Cultivation Begins From The Desert-Chapter 861 - 6: Mist Immortal Valley
(Anti-theft chapter, the main text will be updated at 6:30 AM) Land of the Far West, within the Boundless Desert Sea.
The Boundless Desert Sea, just like its name, is a sea of sand, vast and boundless.
The environment of the Desert Sea is harsh, with very few places suitable for human habitation; only a few desert oases can support human life.
Jade Spring Lake is one of the few desert oases within the Boundless Desert Sea that is habitable.
The oasis stretches over a hundred miles from east to west, and is over seventy miles wide from north to south. The east is high and the west is low, with a mountain named Jade Spring Peak in the east. The mountain stands several hundred meters high, covered with trees and shrouded in mist. At its base lies the source of life for the entire oasis—Jade Spring Lake.
Jade Spring Lake spans dozens of square kilometers, fed by an underground dark river. Its waters are abundant, crystal clear, and sweet, suitable for direct consumption.
The clear waters of the lake sustain over ten thousand humans and countless birds and beasts on the over a thousand square kilometers of land of the Jade Spring Lake oasis. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶
The Yuquan Zhou Clan is the master of the Jade Spring Lake oasis.
The first person to discover the Jade Spring Lake oasis was the ancestor of the Yuquan Zhou Clan, Zhou Yuquan. The over ten thousand humans now living on this oasis are all relatives of the Zhou Clan.
The Yuquan Zhou Clan is a cultivation family. Its ancestor, Zhou Yuquan, was taught by the "Yellow Sand Sect," a cultivation sect. Over two hundred years ago, he resigned from the sect and established the Yuquan Zhou Clan at the Jade Spring Lake oasis. It has now lasted seven generations.
To this day, the ancestor Zhou Yuquan has long passed away, but after more than two hundred years of development, the Yuquan Zhou Clan has become a powerful cultivation family with one Foundation Establishment Cultivator, dozens of Qi Cultivation Cultivators, and over a hundred thousand mortal followers.
Ordinary Zhou Clan members mainly live in three small towns on the Jade Spring Lake oasis, either farming or herding cattle and sheep, leading a self-sustaining, carefree life.
The cultivators of the Zhou Clan, however, all reside on Jade Spring Peak, where the spiritual energy is abundant.
Jade Spring Peak itself contains a Tier Two Top-Grade Natural Spiritual Vein, which, after more than two hundred years of cultivation by the Zhou Clan, has now advanced to Tier Three Middle Grade, enough to support several Foundation Establishment Cultivators and over a hundred Qi Cultivation Cultivators.
Zhouyang is a sixth-generation "Yuan" character generation cultivator of the Yuquan Zhou Clan.
Jade Radiance, Profound Origin Communication, Blessed and Flourishing, Evergreen—these sixteen character generation names were personally devised by Zhou Yuquan, the founder of the Yuquan Zhou Clan.
Only those Zhou Clan members who are detected to have spiritual roots and possess the qualifications for cultivation are listed in the clan register, and their spiritual tablets are enshrined in the ancestral hall after their death to receive offerings from their descendants.
Among the "Yuan" generation of the Yuquan Zhou Clan, there are fifteen members. Zhouyang is ranked ninth, but in terms of cultivation, he is the top among these fifteen members.
At this moment, this famed "Little Genius" within the Zhou Race is sitting cross-legged with eyes closed in a natural cavern halfway up Jade Spring Peak, forming a spell with his hands, fully focusing on operating his cultivation technique to absorb and refine the milky-white earthly spiritual Qi rising in the cave.
Earthly spiritual Qi is an essence formed by the convergence of spiritual veins and earthly veins, which has a miraculous effect on Low-Tier Cultivators attempting to break through their limits.
However, earthly spiritual Qi is difficult to nurture, and can only be found in special places where spiritual veins and earthly veins converge. The entire Jade Spring Peak has such a convergence point, namely the "Jade Sun Cave" where Zhouyang is currently located.
The earthly spiritual Qi nurtured within Jade Sun Cave can support a Qi Cultivation Cultivator in breaking through, but it is effective only for cultivators below the seventh layer of Qi Cultivation.
Therefore, among the dozens of Qi Cultivation Clan members, only a select few particularly outstanding individuals can use earthly spiritual Qi to break through during their Qi Cultivation stage.
