Clan Cultivation: Starting from Beast Taming

"Let's begin then," Zhou Chun said with a slight nod, giving the instruction.

"Yes, your subordinate obeys," the scribe responded. He took a deep breath to quell the excitement in his heart, glanced at the various high-ranking members of the Zhou Family seated in attendance, and then respectfully said, "Clan Leader above, all Elders above, following the Vice Clan Leader's instructions, your subordinate now presents the compiled and verified statistics of the Zhou Family's relevant matters to all of you."

"Currently, the Zhou Family has a total of 157 cultivators, among which 126 are cultivators of our own Zhou lineage and 31 are maternal family cultivators; there are 96 male cultivators and 61 female cultivators."

"Apart from the Supreme Elder, Clan Leader, Vice Clan Leader, and all Elders, including the maternal family cultivators, the Zhou Family has a total of 11 core clan members, 32 elite clan members, and 107 ordinary clan members."

"Among these clan members, there are 38 in the late stage of the Qi Refinement Realm, 86 in the middle stage, and eight in the early stage. Additionally, there are 18 clan members who, due to their young age, have yet to begin their journey on the path of cultivation."

At this point, the scribe paused briefly, stopping his report at the hint of Zhou Chun's gaze.

"Elder Zhou Jiarui, it seems you have something to say," Zhou Chun said with a smile, turning his gaze towards the fourth elder, Zhou Jiarui.

"I'm just feeling a bit emotional," Zhou Jiarui sighed lightly, his tone filled with sentimentality, "I remember when our Zhou Family first established our roots in Jiufeng Ridge, there were already over 140 people. A decade has passed, and the number has only increased by a mere ten or so, and many of them are from families married into ours."

At these words, the other Zhou Family elders also couldn't help but show a look of sadness.

At this moment, Clan Leader Zhou Daoyi also took the opportunity to speak up, "In fact, our Zhou Family has nearly forty more cultivators in the past decade. However, the issue is that due to various circumstances over the years, the number of clan members who have disappeared, passed away, or married off is also in the twenties. With this addition and subtraction, the family has only increased by a dozen or so people!"

Upon hearing this, the second elder, Zhou Chongshan, shook his head and said, "That's still too few. I remember that back when we were still in Fengguo, just from the mundane clansmen, we would find six to seven individuals with Spirit Root Aptitude every year, sometimes even more than ten when we were lucky!"

"What can we do about it!"

"The population of mundane clansmen here in Jingguo Country isn't even one-tenth of what it was in Fengguo. With only these tens of thousands of people, even if they were to reproduce every year, at most, there would only be three or four children born with Spirit Root Aptitude."

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"To wait for these children to grow up and embark on the path of cultivation, it would take at least another dozen years!"

Zhou Daoyi said this with a wry smile spread across his face.

The importance of the number of cultivator population to a family was something none of them were unaware of.

While a family indeed needs high-level powers like Purple Mansion Cultivators to preside, the quantity of cultivators in the Qi Refinement Realm at the base level is also indispensable.

If the number of Qi Refinement Realm cultivators is too low, it won't just affect the number of Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators, but it will also cause a significant impact on the daily operations of the family.

After all, many family chores are undertaken by cultivators in the Qi Refinement Realm.

Just as these high-ranking members of the Zhou Family were sighing about the stagnant population growth, Zhou Chun struck them with another relentless reality.

"There's actually another significant issue at present. The largest number of our cultivators belongs to the 'Jia' generation, among whom nearly twenty are over eighty years old. Several of their dao companions are also nearing this age," Zhou Chun said.

"Over the next two or three decades, even without factoring in other reasons for leaving the family or passing away, the eventual demise of these cultivators will significantly affect the family's population numbers!"

As expected, once they heard his words, the faces of the elders darkened once again, and their expressions became even more sorrowful.

Elder Zhou Daoquan's eyes flashed with a peculiar light, and he immediately said to Zhou Chun, "Zhengchun, since you've brought these issues up today, could it be that you have some ingenious solution?"

Upon hearing this, the others also turned their expectant gazes towards Zhou Chun.

