Inside the Clan Affairs Hall, the two then discussed other matters, including the subsequent arrangements for Chen Changying and Chen Changzhi, who had recently been found to possess Spiritual Roots, as well as other Family affairs.
Clan Chief Chen Tongzhen saw Chen Chenshui's distracted and melancholic expression and couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong? Are you worried that the matter of Jade Spring Lake won't be hidden for ten years?"
Chen Chenshui nodded, "That's right. Although we told Chen Changsheng that he only needed to Cultivate to the Qi Refining Ninth Layer within ten years, I'm still worried that given the current state of Jade Spring Lake, it won't be long before it's exposed."
Chen Tongzhen also felt uncertain about this matter.
He just didn't want to put too much pressure on Chen Changsheng, which was why he hesitated earlier and didn't state it clearly.
Otherwise, too much pressure can sometimes be counterproductive.
"Let's take it one step at a time. There's no better way to handle this. Maybe the water level of Jade Spring Lake will stop rising after a few days," Chen Tongzhen said slowly.
"That's the only way," Chen Chenshui replied.
Originally, it was a huge blessing, but at this moment, both of them felt a sense of melancholy and helplessness.
The survival of a Family was truly this difficult.
...
On the way to the Scripture Pavilion, Chen Changsheng clutched the Qi Gathering Pill that Sixth Uncle had forced into his arms, his heart equally heavy.
He could sense that the Family's situation was not as optimistic as it seemed.
Although Seventh Uncle had said ten years to Cultivate to the Qi Refining Ninth Layer would suffice, in reality, the time might not be so ample.
But besides diligently Cultivating, he seemed to have no other choice.
The heavy burden of the Family now almost entirely rested on his shoulders. Thinking of the expectations the Family elders placed on him, he couldn't help but feel a headache.
Seeing no one around, he had a thought, and the Creation Immortal Gourd appeared in his hand. He tilted his head back and took another small sip.
As the Spiritual Wine entered his stomach, his Meridians automatically began to circulate again, slowly refining the Spiritual Qi within.
Feeling his Cultivation increasing, Chen Changsheng slowly exhaled a breath.
Fortunately, with this Creation Immortal Gourd, as long as he didn't encounter a Bottleneck, he should be able to Cultivate to the Qi Refining Ninth Layer in less than ten years.
Thinking this, he quickened his pace and walked towards the Scripture Pavilion.
The Chen Family's Scripture Pavilion was located halfway up Yuquan Peak, not at the summit, and had a Family elder at the Refining Qi Eighth Layer permanently stationed there.
Fortunately, the Family's only complete first-order Spiritual Vein also extended to this point, so there was no need to worry about not having an environment to Cultivate.
Only the Family's Cultivators were eligible to reside on Yuquan Peak, so the mountain was somewhat deserted.
As for Mortals, they lived in the oasis formed around Jade Spring Lake, where there were two small Mortal towns, and Immortal seedlings were regularly tested there every year.
Chen Changying and Chen Changzhi were the ones newly detected this year.
Passing through several bluestone paths, Chen Changsheng saw in the distance an ancient three-story pavilion, appearing faintly in the mountain mist.
The old locust tree in front of the pavilion, which had grown for an unknown number of years, had largely withered and yellowed, with a thick layer of fallen leaves on the ground.
In front of the Scripture Pavilion, Fifth Uncle Chen Tongyan was sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed on a wisteria futon. Hearing footsteps, he slowly opened his eyes. Though his hair was graying, his complexion was quite rosy. He said, "Changsheng, you've arrived."
Chen Changsheng respectfully bowed, "Fifth Uncle, I wish to consult some Alchemy and Spell texts in the Scripture Pavilion."
He held Fifth Uncle in great respect. Not only was he the oldest elder in the Family, but he also showed great care for him, a Junior.
When he first had his Spiritual Root detected and came to Yuquan Peak, Fifth Uncle often guided him in Cultivation and occasionally provided him with Cultivation resources.
Moreover, Fifth Uncle was a Three Spiritual Root Cultivator, but he had suffered an injury in his youth, so his Realm had been stuck at the Refining Qi Eighth Layer, unable to advance.
