Family Cultivation: Rise of the Wilderness

Chapter 48 Second-in-Command
Hearing the pageboy's words, Qin Zhengyi looked at him in surprise, then said, "We have no enmity with the Geng family. We only fought over the mines. But my Qin family has a stronger foundation than the Geng family. We just need to patiently erode their strength. In thirty or fifty years, the Geng family will definitely be weakened and may even have to submit to our Qin family. In that case, why would we need to use the Mang Sect?"

"The Mang Sect acts without restraint and is ruthless, resulting in either death or injury. Faced with such casualties, the Geng family is enraged. Once the truth behind it is discovered, or even without investigation, the Geng family will need a reasonable outlet for their anger, and our Qin family is undoubtedly the most suitable target."

"At that time, we will have to invest more manpower to deal with the Geng family's strong counterattack. In the long run, the hatred between the two families will become more intertwined, and the number of casualties will increase."

“There are very few cultivators in Pu County, and even fewer that can be trusted. If our family suffers too many casualties, we will inevitably have to purchase more spiritual root seeds from the Mang Sect in case of unforeseen circumstances. In this way, our Qin family will be hampered by the Mang Sect.”

"Furthermore, the Mang Sect acts in secrecy and often has ulterior motives. Its enemies are everywhere. In Pu County alone, there are the Bailu Sect, the Wang family of Qingju Mountain, the Li family of Danggui Mountain, and so on."

"Our Qin family is too close to them, and we might suffer a backlash someday."

After hearing the young master's explanation, the pageboy suddenly understood and said, "So that's how it is."

"The Mang Cult is also a villain. They sold us the spiritual root seeds and want to sell even more. Young Master, why don't you try to persuade the patriarch again?"

"Hehe, my voice carries little weight. If I had the chance to successfully dissuade him, why would Mr. Xu be in such a hurry to leave?"

Qin Zhengyi smiled faintly. He had said enough today and didn't want to say anything more. He waved for his page to leave and then became engrossed in the chessboard.
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In Changtai West Township, there is an educational institution.

The staff of the Accounting Office gathered together to inspect the buildings in the building.

"It's so spacious, it can easily accommodate a hundred people."

Li Xiangqi was somewhat excited. Although the Youxue Academy was not his original idea, he deserved credit for its implementation.

Indeed, Li Qianxiong took Li Xiangqi's suggestion very seriously and immediately handed it over to the clan elders for discussion.

The clan elders have no reason to object to the fact that the academy can shorten the school year, which is meaningless for children of the direct lineage.

Ultimately, the matter was approved.

The academy occupies a large area and is divided into ten classrooms. Each classroom is expected to enroll ten students, but due to the current shortage of students, most classrooms are vacant.

"On the first day of the third lunar month, arrange for the children to start school."

Li Xiangming looked around and found nothing amiss, so he gave the order.

"By the way, have the accommodations for the teachers and children been arranged?"

“It’s all arranged. It’s all around here. We specifically reserved some houses for the Youxue Academy.”

Lee Sang-seok replied.

"So best."

The instructors at the academy are undoubtedly ordinary people, and having a place to live would greatly reduce their worries and those of their families.

Finding these people is not difficult; whether they are hired from outside or from Changtai Township, it is not a problem.

Changtai Township has a population of over 100,000, and some of them are literate. Even if their education level is not high, teaching them some general knowledge is not a problem.

"Don't waste the other schools. Announce them to all villages, saying they are run by the Immortal Master and anyone who pays can get in."

Although the Youxue Academy only has a one-year curriculum and does not teach classics, history, philosophy, and literature, it can still attract many people simply by virtue of the reputation of the immortal master.

If the local government were to relax its standards for those who graduated from the academy, a large number of sons of powerful and wealthy families would likely flock to the academy.

The Shangjifang could also use this to amass a continuous stream of wealth.

After visiting the Inducement Academy, one should also take a look at the spiritual seeds waiting to be enrolled.

However, since Li Xiangming had personally tested the spiritual roots of these children and they had met many times, he decided to be lazy and show up again when they were about to enroll.

What needs to be done now is to bring the seven-year-old spiritual root seeds up the mountain.

These people will not participate in the erotic education center.

Li Xiangming did not slack off in this work, and he and Li Qianbai personally took charge.