The fact that Zhouyang can use Jade Sun Cave to break through is certainly related to his status as the first among the "Yuan" generation; otherwise, even if his father is the Sixth Elder of the Yuquan Zhou Clan, the "Jade Sun Cave," which opens once every ten years, would not have been available for a seventeen-year-old boy like him to use.
It should be known that among the dozens of Qi Cultivation clan members, there are quite a few who have been waiting for this opportunity for ten or twenty years!
At this moment, Zhouyang is sitting cross-legged, forming a spell with his hands and breathing evenly. With each inhale, two misty spiritual serpents formed of milky-white earthly spiritual Qi enter through his nostrils, refined into magical power.
When the quantity of milky-white earthly spiritual Qi in the cave decreased to less than thirty percent, Zhouyang suddenly opened his tightly shut eyes, his shoulder-length hair fluttering without wind. His aura nearly doubled compared to before.
He stood up with joy on his face and murmured to himself, "I finally broke through to the Sixth-Layer Qi Cultivation. The earthly spiritual Qi indeed lives up to its reputation; it has saved me at least three years' time!"
Seventeen years old, Sixth-Layer Qi Cultivation—at such an age, such a level of cultivation, he could only be matched by a few elite disciples with top-grade spiritual roots, even in a cultivation sect like the Yellow Sand Sect.
Yet Zhouyang's spiritual root talent is, in fact, only of medium quality.
"The Clan Leader says I might have some kind of special Treasure Body, which is why my cultivation speed surpasses those of the same talent. However, testing the Treasure Body is difficult, and only those large sects like the Yellow Sand Sect can detect it through secret techniques."
"Even though our Zhou Clan is an affiliate of the Yellow Sand Sect, asking the sect to help test for a Treasure Body is impossible, unless I am willing to join the Yellow Sand Sect!"
"But once I join the Yellow Sand Sect, I would be bound by its rules, suddenly having countless sect elders ordering me around. How could I be as comfortable as I am now within the clan?"
"Hmph, as the saying goes, 'better be the head of a dog than the tail of a phoenix.' The Yellow Sand Sect is a vast sect with no shortage of geniuses with top-grade spiritual roots in each generation. Even if I possessed a Treasure Body, joining the Yellow Sand Sect would make me just another elite disciple, and the benefits I'd enjoy might not surpass what I have in the Zhou Clan. At least here, all those elders are hoping I succeed in Foundation Establishment to bring honor to the sect and genuinely care for me."
"Moreover, as long as I successfully reach Foundation Establishment, the Treasure Body will naturally awaken, and I will know what kind of Treasure Body I possess."
Zhouyang is no ordinary person; he is a reincarnator whose soul came from Earth, possessing memories from a previous life that spanned two or three decades longer than the average person.
Although most of these past life memories are unusable in this Immortal World due to the vastly different environment, some principles, experiences, and ways of conducting oneself are universally applicable across all realms.
Others only see the prestige of the Yellow Sand Sect, with a Golden Core Ancestor inside and dozens of desert oases like Jade Spring Lake outside offering tribute. Cultivation techniques and treasures are plentiful, and many seek to join its ranks.
Yet they don't know that while the sect's benefits and treatment are excellent, its rules are just as stringent. Once you enter the sect, you lose autonomy. Ordinary Qi Cultivation disciples are required to complete mandatory tasks annually. Failure to do so results in benefits being stopped at best, or having cultivation abolished and being expelled at worst!
Factionalism is rampant in the sect. Lower-level disciples try their utmost to showcase themselves to the high-ranking members or gain certain spiritual land usage rights, leading to intense competition.
The ancestor of the Zhou Clan was once a Foundation Establishment Cultivator of the Yellow Sand Sect. Information about the sect is recorded in clan texts, so unless a Zhou Clan member has insufficient spiritual root talent and wants to take a risk, they generally prefer not to become sect disciples.
In his past life, Zhouyang was weary of the office conflicts. Having gained the opportunity to escape such conflicts in this life, he wouldn't let himself be dragged back in.
That's why he made up his mind long ago: even if he never attains the Great Way or eternal life in this lifetime, he would never subject himself to a life of constant scheming.
Innate, Qi Cultivation, Foundation Establishment, Purple Mansion, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Crossing the Tribulation, Returning to Void, Harmonization Dao—these are the nine great realms of cultivation. To truly achieve immortality, one must become a Harmonious Celestial Immortal fused with the Great Way.
However, as far as Zhouyang knows, since the advent of cultivators in this world, no one has ever truly achieved immortality. The division of the nine great cultivation realms is merely legend from supposed Celestial Immortals, unverified.
