Cultivation Begins From The Desert-Chapter 845 - 828: Signs of Ascension
Zhou Xiaofeng's successful Nascent Soul Formation is an exceedingly exhilarating event for the entire Zhou Family, a matter of great significance.
Zhouyang was quite gratified by this, and after he came out of seclusion, he specially summoned him to converse, bestowing upon him a Tier Six Lower Grade Spiritual Artifact as a gift for his successful Nascent Soul Formation.
"By the way, how is that disciple I asked you to take in back then doing now?"
In the cave dwelling, Zhouyang, after seeing the grateful Zhou Xiaofeng for the gift, suddenly remembered something, and asked about the son of Demoness Huan Qianqian.
At this time, Demoness Huan Qianqian had already passed away many years ago. Her son Zhou Weixian, considering his age, was over three hundred years old. If he hadn't developed his Purple Mansion, he would probably have passed away by now.
However, Zhouyang remembered that the boy had a Top-grade Spiritual Root Talent and had taken Zhou Xiaofeng, an Elder of the Zhou Family, as his mentor, so it was unlikely that he couldn't surpass the Purple Mansion stage.
Sure enough, when Zhou Xiaofeng heard him ask about this matter, he respectfully replied, "Reporting to the Old Ancestor, Xian'Er is now at the Ninth Layer of the Purple Mansion in his cultivation. The junior is preparing to further temper him for some more years before exchanging a Jade Liquid Golden Pill from the Clan Treasure Vault for his Core Formation."
Upon hearing this, Zhouyang slightly nodded, saying, "If this child succeeds in forming his core, the memory I sealed back then will likely be unsealed, and he'll remember things about his birth mother. You need to pay extra attention to this and ensure he doesn't cause any trouble."
After speaking, he informed Zhou Xiaofeng about Demoness Huan Qianqian.
After achieving Nascent Soul Formation, Zhou Xiaofeng was eligible to enter the top circles of the Zhou Family, thus qualified to know about this matter.
Upon learning the true background of his disciple, Zhou Xiaofeng was also shocked, having quite a surprise.
But seeing Zhouyang's calm demeanor, he reassured himself and hastily responded solemnly, "I understand, Old Ancestor. Rest assured, I will keep a close watch on this matter and ensure Xian'Er doesn't do anything wrong!"
Zhouyang, seeing his understanding, waved his hand and said, "Alright, there's nothing particularly important for calling you here this time. I've said everything that needs to be said, so you may take your leave now."
"Yes, the junior takes leave."
Zhou Xiaofeng bowed respectfully once more, then withdrew.
Later, at the Nascent Soul Ceremony held by the Zhou Family for Zhou Xiaofeng, Zhouyang did not attend but sent Qin Yue'er with his grandson Zhou Tonghui and granddaughter Zhou Tongyue to represent him.
Zhou Tonghui and Zhou Tongyue, owing to their noble birth and exceptional talents, were already Late-Stage Purple Mansion Cultivators at less than two hundred years old, and it seemed likely that they would manage to form their core within the next hundred years.
Furthermore, after Zhouyang's return, once it was determined that the siblings would stay in the Zhou Family, Zhou Tonghui was directly made the Young Clan Leader of the Zhou Family. In recent years, aside from mastering cultivation, he has been learning to handle various affairs.
Now, his words in the Zhou Family carry more weight than those of Zhou Chuanxing, the Clan Leader.
Some of the Zhou Family's Golden Core Elders might dare to voice opinions or even bluntly oppose certain decisions and actions of Clan Leader Zhou Chuanxing.
But no one dares to utter a single "no" about any of Zhou Tonghui's actions.
This made Zhou Tonghui, though merely a Purple Mansion Stage Cultivator, exude a disposition stronger than that of Golden Core Stage Cultivators.
Especially during the Nascent Soul Ceremony, because of Zhouyang, many Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators attended the event.
As a Purple Mansion Stage Cultivator representing Zhouyang, he sat among them, showing no sign of nervousness or restraint. His casual demeanor almost made one believe he was a Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator.
Though Zhouyang didn't attend Zhou Xiaofeng's Nascent Soul Ceremony, he still directed his spirit to monitor the event's proceedings.
Seeing Zhou Tonghui's performance, Zhouyang felt both gratified and somewhat dissatisfied.
"This is quite improper, a Purple Mansion Stage Cultivator behaving so casually around Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators, not showing any formal respect. Does he think he can stand toe-to-toe with Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators?"
Zhouyang frowned and decided to give this grandson a lesson in the future.
Even though with him as overseer, Zhou Tonghui, as the future clan leader, wouldn't let any major issue arise in the Zhou Family regardless of his actions.
But that doesn't mean Zhouyang can tolerate his descendants being second-generation immortals who merely rely on their background with arrogance.
He doesn't expect his grandson to be as humble and cautious as he is, but he must not become the kind of person he despises.
