After receiving the Spirit Peaches, the old patriarch smiled and said, "With these Spirit Peaches, there's a chance I might glimpse the Purple Mansion realm in this lifetime."
Chen Changxuan had broken through to the seventh level of Foundation Establishment a few years ago. Normally, advancing to the ninth level would take at least 30 years.
After reaching the ninth level, he would still need to temper his power and refine his meridians with spiritual energy, which would take another 20 years. Only then could he achieve perfection in cultivation and approach the threshold for breaking into the Purple Mansion realm.
At 120 years old, Chen Changxuan would be over 170 years old in 50 years. By then, he would only have one chance to attempt breaking into the Purple Mansion, and the odds would be slim.
But with these Spirit Peaches, his cultivation speed and energy refinement would significantly accelerate. In 30 years, he might be able to attempt the breakthrough, granting him one extra chance to reach the Purple Mansion.
Breaking into the Purple Mansion was not as dangerous as advancing to Foundation Establishment. Even if he failed, he would only suffer severe energy depletion. After decades of recovery, the experience gained would increase his chances of success by 10–20%.
With the Spirit Peaches, the old patriarch's path to cultivation now had a glimmer of hope. He felt 30% confident about reaching the Purple Mansion realm before his passing.
After handing the Spirit Peaches to the old patriarch, Elian smiled slightly and turned to Chen Qinghao and Chen Qingwan.
"I've already used twelve Spirit Peaches this year to refine Gathering Essence Pills, so I don't have any left."
"However, the Spirit Peaches mature every three years. From now on, every harvest, Uncle patriarch will receive twelve, and Aunt Qingwan and Uncle Qinghao will each receive six."
"No, that's not acceptable," Chen Qinghao said, shaking his head firmly. "Spirit Peaches are incredibly valuable, worth at least 200 spirit stones each. They should be sold at Yuyang Market instead."
Hearing this, Elian couldn't help but chuckle.
"Uncle Qinghao, you know how precious Spirit Peaches are. Do you think I'd sell them outside instead of keeping them within the family?"
"How about this: I'll price them internally at 100 family contribution points and place them in the family treasury."
"Any family member can use contribution points to exchange for them. This way, it's my gift to the family while also helping to cultivate our members."
Chen Qinghao and Chen Qingwan exchanged glances and finally nodded.
At this price, they could afford to redeem one or two Spirit Peaches annually, which would significantly boost their cultivation speed.
For Foundation Establishment cultivators, refining a single second-tier Spirit Peach could increase their strength significantly. For ordinary Qi Refinement cultivators, consuming one could advance their cultivation by leaps and bounds, saving seven to eight years of effort.
For the younger members of the family, having second-tier Spirit Peaches in the treasury would likely result in a marked increase in the number of cultivators reaching the ninth level of Qi Refinement.
After dealing with the Spirit Peaches, everyone rose to leave the council hall. Before departing, Elian was stopped by Chen Changxuan, who said, "Your Linghu Isle is now a second-tier spiritual vein. The Formation there is no longer sufficient for its protection."
"The Meng family recently sent us a piece of Blue Pattern Steel, enough to craft a second-tier formation plate. Let me accompany you to Linghu Isle and set up a new protective formation."
Hearing this, Elian nodded.
"That's a good idea."
Linghu Isle's advancement to a second-tier spiritual vein had greatly increased its spiritual energy concentration.
A high-grade first-tier vein could only support three mu of spiritual farmland, but a low-grade second-tier vein could support up to twenty mu.
Qingyuan Mountain's mid-grade second-tier spiritual vein had only developed seventeen mu of farmland because most of its energy was allocated to the cultivation of family members.
Additionally, with a second-tier vein, the population of Azure Spirit Fish at Linghu Isle could expand severalfold. Once stabilized, the family's annual income from the spiritual farmland and spirit fish at Linghu Isle would rise from 300–400 spirit stones to over 1,500 spirit stones.
This didn't even account for Elian's Purple-Striped Goose and Spirit Peach trees. Including these, the annual income could potentially double or triple.
Moreover, as the Spirit Peach Tree continued to evolve, the spiritual energy at Linghu Isle would grow richer, further increasing its value.
With its promotion to a second-tier vein, Linghu Isle had become the family's third most important resource, second only to Qingyuan Mountain and Pingyang City.
Qingyuan Mountain was the seat of the family's heritage, where 70% of its cultivators trained. Without its spiritual vein, even gathering the energy needed for cultivation would be difficult.
Pingyang City's mortals were the foundation of the Chen family. To protect them, 60–70% of the spiritual energy from the city's low-grade second-tier vein was reserved for maintaining the city's protective formation.
In the near future, Linghu Isle would likely become the family's primary financial resource. Its Azure Spirit Fish specialty could eventually surpass the revenues of Yuyang Market, making it the family's largest source of income.
Without a second-tier formation for protection, it would no longer be secure.
The two wasted no time, setting off that same day. In just one day, they flew over 5,000 li to reach Linghu Isle.
Upon arrival, they saw Chen Xianyan and Chen Xianling, two siblings who were now 14 years old. Their cultivation progress was impressive—they had both reached the mid-stages of Qi Refinement.
At the fourth level of Qi Refinement, their progress wasn't as astonishing as Elian's when he reached the sixth level at the same age, but it was exceptional for dual spiritual root cultivators.
With their talent and Elian's careful guidance, they were likely to reach the ninth level of Qi Refinement by age 25 and refine their meridians to prepare for Foundation Establishment by 30.
The siblings, seeing the family patriarch for the first time, were a bit frightened and stood silently to the side.
"Don't be afraid. I'm your ancestor," Chen Changxuan said, comforting them.
"You should call him Granduncle." said Elian.
Hearing this, the two siblings relaxed slightly. Chen Xianyan sweetly called out, "Granduncle."
The old patriarch's face lit up with satisfaction as he sized them up. "Already at the fourth level of Qi Refinement. It seems you've been diligent in your training."
"Here, take these as gifts."
He handed each of them a high-grade first-tier artifact.
After giving the artifacts, he patted their heads and smiled.
"Train hard and strive to reach the ninth level of Qi Refinement soon. When you do, I'll secure a few Foundation Establishment Pills for you."
After sending the siblings off, he turned to chat with Chen Changyan.
Elian knew that his granduncle, Chen Changyan, appeared normal but didn't have much time left.
At 117 years old, his blood and body were nearly exhausted. He was surviving on a thread of spiritual energy to sustain his physical form. Once that energy ran out, he would draw his final breath.
...
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I need POWAAA! Gimme Power Stonesssss :D