Chapter 643: Chapter 245: The First Guest Elder Offering!_3 A few people were strolling around Lingcui Cliff, and Zhao Qingqing gave many suggestions. She also told Lu Changsheng about the cultivation methods of several spirit plants and what to pay attention to. “I didn’t expect the path of spirit plant cultivation to have so many intricacies; it is truly an eye-opener.” Hong Yi, who was standing by, exclaimed with emotion. In his Ruyi Marquis Mansion, there were also dozens of acres of spiritual fields. But these were the most ordinary spiritual fields, only suitable for cultivating first-grade inferior products, not even the average spirit rice. Now that he heard about the intricate knowledge involved, he was filled with emotion. “Indeed, each of the hundred arts of cultivation is broad and profound,” Lu Changsheng nodded and said. Through the system, he clearly understood the profoundness of each of the hundred arts of cultivation. After they finished their stroll, Lu Changsheng turned to Zhao Qingqing and said, “Daoist Zhao, would you be interested in serving as a guest elder at my Bi Lake Mountain?” 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚 “A guest elder?” Zhao Qingqing paused upon hearing this, her face showing contemplation. The Qingyun Sect did not forbid its disciples from earning extra money outside. After all, money, companions, laws, and the earth itself, cultivation is all about burning money. The Qingyun Sect could not support all the disciples. Disciples like them had to find their own ways to earn resources for cultivation. However, they could not casually agree to serve as guest priests without considering whether it will bring them trouble. “Daoist Zhao, as you know, the establishment of my family was quite rushed,” “and we are not particularly good at the art of spirit plant cultivation.” “Therefore, if you are willing, you could come to Bi Lake Mountain to serve as a guest elder.” “Whenever you have time, just come and check on the spirit plants, the condition of the spiritual medicine, or perhaps offer some guidance and teach some knowledge about spirit plant cultivation.” Said Lu Changsheng in this manner. Bi Lake Mountain currently had many spirit plant cultivators, but they were all first-grade. If they could invite Zhao Qingqing, a second-rank Spiritual Plant Master, it would be of great help to the cultivation of spirit plants at Bi Lake Mountain. Moreover, when he planted the Luminous Treasure Tree in the future, having Zhao Qingqing, a Spiritual Plant Master, would also be a great help. “This is possible, but I don’t have much time; I can only serve as a guest priest and visit a few times a year,” Zhao Qingqing said. As a disciple of the Qingyun Sect’s medicinal garden, she also had many affairs of her own and could not often go out. “That is already sufficient,” Lu Changsheng nodded and said with a smile. He then invited Zhao Qingqing to serve as an honorary guest elder at Bi Lake Mountain for a yearly salary of one thousand two hundred Spirit Stones. She would need to visit four times a year to provide advice and solutions for Bi Lake Mountain’s spirit plants and spiritual medicine and to teach and guide the Lu Family disciples in the area of spirit plant cultivation. Afterwards, Lu Changsheng turned to Han Lin, asking him if he was interested in serving as a guest elder at his Bi Lake Mountain. Speaking of spirit plant cultivators, his family had some. But they had no Artifact Refiners at all. “Hehe, I’ll pass,” “I’m already busy in the Qingyun Sect, and besides, artifact refining is very time-consuming, and teaching it is also quite time-consuming,” Han Lin said shaking his head. As an Artifact Refiner, unlike Zhao Qingqing, he couldn’t just come down the mountain for a few days. Artifact refining requires on-the-spot teaching, which is very cumbersome and time-consuming. Moreover, as an Artifact Refiner, his income from Qingyun Sect was quite good. “Alright, if I have such problems in the future, or need magic artifacts, I might trouble Daoist Han even more,” Lu Changsheng didn’t mind and said with a laugh. “Of course, that’s no problem,” Han Lin replied. Later, Lu Changsheng invited them to stay a few more days at Bi Lake Mountain, and when they left, he gave them small parting gifts. Xiao Xiyue also returned to Qingyun Sect with Zhao Qingqing and Han Lin. She was preparing to return and request her master, Yun Wanshang, to come and preside over Bi Lake Mountain. At the same time, using the Qingyun Token, she would invite a Second Rank Array