59: Chapter 59: Foundations Solidified, Grand Plans Initially Drawn

When the bronze bell in front of the Ancestral Hall was struck, the spiritual mist of Sunset Town was being dyed golden-red by the morning sun.

Lin Yue stood atop the stone steps, gazing at the clansmen lined up neatly below. A sense of indescribable stability welled up in his heart—

After half a year of secluded cultivation, the team of Cultivators in Sunset Town had become like a newly sharpened blade, its edge restrained but hiding killing intent.

"My fellow clansmen."

Lin Yue's voice spread across the Threshing Floor through spiritual power, every word falling clearly into everyone's ears.

"Half a year of secluded cultivation has yielded brilliant results."

He raised his hand with a wave, and the jade plate held by Lin Hu unfolded in the air, with lines of handwriting outlined in spiritual light:

"Sunset Town currently has one Late Foundation Establishment Cultivator and two in the Middle Foundation Establishment Stage;"

"Eighteen in the Early Stage Foundation Establishment, totaling twenty-one Foundation Establishment Cultivators;"

"Fifty-six in the Late Stage Qi Refining, and over two hundred Cultivators at the Middle Stage Qi Refining or below."

Deafening cheers erupted from the crowd, and even a few steady clan elders had reddened eyes.

Who could have imagined that a Family that could only struggle for survival in Sunset Town a year ago,

would now actually have twenty-one Foundation Establishment Cultivators? Such strength, even if placed in Eastern Yunzhou, would be enough to Rank among second-tier powers.

Lin Yue raised his hand to signal for silence, his gaze sweeping over the excited faces:

"This is not the end, but the beginning.

From this day forward, Sunset Town will establish three ironclad rules to be passed down through generations."

The Threshing Floor instantly became pin-drop silent, and everyone's eyes were focused on him.

"First, prioritize education."

Lin Yue's gaze fell toward the Technique Transmission Room, where dozens of children were peeking through the doorframes.

"The Technique Transmission Room will be expanded threefold, supervised by the Grand Elder himself. All children over five years old must enroll."

"Teaching Cultivation Techniques, identifying Spiritual Plants, and drawing basic Talismans—not a single one can be missed."

He paused and added:

"Every month, ten Low-Grade Spirit Stones will be taken from the workshop profits to reward the three children who progress the fastest;"

"Teachers who teach well will have their monthly salary doubled and receive two additional bottles of qingling pills."

The children immediately cheered for joy, and the Cultivators responsible for teaching also felt their spirits lift—

The Clan Chief not only valued the younger generation but also hadn't forgotten them, the spreaders of the Dao.

"Second, increase the population."

Lin Yue's voice turned toward the women and children of the clan.

"From today on, when a couple in the clan gives birth to an offspring, regardless of gender, they will be rewarded with one hundred jin of spirit rice, ten Low-Grade Spirit Stones, and one Guyuan Grass;"

"If they can have twins in a single birth, the reward will be doubled; those who raise a child to ten years old will receive an extra bottle of qi condensing pills."

These words made the Threshing Floor boil over completely.

spirit rice and Spirit Stones could solve urgent needs, while Guyuan Grass and qi condensing pills were essential for Cultivator families.

The Clan Chief was planning for the Family's future from the very Foundation!

Several newly married young couples looked at each other, their eyes burning with anticipation.

The Grand Elder stroked his beard, his eyes full of gratification.

He knew that the prosperity of a Family lay not only in the number of Cultivators but also in the flourishing of its population.

Lin Yue's step here went further than he had imagined.

"Third, solidify the Foundation."

Lin Yue's gaze became sharp.

