7: Chapter 7: Planning with Spirit Stones, Aiming for Foundation Building

As dawn broke, Lin Yue had already carefully counted the one thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones, dividing them into three wooden boxes.

The wooden boxes were made from old pine wood that Lin Zhong had found overnight, still carrying a faint scent of pine resin on the surface, with three copper bands wrapped around the clasps, making them very secure.

"Clan Chief, here is the roster of the clan's youths you requested."

Lin Zhong walked in holding a thick ledger, its corners severely worn, the pages yellowed, densely filled with brush-written names, ages, and cultivation Realms of the clansmen.

It even clearly noted who was skilled in forging and who was familiar with herbs.

Lin Yue took the roster, his fingertips tracing names like "Lin Stone, fourteen years old, Qi Refining first layer" and "Lin Little Flower, twelve years old, not yet ranked," gradually forming a plan in his mind.

He opened the first wooden box, containing three hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones, and pushed it toward Lin Zhong.

"Uncle Zhong, take these Spirit Stones. Use part to purchase grain and winter clothing, and exchange the rest for iron materials. Have the clan's blacksmith forge ten more iron swords for the Guard Team and repair the gaps in the courtyard wall."

"Ah, yes!"

Lin Zhong carefully put away the wooden box, his eyes slightly moist.

In the past, the clan couldn't even gather enough Spirit Stones to buy rice, but now they could take out three hundred at once for circulation—something unthinkable half a year ago.

Lin Yue then opened the second wooden box, containing five hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones. He took out two hundred from it and handed them to Lin Hu, who had rushed over upon hearing the news:

"Take these. Pick ten brothers from the Guard Team with solid Foundations, give each twenty, and have them go to the town's Market to buy some low-grade Body Tempering Pills and Healing Medicine.

Tell them this is the first reward from the 'Ancestral Spirit Land.' From now on, they should meditate at the Altar in the back mountain at Mao Hour daily. Whoever improves the fastest will have their reward doubled next time."

Lin Hu took the Spirit Stones, his hands trembling.

A single low-grade Body Tempering Pill costs five Low-Grade Spirit Stones; twenty is enough for them to strive for Middle Stage Qi Refining!

He nodded vigorously: "Clan Chief, rest assured, I guarantee the brothers will spare no effort and not disappoint this reward!"

After Lin Hu left, Lin Yue looked at the remaining three hundred Spirit Stones and said to Lin Cang: "Grand Elder, you keep these Spirit Stones.

Your cultivation has reached Peak Late Stage Qi Refining, just a step away. Use these Spirit Stones to buy some 'Qi Gathering Powder' and strive to Breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Stage as soon as possible.

Only if you can achieve Foundation Establishment will our Lin Family truly stand firm in Sunset Town."

Lin Cang looked at the pile of Spirit Stones emitting a faint spiritual glow, remained silent for a moment, and finally took them, his voice somewhat hoarse:

"Yue boy, this old man... will definitely not disappoint you and the clansmen's expectations."

He knew these three hundred Spirit Stones were the clan's biggest expenditure currently possible; Lin Yue was prioritizing the hope of a Breakthrough for him, an old man.

The last wooden box still contained two hundred Spirit Stones, which Lin Yue did not touch.

These were reserved as "rations" for the plane—he planned to invest twenty daily to accelerate the increase in Spiritual Qi concentration, striving to level up the plane to Rank 3 as soon as possible.

After arranging the Spirit Stones, Lin Yue immediately took two clansmen to the back mountain to set up the "Altar."

The so-called Altar was actually clearing a square area about ten feet wide in the pine forest where the plane's Spiritual Qi leakage was most concentrated,

building a half-foot-high stone platform with bluestones, placing a replica of the ancestral tablet brought from home on it, and lighting three sticks of homemade Mugwort Incense.

"From today on, have Lin Hu bring those ten brothers here to meditate daily at Mao Hour and Shen Hour, two at a time, taking turns."

Lin Yue bowed three times to the stone platform and said to the clansmen beside him, "Remember, aside from these ten people, no one is allowed near this pine forest. Say it's the Forbidden Ground of the Ancestral Spirit Land; trespassers will be rejected by the Spirit Land and cut off from their cultivation path."

The clansmen quickly agreed, their eyes filled with awe as they looked at the pine forest.