Thus, for ninety-nine percent of cultivators, achieving the Golden Core stage and obtaining a thousand-year lifespan is their highest pursuit.
So it's no wonder Zhouyang is unwilling to join in on those scheming affairs for the faint chance of immortality.
Cultivation is also about cultivating the mind. Since his heart is not inclined towards scheming, naturally Zhouyang would choose to follow his heart's desire.
Having just broken through a realm, his mind is excited and overflowing with thoughts. It takes Zhouyang a while to calm them down, looking at the remaining milky-white earthly spiritual Qi in the cave.
"Though the earthly spiritual Qi within Jade Sun Cave can be absorbed freely when it opens, now that I've successfully broken through, absorbing more would merely stabilize my realm without much benefit."
"In that case, it would be better to leave the remaining earthly spiritual Qi for others, accelerating the next opening of Jade Sun Cave by a few years, benefiting other clan members."
To drain the pond for fishing isn't wise. The production of earthly spiritual Qi isn't easy, and using it solely to elevate magical cultivation is too wasteful. Since Zhouyang is determined to develop within the clan, he certainly won't commit such self-serving deeds harming public interests.
With a decision made, he immediately opened the cave door and exited, explaining the situation to the clan elder guarding outside.
"Jade Sun Cave" is a crucial place for the Zhou Clan, constantly guarded by elder clan members. Currently, guarding outside is Zhou Xuanhe, a cultivator of the "Xuan" generation, and also Zhouyang's fourteenth uncle.
Upon seeing Zhouyang successfully break through and emerge, and hearing him recount the situation inside, Zhou Xuanhe, dressed in a blue robe embroidered with white crane cloud patterns, immediately nodded repeatedly and smiled with satisfaction, saying, "Not bad, not bad. Yang'Er, you truly are the most promising member of the Yuan generation in our Zhou Clan. At such a young age, you have this sense of the bigger picture. The old clan leader and big brother, if they knew of this, would certainly be very gratified!"
The old clan leader he referred to is Zhou Minghan, the Zhou Clan's only Foundation Establishment cultivator and the last remaining member of the "Ming" generation. The big brother refers to Zhouyang's father, Zhou Xuanhao, the sixth elder among the Zhou Clan's eight ninth-layer Qi Cultivation elders and the head of the "Xuan" generation.
In the Zhou Clan, cultivators of the same generation refer to each other as brothers, while those of different generations use terms like uncles and nephews.
Facing praise from Zhou Xuanhe, his fourteenth uncle, Zhouyang modestly expressed that it was his duty as a member of the Zhou race, without a hint of pride due to his identity and cultivation.
This attitude made Zhou Xuanhe regard this young junior even more highly.
It's quite rare for someone of his age to possess sixth-layer Qi Cultivation, and even rarer to be able to stay humble and prudent, keeping the big picture in mind. Perhaps the future hope of the Zhou Clan lies with this child.
Thinking of this, he suddenly remembered something and quickly said, "Now that you've successfully broken through, hurry to the cave mansion at the mountaintop to pay respects to the old clan leader. Earlier, he instructed that if you succeeded in breaking through, you should go to meet him."
"I can't believe this! I'll not disturb fourteenth uncle then and thank him for his guardianship."
Zhouyang was moved, immediately thanked Zhou Xuanhe, and quickly headed towards the old clan leader's cave mansion at the peak of Jade Spring Peak.
Jade Spring Peak, hundreds of meters high, has increasingly dense spiritual energy as one ascends. Generally, Qi cultivation stage Zhou clan members practice at the mountainside, where comfortable palaces and pavilions have been established for living, with mundane clan members taking care of daily needs.
Only Foundation Establishment cultivators reside in the cave mansions at the mountaintop of Jade Spring Peak, utilizing the dense spiritual energy for cultivation.
The entire Jade Spring Peak is covered by a tier three middle-grade array, the "Array of Ten Thousand Trees Holding Up the Heavens." This array absorbs the spiritual energy of plants within to enhance its power, allowing Jade Spring Peak, from base to summit, to be densely planted with towering trees, including some thousand-year-old ancient trees.
The crowns of these towering trees connect to form a canopy, blocking sunlight and making the mountain temperature several degrees lower than outside. Cool mountain winds pass through the forest, offering refreshing coolness for those passing through.
In flowing white robes, Zhouyang activated the Light Body Technique and quickly ascended along the stone step paths through the forest, soon reaching the summit.
