In a side room of the Council Hall on Fangmu Mountain, there was a mahogany Eight Immortals table in the center.
A teapot on the table continuously emitted wisps of white smoke upwards.
On either side of the Eight Immortals table, a young man in a green shirt and a middle-aged Taoist robe cultivator sat opposite each other, talking.
The young cultivator was none other than Lin Shiming, who had just erged from the Earth Fire Hall; the middle-aged cultivator was his uncle, Lin Houyong.
The Great Elder Lin Yuqing, along with his father and the Fifth Elder, had all gone to Lingnan County at the mont, leaving the managent of all the clan affairs, both great and small, to the uncle.
In another two months or so, the clan eting would be convened again, and at that ti, Lin Shiming's appointnt as the Family Head would be announced.
It would be the third clan eting that Lin Shiming would attend.
"The clan eting is imminent, Shiming, there's sothing I need to discuss with you in advance," Lin Houyong's complexion was clearly not very good.
"In these past three years, the changes among the family cultivators have not been significant: nine Qi Cultivation Ninth Level cultivators, an increase by two, six cultivators have broken through to the late stage of Qi Cultivation, but we have also lost six, leaving us still with twenty-eight people.
There are forty cultivators in the middle stage of Qi Cultivation, not only fewer than the last three years but even two fewer than six years ago. However, there are now ninety cultivators in the early stage of Qi Cultivation, and twenty innate cultivators!"
Having said this, Lin Shiming's face also looked sowhat ugly.
The doubling of the remuneration for family cultivators had been implented for six years now, and in these three years, the family cultivators' salaries had doubled with additional rewards for alchemy and artifact refining. Yet, the growth of the cultivators compared to the previous three years was even sowhat lacking.
While it included the loss of several cultivators, it should be noted that the increase in late-stage and middle-stage Qi Cultivators included geniuses like Lin Shiming, Lin Shijie, and Lin Shitao.
This was completely unreasonable for a Foundation Establishnt family clan.
Although the Lin Family was suppressed by the Li Family, the Lin Family's remunerations were indeed distributed truthfully.
Even if the Spirit Roots were a bit inferior, and it might be slightly harder for an increase in late-stage Qi Cultivators, it would be impossible for there to be so few middle-stage cultivators.
This made Lin Shiming also sense a crisis, a crisis for the family.
He understood that this was related to the family's Demon Hunting Team withdrawing from the Qingyun mountain range and the lack of aggressive montum within the family.
Family reform was imperative.
Otherwise, even if they reached Foundation Establishnt or even ascended to the Purple Mansion, the Lin Family would still just be a castle in the air.
And how could a castle in the air stand against the Purple Mansion Family Li Family? Even if they were to develop for another three hundred years, it was likely that they would still be suppressed.
It was even possible that they would disappear.
That day, Lin Shiming had an extensive discussion with his uncle Lin Houyong for an entire day before leaving.
A day later, Lin Shiming appeared at the Qinglian Pool again, reporting for a long ti to the old family head, Lin Xianzhi.
Not until the reform had a clear direction did Lin Shiming return to his dwelling to refine spiritual energy.
...
Two months quietly passed by, and once again, Fangmu Mountain was lit up with lanterns and decorations; the cultivators of the Lin Family, except for those left to guard Lingnan County and Xing County Square Market, all returned.
Compared with three years ago, the Lin Family cultivators all had happy expressions and a glowing appearance, with a significantly better complexion than the previous three years.
They chatted in groups of threes and twos, leisurely and carefree!
At this mont, Lin Shiming was among them, but he was now seated in the elders' section, along with his second uncle Lin Houshou and his older brother Lin Shijie, who were newly promoted elders.
With the arrival of the auspicious ti, Lin Xianzhi, dressed in a green Taoist robe, made his appearance.
The Lin Family first paid tribute to their ancestors in the ancestral hall, and after the ceremony, they returned to the Council Hall.
The highly respected Lin Xianzhi was the first to announce:
"As the Lin Family Clan eting convenes for the first ti in three years, I hereby declare that from today onwards, Lin Houyuan and Lin Houyong will ascend as Supre Elders of Foundation Establishnt, enjoying the tributes due to them!"
"At the sa ti, Lin Shiming of the Shi generation will take up the position of Family Head!"
Lin Xianzhi's voice was not loud, and his speech was quite plain, but it carried an unquestionable authority and dignity in the hearts of all the Lin Family cultivators.