Master from Qingyun Sect for Lu Changsheng. … “Husband, this is the current expenditure and rough income of the family, please take a look….” That day, Lu Miaoyun came to Lu Changsheng with a ledger in hand for his review. It recorded all the current expenses of Bi Lake Mountain and the rough estimate of its income. “The difference between income and expenses is this much?” Lu Changsheng looked at the ledger in surprise. But after looking through it, he immediately understood why there was such a significant disparity. Previously on Qing Zhu Mountain, the allowance for his wives and concubines was quite modest. Only concubines with a Spiritual Root were given ten Spirit Stones. As for maids, they were only given two Spirit Stones. Now, not only had all the maids been elevated to the status of concubine, but their treatment had been uniformly improved as well. Furthermore, as the number of children in the family increased and they began cultivation, each would receive ten Spirit Stones and a bottle of Yellow Dragon Elixir every month. As cultivation levels improved, these benefits were also being enhanced. There were also the expenses of providing Spirit Rice to his secular children, among others. Each of these seemed minor by themselves, but when accumulated, they added up to no small sum. And the entire family’s income currently depended solely on the foundational earnings of Bi Lake Mountain. Bi Lake Mountain originally had a considerable income; otherwise, the Yu Family wouldn’t have been able to raise so many Foundation Establishment cultivators and clanspeople. But currently, due to staffing issues, the external industries had halted operations. During the establishment ceremony of the family, Lu Changsheng had also sold off many assets. So now, the income of Bi Lake Mountain was limited to rent, and the industries of Spirit Rice and Spirit Fish. “Yun’er, you don’t have to worry about the finances for now; you continue to recruit spiritual farmers, fishermen, and apprentices,” “Pay close attention to the spiritual fields, jade marrow rice, and azure water rice.” “The core cultivation methods for these were originally controlled by the Yu Family; now these spiritual farmers might be inexperienced and affect the harvest.” “The same goes for the breeding of spirit fish,” Lu Changsheng voiced these instructions. He presently had enough Spirit Stones to sustain the Lu Family’s losses for several decades. But running at a loss was not a sustainable strategy, relying solely on one’s self to support the family. After all, he also needed to spend money. Thus, it was imperative for the family to operate efficiently, achieving a balance between income and expenses, and gradually move towards profitability. In Lu Changsheng’s view, the problem still lay with manpower. As long as there was sufficient manpower, he could easily proceed with large-scale production of basic puppets and liquor factories. Then, by finding partners for consignment sales and opening up channels, he could revitalize the shops and industries under Bi Lake Mountain. “Alright, husband,” Lu Miaoyun nodded in response to his words. “By the way, Yun’er….” Lu Changsheng continued, speaking about the instruction at the school. He tasked her with organizing and arranging these matters. He indicated that not only the children in the family but also the concubines with Spiritual Roots could come to learn about this aspect. After arranging these matters, Lu Changsheng went to Changsheng Hall to quietly refine the ‘Nine Treasure Jade Ruyi’ within his chest bone. His recent encounter with Caiyun True Immortal at Qingyun Sect had given him a wake-up call. He felt that relying solely on the Jade Pendant given by the Core Formation junior was not necessarily enough to conceal others’ prying eyes. Therefore, he thought of quickly integrating this heaven-sent Spiritual Treasure into his Life-bound Treasured Bone. As soon as the Life-bound Treasured Bone was formed and he acquired the Nine Great Divine Abilities, he would be able to use the Seventh Divine Ability, Sealing Divine Light, to seal his cultivation level and aura, rendering himself undetectable and obscuring his true capabilities from others. Moreover, the Fifth Divine Ability of the Nine Treasure Jade Ruyi, the Healing Divine Light, would surely help with Ling Zixiao’s injuries. And regarding the matter of Xiahou Monie, he also needed to be prepared. Once the Life-bound Treasured Bone was formed and the Nine Great Divine Abilities were his, his power would rise to an entirely new level!