The summit of Jade Spring Peak, after human modification, is flat and less than a few acres in size. Due to the dense spiritual energy, aside from three areas with cultivators' cave mansions, other spots are developed into spirit medicine fields with various graded spirit medicines.
Upon arrival, Zhouyang was greeted by a mixed aroma of various spirit medicines, invigorating his spirits and accelerating his magical power circulation.
If one could cultivate here year-round, the cultivation speed would certainly be much faster than at the mountainside.
However, this is simply impossible.
The spirit medicine garden is a pivotal area for the Zhou Clan, with many spirit medicines being precious varieties cultivated over a century or two. Losing any would make the old clan leader Zhou Minghan grieve for decades.
Thus, outside the two tier two spirit plant cultivators of the clan, even Zhouyang, a cherished genius disciple of the clan, is strictly forbidden from stepping onto the summit without a summon from the clan leader.
Moreover, not everyone can venture onto the summit. It's the core area of the "Array of Ten Thousand Trees Holding Up the Heavens," guarded by powerful array force. Without permission from the guardian controlling the array, even Foundation Establishment cultivators have no choice but to forcefully break through the array.
"Junior Zhouyang, commanded to pay respects to the old clan leader, implores the elder to permit entry."
He stood respectfully outside the summit array, politely saluting the area shrouded in white array mist ahead.
"So it's Xiao Jiu. The clan leader has long instructed to let you enter. Go ahead."
An elderly voice came from within the mist, followed by a surge in the white mist ahead, revealing a safe passage for one person.
Upon seeing this, Zhouyang promptly bowed with gratitude. "Nephew thanks Grandpa Qi."
Then, following the small path, he delved deeper, eventually arriving beside an elderly white-haired man seated under a towering tree tens of meters tall.
The white-haired elder seated under the tree was named Zhou Yun, with a cultivation at the Ninth-Layer Qi Cultivation, serving as the Fourth Elder of the Zhou Family, ranked seventh among the "Guang" generation, and one of only two Tier Two Spirit Plant Cultivators in the Zhou Family.
The youngest "Guang" generation cultivators in the Zhou Family were already over eighty years old, and this Fourth Elder Zhou Yun was nearing a hundred years, very close to the lifespan limit of one hundred and twenty years for Qi Cultivation Stage cultivators.
Generally, the ability to battle in cultivators does not diminish much with age, but in most major cultivation clans, elderly Qi Cultivation Stage cultivators nearing a hundred, like Zhou Yun, would retreat to the ancestral grounds of the clan to spend their twilight years in peace, and no one would disturb these benefactors unless a calamity threatened the clan.
Especially since Zhou Yun was a Tier Two Spirit Plant Cultivator, it was fitting for him to retire on this mountaintop to tend to the spirit medicine in these dozens of acres of medicinal gardens.
Upon seeing Zhoyang approach, the elder shook his broad sleeve, and a tea table, a tea set, and a meditation mat appeared out of thin air before him. Pointing to the empty mat, he cheerfully said, "The Clan Leader is in seclusion, Xiao Jiu, sit with this old man for a while, have some tea, and chat."
It was rare for younger family members to visit the mountaintop; the Clan Leader, who ranked even higher, was often in closed-door cultivation. The elder, left alone on the mountain with no one to speak to, found it quite tedious.
Now, seeing Zhoyang, the most outstanding youth of the younger generation of the family, visit, he was very pleased indeed.
Young people might not always understand the minds of elders, but Zhoyang, having experienced two lifetimes, understood well enough and was willing to converse more with these elders, hearing them tell of curious and interesting occurrences of the cultivation world, all without being obstructed from his main tasks.
"It's not easy to enjoy a cup of Grandpa Qi's homemade herbal tea on an ordinary day, so as your nephew, I must drink to my heart's content today."
He smiled, walked to the mat, sat down, and took the initiative to brew tea with the tea set.
For a cultivator, brewing tea was naturally different from mortals; the flame used was transformed from magical power, which could bring the water to a boil in just a moment without any smoky smell.
Once the tea was ready, Zhoyang poured the tea for the two of them, eagerly lifting his fragrant steaming cup to drink it all in one go.
While ordinary people might scald their throats drinking such hot tea in this manner, for a cultivator, whose body had been toughened by magical power, this temperature was no more than warm water to ordinary folks and posed no issue whatsoever.
