Cultivation Begins From The Desert-Chapter 666 - 650: Returning Home in Glorious Clothes [Request Subscription]
FD, if subscribed by mistake, please check after 3:30)
Zhouyang was not trying to brush off Zhou Xuanbin's request. The Yellow Sand Sect merit points obtained by the clan were indeed earned by all three Foundation Establishment cultivators together. It was only fair and reasonable that their usage required unanimous consent among the three.
If Zhou Xuanbin had not brought up this matter, both Zhouyang and Zhou Minghan had already decided how to spend these merit points.
According to Zhouyang and Zhou Minghan's original plan, the merit points could be divided into two parts: one to hire a Tier Three Array Master from the Yellow Sand Sect to set up a Tier Three Lower Grade Array, the "Seven-Star Spirit Measuring Array," on Jade Spring Peak for detecting spiritual roots.
The other part would be to hire a Purple Mansion Stage cultivator and a Tier Three Array Master to open an earth fire opening in Haoyang Cave, providing earth fire for artifact refining and alchemy for the clan cultivators.
Whether it was the "Seven-Star Spirit Measuring Array" for testing spiritual root talent of dozens of children at once, or the Earth Fire Chamber for artifact refining and alchemy, both were essentials for a prosperous cultivation clan and represented the heritage of a clan.
For Zhouyang, even if they must transfer the Yellow Sand Sect merit points to his cousin Zhou Yuanchen this time, he would still find a way to acquire the "Seven-Star Spirit Measuring Array" and Earth Fire Chamber for the clan afterward.
"Xuanbin's request is indeed somewhat unreasonable. In the past, if he'd dared make such a demand, I would have certainly reprimanded him severely to let him understand the distinction between insiders and outsiders!"
"However, our Zhou Family's situation is different now. Within our clan, we already have three Foundation Establishment cultivators, and if we count Yu'Er, there are four. In such a situation, we indeed cannot just focus on our small territory within Yellow Sand Sect; it's time to cultivate individuals who can voice our concerns within the sect."
"Look at the Liu Family of Chixia Mountain and the Yang Family of Golden Spring Valley. Last time they dared risk offending the Chen Family by including us in discussions with Elder Chen about establishing a clan branch at Baisha River Oasis. Besides noticing the Chen Family's lack of manpower at the time, the other reason was because they had relations within the Yellow Sand Sect who could help them request intervention from Purple Mansion Cultivators at critical moments."
"In my opinion, we can help Yuanchen in this matter, and not just with transferring merit points to him. We can ask Fellow Daoist Ma Jingtao for assistance to help Yuanchen find a Foundation Establishment cultivator from outside the clan to apprentice under. Then, get that cultivator to use redemption priority to help Yuanchen exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill."
"But our efforts must have returns; Yuanchen must swear to follow our clan's orders after successfully establishing his foundation. He has to marry and have children, ensuring his descendants acknowledge their roots and return to the clan!"
In Zhou Minghan's residence, when Zhouyang visited and conveyed Uncle Zhou Xuanbin's request, Zhou Minghan pondered slightly before speaking solemnly about his views and suggestions.
Upon hearing this, Zhouyang immediately nodded and said, "Since Great-grandfather has said so, let's decide on this matter, and Father should have no objections to our decision."
Within the Zhou Family, he and his father Zhou Xuanhao were deeply connected, and generally any decision he made would not be opposed by Zhou Xuanhao, just as he, as a son, would not oppose his father's decisions.
After making the decision, they immediately sent a message to summon Zhou Xuanbin to inform him of the clan's decision.
Upon learning that the clan not only agreed to transfer the Yellow Sand Sect merit points to his son but also was willing to find a mentor to help his son obtain the Foundation Establishment Pill, Zhou Xuanbin was overwhelmed with emotion, dropping to his knees while bowing repeatedly towards the two, expressing gratitude: "Thank you, Clan Leader, thank you, Supreme Elder, your great kindness and virtue, I and Yuanchen will never forget in this lifetime. If Yuanchen successfully establishes his foundation, he will repay the clan with interest!"
"This is unnecessary, Uncle; please get up. Brother Yuanchen is a member of our clan, and it's only right to help him when the clan has the resources. Doing so is making younger generations feel indebted!"
Zhouyang quickly cast a spell to help Zhou Xuanbin up from the ground, reluctant to accept such a grand gesture from an elder to whom he owed gratitude.
