Cultivation Begins From The Desert-Chapter 672 - 656: Generous Spoils of War, Dragon Taming Strikes! [Subscription Request]
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The hosting of the exchange event benefits everyone, so naturally, there will be no objections.
However, although the proposal to host the exchange event was first raised by Yang Xingyan, the family to actually host the event ultimately could only be the Chen Family.
As the only Purple Mansion clan in the Baisha River Oasis Cultivation Realm, and also the wealthiest family, if the Chen Family doesn't participate in the exchange event, its value will greatly diminish.
Zhouyang is particularly hoping the Chen Family will host, because according to the rules of hosting such events, the organizer must bring out some truly valuable items to set the tone and attract interest.
In previous instances of hosting exchange events, the Chen Family, without exception, always chose to use Tier Three Spirit Pills capable of enhancing one's cultivation as the highlight, and with the Chen Family Ancestor being a Tier Four Alchemist, their clan's Foundation Establishment cultivators are probably the least short of these Spirit Pills.
Originally one of Zhouyang's reasons for befriending Chen Pingzhi and Chen Ping'an was also to exchange for some Tier Three Spirit Pills to enhance his cultivation; now if he can obtain them through the exchange event, it's far better than having to beg for them.
The details of the exchange event were soon settled, only waiting to return to the Baisha River Oasis before asking the Chen Family Ancestor to set a date for hosting it.
About half a day later, the Chen Family Ancestor and Zhang Yunpeng finally returned together to the small oasis.
Zhouyang looked at the somber faces of the two Purple Mansion stage cultivators, and without asking, he already knew the answer.
As expected, upon returning to the small oasis, the two Purple Mansion stage cultivators gathered everyone together.
"I suppose I don't need to say it, as everyone can guess the result. Yes, that Blood Mo Luo demon escaped."
The Chen Family Ancestor scanned everyone with a gloomy expression and stated the result in a low voice.
Then he shifted his tone, his voice rising sternly, "However, that demon was heavily injured by us, and even if he has spirit elixirs and demonic techniques to heal, it will certainly take fifty or sixty years before he can recover to his full strength. In the meantime, you all need to stay vigilant, and the moment any widespread disappearance or death of mortals occurs, report it immediately."
"Additionally, whoever can locate the demon's whereabouts and report it to me, I will not only reward them with a Foundation Establishment Pill but also guide them in cultivation for a month."
Another Foundation Establishment Pill!
Upon hearing the Chen Family Ancestor's words, Zhouyang couldn't help but feel tempted, aside from being impressed by the ancestor's generosity with pills.
In fact, finding the Blood Mo Luo wouldn't be difficult for the Zhou Family.
As long as they take some fresh blood from the little girl Zhou Yuanyao, born from Zhou Xuan Yu and Blood Mo Luo, and use the "Heaven- and Earth-Shaking Reunion Spell", they are sure to find where the Blood Mo Luo is hiding to recuperate.
The Blood Mo Luo originally had the cultivation of the Ninth-Layer of the Purple Mansion, and for arts like the "Ten Thousand Miles Soul-Chasing Technique" and the "Heaven- and Earth-Shaking Reunion Spell" to be effective on him, a Golden Core stage cultivator must personally cast them to ensure success.
The Yellow Sand Sect has Golden Core stage cultivators, but the problem is, if they find out about Zhou Xuan Yu's involvement with the demon and that Zhou Yuanyao is the demon's offspring, will they spare this mother and daughter, and the Zhou Family?
Thinking of this, Zhouyang's eager heart rapidly cooled down.
This must not be done!
He almost immediately gave up on the idea.
The Foundation Establishment Pill is good, but it's not worth exchanging Zhou Xuan Yu's life, nor the lives of the entire Zhou Clan, for a single pill.
Golden Core stage cultivators have lifespans of a thousand years; each one that has formed a Golden Core is an ancient monster with centuries of life, emerging from mountains of corpses and seas of blood.
Zhouyang wouldn't dare gamble the lives of his entire clan on the benevolence of these individuals. If he lost such a gamble, the extermination of the whole clan would be the outcome.
Although the Chen Family Ancestor's Dharma Eye is piercing, without the divine power of mind reading, how could he know Zhouyang's thoughts? His offer was just a matter of chance, with little expectation of success.
So, after speaking, he didn't bother to look at the crowd, whose imaginations had been stirred by his words, but instead nodded slightly to Zhang Yunpeng, signaling he was finished.
