I died young at the start, but I'm reincarnated with unlimited skill points!

The main council hall of the Aoki Su family.

The air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood, creating a solemn and dignified atmosphere.

Those who are able to sit here and participate in the discussion are all high-ranking members of their families whose cultivation has reached the seventh level of Qi Refining or above.

The clan leader sitting at the head of the table was named Su Changhe. His hair and beard were all white, and his spiritual pressure was steady, indicating that he had reached the Great Perfection of the Ninth Level of Qi Refining.

In the vicinity of Qingmu Market, where there are no Foundation Establishment cultivators, this is the greatest foundation upon which the Su family stands.

However, beneath this majesty, there is a faint sense of waning ebb and flow.

Su Changhe possessed a seventh-grade spiritual root, a talent that led him to the end of the Qi Refining stage, but also became an insurmountable barrier in his life.

Now he is over ninety years old, his energy and blood are declining, and he no longer fantasizes about that illusory path to foundation building.

Even when he was in seclusion, he was only trying his best to maintain his cultivation level and keep the Su family's reputation intact.

However, today, at the very end of this group of rather elderly high-ranking officials sat a young man dressed in a purple and gold robe.

It was none other than the young clan leader, Su Hao.

At this moment, Su Hao's aura was even more fierce and domineering than it had been three years ago. His eyes were sharp and concealed as he opened and closed them, revealing that he had already reached the eighth level of Qi Refining!

At the age of twenty-four, reaching the eighth level of Qi Refining, such a cultivation speed might not be considered astonishing even among those prestigious sects.

However, in a low-level cultivation family like Qingmufang City, such a prodigy is absolutely a once-in-a-century talent, and can be regarded as the family's only hope for future breakthroughs to the Foundation Establishment stage.

Therefore, Su Hao naturally gained the qualification to participate in the family's highest meeting.

"The distribution of profits from the market has been agreed upon recently. Next, let's talk about the matter concerning the collateral branches."

The clan patriarch, Su Changhe, who was seated at the head of the table, slowly spoke, turning his gaze to the steward elder of the Internal Affairs Hall.

"I heard that a few days ago, a member of a collateral branch named Su Tian gave birth to a child with a seventh-grade spiritual root?"

"Chief, this is indeed true. This child not only possesses a seventh-grade spiritual root, but his spiritual light was also clear and pure during the test, without any impurities. He is a promising talent."

The elder in charge replied respectfully.

Su Changhe nodded slightly, a smile appearing on his aged face.

"My Su family has a shallow foundation and a small population. In recent years, we have had our collateral descendants marry ordinary women to increase the family’s numbers, but the results have been minimal. Now, we have finally produced a seventh-grade spiritual root. This matter should be rewarded handsomely as an example."

"The chieftain is absolutely right."

Another elder stroked his beard and chimed in, "This is the principle of 'spending a fortune to buy a horse's bones.' If we reward Su Tian handsomely, those resentful and half-hearted collateral descendants will see this and naturally do their best to help the family prosper."

"But besides the magical artifacts and elixirs previously bestowed by the Internal Affairs Hall, how else can we promote them?"

Just as the elders were discussing the matter, Su Hao, who was sitting at the end of the table, put down his teacup and slowly spoke.

"Father, elders, this Su Tian has always served under me."

Seeing everyone's gazes turn to him, Su Hao spoke calmly, yet with an undeniable sense of control.

"For the past six years, he has served as the inspector of the outer spiritual fields. He has been extremely reliable. He has never made the slightest mistake in any of the tasks I have given him."

At this point, a slightly sinister smile appeared on Su Hao's lips.

In the past six years, in order to break through to the eighth level of Qi Refining, he secretly cut back on the spirit stones of the lower levels and even seized the cultivation resources of the collateral disciples.

All the dirty work that offended his clansmen and the exploitation that drew insults were all done by Su Tian, ​​who shielded him from all the criticism and resentment.

In Su Hao's mind, Su Tian was a ninth-grade good-for-nothing with extremely low aptitude.