"Lin Shi, upgrade the Town Protecting Array again, using mysterious iron mother and newly mined dragon pattern jade to reinforce the array cores. The required Materials will be drawn from the workshop income;"

"Lin De, expand the Pill Workshop, refining at least two hundred bottles of qingling pills and fifty bottles of spirit gathering pills every month;"

"Prioritize supply to the Sharp Soldiers Camp and the Technique Transmission Room. The profits from external sales of Medicinal Pills will go into the Clan Treasury;"

"Lin Laosan, re-plan the stalls of the Luoxia Workshop, recruit thirty more merchants, and lower the rent by ten percent to attract foot traffic;"

"At the same time, tally the youth of marriageable age in the clan and discuss intermarriage with friendly neighboring villages. Dowries will be allocated from the Clan Treasury to ensure our clansmen have no worries for the future."

"Yes!"

The three of them responded in unison, their eyes flashing with drive.

After arranging these matters, Lin Yue dismissed the crowd, leaving only the Grand Elder, Lin Hu, and several core clan elders.

Inside the Ancestral Hall, the spiritual incense in the burner rose in curls, stretching everyone's shadows very long.

"Clan Chief, these three ironclad rules are good, but..."

Lin Laosan flipped through the account books, his brow slightly furrowed.

"The education and population rewards alone will cost nearly twenty thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones in additional monthly expenses;"

"Combined with the Town Protecting Array upgrade and the Pill Workshop's production expansion, the total monthly expenditure might increase to thirty-five thousand. Can the Clan Treasury sustain this?"

"It can."

Lin Yue tapped the stone table with his fingertip, his voice steady.

"The Luoxia Workshop now brings in twelve thousand in monthly rent and management fees;"

"The Pill Workshop's external sales of qingling pills and spirit gathering pills earn a net profit of eight thousand after costs;"

"The spirit grain and Spiritual Plants from the spiritual fields sold to the Tian Ling Merchant Guild bring in a steady seven thousand every month;"

"The High Grade Magical Artifacts crafted by the Magical Artifact Workshop are sold through the Black Stone Chamber of Commerce. Although a commission is taken, there is still a monthly surplus of five thousand."

"Adding these four items together, the monthly income is thirty-two thousand. Combined with the surplus from the Mineral Exhibition Fair, supporting this for half a year won't be a problem."

He paused and added:

"Once the Technique Transmission Room expansion is complete and the children have achieved success in their studies, they can be added to the various workshops to help out;"

"At that time, efficiency will improve, and profits will only be higher."

Only then did everyone breathe a sigh of relief, their gazes toward Lin Yue filled with even more admiration—

The Clan Chief not only understood cultivation but was also skilled in calculation, managing the income and expenses of the Family industries with total clarity,

completely without needing to rely on those shady earnings.

After everyone left, Lin Yue returned to his own courtyard and closed the door tightly.

He sat cross-legged, the dragon jade at his fingertips becoming slightly hot, and his Divine Sense sank into that world only he knew.

"[Primary Grotto-Heaven (Rank: 7)]"

"[Spiritual Qi Concentration: 350 (where the ordinary external environment is 1)]"

"[Grotto-Heaven Continent: Stable (Area: 54 square kilometers)]"

"[spiritual fields: Eastern Plains and Southern Hills (Mid-tier Spiritual Plant maturation cycle shortened by 60%)]"

"[Spirit River: 900 liters daily yield (contains Spirit Marrow Crystal powder, significantly boosting Comprehension Ability)]"

"[Ore Veins: companion spirit iron ore vein (170 jin/day, Top Grade), high-tier spirit stone ore vein (90 pieces/day), dragon pattern jade ore vein (9 jin/day), mysterious iron mother ore vein (60 jin/day)]"

"[Core Lifeform: World Tree (Early Mature Stage)]"

"[Chaos Spirit Absorption: 150 points/day (Accumulated Storage: 13,500 points)]"

"[Functions: Spiritual Vein Feedback (Continuous output of 8% Spiritual Qi), Spiritual Plant Hastening]"

"[Status: Excellent (The Spiritual Vein network of each Ore vein has formed a cycle)]"

Looking at the accumulated storage number after "Chaos Spirit Absorption," a flash of satisfaction crossed Lin Yue's eyes.