The elder saw Zhoyang gulping tea like this and instead of displeasure, he was delighted as he smiled and asked, "Well? Does this new herbal tea satisfy you?"
Not waiting for Zhoyang's response, he himself gently took a sip from his cup, eyes closed in savoring enjoyment, proudly stating, "This is a new blend I made using second-tier spirit elixir Immortal Cloud Grass's withered leaves, twenty-year-old White Jade Ginseng roots, and first-tier spirit elixir Fragrant Leaf Chrysanthemum among five spirit elixirs. Only three taels in total were prepared, and even the water used for brewing was spirit dew collected from spirit elixirs in the medicinal garden this morning."
"Indeed, it's wonderful tea. Grandpa Qi's herbal tea matches the flavor and effect of any spirit tea I've ever tasted. If we could produce it en masse, it'd provide another source of income for our Zhou Family!"
Zhoyang set down his cup, silently sensing the change in magical power within his body, inhaling the herbal fragrance that lingered on his lips, his face full of praise.
Hearing his appreciation, the elder's face showed a moment of joy, then he shook his head, looking quite vexed and helpless, saying, "I had thought the same, but alas, the Immortal Cloud Grass is a primary ingredient for Tier Two Spirit Elixir Immortal Cloud Pill. We can't simply waste this spirit elixir for tea. Even the naturally withered leaves are barely enough for my own consumption!"
"Um..."
Zhoyang ducked his head in embarrassment, wisely choosing not to continue the conversation.
The family's only Tier Two Alchemist was his father, Zhou Xuanhao; once the Immortal Cloud Grass matured, it had to be reserved for his father's alchemy. If he dared suggest using the spirit grass for tea-making, his father might swat him to death.
"Haha, you clever little imp, don't worry. I am not someone who neglects the bigger picture. What I said was just a casual remark!"
The elder chuckled, well aware of what Zhoyang was thinking. He first reassured him, then continued sharing interesting experiences from his youth, helping to alleviate the earlier awkwardness.
Their conversation continued for about a quarter of an hour before the door to the Elder Clan Leader's cultivation cave suddenly opened, and the profound, resonant voice of the Elder Clan Leader came forth: "Is that Xiao Jiu? Come in first."
Upon hearing this voice, both paused their conversation. Zhoyang promptly rose, cupped his hands, and said to Zhou Yun, "Grandpa Qi, I'll first go pay my respects to the Elder Clan Leader."
"Go on, go on, don't keep the Elder Clan Leader waiting."
After bidding farewell to Zhou Yun, Zhouyang walked directly through the open cave mansion door and quickly arrived at the cultivation chamber deep within, where he met the contemporary clan leader of the Zhou Clan, Foundation Establishment Cultivator Zhou Minghan.
Although already over 150 years old, Zhou Minghan appeared younger than Zhou Yun from outside, with hair that was not yet completely white and a face as youthful as a baby's.
This was normal. Foundation Establishment Cultivators have lifespans of over 200 years. Unless unforeseen events occur, Zhou Minghan has at least another 40 to 50 years of life, and his high cultivation naturally made him look younger than Zhou Yun.
Upon seeing Zhou Minghan, the Zhou Clan's clan leader was meditating on a Cold Jade Bed. Zhouyang dared not look too much; he entered and deeply bowed, paying his respects: "Grandson pays homage to great-grandfather."
As the sole remaining "Ming" generation cultivator of the Zhou Clan and bearing Foundation Establishment cultivation, Zhou Minghan naturally stood as the great-grandfather to all "Yuan" generation cultivators.
"Xuanhe has already informed me of your performance in [Jade Sun Cave]. Xiao Jiu, you handled the matter excellently. Even I, at your age, didn't have as great an overarching view as you do now!"
Zhou Minghan slightly opened his eyes and looked at Zhouyang with undisguised appreciation, showering him with praise, his joy visible.
Upon hearing this, Zhouyang couldn't help but feel pleased. Being the first "Yuan" generation descendant to receive such praise from the old clan leader, Zhou Minghan, if word spread, would surely elevate his status within the clan elders' eyes.
Though he was pleased, he remained humble, promptly and respectfully responding: "Great-grandfather praises me too much. Grandson simply did what was necessary; such praise is undeserved."
"What a mindset for doing one's duty! If every Zhou child had the insight of Xiao Jiu, how could our Zhou Clan not thrive?"
Zhou Minghan's face was filled with a wide smile, clearly satisfied with Zhouyang's response.
