I established the Eternal Immortal Clan by taming beasts.

The atmosphere inside the Zhou family's council hall was somewhat tense.

The calming sandalwood incense rising from the bronze animal-head incense burner could not dispel the heaviness and oppression that permeated the air.

Those present were all the true core members of the Zhou family.

On one side are the stewards who are in charge of all family affairs and hold power.

On the other side were several elderly men with deep, composed auras and sharp eyes.

They are elders from the previous generation who have stepped down and no longer deal with worldly affairs.

He then took on the responsibility of teaching the younger generation in the clan and passing on the various arts of cultivation.

He spends most of his time cultivating, and is the true pillar and anchor of the family.

This somber atmosphere has become the norm for almost every core family meeting in recent years.

The root cause lies in the Zhao family's relentless and almost insane targeting.

Initially, the Zhou family attempted to communicate and mediate. The people they sent were extremely humble and courteous, explaining the pros and cons, clarifying the reasons, and even willing to make some concessions.

However, the Zhao family remained firm and showed no appreciation whatsoever.

Overt and covert suppression, business grabbing, spreading rumors, intercepting resources... the methods are endless and becoming increasingly ruthless.

Over the years, the two sides have become quite heated, with friction escalating and several small-scale clashes occurring.

The family's spirit beast business, which was originally on a stable and upward trajectory, was abruptly put on hold, and there was even a hint of regression.

Resources are being wasted on pointless confrontations, energy is being diverted, and people's hearts are unsettled. How can this not weigh heavily on the hearts of everyone present?

What's even more frustrating is that this is a complete mess, an "unwarranted disaster"!

Clan Chief Zhou Wanhong sat in the main seat, his knuckles unconsciously tapping the armrest of the rosewood chair, the pent-up frustration in his heart almost bursting out of his chest.

When the ancient cultivation sect ruins were discovered, it was your Zhao family who took the initiative to invite our Zhou family to explore them together, right?

In the end, it was your Zhao family who turned against you.

Yes, the two sides did fight in the end, but they still didn't get the spirit object.

"Zhou Chunsheng..." Zhou Wanhong sneered inwardly, yet felt utterly wronged.

The receptionist at the spirit beast shop in Tongxinfang City was definitely impersonated by someone in disguise!

How could a young clansman who usually appears to be at the mid-stage of Qi Refining suddenly possess the strength of the Foundation Establishment stage?

He never returned to his family to report afterward, as if he had vanished into thin air.

Isn't it obvious that someone framed this person?

Zhao Wenyuan's death was clearly the work of that mysterious imposter; what does it have to do with the Zhou family?

But the Zhao family was convinced of their stance, and no amount of explanation or defense could change that.

The Zhou family is truly unjustly blamed for this!

...

At this moment, I am sitting to the left.

Zhou Wanfu, who was in charge of the family's spirit beast industry and also managed the spirit beast shops in Tongxin Market, looked very unhappy.

The scene from that day replayed uncontrollably in his mind:

Back then, after the Lin family bought a batch of spirit beast cubs, that damned guy impersonated Zhou Chunsheng and didn't even know that the spirit beasts sold by the family were all castrated.

But at the time, I didn't suspect anything at all!

He felt that this younger generation might not be skilled enough, and secretly shook his head, thinking that the quality of the clan's children needed to be improved.

"Stupid! Utterly stupid!" Every time Zhou Wanfu thought about it, he wished he could slap himself hard.

If he had been more perceptive at the time and exposed or subdued the imposter on the spot, perhaps the subsequent theft of the spiritual item and Zhao Wenyuan's death could have been avoided.

The Zhao family will not hold the Zhou family responsible for this deep-seated blood feud.

...

The clan chief, Zhou Wanhong, sat on the carved rosewood throne, his expression revealing an undeniable weariness.

He stretched out two fingers, pressed hard on his throbbing temples, and exhaled a long breath.

He leaned forward, placing his hands clasped on the smooth table, his gaze sweeping over each of the core members present, his voice carrying a heavy, urgent tone:

"Gentlemen, the situation with the Zhao family is currently beyond our control, but we can no longer ignore the Lin family."

Compared to the Zhao family's overt suppression, the Lin family, also a beast-taming family, posed a more profound and deadly threat in Zhou Wanhong's view.

At most, the Zhao family could only cripple them and put them in a difficult situation.

