Family Rise by Daily Intelligence

Chapter 289: Chapter 173: Nine Heavens Star Technique, Bone Spirit Cold Fire, Noble Family Conference (Part 2)

”Brother Cao, Younger Brother Hee, what do you think about the Fu Family being promoted to Ninth Grade?”

The Cao Clan Leader was still holding a grudge over how the Ping Clan Leader fled halfway during the attack on the Cloud Soaring Tribe, resulting in a death and an injury for the Cao Family. He snorted coldly, showing no desire to engage with the matter.

The newly appointed Hee Clan Leader, however, was quite diplomatic.

He quickly transmitted a message:

”Brothers, you must have heard that the Fu Family has been incorporated under the Eighth-Grade Shangguan Family. Fu Changsheng owes a debt of gratitude to Shangguan Feng and his daughter, the current leaders of the Shangguan Family. With the Shangguan Family supporting the Fu Family, we should refrain from making any rash moves.”

Upon hearing this,

the Ping Clan Leader and the Cao Clan Leader felt even more distressed.

Especially the Ping Clan Leader, who had just discovered that the Fu Family had looted their jurisdiction in Pingshan County entirely. However, with only one capable Foundation Establishment fighter left in the Ping Family,

even if he harbored immense dissatisfaction and grievances, he could only grit his teeth and swallow his pride.

He could now only pin his hopes on the soon-to-be-opened Canglan Secret Realm, and whether the Ping Family could recover would depend on this opportunity.

The Cao Clan Leader shared this sentiment and nodded slightly.

Once everyone had arrived.

The Patriarch Cui spoke first:

”Ladies and gentlemen, today we gather here firstly to congratulate our South Huai Prefecture on a new member to the Ninth-Grade Noble Families, the Fu Family. Secondly, we are here to discuss how to distribute the profits from the five shops in Wanning Marketplace and the Ten Thousand Ghosts Abyss. Any insights?”

Normally,

it was the Shangguan Family that presided over the Ninth-Grade Noble Families’ meetings.

Now, with the Shangguan Family gone,

the Cui Family naturally succeeded in taking the lead position among the Ninth-Grade Noble Families due to their strength.

The Cui Family, under the jurisdiction of the Eighth-Grade Shi Family, was usually low-key and often silent during the Noble Family Council meetings. With the Shangguan Family’s departure, they were the first to step into the spotlight.

However,

the Cui Family’s strength was evident,

and combined with their agreeable attitude, the other eight family leaders tacitly acknowledged them as the new head of the Ninth-Grade Noble Families.

As soon as Patriarch Cui finished speaking,

the Ping Clan Leader immediately responded:

”Since the Shangguan Family has already left, we should just divide their profits among ourselves according to the original distribution ratio; there’s no need for a new distribution plan.”

The implication being,

that they didn’t consider the newly promoted Fu Family as part of the Ninth-Grade echelon at all.

The Liang Clan Leader glanced at Fu Changsheng beside him, and spoke up:

”Ping Clan Leader, you are mistaken. With an old noble family leaving and new blood joining, it’s only natural that the distribution of profits should be re-evaluated.”

The Liang Family had recently promoted a Foundation Establishment fighter as well,

making them stronger than before and rising to the top three among the Nine Great Families, naturally necessitating a reassessment of profit distribution.

The Ping Clan Leader grumbled:

”During the construction of the Wanning Marketplace and the Barrier at the Ten Thousand Ghosts Abyss, the Fu Family did not contribute at all; even if promoted to Ninth Grade, they are not entitled to share in these profits.”

The Ping Family was already in decline,

their strength not what it once was,

so naturally, they were apprehensive of a new profit distribution.

The Liang Clan Leader let out a mocking laugh:

”Ping Clan Leader, if I remember correctly, the Wanning Marketplace was built by the Court, and the Barrier at the Ten Thousand Ghosts Abyss was led by the Court and primarily constructed by the Eighth-Grade Noble Families. At the time, your Ping Family merely acted as assistants. By your logic, wouldn’t all the profits from the five shops in Wanning Marketplace and the Abyss revenues have to be handed over entirely to the Court and the Eighth-Grade Noble Families?”

The Ping Clan Leader was so infuriated that he could hardly speak.

For a moment,

the Cao Family and Hee Family, standing with the Ping Family, also opposed the redistribution of profits, as their combined strength had greatly diminished. The entire council was in an uproar.

Finally, the Cui Clan Leader coughed.

Once the room quieted down,

he spoke:

”I have a proposal. According to information from the World Suppression Bureau, the Demon Cave is expected to erupt again within ten years. Given this, the profits from the five shops in Wanning Marketplace will be left untouched for now, and the proceeds from the Ten Thousand Ghosts Abyss will be invested in the operation of the five shops. Once the Demon Cave erupts, we will distribute the profits based on the Court Merit Points earned by each Noble Family in the Demon Cave. If you agree, please raise your hand to vote.”

The Cui Clan Leader’s proposal was definitive!

Even before he finished speaking,

the Qii Family and Hongg Family, already aligned with him, quickly raised their hands to show support. The Liang Family, being strong, found the proposal advantageous and naturally raised their hands to vote as well.

Thus,

four families immediately expressed their agreement.

This left only the Ping Family, Hee Family, Cao Family, along with the Fu Family and Lin Family.

The Ping Family now only had one capable Foundation Establishment fighter, a recent promotion, and naturally did not agree with the proposal.

The Cao Family and Hee Family were also not as strong as before, remained silent, and did not support the proposal.

This left the Lin Family and Fu Family.

Lin Tianfu hesitated.

After all, with only two Foundation Establishment fighters, the proposal wasn’t favorable to the Lin Family. Lin Tianfu desired an equal share of the profits among the nine families. Hence, he did not raise his hand.

Thus, the vote stood at four to four.

The final crucial vote fell to Fu Changsheng.

The Liang Clan Leader hurriedly transmitted a message:

”Fu Clan Leader, what are you waiting for? If you don’t raise your hand now, the proposal will follow the old ghost of the Ping Family’s idea, excluding you, and you may end up with nothing.”

On the other side,

the Cao Clan Leader and the other two quickly conferred and unexpectedly communicated with Lin Tianfu as well.

Subsequently,

Lin Tianfu quickly transmitted a message to Fu Changsheng:

”Fellow Daoist Fu, just now, the Ping Clan Leader communicated with me. Their three families have agreed on an equal profit share. As long as our two families consent, it will be five against four, and the decision will pass.”

Lin Tianfu was somewhat excited.