Thus, Song Changsheng settled down on the island in the center of the lake. The thatched hut was well-equipped, so there was nothing he needed to worry about.
Only the small patch of spiritual farmland to the left of the hut was left fallow, which Song Changsheng found a bit wasteful. Luckily, he had brought some seeds of spiritual flowers and herbs, so he decided to plant them for a little extra income in the future.
While stationed here, the clan would provide him with twenty jin of spirit rice per month. Including the fifteen jin, he was entitled to as a minor, which totaled thirty-five jin.
The allotment of spirit rice was more than sufficient, so he didn't need to grow any himself. In contrast, spiritual herbs and flowers were of higher value.
He re-tilled the field, sowed the seeds, irrigated with lake water, and buried three spirit stones in the center of the field. That completed the setup.
He had chosen fast-growing spiritual plants that could be harvested once a year. When the time came, he could hand them over to the clan in exchange for a good return.
With the farming handled, Song Changsheng took a small boat out to check on the spirit fish. These fish were the core of his duties, and he couldn't afford to treat the job carelessly.
"There are three schools of fish, totaling 320 spirit fish. Of those, 120 are already mature enough for collection. The yearly quota is only 200. Looks like this task isn't that difficult."
After the survey, Song Changsheng memorized all the essential details of the fish. Judging by the growth rates, by the end of the year, there would be at least 220 to 230 mature fish.
After submitting the quota and accounting for natural losses, there would still be extras and those would belong to Song Changsheng himself, to use however he liked.
This was a hidden perk of the job. He could trade them in for contribution points, eat them, or even sell them any of those that were allowed.
A century ago, things were different. At that time, all spirit fish produced were clan property. Any private use would be severely punished.
That policy only changed when the current clan leader, Song Yunhan, came to power. It was shortly after the death of the clan's last Violet Palace cultivator, Song Yungui.
Song Yunhan had taken over during a time of crisis. Externally, she forged alliances and arranged widespread marriages. Internally, she opened up the Luoxia City trade routes, which became the clan's new financial lifeline.
She also launched bold internal reforms. Under her leadership, clan rules became strict and clearly defined. She fully implemented the principle of "the capable rise, the incompetent fall."
Clan resources were allocated solely based on talent and ability. Whether one was the son of the clan leader or the grandson of an elder, everyone was treated equally.
This caused a huge stir at the time, but somehow Song Yunhan convinced the Council of Elders and successfully carried out the reforms that continue to this day.
And that wasn't the end of her reforms. One of her most impactful changes was the clear division between public and private property.
Under her new rules, the personal property of clan members was protected. Any gains made outside the clan belonged solely to the individual.
If a cultivator chose to hand over those gains, they had to be compensated at fair market value in contribution points. If not, no one could forcibly take them violators would be punished harshly.
Furthermore, in cultivation tasks such as farming or fish raising, any excess yield belonged to the individual. On the flip side, if there was a shortfall, the individual was responsible for making it up.
This policy was widely embraced by clan cultivators from the moment it was introduced. People became more meticulous and patient in their work, and overall efficiency soared.
Thanks to Song Yunhan's sweeping reforms, the clan survived its darkest years and began to rise again.
It was just unfortunate that the war with the Lieyang Sect undid it all overnight.
Still, the foundation of a strong clan had already been laid, and a resurgence was only a matter of time.
That's why Song Changsheng paid such close attention to the spirit fish it directly affected his future and livelihood…
Life on the lake island was peaceful yet fulfilling. Song Changsheng's cultivation progressed rapidly within just two months, he had broken through to the eighth level of Qi Refining, even though it had been less than a year since his last breakthrough.
Although much of this progress could be attributed to the spiritual elixir he had consumed, achieving such cultivation at the age of seventeen was already quite impressive.
Early in the morning, Song Changsheng sat cross-legged beneath the green plum tree. After absorbing the essence of the morning sun, he once again practiced his formation techniques, as was his daily routine.
Perhaps due to his recent experience using formations in real combat, his skills in the art of formations had advanced swiftly. He now faintly sensed he was on the verge of mastering a top-grade Tier One formation.
"Whew... I can now set up high-grade Tier One formations with ease. Looks like it's time to try crafting a peak-grade formation," Song Changsheng said cheerfully as he waved his hand and stowed away the formation flags.
Standing up, he noticed that the plums on the tree were now ripe. Each one, resembling a piece of jade, was hidden among the lush leaves, looking exceptionally tempting.
With a flick of his sleeve, Song Changsheng picked a small handful and chuckled. "After months of cultivation, I can finally enjoy these green plums."
He popped one into his mouth. A sweet and sour taste immediately spread across his tongue, carrying a hint of spiritual energy. The refreshing flavor made it hard to stop.
"Mmm… the spiritual energy is a bit weak, but the taste is truly excellent. What a treat." With a beaming smile, Song Changsheng quickly devoured the handful of plums.
Licking the lingering taste from his lips, he managed to resist the urge to pick more and walked toward the lakeshore.
As he approached, a shimmering "Water" character appeared on his left hand. With a gentle motion, he summoned a large ball of water. A flick of his finger sent the orb flying toward the spiritual field, and just as it was about to land, it split into dozens of smaller droplets, each precisely watering a sprouting spiritual plant.
Though this seemed simple, for a Qi Refining cultivator, such control was nearly impossible. Achieving this level of precision typically required Foundation Establishment level cultivation.
However, due to his ongoing practice of the Water and Fire Control Art, Song Changsheng's command over water and fire had already rivaled that of Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Just then, a sharp, piercing eagle cry rang out across the sky.
Looking up, Song Changsheng spotted a steel-blue eagle diving rapidly from the sky. Its talons, glinting coldly in the sunlight, looked razor-sharp and deadly.
"You beast, it's you again." Song Changsheng's expression darkened. Ever since the third day of his arrival, this Ironclaw Eagle had shown up from time to time.
At first, he was caught off guard and lost three spirit fish to it, which pained him deeply.
Determined not to let it happen again, he had stayed vigilant day and night, eventually catching the bird by surprise.
But the Ironclaw Eagle possessed a cultivation at the peak of Tier One equivalent to the peak of human Qi Refining and could fly.
Even though Song Changsheng had managed to injure it with the help of magical tools, the eagle was too fast to pursue. He had no choice but to watch it escape.
It hadn't been seen since then, and he thought it had fled for good. Yet here it was again clearly, it hadn't given up.
"This time, I've grown stronger. Since you've come back, you're not leaving!" With a shake of his left hand, two water dragons burst from the lake, twisting upward toward the Ironclaw Eagle.
But the eagle's cultivation was no joke. With a beat of its wings, it easily evaded the attack, then swooped down and released several wind blades that shattered the water dragons.
It let out a cry, almost as if mocking him.
But in the next instant, a red-and-blue gourd appeared behind it and unleashed a wave of scorching flames. Caught off guard, the Ironclaw Eagle was struck head-on.
The fire ignited its prized feathers and scorched its body, causing it to screech in agony. It flailed and wobbled as it tried to escape into the distance.
But it didn't get far. Just after flying past the borders of Mirror Lake, it dropped like a leaf from the sky…