Facing the earnest anticipation of the Elders, Zhou Chun simply smiled and said, "The junior indeed has some thoughts, but let's save that for later. For now, let the Elders listen to some other matters first!"

At these words, another layer of anticipation was added to the high-ranking members of the Zhou Family.

Zhou Daoyi immediately smiled and said, "Then let's see what kind of medicine you're really selling in your gourd. Continue speaking."

"Right, continue. We're all listening!"

Zhou Daoquan also smiled, calming his heart to continue listening.

Seeing this, Zhou Chun immediately said to the scribe who had stopped, "Continue, please."

"Yes."

The scribe responded, then continued, "The Zhou Family's Spirit Coin income over the past year was roughly 32,800 coins, of which over 17,000 coins came from the Spirit Beast Restaurant in the marketplace, more than 7,000 coins from the rent of the family's cultivation area, over 2,000 coins from the shares of the Red Shine Iron Mine, and over 5,000 coins from trading with other forces."

"Whereas, the Zhou Family's Spirit Coin expenditure for the past year was approximately 25,000 coins. Apart from the amounts paid to loosely affiliated cultivators guarding the Spirit Cleansing Pavilion, the vast majority was spent on the purchase of various materials and supplies."

"Additionally, according to statistics, the Zhou Family distributed over 17,000 family goodwill points in the last year, with over 7,300 points being normal welfare offerings, over 5,000 points as task rewards, and more than 4,000 points for purchasing spiritual objects from clan members."

"Meanwhile, the Zhou Family has written off over 9,000 goodwill points over the past year, mainly consumed by clan members exchanging for reserved treasures within the family."

"At the same time, the total number of family goodwill points accumulated by the Zhou Family members currently amounts to over 58,000 points!"

The scribe looked at Zhou Chun after saying this.

"That's enough for now," Zhou Chun raised his hand to pause.

Then, his gaze shifted towards the Clan Leader and the Elders, and he said with a grave voice, "Population and wealth are the two most important things for a power, a point I'm sure the Elders won't disagree with."

"Let's not mention the population issue for now, but this financial situation is seriously problematic!"

"At first glance, the family's annual Spirit Coin income appears higher than its expenditures, but in reality, that's because the family has converted what should have been distributed in Spirit Coins into goodwill points."

"The actual leftover Spirit Coins are nowhere near enough to cover the remaining goodwill points after annual redemption!"

"And yet, the number of accumulated goodwill points in the hands of clan members is increasing year by year!"

"If the day comes when they've accumulated enough goodwill points, but find they cannot exchange them for the cultivation items they need, and the family can't provide enough Spirit Coins for the exchange, an immense crisis of trust will erupt within the family!"

After he finished speaking, the expressions of several Zhou Family Elders indeed changed.

Putting themselves in others' shoes, they pondered that if they were in such a situation, unable to exchange goodwill points gathered over a decade or two for Spirit Coins or desired items, that would possibly lead to significant resentment towards the family!

"How much Spirit Coin reserve is currently in the family accounts?"

Elder Zhou Chongshan's gaze sharpened as he quickly grasped the key point.

"Over 13,000 Spirit Coins!"

Zhou Chun replied to the question with a serious tone.

"This amount of Spirit Coins might barely suffice for short-term exchanges, but it's definitely not enough for a large-scale redemption by clan members!"

Clan Leader Zhou Daoyi also interjected at this point, bluntly pointing out, "Besides, once we open the floodgates for direct exchange of goodwill points for Spirit Coins, I fear many clan members will choose to convert their goodwill points into Spirit Coins!"

Goodwill points are equivalent to Spirit Coins issued internally by the Zhou Family and can only be used within the Zhou Family.

But Spirit Coins are universally accepted throughout the Cultivation World.

Once the exchange is permitted, which to choose is a no-brainer for anyone!

Zhou Chun also spoke with a serious tone at this time, "Exactly because of this, compared to the issue of population, solving the family's financial issues is truly urgent!"

"So, Zhengchun, do you have any ideas?"

Clan Leader Zhou Daoyi spoke again, asking the question on behalf of everyone present.