Half a year of secluded cultivation plus the previous three months of accumulation, after subtracting the portions used for hastening Spirit Medicine and Spiritual Vein Feedback,

Chaos Spiritual Qi still has 13,500 points remaining, enough to unlock a new building.

But he didn't act immediately—

The Grotto-Heaven was Sunset Town's trump card. The unlocking of new functions had to align with the Family's overt industries; he couldn't reveal the slightest flaw.

The World Tree's branches and leaves were several times more lush than half a year ago, with golden-red spiritual runes spreading across the trunk like blood vessels.

The spiritual power output of the twenty-one Foundation Establishment Cultivators was stable at 320 points/day.

At the roots, the High Grade Spirit Marrow Crystals were piled into a small hill half a person high, emitting a seven-colored glow that reflected the entire Grotto-Heaven like a dreamscape.

The Mid-tier Spiritual Plants in the spiritual fields were growing well, with Companion Spirit Insects dancing among the condensing qi flowers.

Spiritual runes flowed over the leaves of the hastened Spiritual Plants—

Most of these Spiritual Plants were quietly mixed into the output of the clan's spiritual fields, which both improved the quality of the Pill Workshop's ingredients and didn't appear too abrupt.

By the Spirit River, the number of Spirit Stream Fish had exceeded a thousand. In the bellies of several of the largest fish,

spirit pearls had grown to the size of pigeon eggs, their spiritual energy fluctuations comparable to Mid-Grade Spirit Stones. However, he used the excuse of "special cultivation"

to let Lin De use them for refining high-tier Medicinal Pills, claiming to the outside world that they were found by chance.

He rested his Divine Sense on the Ore vein area. The companion spirit iron Ore of the companion spirit iron ore vein gleamed with the luster unique to Top Grade spirit iron.

Yet he controlled the mining volume, only taking out a small amount each month to mix into ordinary spirit iron,

letting the products of the Magical Artifact Workshop "occasionally" reach Top Grade quality. This maintained competitiveness without attracting greed.

"Slowly."

Lin Yue murmured in his heart, setting aside the use of the Chaos Spiritual Qi for the time being.

The Family's overt industries were already on the right track; the Grotto-Heaven's resources only needed to provide silent assistance, with no need to rush to show its brilliance.

By the time he left the Grotto-Heaven, twilight had already enveloped Sunset Town. On the light membrane of the Town Protecting Array,

spiritual runes flowed in the night, locking the Spiritual Qi firmly within the town.

The lanterns of the Luoxia Workshop were lit one by one. The shouts of merchants and the laughter and chatter of Cultivators drifted on the evening breeze, a scene of bustling activity.

Lin Yue stood on the roof of the Ancestral Hall, looking down at the brightly lit workshop below.

There were the busy figures of clansmen, the playful laughter of children, and the bargaining of merchants—

This was the true Foundation of Sunset Town, the confidence built up with industry and vitality.

"Black Stone City, Blood Shadow Tower..."

Lin Yue whispered to himself, the dragon jade at his fingertips glowing with a warm light.

"Whatever schemes you have, Sunset Town can handle them."

In the distant Grotto-Heaven, the World Tree's branches and leaves swayed gently in the night wind.

13,500 points of Chaos Spiritual Qi were quietly stored in the spiritual rune network, waiting for the most suitable moment to inject new vitality into this land.

The condensing qi flowers in the spiritual fields, under the hastening of the Companion Spirit Insects, hung heavy with full flower spikes.

The water of the Spirit Marrow Spring tinkled, as if accompanying the music of this thriving home.

Lin Yue took a deep breath and turned to walk down from the roof. He still had many things to do:

Go to the Luoxia Workshop to check on the move-in status of new merchants, tell Lin De to control the selling price of Medicinal Pills to seize the market,

and ask whether the timber for the Technique Transmission Room expansion had arrived... The night belonging to Sunset Town had only just begun.