Chapter 382: Chapter 367: Current Situation of the Zhou Family [1st update, requesting subscription]
Thanks to various fertility incentive measures, the cultivator population of the Zhou Clan has always grown quite rapidly. It’s just that the cultivator population of the Zhou Clan was previously so small that the population size and the territory occupied by the clan seemed seriously mismatched.
In fact, a comparison of data clearly shows the growth rate of the Zhou Clan’s population.
A hundred years ago, when Zhouyang first took over as the Zhou Family Patriarch, the cultivator population of the Zhou family was less than thirty people, with the number of cultivators from the "Xuan" and "Yuan" generations, which comprised the main population, only reaching slightly over twenty altogether.
Now, a hundred years later, the cultivator population of the Zhou family has increased tenfold, with the number of cultivators from the "Guang" and "Tong" generations, who constitute the main population, each exceeding a hundred people.
Jade Radiance, Profound Origin Communication, Blessed and Flourishing, Evergreen—these sixteen generational titles of the Zhou Clan’s cultivators were established by the first-generation patriarch Zhou Yuquan himself. According to tradition, they begin using the subsequent generational title when the oldest cultivator of the previous generation reaches sixty years old, extending it to the descendants of the cultivators not belonging to the previous generation.
For example, Zhou Xuanhao, as the eldest of the "Xuan" generation of the Zhou family, once he reached sixty years old, those descendants of cultivators who are not of the "Light" generation became part of the "Yuan" generation, instead of being of the same "Xuan" generation as him.
However, when it came to the "Tong" generation, the situation slightly changed. It happened that before the first cultivator of the "Guang" generation reached sixty years old, younger cultivators of the "Guang" generation responded to the Zhou family’s fertility promotion policy and gave birth to offspring with spiritual roots.
To avoid the confusion of generational titles, the descendants of the "Guang" generation cultivators automatically became part of the "Tong" generation. Meanwhile, the descendants of cultivators who do not belong to the "Guang" generation continued to follow the clan rules by using the "Guang" generation’s title.
This led to an interesting scenario where many adult "Tong" generation cultivators had to call a baby who couldn’t even walk their uncle.
This is a common issue among large clans.
Of course, this minor issue is not very disruptive. Although this cultivation clan strongly emphasizes respect for seniors and does not allow things that violate human ethics to happen,
it similarly abides by the cultivation realm’s principle of the strong being revered, preventing Qi Cultivation Stage cultivators from bossing around Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators merely based on generational seniority.
Putting aside these minor issues, what truly delights Zhouyang is the significant increase in the number of Zhou Family outsider cultivators.
The large increase in outsider cultivators means that the men of the Zhou family are now seen as appealing prospects by female cultivators from small clans and loose female cultivators, akin to golden tortoises, enticing them to willingly abandon their freedom to join and serve the Zhou family.
These outsiders joining the Zhou family have not only effectively filled the gap caused by the insufficient number of Zhou Family cultivators but also had a significant positive impact on the increase in the Zhou family’s cultivator population.
After all, the offspring born from the union of cultivators have many times higher chances of possessing spiritual roots compared to those born from mortals.
"Excellent, excellent, population is the foundation of a clan. Only by having a sufficiently large population base can we ensure that generations of outstanding talents will emerge, and that the clan’s legacy can be smoothly passed down."
Zhouyang looked at the numerous members of his clan below with glowing eyes, his face full of gratified joy as he continuously praised them.
Looking vigorously at everyone in the hall, he spoke emotionally: "Thinking back to when I initially assumed the position of patriarch, the entire Zhou family cultivator population had dwindled to only twenty-six people, with the whole clan relying on a dozen or so elders to keep operations running, even facing the risk of the clan’s legacy being severed!"
"Yet now, after a hundred years, not only has the Zhou Clan’s territory increased by more than tenfold compared to a hundred years ago, but so too has the number of cultivators. This is all thanks to everyone present today, it’s thanks to countless ancestors who gave their lives for the prosperity of the Zhou family!"
"The Zhou family could be what it is today because of my efforts, because of the efforts of the ancestors who passed away, and even more so because of everyone present here!"
His words were all genuine, heartfelt expressions.
The expansion of the Zhou family’s territory is largely due to his efforts, but regarding population growth, apart from implementing fertility incentive policies, he has not contributed much.
Those who actually carried out and labored for this were all the people present today and those deceased. All of this credit belongs to them.
Without these people responding to his fertility policies by extensively taking concubines and birthing offspring, it’s hard to say how long it would have taken for the Zhou family’s cultivator population to reach its current count.
"Supreme Elder, you’re too modest. Perhaps we have contributed a bit to the Zhou family, but the fact that the Zhou family holds such a position today is primarily due to your efforts, Supreme Elder. Without you, there wouldn’t be the Zhou family of today. Your contributions to our Zhou family, your achievements, shall be remembered in the hearts of every Zhou Clan member, never to be forgotten in this lifetime!"
Zhou Guangxiang, sitting next to Zhouyang’s secondary seat as clan leader, always looked up with utmost admiration and respect to Zhouyang, the elder who led the Zhou family into prosperity single-handedly, and couldn’t help but voice his admiration and gratitude enthusiastically to express his respect and thanks to the elder at this moment.