Due to his advanced age, he had been permanently stationed at the Scripture Pavilion for many years, not involving himself in other Family affairs.
"Tongzhen told me that the Family has designated you as the Young Clan Leader. You can look freely. Just tell me what you take," Chen Tongyan said kindly, merely nodding faintly, his gaze filled with affection as he looked at this Junior.
Chen Changsheng bowed again before entering the Scripture Pavilion.
It wasn't large inside, but shelves were arranged layer by layer. However, the first floor primarily housed Mortal Secret Manuals and martial arts.
These were of little use to Cultivators, so Chen Changsheng merely glanced at them briefly before heading to the second floor.
The items on the second floor were much fewer, with only two or three shelves, containing the Cultivation Techniques and Secret Manuals accumulated by the Chen Family over the years.
This was also the most fundamental foundation of a Family; without these, a Family could not be sustained.
Chen Changsheng still didn't look much, but went directly to the third floor. This floor had even fewer items, with only one shelf, and it wasn't even full.
What was placed there were all the Pill Formulas and insights from the Chen Family since its establishment, which were not easily displayed to others.
"'Records of a Hundred Cultivation Herbs,' 'Nourishing Qi Pill Formula,' 'Peiyuan Pill Formula,' 'Chen Clan's Third Generation Alchemy Insights'…"
Chen Changsheng's gaze swept over the many Jade Slips, and he couldn't help but sigh even more.
A Family of several decades could still refine many types of Medicinal Pills, but now, they could only refine the most basic Qi Gathering Pill.
Everything else was lost, leaving these Jade Slips to gather dust in the Scripture Pavilion.
Looking at these Jade Slips, Chen Changsheng hesitated about which ones to read, but after thinking for a moment, he decided to take them all.
He planned to study them one by one in his spare time.
After all, Sixth Uncle Chen Chenren, who was in charge of the Family's Alchemy, had basically read all these items and understood them thoroughly.
And as the Young Clan Leader of the Family, it wouldn't be inappropriate for him to take them all to read.
Soon, Chen Changsheng walked downstairs, carrying a large pile of Jade Slips. As he passed the second floor, his gaze swept over something.
He actually saw a copy of "Qingmu Forging Body Art," which was a Body Refining Cultivation Technique. He was curious and walked closer to examine it carefully.
It turned out to be an incomplete volume, with only the first third of it remaining, the rest completely lost.
Chen Changsheng originally had no interest in Body Refining, as he didn't have time to practice it. But he suddenly thought that he only needed to drink Spiritual Wine to Cultivate automatically.
So, besides learning Alchemy, could he also use this free time for Body Refining to strengthen his Physical Body?
After all, this was not ordinary Mortal martial arts. Body Refining to a certain extent could make the Physical Body incredibly powerful, even capable of directly confronting Magic Treasures.
Not to mention reaching that level, and it was also an incomplete volume, but being able to improve his Physical Body was still a good option.
Thinking this, he also took the "Qingmu Forging Body Art" and placed it in his arms before walking out of the Scripture Pavilion.
Outside the Scripture Pavilion, Chen Tongyan saw Chen Changsheng emerge carrying a large pile of Jade Slips, and especially when he saw that not only had he cleared out the Alchemy Jade Slips but also had a Body Refining Cultivation Technique, his pupils widened.
"Cha-Changsheng, are you... going to switch from Qi Refining to Body Cultivator and Alchemy? It's not that I, Fifth Uncle, am lecturing you."
"But rather, you have to eat one bite at a time. Young people shouldn't be too ambitious, you know that trying to do too much leads to mastering nothing, especially since you are..."
Seeing Fifth Uncle about to launch into a long lecture, Chen Changsheng quickly said, "No, Fifth Uncle, Junior just wants to refer to them. It won't delay my Cultivation, please rest assured..."
After an explanation, Chen Tongyan was still half-convinced but said, "Alright, as long as you know. I won't say much more. In short, always prioritize Cultivation. Remember not to be greedy and rush."
Chen Changsheng nodded repeatedly.
After recording the Jade Slips he took, he fled the Scripture Pavilion as if escaping.