The journey was uneventful, and they even ran into Li Xianglin from the police station.

Li Xianglin volunteered to escort the spiritual root seed together. Thus, the three cultivators and the six children, a total of nine people, arrived at Tailai Peak.

"The spiritual root test was completed in just one month?"

Li Qianxiong looked at the roster in his hand, which recorded the age, aptitude, family background, childhood experiences, and so on of the spiritual root seeds in great detail.

"After the reform, the villagers were more willing to cooperate." Li Xiangming did not tell the whole truth. The fact that it was so quick was actually due to the tax officials' bad reputation.

The villagers were more afraid of the tax collectors than tigers, and with the generous reward, most of them cooperated readily. The village chief and the tax collectors mediated the situation, making things much more efficient.

However, this process also created a lot of chaos.

Li Xiangming planned to remove Li Tong from his position as township head after the Dongxiang reforms were fully implemented, and even abolish the title altogether, replacing the township head with a township mayor, with one mayor for each of the two townships, holding equal status.

Then, in accordance with public opinion, a group of corrupt tax officials were publicly punished.

After reporting everything about the spiritual root seed, Li Xiangming looked at Li Qianxiong expectantly.

"Testing spiritual root seeds is the duty of the Upper Accounting Department."

Li Qianxiong remained unfazed.

How could he not know what Li Xiangming was waiting for?
However, after Li Xiangming took over the accounting office, he did accomplish a lot, even managing to figure out how to navigate the mortal world, and thus he received more and more credit for his achievements.

I heard that this kid is so rich that he's already exchanged for Earth-rank spells.

If I don't restrain myself, the warehouse will be emptied out.

Seeing that Li Qianxiong remained unmoved, Li Xiangming cursed under his breath.

In the past, clansmen who went to the countryside to test spiritual roots could receive a lot of merit.

The more spiritual root seeds he recruits, and the better their aptitude, the more merit he will accumulate. For him, it's simply his duty.

Despite his dissatisfaction, Li Qianxiong insisted on including the spiritual root testing in the Shangjifang's daily work. Li Xiangming had no choice but to submit another map.

"Changyang Valley?"

Li Qianxiong looked thoughtful after reading it. The map contained many of Li Xiangming's ideas for turning it into a market town.

If this move succeeds, it will be beneficial to the Li family.

Do you think there's a chance?

"Danggui Mountain is a vast area, and our Li family is the only dominant force. We will take the lead and start with the market. As long as the prices are fair and the management is proper, what reason do the surrounding smaller forces have not to come?"

Li Xiangming asked a question in return, and then said, "Pu County only has one market town, Pushui. Lingwu Gate to the north is close to Dai Mountain, so it is possible to go there via the Dai River. But it is not so convenient to go to the Luo family in Qingyuan, the Chen family in Baolong Valley, or Qingyang Temple to the east."

Li Qianxiong pondered, "I'm afraid the Li family alone can't offer much that's attractive enough."

"Therefore, it was just a market, not a marketplace."

Li Xiangming explained, “We held the ceremony in the name of praying for blessings and invited many fellow practitioners to attend. These people rarely get together, so they always want to share what they have. As the host, providing such a venue is enough.”

Li Qianxiong understood that the Li family didn't necessarily want to sell a lot of items at the market, or even not sell anything at all.

Everyone can do their own thing, as long as they're all gathered under the Li family's banner.

Over time, it was only natural for the Li family to transform it into a market town.

"You've got a lot of tricks up your sleeve."

Li Qianxiong stroked his beard. His original intention was to invite the surrounding cultivation forces to gather together and let the younger generation get to know each other, so as to avoid any misunderstandings in the future.

There will be markets, but only on a small scale.

Now it seems that the priority of the market should be increased, and it should be held every once in a while.

"In that case, this gathering will be handed over to the fourth branch of the family. You go and ask your sixth uncle to come forward. As his deputy, you must make sure that all the guests are satisfied."

Li Qianxiong said solemnly.

After listening, Li Xiangming secretly scoffed, "How could anyone possibly satisfy everyone?"
"If you do well, I will allow you to cultivate in the Daihu Cave for half a year."

Li Qianxiong continued.

Upon hearing this, Li Xiangming was taken aback. He patted his chest and loudly guaranteed, "Xiangming will do his utmost to make everyone feel at home."

(End of this chapter)