Cultivation Begins From The Desert-Chapter 656 - 640: Celestial Tribulation Descends!
FD,三点半后再看）
"Brother Liu, Junior Brother Yang, please take your time. When Xiao Jiu's Foundation Establishment celebration is held someday, you must grace us with your presence."
"Certainly, certainly. Other's Foundation Establishment celebrations can be missed, but we will certainly attend Zhou Xiaoyou's celebration."
Outside the Zhou Family's residence on Jingming Peak, Zhouyang and Zhou Minghan, the grandfather and grandson pair, sent off Liu Qingsong and Yang Xingyan after discussing secretly for nearly an hour.
Judging by the smiles on their faces, it is clear that they had a cordial discussion and reached some kind of agreement.
After bidding farewell to Liu and Yang, Zhou Minghan and Zhouyang returned to the quiet room, set up a sound insulation barrier, and discussed the agreement made with Liu and Yang.
Zhou Minghan first said worriedly, "I'm not sure if what we're doing is right. If it weren't for the initiative from the Liu and Yang families, I wouldn't have dared to think about it. This is truly snatching food from a tiger's mouth!"
Zhouyang shook his head at these words and said, "Forgive me, great-grandfather, but I must respectfully disagree!"
He calmly looked at the old clan leader with a worried face and said, "Yang Xingyan has it right; what we are doing is beneficial for both parties concerning the Chen Family. The Baisha River Oasis needs our strength to help guard it, and the loose cultivator resources there are more than the Chen Family can consume alone."
"Our actions may make some cultivators of the Chen Family uncomfortable, but given Elder Chen's wisdom, he should be able to see our determination regarding this matter, and its importance to our families."
"This issue is better dealt with through mediation rather than confrontation. If the Chen Family is unwilling to share even the slightest benefits, it indicates they regard us not as allies, but as threats to their status. Why should we use our resources to help them rebuild the marketplace in such a scenario?"
Hearing this, Zhou Minghan became even more worried and sighed heavily, "Ah! Xiao Jiu, I understand what you're saying. Although our Zhou Family has bolstered high-end combat power, thanks to you and your father achieving Foundation Establishment, we have lost quite a few Qi Cultivation Stage cultivators, making it difficult to replenish that number in the short term."
"As families tied by blood, we ultimately cannot absorb outsiders like sects do to avoid the strong guest overpowering the host situation. To rapidly expand the family, the Chen Family's 'Fengyue Tower' model is the only option."
"However, judging by Liu and Yang's demeanor, if the Chen Family refuses our three families' request to establish family branches at Baisha River Oasis, they may actually unite to set up a marketplace and compete with the Chen Family for loose cultivator resources. What path should our Zhou Family take then?"
What path should the Zhou Family take?
Zhouyang gazed at the worried old clan leader and wanted to say, "Is there even a need to ask about this?"
But responding like that would be disrespectful.
He could only offer a helpless smile and say, "Great-grandfather, you're overthinking it. If the Chen Family refuses even this minor request, regardless of whether we join Liu and Yang's plan, we will seek another ally. Ultimately, a Chen Family unwilling to share anything is certainly not an appropriate object to follow!"
Zhou Minghan was startled.
He looked at Zhouyang in astonishment, his brows furrowed as if intending to say something.
But, upon seeing Zhouyang's young face, he suddenly became enlightened, seemingly understanding something, and couldn't help but smile bitterly, "Xiao Jiu, you're right. If the Chen Family refuses our request, it would mean they do not wish for our families to grow. In that case, why should we continue to follow them? I understand what ought to be done!"
He realized that Zhouyang was not like him; Zhou Minghan was already old, satisfied simply with passing the Zhou Family legacy during his lifetime.
However, a young man like Zhouyang undoubtedly has ambition, desiring to lead the family toward growth and prosperity. He too, once had such ambitions when he was younger.
This plan devised by the Liu and Yang families seemed like a risky move to him, possibly provoking suppression from the Chen Family, a Purple Mansion clan.
Yet, to a determined Zhouyang, this was a perfect opportunity to test the Chen Family. If they lack the capacity to accommodate others, then Zhouyang-led Zhou Family will certainly not follow them anymore.
As for the ensuing pressure from the Chen Family, given the distance between them, the Zhou Family cultivators will simply stop traversing Baisha River Oasis. Can the Chen Family truly launch an expedition to Yuquan Lake Oasis and annihilate the Zhou Family?
