In terms of the clan's future development, Lu Mingling was a little better than Lu Xueting. Even though the difference was not massive and was not as evident as the difference between a cultivator with three Spiritual Roots and Double Spiritual Roots, there was still a difference between them.
However, Lu Xueting had contributed more to the clan than Lu Mingling. Furthermore, she was not too far behind Lu Mingling in terms of their future developmental prospects. She was able to reach the ninth tier of the Qi Refining Stage at 55 years old and was already heading toward the complete Qi Refining Stage. Lu Xueting could also be considered as an above-average cultivator.
The disagreement appeared here.
Lu Mingchao leaned toward giving the Foundation Building Elixir to Lu Mingling. Even though he had not reached the ninth tier of the Qi Refining Stage yet, it was estimated that he should be able to reach that tier in a year or two. They could afford to wait.
However, Lu Chaohe thought differently. He thought that Lu Xueting should be the one to consume the elixir.
Lu Chaoxi was put in a spot between their arguments. He did not have an opinion on the matter and swayed back and forth between the two candidates.
Lu Qing first felt comforted when he heard what the three siblings had said.
Regardless of Lu Mingchao thinking about the future of the clan or Lu Chaohe thinking from the angle of the member's contribution to the clan, they both agreed on one thing. Both of them did not have any personal biases and wanted the best for the family.
What he was most afraid of was that his children were arguing because they were closer to one of the candidates than the other. He knew that his youngest daughter, Mingchao, had always had a close relationship with his eldest daughter, Xiachao. Xueting was Xiachao's immediate family. However, Mingchao did not favor Lu Xueting over Lu Mingling because of that.
That was quite good.
Lu Qing thought for a while and then gave his answer. "Let Xueting have it. We have to reward the people who contributed most to the clan. This should be a policy in the clan. In the future, not only for the Foundation Building Elixir but also for the rest of the valuable items, whoever wants to use them had to have made sufficient contributions to the clan."
"But…" Lu Mingchao still wanted to argue.
Lu Qing interrupted her. "Mingling is not old. He still has 20 years before he hits the threshold. Can't the clan get another Foundation Building Elixir in these 20 years? Are you guys that unconfident?"
"Listen to Father." Lu Chaoxi spoke up in the capacity of the eldest brother. His Core Lifespan had just recovered. He now felt as though he had swept the fog that lingered over him away and had become much more confident. "Just like Father said, we'll get another Foundation Building Elixir in the next 20 years. If we, as seniors, can't accomplish that, then we're too useless!"
Lu Qing, who was inside the chamber, nodded with satisfaction.
"Mingchao, regarding the Cavern Abode I've given you the blueprints for previously, have you been living in there well?"
"Very much so," Lu Mingchao replied. "When I trained there, I felt the speed of refining spiritual energy become much faster. I've advanced from the fifth tier of the Foundation Building Stage to the seventh tier in five years! That Cavern Abode… It's too miraculous."
Lu Qing felt more at ease when he heard those words.
Of course, while the acceleration properties of the Cavern Abode were important for Lu Mingchao's cultivation speed, Lu Qing also had to credit it to the blessing-type function, "Cultivation Acceleration," that he got for her before he engaged in closed-door training. He had also enhanced her Spiritual Roots to become Double Spiritual Roots. He had only managed to achieve such a significant effect by layering on several blessings.
"We can build a few more in the future. Chaoxi and Chaohe, the two of you can also move into these abodes."
"It's too expensive. It costs 500 Spirit Stones to make…" Lu Chaohe said. "Let Elder Brother and Ninth Sister stay in those abodes. I'll stay like this my whole life. There isn't much of a difference between the fifth or sixth tier of the Foundation Building Stage to the third tier. The two of them have the chance to advance to the Initial Enlightenment Stage."
"Don't say such discouraging words." Lu Qing was unhappy. "Why do you have such low aspirations? Is 500 Spirit Stones such a hefty sum? I spent more than that on a meal many years ago!"
