Seizing Destiny From Heavens Hands

Chapter 234: Elder Shen, Feel Free to Speak Your Mind

The Fifth Elder hurriedly asked, "Did a Bloodroot Dragon King appear? How many elders were lost?"

The other elders also turned their attention to him.

This was a sharp question.

And it was the question everyone present wanted an answer to.

He Tianchou shook his head. "We discovered two Bloodroot Dragons, each forty zhang long. If they had fought to the death and devoured each other, a Bloodroot Dragon King might have been born."

"But they were both killed."

Upon hearing this, Yang Qiye was momentarily stunned, then burst into laughter. "Good! Excellent! Yan'er, you've done well!"

"As expected of my disciple, saving everyone from disaster!"

Ye Yan, hearing this, looked uncomfortable.

He Tianchou and the others, on the other hand, wore rather peculiar expressions.

Yang Qiye frowned. "What's wrong? You weren't the one who killed them?"

Ye Yan said nothing, his expression stiff.

He Tianchou coughed lightly. "Elder Ye didn't kill them. In fact, we don't know who did."

"By the time we arrived, both forty-zhang Bloodroot Dragons were already dead."

Li Zhendao, Yang Qiye, Wan Muchun, and the others frowned slightly.

Who could it be?

Could someone among the First or Second Cauldron Elders possess such power?

He Tianchou continued, "During my investigation, I discovered a flaw in the formation surrounding Bloodvine Valley, along with a cave that connects the outside directly to the valley's interior."

"Perhaps an outsider killed the two Bloodroot Dragons."

"A flaw in the formation? That must have been Zhang Feng's doing," the Great Elder said gravely.

"Precisely," He Tianchou nodded.

Li Zhendao suddenly asked, "Hall Master He, how many casualties were there this time?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere in the hall grew heavy.

This was the most critical question.

Nascent Soul cultivators are the backbone of a sect.

Even though Soul Formation cultivators can conquer territory, Nascent Soul cultivators are essential to maintain and defend it.

Furthermore, the Nascent Soul stage serves as the foundation for advancing to Soul Formation.

If too many Nascent Soul cultivators are lost, the sect will face a crisis of succession and talent depletion.

When the current generation of Soul Formation cultivators grows old or dies, leaving no successors, the Jade Cauldron Sect would become vulnerable—a piece of meat on the chopping block for others to devour.

He Tianchou fell silent.

The number was so shocking he hesitated to speak.

"Speak. This matter doesn't implicate you. I won't hold you accountable," Li Zhendao said, striving to keep his voice calm.

"Reporting to the Sect Master, a total of twenty-one elders have died," He Tianchou said, gritting his teeth.

"Twenty-one?"

Li Zhendao, known for his composed demeanor, showed visible shock at this number.

Twenty-one Nascent Soul elders!

How many Nascent Soul cultivators did the Jade Cauldron Sect have to begin with?

It was known that the First and Second Cauldron elders were the most numerous.

For the Third and Fourth Cauldrons, their numbers dwindled to only about twenty.

As for the Fifth and Sixth Cauldrons, they were exceedingly rare—countable on one hand.

This loss was nothing short of a devastating blow to the Jade Cauldron Sect!

Elders like Wan Muchun frowned deeply, their expressions a mix of complex emotions.

Yang Qiye's gaze flickered, betraying no joy or sorrow.

Li Zhendao took a deep breath. "Is there no good news at all?"

"What about the yield from the Scarlet Blood Spirit Valley?"

He Tianchou hesitated. "The Bloodroot Dragons wreaked havoc in Bloodvine Valley. Most of them were guarding the Scarlet Blood Spirit Valley…"

He trailed off, but Li Zhendao understood.

Li Zhendao sighed lightly. "Hall Master He, how much Scarlet Blood Spirit Grain did you manage to obtain?"

He Tianchou replied in a low voice, "Twelve jin."

"The other elders managed about ten jin each."

Li Zhendao's body swayed slightly.

Scarlet Blood Spirit Grain was one of the Jade Cauldron Sect's unique resources.

Although the Shangqing Sect and the Danhe Sect also had spirit grains, none matched the Scarlet Blood Spirit Grain in efficacy or growth rate.

In the past, the Jade Cauldron Sect relied on Scarlet Blood Spirit Grain to purchase spiritual artifacts from the Shangqing Sect, pills from the Danhe Sect, and spiritual beasts and demon beast materials from the State Governor's Office.

