Family Cultivation: I Farm and Raise Fish under the Sea

Lu Li took out a Spiritual Date, bit into it, and a stream of sweet and delicious juice splashed freely. He then picked up the Spiritual Wine and took a sip.

"Indeed, the family's Monkey Wine is still so mellow."

The Spiritual Dates came from a first-rank Spiritual Date Tree at the top of Qingling Peak, yielding several hundred fruits each year, which tasted quite good.

This Monkey Wine was made from a variety of Spirit Fruits, and Lu Hongyi, the fifth Grandfather, was a Spirit Wine Master.

At every familial clan meeting, he always looked forward to these Spiritual Wines. It was a pity the yield was so small, otherwise, he might be able to exchange some.

At this moment, the family members all started drinking the Spiritual Wine and eating the Spirit Fruits, and the atmosphere began to warm up. This was also the result of the old ancestor's easygoing nature; the family atmosphere was very comfortable.

At this time, Lu Tiande prepared to check the progress inspection of the younger generation's cultivation. With a sweep of his Divine Sense, he was momentarily stunned.

Seeing this, the others were also somewhat puzzled.

Then through Divine Sense transmission, he mockingly scolded Lu Li, "You lad, are quite cautious, showing a bit of the old ancestor's style."

Lu Li knew he couldn't hide from the eyes of the old ancestor and chuckled sheepishly, "The lad had some fortune and got this secret technique; it has become somewhat of a habit."

Since the old ancestor did not expose him publicly, he had no need to worry.

"Come to the peak after the clan meeting,"

Lu Tiande sent another message.

He then happily addressed everyone, "This year, the cultivation of the younger generation of the family hasn't fallen behind, and as your ancestor, I am greatly comforted."

The crowd was somewhat confused; it seemed that apart from Lu Qingqing, the few others had only made slight progress.

Lu Tiande didn't point it out and just gave a faint smile.

He then asked the family managers to report the financial situation of the year.

Lu Yuting promptly stood up to report, "Old ancestor, this year our family has a total income of 18,325 Spirit Stones from twelve small islands and several stores."

"This is the net income after dispensing the Spirit Stones as tributes."

Hearing this, Lu Tiande frowned. These Spirit Stones were still required to be turned over by the thousands to the nearby Purple Mansion Family, the Li family.

The remaining Spirit Stones were needed to maintain the Arrays, purchase Spirit Grass, and Cultivation Resources; it was just barely enough to get by.

"This year the family's two islands were plundered, leading to some overall decrease in income."

Now, the family's income was decreasing every year, and everyone was starting to grow anxious.

"This Li family demands a large tribute of Spirit Stones every year, making it difficult for us Foundation Establishment Families to progress."

Lu Tiande waved his hand, "It's the same with the other three families; it has been like this for centuries, so you don't need to complain now."

Lu Li also felt a bit somber inside.

In the nearby maritime territories, the Lu, Chen, Wang, and Lin four Foundation Establishment Families were all within the Li family's power dynamics, needing to tribute a large number of Spirit Stones every year.

Of course, the Lu Family could choose not to pay tribute, but then it's likely that the Lu Family would be 'coincidentally' slaughtered to the last by Purple Mansion Demon Cultivators passing by.

This had happened before.

Lu Li was very clear; as the hegemon of the nearby thousands of miles, the Li family had dozens of subordinate Foundation Establishment Families under them.

To prevent these subordinate Foundation Establishment Families from breaking through to Purple Mansion and affecting the Li family's interests, the amount of Spirit Stones each had to tribute was carefully calculated.

If anyone dared to resist, their fate would not be good.

The patriarch Master Fufeng, Li Haofeng, of the Li family was not an ordinary character.

Seeing everyone a bit silent, Lu Tiande spoke again to comfort them, "You all need not worry too much; once Lu Qingqing achieves Foundation Establishment, the situation within the family will certainly improve."

Upon hearing this, everyone just nodded, and the clouds in their hearts dissipated a bit.

Lu Qingqing glanced at Lu Li beside her, feeling immense pressure as the family's hopes were placed on her shoulders.

Seeing this, Lu Li also nodded at Lu Qingqing. After an exchange of glances, Lu Qingqing unexpectedly felt a trace of stability in her heart.

The clan meeting didn't last long; by noon, everyone began to disperse.

...

In the afternoon, the sunlight was warm.

Inside the cave dwelling at the mountain peak.

An old man and a young man were seated cross-legged.

It was Lu Li and Lu Tiande.

After attending the clan meeting, Lu Li went to the old ancestor's cave.

