Cultivation Begins From The Desert-Chapter 802 - 785: Spirit Vein Advancement, Descendant of an Old Friend

Nascent Soul Stage cultivators, with a lifespan of three thousand years, move mountains and fill seas with ease.

This is not an exaggeration, but a fact.

At this very moment, under the watchful eyes of many Zhou Family cultivators, Zhouyang was indeed moving mountains.

With great magical power and divine techniques, he transported several spirit mountains from the Rhino Horn Continent, placing them all on and around the original Lingxi Peak, artificially creating a peak over two thousand feet high and several peaks over a thousand feet high.

Once the foundations of these peaks were established, he buried an Earth Attribute Top-grade Spirit Stone and a Water Attribute Top-grade Spirit Stone into the original Lingxi Peak, setting up a large Spirit Vein Promotion Array to aid in elevating the spirit vein of Lingxi Peak to Tier Six.

The reason for burying Earth Attribute and Water Attribute Top-grade Spirit Stones was due to Lingxi Peak's spiritual attribute naturally leaning towards metal and earth.

Moreover, because there was a cold spring within Lingxi Peak, and the underground water veins were connected during a previous terrain change, the water attribute spiritual qi flourished immediately.

If everything goes smoothly, once the new spirit vein of Lingxi Peak advances, it will certainly become a vibrant Spiritual Mountain Blessed Land.

Those high-tier cultivators from the Anti-Light Alliance, seeing that the Boundless Sea of Sand Cultivation Realm doesn't even have a single Tier Six spirit mountain, mistakenly thought the Zhou Family was a parvenu without foundations, which is completely wrong.

Zhouyang previously did not elevate Lingxi Peak to a Tier Six spirit vein, first to avoid drawing too much attention, secondly because he and his spouse would not often reside there, making it a waste, and thirdly because the vitality of the Desert Sea had not yet revived. Forcibly advancing Lingxi Peak to a Tier Six spirit mountain might have caused other spirit veins on the Rhino Horn Continent to wither.

Now that the revival of vitality in the Boundless Desert Sea has been ongoing for decades, with spiritual energy flourishing everywhere and the overall concentration of spiritual qi rising, it is an opportune time to elevate the spirit vein.

To elevate the spirit vein of Lingxi Peak to Tier Six now not only has a high success rate but also saves a lot of spirit stones, making it a double benefit.

Moreover, the Zhou Family now has several Nascent Soul Stage cultivators, ensuring there is always someone at Lingxi Peak to oversee and maintain dominance over the Boundless Sea of Sand Cultivation Realm.

"The Spirit Vein Promotion Array at Lingxi Peak has been set up by me, the ancestor. It will only take some years for the advancement to be completed; during this period, let the clan's cultivators live and cultivate in other spirit mountains to reduce the depletion of spiritual qi here."

"Soon, I will head to Pingsha Mountain to set up arrays and elevate the spirit vein there to Tier Six, so our Zhou Family will have two Tier Six spirit mountains, and these two places will become the true foundational lands of our Zhou Family."

Outside Lingxi Peak, Zhou Family Patriarch Zhou Liangyu gazed at the spiritual mountain shrouded in spiritual mist, his eyes full of anticipation and joy.

The Zhou Family having no Tier Six spirit mountain of its own had always been a regret for many Zhou Family cultivators.

In the thoughts of many Zhou Family cultivators, the reason that Zhouyang, the family ancestor, was not residing in the family was because there was no Tier Six spirit mountain for him to use as a cultivation Dao Field.

Now, this regret has finally been remedied.

Upon hearing Zhouyang's words, he nodded vigorously and said, "Rest assured, ancestor. I will personally oversee this matter and ensure no accidents occur during the spirit vein's advancement!"

"That's best."

Zhouyang nodded slightly, then set off flying towards the giant oasis where the Yellow Sand Sect was originally located.

Back when Li Hong was still alive, he hosted the relocation of the Yellow Sand Sect.

Under semi-coercion and semi-inducement, the giant oasis and mountain gate, which had been the inheritance of the Yellow Sand Sect for thousands of years, were handed over to the Zhou Family.

