Clan Cultivation: Starting with Building an Island Immortal City

14: The banquet for bestowing honors reflects the will of the people.Night fell, the jade rabbit rose in the east, and its clear light bathed Linhai City.

The newly established Family compound of the Li Family was adorned with lanterns and festive decorations. Carriages lined the entrance, and the courtyard buzzed with lively chatter.

Hundreds of banquets were laid out, extending from the main hall and side halls to the spacious courtyard, and even a long, continuous feast was set up along the street outside the main gate. Regardless of status, anyone could sit down for a cup of wine and a few mooncakes.

The splendor and magnanimity of Linhai City’s foremost Clan were fully displayed that night.

Seated at the head of the main hall, Li Yinglong wore a dark brocade robe. His silver hair was meticulously combed. Although his face still bore traces of time, his eyes, when opening and closing, gleamed with inner wisdom, exuding an intimidating aura without him needing to show anger.

To his left, at the lower seat, sat City Guard Xia Donghai.

He wore a gentle smile, chatting softly with several prominent gentry and dignitaries from the city beside him, yet his gaze subtly swept across the entire hall.

To his right were, in order, his eldest son Li Qingshan, his Clan daughter Li Qingzhu, and several Clan Elders.

His second son, Li Qingchuan, was also at the banquet, though his seat was somewhat to the side, and his complexion appeared slightly dim and indistinct under the lamplight.

After three rounds of wine and five courses of dishes, Li Qingshan was the first to rise.

Holding a wine cup, he walked to the center of the hall, first bowing to City Guard Xia Donghai at the main seat and all the guests. Then, facing all the Clan members, his voice was steady and resonant:

“Fellow villagers, uncles, and brothers, on this Mid-Autumn Festival, our Li Family is honored by your presence, gathering here together. I, Li Qingshan, on behalf of my father and the entire Li Family, raise this cup to all of you! Thank you for your usual care and for your friendship today. May our Linhai City prosper, and may all of you enjoy good health and success in all your endeavors!”

With that, he tilted his head back and drained the cup.

Inside and outside the courtyard, cheers and toasts immediately erupted.

As the clamor subsided slightly, Li Qingshan spoke again:

“Next, please welcome the Clan Chief of the Li Family, who will say a few words to everyone!”

Instantly, all eyes focused on the main seat.

Li Yinglong slowly rose, his steps steady, and walked to the center of the gathering.

He did not speak immediately but remained silent for a moment, as if reminiscing about the past or accumulating some kind of power.

This brief silence, however, subtly made the atmosphere more solemn.

“Everyone.”

He finally spoke, his voice clear, cutting through all the noise and reaching everyone’s ears:

“What I say today is primarily to express gratitude. Firstly, I thank City Guard Xia and all our esteemed neighbors for gracing us with their presence; this brings honor to our Li Family.”

He nodded slightly in the direction of Xia Donghai, who returned a smile.

“Secondly, I thank all the elders and young of our Li Family, and all friends who have dedicated themselves to the Li Family’s endeavors.”

His tone then shifted, becoming solemn:

“A few months ago, a challenge from the Lin Family nearly suffocated our Li Family. On the arena, blades and swords showed no mercy. It was the sacrifice of our young men and the dedication of the women and children of our Clan that brought us victory today, and the peace and stability our Li Family now enjoys! This achievement was won through a bloody battle, and I, Li Yinglong, will engrave it in my heart. The Li Family will never forget it!”

His voice grew louder, carrying a power that pierced through hearts, drawing everyone’s thoughts back to that thrilling and terrifying day.

“Therefore, the second purpose of today is to celebrate our victory! To reward all those who contributed to the Family in that battle for survival!”

As his voice fell, Li Qingshan immediately stepped forward, unrolling a long silk scroll he had prepared, and read aloud:

“After verification and deliberation, the meritorious individuals in this battle are as follows!”

“Deputy Escort Leader Lei Heng, who led his men in a desperate defense of the flank, is awarded one thousand taels of silver and ten mu of fertile land outside the city!”

A burly man suddenly stood up, his tiger eyes moist with tears. He clasped his fists in a deep bow, then strode onto the stage to receive his reward.

“Collateral disciple Li Changhai, who intercepted the Lin Family’s reinforcements at the dock, endured three knife wounds without retreating, is awarded one thousand taels of silver and promoted to Deputy Manager of the docks!”

A young disciple, under the excited gaze of his Family, stepped onto the stage with his head held high.

