Lin Xuan listened to the final report without interruption.
When the elders finished, he gave a simple command.
"You may leave."
All eighteen immediately bowed.
"Yes, Ancestor."
They withdrew in an orderly manner. The chamber doors closed softly behind them.
Silence returned.
Lin Xuan exhaled slowly and sat cross-legged on the massive bed. With a thought, he accessed the storage space and retrieved one of the manuals rewarded earlier.
A jade slip materialized in his palm.
Earth Grade Technique.
The title was engraved clearly upon its surface:
Dao Emperor's Qi Method.
The moment his consciousness touched the jade slip, information flooded into his mind.
He did not struggle to comprehend it.
The Supreme Chaos Body processed it naturally.
Circulation routes.
Breathing rhythms.
Compression formulas.
Condensation sequences.
All of it arranged itself in his thoughts as if he had practiced it for decades.
The technique focused on transforming ordinary qi into Golden Qi during the early stages.
Golden Qi was denser.
Heavier.
More destructive.
It enhanced physical strength significantly and reinforced meridians beyond standard cultivation methods.
As mastery progressed into the middle stage, the Golden Qi became increasingly refined, amplifying durability and combat power.
At the peak of mastery—
One could condense an Earth Rank Body known as the Emperor's Battle Body.
A physical body forged through Golden Qi tempering.
Capable of overwhelming cultivators of the same realm through sheer density and force.
Lin Xuan closed his eyes.
He began circulating the method immediately.
Qi flowed through newly mapped meridians according to the Dao Emperor's pathways. The Supreme Chaos Body adjusted automatically, optimizing every breath.
Golden strands began forming within his dantian.
Impurities were expelled in faint wisps.
His aura grew heavier.
More solid.
Within moments—
The system interface appeared briefly, updating silently:
Technique Mastery Stages Identified:
Entry
Junior
Middle
High
Peak
Mastered
No further commentary followed.
Lin Xuan did not stop.
He continued refining.
Entry stage was bypassed instantly.
Junior stage stabilized within minutes.
Golden Qi condensed fully within his core.
His physical strength increased noticeably.
The floor beneath him creaked slightly under the subtle pressure.
By the time the sun shifted outside the chamber windows—
He had reached Middle Stage mastery.
Golden Qi circulated smoothly, reinforcing flesh, bone, and meridians.
He opened his eyes.
Calm.
Steady.
Qi Refining First Layer.
Dao Emperor's Qi Method — Middle Stage.
The foundation of strength had been established.
And this was only the beginning.
Lin Xuan slowly exhaled after stabilizing the Dao Emperor's Qi Method at the Middle Stage.
Golden Qi circulated within him smoothly, heavy and dense.
Only then did he summon the system interface again.
This time, he did not rush.
"Open the store," he said inwardly.
The space before him shimmered.
A vast interface unfolded — layered, categorized, endless.
The system's voice responded calmly:
"The Store contains treasures of heaven and earth. Availability depends on Host authority level and Clan tier. Current accessible inventory limited by cultivation and Clan status."
Lin Xuan narrowed his eyes.
"How much can 10,000 Clan Points purchase?"
Immediately, a selection panel appeared.
Available for 10,000 Clan Points (Individual Purchases)
200 Mirror Breaking Pills
10 Low-Grade Spirit Veins
10 Peak Earth-Grade Armors
Any resource below Earth Grade Peak
Various techniques below Heaven Grade
Standard formation flags
Earth Grade weapons (limited selection)
Lin Xuan remained calm.
Two hundred Mirror Breaking Pills…
That alone could force dozens of clan members into higher Body Refining layers.
Ten Low-Grade Spirit Veins…
That could drastically reshape the clan's cultivation environment.
Peak Earth-Grade Armor…
Enough to arm core elders and establish dominance in Wuhai City.
But he did not immediately choose.
"Is that the optimal use?" he asked.
The interface flickered again.
A highlighted banner appeared.
Recommended Bundle: Clan Foundation Resource Pack
Cost: 10,000 Clan Points
Includes:
100 Mirror Breaking Pills
10 Spirit Body Cores
5 Low-Level Spirit Veins
5 Recipes for Any Pill Below Heaven Grade
10,000 Blue Grade Herbs
1,000 Earth Grade Herbs and Ores
Lin Xuan's eyes sharpened.
This was no simple purchase.
This was foundation building.
Spirit Body Cores.
Rare items used to strengthen physiques and repair damaged cultivation roots.
Five Spirit Veins.
Enough to upgrade the clan's territory concentration significantly.
Five customizable pill recipes below Heaven Grade…
That meant he could select high-value alchemy formulas tailored to the Lin Clan's needs.
Ten thousand Blue Grade herbs.
One thousand Earth Grade herbs and ores.
This was not short-term power.
This was infrastructure.
He leaned back slightly, thinking.
If he purchased 200 Mirror Breaking Pills, the clan could temporarily surge.
