The ensuing developments went exactly as Chen Sheng anticipated; they remained confined in the ancestral hall for two months.

The door to the hall was securely locked with thick Profound Iron, with two Elders personally standing guard. Chen Sheng and the other children who had tested for Spiritual Roots were arranged to stay in the western side room of the hall.

This place was originally used for storing offerings, but was now laid with a layer of dry straw, serving as their temporary lodgings.

Every day, someone was designated to teach them foundational Spells and watch them practice for two hours. Outside of that, they were left alone.

Two months is neither a long nor short period.

Initially, the children were restrained by the solemnity of the hall, but as time went by, they gradually let loose.

Zhang Chengjiao couldn't change his mischievous nature, often pulling other children to play stone games, though there was a noticeable reduction in the arrogance in his demeanor.

Zhang Cheng'an was not among them. He had been taken away by the Grand Elder, and his whereabouts were unknown.

One afternoon, a sudden burst of footsteps echoed from outside the hall.

"Creak," the tightly locked door was opened, and Zhang Yaozu walked in, travel-worn.

His blue cloth robe was stained with dust, his previously neatly-combed hair was disheveled, but his eyes were extraordinarily bright.

"Big brother, how did it go?"

The Second Elder Zhang Yaode and the Third Elder Zhang Yaogong quickly approached, their faces filled with urgency.

Zhang Yaozu first gulped down a large bowl of Spirit Tea, the sound of his adam's apple moving was particularly clear in the quiet hall.

He wiped his mouth and suddenly burst into laughter:

"It's done! Cheng'an has been accepted into Li Xiao Villa, under the tutelage of the Outer Sect Elder Li! From now on, the Zhang family can count on the support of a Sect!"

"Now that everything is settled, there's no more need to worry. Spread the news!"

Zhang Yaode was so excited that he slapped his thigh:

"That's wonderful!"

"That Huang Monster of Celestial Capital Mountain always bullies the weak and fears the strong. Next year, we won't have to send children as tribute!"

Mentioning Huang Monster, the three of them showed looks of hatred.

He was a Foundation Establishment Early-stage Cultivator, cultivating Gathering and Nourishment Techniques on Celestial Capital Peak, indiscriminately targeting men and women, especially fond of abusing children.

Every three years, he would bring his men and force families within dozens of mountains to offer tributes, eventually turning it into a convention.

For the survival of the clan, the Zhang family had sent three children over the years, none of whom ever returned.

The smile on Zhang Yaozu's face faded slightly as he sighed softly:

"Yes, offering some Spirit Stones is not the problem, but thinking about the descendants we've willingly sent into the tiger's mouth makes my heart feel pierced like a needle. I am ashamed before our ancestors."

"Now it's better with Cheng'an in the Li Xiao Sect; Huang Monster has to be more cautious, not daring to be too excessive."

"By the way, how are the seedling cultivators?"

Zhang Yaozu shifted the topic, his gaze sweeping towards the direction of the side room.

Zhang Yaode quickly replied:

"I've already arranged for them to practice the family's foundational Vein Expansion Technique."

"Among the children, Chengping is performing the best. The Spell clicks instantly with him, showing high comprehension and a Middle Grade Spiritual Root."

"If it weren't for Cheng'an being first in line, I'd want to put all efforts into nurturing him to break through to the Foundation Establishment."

Hearing this, Zhang Yaozu shook his head:

"Our small family cannot afford two Foundation Establishment Seeds. Though Chengping is my direct grandson, he must endure this injustice."

Pausing, he looked at the two Elders with a determined gaze:

"Second, Third, it's been hard enough to have Cheng'an, a High Grade Spiritual Root talent. I've decided to devote the entire clan's resources to help him reach Foundation Establishment."

"What do you think?"

Zhang Yaogong did not hesitate:

"Big brother is right. This is a matter of the clan's rise or fall; it should be this way."

Zhang Yaode nodded repeatedly, determination flashing in his eyes—there was no other choice for the future of the Zhang clan.

Zhang Yaozu nodded:

"These old bones of ours should get moving. In a few days, I'll contact Old Qi of the Demon Hunting Team."

The two Elders understood that Zhang Yaozu planned to accumulate Spirit Stones by hunting Demon Beasts.

Back in their youth, they were excellent demon hunters, top-notch warriors.

Now, over sixty years old, they were still dependent on this path to fight for their descendants, accumulating Spirit Stones.

They had no choice; the Zhang family's foundation was too weak.

Back then, the brothers banded together and seized the foundation of Peach Wood Peak, obtaining a Spirit Vein Dojo for the clan's cultivation.

But that's all there was to it.

The Zhang clan did not have inheritances in weaponry, talismans, arrays, or pills.

Currently, the family's main income relies on the hundred acres of Spirit Fields and twenty Tier One Lower Grade Peach Blossom Spirit Trees on Peach Blossom Peak.

The annual income is about a thousand Spirit Stones, which is a drop in the bucket for a cultivation family, let alone supporting a Foundation Establishment Seed.

They must increase revenue and cut down expenses!

...

Ten years flicker by,

On the edge of the Thousand Peaks Mountain Range, the water ripples at the Tianyun Clam Field, with sunlight shimmering on the surface of the water.

A dozen men in rough cloth garments are working on the shallows, bending over carefully to dig out palm-sized Tianyun clams from the silt, prying open the shells, and extracting the pearls inside.