At this point, Zhou Minghan also spoke earnestly: "Xiao Jiu is right, although Chen'Er has gone to the Yellow Sand Sect, he is ultimately carrying Zhou Family's blood. As long as he acknowledges being part of Zhou Family, the clan won't neglect its own members. These words, Xuanbin, you can pass to him verbatim!"
"Rest assured, Supreme Elder, I will certainly relay your words to Yuanchen." Zhou Xuanbin nodded vigorously, his expression full of excitement and joy.
He eagerly wished to fly immediately to the Yellow Sand Sect to deliver this great news to his son.
Zhouyang, seemingly aware of his thoughts, suddenly spoke out: "This trip to the Yellow Sand Sect, the journey is long, and it might be unwise for Uncle to travel alone. How about waiting for the Yellow Sand Sect's summoning order, then I'll personally accompany Uncle to visit Yellow Sand Sect and meet Brother Yuanchen."
"This would be ideal. Xiao Jiu accompanying will also facilitate transferring the merit points." Zhou Minghan nodded in agreement with Zhouyang's proposal.
Upon hearing this, Zhou Xuanbin's face lit up with even more smiles, thanking profusely.
By this time, several days had passed since that demon elimination battle. With Zhang Yunpeng's speed, after resting for a day in the Yellow Sand Sect, he brought Elder Cao's orders from the sect to Baisha River Oasis, delivering the contents of the summoning order to each family affiliated with the Yellow Sand Sect.
Upon receiving the summoning order, Zhouyang conferred briefly with Zhou Minghan and decided that the highest cultivation elder Zhou Minghan would lead Zhou Xuan Kun, Zhou Xuan He, Zhou Xuan Jin, and Zhou Xuan Zhao—four Xuan generation cultivators from the Zhou Family—as well as the outsider cultivator Chen Ting stationed at Cyan Ox Mountain, to Baisha River Oasis to stand for the call.
As for Zhouyang, he accompanied Zhou Xuanbin to the Yellow Sand Sect.
With Zhang Yunpeng's return, their Yellow Sand Sect merit points were also finalized, ready for exchange for treasures.
With the absence of the three Foundation Establishment cultivators, the safety of Yuquan Lake Oasis could only be entrusted to the protection by several "Xuan" generation cultivators such as Zhou Xuantai, Zhou Xuanlin, and Zhou Xuanchen.
This guardian power for the clan was indeed extremely weak—any lone Foundation Establishment cultivator could potentially break through the defenses of Jade Spring Peak and capture the Zhou Family's stronghold.
However, the Zhou Family still had Zhou Xuan Yu hidden in the shadows. Should Jade Spring Peak face true danger, she certainly wouldn't stand idly by.
...
The journey from Yuquan Lake Oasis to the Yellow Sand Sect spans over twenty to thirty thousand miles. At Zhouyang's sword flight speed, factoring in carrying another person, it would take about half a month to reach.
In reality, since it was his first trip to the Yellow Sand Sect and he was unfamiliar with the route, he veered off course several times.
Had it not been for Zhou Xuanbin having traveled to the Yellow Sand Sect several times before, correcting his mistakes in time each time, it would have taken more than merely twenty days to arrive.
Upon first arriving at the giant oasis where Yellow Sand Sect was located, Zhouyang, flying high in the sky, was indeed struck by the vastness of the oasis.
In Zhouyang's view, Baisha River Oasis was already fairly large, akin to several provinces of the country he resided in during his previous life!
While Baisha River Oasis is large, like most oases, it's predominantly grasslands and plains, with relatively few mountains, rivers, and generally high temperatures.
Contrastingly, the giant oasis where Yellow Sand Sect resides mirrors a complete continent, with crisscrossing mountains and rivers, dotted lakes and reservoirs.
Looking down from the sky, the man-made rivers and canals, and the Spirit Mountain peaks resemble chessboard lines and pieces—orderly and pleasing to the eye.
Moreover, throughout his flight, he discovered that every few hundred miles, a Foundation Establishment Cultivator flies out from the Spirit Mountain accompanied by dozens of Qi Cultivation Stage cultivators, casting spells to gather water vapor from all directions, causing rain to fall and nourish the land below, keeping most of the oasis at a year-round comfortable temperature.
The common people residing in such places exhibit superior mental outlooks, physical attributes, and even longevity compared to the mortals of the Chen Family and Zhou Family's secular world.
A land of gifted individuals!
At this sight, Zhouyang couldn't help but think of these four words in his mind.
