Family Cultivation: Rise of the Wilderness

Chapter 252 Xiufeng Courtyard
one year later.

Danggui Mountain, Shifang Valley.

Li Qianxiong, along with Li Chengzhi, Li Chenglu, and other clan elders, visited this once-forgotten valley.

"Patriarch, has the Luo family's Fire-Scaled Steed truly given birth to a foal?"

Li Chengzhi still seemed somewhat skeptical in his words.

Li Qianxiong shook his head slightly, his expression calm: "Seventh Uncle asked me, but I don't know either. This matter was reported by Xiangming. When I see him later, I will know everything."

Upon hearing this, Li Chengzhi shut his mouth, and the group quickly arrived at the horse demon beast arena in the valley.

Outside the arena, an elderly man with white hair was sitting cross-legged.

Hearing the noise, the old man slowly opened his eyes, and when he saw Li Qianxiong and his group, he immediately got up.

"Fellow Daoist Tong, there's no need for such formalities."

Li Qianxiong gently waved his hand, stopping Tong Wunan's actions, and then asked, "Where is Xiangming?"

"The young master is accompanying the young lady to herd horses."

Tong Wunan gave an awkward smile.

"Let the horses go?"

Taken aback, Li Qianxiong turned to Li Chenglu beside him and said with a smile, "They say that the capable are always busy, but Xiangming is so carefree. It seems that the family underestimated his abilities."

Li Chenglu glanced at the family head without showing any emotion, and said calmly, "Xiangming is not only excellent at his own work, but also has an outstanding ability to cultivate his subordinates, which is why he can often stay out of things."

Upon hearing this, Li Qianxiong nodded slightly.

For the past year, the cooperation between the Li family and the Geng family has been operated by the animal trapping facility.

The animal trapping house lived up to Li Xiangming's expectations, handling the matter very well, with virtually no errors in the transactions between the two parties.

Therefore, at the clan elders' meeting two months ago, the elders unanimously approved the appointment of Li Xiangfeng as the head of the animal trapping house.

The same applies to the Shangjifang; this emerging institution, into which Li Xiangming poured his heart and soul, has become very mature.

The governance of the three townships has been remarkably effective, requiring little attention from Li Xiangming.

Li Xiangming's main focus during this period, besides his own cultivation, was on the preparations for Xiufeng Academy.

A year ago, Li Chengsu returned to his family and submitted a proposal to the clan elders to reform the Qingmiao Academy.

This move caused a huge stir.

Outstanding members of the Li family's Xiang generation, such as Li Xiangren and Li Xiangru, were from the eldest branch of the family.

Li Xiangyu and Li Xianghua were disciples of the second branch of the family.

Li Xiangming was a descendant of the fourth wife.

The third branch of the family was somewhat lacking, failing to produce any leading figures.

However, there are quite a few talented men like Li Xiangfeng in the third branch of the family. Moreover, Li Qianxiong's eldest daughter, Li Xiangping, had already reached the eighth level of Qi Refining two years ago and is expected to establish her foundation in this lifetime.

In general, the family's future is firmly controlled by the direct line.

Whether it's the first, second, third, or fourth wife, they are all very satisfied with the current education system.

Li Chengsu's attempt to break this status quo naturally provoked strong resistance from the clan elders.

The reason why the direct lineage abandoned the Green Seed Academy and instead cultivated elite disciples from within is that it abandoned the Green Seed Academy.

This is to prevent a repeat of the mistake made twenty years ago when the branch veins forced the main vein.

If the family reorganizes the Green Seedling Courtyard to provide branch disciples with the same resources as direct disciples, then once these branch disciples grow up, they will undoubtedly squeeze the direct line's voice.

How should the straight meridian handle itself at that time?

It should be understood that under the current family system, both the elders and the head of the family are all controlled by cultivators from the direct lineage.

However, once the branch has gained enough power, will it be able to tolerate this situation?

Definitely not!

Straight-line cultivators would never give up the benefits they hold.

Sooner or later, the two meridians will clash violently.

If this happens, the family will fall into chaos and turmoil, and may even split apart. But even though the elders tried to persuade him, Li Chengsu insisted on reforming the Green Seedling Academy, and claimed that the family was not just a direct lineage.

These words resonated widely among the branch cultivators, who responded enthusiastically to Li Chengsu's words.

