Chapter 384: Chapter 369: Seed Plan [First Update Seeking Subscription]
The clan is large, and all sorts of absurd things can happen.
Zhouyang never imagined that the Zhou Family cultivators could be an exception.
When he first heard about Zhou Tongming’s matter, he was also somewhat astonished and angry, but after regaining his composure and thinking it over carefully, he came to a new understanding.
This matter is nothing new; in every large clan, once the population reaches a certain level, such things are inevitable.
Moreover, there is no saying in this world that prohibits marriages between those of the same surname; intermarriage among the Zhou Family’s secular mortals is common, and many of the Zhou Family cultivators’ concubines are also ordinary women with Zhou blood.
So in terms of customs, marriage between cultivators of the same clan and surname is not unacceptable in this world; it is even widespread.
Even the current Clan Leader Zhou Guangxiang’s parents were of the same clan and surname, so logically he should not oppose this.
But now, he is staunchly opposing the union of Zhou Tongming and Zhou Guangyin.
Analyzing the words he said, Zhouyang quickly realized that what he opposed was not the marriage between those of the same clan and surname, but the affair of "aunt and nephew romance."
Zhou Guangyin, in terms of hierarchy, is an aunt to Zhou Tongming, although she’s actually only one year older than him.
In a cultivation clan like the Zhou Family, which values order and propriety, such disruption of hierarchy and ethics is undoubtedly a taboo.
If Zhou Guangyin and Zhou Tongming were allowed to be together, how would their future children be designated — under the ’Tong’ generation or the ’Fu’ generation?
Would they continue to call each other aunt and nephew, or refer to each other as husband and wife? How should other clan members address them?
Understanding these points makes it easy to see why Zhou Guangxiang and others firmly oppose the union of Zhou Guangyin and Zhou Tongming.
However, despite understanding, Zhouyang looked at Zhou Tongming, whose head was bloodied from bowing, and knew very well that if he insisted on following Zhou Guangxiang’s judgment, this junior who is deeply infatuated might end up in conflict with the clan, or even decide to elope and leave the family.
Zhouyang understands better than anyone in the Zhou Family the power of love; the information and experiences he’s aware of are far beyond those who are trapped within the clan all their lives.
Moreover, love can’t ever be completely abolished; as long as there are men and women in this world, it will persist and cannot be annihilated.
Therefore, Zhouyang was quite troubled over how to handle this matter.
Of course, he could make an exception for Zhou Tongming and Zhou Guangyin; with his reputation in the Zhou Family, no one would dare to reproach him.
But if he sets this precedent, what should he do if someone else comes to him for the same reason?
He also needs to consider the opinions of Zhou Guangxiang and others; these are the people he appointed as managers, and directly overruling their decisions would significantly undermine their authority.
After pondering these thoughts, Zhouyang’s eyes flashed with a resolve.
He waved his hand to cast a gentle magical power that knocked Zhou Tongming unconscious, then turned his gaze to Law Enforcement Elder Zhou Guangkun and asked, "Is this situation common within the clan?"
Upon hearing Zhouyang’s question, Zhou Guangkun hurriedly responded respectfully, "It has occurred a few times before, but after our counsel and isolation measures were implemented, those clan members calmed down and realized they no longer entangled themselves with each other."
After speaking, he paused, sincerely looking at Zhouyang, saying, "Supreme Elder, please forgive me for speaking bluntly. With your position, there is no need to bother with such trivial matters. Despite how passionately in love those two seem now, given five or ten years apart, as their impulses fade, they will naturally accept reality."
Zhouyang reacted by nodding first, then shaking his head, "Your method might be good; the passage of time can indeed sedate many things. But what if, after five or ten years, they haven’t forgotten each other, then what? Will you continue to keep them apart for another ten or twenty years?"
"This..." Zhou Guangkun’s face turned stumped, his lips trembled as he looked at Zhouyang, speechless.
"I understand your intentions, these disruptions of hierarchy and ethics cannot be allowed to develop normally."
"But I also don’t want Zhou Family’s youths to harbor resentment due to such matters, leading to actions that harm the clan’s interests."
"I have a thought here; you all listen and see if it’s acceptable. If you can accept it, we’ll proceed accordingly in the future; if not, we’ll discuss it further!"
Zhouyang looked at the few elders who focused all their attention on him, as well as the hall full of Zhou Clan members, and solemnly expressed his thoughts.