Seeing this, Zhang Yunpeng slightly stimulated his magical power, immediately drawing everyone's attention to him.
"In this battle against the demonic cultivators, you all performed admirably. The promises I made earlier will be upheld. Once I have assessed your contributions, I will report to the sect for approval of your merit points based on your performance in this battle."
"But before that, I urge you all to bring forth any demonic techniques, demonic spiritual artifacts, demonic elixirs, and any other items related to the demonic path obtained from this battle for me to destroy!"
"Let me be clear, anyone found hoarding the aforementioned demonic items will be treated as a demonic cultivator. I hope you all consider the consequences carefully and don't cause your own downfall!"
He spoke these words, his sharp gaze sweeping over all the Foundation Establishment Cultivators present, casting an invisible aura of deathly solemnity over the crowd.
Zhouyang and the others all lowered their heads, none dared to meet the eyes of such a Sixth-Layer Purple Mansion Cultivator, nor did anyone doubt Zhang Yunpeng's resolve.
When it comes to dealing with demonic cultivators, all the major influences of the Immortal Dao have the same stance: eradicate them completely, better to kill by mistake than to let them go!
"It is everyone's duty to exterminate demons and protect the Dao. Even if Elder Zhang doesn't say it, we juniors would do the same. Here are the demon artifacts and demonic secret techniques I seized in this battle, please inspect them, Elder."
While Zhouyang and others were still bowing their heads, pondering over Zhang Yunpeng's words, Chen Ping'an was the first to step forward, directly throwing out the Tier Four Demon Spiritual Artifact "Blood Flame Demon Gourd" and some jade scrolls and pill bottles he had seized, and even opened his storage bag for Zhang Yunpeng to examine with his Divine Sense.
Seeing this, Zhouyang and the others, even knowing that Chen Ping'an's actions were a bit of a show, could only helplessly follow suit.
At this time, he couldn't help but feel grateful for the foresight of the old clan leader Zhou Minghan, who had instructed them to hand over any incriminating items to Zhou Xuan Yu after recognizing each other, so now their storage bags only contained a few deliberately left demonic items to deceive the uninformed.
Soon, all the demon artifacts seized by everyone had been piled up on the ground.
Only then did Zhang Yunpeng nod slightly to the Chen Family Ancestor, who personally took action, summoning a blue-red spiritual fire to burn all these items publicly.
Once all the demon items were completely incinerated, Zhang Yunpeng nodded with satisfaction, then waved his hand and said, "Alright, this matter ends here. Now, Elder Chen will take everyone back, while I return to the sect to report. I shall take my leave first."
Having said this, he immediately threw out a flying sword, which swiftly transformed into a green sword light and disappeared from the sky.
"Let's go, we'll return as well."
After Zhang Yunpeng left, the Chen Family Ancestor glanced over the crowd, then with a wave of his hand, released the enormous Void Traveling Tower Ship, carrying Zhouyang and others back to the Baisha River Oasis.
Upon returning to the Baisha River Oasis, the remaining Foundation Establishment Cultivators of the Yellow Sand Sect left first.
However, the cultivator surnamed Ma, Ma Jingtao, thanked Zhouyang before leaving for the advice he had given earlier and left his contact details with Zhouyang, indicating that Zhouyang could find him whenever he visited the Yellow Sand Sect, essentially indicating a willingness to owe him a favor.
This was naturally a good thing for Zhouyang. Although the Zhou Family hailed from the Yellow Sand Sect, ever since the passing of the ancestor Zhou Yuquan, there were hardly any cultivators above the Foundation Establishment Stage within the sect who could speak on behalf of the Zhou Family.
As an Eighth-Layer Foundation Establishment Cultivator, Ma Jingtao's status among the numerous Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the Yellow Sand Sect was not insignificant, and establishing good relations with him would certainly be beneficial.
After sending off people from the Yellow Sand Sect, the Chen Family Ancestor gathered all the families for a meeting.
"Surely you are all aware, with this invasion of demonic cultivators, the Yellow Sand Sect will definitely issue a summoning order."
"Currently, I am not sure what type of summoning order it will be, but based on past circumstances, you Foundation Establishment Cultivators will certainly be among those summoned. Whether Qi Cultivation Stage cultivators will be summoned is hard to say, so you must be prepared for mobilization when you return."
"Moreover, I have approved the advance exchange meeting in three months. When the time comes, just bring your items to the marketplace."