When it comes to educating descendants, he never indulges them.
Zhouyang's method for disciplining his grandson was simple: he sealed his cultivation at the Qi Cultivation Stage and sent him to the Westernmost Cultivation Realm for training, with a Zhou Family Golden Core Stage Cultivator secretly following him, prohibiting him from revealing his true identity.
From a Purple Mansion Stage Cultivator to a Qi Cultivation Stage Cultivator, the goal is to earn ten thousand Low-grade Spirit Stones, during which he cannot leverage the Zhou Family's reputation and influence.
Zhouyang's arrangement, though not an insurmountable challenge, is far from easy.
If Zhou Tonghui can achieve this, he will naturally learn reverence.
At this time, Zhou Guangzheng was about to come of age, so Zhouyang brought him to the Great Brightness Immortal Palace again, to pass on the Great Brightness Immortal Scripture, an Immortal Scripture Level Technique.
This time, Qiao Yangming implored, kneeling and begging incessantly, wanting to retain Zhou Guangzheng in the Great Brightness Immortal Palace as a Saint Son.
Though he now understood the truth about the reincarnation of the True Monarch Guangming, it didn't deter him from wanting to use Zhou Guangzheng to restore the prestige of the Immortal Palace.
"Zheng'Er, what do you think? You're about to come of age now; what are your thoughts on this matter?"
In the Bright Hall, Zhouyang looked at Qiao Yangming, who was begging on the ground, and didn't help him up this time but turned his gaze to his son Zhou Guangzheng, who had just received the legacy, to seek his opinion.
Zhou Guangzheng was already at the Foundation Establishment Cultivation, but to switch to cultivating the Great Brightness Immortal Scripture, he deliberately suppressed his cultivation to the First-Layer Foundation Establishment.
During these ten years, he spent most of his time in the Zhou Family's school, with an occasional journey for experience.
Now, although his appearance still seems a bit youthful, his maturity of mind is not inferior to some adults in their twenties.
Hearing his father Zhouyang's inquiry at this moment, he couldn't help but glance at Qiao Yangming, who was eagerly looking at him on the ground, and said indifferently, "It doesn't really matter to me, after all, wherever I cultivate, it's pretty much the same to me."
He possesses a Pure Yang Dao Body, and won't encounter any cultivation bottlenecks before the Tribulation Crossing Stage, which means his demand for cultivation resources is much lower than other cultivators.
Therefore, for him, it truly doesn't make a difference where he cultivates.
However, Zhouyang was somewhat dissatisfied with his response and solemnly said, "I'm asking whether you agree to become the Palace Master of the Great Brightness Immortal Palace in the future. Regardless of whether you agree or not, before you form your Nascent Soul, you certainly cannot cultivate here at the Great Brightness Immortal Palace."
The Great Brightness Immortal Palace is not the sole ruler in the Westernmost Cultivation Realm; there exists the Anti-Light Alliance, which has opposed them for thousands of years!
If people from the Anti-Light Alliance were to learn that a 'Saint Son' had emerged from the Great Brightness Immortal Palace, I'm afraid even if Zhouyang openly acknowledged Zhou Guangzheng's identity, it would still be difficult to prevent people from the Anti-Light Alliance from desperately attempting to assassinate Zhou Guangzheng.
So, even if Zhou Guangzheng agreed to join the Great Brightness Immortal Palace, Zhouyang would not let him cultivate in the Westernmost Cultivation Realm until he reached the Nascent Soul Stage, could inherit and control the three Inheritance Immortal Artifacts of the Great Brightness Immortal Palace, and had enough strength for self-preservation.
However, Zhou Guangzheng hadn't thought that far ahead. After listening to Zhouyang's words, he hesitated slightly before nodding, "Then I'll agree. After all, since it's already decided that Tonghui will be the next clan leader of the Zhou Family, as an uncle, I shouldn't compete with my nephew for power and position!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Qiao Yangming was overjoyed and repeatedly exclaimed, "Young Fellow Daoist Zhou, though young, is indeed righteous and admirable. It is truly a blessing for both me and all the disciples of the Immortal Palace to have your joining!"
Such flattering words made Zhouyang somewhat unable to directly face it.
He did not look at Qiao Yangming's flattering expression but instead looked at Zhou Guangzheng seriously and said, "Zheng'Er, you must consider carefully. Although the position of the Palace Master of the Great Brightness Immortal Palace holds immense power, it also has great implications, potentially affecting your future ascension to the Upper Realm!"
Zhou Guangzheng, upon hearing this, chuckled self-deprecatingly, "Who can see the future clearly? As you said, father, even though I possess extraordinary talent, it doesn't necessarily mean I will become an immortal!"
After saying this, he shook his head again, "Moreover, regarding ascension to the Upper Realm, even if I ever reach that point, if I don't mention coming from the Great Brightness Immortal Palace, who would genuinely know?"