"The Clan Leader is right; the cultivation and status we enjoy today, and the glory that the Zhou Family possesses, are greatly due to the Supreme Elder’s contributions. From the Foundation Establishment cultivators to ordinary mortal children, every member of the Zhou Family is eternally thankful for the Supreme Elder’s benevolence and gratitude for his rebirth of the Zhou Family!"
The newly-advanced Foundation Establishment cultivator of the Zhou Family, Zhou Guangqing, also looked at Zhouyang with admiration and gratitude, loudly agreeing with Zhou Guangxiang’s words.
His gratitude toward Zhouyang was truly heartfelt.
If not for the Foundation Establishment Pill that Zhouyang left for the Zhou Family, for a middle-grade spiritual root cultivator like him, attempting to consume the Foundation Establishment Pill for advancement would have been extremely difficult!
As one of the first beneficiaries after Zhouyang formulated the clan regulation to exchange contribution points for Foundation Establishment Pills, he was deeply aware of the benefits of this policy and was its staunch supporter. Naturally, he was filled with gratitude toward Zhouyang for initiating all of this.
While echoing Zhou Guangxiang’s words, he bowed deeply toward Zhouyang and said, "The Supreme Elder’s benevolence toward the Zhou Family is something we juniors cannot repay. We can only wish the Supreme Elder a smooth path of cultivation and eternal divine blessings!"
"Wish the Supreme Elder a smooth path of cultivation and eternal divine blessings!"
Within the hall, excluding Zhou Xuanhao, every Zhou Clan member, including Clan Leader Zhou Guangxiang, followed suit with Zhou Guangqing, bowing deeply and kowtowing toward Zhouyang, using this method to express gratitude for his kindness to the Zhou Family and themselves.
Most of them were not foolish and understood Zhouyang’s significance to the Zhou Family.
Though they might argue endlessly over certain interests, when it came to pleasing Zhouyang, their goals aligned.
Zhouyang’s absence for seventeen years indeed stirred significant unrest within the Zhou Family; many family cultivators worried he might perish outside, causing the newly thriving Zhou Family to decline again.
Even if he didn’t fall outside, many Zhou Family cultivators feared he would be captivated by the prosperity of the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm and thereafter refuse to return to the impoverished Boundless Sea of Sand Cultivation Realm to guide his younger clan members.
This time, Zhouyang’s return gave the Zhou Family people a sigh of relief, making them feel as if they found their backbone.
Thus, upon hearing Zhouyang’s spontaneous words during the meeting today, sharp-minded individuals like Zhou Guangxiang and Zhou Guangqing seized the opportunity to express heartfelt gratitude, aiming to awaken and deepen Zhouyang’s affection for the clan, preventing him from making a decision of abandonment.
Smart as Zhouyang was, he easily saw through the subtle intentions of Zhou Guangxiang and the others, but he also truly sensed that these clan members genuinely appreciated and valued him, rather than just superficially.
This was sufficient for him; it was enough!
At least he felt his efforts over the years weren’t wasted; otherwise, if he cultivated a group of ingrates who don’t know how to be thankful, he would’ve doubted his own judgment and ability.
Had it truly been like that, he might even leave in anger, never again concerning himself with clan affairs!
He exchanged a glance with his father, Zhou Xuanhao, who was beaming with satisfaction and happiness below the stage, the two sharing a smile. Then he waved his hand with a smile, saying, "Everyone, rise, we’re all part of the Zhou Family, working for the clan; no need for these polite words."
After that, he slightly nodded toward Finance Elder Zhou Guangyun, who was standing up, saying, "Guangyun, could you report on the financial situation of the clan? I want to know the current annual income and expenditures of the clan, along with any recommendations from your Finance Hall."
Zhou Guangyun, having served as the Finance Elder for over twenty years, was most aware of the Zhou Family’s financial status. Hearing Zhouyang mention her name, she promptly stood up and replied:
"In response to the Supreme Elder, our Zhou Family’s current financial situation is excellent. Since relocating to Red Tiger Mountain Oasis, we’ve acquired various Spirit Mountains and mines; after years of development, they’ve now entered a period of substantial returns."
"Moreover, the family’s marketplace has been thriving increasingly over the years, thanks to the industrial chain processing plan established by the Clan Leader in the past. Currently, about seventy percent of the family’s spirit ore and medicinal garden output is processed and crafted into finished products by the Hundred Arts Hall cultivators for sale in the marketplace."
"In line with your philosophy of smaller profits yet larger sales volumes, our family’s low-tier spiritual artifacts, elixirs, and spirit talismans practically dominate eighty percent of the marketplace, attracting countless loose cultivators and small clan cultivators for procurement!"
"According to the Finance Hall’s records, up to this year, after excluding labor, transportation, and other costs, the total income from all our family’s industries has reached fifty-eight thousand low-grade spirit stones."
"Regarding expenditures, the clan currently spends about fifteen thousand low-grade spirit stones annually, mainly on distribution of birth subsidies and procurement of various spiritual object raw materials. Additionally, the annual clan contribution point expenditures now total over twenty-three thousand points and are progressively increasing each year."
"As for our Finance Hall’s recommendations..."