"Additionally, although the Blood Mo Luo escaped, no one knows if there are other demonic cultivators hiding near the Baisha River Oasis. When you return to your clans, you would do well to conduct checks on the mortals and low-tier cultivators within your clan. Demonic cultivators of the Blood Demon Dao use human blood and life either as materials for their techniques, secret arts, or for refining demonic artifacts and pills, so be very cautious of this!"
"Lastly, I will share some methods to identify Blood Demon Dao cultivators. For those who know, it will be a refresher, and for those who don't, listen carefully."
Though it was called a meeting, it was actually the Chen Family Ancestor speaking while Zhouyang and the other Foundation Establishment Cultivators listened.
Regarding knowledge of Blood Demon Dao cultivators, apart from Zhou Xuan Yu, the only true demonic cultivator in the Baisha River Cultivation Realm, none were more knowledgeable than the Chen Family Ancestor, who had once traveled through the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm.
Considering the bigger picture, he held nothing back and imparted all he knew about identifying characteristics of Blood Demon Dao cultivators to Zhouyang and the others.
After the Chen Family Ancestor finished imparting the knowledge and left, Zhouyang and the other Foundation Establishment Cultivators left in groups, preparing to head back home.
"Fellow Daoists of the Zhou family, please wait."
As the three of the Zhou family stepped out of the gate, ready to leave White Camel Peak, they suddenly heard someone calling them.
Turning back, Zhouyang saw that the person who had called them was none other than Chen Ping'an of the Chen family.
"May you three fellow Daoists come with me, I have something to discuss with you."
As he spoke, Chen Ping'an led the way toward his cave dwelling on White Camel Peak.
Chen Ping'an's cave dwelling was situated near the top of White Camel Peak, and above it was the cave dwelling of the Chen Family Ancestor.
This cave dwelling was divided into two layers, with the interior being a place for Chen Ping'an's solitary cultivation, while the exterior, built into the hillside, contained palatial buildings over an area of several dozen acres, serving as accommodations for his descendants and a place for entertaining guests.
The three members of the Zhou Family followed Chen Ping'an into the entrance of his abode on the surface, and suddenly their gazes froze, noticing the presence of several of Chen Ping'an's juniors standing in front of a grand hall.
"Seventh Sister, why are you here? Since you haven't perished, why haven't you returned to the clan?"
Zhouyang looked at the woman with her head bowed, afraid to meet the eyes of the three of them, and his voice carried a trace of anger.
It turned out that among those standing in front of the grand hall were two people he was quite familiar with. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦
One of them was Chen Fangping, the son of Chen Ping'an, who had swindled him out of a hundred spirit stones with just one meal when he first arrived at the Baisha River Oasis. The other was the Zhou Family female cultivator Zhou Yuanxia, who had disappeared during the sand bandits' attack on the Baisha River Oasis.
And now, these two familiar faces were standing hand in hand, with Zhou Yuanxia even holding the hand of a four- or five-year-old boy.
Seeing this situation, how could Zhouyang not understand the relationship between the two at this point?
So Zhou Yuanxia wasn't missing or presumed dead; rather, she had managed to climb the social ladder by becoming Chen Ping'an's daughter-in-law, which explained her reluctance to return to the Zhou Family.
At this moment, hearing Zhouyang's angry questioning, Zhou Yuanxia's delicate body trembled, lacking the courage to respond, and she just tightly held onto Chen Fangping's hand beside her.
Seeing this, Chen Fangping couldn't help but gently pat his Dao companion's palm to offer comfort. Then he took two steps forward with a smile and cupped his hands towards Zhouyang, saying, "Elder Zhou, please calm your anger. It was entirely my idea to let Yuanxia stay with the Chen Family. If you want to hit or punish someone, I'll take full responsibility."
"What exactly does Elder Chen mean by this?" Zhouyang ignored Chen Fangping and instead looked directly at Chen Ping'an, whose expression remained indifferent. Zhouyang understood that Chen Ping'an had already planned everything when he summoned the three of them here.
Seeing Zhouyang directly ignore his words, Chen Fangping's smile froze, and the emotions in his heart were indescribably complex.
This truly was like the saying, "Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river."
Back then, Zhouyang was still a junior clan member in front of him, someone who wouldn't dare retaliate regardless of how much he was teased.
And now, in just a few short years, that junior cultivator who first left his home had grown to the point where he could ignore him, reaching the same Foundation Establishment stage as his father, who he relied on.
These kinds of feelings are something that only someone who has experienced it firsthand can truly comprehend.