These pearls contain faint water-element Spiritual Qi and are materials for refining Low Tier Talismans, commanding a good price in the Market.

Chen Sheng was also among them. He was already thirteen years old, his skin tanned to a healthy bronze from the sun, skillfully digging into the clam shells.

This clam field did not belong to the Zhang family; they were merely hired hands here, earning two lower grade pearls each day as compensation.

If they were lucky enough to dig up a spirit bead rich in spiritual qi, the reward would be even greater.

In his past life.

Chen Sheng had only heard Zhao Jinhua say that the clan was fully supporting him.

It was just a simple sentence!

Now, being within such a family, Chen Sheng finally understood the true weight of those words.

Over these years, the entire Zhang family had mobilized.

Zhang Yaozu and Zhang Yaogong gathered strong clan members to reorganize a demon hunting team, preparing to venture deep into the Thousand Peaks Mountain Range to hunt demon beasts in exchange for spirit stones.

Zhang Yaode, on the other hand, stayed with the family, meticulously managing the hundred acres of spirit fields and twenty peach blossom spirit trees on Peach Blossom Peak, striving to produce more spirit rice and peach blossom petals.

The clansmen also took action.

The more powerful cultivators joined the demon hunting team in their ventures, while those of average strength worked in the clan's spirit fields.

The older ones went to nearby markets to work as spirit farmers or brokers...

Some even sold themselves to become servants or attendants for Foundation Establishment families.

Everyone lived frugally, saving up spirit stones bit by bit, turning them into elixir pills and talismans, and continuously sending them to Zhang Cheng'an at the Li Xiao Sect.

Chen Sheng was relatively fortunate, as the work in the clam field wasn't too exhausting and he could also cultivate using the spirit vein there.

Although seventy percent of the earnings were taken by the clan to support Zhang Cheng'an's cultivation.

But this was the entire clan supporting one person!

The three highest-ranking elders were at the forefront, constantly risking their lives, so the rest had no complaints.

Currently.

Chen Sheng was thirteen, having begun cultivation at the age of six, and had barely reached Qi Cultivation Third Layer in seven years.

This pace was incredibly slow!

There was no other way, as resources were extremely scarce.

Aside from the spirit vein dojo, he hardly received any cultivation resources!

His peers were even worse off; only Zhang Chengjiao had managed to reach Qi Cultivation Second Layer.

His natural stubbornness played a significant role.

"All right, Chengping, we can handle it here, you go ahead and cultivate."

A dark-skinned middle-aged man straightened up and waved to Chen Sheng with a cheerful smile.

His name was Zhang Zongyuan, with cultivation at the Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer, counting as a steward in the clan.

Another clan uncle joked:

"It's all thanks to having a middle grade spiritual root. Starting at six and reaching Qi Cultivation Third Layer in seven years—that's much better than us old folks."

In their view, Chen Sheng's cultivation speed was already quite fast.

Continuing at the current pace, he would surely reach mid-stage Qi Cultivation before the age of twenty, enough to take on stewardship within the clan or perhaps train with the demon hunting team.

Chen Sheng smiled, not declining his clan uncle's kindness.

He lifted a basket full of pearls and walked to the edge of the clam field, sitting cross-legged under an old acacia tree.

This spot was near the spirit vein node of the clam field, where the spiritual qi was denser than elsewhere, making it the best place he had found for cultivation over the years.

He closed his eyes and began to circulate the 'Gold Tempering Technique'.

The mana within his dantian flowed slowly, like a gentle stream, the speed almost frustratingly slow.

Currently, Chen Sheng did not mind the slow advancement of his cultivation; his primary goal was to open up his hidden veins.

In the memories of his past life, there were many exquisite spells, but they all required hidden veins as a foundation to cast.

For ten years, he had been laying the groundwork while secretly opening his hidden veins.

If he could successfully develop a few complete hidden veins, he would be able to perform many exquisite spells, gaining some ability to protect himself in the short term.

"Almost there…"

Chen Sheng's fingertips trembled slightly, sensing a faint airflow moving through the depths of his meridians.

This was a sign that the hidden veins were about to be breached.

Once he opened his hidden veins, he planned to leave the Zhang family and head to the secret mansion he left behind in his previous life.

The secret mansions he set up in his past life were widespread, and though the Thousand Peaks Mountain Range was remote.

There was a secret mansion relatively nearby, storing a batch of resources he left behind in his third life—enough for him to cultivate to Foundation Establishment.

As the sun set in the west, the clansmen at the clam field gradually packed up to return.

Zhang Zongyuan walked to Chen Sheng's side and patted his shoulder:

"Chengping, it's time to head back. Don't forget, tomorrow the clan is sending an annual gift to Zhang Cheng'an at the Li Xiao Sect—you'll need to help with the inventory."

Chen Sheng opened his eyes and nodded.

Zhang Cheng'an was now an inner sect disciple of the Li Xiao Sect, young and already at Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer, the pride of the Zhang family.

But only Chen Sheng knew that although a high grade spiritual root was rare, in the talent-rich Li Xiao Sect, reaching Foundation Establishment was still quite challenging.

The clan's all-out support might or might not yield a true Foundation Establishment cultivator in the end.

He stood up and walked back with the clansmen.

The setting sun stretched their shadows long, casting them onto the sand like heavy exclamation marks.

In this brutal Cultivation Realm, for a small family like the Zhangs to struggle to survive, the price paid was far heavier than one could imagine.

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