Unless Elder Chen has gone mad, such a thing is unlikely to happen.
"It appears I've truly aged, with even Liu Qingsong, teetering on the brink, still harboring ambitions, while I merely think about being a watchful dog. Fortunately, with Xiao Jiu here today, our Zhou Family won't miss such a significant opportunity!"
Zhou Minghan, who had come to understand, shook his head with a somber expression, feeling quite disheartened.
Aging is not frightening; what is frightening is when one's mindset ages as well. Especially for a family leader, once the thinking ages, the whole family is inevitably influenced and declines.
Seeing this, Zhouyang quickly comforted, "Great-grandfather is just prudent and mature. In the past, the entire Zhou Family's burden rested on your shoulders. Of course, you wouldn't dare take any risks. If it weren't for you supporting the family single-handedly, grandson and father might not have been able to establish their Foundation safely. Everyone has witnessed your contributions to the family. You have no need to blame yourself for this matter."
Zhou Minghan was indeed sharp minded; he could certainly detect the comforting words. Upon hearing, he glared and said, "Enough! You rascal don't need to comfort me. I made a mistake, and I'll own up to it. When we return to the family, I'll pass the clan leader position to you and enjoy my carefree days in peace while living a contented life."
When Zhouyang heard this, he immediately became anxious and shook his head quickly, saying, "How can this be? You're doing perfectly well as the clan leader, Great-grandfather. Grandson lacks both cultivation and experience and is far from qualified to shoulder such a heavy responsibility."
"I am the clan leader, and if I say you're fit, you're fit. That's how it's decided!" It seemed Zhou Minghan was truly affected. He was determined to pass the clan leader position to Zhouyang once they returned, ignoring Zhouyang's advice.
No matter how articulate Zhouyang was, he was powerless in situations like this.
He was not unwilling to succeed the clan leader position, but that should be after the old leader Zhou Minghan passed away.
Now, Zhou Minghan suddenly announced transferring the clan leader position to him, which indeed put him in a state of panic.
Let alone taking the clan leader position inevitably delaying his cultivation, if the old leader Zhou Minghan, still having decades of lifespan left, passed the position, it would easily incite gossip.
Those unaware of the situation would most likely say that he and his father, Zhou Xuanhao, forced Zhou Minghan into early retirement.
Such speculation would significantly tarnish the reputation of him, his father Zhou Xuanhao, and the Zhou Family as a whole, leaving Zhouyang puzzled why the usually astute old clan leader would suddenly act so unwisely.
"This is worrisome, it seems I can only wait until we get back to the family and ask father and others to persuade the old leader."
Feeling worried, he could only rely on his father Zhou Xuanhao and other elders in the family, hoping that they could persuade the old leader to retract his decision.
On this day, as if prearranged, the clan leaders of Liu Family from Chixia Mountain, Yang Family from Golden Spring Valley, and the Zhou Family from Jade Spring Lake suddenly ascended Chen Family's White Camel Peak, directly requesting a meeting with Elder Chen to discuss important matters.
Apart from the Foundation Establishment cultivators in the Chen Family, no one knew what the clan leaders of the three families discussed with Elder Chen. Those other families on Jingming Peak only knew that the clan leaders of Liu, Yang, and Zhou Families returned from White Camel Peak with unconcealed joy on their faces, then returned with their clans.
Baisha River Oasis and Jade Spring Lake Oasis are separated by thousands of miles. To accommodate Zhou Xuantai and other Qi Cultivation cultivators, Zhou Minghan and Zhouyang, both in the Foundation Establishment stage, could only accompany them by riding Shatuo Beasts.
Five Shatuo Beasts were the ones Zhou Xuantai rode, which had been kept at Chen Family's Beast Garden after being lucky to survive the sand bandits' attack. However, the two Shatuo Beasts Zhouyang and Zhou Xuan Yu rode during their escape from Golden Dawn Mountain were sacrificed with sorrow.
This sand bandits' attack significantly impacted the Zhou Family. Besides the loss of assets worth thousands of Spirit Stones at "Jade Spring Tower," the disappearance of six people: Zhou Xuan Yu, Wu Tao, Luo Meiwei, Zhou Yuanxia, Zhou Ping, Zhou Qi added to the casualties of Zhou Yun, Zhou Qi, and Zhou Xuanjing who perished under the mouths of demon beasts, resulting in a twenty percent reduction in Zhou Family's cultivators.
