Elian noticed that Chen Xianye was young yet dared to risk breaking through to the Foundation Establishment realm. This demonstrated great determination and courage, making his future prospects even brighter.
How could Elian not view someone with such fearlessness differently?
In comparison, although Xianling, Xianyan, and Chen Nianchuan were also outstanding, they were still not as remarkable as Chen Xianye.
The remaining Foundation Establishment cultivators—Nianfu, Nianzhen, Nianfeng, Xianyu, and others—numbering seven in total, owed their success largely to luck. Except for Chen Nianfu, most of them benefited from the fortunate opportunities brought about by the great victory during the Beast Horde.
These individuals had potential only at the level of ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators. Their aptitude and determination were average, and their diligence in cultivation was inferior to that of Chen Qinghao and Chen Qingwan. Even with significant family investment, it was unlikely they would break through to the Purple Mansion realm.
In Elian's view, among the thirteen Foundation Establishment cultivators in the family, only Xianling, Xianyan, the self-reliant Nianchuan, along with Chen Qinghao and Chen Qingwan, were truly worth focusing resources on.
Chen Qinghao and Chen Qingwan, despite being dual-spiritual-root cultivators who started cultivating relatively late, demonstrated exceptional diligence and unwavering determination. Thus, they were naturally first in line to receive the family's resources for breaking through to the Purple Mansion realm.
Now, with the addition of Chen Xianye, this young man who had self-reliantly reached Foundation Establishment clearly had immense potential and determination, marking him as a promising candidate for the Purple Mansion.
With these thoughts, Elian said:
"Xianye, your successful self-reliant Foundation Establishment has set a great example for the younger generation in the family."
"Tell me, what reward do you want?"
Chen Xianye looked at Elian with a hint of reverence in his eyes. He knelt respectfully and earnestly replied, "I owe everything I have achieved to the family's nurturing. How could I dare ask for a reward?"
"You brat," Elian said with a smile, shaking his head. Chen Xianye had a point; without the family's dedicated nurturing, he could not have reached the ninth level of Qi Refinement at such a young age.
Most rogue cultivators, even those with dual spiritual roots, wouldn't reach the ninth level of Qi Refinement until after their forties.
Despite this, Elian believed a substantial reward was necessary. After all, individuals like Chen Xianye were seeds for the Purple Mansion, and their future potential warranted the family's full support.
After a moment's consideration, Elian decided this was a good opportunity to reform the family's cultivation policies. He addressed everyone present:
"Self-reliant Foundation Establishment cultivators have at least a 30-40% chance of breaking through to the Purple Mansion. For young cultivators like Xianye, whose longevity far exceeds that of ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators, their chances of reaching the Purple Mansion could be as high as 50%—not counting additional resources like five-element crystals."
"Moreover, by not using Foundation Establishment pills, they save the family valuable resources. Therefore, we should encourage self-reliant Foundation Establishment and prioritize cultivating such individuals."
"These are the ones most likely to reach the Purple Mansion and even form a Golden Core."
Elian's gaze swept across the room. Seeing varied expressions, he tapped the table lightly and continued in a calm tone:
"It's time to revise the family rules. From now on, all self-reliant Foundation Establishment cultivators will be awarded 10,000 family contribution points as a reward. Additionally, their annual stipend will be double that of ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators."
Hearing this, the expressions of everyone in the room shifted.
Self-reliant Foundation Establishment cultivators were already rare talents. If they received such rewards, their cultivation would progress rapidly.
With double stipends, even cultivators like Chen Nianchuan, who had triple spiritual roots, could reach the ninth level of Foundation Establishment before a hundred years of age.
For someone as diligent as Chen Xianye, such resources could enable him to soar. He might even rival Elian by qualifying to attempt the Purple Mansion realm in his sixties or seventies.
After all, Elian himself, though exceptionally talented, had a spiritual root equivalent to triple spiritual roots. It was only with the assistance of the Spirit Peach that he achieved his meteoric rise.
Before anyone could fully process this, Elian spoke again:
"Furthermore, under equal circumstances, the family will give priority to supporting self-reliant Foundation Establishment cultivators in breaking through to the Purple Mansion."
"This…"
Expressions shifted again, and some opened their mouths to speak but found no words to object.
Self-reliant Foundation Establishment cultivators not only saved the family resources by forgoing Foundation Establishment pills, but their success rates for breaking through to the Purple Mansion were also significantly higher.
Ordinary cultivators using Foundation Establishment pills had only about a 10% chance of breaking through to the Purple Mansion in a single attempt. For self-reliant cultivators, this probability tripled.
Moreover, with their extended longevity, they could make more attempts to break through, further widening the gap in potential success rates.
From both individual and family perspectives, focusing resources on self-reliant Foundation Establishment cultivators was undeniably the best choice.
Realizing this, the gathered elders had no objections.
Satisfied, Elian nodded subtly and declared:
"This rule will be written into the family regulations and lineage records as the family's first ironclad rule."
"Remember, this is a foundational rule for our family's legacy. No patriarch, in any generation, may alter this."
On the side, Chen Qinghao picked up a brush and recorded this rule into the family charter.
Unbeknownst to those present, this ironclad rule would become the cornerstone of the Chen Clan's enduring glory, ensuring its rise to an unparalleled celestial clan that shone for countless ages.
The life-and-death challenge of self-reliant Foundation Establishment cultivated extraordinary determination. Among these cultivators, the most exceptional even mastered the ability to break through to the Purple Mansion without external aids.
Elian intended to incentivize and nurture such courage with rewards and priority access to resources. However, this inadvertently honed the family members' resolve.
With abundant resources, self-reliant cultivators could reach the threshold of the Purple Mansion earlier. Their extended longevity allowed for multiple attempts at breakthroughs.
Over time, some began to question: if they could achieve Foundation Establishment independently, why not strive for the Purple Mansion by the same means?
As more attempted this, more succeeded.
Of course, this was all for the future. For now, both Chen Xianye and Chen Nianchuan appeared elated. As self-reliant Foundation Establishment cultivators, they would each receive a substantial contribution reward and significantly increased stipends.
Fortunately, the Chen family's resources had grown considerably. A 20,000-spirit-stone investment was well within its means.
...
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I need POWAAA! Gimme Power Stones :D