Family Cultivation: I Become a Mirror

Chapter 451 370 Immortals and Mortals Live Apart_2

These Spiritual Fields had been checked twice within the Li Family, and the remaining ones were all products that were permitted by the rules. Li Yuanjiao slowly finished drawing the map and returned to the hall, where Li Yuanping had been furiously writing for a while.

Seeing Li Yuanjiao return, Li Yuanping took the map that he had drawn and circled a few Immortal Mountains. After pondering for a moment, he said softly,

"Elder brother, I have carefully examined the routes of Li Xia County in the past and the Yuan Family today. Take a look at my method."

Li Yuanjiao glanced down and saw several large characters at the beginning of the document:

"Dual Clan System, Peak Master Control."

Li Yuanping's face was pale, but his eyes were bright and spirited as he explained,

"Now that our family has an increasing number of cultivators, I wish to separate the clan system from the family system, with the upper clans above and cults below, immortals and mortals living separately, cultivators ascending the peaks to join the family, and mortals descending the mountain to join the cult. Unless they are assigned to exterminate demons, they shall not come down from the mountain."

"Those of other surnames and our clan members, once they possess a Spirit Aperture, are sent to our main peak, Lijing Mountain, for cultivation, personally guided by our family's cultivator. Those with high aptitude will continue their cultivation, while those with low aptitude will be sent to other peaks."

"Each Immortal Mountain will establish its own mansion, disperse the disciples of the four veins among them, and set up a Peak Master, inspectors, and clan heads... The Spiritual Fields at the foot of the mountains will no longer be assigned individually but will be dispatched by their respective Immortal Mountains."

Li Yuanping said softly,

"The cultivators of each Immortal Mountain will take turns in appointing and rotating, and the collected Spiritual Objects will be directly transported to Lijing and sent to the Cave Mansion on Meichi Mountain. As for the Family Head... It is only he who can promote or transfer people. The inspectors and clan heads sort out right and wrong within the clan. Our family has the Dharma Mirror, and most of the embezzlement of Spiritual Objects will inevitably be exposed!"

His eyes gleamed as he continued,

"If you look at today, the reason why many cultivators of other surnames and side branches steal to plant Spirit Rice, search for treasures, transport Spiritual Objects, and seek the path outside is that there is no other way to go besides planting Spirit Rice in our family, with no room for advancement. Naturally, there is no allegiance."

"With this method, not only can our family avoid the arduous search for a direct lineage member without hope in cultivation to govern and maintain stability, but it also creates various positions and ranks that can attach these people to our family..."

Li Yuanjiao finished reading the detailed regulations in his hand, which naturally included more than the few sentences Li Yuanping mentioned aloud. There were many inspection restrictions and various cultivation level constraints to limit greed and rebellion.

"If it's like this, then the Clan Head Courtyard will need multiple times more manpower in surveillance, and various ranks will also need to distribute a salary to maintain integrity..."

Li Yuanjiao frowned and pondered for a while. Li Yuanping's method could certainly win over most cultivators, but it would greatly increase the ruling cost of the Li Family. He weighed the gains and losses in his heart, hesitating to speak.

However, Li Yuanping confidently smiled and said,

"Seeking immortal cultivation is the most greedy affair in the world. Our family will soon be able to produce elixirs. As long as these positions are tied to them, I don't know how many people will flock to us! Moreover, desire for power is one of the Nine Tribulations. With both at play, how many can resist?"

He said gently,

"As long as those of other surnames and side branches are wholly focused on climbing the ranks, they can be of use to us. There's no need for a hero capable of suppressing them and driving them in every generation—average individuals are also sufficient."

"Even on ordinary days, by following the list submitted by the Clan Head Courtyard and promoting people at random, one can manage the family even while pursuing cultivation."

Li Yuanjiao also gradually showed interest as he took up the thread of the conversation,

"In this way, our family would not have to be constantly vigilant about those of other surnames. As long as we keep an eye on a few outstanding individuals, marry them into our family, and suppress them with the Xuanjian, we can sit securely on our Immortal Mountain..."

"Indeed,"

said Li Yuanping,

"So what if we distribute more salary? Elder brother, you are about to break through to Foundation Establishment. When that happens, there will surely be great changes in our family."

In the end, Li Yuanjiao nodded in agreement, saying,

"It's just that it is us, the younger generation, who are unworthy. We decentralize power and benefits for stability. I wonder... I wonder how we can face our ancestors."

Li Yuanping also silently nodded, consoling,

"The most profitable is not necessarily the most stable. As our family gradually expands, power will eventually have to be distributed. It cannot always be concentrated in one person... Our family cannot afford to lose."

......

Jade Court Mountain.