Losing nine family cultivators in one incident was unprecedented for the Zhou Family in almost a hundred years.
Zhouyang could already foresee how heartbroken the clan members waiting back in the family would be upon hearing such news.
Yet, having embarked on this path of cultivation, it was inevitable to encounter situations like this; it's the cost of pursuing immortality!
The journey home was long, and Zhouyang didn't want to waste one or two months doing nothing, so while on their way, he started learning "Sword Control Skill" from the old clan leader Zhou Minghan, which only Foundation Establishment cultivators could practice.
The so-called "Sword Control Skill" isn't specifically a spell but refers broadly to the spell of controlling flying swords.
The true name of the Zhou Family's "Sword Control Skill" is "Flying Star Sword Technique," which consists of three layers. Mastering the first layer allows the materialization of sword light for flying, and using the technique during combat can greatly increase the flying swords' power, producing various transformations.
Generally, Foundation Establishment cultivators can only learn the first layer of the "Flying Star Sword Technique." Only those particularly gifted cultivators can learn the second layer during the Foundation Establishment stage.
According to Zhouyang, Chen Ping'an from Chen Family could slay a Tier Three High-Grade demon beast "Golden-eating Toad" with one strike not only because the flying sword he wielded was a Tier Four Spiritual Artifact, but also because he had cultivated Chen Family's Sword Control Spell to the second layer.
The first layer of "Flying Star Sword Technique" isn't hard to learn. According to old clan leader Zhou Minghan, he took about a year to learn the first layer of the technique.
And Zhouyang, thanks to the post-Foundation Establishment surge in Divine Sense, along with the old clan leader's diligent guidance throughout the journey, managed to master the first layer of the technique just as the team returned to Yuquan Lake Oasis.
Perhaps it was because they were already accustomed to Zhouyang's extraordinary performance; the old clan leader Zhou Minghan was not too surprised that Zhouyang mastered the first layer of the "Flying Star Sword Technique" in less than two months. He merely praised him out of habit.
As they returned to the clan, unsurprisingly to Zhouyang, the entire Jade Spring Peak was draped in white banners, and everywhere, the sobs and laments of the Zhou clan members, grieving the loss of their loved ones, could be heard.
On this Jade Spring Peak, not only did the Zhou family cultivators reside, but also the direct mortal descendants within two generations, like Zhou Xuan Yu's two sons without spiritual roots, who lived with dozens of family members beside her courtyard.
This scene of the entire mountain clad in mourning attire was something Zhouyang witnessed for the first time in decades; at first glance, it was truly moving.
"Does it hurt? It should hurt!"
"Why does our clan's cohesion surpass even that of loose cultivators or sect cultivators? It's because every cultivator in our family has lived and cultivated together from childhood. Besides sharing a common ancestor, we also share familial and friendly bonds. When family and friends pass away, we naturally mourn and cherish their memory."
"In contrast, though sect cultivators also have mentor-disciple relationships and camaraderie, they can never be like our Zhou family, where the death of some low-tier cultivators can evoke mourning and remembrance throughout the entire sect."
"Look at this mountain, wrapped in mourning; it's all done voluntarily by the clan members. Those cries of sorrow are genuine and heartfelt."
At the top of Jade Spring Peak, the old clan leader Zhou Minghan had unknowingly stood behind Zhouyang; the earlier words came from his mouth.
"Great-grandfather, I understand your sentiment, but compared to the current scene of mourning, I would rather see the whole mountain adorned with red silk, with clan members celebrating joyously whenever a family cultivator advances to Foundation Establishment, Purple Mansion, or even Golden Core!" Zhouyang turned around to look at the old clan leader, murmuring in a low voice.
Zhou Minghan, upon hearing this, had a flicker of expression cross his face. He couldn't help but look deeply at Zhouyang and said, "I look forward to that day. If it truly comes, you must lay a piece of red silk on my grave too, so that I can celebrate along with everyone!"
Zhouyang, hearing his somewhat disheartening words, couldn't help but frown, saying, "Great-grandfather, aren't you being a bit too pessimistic? A Foundation Establishment cultivator can live up to 240 years; you're not even 200 yet, still robust and vigorous. The Zhou clan, this great ship, still needs you to steer it."
"Stop that. Regarding the clan leadership, Xiao Jiu, there's no need to persuade me further. I've made up my mind, and no one's persuasion will change it. You should focus on how to reform the clan once you take over as the clan leader. Now that the Zhou family has two more Foundation Establishment cultivators, you should alter some of the old systems!"