Lu Chaohe mumbled softly, "That is because you lived an extravagant lifestyle in the past. The entire Feiyun State knew your reputation of defaulting on your payments…"
"What did you say?"
"Nothing… Nothing…" Lu Chaohe was shocked. He did not expect his father to be able to hear his whispers even through the thick steel door.
Lu Qing let out a grunt and did not pursue the matter. Instead, he asked, "How's the situation at the Water Ghost Lake?"
"There have been no changes from ten years ago," Lu Mingchao said. "I had scouted the area once every one or two years. No one should have noticed anything off about the area."
It was normal. The Yin-essence Water Jade had been formed a thousand years ago. Throughout the millennium, no one noticed that such a treasure was hidden within the lake. They merely regarded the area as a dangerous land that was infested with Water Ghosts. The past decade should not have been any different.
"Then what about the items I asked you to prepare?"
"We've prepared them all," Lu Chaoxi said. "When we were purchasing the Foundation Building Elixir, ninth sister had also purchased a Level Two high-grade spirit sword called the 'Blazing Sun Soul-Scorching Sword.'" It has an immense yang element and has a tremendous neutralizing effect on the Water Ghosts. Seventh brother has also fully understood the Red Sun Array and could lead the clan's cultivators in setting up the array when the time comes. Ninth sister's Broken Yin Water Rope also has a neutralizing effect on undead-type monsters."
"We've also managed to obtain great pieces of magic equipment from the four Foundation Building cultivators we defeated. Mingchao got the Level Two high-grade Jade Wind Clarity Sword and the Level Two high-grade Cloud-Stepping Flying Sword. Seventh brother got the Cleaving Flame Blade and a Level Two flying sword…"
"We don't have as many Yang-element Lightning Amulets as we intended, mainly because we had to use two during our battle on the outskirts of Anling City. We only have nine now…"
Lu Qing said after Lu Chaoxi finished his report, "That's enough. Come again tomorrow. I'll have a few arrangements. Don't rush Xueting in consuming the elixir for the time being."
"Yes!"
******
After sending his three children off, Lu Qing started to examine his system.
Lu Qing did not want them to rush and have Lu Xueting consume the elixir as he still had a few preparatory actions to do for his granddaughter.
Even though he had spent the huge sum of 300 Karma to obtain the "Core Lifespan Recovery" for Lu Chaoxi just now, he was still rich. He did not pay much regard to the Karma he spent!
He was rich!
He still had 792 Karma and could conduct a wave of actions.
Many of the options that the system produced this time were quite useful and rather miraculous.
Such options included the "Alchemist Level Increase" and the "Amulet Craftsman Level Increase."
According to the explanation in the exchange tab, these options could be used to directly increase the skill level of one of his clan members and was effective on anyone Level Three or below. A Level Two mid-grade alchemist would immediately be raised to Level Two high-grade. It was borderline cheating.
The former required 150 Karma, while the latter was 100 Karma.
"Huh?"
"Why are we, Amulet Craftsmen, 50 Karma cheaper than Alchemists? Are Alchemists of higher status?"
Lu Qing cursed in his heart. However, he intended to get the "Alchemist Level Increase."
He wanted to give Lu Mingchao a boost.
Lu Mingchao knew a little about making elixirs, but her standards… They were merely at Level One high-grade. She spent most of her energy on her cultivation and was not exposed to many of these skills. It was only because the clan lacked alchemists that she was forced to practice such skill, though she was not that good at it.
However, through this level increase, she could directly be boosted to Level Two low-grade.
This level increase was mainly for another item in the exchange tab.
It was the "Level Two Plans-type: Recipe for the Moon Essence Pill."
[This can be used to create Moon Essence Pill. In the event when there were Moon Essence Herbs, the income of the Alchemy Room would be increased.]
[If consumed and the cultivator trained during a full moon, the pill could significantly increase the cultivator's chances of breaking through a bottleneck. It can also boost the success rate of reaching the Foundation Building Stage to a certain extent. The pill could only be consumed once in a lifetime. Required Cost: 200 Karma]