Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather Chapter 1304 - 846: Second Master’s Imposing Presence (Part 2)

When too few people are deployed, managing administrative burden becomes difficult; conversely, dispatching too many presents the danger of leaking restricted details regarding the Spirit Source Land.

Yang Zhenshan contemplated this briefly before responding, "We don’t require a massive group, as our primary goal is just to maintain a base. For the remaining tasks, we shall entrust them to the Lingxi Yang Family!"

"Appoint Yang Xiangheng and his associates to specific roles and treat them as our own, yet be careful not to reveal sensitive information to them."

Actually, divulging minor details about the Spirit Source Land is not necessarily a fatal error, provided that the full truth remains shielded.

A level of carefully constructed ambiguity might even bolster the aura of mystery surrounding the Spirit Source Land; while it may surely invite greed, it will simultaneously sow seeds of hesitation in potential rivals.

This course of action involves a trade-off, yet Yang Zhenshan cannot allow apprehension to paralyze the growth of his clan.

We must not prioritize concealment so heavily that the very potential of the Spirit Source Land is stifled.

With the Sea of Spirit finally entering a stable truce and the Twelve Families of the Three Sects needing to recover from their losses, now is the ideal window for the Spirit Source Land to cement its influence here.

Years of rigorous training have prepared Yang Xiangheng and his kin; managing Yang Family Town should be well within their capabilities.

As for manpower shortages, external recruitment is an option, and spirit fields can be offered for lease. Many minor families will likely be eager to farm the fertile tracts of Yang Family Town.

Once these directives were finalized, Yang Zhenshan dismissed the others and returned to the Spiritual Spring Mountain Plateau to resume his Cultivation.

These high-level decisions only required him to set the strategic direction; the minor details could be handled by his subordinates without further oversight.

...

Inside the Lingxi Mountain ancestral hall of the Yang family.

Yang Xiangheng, Yang Xiangdong, and Yang Xiangxi exchanged nervous glances while observing the sharp, well-dressed Yang Mingzhi.

Though Yang Mingzhi lacked his father’s towering physique, he exuded an unmistakable air of authority, flanked by a squad of ten guards and receiving a personal reception from Li Chang and Wang Lei.

During this recent period, Yang Xiangheng had been plagued by anxiety, as Yang Zhenshan had not set foot on Lingxi Mountain for quite some time. Without the constant presence of Li Chang and Wang Lei, he might have feared that his branch had been cast aside by the main Clan.

"Xiang Heng, allow me to introduce the Second Young Master!" Li Chang announced as he stepped forward.

"Second Young Master! This humble nephew greets you!" Yang Xiangheng bowed hastily.

Having previously met Yang Minghao and recognized his status as the Third Master, he immediately grasped the high standing held by Yang Mingzhi.

Yang Mingzhi offered a warm pat on his shoulder and laughed, "Haha, we are all part of the same kin, there is no need for such stiff formalities!"

"Please, pull up a chair so we may talk!"

Sitting down, Yang Xiangheng watched Yang Mingzhi with an expectant, nervous gaze.

Yang Mingzhi turned his attention to Li Chang and Wang Lei, asking, "Have you briefed them on Father’s recent developments?"

"Not as of yet," Li Chang replied with a shake of his head.

Yang Xiangheng remained in the dark; he knew nothing of Yang Zhenshan serving as a Guest Elder for the Illusion Moon Sect, let alone other deeper secrets.

While Yang Zhenshan utilized the reputation of the Lingxi Yang Family for his external maneuvers, the clan itself had been kept largely ignorant of his true activities.

"Very well, enlighten them," Yang Mingzhi directed with an easy smile.

Li Chang proceeded to recount how Yang Zhenshan had integrated into the Illusion Moon Sect, effectively elevating the standing of the Lingxi Yang Family as a result.

Yang Xiangheng and his family sat in stunned silence, their jaws hanging open in sheer disbelief.

Indeed, their ignorance ran deep; they were even unaware that Yang Zhenshan had long ago mastered Immortal Dao Skills and attained the Foundation Establishment stage, knowing only that he seemed to grow more enigmatic and formidable with each passing year.

After processing the shock, Yang Xiangheng stammered, "Does this mean our Lingxi Yang Family has ascended to become one of the Twelve Families?"

"Not the Lingxi Yang Family alone, but the entire Yang Family," Yang Mingzhi corrected with a grin.

"The Yang Family—yes, quite right, that is the proper term!" Yang Xiangheng quickly agreed.