Regarding Lin Shiming's succession as Family Head, the Lin Family cultivators had no major objections. This matter had even been foreseen during the last clan eting three years ago.
Moreover, Lin Shiming had made a great deal of rit, and by now, his contributions to the family were even higher than those of so elders.
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"Shiming, report on the recent developnts of the family's cultivators!"
"Yes, Seventh Great-Uncle!" Lin Shiming nodded and then repeated the data Lin Houyong had given him two months prior.
"In the past three years, three cultivators in our family have achieved Foundation Establishnt, with two new Foundation Establishnt cultivators, naly the forr Family Head and Fifth Uncle Lin Houyong! This is indeed a cause for celebration!"
"There are nine cultivators at the Ninth Level of Qi Cultivation, an increase of three, including the Shiming generation's Lin Shiming, Lin Shijie, and Thirteenth Uncle Lin Houwei—all also causes for celebration!"
"However!" Lin Shiming's expression suddenly changed, and he bit down hard on that word.
"There have been six breakthroughs in the latter stage of Qi Cultivation, but we've also lost six, leaving the number unchanged at twenty-eight. There are forty cultivators in the middle stage of Qi Cultivation, which is two less than even six years ago, not to ntion the last three years. As for the early stage of Qi Cultivation, we are at ninety, with twenty Innate cultivators."
"What does this indicate?"
"It indicates that so of the Shiming generation have begun to indulge in pleasures, thinking they can rest on their laurels just because they possess Dual or Quintuple Spirit Roots!"
"Even so with Third Spirit Roots have started to slack off!"
"The increase in family stipends was not ant to encourage your indulgence!"
At this, the faces of many young family cultivators changed dramatically.
This was especially true for those at the early and middle stages of Qi Cultivation.
They were all terrified that Lin Shiming would cancel the double stipend policy of the family.
"The family must be reford!" Lin Shiming spoke again.
"The double stipend policy will be adjusted as of today!"
At these words, everyone stirred, especially the more problematic cultivators, who began murmuring their disapproval.
In the next mont, the oppressive aura of Lin Shiming, a Ninth Level Qi Cultivator, was felt, soon followed by that of all the Ninth Level Elders.
And then ca the pressure from Lin Xianzhi!
While the full pressure of Foundation Establishnt was not released, everyone felt a chill at this mont.
They had now been reminded.
In the family, neither the Foundation Establishnt cultivators nor the Ninth Level Elders had indulged in luxury.
"Starting today, the double stipend will be canceled, but the double stipend for outstanding cultivators will remain!"
"What constitutes an outstanding cultivator? Any in the early stage of Qi Cultivation who improves by two levels in three years, any in the middle stage who advances one level in three years, and any in the latter stage who advances one level in six years!"
"Additionally, those who succeed in challenging soone a rank above them also qualify as outstanding cultivators!"
"The stipend for those with Dual and Quintuple Spirit Roots who complete assessnts will be tripled, and the sa applies to those who surpass two ranks! This will increase in stages!"
As Lin Shiming eloquently spoke, the young cultivators of the Lin Family felt a surge of excitent.
Initially displeased with the potential reduction in stipends, the prospect of tripling their stipend for passing two ranks or for Dual and Quintuple Spirit Roots cultivators completing assessnts quickly satisfied most of them.
As for the small portion of cultivators lacking drive, they dared not utter another word at this mont.
Yet, Lin Shiming was not finished. Clearing his throat, he continued:
"Moreover, for those with lesser talent who still wish to partake in the family's double stipends, one may choose to marry and bear children.
Giving birth to a Quintuple Spirit Root child restores three months of double stipends on top of the original reward, a Dual Spirit Root child restores ten years of triple foundation stipends, and an Innate Spirit Root cultivator restores a lifeti triple foundation stipend!"
Each additional sentence from Lin Shiming sent further waves of excitent through the cultivators in attendance.
Cultivation is difficult, but having children is not. Furthermore, Lin Shiming calculated that children born to cultivators generally have better Spirit Roots and are more likely to possess Spirit Roots.
His reform plan was inspired by Lin Shizhong's father, thinking if mortals could do it,
why couldn't so cultivators who lacked initiative?
Now that the Lin Family had the resources from Lingnan county and Golden Iron Stone mines, they could easily afford the family's stipends.
The family now needed more cultivators and needed to progress!
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