On Jade Court Mountain, the snow was still pristine and dazzling. Li Xijun opened his eyes and breathed out a white mist that collided with the longsword in his hands, condensing into a thin layer of frost.

"The 'Cold Pine Dew Snow Technique,' after all, is a Third-Grade Cultivation Technique, clad in dew and snow, treading upon the cold wind."

His white garments fluttered as his Qi Cultivation Level reached the first layer, stabilizing his cultivation. His True Yuan was as white as frost, circulating uncertainly beside him, further complemented by the Green Peak longsword in his hand.

In just over a year, three of the Xihong generation had successively broken through, adding three direct lineage Qi Cultivators to the Li Family.

Li Yuanjiao and Li Qinghong had been in seclusion one after another, and both the direct lineage and the branch families within the family had made considerable progress. The Xihong generation didn't have many small sect members; it was in the Ximing generation that the small sect cultivators of the Li Family began to flourish, with the two main lines taking the lead, gradually starting to manage the Spiritual Fields.

As per the Li Family's clan code, most descendants of Li Mutian's half-brothers had gradually transformed from small sect to branches due to the scarcity of Spirit Apertures, fading from the stage of history.

Owing to the restraint of Li Xuanling and Li Xuanfeng, two major sect members of the Xuanjing generation, it was not until the third generation that the small sects of the Li Family's four lines thrived, with the small sect formed by the illegitimate sons of Li Xuanxuan and the small sect of the illegitimate sons of Li Yuanyun taking over the power of the previous generation.

Of course, in Li Xijun's view, this was a more than welcome change; there was no need to worry about hundreds of mortal elders from the same generation as his father suddenly cropping up overhead, and the power center of the clan's governance drew closer, allowing many contradictions to be wiped away.

"Young master."

An Siming approached, sword girt at his side, and gave a respectful bow, inquiringly asking.

Li Xijun, after a year and a half of seclusion, suddenly felt that An Siming's essence, energy, and spirit were all different—as if he had found a direction in life, appearing especially diligent. He couldn't help but smile and asked,

"Have you gotten married?"

An Siming was taken aback, repeatedly waving his hands and continuing,

"The young master jests. Young Master Xihong has been waiting down the mountain."

Gliding down to the foot of the mountain, Li Xijun saw his elder brother Li Xihong, who had been waiting for a while, wearing light armor, looking more mature at the age of twenty-six or twenty-seven.

Li Xihong was also a Qi Cultivator, practicing the 'River Qi Decision,' married a daughter from the Tian Clan, and chose many concubines from the An Clan, hence he had numerous offspring, mostly aged two or three.

Now a father, Li Xihong grew his beard, donned armor, and tied up his hair, exuding an air of dignity. He came forward with a beaming smile and said,

"I've not seen my younger brother for a long time."

Li Xijun nodded slightly, landing beside him. A heavy saddle horse nearby snorted loudly, warily eyeing him.

With a sweep of his Spiritual Sense, Li Xijun noticed cultivators lining up on both sides, primarily consisting of his half brothers and cultivators of humble origin, standing respectfully.

In his youth, Li Xihong cherished clan kinship, making connections among cultivators. Those who had been indebted to Li Xihong's kindness now swarmed around him protectively.

Li Xihong waved his generous hand, and the crowd dispersed. As the two strolled on the cobblestone road, Li Xihong's voice was warm as he smiled and said,

"In the year you and Ximing were in seclusion, there have been significant changes within the family. The Family Head has reformed the clan system, and things are no longer as they were."

He then recounted all that had happened over the past year and a half. Li Xijun frowned and, after listening to the detailed account from Li Xihong, heard him say,

"Now these matters were easily accomplished. Several Immortal Mountains changed their system, constructed grand palaces, and the cultivators all cooperated very well... contributing both money and effort..."

"Of course, they cooperated!"

Li Xijun understood clearly after a mere internal back-and-forth and his expression wasn't very pleased as he coldly said,

"The clan gave them authority and salary. None of these people are fools—they're naturally very happy!"

Li Xijun said this aloud, while in his heart he mused,

'No wonder the Spiritual Energy of Jade Court Mountain has diminished significantly. It turns out that cultivators have entered the mountain! The family should start constructing a Spirit Gathering Array soon... so as not to delay the cultivation of the direct lineage.'

Li Xihong hastily smiled, attempting to smooth things over,

"It's not as if we're letting them take things for free. The clan set up various mundane tasks—usually they're also running about outside. Now they can even earn some subsidies for the family, so as not to let..."

Seeing that Li Xihong still didn't understand, Li Xijun sighed directly, noting that they were alone,

"Elder brother, it's out of necessity that the seniors have distributed their power. As juniors, we should feel ashamed..."