Zhou Minghan waved his hand, showing no interest in discussing the topic of succession with Zhouyang any further, clearly having resolved to retire from the limelight as he said.
Seeing this, Zhouyang couldn't help but feel helpless.
Since returning to the clan, he and his father Zhou Xuanhao, who stayed behind, had discussed this issue, asking his father and other clan elders like Zhou Xuantai to persuade the old clan leader to rescind his decision. However, the results were far from favorable.
Not only did Zhou Xuanhao and others fail to persuade the old clan leader to change his mind, but they also got influenced by him, resulting in their support for Zhouyang becoming the clan leader, which left him feeling very upset.
Yet, despite the sadness, the necessary tasks had to be completed.
Half a month after returning to the clan, Zhouyang, in front of all the family cultivators, accepted the clan genealogy handed over by the old clan leader Zhou Minghan and officially became the fourth-generation clan leader of the Jade Spring Zhou family, while the old clan leader Zhou Minghan retired to become the first Supreme Elder of the family.
Upon assuming the role of clan leader, Zhouyang's primary task was to receive reports from the clan elders on family affairs, personnel, finance, and various situations.
"Currently, our Zhou family has one late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, two early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators, four Qi Cultivation Ninth-Layer elders, six late-stage Qi Cultivation cultivators, eight mid-stage Qi Cultivation cultivators, and three early-stage Qi Cultivation cultivators, in addition to two Guang generation Innate Realm cultivators, totaling twenty-six individuals."
"In terms of external relations, we currently have five allied cultivators, including two late-stage Qi Cultivation cultivators and three mid-stage Qi Cultivation cultivators."
"As for mundane clan members, according to statistics from three years ago, the number of mortals with our Zhou family bloodline across several oases totals 113,720, in addition to 38,465 mortals from other surnames."
After Zhouyang and others returned to the clan and underwent adjustments, the elder responsible for managing clan personnel became the Second Elder Zhou Xuanbin. For instance, during the clan assembly called by Zhouyang, he was the first to speak and give the report.
Even though Zhouyang and the attendees had long been mentally prepared for such bleak data, hearing it still made their hearts sink, and everyone's expressions turned grim.
Zhouyang still remembered, when he first descended the mountain at seventeen, the Zhou family, excluding the old clan leader Zhou Minghan, the only "Ming" generation cultivator, still had forty to fifty cultivators across the Guang, Xuan, and Yuan generations combined.
But in just over a decade, every Guang generation cultivator had either died naturally or perished, leaving not a single person behind.
And the Xuan generation cultivators, originally the backbone of the family, had successively lost key figures like Zhou Xuan Yu and Zhou Xuanjing, plus the injury of Zhou Xuantai who lost an arm, making a total of three losses.
"The cultivators of the 'Guang' generation are all dead, the 'Xuan' generation are severely injured, the 'Yuan' generation have not yet matured, and the 'Guang' generation are still children..."
At this moment, Zhouyang finally understood just how dire the situation of the Zhou family had become and why the old clan leader, Zhou Minghan, insisted on retiring. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖
"What about the financial income and expenses? Seventh Uncle, please continue!"
With a solemn expression, he looked at the Third Elder, Zhou Xuanlin, who had taken over as the Household Affairs Elder from Zhou Xuan Yu.
The family's finances had always been managed by the Household Affairs Elder, who was inevitably a confidant of the clan leader. However, given the current situation of the Zhou family, as long as Zhou Xuanlin did not cause any trouble, Zhouyang could not replace him.
"In terms of finances, our Zhou family currently possesses one Tier Three Middle-Grade Spiritual Vein, one Tier Three Lower-Grade Spiritual Vein, one Tier Two Lower-Grade Spiritual Vein, 220 acres of Spirit Fields, 30 acres of Spirit Medicine Garden, one large Red Flame Iron Ore Vein, and one medium-sized Refined Iron Ore Vein."
"From these industries, the Spirit Fields generate an annual net income of around 1,500 Spirit Stones, while the Spirit Medicine Garden yields approximately 700 Spirit Stones in net income annually on average. The Refined Iron Ore Vein produces a yearly net income of around 500 Spirit Stones. The Red Flame Iron Ore Vein is yet to be mined, so its revenue cannot be estimated at this time."