After setting up the Altar, Lin Yue returned to the wooden hut and slipped into the plane.

[ruined plane (Rank: 2)]

[Spiritual Qi Concentration: 4.9 (ordinary external environment is 1)]

[spirit soil Area: 28 square meters]

[Absorbable Spiritual Items: (Earth Vein Spirit Marrow Qi x1 strand, Low-Grade Spirit Stone x20)]

[Ore Vein Generation: companion spirit iron ore vein (15 jin daily)]

[Status: Stable]

He sent the twenty Low-Grade Spirit Stones planned for today into the Chaos, watching the Spiritual Qi concentration jump to 4.9, feeling slightly reassured.

Then he took out the 15 jin of spirit iron ore generated by the plane and harvested the fifteen newly matured qi condensing grass plants—

Nourished by the Earth Vein Spirit Marrow Qi, the Spiritual Plant maturation cycle shortened from three days to two, and the quality improved further.

"Uncle Zhong, have someone sort out this spirit iron ore and Spiritual Plant. The Black Stone Merchant Team will come to collect them tomorrow."

Lin Yue handed the items to Lin Zhong and added, "Store the Spiritual Plant separately in a Jade Box. Tell Shi Feng that this batch of Spiritual Plant is of higher quality than last time, so the price must increase to sixty per plant."

Lin Zhong clicked his tongue: "Sixty? Isn't that too expensive?"

"Not expensive."

Lin Yue shook his head, "Our Spiritual Plant can increase Qi Refining Cultivators' meditation efficiency by thirty percent. At this price, the Black Stone Merchant Team is profiting."

He calculated that the Black Stone Merchant Team urgently needed Spiritual Plant, and more importantly, he wanted them to realize the Lin Family's "specialness," paving the way for deeper cooperation in the future.

Sure enough, in the afternoon, the Black Stone Merchant Team sent someone to inspect the goods in advance. After seeing the quality of the Spiritual Plant,

they agreed without hesitation to the price of sixty per plant, paid nine hundred and additionally pre-ordered fifty plants, saying they were willing to prepay half as a deposit.

Lin Yue didn't take the deposit, only saying to trade according to the old rules.

This instead made the other party more at ease. When leaving, they specifically said they would bring more "extras" as thanks for the Lin Family's integrity.

By evening, good news came from the back mountain—

The first brother Lin Hu brought, Lin Stone, after meditating at the Altar for two hours, actually directly broke through from Qi Refining first layer to Qi Refining second layer!

The news spread back to the Lin Family, and the entire small courtyard was in an uproar.

"He really broke through? I always said that Stone kid has talent!"

"It must be the Ancestral Spirit Land showing its power! I saw him kowtow three times at the Altar this morning!"

"Clan Chief, I also want to try the Altar! Even if I don't get a reward, let me soak in some Spiritual Qi!"

Lin Yue stood at the main room's entrance, watching the clansmen's excited expressions, a slight smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

He said to Lin Zhong: "Tell everyone that as long as they work hard and follow the rules, everyone has a chance to cultivate at the Altar.

Starting next month, arrange the order based on each person's contribution. Those with more contributions can benefit from the Spirit Land."

Upon hearing this, the clansmen's motivation increased even more.

Even those usually laziest now actively went to repair the courtyard wall, afraid of falling behind.

At night, Lin Yue sat by the spirit soil in the plane, watching the slowly fluctuating Spiritual Qi concentration on the panel, listening to the patrol footsteps outside, feeling a sense of peace in his heart.

The Spirit Stone arrangement balanced current survival with long-term development; the Altar's establishment gave the clansmen a clear goal to strive for.

The plane's growth steadily advanced, and even the Black Stone Merchant Team became a potential aid... The Lin Family's broken ship finally began sailing in the right direction.

But he knew this was just the beginning.

He took out the remaining one thousand one hundred and ten Low-Grade Spirit Stones, counted out twenty and sent them into the Chaos, watching the Spiritual Qi concentration jump to 5.0, a flicker of anticipation in his eyes.

"What new functions will a Rank 3 plane unlock?"

Outside the window, the moonlight was just right, shining through the window lattice onto Lin Yue's face, reflecting the determination in his eyes.

No matter how many storms lay ahead, he would lead the Lin Family forward, step by step.