Clan Cultivation: Starting from Beast Taming-Chapter 1181 - 506: Zhou Mingde Forms a Core [Subscribe Requested]_3

Chapter 1181: Chapter 506: Zhou Mingde Forms a Core [Subscribe Requested]_3

In summary, with the Zhou Family’s current strength, as long as they don’t attract suspicion and envy from major sects like the Moon Wheel Sect, a few rumors cannot affect them in the slightest.

As such, Zhou Chun didn’t bother to pay attention to those rumors, merely instructing Zhou Xinyi to begin preparations for the second Golden Core Ceremony, so it could be held once Zhou Mingde left seclusion.

Holding two Golden Core Ceremonies in quick succession would undoubtedly be somewhat burdensome for the families and cultivators invited, as they would inevitably have to offer another costly gift.

But the Golden Core Ceremony must go on.

Thus, Zhou Chun planned to consult Zhou Mingde after his emergence, proposing that the families and cultivators attending the ceremony only bring modest gifts instead of lavish ones, allowing them to uphold the occasion and maintain the atmosphere without undue financial strain.

He believed that, given Zhou Mingde’s magnanimity and temperament, he would not oppose this suggestion.

For the other Zhou Family cultivators, Zhou Mingde’s successful Core Formation served as an even greater source of motivation and confidence.

After all, both Zhou Chun and Lin Hongyu had achieved Core Formation outside the Zhou Family, with no Zhou Family cultivators present to witness it, robbing them of a sense of participation.

Moreover, Zhou Chun’s experiences were truly legendary and impossible to replicate. While many members of the Zhou Family idolized him and held him in great admiration and reverence, they dared not imagine themselves becoming another Zhou Chun.

However, Zhou Mingde was different.

He achieved Core Formation within the Zhou Family Mountain Gate, and many Zhou Family cultivators personally witnessed the Nascent Soul Heavenly Sign as well as his success in Core Formation.

This sense of participation was truly complete, leaving an extraordinarily deep impression on everyone.

Furthermore, Zhou Mingde was by no means a prodigy.

He only successfully established his Purple Mansion at over two hundred years old, and his cultivation technique was far from top-tier. He was essentially the archetype of an ordinary cultivator, albeit slightly luckier than most.

Yet, he managed to succeed in Core Formation at the advanced age of over four hundred and fifty!

For the vast majority of Zhou Family cultivators, this was an enormous source of encouragement.

After all, many of them weren’t any worse off than Zhou Mingde in their conditions—some were even significantly better!

Under such circumstances, if Zhou Mingde could achieve Core Formation, why couldn’t they?

This thought, once born, became an indelible notion in the minds of many Zhou Family cultivators, planting a seed of ambition within their hearts.

Driven by this seed of ambition, many began to work harder in cultivation and exhaust all efforts to earn resources for their growth.

An atmosphere of internal competition silently began to brew within the Zhou Family.

When Zhou Chun became aware of this development, he felt deeply gratified.

As someone who had tread this path before, he understood the positive impact such a competitive atmosphere could have on a family.

In truth, what any large family feared the most was their members growing complacent, indulging in enjoyment, and losing their drive.

A family that ceases to strive forward, no matter how glorious its past may have been, is certain to be eliminated as time marches on.

To ensure this upward drive among family members persisted, Zhou Chun specifically established the "Breakthrough Reward."

Depending on Spirit Root Aptitude and cultivation technique, those who achieved a breakthrough to a certain realm before a specific age would receive a generous sum of merit points as a reward from the family.

This idea was inspired by the scholarship system of his previous life, but adjusted for the unique attributes of this world.

Its effect was somewhat comparable: it enabled talented cultivators from humble backgrounds who were sufficiently diligent to go farther along their path.

However, at this moment, Zhou Xinyi brought him some unwelcome news.

That was, the Zhou Family’s finances were growing increasingly tight!

"Currently, markets in surrounding countries are shrinking, consumer spending is in sharp decline, and the Zhou Family’s stores across various regions are struggling to maintain business. Revenues are nowhere near what they used to be."

"Meanwhile, the family’s population of cultivators continues to grow rapidly, and expenditure on merit points distributed to members is increasing year by year. The disparity between income and expenses is widening."

"Additionally, the family’s earlier efforts to stockpile strategic supplies emptied much of the spiritual object inventory, while hosting Golden Core Ceremonies consumed vast amounts of spirit coins. Currently, there are less than two hundred thousand spirit coins left in the account!"

"If measures aren’t taken to boost family revenues, we’ll start running deficits in about five years!"

Within Zhou Chun’s residence, Zhou Xinyi brought a stack of account ledgers, his expression solemn as he reported the Zhou Family’s financial condition to Zhou Chun.

He was currently acting as the steward on behalf of Zhou Chun, and generally would not report matters deemed nonessential.

This was because Zhou Chun personally visited the Central Peace Hall every so often to oversee and handle family affairs as needed.

However, financial matters were of critical importance. Upon discovering fiscal strain during the latest round of statistics, Zhou Xinyi dared not delay and immediately brought the sorted ledger documents to personally meet Zhou Chun.

After listening to the report, however, Zhou Chun remained calm and composed, saying evenly, "No need to panic yet—let me first review the ledgers."

With those words, he raised his hand, sweeping the collection of ledgers open as his powerful Divine Sense began simultaneously scanning through multiple volumes.

The Zhou Family’s ledgers were meticulously kept, documenting every expense in detail. Every transaction had to reconcile accurately during audits.

Zhou Chun often conducted random checks of the ledgers to ensure that no one dared embezzle family funds through this avenue.