When everyone heard Xiao Xuan's words, they nodded in agreement, and some even voiced their praise openly.
"Yes, well said. Once the patriarch achieves Foundation Establishment, our Xiao family will gain access to more resources. It's only a matter of time before we rise further!"
"Exactly! Just recently, I heard that in Yinshang Town, the Yang family's ancestor reached Foundation Establishment. The other four major families donated three shops and other resources to them in recognition. Truly enviable!"
"Indeed. I hope our Xiao family grows stronger soon, so all our clansmen can enjoy better lives and stand tall among the major families."
Xiao Zhongzheng's eyes glimmered with satisfaction as he listened to Xiao Xuan. The approval in his expression made it clear he was pleased with his grandson's response.
"Good. Now, what's the other matter?" Xiao Zhongzheng asked, his voice calm but commanding.
Xiao Xuan stood firm and replied without hesitation, his tone steady and confident.
"We must closely monitor the Chen family's movements and ensure we are informed of any developments immediately. If there are changes in their situation, we must react without delay. It's crucial to avoid unnecessary attention or conflict until Grandfather successfully achieves Foundation Establishment."
The elders and other key family members nodded at his reasoning.
"He's absolutely right. The Chen family may have lost Chen Damrong, but as a Foundation Establishment family, they might still have unpredictable means. Caution is necessary."
"I heard some Foundation Establishment families hire third-level refiners to craft soul lamps. Just a drop of Blood Essence is enough for those lamps to track whether someone is alive or dead!"
"Hiss! Truly? Such artifacts must be invaluable!"
"Yes, I've heard similar stories. Only those with wealth and power can afford such methods."
Xiao Zhongzheng raised his hand, signaling for silence, and the room fell quiet instantly. His expression was serious but calm as he addressed the gathered family members.
"Xiao Xuan's advice is sound. We must remain cautious and act with wisdom. There is no room for recklessness now." He paused briefly, letting his words sink in before continuing.
"I will begin my Closed Door Training today. During this time, I entrust the affairs of the family to all of you. Act wisely, uphold our honor, and remember the larger goal. With my breakthrough, our Xiao family will rise to a new level. For this to happen smoothly, your cooperation is vital."
The room buzzed with murmurs of agreement.
Closed-door training was undoubtedly the best choice at the moment.
With the Black Yellow Grass, the Foundation Establishment Pill, and the Foundation Establishment Cultivation Technique, Xiao Zhongzheng estimated there was at least a fifty percent chance of breaking through to Foundation Establishment.
Moreover, the potential threat from the Chen family loomed, leaving him with no choice but to prioritize his cultivation. Time was of the essence.
"From now on, the Xiao family will adopt a strategy of being loose on the outside but tight on the inside. Except for essential matters, all Elders must remain within the family," Xiao Zhongzheng announced, his voice steady and commanding.
"Additionally, until I come out of seclusion, the Great Elder will handle all family affairs."
Hearing his orders, everyone cupped their fists respectfully and replied in unison, "Understood!"
Without further delay, Xiao Zhongzheng gathered the items on the stone table and turned to enter the secret chamber.
The Xiao family's courtyard was a tranquil and picturesque space. Upon stepping through the gate, one would be greeted by a large pond, its blue surface rippling gently in the breeze. Beside the pond, willow trees swayed gracefully. Across from it stood a modest two-story building, surrounded by a peaceful atmosphere.
Inside one of the rooms, Xiao Xuan sat at a wooden table, his gaze fixed on a storage bag lying in front of him. His eyes sparkled with excitement.
This storage bag had been obtained from Chen Damrong. Although he returned to the family yesterday, he hadn't had the time to examine it. By the time he remembered, it was already late at night.
Now, with a quiet morning before him, he couldn't wait any longer.
"Let's see what treasures are inside," Xiao Xuan murmured, his voice tinged with anticipation.
"The genius of a Foundation Establishment family shouldn't be any poorer than me."
After speaking, Xiao Xuan picked up the storage bag in his hand, and a trace of Spirit Power passed into the storage bag from the palm of his hand.
A storage bag, as long as it has Spirit Power, can be opened regardless of who owns it.
However, in the Immortal World, there is another way to store items: the storage ring.
The storage ring is far superior to the storage bag in many ways. It can only be opened by its recognized owner, and no one else can access it. However, it does have limitations, such as being unable to store living things.
If the owner of the storage ring is still alive, the ring cannot be re-bound to another person. Any attempt to forcibly open it will destroy the ring entirely, reducing it to powder. Everything stored inside will vanish without a trace.
The only exception is if someone with strength exceeding the owner by two major Realms forcibly erases the soul imprint on the ring.
"Wow!" Xiao Xuan exclaimed as he infused Spirit Power into the storage bag.
In the next moment, a pile of low-grade Spirit Stones appeared on the table, covering its entire surface. The Spiritual Qi in the room instantly became dense, filling the air with energy.
"I'm impressed! As expected from a genius of a Foundation Establishment family. There are more than 3,000 Spirit Stones here," Xiao Xuan said in amazement.
He couldn't believe how wealthy Chen Damrong was. For comparison, if it weren't for the 10,000 low-grade Spirit Stones Xiao Xuan had recently obtained from the Foundation Establishment Immortal Cave, his total wealth would have been just a few dozen Spirit Stones.
And that was only because Xiao Xuan was the most talented disciple of the Xiao family. He received the largest monthly allocation of Spirit Stones among all the disciples.
For ordinary disciples with average talent, their possessions might amount to only ten Spirit Stones or even fewer.
The realization dawned on Xiao Xuan that the gap between levels of cultivation in the Immortal World was vast.
A genius disciple from a Foundation Establishment family could casually carry more than 3,000 low-grade Spirit Stones, while ordinary disciples might struggle to own even a fraction of that.
Wasting no time, Xiao Xuan swiftly transferred the 3,000 low-grade Spirit Stones into his own storage bag.