Bloodvine Valley opened once every five years, and each time, it yielded at least 2,000 jin of Scarlet Blood Spirit Grain.

But now, the yield has been directly halved!

How will the Jade Cauldron Sect conduct normal trade with the other three major factions over the next five years?

"What about you two?" Li Zhendao looked hopefully at Ye Yan and Shen Mo.

Ye Yan was silent for a moment before handing over a storage ring.

"I, Ye Yan, have gathered 90 jin of Scarlet Blood Spirit Grain and am willing to turn it all over to the sect, not keeping even a single grain."

Li Zhendao was instantly overjoyed. "Good, good, good! Ninety jin is excellent!"

"Elder Ye, the sect is immensely grateful for your selflessness!"

However, Ye Yan's face showed no joy.

Before entering Bloodvine Valley, he had made a pledge with Yang Qiye to deliver 100 jin.

Failing to meet the target left him feeling ashamed, unable to even force a smile.

Yang Qiye, on the other hand, was extremely pleased.

While other elders averaged only ten jin, Ye Yan had brought back 90 jin of Scarlet Blood Spirit Grain.

The sheer difference highlighted Ye Yan's exceptional capabilities.

And by extension, it reflected well on Yang Qiye as his master.

Li Zhendao turned to Shen Mo. "What about you, Elder Shen?"

Since his last encounter with Shen Mo, Li Zhendao had specifically ordered a thorough investigation of his background.

In his eyes, Shen Mo's potential was no less than Ye Yan's.

Thus, he had high expectations for him as well.

If Shen Mo could deliver 70 or 80 jin of Scarlet Blood Spirit Grain, Li Zhendao would feel content.

While the total harvest this time wouldn't match previous years, it wouldn't fall too far behind either.

Shen Mo produced a storage ring. "I've followed the sect's rules—70% for myself and 30% turned over to the sect."

"Sect Master, this ring contains the 30% I'm submitting."

Li Zhendao's expression froze.

The other elders' faces became equally complicated.

While Ye Yan willingly turned over everything, why couldn't Shen Mo empathize with the sect's struggles and do the same?

Turning over only 30%—what's the point?

Li Zhendao let out a bitter smile.

This rule had been established by the sect's founding ancestor to incentivize the elders, and he couldn't easily challenge it.

Accepting the storage ring, Li Zhendao peeked inside.

Initially, he had no great expectations, thinking there might be 30 or 50 jin at most.

However, upon seeing the densely packed Scarlet Blood Spirit Grain within, he was stunned.

There were at least 300 jin of Scarlet Blood Spirit Grain!

This could only mean…

Yang Qiye, noticing Li Zhendao's expression, assumed the ring contained only a meager amount and let out a mocking laugh.

Wan Muchun, the Great Elder, and others, however, sensed something unusual.

The Sect Master's expression didn't suggest disappointment, but rather elation.

Li Zhendao looked at Shen Mo, his voice trembling with excitement. "Elder Shen, is this truly 300 jin of Scarlet Blood Spirit Grain?!"

"And this… this is just your 30%?"

Shen Mo nodded. "Indeed."

Hiss…

A collective gasp echoed through the hall.

Even Ye Yan and He Tianchou were taken aback.

The Fifth Elder jumped to his feet. "What? 300 jin?! And that's only 30%? Does that mean Shen Mo harvested 1,000 jin of Scarlet Blood Spirit Grain?!"

The Eighth Elder's eyes sparkled. "Sect Master, are you certain? Is it truly 300 jin?!"

Li Zhendao affirmed with utmost seriousness. "It is indeed 300 jin of Scarlet Blood Spirit Grain!"

He turned to Shen Mo, his tone filled with warmth. "Elder Shen, according to the sect's rules, the portion submitted by an elder is purchased at a rate of one C-grade contribution per five jin of Scarlet Blood Spirit Grain."

"Since you've turned in 300 jin, the sect will award you 60 C-grade contributions."

"Furthermore, as you've set a new record for the sect, an additional B-grade contribution will also be granted."

Taking a deep breath, Li Zhendao's smile grew even warmer. "Finally, on behalf of the sect, I'd like to ask if you're willing to sell a portion of the remaining 700 jin of Scarlet Blood Spirit Grain to the sect?"

"Rest assured, the sect won't shortchange you. We're prepared to increase the exchange rate, and the decision will entirely depend on your wishes."

"Moreover, Elder Shen, whatever you want, feel free to ask—everything is negotiable."

At these words, the hall fell into utter silence.

Every gaze converged on Shen Mo.

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