As compensation to the Yellow Sand Sect, Li Hong, accompanied by Zhouyang, delivered three "Jade Liquid Golden Pills" and ten portions of "Purple Heart Jade Marrow" granted by Zhouyang, and helped them raise the spirit vein of their newly relocated mountain gate to Tier Five, exempting them from all future tributes.

Nowadays, even though the Yellow Sand Sect has two Golden Core Stage cultivators, they can no longer cause much of a stir in the Boundless Sea of Sand Cultivation Realm.

The two Golden Core Stage cultivators even spend years traveling and adventuring in the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm, unwilling to return to the Boundless Sea of Sand Cultivation Realm where they are restrained everywhere.

Zhouyang did not feel any embarrassment about the Yellow Sand Sect, once the hegemon of the Boundless Sea of Sand Cultivation Realm, falling to its current state.

The cultivation realm is inherently like this. In the past, the Yellow Sand Sect did things much more excessive than the Zhou Family to dominate the Boundless Sea of Sand Cultivation Realm.

If Zhouyang had been more ruthless, the Yellow Sand Sect would have become ancient history in the Boundless Sea of Sand Cultivation Realm when he reached the Nascent Soul Stage.

Now Pingsha Mountain, where the Yellow Sand Sect's original mountain gate was located, is presided over by Zhou Family's first female Golden Core Stage cultivator, Zhou Liangjie.

Seeing the family ancestor Zhouyang arrive, she hastily flew out from her cave dwelling to pay her respects.

"I didn't know the ancestor was coming, please forgive me for not welcoming you from afar."

With an anxious expression, she bowed, nervously fiddling with her hands while standing on the cloud, not daring to look at Zhouyang's face.

Few in the Zhou Family are not in awe of Zhouyang, the long-absent family ancestor, and few can face him alone without nervousness.

Although Zhou Liangjie is the first female Golden Core Stage cultivator from the Zhou Family, she is no exception.

"There's no need for apologies when you haven't even been notified. No need to be nervous, I don't bite."

Zhouyang glanced at the nervous young woman before him, smiled slightly, and even made a rare joke.

With this, Zhou Liangjie's heart relaxed, and her face revealed an embarrassed smile.

Fortunately, Zhouyang only stopped there, swiftly waving his hand and getting back to business: "Alright, no more joking. I am here this time to elevate Pingsha Mountain's spirit vein to Tier Six. Now, have all the cultivators on the mountain come out and listen to my directives to assist."

"Yes, I will do it right away."

Zhou Liangjie's face flashed with joy, and she promptly went to make preparations.

If only based on foundation, Pingsha Mountain's is undoubtedly much better than Lingxi Peak's. With the revival of vitality in the Boundless Desert Sea, Pingsha Mountain was among the few spirit mountains not significantly affected, including its giant oasis, which showed minimal changes.

Zhouyang understood the reason for this change was that as the core area of the Boundless Sea of Sand Cultivation Realm for thousands of years, its environment was originally the best in the entire desert sea.

As the Power of World Origin nurtures and transforms the entire desert sea, relatively little energy is devoted to this area, consequently leading to fewer changes in its terrain.

And as Pingsha Mountain's spirit vein grade is inherently Tier Five Top Grade, elevating it to Tier Six carries almost no risk of failure.

Zhouyang buried a Fire Attribute Top-grade Spirit Stone into the mountain and similarly set up a Spirit Vein Promotion Array, no further effort was needed.

He did not rush to leave but called Zhou Liangjie, who was originally stationed here, aside for a private conversation.

"I remember Li Hong mentioned, Liangjie, that your ancestor is from the lineage left by Yuan Yao, my younger sister?"

Zhouyang looked at the plump, charming younger woman before him, finding it difficult to associate her with the pure and beautiful foster sister back then.

However, upon closer inspection, he noticed that although Zhou Liangjie's aura and demeanor did not resemble Yuan Yao, his foster sister, there was a subtle reflection of his foster mother Zhou Xuan Yu, bringing a growing sense of kinship.

Faced with his gaze and inquiry, Zhou Liangjie inclined her head slightly, responding softly, "If according to the family tree, indeed, I am the ninth-generation descendant of Ancestor Yuan Yao."