The Lingxi Yang Family was a localized entity, whereas the "Yang Family" now encompassed Yang Zhenshan’s broader power base, absorbing them into something much grander.

Since they were now recognized among the Twelve Families, the name Lingxi Yang Family was outdated. They would henceforth operate as part of the broader Yang Family within the Sea of Spirit.

Yang Mingzhi gazed at them and asked, "From this point forward, you will be incorporated into the Yang Family. How would you feel about receiving a systematic salary?"

The group exchanged puzzled looks. "Has the Uncle given his blessing for this?"

They harbored no ill will toward Yang Mingzhi, but they remained deeply cautious; their true loyalty lay with Yang Zhenshan.

"Of course. I would never have arrived here without my father’s authorization," Yang Mingzhi assured them calmly.

"Then we are fully prepared to follow your arrangements!" Yang Xiangheng declared.

Yang Mingzhi gave a slight nod. "Excellent. From today, your branch will fully merge into the Yang Family—all personnel and ancestral assets will now fall under our jurisdiction."

A weight settled in Yang Xiangheng’s chest; he feared this meant the end of the Lingxi Yang Family’s identity.

"Second Young Master, if I may ask a question?"

"Speak your mind."

"Does this mean we can no longer maintain our ancestral hall?"

Yang Xiangheng’s question was soft and guarded.

He could concede many things, but forgetting his roots was out of the question.

Yang Mingzhi chuckled, "Why would that ever be required? You have clearly misconstrued my intentions."

He gestured toward Li Chang and Wang Lei, adding, "You will serve the Yang Family just as they do—receiving a salary in exchange for your duties. There is no requirement to change your surname or adopt our ancestors, and frankly, we would not permit it even if you desired it."

Although both branches shared the name Yang, they had no blood relation, a fact the clan intended to remain strictly observed.

Because the deepest secrets of the Spirit Source Land were still hidden from them, Yang Mingzhi kept the explanation simple; had Yang Xiangheng truly grasped the power of the Spirit Source Land, he would have realized how trivial these administrative changes actually were.

"Ah, I see; my apologies for the hasty assumption!" Yang Xiangheng said, offering an awkward, relieved smile.

Yang Mingzhi continued, "Our Yang Family will establish the Spiritual Beauty Hall in Yang Family Town to coordinate all operations within the Sea of Spirit. It will be headed by one Hall Master and two Vice Hall Masters; you shall serve as a Vice Hall Master overseeing the internal execution of our orders."

"We will also install three third-rank stewards for the spirit fields, supported by four sixth-rank stewards who will assist in your duties."

This new hall would report to the Yu Heng Tower, acting as the foundation for the region, while the Tianquan Tower would establish a branch in Yang Family Town to facilitate commerce between the Spirit Source Land, the Illusion Moon Sect, the Lu family, and the Ji family.

Simultaneously, the Commerce Department will withdraw its stalls from Snow Valley Town, ending all operations in that sector of the Sea of Spirit.

This consolidation was intended to preserve manpower and avoid overextending their reach into potentially vulnerable areas.

In essence, the Spirit Source Land would leave only these outposts in the Sea of Spirit.

"As for the specifics of the pay scale, Li Chang, please clarify the details," Yang Mingzhi stated as he savored his tea.

Li Chang stepped forward to outline the duality of the Spirit Source Land’s compensation—a combination of cultivation subsidies and position-based wages.

These were calculated using both Spirit Stones and merit points.

For those in the Qi Sea Stage, the cultivation subsidy was sixty low-grade Spirit Stones per year; for the Earth Evil Stage, it was one hundred and twenty; and for the Heavenly Gang Stage, it reached two hundred and forty.

Position salaries, spanning nine grades of stewardship and administrative roles, ranged from one to twelve Spirit Stones per month.

For instance, as a Vice Hall Master with Heavenly Gang Stage status, Yang Xiangheng would earn two hundred and forty Spirit Stones annually, alongside an equal endowment of merit points.

Merit points were significantly more valuable than Spirit Stones, as they were the only currency accepted for trading in Spiritual Wine, Elixirs, and high-tier weapons.

Furthermore, the Clan Hall had recently opened an exchange where Spirit Stones could be traded for merit points at a three-to-one ratio.

"Three to one? Elder Li, there must be a mistake!" Yang Xiangheng exclaimed, stunned by the sheer wealth this represented.

"No mistake. The rate is firmly set at three to one," Li Chang confirmed.