He cheerfully reached out, lifting Zhouyang upright with an invisible force.
"Come, stand straight, so old man can take a good look at our clan's Qilin'Er!"
In his happiness, the old clan leader even exclaimed "Qilin'Er," showcasing his love and high regard for this descendant.
Zhou Minghan had great expectations for Zhouyang.
Since Yuquan Zhou Clan's founder Zhou Yuquan, there had always been a Foundation Establishment Cultivator in the family to keep watch, which allowed the clan to develop to its current size in just over 200 years.
However, at present, despite development, it seemed the Yuquan Zhou Clan's luck had run out. For over a century after Zhou Minghan, no new Foundation Establishment Cultivators were born.
This was dangerous.
The most feared scenario for a cultivation clan is the sudden discontinuation of high-tier cultivators.
Once the clan loses Foundation Establishment protection, it's not just difficult to continue expanding, but even the ancestral grounds, Jade Spring Lake Oasis and Jade Spring Peak, might be hard to defend.
Thus, under Zhou Minghan's secret guidance, the clan's development had been halted lest expansion attract unwanted attention, leading to catastrophe upon his demise.
But this was not a long-term solution. Ideally, the clan should produce a new Foundation Establishment Cultivator to keep watch before his passing.
With one overseeing, even multiple invading Foundation Establishment Cultivators couldn't harm the clan's foundation, with the help of the Tier Three Array [Array of Ten Thousand Trees Holding Up the Heavens] on Jade Spring Peak, alongside dozens of Qi Cultivation clan members.
Zhou Minghan initially placed hope on the "Xuan" generation youths. He was resolved to offer Jade Spring Lake Oasis and most of the clan's yields to Yellow Sand Sect for protection, rather than let the clan face extinction over coveted assets.
But now, Zhou Minghan realized perhaps he should reconsider.
Given Zhouyang's potential among the "Yuan" generation, within two or three decades, his chance of achieving Foundation Establishment might surpass those "Xuan" generation youths.
He attentively observed the standing young man before him, noting that the boy's handsome appearance was not the focus, rather the calm demeanor he displayed knowing he was being scrutinized.
After observation, he had only one thought.
This child can be of great use!
Of course, as an elder, no matter how pleased and elated he was inside, he wouldn't outwardly express it too much to prevent fostering too much arrogance.
Despite being content internally, he maintained a composed exterior, looking at Zhouyang and asking calmly: "Do you know why I summoned you here?"
"Grandson does not know." Zhouyang replied honestly.
"According to clan rules, young clan cultivators must undergo experiences outside the mountain after turning twenty, serving the clan for a period before returning for isolated cultivation."
"However, you are a special case. Though only seventeen, you have attained Sixth-Layer Qi Cultivation. No one in the clan has reached such cultivation by twenty when sent out in this hundred years."
"You have just broken through using the Earth Vein Spiritual Qi, needing at least five years to refine your magical power. Keeping you on the mountain would be a manpower waste."
"Thus, I've decided to handle your case specially, allowing you to descend the mountain early for clan service. This will serve as your training, benefitting your future cultivation greatly."
Zhou Minghan, noticing Zhouyang's attentiveness, slightly curled his lips and solemnly stated his arrangements.
As he expected, Zhouyang's complexion shifted upon hearing, evidently unprepared for such an arrangement.
Not knowing whether to be happy or concerned, he quickly regained composure and respectfully replied: "Grandson understands and is willing to follow the clan's arrangements."
Seeing this, Zhou Minghan curiously asked: "Do you not wish to know where I intend to send you?"
"Grandson trusts the great-grandfather's arrangements will ultimately benefit him."
Zhouyang mentally smiled, confidently responding with a statement that left Zhou Minghan speechless.
After a long while, Zhou Minghan humorously scolded, "Indeed, a little trickster. How could the honest couple Xuanhao produce such a sly child!"
Not waiting for objections, he informed Zhouyang of the arrangements.
"Your spiritual root attributes are inclined towards metal and fire. You cultivate the Golden Sun Fiery Flame Technique, a vigorous and overbearing method. Though lacking combat experience, your magical combat ability is not inferior to any peer."
"The clan's stationed cultivators at Cyan Ping Mountain have completed their term. You will replace them, guarding for five years. Afterward, others will relieve you."
"Additionally, the clan hopes you will take time to learn Artifact Refining, a cultivation skill among the Hundred Skills. Our artifact refining lacks good successors, setting branches post for me. If you achieve some expertise, it benefits the clan greatly."