"Heh, then it seems Zhou truly is your line's ancestor!"

Zhouyang chuckled, his teasing tone making Zhou Liangjie much more at ease.

Unsure whether Zhouyang's words were a casual joke or an actual recognition, she dared not respond directly.

Seeing this, Zhouyang shook his head slightly, letting out a deep sigh: "If Sister Yuan Yao knew that her descendants produced the Zhou Family's first female Golden Core cultivator, she would surely be gratified even in the afterlife!"

When he spoke like this, he was not thinking of Zhou Yuanyao, but rather his foster mother, Zhou Xuan Yu.

Back then, it was the deep obsession with becoming the first Foundation Establishment female cultivator of the Zhou family that led his foster mother astray into the Demon Dao, resulting in her regretting that half of her life was plagued by the haunting mistake of falling into the Demon Dao.

If she knew that her descendants had produced the first Golden Core female cultivator of the Zhou family, the most gratified person would probably be his foster mother, Zhou Xuan Yu.

However, Zhouyang's lamentations had no sense of connection for Zhou Liangjie.

She was not even six hundred years old; it was as if Zhou Yuanyao had been deceased for more than six hundred years before she was born, with countless generations separating them.

Even in cultivation clans that value bloodline and familial bonds, no one would have any feelings towards an ancestor who passed away so long ago.

Zhouyang quickly realized this, feeling quite dull, he waved his hand and said, "Never mind! It's just me getting a bit too attached to appearances!"

As he said this, Zhou Liangjie panicked, fearing she somehow angered him, her mouth opened wide in a hurry to defend herself: "Old ancestor, please forgive me, junior..."

Her words were interrupted as soon as they were spoken by Zhouyang: "Don't overthink it, I am not blaming you for anything."

Watching the panic-stricken junior, Zhouyang said calmly, "I see you are practicing a Wood Attribute Technique too, just like your grandmother. If you have any questions about your cultivation in the future, feel free to consult her often."

Without waiting for Zhou Liangjie to reply with a thank you, he raised his hand and took out a bottle of Spirit Pills, placing it before her, "Moreover, this is a bottle of [Jade Marrow Pills]. It has a great effect on refining cultivation for late-stage Golden Core cultivators, which you should find useful in the future."

"Junior thanks the old ancestor for giving the pills, thanks to the old ancestor for the great favor."

Zhou Liangjie held the bottle of Spirit Pills with a face full of joy as she bent over to express her gratitude.

It was only after she finished her thanks and raised her head that Zhouyang's figure was already gone.

She was unaware that it was precisely this conversation today that allowed Zhouyang to fully realize that there was genuinely no familial bond to speak of between him and the current juniors of the Zhou family.

In the future, the matters that could bring him together for discussions and exchanges with the junior cultivators of the Zhou family would likely only be various business matters for the strengthening and prospering of the Zhou family.

The continuation of familial bonds, besides bloodline, more importantly, depends on communication, long-term and repeated communication.

And now, aside from bloodline, Zhouyang and all the junior cultivators of the Zhou family evidently have no personal emotional communication.

He couldn't possibly spend time on this aspect.

To someone with such a long lifespan, it was likely that he might go into seclusion for two to three hundred years, and most of the familiar young faces would vanish.

So what is the significance of spending time to communicate and maintain familial bonds with these juniors?

It would merely cause additional sadness for himself!

This principle is something he knew beforehand and had always acted accordingly.

This time, motivated by a sudden impulse and a coincidental conversation, led him to a deeper understanding and stronger conviction.

Returning to the Rhino Horn Continent Oasis, Zhouyang's expression remained unchanged, and no one knew that an internal transformation had occurred within his heart.

While awaiting follow-up responses from the Great Brightness Immortal Palace and the Anti-Light Alliance, he traveled with his Dao Companion Xiao Ying and others through the Desert Sea, observing changes and appreciating the beautiful landscapes within the Desert Sea that had never appeared before.

At this time, although the expanses of yellow sands remained the main tone of the Desert Sea, if one were to look down from above, they would see.

On this golden-yellow surface, specks of green have already blossomed in all directions, spreading out.

Given time, the golden-yellow surface will undoubtedly change to a greenish hue.