"Additionally, the family currently possesses a site of production for the Tier Three Spiritual Object 'Earth Element Spirit Milk,' one Tier Two High-Grade Spirit Wood Dragon Scale Tree, six Tier Two Lower-Grade Spirit Fruit Fire Crystal Jujube Trees, three Tier Two Lower-Grade Spirit Fruit Yellow Jade Pear Trees, thirty-two Tier One High-Grade Sand Camel Beasts, thirty-four Tier One High-Grade Spirit Fruit White Jade Grapes, and 134 Tier One Middle-Grade Spirit Beast Phoenix Crowned Fire Chickens."
"Regarding the Treasure Vault, the family currently holds four Tier Three Lower-Grade Spiritual Artifacts, nineteen Tier Two High-Grade Spiritual Artifacts, thirty-three Tier Two Middle-Grade Spiritual Artifacts, fifty-seven Tier Two Lower-Grade Spiritual Artifacts, as well as twenty-seven Tier Two High-Grade Spirit Talismans, forty-nine Tier Two Middle-Grade Spirit Talismans, and twenty-one Tier Two Lower-Grade Spirit Talismans. In addition, there are two sets of Tier Two Middle-Grade Arrays and five sets of Tier Two Lower-Grade Arrays."
"Furthermore, the Treasure Vault contains a considerable amount of Demon Beast materials and Refined Iron, among other materials. The value of these is hard to calculate, but if we only consider material value, it should not exceed 5,000 Spirit Stones."
"Finally, concerning expenses, the largest family expenditure is the remuneration for family cultivators. According to clan regulations, Late-Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators receive an annual stipend of 500 Spirit Stones, Early-Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators receive 300 Spirit Stones, and Ninth-Layer Qi Cultivation Elders receive 150 Spirit Stones. For our Zhou family today, removing those cultivators ineligible for stipends, the remaining cultivators' annual stipend expenditures are approximately 2,200 Spirit Stones."
"The second major expense is the tribute to the Yellow Sand Sect. Every ten years, the family must pay tribute to the Yellow Sand Sect, with the previous tributes not exceeding a total value of 2,000 Spirit Stones. With two additional Foundation Establishment Cultivators now, the tribute for the next time will increase to 3,000 Spirit Stones."
"The third major expenditure is the subsidy for family cultivators learning the Hundred Skills of Cultivation, which is a special expenditure not included in the annual total expenses."
"Currently, the family's account balance totals 2,478 Spirit Stones, barely enough to cover next year's family cultivator stipends."
Holding a thick ledger in his hands, Zhou Xuanlin reported the Zhou family's financial income and expenditures item by item.
After hearing his report, Zhouyang felt a sense of relief.
From the income and expenditure perspective, the Zhou family's financial status is quite satisfactory. Not only is there no financial deficit, but there is also a considerable surplus each year.
This is without factoring in the income from the shops in the marketplaces 'Jade Spring Tower' and 'Drunken Immortal Tower,' nor the unmined Red Flame Iron Ore Vein.
Moreover, the Chen family has explicitly stated that should the marketplace be rebuilt, the shops previously owned by various families within the marketplace would be returned in their entirety, along with rent concessions.
The mining of the Red Flame Iron Ore Vein can soon commence as well.
So, in actuality, the current operational financial situation of the Zhou family is quite favorable.
"Alright, now that we are clear about the family's personnel and financial status, let's discuss our internal affairs next."
Zhouyang stood up from his seat, his eyes gazing at the four participating elders and the 'Xuan' generation elders attending as listeners.
"Firstly, regarding the establishment of a family branch at the Baisha River Oasis: The Chen Family Ancestor has already agreed that our Zhou family may occupy a Tier Two Spiritual Vein to establish a family branch and allow us to relocate mortals to reside there."
"In return, our Zhou family needs to station a Foundation Establishment Cultivator permanently at the Baisha River Oasis to heed the Chen family's directives and deploy at least five cultivators with Mid-Stage Qi Cultivation or above to join the patrol team of the Baisha River Oasis drivers."
"Secondly, since our Zhou family now has three Foundation Establishment Cultivators, we can officially commence the mining of the Red Flame Iron Ore Vein. My Foundation Establishment ceremony will also be held in the future at the Haoyang Cave Oasis."
"Lastly, after discussions with my father and great-grandfather, we have decided to implement reforms to our Zhou family's rules and regulations. The reforms will focus on the following points."
See you after half-past three!