After speaking, Zhou Minghan tossed a grey storage bag and a small silver shield to Zhouyang.
"Inside are low-tier artifact refining materials, my insights into artifact refining, and a copy of the Artifact Refining Truth from the clan. Guard these well and do not transmit them externally."
"As for this Silver Gang Shield magical artifact, among the tier-two artifacts I've refined, this is the premium one. Consider it my compensation for early descent."
"Alright, if there's nothing else, you may withdraw. Complete this Cyan Ping Mountain assignment within a month."
Zhou Minghan's words and actions left Zhouyang dazed. By the end, instinctively clutching the items, he replied, "Then I'll take my leave."
Leaving the cave and hearing the door close, his body jolted as he realized what had transpired.
He recalled the matters Zhou Minghan had instructed in the cave mansion earlier, mumbling to himself in perplexity, "What happened just now? Why did I seem so lost, without any reaction? That's not like me at all!"
Before his voice had faded, his heart suddenly skipped a beat, and a bold conjecture emerged.
"Could it be that the old clan leader cast some magic on me?"
The next instant, he immediately suppressed this dangerous thought.
Even if the old clan leader did use some magic on him, it would surely just be a joke, no need to overthink it. Overthinking would only harm himself.
Thinking of this, he glanced at the storage bag and magical artifact in his hand, carefully storing them away, then politely asked Grandpa Qi Zhou Yun, who was sipping tea alone under the tree, to help him open the array to send him down the mountain.
Before leaving the array, Zhouyang turned back to look at the mountain top, seeing Grandpa Qi Zhou Yun standing under the tree, smiling as he watched him leave.
"This kid seems to have discovered something. Looks like I can't use such tricks to tease him anymore, to avoid causing misunderstandings."
In the cave mansion on the mountain top, Zhou Minghan saw Zhouyang's expression change after he left through divine sense, tugging at his beard awkwardly with a hint of regret flashing on his face.
Earlier, he had indeed influenced Zhouyang's mind with a soul-capturing technique acquired years ago while speaking.
It wasn't because he feared Zhouyang would resist his arrangements, but purely because he couldn't stand Zhouyang's precocious demeanor and wanted to tease him a bit.
Just like those adults among mortals who, to tease children, deliberately give them a bit of liquor, then laugh heartily seeing the pretend mature child crying with streaming nose.
This kind of teasing brings a sense of success to the elders at the time, but when they realize it causes the younger generation to dislike them psychologically, regret ensues.
Zhou Minghan is in such a situation now.
Fortunately, Zhouyang is genuinely mature, rather than pretending to be, and does not resent the elderly for this small joke.
After stepping down from the mountain top, he quickly returned to his pavilion on the mountainside and closed the door to organize today's gains.
Firstly, the storage bag given by the old clan leader. This storage artifact made from the hide of demon beast Spirit Void Mouse is almost essential for cultivators. Even the poorest loose cultivators try their best to get one.
Of course, storage bags also come in different sizes and grades. Generally, the storage bags used by loose cultivators during the Qi Cultivation Stage have an internal space of only three feet, enough to store a few sets of clothes and miscellaneous items.
Members of cultivation clans like Yuquan Zhou Clan can receive a storage bag measuring five feet upon reaching the Qi Cultivation Stage. Due to having a good father, Zhouyang's daily used storage bag is one yard.
But now, his storage bag has been upgraded.
The gray and dull storage bag given by the old clan leader has an internal space of three yards and is filled with low-tier artifact refining materials like Profound Iron, Red Copper, and Centennial Iron Wood, besides an artifact cauldron and some artifact refining classics.
Zhouyang roughly calculated that if only refining swords and sabers, these materials would suffice for at least a hundred attempts.
"Generally, when learning artifact refining skills, the clan provides materials for free, but at most a hundred attempts. The old clan leader gave me so much material that even a fool could succeed two or three times!"
Looking at the abundance of materials inside the storage bag, Zhouyang felt truly touched.
He knew the old clan leader was always fair and did not make exceptions for him, despite his extraordinary talent.
The reason he could use so many materials for practice was because the old clan leader had exchanged his personal savings for them.
"It seems the old clan leader genuinely wants me to inherit his artifact refining skills. As the only Tier Three Refiner in the clan, he must have seen something in me. Perhaps my talent in artifact refining is outstanding as well."
Zhouyang thought of his cultivation technique, "Golden Sun Fiery Flame Technique," and suddenly had an epiphany, showing a knowing smile.