Seeing this scene from above, Zhouyang couldn't help but express appreciatively, "Given this situation, it won't be long; at most another three to four hundred years, the grassland should be able to be on par with the sandy area, and by then forests ought to appear!"

Grasslands, forests, mountains, rivers, lakes—these landforms common in other cultivation realms, prior to this for many ordinary people in the Boundless Desert Sea, not to mention cultivators, were only imaginings in their minds.

Zhouyang still remembers his initial excitement when he stepped out of the Desert Sea for the first time, gazing down from above the Broken Cloud Mountain Range at the majestic mountains and endless forests below. (Just like how a native of Hunan might feel incredibly refreshed and excited upon visiting the Northern Great Plain for the first time!)

Thinking now that, with his influence and drive, the Boundless Desert Sea will also manifest these marvelous landscapes, he couldn't help but feel an immense sense of achievement.

In terms of cultivation, quite a few in the "Spirit Realm" surpass him, Zhouyang.

But to be someone who single-handedly directs such earth-shattering deeds, no one in the "Spirit Realm" can compare to him.

This act of altering heaven and earth by harnessing the power of the world's origin might be the only instance since the inception of the "Spirit Realm."

Therefore, Zhouyang could boldly claim to be the first since the creation of heaven and earth.

"All of this is your contribution, husband. All beings and creatures within the Boundless Desert Sea Cultivation Realm should be grateful to you. If not for you accomplishing such a transforming deed, how could they enjoy the convenience and beauty that exist today!"

With eyes full of admiration, Xiao Ying gazed at her beloved, feeling immensely proud of Zhouyang's feat.

Lu Xuewei also expressed a face of agreement, exclaiming, "The Master's words are extremely accurate. Without our Master's grand feat, cultivators and mortals of the Boundless Desert Sea Cultivation Realm would live facing only yellow sand all their lives. How could they witness the beauty of grasslands, and how would they have the chance to appreciate the deep and vast forests!"

Hearing the words of his Dao Companion and disciple, Zhouyang felt extremely pleased and satisfied, for once not modestly, he smiled at their praises.

The group traveled back and forth exploring the Desert Sea for nearly a month until Cyan Flood Dragon Qing Luo returned from delivering messages to the Broken Cloud Mountain Range, and only then did they return to the Rhino Horn Continent Oasis to hear the report.

"Master, my insight, subordinate was unable to meet the actual self of the [Heaven-Reaching Demon King], but your letter was conveyed by the [Strong Ape King] to the [Heaven-Reaching Demon King], who then had subordinate bring back a reply."

In human form, Qing Luo reported on the experience of this journey while handing over a jade scroll with the reply to Zhouyang.

Zhouyang took the jade scroll, invested Divine Sense to take a look.

After a while, he calmly crushed and destroyed the jade scroll, speaking in a serene tone to Qing Luo, waving slightly: "Alright, this matter doesn't require your services, your next task is to delve into various underground Dark Rivers within the Desert Sea, and provide me with a detailed hydrological map of the Desert Sea's underground Dark Rivers."

Qing Luo had developed a strong tolerance for Zhouyang's peculiar tasks, but his attitude of treating her like a tool made her feel quite resentful.

Nonetheless, she was a Tier Six Demon King possessing her dignity.

Even if compelled to work as a servant, she shouldn't be treated this way.

With an unpleasant look, she glimpsed at Zhouyang, spontaneously deciding that this time, she should not complete the task too quickly, delaying as much as possible, otherwise, she would be subjected to Zhouyang's commands indefinitely.

Just as this idea formed in her mind, she heard Zhouyang further explaining: "By the way, it'd be best if you complete this within twenty years, or you'll keep working on it until retirement!"

Qing Luo didn't understand what retirement meant.

But Zhouyang's words made it clear that her idea of loafing around didn't stand a chance.

"Subordinate understands, I will endeavor to complete the task assigned by Master!"

With a low tone, she responded, her expression extremely unsightly, she withdrew.

Soon after Qing Luo's return, the third visit from the king-named cultivator of the Great Brightness Immortal Palace to the Boundless Sea of Sand Cultivation Realm occurred.