"As for Xiar and this young man being together, it was something I didn't know about at first," said Chen Ping'an, his face remaining indifferent. "By the time I learned of it, their child was already three years old. Even if I could break them up, I couldn't possibly abandon my grandchild, could I?"
Chen Ping'an shot a glance at his son, explaining the situation and expressing his stance.
Then, with a stern gaze, he looked at the three members of the Zhou Family and said, "We're all clan cultivators here, so there's no need for false pleasantries. Let's get straight to the point regarding my decision."
"Your Zhou Family hasn't been established for long, and you've never produced a Tier Three Array Master. I'm afraid you lack the ability to set up the [Bloodline Divine Ban]; that's the basis for us reaching an agreement on this matter."
"So I can offer you two choices: first, I'll give your Zhou Family a Tier Three Pill Formula as compensation, or second, I can owe your Zhou Family a favor. In the future, when you invoke this favor, I will do one thing within my capability for you."
The three members of the Zhou Family looked at each other, not expecting Chen Ping'an to say such things.
Their expressions were not pleasant.
It's not that the conditions offered by Chen Ping'an were bad; on the contrary, whether it was a Tier Three Pill Formula or a favor from a Ninth-Layer Foundation Establishment cultivator from a major clan like him, both were invaluable.
Zhou Yuanxia, with her lower-grade spiritual root talent and as a Junior Qi Cultivation Stage cultivator of the fifth level, could not have exchanged any of these offers on her own, making it a significant gain for the Zhou Family.
However, it wasn't so simple to calculate.
No matter how poor Zhou Yuanxia's talent was or how low her cultivation was, she was still a cultivator of the Zhou Family.
She had committed an act of de facto betrayal by marrying and having children with an outsider without notifying her family. As the Clan Leader and Supreme Elder, if the three of them were to tolerate such betrayal, how could they lead the clan in the future?
Moreover, if outsiders learned that the Zhou Family had married their female cultivator into the Chen Family, how would they perceive it?
Those who understood the circumstances might empathize with their plight, but those who didn't could suspect that the Zhou Family was selling their daughters for status, seeking favor with the Chen Family.
In short, this situation was very tricky. As the current Clan Leader of the Zhou Family, Zhouyang was genuinely unsure how to handle this issue.
Fortunately, at that moment, the experienced Zhou Minghan once again used his wisdom to help Zhouyang solve the problem.
Suddenly, Zhou Minghan's eyes widened as he glared at Zhou Yuanxia, questioning sternly, "Yuanxia, what is your choice? If you are willing to return to the clan with me, even if it means becoming enemies with Brother Chen today, I will take you back!"
Hearing Zhou Minghan say this, Chen Ping'an squinted his eyes without speaking.
Chen Fangping, on the other hand, looked at the three from the Zhou Family in shock, with an unbelievable look in his eyes, completely not expecting that the three from the Zhou Family actually dared not to give face to his father.
As for Zhou Yuanxia, the person involved, she also looked up at Zhou Minghan in shock, her eyes full of panic.
Chen Fangping had assured her that as long as Chen Ping'an was here, Zhou Minghan and the others would definitely not dare to forcibly take her away, which was why she dared to show her face.
What she didn't expect even more was that Chen Ping'an, whom she and Chen Fangping relied on as a backing, after squinting his eyes, not only did he not feel displeased with Zhou Minghan's impolite words, but instead looked at her with a kind expression and said, "It's okay, Xia'Er, you can rest assured and answer Brother Minghan. If you really want to return to the Zhou Family, as your father, I won't stop you."
"I, I don't want to be separated from Xin'Er." Zhou Yuanxia tightly held her son's little hand, saying her choice with a trembling voice.
And as soon as she finished speaking, Zhou Minghan angrily said, "Fine, since you say so, don't blame this old man for being rude."
Then he glared and said loudly to Zhouyang, "Zhou Family cultivator Zhou Yuanxia eloped with someone, betrayed the clan. I, in the capacity of the Zhou Family's First Supreme Elder, request the patriarch to expel her from the clan registry, never to be restored!"
"I, Zhou Family's Second Supreme Elder Zhou Xuanhao, second that." At this moment, Zhou Xuanhao also came to his senses, and followed up by seconding Zhou Minghan's proposal.
Seeing this, Zhouyang gave the pale-faced Zhou Yuanxia a deep look and nodded lightly, "Since the two Supreme Elders have made this proposal, and after investigation it is confirmed to be true, I, in the capacity of the Zhou Family Patriarch, agree with this proposal and will execute it immediately."
