Before long, over a dozen late-stage Qi Refinement cultivators from the family gathered in the family's main hall.
Because it was the year-end, most family members had returned home, except for the First Elder, who remained in Pingyang City to oversee affairs there. Even the Second Elder had set aside business at Yuyang Market to attend this clan meeting on Qingyuan Mountain.
The meeting was presided over by the Third Elder, who handled the family's administrative affairs and was well-versed in every aspect of the family, including its financial situation. For once, his usual look of concern was replaced by a rare smile.
"Let's discuss a few matters at today's clan meeting," he began.
"First, thanks to everyone's efforts over the past few years, the family's external debts have been fully repaid."
"Additionally, this year's Naqi Pills had an excellent success rate and are expected to sell for over 1,600 spirit stones."
Upon hearing this, the attendees couldn't hide their excitement. The influx of 1,600 spirit stones into the family coffers meant that owed spirit stones and stipends could finally start being paid out.
However, the Third Elder continued, his tone growing more serious.
"The Clan Leader's injuries have shown no signs of improvement, and further delays risk worsening his condition."
"I've learned that a few years ago, Daoist Jiang of Tianxu Mountain refined a batch of Yangmai Pills to heal his disciple. Three pills remain from that batch."
"I propose we set aside this money and save until we can afford to purchase one of these Yangmai Pills. It would significantly reduce the time needed for the Clan Leader's recovery."
The crowd was momentarily stunned but made no objections. The Yangmai Pill, a high-grade second-tier pill, was designed to treat injuries to a Foundation Establishment cultivator's meridians. For the Chen family, the Clan Leader's swift recovery was of paramount importance.
Elian listened silently. He understood that if stipends weren't repaid and borrowed spirit stones weren't returned to the clan members, dissatisfaction would inevitably grow, even if unspoken.
Moreover, prolonged delays in stipends could severely hinder the cultivation progress of the family's members. With this in mind, Elian spoke up.
"The family's coffers have been depleted over the years, and many members lack sufficient contributions to exchange for resources."
"Here's what I propose: going forward, I will contribute thirty spirit peaches annually to the family coffers in exchange for family contribution points."
The crowd was taken aback by his offer. While the exchange rate between contribution points and spirit stones was nominally one-to-one, the practical value was entirely different.
With the family coffers nearly empty, contribution points were practically worthless. By offering thirty spirit peaches annually in exchange for points, Elian was essentially using his own resources to revitalize the family coffers.
Until the family's deficit was resolved and the coffers replenished, these contribution points held little value for Elian.
However, for the clan's cultivators, this was a significant boon. Spirit peaches could enhance cultivation and were even more effective than spirit stones.
A single spirit peach was worth five spirit stones, so thirty spirit peaches amounted to 150 spirit stones. With these thirty spirit peaches available annually, the family members would have renewed hope for their cultivation.
"No," the Third Elder, Chen Qinghao, immediately objected. "If the spirit peaches go into the coffers, what about your own cultivation?"
"It's fine," Elian replied firmly.
"I've already broken through to the ninth level of Qi Refinement. From now on, it's just a matter of honing my foundation."
"Besides, the Spirit Peach Tree produces more than enough spirit peaches for my needs."
His resolve left everyone momentarily speechless, and no further objections were raised.
"You..."
The Third Elder patted Elian's shoulder, shaking his head in a mix of helplessness and admiration. He then turned to the crowd and continued.
"The second matter to address is the appointment of our eighth elder."
"Since Elian has reached the ninth level of Qi Refinement, he will, per family rules, be appointed as the family's eighth elder. Does anyone have any objections?"
The Second Elder, Chen Qinghe, smiled and said, "Adding another elder to the family will help ease our current difficulties. Why would we object?"
With the Second Elder's endorsement, everyone else naturally voiced their agreement.
And so, at the age of eighteen, Elian became the first of his generation to reach the ninth level of Qi Refinement and was formally inducted as one of the family's decision-makers.
The meeting continued in an orderly manner, focusing on plans for the coming year. It lasted for three full hours before finally concluding.
After the meeting, the Third Elder specifically asked Elian to stay behind.
"Elian," he said, "don't return to Linghu Isle immediately after the new year."
"Oh?" Elian looked puzzled.
Chen Qinghao smiled.
"After the new year, it will be time for the annual spiritual root testing for the family's mortals."
"I'll be too busy to handle it, so I'd like you to conduct the tests for the children."
Elian nodded in understanding.
Testing for spiritual roots among mortals was no easy task. The most effective method involved using a spiritual root detector.
However, such devices were high-grade second-tier artifacts worth thousands of spirit stones—far beyond the means of small cultivation families like the Chen family.
In the absence of such tools, a cultivator at the ninth level of Qi Refinement could use their refined spiritual energy to sense spiritual roots.
This crude method had an accuracy rate of 80–90% and could only provide a vague sense of the spiritual root's attributes.
The Chen family used this method for their spiritual root testing. With few ninth-level Qi Refinement cultivators available, Elian, having recently reached this stage, was naturally enlisted for the task.
As Elian left the main hall, Sixth Elder Chen Qingmeng called out to him, his expression hesitant.
Elian paused, noticing that Chen Qingmeng seemed to have been waiting for some time. He quickly stepped forward and bowed.
"Greetings, Twenty-Sixth Uncle."
"You're a family elder now; there's no need for such formalities," Chen Qingmeng replied with a hint of melancholy.
As the family's only high-grade first-tier alchemist, Chen Qingmeng's talent was undeniable. Born with dual spiritual roots, he had been a prodigy in his youth, reaching the Qi Refinement stage at twelve and breaking through to the ninth level at thirty-seven.
After more than a decade of preparation, he had reached the peak of Qi Refinement. Among the Qing generation, his talent was second only to that of Chen Qingyuan, who had joined Qingyang Sect.
Yet now, at just over fifty years old—an age considered prime for someone at the peak of Qi Refinement—Chen Qingmeng's hair was streaked with white, and he seemed prematurely aged, weighed down by an aura of despondency.
His failed breakthrough should not have left him in such a depleted state. His current condition was likely due to the immense psychological and emotional toll of owing the family a debt he could never repay in this lifetime.