But without deeper foundation, they would plateau again.
If he purchased armor, it would strengthen defense.
But without resources to continuously produce pills and weapons, they would remain dependent.
The resource pack…
That was different.
That was a multiplier.
He spoke calmly.
"Explain Spirit Body Cores."
"Spirit Body Cores enhance physique potential, repair damaged meridians, and improve future cultivation ceiling. Particularly effective for Body Refining cultivators."
That meant hundreds of clan members could benefit.
"And the pill recipes?"
"Host may choose any five pill formulas below Heaven Grade. Includes breakthrough pills, recovery pills, poison neutralizers, body tempering pills, and Qi enhancement pills."
Lin Xuan's gaze turned cold.
With 10,000 Blue Grade herbs and 1,000 Earth Grade herbs and ores—
He could support alchemy and weapon forging simultaneously.
Mining rights alone were not enough.
But if the Lin Clan became self-sufficient in pill production…
The Tang Family's control over medicinal trade would weaken.
If they could forge equipment from Earth Grade ores…
The Bai Family's dominance would be challenged.
If they strengthened their foundations rapidly…
The Ming Family's logistical pressure would lose weight.
This pack was not random.
It was strategic.
He stood up slowly.
Golden Qi circulated calmly around him.
"Purchase the Clan Foundation Resource Pack."
The system confirmed instantly.
"10,000 Clan Points deducted." "Resource Pack delivered to Clan Storage."
Lin Xuan felt it.
Deep beneath the clan grounds, additional Spirit Veins began anchoring themselves into the land.
Storage vaults filled silently.
Herb reserves multiplied.
Ore reserves increased.
A shift occurred in the foundation of the Lin Clan.
He closed the interface.
Qi Refining First Layer.
Dao Emperor's Qi Method — Middle Stage.
Clan resources upgraded.
Rival families still stronger on the surface.
But beneath the surface—
The Lin Clan had just planted the roots of future dominance.
And Wuhai City had no idea what was coming.
Lin Xuan did not immediately open his eyes after purchasing the Clan Foundation Resource Pack.
Instead, he asked calmly within his mind:
"Clarify. Spirit Body Cores."
The system responded without delay.
"Spirit Body Cores are not merely enhancement items."
"Upon refining, they grant the user a random Spirit Body."
"The type and quality depend on the individual's compatibility, talent, and luck."
"Spirit Bodies increase cultivation speed, affinity with specific attributes, and long-term potential."
Lin Xuan's eyes slowly opened.
Random Spirit Body.
Not repair.
Not reinforcement.
Transformation.
That changed everything.
In this world, Spirit Bodies were rare natural gifts. Most cultivators were ordinary physiques. Only a few were born with special constitutions — Fire Spirit Body, Ice Spirit Body, Metal Spirit Body, Beast Spirit Body, and countless variations.
Such individuals cultivated faster.
Their qi was purer.
Their techniques were stronger.
And their ceilings were higher.
And now…
He had ten chances to create them artificially.
His fingers tapped lightly against the wooden armrest of the bed.
This was far more valuable than 200 Mirror Breaking Pills.
Mirror Breaking Pills pushed cultivation temporarily.
Spirit Bodies reshaped destiny.
He began analyzing calmly.
Out of one thousand clan members, if even three or four awakened decent Spirit Bodies—
The Lin Clan's next generation would change completely.
If one awakened a high-tier Spirit Body—
That single individual could carry the clan upward for decades.
The Supreme Chaos Body within him resonated faintly as if approving the calculation.
He stood and walked toward the window of his chamber.
Outside, the Lin estate stretched outward — courtyards, training grounds, stone paths, distant pavilions.
Ordinary.
Quiet.
Still considered the weakest of the four families.
But beneath the soil, five new spirit veins were already integrating.
Inside the clan vaults, herbs and ores were stacking.
And now—
Ten Spirit Body Cores waited.
He spoke quietly to himself.
"Resources can be stolen. Pills can be consumed. Armor can be broken."
"But talent… talent determines the future."
He began planning.
The cores could not be handed out randomly.
Selection would be strict.
Merit.
Loyalty.
Potential.
Bloodline purity.
Compatibility testing.
He would not waste them.
The elders still believed the Lin Clan's problem was external suppression.
They were wrong.
The real issue was foundation.
Weak roots.
Limited talent.
Short-term thinking.
He turned back toward the center of the room.
Golden Qi flowed calmly around him, heavy and stable.
Qi Refining First Layer.
Dao Emperor's Qi Method at Middle Stage.
Five spirit veins anchoring the land.
Ten Spirit Body Cores waiting to rewrite fate.
He smiled faintly.
"The Tang Family controls herbs."
"The Bai Family controls weapons."
"The Ming Family controls logistics."
He folded his hands behind his back.
"But none of them can manufacture genius."
And that—
Was about to change.