Only after witnessing the spectacle of this giant oasis did he understand why the Yellow Sand Sect remained steadfast over the years, maintaining its position as the predominant sect in the Boundless Desert Sea.
With such a giant oasis supporting them, even if they lost all their external oasis strongholds, it wouldn't harm the core of the Yellow Sand Sect. As long as they safeguard this base, there's always a day for resurgence.
"Clan Leader, though the Yellow Sand Sect doesn't prohibit cultivators from entering this oasis, entering within a thousand miles of its mountain gate requires registration at the surrounding Spirit Mountains."
Fearing Zhouyang might be unaware of these rules, causing unnecessary misunderstandings, Zhou Xuanbin hastily spoke out to remind him shortly after he flew into the oasis.
"Rest assured, Uncle, I am aware of this rule."
Zhouyang smiled and transmitted a sound response. Soon, he descended on a Sword Light outside a Tier Three Spirit Mountain and sent a Sound Transmission Talisman to the stationed Foundation Establishment Cultivator on the mountain, explaining his intention.
After a short while, a Foundation Establishment Cultivator from the Yellow Sand Sect flew over from the Spirit Mountain. Zhouyang went up to communicate with him, and after showing the Token endorsed by Zhang Yunpeng, he received two Temporary Passage Tokens.
Wearing the Temporary Passage Tokens, Zhouyang and Zhou Xuanbin entered the true range of the Yellow Sand Sect's mountain gate. Whenever they encountered a Yellow Sand Sect Cultivator patrolling the mountain gate, the other party could use a Copper Mirror Spiritual Artifact to scan them, which could read the identity information from their passage tokens, and even their appearance information showed clearly on the mirror.
Upon witnessing this scene, Zhouyang felt a sense of wonder in his heart.
This kind of method might not have been significant in his previous life, but in this world, created using the means of cultivators, it was indeed an eye-opener for him.
As an Artifact Refiner, he could certainly tell that this Copper Mirror Spiritual Artifact which could read the information from his passage token was merely a Tier Two High-Grade Spiritual Artifact, and the Temporary Passage Token in his hand was only Tier One Top Grade.
"I wonder if the method of refining such artifacts within the Yellow Sand Sect can be exchanged. If it can be exchanged, I must obtain it to research."
Looking at the Temporary Passage Token at his waist, Zhouyang couldn't help but feel intrigued.
Because he was determined to advance to the Foundation Establishment Stage before the age of sixty, Yuan Chen set aside everything half a year ago and came to the Yellow Sand Sect's main headquarters.
The Yellow Sand Sect had many rules, one of which was that any Ninth-Layer Qi Cultivation Cultivator without a Foundation Establishment Pill could be exempt from all miscellaneous tasks for three years if they planned to reach the Foundation Establishment Stage, and they would also be provided with a dedicated Seclusion Chamber in the main headquarters to assist them.
Currently, Yuan Chen was in the Yellow Sand Sect headquarters, concentrating on studying the Foundation Establishment insights of many predecessors there, hoping to help with his own Foundation Establishment.
Therefore, when he received a Sound Transmission Talisman from his father, Zhou Xuanbin, he immediately hurried to a teahouse outside the main headquarters' mountain gate where he met Zhouyang, who was having tea with another.
Upon seeing this, he quickly stepped forward and made a deep bow to Zhou Xuanbin, saying, "Son greets father."
Then he turned his eyes towards the nearby Zhouyang, a complex light flashing in his eyes, making a deep bow as well, saying, "Yuan Chen greets the Clan Leader."
When he left home for the Yellow Sand Sect, Zhouyang was still a one or two-year-old child. Over the decades, they hadn't met even once. If it weren't for the Sound Transmission Talisman from Zhou Xuanbin stating that he was coming with Zhouyang, he would never recognize Zhouyang's identity.
Seeing the child who once rolled in his parents' arms now standing as a Foundation Establishment Cultivator—an aspiration of aim throughout his life—and further, as the Clan Leader of the Zhou Family, the inner disparity he felt could be well imagined.
But before he completed the bow, an invisible force lifted him up gently. Zhouyang waved his hand with a full-faced smile, standing up from his seat, looking at him and laughingly said, "Brother Yuan Chen is too courteous. Though I am the Clan Leader, I am also your younger brother; how could I accept such a grand gesture from you?"
Zhou Xuanbin, upon hearing Zhouyang's words, also chuckled, "Hehehe, the Clan Leader is right. Both of you are brothers; we are all family. There's no need for such formality among family, indeed no need to be so courteous."