“External manager Zhao Qian, who coordinated logistics and ensured smooth operations, is awarded eight hundred taels of silver and ten bolts of silk!”

...As each reward was read out, those whose names were called were incredibly excited, and the cheers and praises from below the stage were incessant.

The rewards were generous and substantial, but what was even more precious was this public recognition and honor, which made all Clan members and dependents feel that the sweat and blood they shed in the past were well worth it!

Li Qingchuan sat among the guests, listening as name after name was called, unconsciously gripping the wine cup in his hand.

He listened and waited until Li Qingshan finished reading the last name and put away the silk scroll, yet he never heard the name “Li Qingchuan.”

A look of incredulous astonishment flashed in his eyes, which then transformed into a surge of deliberately suppressed shame and resentment. He tilted his head back and drained the wine in his cup.

The wine was spicy, but it could not suppress the cold sense of loss in his heart.

Father... could he be so heartless?

After the rewards were distributed, the atmosphere became extremely lively.

Li Yinglong raised a hand, quieting the clamor, and spoke again:

“For a Family to endure long-term, it cannot rely on the efforts of one person for a short time; it requires order, rules, and a vision for the future.”

“After this battle, I have discussed with the Clan Elders and decided to implement a new System—the Family Contribution Point System!”

At these words, everyone held their breath, not understanding what it meant.

Li Yinglong explained in detail:

“From this day forward, all members of our Li Family, regardless of direct or collateral lineage, or even surname, who serve the Family—whether by completing Family tasks, patrolling, managing industries, offering skills, or even advancing in cultivation—will receive corresponding ‘Family Contributions’ according to established regulations.”

“These ‘Contributions’ can be exchanged for various items within the Family!”

His gaze swept across the hall, seeing the gleam in many people’s eyes:

“From small items like gold, silver, grain, cloth, and tools, to major ones like ancestral advanced martial arts Secret Manuals, weapons, armor, quotas for offspring’s cultivation, and even... if the Family acquires any precious medicines that enhance Bloodline and temper bones in the future, they can also be exchanged with contribution points as a priority!”

This System was, in fact, the “Sect Contribution System” of Cultivator Sects.

However, he used his business philosophy and workplace System from his previous life, deliberately blurring the concept of “Cultivation resources” and simplifying it into a martial arts Family version.

After all, their Family currently only had two Cultivators, which was still too few to expose prematurely.

But “precious medicines” and “advanced martial arts” were enough to make the Bloodline of all martial artists surge.

“This System aims for fairness! Those with merit will be rewarded, and those who labor will gain! The Family will give you rewards commensurate with your abilities! Whether you are a disciple of the main branch, a collateral branch, or an external friend, all will be treated equally! As long as your heart is with the Li Family and you work for the Li Family, the Li Family will never treat you unfairly!”

“Boom!”

The scene instantly exploded!

Especially those collateral disciples and external personnel, who were uncontrollably excited!

What did this mean? It meant that the path to advancement had been opened!

No longer completely dependent on the main Family’s rewards and the closeness of Bloodline, as long as they worked hard for the Family, they would have the opportunity to obtain resources they had never even dared to dream of before!

“Clan Chief is righteous!”

“Long live the Li Family!”

Someone shouted first, and immediately, many responded, their voices shaking the heavens. Many collateral Clan members and external guards were so excited that they knelt and kowtowed, their loyalty surging wildly at this moment.

The System’s prompt sounded continuously, but Li Yinglong’s expression remained unchanged; he understood in his heart.

This, along with the previous [Family Fortune Endures (Group Buff)], were both bonuses for the Family collective.

The effect was even better than he had anticipated.

Below, Xia Donghai’s smile remained, but the thoughtfulness in the depths of his eyes deepened a few shades.

This Li Yinglong, what formidable methods! Rewarding merit and punishing faults, establishing rules, and even using this “Contribution System” to firmly bind the strength of the entire Clan and even external personnel, uniting them as one!

With this change, the Li Family might truly soar to great heights...

System messages sounded continuously, but Li Yinglong’s expression remained unchanged; he understood in his heart.

This, along with the previous [Family Fortune Endures (Group Buff)], were both bonuses for the Family collective.

The effect was even better than he had anticipated.

Below, Xia Donghai’s smile remained, but the thoughtfulness in the depths of his eyes deepened a few shades.

This Li Yinglong, what formidable methods! Rewarding merit and punishing faults, establishing rules, and even using this “Contribution System” to firmly bind the strength of the entire Clan and even external personnel, uniting them as one!

With this change, the Li Family might truly soar to great heights...