"My idea is simple. Arrange for an Array Master to set up a special Illusion Array, then let Zhou Tongming and Zhou Guangyin enter the array to be tested. If the two of them, facing various obstacles in the Illusion Array, can still remain loyal to each other until the end, then we elders naturally have no reason to separate them."
"But if they are unable to endure until the end of the test in the Illusion Array, that would prove their love is not as strong as they imagine. If at that time they still refuse to end the relationship, then it’s not too late for us elders to intervene!"
After Zhouyang spoke, he scanned the people in the hall and waved his hand, saying, "Now you may express your opinions."
"The younger generation agrees with the Supreme Elder’s suggestion, but I also have a small suggestion. If they truly pass the test, one of them must change their name and voluntarily give up their status as a clan cultivator, serving the clan as an external member!"
Zhou Guangxiang, as the Clan Leader, was the first to express support for Zhouyang’s proposal after he made the decision, making a concession.
However, even though he made a concession, he also stated his bottom line.
Upon hearing this suggestion, Zhouyang pondered briefly and then nodded, saying, "That’s acceptable."
"We will follow the Supreme Elder’s instructions."
"The younger generation seconds this."
...
With the highest-ranking Supreme Elder and the Clan Leader both agreeing, it became hard for other Zhou Clan members to voice differing opinions.
Moreover, being of the same clan, no one genuinely wished to become lifelong enemies with Zhou Tongming and Zhou Guangyin over this matter.
After reaching this consensus, the unconscious Zhou Tongming was quickly healed and awakened.
Upon waking and hearing Zhouyang’s decision, he was so moved that he ignored the wound on his forehead, repeatedly kneeling and kowtowing to Zhouyang in gratitude: "Thank you, Supreme Elder, for making this possible..."
Using Zhou Tongming as an example, several other Zhou Clan members came forward to tell Zhouyang about the unfair treatment they had experienced within the clan, seeking Zhouyang’s help.
However, as Zhouyang listened, he realized that over half of these so-called injustices weren’t actual mistreatment; rather, they were cases where the individuals were dissatisfied with how the clan Deacon Elder and the Clan Leader had handled matters. Thus, they sought to imitate Zhou Tongming’s success in overturning the shaming decisions.
For those clansmen with ulterior motives, Zhouyang, after clarifying the truth, had no reservations in reprimanding them and issued a three-year salary penalty for each.
However, regarding those who indeed faced unfair treatment, he chose not to protect those in charge and directly punished the responsible personnel with salary cuts or demotions on the spot.
Following this fair handling and reorganization, Zhouyang’s prestige among the clan members rose to a new level once again.
After news of this meeting spread, the newer generations of Zhou Clan members and the external members who didn’t know him well gained much appreciation for this Supreme Elder.
Just like common folks always hope for a noble official to uphold justice, when such a person appears, they soon come to revere him as if he were a deity, showing utmost respect.
"Alright, since all clan members’ requests have been addressed, I will now announce a few matters."
In the Council Hall, after handling all the requests from the clan members in attendance, Zhouyang suddenly stood up, looked at the many clan members in the hall, and spoke about some issues he had long prepared to address.
"There are three matters I need to discuss. First, the conditions for the clan to produce its own Foundation Establishment Pills are fully met. From now on, every twenty years, the clan will refine one or two batches of Foundation Establishment Pills. Therefore, I plan to launch a ’Seed Plan’ within the clan."
"The purpose of the ’Seed Plan’ is to support Zhou Clan members who are promising in Foundation Establishment. Clan members who wish to enroll in the ’Seed Plan’ must possess one of the following qualifications."
"First, those with outstanding talents in Artifact Refining, Alchemy, Talisman Making, or Array Formation; second, those with exceptionally strong combat talent and perseverance; third, those who are quick-thinking and remarkably wise."
"Clan members who meet these criteria and pass the clan’s assessment to be successfully selected for the ’Seed Plan’ can exchange for Foundation Establishment Pills from the clan at half price for their own Foundation Establishment, with no limit on the number of times!"
"As for the second matter, the clan will establish a ninth hall, named the Battle Hall, specifically for Magical Combat and warfare. In the future, unless there are major issues, only members of the Battle Hall will be dispatched for external conflicts. Cultivators who join the Battle Hall will receive a full set of standard equipment from the clan free of charge and receive special secret technique training for free!"
"Lastly, the third matter is the full opening of the clan’s Guest Elder recruitment system, aimed at recruiting special talents beneficial to the clan’s development from across the entire Cultivation Realm. For those outstanding individuals among them, we can even assist with their Foundation Establishment after testing."