The clan elders were both angry and anxious, but there was nothing they could do.

Li Chengsu's identity was special, and although they vehemently opposed him, it was only verbal.

After all, the old man is still alive, who would dare to target Li Chengsu?
However, the direct lineage controls the family's decision-making body—the clan elders' council.

Li Chengzhi, also a senior cultivator, scoffed at Li Chengsu's words. He joined forces with other elders, insisted on their own opinions, and refused to agree to the reform of the Qingmiao Academy under any circumstances.

This infuriated the branch line cultivators. Currently, the branch line is weak and lacks the power to threaten the main line, so they chose to strike to express their dissatisfaction with the status quo.

The Li family is currently in a phase of rapid development. Whether it's the internal operations of Danggui Mountain, the Maojing mine in Dai Mountain, or the animal trapping house in Puyin Mountain, they all need sufficient manpower to maintain their political influence.

Meanwhile, cultivators from branch lineages occupy more than half of the positions within the family.

Although these people hold positions that are not particularly important, it does not mean that the family can do without them.

In just half a month, the family's daily operations fell into an unprecedented predicament.

Faced with this serious political crisis, Li Qianxiong once again invoked the name of his father, Li Huinan.

Upon learning this, Li Huinan simply said, "It's easy to discuss things among family members," and then went back into seclusion.

Taking this opportunity, Li Qianxiong forced the clan elders to sit down and re-examine the proposal.

After two months of intense discussions, the clan elders finally conceded.

However, they only conceded a small step, still not allowing direct disciples to enter the Green Seedling Academy.

Without direct descendants, Qingmiao Academy remains a college with scarce resources and an outdated education system.

However, in addition to this, the clan elders agreed to establish Xiufeng Academy as an extension of the functions of Qingmiao Academy.

In the past, after graduating from the Qingmiao Academy, students had to find their own way to learn from a master.

A hundred years ago, this system was reasonable.

Because there were few people at that time, Li Huinan referred to some of the systems of Hengyue Sect, hoping to diversify the future of the family through this move.

However, as time went on, the number of disciples seeking knowledge increased, while the number of powerful cultivators in the direct lineage remained limited.

This system is somewhat outdated.

As the conflict between the direct lineage and the branch lineages intensified, the system of seeking education became virtually non-existent, used only by direct lineage disciples, and some direct lineage disciples even lacked the opportunity to become apprentices.

The establishment of Xiufeng Academy provided new hope for these disciples who had failed to become apprentices and were working in isolation.

However, out of concern for the development of the branch, the elders set strict standards for admission to Xiufeng Academy: only disciples who have successfully graduated from Qingmiao Academy and have a cultivation level of Qi Refining Level 5 or above can enter Xiufeng Academy.

This requirement is undeniably high.

Li Xiangming used to occasionally give his students extra tutoring at the Tailai Summit.

Even so, when Li Jihu graduated, he only had the fifth level of Qi Refining cultivation, barely meeting the standard for entering Xiufeng Academy.

Li Xiangyan, who had the worst aptitude, only had a cultivation level of the third level of Qi Refining.

Although the clan elders agreed to establish Xiufeng Academy, only a small number of branch disciples were ultimately able to enter and study there.

Nevertheless, it is already quite difficult to get the straight pulse to give way.

Knowing that its own faction was weak, the branch dared not make any further advances, and the brief but intense political turmoil subsided.

Xiufeng Academy has a four-year curriculum, from the age of sixteen to the age of twenty, focusing on cultivating cultivators' combat abilities.

Li Chengsu served as the dean, and Li Chengsi served as the vice dean. The family also transferred one late-stage Qi Refining cultivator from each of the first, second, and third branches, for a total of five people to be responsible for the teaching content.

In terms of staffing, Xiufengyuan is undeniably luxurious.

Although the elders viewed Xiufeng Academy as a compromise with the branch lineage, deep down they also hoped to use Xiufeng Academy to cultivate more outstanding direct lineage cultivators in order to maintain their power and status.

Li Qianxiong also hopes to balance the power between the main and branch meridians through Xiufengyuan.

Therefore, as a trusted confidant of the family head, Li Xiangming was once again singled out to be in charge of the site selection and preparation of Xiufeng Courtyard.

(End of this chapter)