Although Foundation Establishment Immortal Sects possess more resources, they also have a greater quantity of outstanding disciples.
With the means and foundation of a Foundation Establishment Immortal Sect, as long as they are willing to pay the price to cultivate someone, let alone a twenty-five-year-old Qi Refining Mid-stage cultivator, they can even fully cultivate a twenty-five-year-old Late Qi Refining cultivator.
However, based on Ye Linyuan’s understanding of those Foundation Establishment forces, in a Foundation Establishment sect like the Azure Crane Immortal Sect, the Core Direct Descendants would only be the Bloodline Descendants of Foundation Establishment Ancestors or the Personal Disciples of Foundation Establishment Ancestors.
Even if outsiders joined the Azure Crane Immortal Sect, hoping to receive focused cultivation would be no different from foolishly dreaming. Instead, they would become targets whose remaining Value was exploited.
Even if Lin Xuanhe entered a Foundation Establishment Immortal Sect, it would essentially be impossible for him to enter the ranks of the Core Direct Descendants. Instead, he would need to participate in various kinds of labor and hand over most of his Income to the Sect, contributing a share of his Power toward helping the Core Direct Descendants Break Through into a higher Realm.
Of course, joining a Sect also had benefits. After all, among the Sect were Superior Cultivation Methods, as well as ready-made Spirit Mountains and Spirit Veins for Cultivation—things that were extremely rare outside.
If one did not join a Sect and remained in a small Clan, life would also be exceedingly difficult. As long as one occupied a Spirit Mountain Earth Vein, one had to pay taxes, and the surplus Value produced by Qi Refining Families would all be harvested by Foundation Establishment forces.
Of course, one should not think that paying taxes was crippling. Who knew how many people outside wanted to kneel and pay taxes but did not even have the opportunity?
If one was unwilling to accept this, one could also become a Rogue Cultivator. However, the days of Rogue Cultivators were even more precarious. They could only risk their lives Hunting and Killing Demonic Beasts to survive, then use the Spirit Stones earned by risking their lives to rent other people’s Spirit Mountain Earth Veins for Cultivation.
There were also quite a few Rogue Cultivators afraid of death who would cultivate Deserted Islands and plant Spirit Ear Rice, a type of Miscellaneous Spirit Rice, then rent Spirit Veins for Cultivation after earning a meager Income.
However, regardless of the type of Rogue Cultivator, their living conditions were all exceedingly difficult.
For them, most of the Income they painstakingly accumulated over several decades had to be used to rent Spirit Veins for Cultivation. They spent nearly their entire lives working for their landlords, yet remained penniless paupers in old age.
Some impoverished Rogue Cultivators even worked hard their entire lives, only to be unable to afford a pound of Low-grade Spirit Rice in old age.
Therefore, the greatest dream of Rogue Cultivators was to possess a Spirit Vein of their own, Even If they had to bear a considerable tax each year for it.
Do not be misled by the Ye Clan’s poverty and ruin. At Least, they had a Spirit Eye to support their Cultivation. This alone was enough to make the vast majority of Qi Refining Early to Mid-stage Rogue Cultivators envious.
Of course, a very small number of Rogue Cultivators possessed exceptionally brilliant Talent in the Hundred Arts of Cultivation, or had obtained the Legacy of a Qi Refining Perfection Cultivator like Old Man Ye. With a decent Opportunity, they might also be able to Cultivate to Late Qi Refining.
Once they Cultivated to Late Qi Refining or acquired advanced skills in the Hundred Arts of Cultivation, their identity and Status would already be completely different.
They would no longer be considered the bottom level Among Qi Refining cultivators. Whether they purchased a Spirit Vein themselves for Cultivation or joined a Foundation Establishment Qi Refining force as Guest Elders, they would receive a certain degree of attention.
At Least, people of this caliber would no longer lack the Spiritual Energy required for Cultivation.
Therefore, Rogue Cultivators capable of independently Cultivating beyond Late Qi Refining basically all possessed unique strengths.
“Fellow Daoists, are you all here today for Spirit Stones?”
Just as Ye Linyuan’s thoughts were in motion, Lin Shengwu suddenly Spoke from across the room, a faint smile appearing on his face.