Wise and experienced, he certainly understood the intention behind the family supporting his son's Foundation Establishment, and he wouldn't want to make the atmosphere awkward by undermining Zhouyang at this moment.
Meanwhile, Yuan Chen, unaware of the family's willing transfer of Yellow Sand Sect Merit Points for him due to Zhouyang's special instructions, upon hearing his father's statement and having little connection with the family by then, also took the opportunity to cease the formalities any further, calmly sitting down beside them.
His demeanor was calm, but his heart surely was not.
After all, he was fifty-eight, and having endured the ups and downs within the Yellow Sand Sect for decades, he naturally understood the notion that nothing comes without a reason.
The newly appointed Zhou Family's Clan Leader suddenly coming to see him in the Yellow Sand Sect with his father in a joyful manner on his father's face intensified his anticipation.
Sure enough, just as he sat down, Zhouyang asked, "I heard from Fifth Uncle that Brother Yuan Chen is planning to achieve Foundation Establishment, I wonder how confident you are?"
Upon hearing this, he immediately assumed a solemn expression and unhesitatingly replied, "The success rate of Foundation Establishment for someone with a middle-grade Spiritual Root is generally less than one-tenth. What virtues or abilities does Yuan Chen possess to boldly claim certain success? I only strive to give my all, pouring my utmost effort into it. Success would extend life for a hundred years; failure would mean perishing for the Dao, dying without regret!"
"What a bold spirit of dying without regret!"
Zhouyang exclaimed, with a face full of emotion, he sighed deeply, "Brother Yuan Chen's spirit is truly admirable, if all the Zhou Family's members had such courage and spirit as Brother Yuan Chen, how could we not thrive?"
Hearing his words, Zhou Xuanbin couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth, his eyes filled with a peculiar expression.
Everyone like his son Yuan Chen trying to reach the Foundation Establishment without a Foundation Establishment Pill?
Is he finding the family too populous and not dwindling fast enough?
Is it easy for the family to cultivate a Ninth-Layer Qi Cultivation Cultivator?
According to the situation of the Zhou Family, cultivating a sixty-year-old Ninth-Layer Qi Cultivation Cultivator, just the family offerings given from twenty to sixty years of age totaled over two thousand Spirit Stones, not to mention other costs such as nourishment, education, medical care, accommodation (Spirit Vein Spiritual Qi consumption), etc.
For what reason does the family expend so many resources to cultivate a Ninth-Layer Qi Cultivation Cultivator?
Is it just to have them attempt to achieve Foundation Establishment after reaching the Ninth-Layer Qi Cultivation?
Of course not!
The family spent such immense resources to cultivate a Ninth-Layer Qi Cultivation Cultivator, focusing on his contributions to the family over the next sixty years.
In the first sixty years, the family nearly selflessly nurtured family descendants. The following sixty years are when these family descendants repay the family.
If it weren't for such selfless nurturing, how would former Elder Zhou Quan and Elder Zhou Yun of the "Light" generation willingly pick up Magical Artifacts to fight for the family at over a hundred years old?
Therefore, even a Purple Mansion Clan like the Chen Family wouldn't extensively encourage Ninth-Layer Qi Cultivation Cultivators to reach Foundation Establishment Stage before sixty because it's not worthwhile for them.
The success rate for a middle-grade Spiritual Root Cultivator in reaching the Foundation Establishment Stage is said to be close to ten percent, but the actual situation is that it generally requires an average of twenty to thirty middle-grade Spiritual Root Cultivators to succeed.
And even for a major clan like the Chen Family, it's difficult to find thirty middle-grade Spiritual Root Cultivators in the same generation.
Basically, if they encouraged all family descendants to strive for the Foundation Establishment Stage, it might mean the death of an entire generation of outstanding clansmen for just one person to succeed!
While those who survived could generate value far exceeding one or two Foundation Establishment Pills, at least five to eight pills' worth of value!
Thus, for those cultivation clans capable of obtaining Foundation Establishment Pills, encouraging family cultivators to diligently accumulate wealth for the family, then exchanging wealth for Foundation Establishment Pills from the family is indeed the most normal and best approach.
This rationale was not unknown to Zhouyang. He simply felt that since one had embarked on the path of cultivation in pursuit of longevity, they should courageously strive forward when there is still a way ahead.
Otherwise, if one shrank back in fear of death and willingly renounced the path to longevity, why cultivate in the first place?
Certainly, Zhou Xuanbin knew these principles too; knowing is one thing, being able to achieve it is another.