It was precisely because of this deep-seated contempt that he found Su Tian useful.

What other way out could a useless person, who might not even reach the late stage of Qi Refining, have but to rely on him?

In Su Hao's eyes, Su Tian was a perfect follower with inferior talent, no threat whatsoever, and utter loyalty to him.

"Su Tian is loyal to me, acts with discretion, and most importantly, he is a smart man who knows his place."

"Now that he has rendered meritorious service to the family, it is only right that his father should rise in status because of his son."

Meeting the gazes of his elders, Su Hao went along with it and offered his own arrangements.

"The family-run herbal medicine shop on the south street of the market is in need of a deputy manager. Why don't we assign this job to him?"

"Firstly, it demonstrates the family's clear system of rewards and punishments; secondly, it gives me a trustworthy confidant to keep a close eye on the family's income from the market."

Upon hearing Su Hao's words, the clan leaders and elders present exchanged a knowing look of satisfaction.

What they were satisfied with was naturally not Su Tian, ​​this insignificant ninth-rank inferior being.

Rather, it was Su Hao's skill and cunning that he displayed.

They know how to cultivate their own trusted confidants and how to bestow favors upon their subordinates at the right time.

This is the kind of approach a future successor of a family should have!

"Since he is Hao'er's capable subordinate, it is most appropriate for you to recommend him."

Clan Chief Su Changhe made the final decision, his tone revealing undisguised relief.

"As you say, Su Tian will be promoted to deputy manager of the Spirit Herb Pavilion, enjoying the same treatment as an outer sect steward of the main branch."

……

Half a day later.

On the outskirts of Aoki Ward, in Su Yu's private courtyard.

The messenger from the Internal Affairs Hall had just left when a brand-new steward's robe and a blue jade token representing his status were prominently displayed on the stone table.

His wife, Song Qingwan, stood to the side, looking at the robe that represented power and status, her eyes filled with disbelief and joy.

"Husband... this... this is really going to make you the deputy manager of the Spirit Herb Pavilion?"

Having worked her way up from the bottom for several years, Song Qingwan knew all too well the significance of this position.

In the end, patrolling the outer spirit fields is just a tedious job of watching over the lower levels.

The Spirit Herb Pavilion in the market is the true core area for cultivators to trade!

Even a little bit of oil that leaks out between their fingers is equivalent to the harvest of several years of hard work by a member of the collateral branch.

"Yes. The second son has been found to have a seventh-grade spiritual root, so the family will naturally give him a reward."

Su Yu sat on the stone bench, casually picked up the jade tablet and examined it for a moment, showing no excitement at his sudden promotion.

Everything was as expected.

Over the past six years, he has done countless dirty jobs for Su Hao, not only for those spirit stones, but also to firmly attach the label of "loyal dog" to himself.

He knew very well that Su Hao, an extremely selfish and arrogant genius, was most at ease with a 'no threat' ninth-grade good-for-nothing like him.

Now that Su Hao has taken the opportunity to promote his most reliable follower to a lucrative position, it is simply a logical and shrewd move.

"Congratulations, sir, on your success."

Beside her, Qing'er also offered her congratulations in a soft voice.

She stood to the side, her hands unconsciously stroking her flat stomach, her eyes revealing an undisguised anticipation.

Because she gave birth to her second son, who possessed spiritual roots, Song Qingwan, the mistress of the courtyard, not only received abundant rewards from the family but also firmly secured her position as the mistress of the courtyard.

Qing'er naturally longed to give birth to a child with spiritual roots for her husband one day.

Su Yu put away the jade pendant and looked towards the center of the market town where the spiritual energy was more abundant. A glimmer of light flashed in his deep eyes.

Being the deputy manager of the Spirit Herb Pavilion means that he can finally legitimately leave the outer spirit fields and access the family's deeper cultivation resources.

"Go and prepare some food and wine."

Su Yu stood up and calmly gave the order.

"Starting tomorrow, we will move to the steward's residence in the market."