"Li, lad, your Magic Spell is quite interesting," Lu Tiande said, curious.

"As I observe, Qi Cultivation Stage Cultivators can't detect your true cultivation level, can they?"

Lu Li smiled faintly, "Old ancestor, your insight is like a torch; the lad got it by chance near Golden Qilin Island."

Saying this, he told the old ancestor about the events on the desolate island, except for the matter of the Demon Secret Skill pot; he simply mentioned obtaining some secret technique inheritance.

"The kid plans to keep these secret techniques within the clan. Although they are Demon Secret Skills, they are still quite extraordinary."

Lu Tiande nodded in satisfaction, "The ancestor hasn't taken you in vain, you may leave the Flying Sword and Defensive Magical Artifact here, and come back to claim them after a few days."

Lu Tiande didn't harbor any rigid mindset regarding the right or wrong of the magic or orthodox paths; any secret technique that could kill the enemy was a good secret technique.

"You should be careful too, it's not peaceful recently."

Lu Tiande looked concerned.

"Back in the day, there were many in the clan with stronger Spirit Roots than me, but in the end, only this old ancestor has made it this far; most of the other clan members have perished."

Lu Li said with an air of flattery, "The kid has always taken the ancestor as a role model."

Lu Tiande scolded with a laugh, "You've become slicker, kid. When did you learn to butter someone up like this?"

Just then, the Green Spirit Python in Lu Li's Spiritual Beast Bag suddenly became restless, giving off an eager longing to come out.

"Could it be feeling the aura of its mother?"

Lu Li knew Iron Pillar was born to the ancestor's spirit beast and was a bit agitated upon sensing its mother's aura for the first time.

He directly released Iron Pillar, and a several zhang long giant python suddenly appeared in the cave, exuding a powerful aura.

"Eh?"

Lu Tiande was surprised to see this.

The Green Spirit Python was already at the seventh layer of Qi Cultivation; its aura was even stronger than that of an ordinary spirit beast at the eighth layer of Qi Cultivation.

"Could this be a Beast King?"

Lu Tiande asked Li, somewhat doubtful.

Lu Li nodded.

"You're really fortunate, young man, to come across the birth of a Beast King. This spirit beast will have an incredible potential in the future."

As a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, Lu Tiande rarely lost his composure, but this time he was genuinely shocked.

He also released his own spirit beast.

A large python appeared in the cave and then quickly shrank to about several zhang in size.

Upon sensing its mother's aura, Iron Pillar quickly coiled around her.

"Hiss..."

The mother python also let out an excited hiss.

At this moment, a Communication Jade Token came from outside the cave.

Lu Tiande took the jade token and then opened the cave's array.

With fluctuations in the array, Lu Qingqing walked gracefully into view.

"What is this?"

She was shocked to see the two giant pythons. She recognized the ancestor's spirit beast.

But the other was unfamiliar to her, although the aura it emanated was very similar to her own spirit beast, but it was much more ferocious.

Even she felt a great sense of oppression.

At this time, the spirit beast in her Spiritual Beast Bag also began to grow restless.

Lu Qingqing released her spirit beast, a similar Green Spirit Python appeared in the cave, though its aura was very weak, only at the third layer of Qi Cultivation.

The smaller python wasn't scared, and it quickly crawled toward the two giant pythons.

"The Green Spirit Python belonging to Lu Li was also born to my spirit beast. Together with yours, it only gave birth to two."

Lu Tiande smiled slightly.

Lu Qingqing was shocked, "What's the situation with my sixth brother's spirit beast? How come its cultivation is so high?"

Lu Li replied with a light smile, "This spirit beast has had some serendipity of its own, making rapid progress along the way."

Lu Qingqing looked at Lu Li weirdly and said, "Since they're both born of the same mother, is it that my spirit beast's fate is too poor?"

"If there's any trick to it, do teach your sister. I won't treat you poorly."

Lu Li's face turned a bit awkward, as he had no tricks to speak of; he couldn't exactly say that the spirit beast just ate and slept and ended up like this.

To say such would be as if he was deliberately mocking his fourth sister.

At this time, the ancestor Lu Tiande relieved him, "Young Li's spirit beast was born a Beast King; its potential is astounding and incomparable to regular spirit beasts."

Lu Qingqing was disbelieving upon hearing this.

She couldn't imagine that her sixth brother would be so fortunate. This spirit beast would definitely break through the Foundation Establishment stage.

Even the chance of it reverting to its ancestral lineage and evolving into a "Dragon Seed" was not out of the question.

This filled her with envy.