. In addition, they obtained the Yellow Dragon Pill, making it the best possible outcome after all their maneuvering.

Xu Jitong's meaning was clear, so he bowed and retreated back to the mountain gate.

The two Foundation Establishment ancestors of the Zhao family had cold expressions as they weighed the gains and losses. They were able to cooperate with a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator and then escape unscathed, so they were naturally aware of the rules of the Qingyuan Sect.

"Brother Ji Yu, I can tell that the aura of that second-tier demon beast is still lingering. I estimate that they have only just discovered the mine and have not yet officially signed a contract with the Qingyuan Sect. They slaughtered all the people in the know, so there is still a chance to take over the mine."

Zhao Zhuangning's face was icy cold. Back when she was a cultivator, she was known as the Poisonous Scorpion. Her ruthlessness was beyond the imagination of ordinary people. With just a few words, she was about to slaughter dozens of cultivators present.

Zhao Jiyu's mind was filled with thoughts. Only when the scale reached a certain level would the Qingyuan Sect sign a contract with him.

The loopholes that my Daoist partner mentioned do indeed exist.

Just as he hesitated, a spiritual pressure suddenly rose from the east and arrived at Qishui Pool in a few breaths.

This small, first-grade high-level spiritual vein has actually attracted three Foundation Establishment cultivators!

The third person to arrive was a female cultivator, dressed in a green robe printed with mountain and river patterns, surrounded by red tassels, and her cultivation level had reached the mid-Foundation Establishment stage.

The two members of the Zhao family, who had been so arrogant just moments before, bowed slightly in respect upon seeing this person, saying, "Greetings, Fellow Daoist Jiang."

This person was none other than Jiang Shihua, the monk stationed at Nanhefang.

She glanced at the two of them, nodded slightly, and that was her way of greeting them.

Then it first submerged underwater, for about ten breaths.

She reached out and took the jade contract talisman floating in front of the mountain gate into her hand, stamping it with her own magical imprint. "Where is the head of the Lin family?"

"I am Lin Zongyue, representing the clan chief in charge of the signing matters. I pay my respects to Senior Jiang of the Shang clan!"

Lin Zongyue led the Lin family in bowing respectfully.

"Yes, soon sect prospectors will come to ascertain the scale of the mines. You must not fail to pay 20% of the annual tribute!"

After Jiang Shihua finished speaking, she stopped looking at the crowd and left on her spiritual light.

Such is the oppressive aura of the Qingyuan Sect!

She could not hide the little schemes of the Zhao family members, but since she had come, the ownership of the mine was already settled. Representing the sect, the contract between the two parties was now in effect!

Zhao Jiyu looked grim, but could only utter a harsh remark before leaving angrily.

"Your crippled patriarch from the Lin family had better live a few more years."

Lin Qingyang, standing in the crowd, felt a greater sense of respect for his uncle. Before setting off, his uncle had probably concealed his identity to contact Jiang Shihua in advance.

Only after offering benefits in advance were they willing to come to the rescue in time.

At this point, the outcome is decided!

Subsequently, the Lin family dispatched all the demon-hunting team members here, and at the same time, they brought out a first-grade high-level formation and invited a formation master to set it up with the help of the earth veins.

With the Lin and Xu families combined, there are a total of sixty Qi Refining cultivators. With Lin Zongyue personally overseeing the situation, even if a Foundation Establishment cultivator were to attack, it would be difficult to break the formation in less than half an hour.

The Lin family moved their weapon-refining hall here, taking 70% of the annual income from the cold iron ore. After refining the ore into magical artifacts, the profits doubled, directly replacing the original income from the demon-hunting team, and even leaving a considerable surplus.

More importantly, the Lin family's demon-hunting team used to go to Fenghuo Mountain to hunt demons every year, and often some cultivators were seriously injured or died.

However, guarding the mine was much easier and could also improve one's cultivation. With one increase and one decrease, in the next ten years, five members of the Lin family successively broke through to the late stage of Qi Refining, and their overall strength increased by at least 30%.

Therefore, having a stable and profitable mineral vein is an extremely lucrative business.

……