Everyone present Nodded. Qian Boran Spoke calmly: “We came here today to request that one Spirit Stone from that day.”
“I see.”
Lin Shengwu Nodded, then looked at Lin Xuanhe beside him. “Xuanhe, bring the Spirit Stones.”
Lin Xuanhe did not delay in the slightest. He simply took three Spirit Stones from his sleeve.
Lin Shengwu took the Spirit Stones, then smiled at Everyone and said, “We gathered the Spirit Stones during this period and were just planning to deliver them to Everyone. We did not expect Everyone to Personally come and collect them today.”
“As it happens, this saves us another trip.”
As he spoke, Lin Shengwu handed the Spirit Stones to the three Clans, then looked at Everyone nearby. “Since Everyone has come today, let Everyone bear witness. With this, the matter between us is settled.”
“This…”
Upon hearing this, Everyone present was slightly astonished. Even Old Man Ye, Qian Boran, and Zhang Daoyang exchanged glances, clearly not expecting the Lin Clan to hand over the Spirit Stones so readily.
However, they still revealed smiles, took the Spirit Stones, and said, “Since the Lin Clan is so straightforward, then we shall settle matters between us as well.”
Just as the three families were taking the Spirit Stones, Ye Linyuan glanced at Lin Shengwu, Lin Shengyang, and Lin Xuanhe. His Brow furrowed slightly, and he Understood why the Lin Clan had been so straightforward.
The Lin Family’s three Qi Refining Mid-stage cultivators were twenty-five, sixty-three, and eighty-seven years old, respectively.
In addition, there was the Lin Family Ancestor at Late Qi Refining. It seemed that the Lin Family had rising talents in all three generations—an indication that it was approaching its Peak.
According to Ye Linyuan’s experience, if a Qi Refining Family had Late Qi Refining cultivators in three generations, it could ensure that every generation possessed one Qi Refining Great Perfection cultivator.
Under such circumstances, this kind of Clan was qualified to advance further and had the possibility of being promoted into a Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan.
The Lin Clan was now gradually reaching its Peak, and after Killing the Late Qi Refining Purple Scaled Demonic Snake, it seemed highly likely that a second Late Qi Refining cultivator would Appear within a short period.
The Cultivation World had always followed the principle that the strong only grew stronger. Once the Lin Family had two Late Qi Refining cultivators in one generation, the success rate of cultivating a third Late Qi Refining cultivator would greatly increase—not to mention that Lin Xuanhe’s Talent was indeed not weak.
“If one Sect has three Late Qi Refining cultivators, then the trifling Red Star Island will probably no longer satisfy the Lin Clan. What they will want in the future is likely the entire Star Lake Seven Islands.”
Ye Linyuan Murmured in heart, gaining a clear understanding of the Lin Clan’s future rise.
Based on his experience, once the Lin Clan produced a second Late Qi Refining cultivator, it would inevitably begin to encroach upon the Star Lake Seven Islands, using the resources of the Star Lake Seven Islands to cultivate a third Late Qi Refining cultivator.
And if the Lin Clan produced three Late Qi Refining cultivators, they would inevitably annex the entire Star Lake Seven Islands. By then, the entire Star Lake Seven Islands would have no place for the Six Great Families, and the Ye Family would naturally be unable to remain uninvolved.
With this thought, Ye Linyuan could not help looking at Everyone nearby, only to see Qian Boran, Zhang Daoyang, and Old Man Ye all gazing intently at the Spirit Stone, their expressions Solemn.
The various Clan forces of the Star Lake Seven Islands were weak, and the vast majority of Cultivators were shallow-minded people. However, not Everyone was narrow-sighted.
Clearly, these three had seen through something. However, the Lin Family was ultimately too powerful. They had neither an excuse nor a reason to make trouble, much less sufficient Strength to Stop the Lin Clan’s rise.
Having achieved their objective, Everyone present had no reason to remain and could only cup their hands in farewell to Everyone from the Lin Clan.
After leaving Red Star Island, Everyone boarded a Small boat. Qian Boran Sighed and said, “The Six Families joined forces, yet this punch landed on cotton. We can only watch the Lin Clan rise.”