"So be it, if you've truly made up your mind, then I will support your decision. Let's settle it like this!"
Zhouyang sighed and nodded slightly in agreement with the matter.
Upon hearing this, Qiao Yangming was overjoyed and repeatedly bowed in gratitude, "Thank you, Immortal Venerable, for your grace. The benevolence of the Immortal Venerable shall not be forgotten by the younger generation and the Immortal Palace for eternity!"
"Fellow Daoist Qiao, please rise. Although the matter is settled, as I mentioned before, until Zheng'Er reaches the Nascent Soul Stage, no other Immortal Palace cultivator besides you can know about this. Otherwise, not only will this matter be void, but I will also severely punish the violator!"
Zhouyang waved his hand, looking sternly at Qiao Yangming, issuing a warning.
"Rest assured, Immortal Venerable, I understand the gravity of the situation and will keep it confidential without divulging a word!"
Qiao Yangming nodded earnestly and promised sincerely.
After reaching a consensus, Zhouyang instructed Qiao Yangming to retrieve some cultivation insights from the previous Great Brightness Immortal Palace Masters, including True Monarch Guangming himself, regarding the Great Brightness Immortal Scripture, as well as several magical artifacts suitable for light attribute technique cultivators to refine, all of which were handed to Zhou Guangzheng, and then he left the Great Brightness Immortal Palace with his son.
Upon returning to the Zhou Family, Zhou Guangzheng was placed under the care of his mother, Qin Yue'Er, while Zhouyang continued to seclude himself, studying the Profound Sun Treasure Manual in search of ways to complete it.
Two years later, Golden Roc and Bi'Er, who had ventured out to find artifact refining materials for him, gradually returned, bringing with them some of the most top-notch artifact refining materials currently available in the Cultivation Realm.
With these materials in hand, Zhouyang immediately halted his study of the technique and entered the Artifact Refining Chamber to start refining the defense treasure requested by Master Withered Wood.
After about a year of refining, Zhouyang successfully created a top-notch Tier Six High-Grade Defense Spiritual Artifact.
Once the artifact was completed, Zhouyang wasted no time and immediately had Golden Roc deliver it to Kurong Valley in the Celestial South Cultivation Realm, for Master Withered Wood to refine.
Meanwhile, he himself independently went to the Profound Sun Immortal Sect to work with his eldest son Zhou Guangcheng to deduce the Profound Sun Treasure Manual, striving to complete this incomplete immortal scripture technique promptly, to avoid delaying Zhou Guangcheng's future attempt to reach the Tribulation Crossing Stage.
Zhou Guangcheng, as a practitioner of the Profound Sun Treasure Manual, though not yet at the end of the original technique, naturally had unique insights into its understanding, a condition that Zhouyang, relying solely on deduction, did not possess.
Now, with the father and son working together to deduce and study the subsequent techniques, the progress is indeed much faster than when Zhouyang was working alone.
Moreover, this deduction also helped Zhou Guangcheng gain a deeper understanding of the technique, slightly loosening the bottleneck that had been preventing him from advancing to the Late-Stage Nascent Soul.
Recognizing this benefit, he became even more attentive to the task, hoping to seize the opportunity to thoroughly breakthrough this bottleneck.
As time flows like water, thirty-two years passed in a blink of an eye.
On this day, while Zhouyang was as usual deducing the Profound Sun Treasure Manual, the Void Celestial Pearl left to him by Master Withered Wood suddenly activated on its own.
"Recently, Fellow Daoist Du has sent word that in half a year, it will be our time to ascend. Before that, I hope Fellow Daoist Zhou can come for a chat."
Halfway across the air, Master Withered Wood's Primordial Spirit Avatar coalesced into form, directly stating the reason.
Upon hearing this, Zhouyang's expression tightened, nodding immediately as he replied, "I understand, Fellow Daoist Kumu. Please wait a moment, as soon as possible, I will head to your abode."
After agreeing to this, Zhouyang thought it over and ultimately decided to bring his son Zhou Guangcheng along to Kurong Valley.
He anticipated that this time, his Dao Companion Xiao Ying would likely try the effect of the Life and Death Qi of Withering and Flourishing, and it would be good for Zhou Guangcheng, as their son, to be present.
The father and son traveled swiftly, and under the lead of Zhouyang, a Tribulation Crossing True Immortal, they used less than three months to reach Kurong Valley.
Upon arriving, Zhouyang discovered that Master Ku Rong had informed not only him but also another human True Immortal, Feng Wuji, who had arrived before him.
"Fellow Daoist Feng was invited by me to act as a witness. Also, my two grandnieces have already become Dao Companions with Fellow Daoist Feng's two disciples. Henceforth, the human race will rely on both Fellow Daoists Zhou and Feng to look after!"
Master Ku Rong slightly smiled at Zhouyang, speaking with a calm tone as he explained the reason.