Then, he carefully stored the storage bag and focused on the other item given by the old clan leader, the Tier Two Spiritual Artifact Silver Gang Shield.
The Tier Two Spiritual Artifact Silver Gang Shield, primarily made from the scales of Tier Two Spiritual Object Dragon Scale Tree, mixed with Tier Two Spiritual Object Silver Gang Stone.
Cultivation consists of nine great realms, dividing artifacts, elixirs, arrays, and talismans into nine levels. Tier Two Spiritual Artifacts correspond to Qi Cultivation Stage cultivators.
Even Tier Two Spiritual Artifacts are classified into upper, middle, and lower grades. Silver Gang Shield, meticulously refined by Zhou Minghan, is of highest upper grade.
This artifact appears palm-sized before refining but can transform into a door-sized giant shield during combat once refined, protecting the cultivator entirely and adjustable as desired.
Because Silver Gang Stone was added during refining, this artifact can easily block attacks from similar tier flying swords or sabers and also effectively mitigate damage from spells by cultivators or demon beasts below Tier Three.
"We have a Tier Two Dragon Scale Tree in our Zhou family, producing a few mature tree scales every ten years, considered self-sufficient. But Silver Gang Stone, as breaking spiritual objects, is rare. Even a fist-sized piece costs at least five hundred low-grade spirit stones. This gift from the old clan leader is truly generous!"
Inside the room, Zhouyang felt the palm-sized silver shield become significantly heavier in his hands.
As a cultivation clan, every Zhou family member receives annual spirit stone tributes upon reaching the Qi Cultivation Stage, continuing until the age of sixty.
According to current clan rules, Zhou family members at First-Layer Qi Cultivation receive 10 low-grade spirit stones annually. At Second-Layer, they receive 20 low-grade spirit stones, and it progresses this way until a change occurs at Ninth-Layer.
Since Ninth-Layer Qi Cultivation is typically the limit for normal Qi Cultivation Stage cultivators, any Zhou family member reaching this stage is elevated to clan elder status, receiving 150 low-grade spirit stones annually, unrestricted by age and continuing until demise.
Zhouyang, previously at Fifth-Layer Qi Cultivation for two years, only received 50 low-grade spirit stones each year. By calculation, even saving all his spirit stones, ten years of tributes would barely exchange for a fist-sized Silver Gang Stone.
In reality, due to starting Qi Cultivation Stage at seven, excluding gifts from parents, his total wealth amounts to just over three hundred low-grade spirit stones.
The fact that the old clan leader Zhou Minghan considered Silver Gang Shield as his reward indicates how generous and significant this gift is!
"Seeing the old clan leader value me so much, I mustn't disappoint him. Whether learning artifact refining skills or guarding Cyan Ping Mountain, I must do excellently!"
With warmth in his heart, Zhouyang gripped the artifact firmly, resolving to perform well and repay the elders' trust.
In the following days, Zhouyang secluded himself, focusing solely on refining the newly received Silver Gang Shield. Once he refined it to operate as desired, he left the room to prepare for descending the mountain.
He first visited the Zhou family's Scripture Cave, studying the cultivation technique "Golden Sun Fiery Flame Technique" for Sixth-Layer Qi Cultivation and selecting five combat-enhancing spells for practice.
The five spells were Tier Two attack spells "Golden Saber Technique," "Fire Snake Technique," Tier Two defense spell "Golden Light Body-Protecting Technique," and Tier Two auxiliary spells "Celestial Eye Technique," "Earth Escape Technique."
Members of the Zhou family can freely access cultivation techniques and spells in the Scripture Cave but cannot take them outside or teach them to outsiders.
Previously, following elders' guidance, Zhouyang prioritized cultivation advancement, only learning simple Tier One auxiliary spells without diversifying into combat spells.
But now, since he would be guarding a region and might encounter magical combat, relying solely on a few artifacts would be too limited, prone to countermeasures.
Spells are easier to learn than master. Zhouyang, with his Sixth-Layer Qi Cultivation, took only half a month to master five spells.
Close to the month period given by the old clan leader, he wrote a letter explaining his situation, entrusting it to elder members for delivery to his parents stationed at a cultivator marketplace several thousand miles away, then bid farewell to familiar elders and cultivators, descending alone.
Once down the mountain, Zhouyang took a desert-traveling camel from mountain foothill clan members, heading directly into the Boundless Desert Sea.