However, if the Lin family, a potential competitor, is allowed to continue to develop steadily, that would truly shake the Zhou family's dominant position in the spirit beast industry in the Chuyang City area!

Zhou Wanhong punched the armrest of the seat with a heavy thud, his tone filled with frustration and urgency:

"That hateful Zhao family! Over the past five years, they've wasted so much of our resources and energy! And what's the result? They've allowed the Lin family to peacefully cultivate a spirit beast right under our noses for five years! Five years!"

He looked around at everyone, his eyes flashing with a sharp light: "What does it mean for a beast-taming family to have a five-year period of stable development without major interference?"

This means that their basic population may have already taken shape, and that the survival rate and quality of their offspring are steadily improving!

If we continue to focus solely on fighting the Zhao family while ignoring the Lin family's quiet growth...

By the time they have fully grown and are ready to take flight, it will be too late for us to suppress them, and we will regret it!

"We can't let this continue any longer!" said a manager in charge of external intelligence with a resolute tone.

"We must contain it before it gains full momentum!"

"That makes sense." Zhou Wanhong nodded, his expression returning to calm.

"After years of observation and covert investigation, we have basically figured out the Lin family's structure. Their core revenue still comes from Baiweizhai."

When Baiweizhai was mentioned, the expressions of the clansmen present, who had either tasted its food or were familiar with its business, were somewhat complicated.

The food at that shop was indeed unique, so it's no wonder it was so popular.

"If you want to target the Lin family, the most direct and effective entry point for my Zhou family is this Baiweizhai." Zhou Wanhong's fingertips lightly traced the table.

"The key to shaking Baiweizhai lies in its raw material supply."

Zhou Wanfu, who was in charge of selling the family's spirit beasts, had now composed himself and recovered from his previous dejection.

His tone returned to its usual shrewdness as he continued, "What the patriarch says is absolutely right. If you want to control the Lin family, the most direct approach is to start with their vital industries."

In the early stages of cultivating spirit beasts, the investment is huge while the output is slow, making it highly dependent on a stable cash flow.

If we can disrupt the profits of Baiweizhai, their spirit beast breeding program will inevitably suffer setbacks, and may even stagnate due to financial difficulties.

Zhou Wanhai, the head of the spirit beast shops in Chuyang City, nodded in agreement, a calculating glint in his eyes: "That's right, and we have a natural advantage."

The Lin family's Baiweizhai restaurant relies on the Zhou family for its supply of spirit beast cubs; this is our most powerful bargaining chip.

Zhou Wanhong nodded slightly, a cold smile appearing on his face: "Since the Zhao family is targeting the Zhou family so much, we might as well use this as an excuse. Wanfu, how's it going on your end?"

Zhou Wanfu immediately reported back: "Returning home, my master, I have already begun to gradually and secretly reduce the supply of cubs to the Lin family, in accordance with the plan. The action is small, but if it continues, it will inevitably cause a shortage of supplies."

Zhou Wanhai then added, "I have also made arrangements to spread the news through various channels in Chuyang City."

It was mentioned that due to the Zhao family's years of suppression, the family ranch had been damaged, causing problems with the breeding of spirit beasts. It was anticipated that the shipment volume of various cubs, especially edible spirit beasts, would likely decline in the near future.

Their strategy is simple.

By leveraging the Zhou family's dominant position in the spirit beast supply chain and their precise understanding of the Lin family's needs, they created a supply crisis.

They can also shift the blame to the Zhao family for targeting them, which seems reasonable.

Zhou Wanhong stroked his short beard, his eyes gleaming even brighter: "The Lin family makes nearly ten thousand spirit stones in profit from the cubs they purchase from us every year. We certainly can't give up this income."

He leaned back slightly, his tone carrying the confidence of someone in control of the situation: "But we must make the Lin family understand that if they want to continue to obtain a stable and sufficient number of high-quality offspring and maintain the prosperity of their 'Baiweizhai,' they can no longer stand aside."

He had to make a choice: either take sides and stand with the Zhou family to deal with the Zhao family, this enemy;

Alternatively, we can wait for his core industries to fall into a predicament of raw material shortage.

Moreover, the Lin and Zhao families already had friction, and now with this added layer of vested interests, as long as the pressure is applied appropriately, he won't find it difficult to make a "wise" choice.

In Zhou Wanhong's view, this was a brilliant move.