After speaking, in front of several people from the Chen Family, he directly took out a duplicate of the clan registry from his storage bag and wiped away the three characters "Zhou Yuanxia" on the spot.
Seeing this scene, Chen Ping'an couldn't help but nod lightly and said, "From now on, there is only Chen Xia'Er of the Chen Family; there is no longer Zhou Yuanxia!"
"Brother Chen, farewell!"
"Take care!"
Leaving the Chen Family, the three from the Zhou Family temporarily returned to "Jade Spring Tower" in the Ping'an Marketplace to stay.
"Father, why did you previously transmit a message asking me not to choose the pill formula? Although Chen Ping'an's favor is valuable, the Tier Three Pill Formula is related to your breakthrough to a Tier Three Alchemist, which should be more important for our Zhou Family now, right?"
Once settled in "Jade Spring Tower," Zhouyang immediately expressed his doubts and confusion to his father, Zhou Xuanhao.
In the Zhou Family's Hundred Skills of Cultivation, only the artifact refining path has a complete inheritance above Tier Three. Other skills, such as arrays, talisman making, alchemy, spirit planting, and beast taming, only have Tier Two inheritance.
The Tier Three Array "Earth and Metal Spear Array" in the "Haoyang Cave" does not count as a complete inheritance, because Elder Zhou Qian, who refined the array, passed away after creating it, without leaving any related inheritance, only leaving behind a remnant array map that even a Tier Two High-grade Array Master finds hard to understand.
So, in Zhouyang's view, if his father Zhou Xuanhao could rely on the Tier Three Pill Formula given by Chen Ping'an to break through to a Tier Three Alchemist, it would definitely be a great thing ten times more important for the Zhou Family than his breakthrough to a Tier Three Refiner.
"Yang'Er, you are still young, so it's normal not to understand these things. Even if you don't ask about this matter, as your father, I would also explain it to you!"
Zhou Xuanhao sighed gently, then with a bitter smile, explained the reason.
"Do you think, as an alchemist, I wouldn't want a Tier Three Pill Formula? But you don't realize that near the Baisha River Cultivation Realm, the spirit herbs and elixirs capable of refining common Tier Three Spirit Pills are almost entirely monopolized by the Chen Family and the Yellow Sand Sect, and only those spirit herbs and elixirs they don't use flow out for others to obtain."
"So the pill formula that Chen Ping'an is willing to give is either the kind of useless formula for which materials are hard to find and can't be collected, or a formula for pills with obscure uses that are useless."
"Our Zhou Family does indeed lack a Tier Three Alchemist, but we're not so desperate as to grab at straws and be tricked by him!"
Zhouyang said nothing now.
He is an Artifact Refiner, not an Alchemist, and really has no say in matters related to alchemy.
Since his father Zhou Xuanhao has said this, there must be no mistake.
At this time, Zhou Minghan, who had been silent, also nodded and said, "Xuanhao is right. The Tier Three Pill Formula matter can be planned slowly in the future. But Chen Ping'an's favor, in the current situation of an invasion by demonic cultivators, might be of great use any day."
Then he smiled slightly and said, "The matter of Yuanxia, which on the surface seems like an embarrassment for our Zhou Family, actually shows something important. As both Xuanhao and Xiao Jiu successfully established their foundations, with the demonic cultivators' invasion, our Zhou Family has shifted from being dispensable minor followers to becoming important allies worthy of their attention and alliance in the eyes of the Chen Family."
"Otherwise, with the Chen Family's influence, they could easily hide Yuanxia from us without letting us find out. Why bother exposing her and giving us benefits as a pretext?"
Hearing this, Zhouyang couldn't help but nod in agreement and said, "Great-grandfather is right. The Chen Family is indeed anxious now. In the battle on Golden Dawn Mountain, they lost three Foundation Establishment cultivators, and in the recent battle with the demonic cultivators, they lost another Foundation Establishment cultivator. Last time, they used three Foundation Establishment Pills, but only succeeded in one Foundation Establishment. Combined with their previous loss of Chen Pingzhi, now only counting Foundation Establishment cultivators, the Chen Family only has barely eight people."
"That's why, with their shortage of Foundation Establishment cultivators, the Chen Family will inevitably rely more on the Foundation Establishment cultivators of allied clans like ours in the future. Some Tier Three treasures they previously didn't open up to us or tightly controlled, this time they will likely be more liberal with to win over people. This is absolutely a great thing for our Zhou Family!"