This would both transfer or distribute some of the pressure from the Zhao family;

It can also effectively slow down the Lin family's development and maintain the Zhou family's absolute advantage in the regional spirit beast industry;

At the same time, it can also maintain a stable income of nearly 10,000 spirit stones per year.

It achieves three goals at once, seemingly without any flaws.

Upon hearing Zhou Wanfu and Zhou Wanhai report that the plan was progressing steadily, Zhou Wanhong's face, which was often clouded by the Zhao family's affairs, finally revealed a confident smile.

He nodded in satisfaction: "Very good, let's do it this way, but be careful to control the intensity. We need to make the Lin family feel the pain, but we shouldn't push them too hard, lest they become desperate and completely side with the Zhao family or seek other paths."

What we need is manageable pressure, and their eventual compromise and cooperation.

…………

On the other side, on the island in the middle of the lake, in the spacious and bright hall of the Lin family's main residence.

Lin Che sat comfortably in the main seat of the rosewood chair. In front of him, on a small red clay stove, a pot of spiritual spring water was bubbling and steaming, producing white vapor with a faint fragrance.

He skillfully scalded the cup, took the tea, and poured water, his movements fluid and effortless.

Before long, two cups of clear, emerald-green "Clear Mind and Bright Mist Tea" were brewed, their aroma refreshing and invigorating.

He gently pushed one of the cups towards Liu Qingxue, who was sitting opposite him, picked up the other cup himself, smelled the aroma of the tea first, and then looked up at his wife.

Liu Qingxue took the warm teacup, her fingertips touching the warmth emanating from the cup, but it failed to dispel the solemnity between her brows.

After a moment's hesitation, she told him the news she had just learned: "Husband, I just received a message that the Zhou family's spirit beast shop in Chuyang City has just made some announcements."

This suggests that due to suppression from the Zhao family, the sale of various spirit beast cubs may be reduced in the near future, especially the meat-type ones that we have been sourcing for a long time.

She knew exactly what this meant.

The Lin family's Baiweizhai restaurant is thriving, with a huge and stable demand for several kinds of spirit beasts. However, most of the cubs currently rely on the Zhou family for a stable supply.

Once the supply of cubs decreases sharply, the breeding of spirit beasts within the family will be immediately affected, resulting in a shortage of slaughtered animals.

At that time, Baiweizhai will likely face a shortage of raw materials. If the supply of snacks to accompany drinks is insufficient, Baiweizhai's reputation and revenue will suffer a severe blow.

Upon hearing this, Lin Che merely curled the corners of his mouth slightly, revealing a knowing smile of confidence.

He picked up his teacup, took a slow sip of the clear tea, and then slowly spoke.

"Don't worry, I already have a plan for this. I had this concern years ago and have already prepared a backup plan!"

Liu Qingxue was slightly taken aback, then suddenly realized, her tightly furrowed brows relaxed, and admiration appeared in her eyes.

Yes, my husband is so meticulous and always thinks three steps ahead before acting. How could he overlook such a fatal weakness in the family's vital business?

"Does my husband mean that the breeding at the Southern District Spirit Beast Garden has been successful?"

In Lin Che's original plan, the east and south sides of Shattered Star Lake were to be the Spirit Beast Garden.

The southern part serves as a breeding ground for combat-type spirit beasts.

However, it was not put into use due to the lack of a population.

Lin Che temporarily designated this place as a breeding base for the family's spirit beasts.

It's actually a place used to conceal the origin of the spirit beasts cultivated in the secret realm.

The formation is always active, and no one except Lin Che can enter.

No one in the Lin family except him knew the inside story.

Lin Che smiled and nodded, a hint of confidence flashing in his eyes: "Not bad, although the current population size is still behind the Zhou family's accumulated population over the years."

However, after years of careful breeding and selection, the population has stabilized and the reproduction rate is increasing, so replenishing Baiweizhai's supply is not a problem.

"The Zhou family is thinking of using this to control us, but they've miscalculated."

Liu Qingxue was completely relieved. She picked up her teacup and took a sip, finding the tea even more mellow and sweet than before.

Sitting opposite her, Lin Che looked up at the outside of the hall, and a hopeful smile appeared on his face as he could faintly hear the sounds of children playing.

"Xuanqi, Xuanjing, and Xuanfeng, these three lads, will have their spiritual roots officially tested tomorrow. That's the most crucial matter right now!"

Even though he already knew they all possessed spiritual roots, Lin Che still had to pretend on the surface.