Cultivation Begins From The Desert
Chapter 199 - 197: Return to the Clan [Request Subscription]

Chapter 199: Chapter 197: Return to the Clan [Request Subscription]

Cao Wenjin had to pay a great price to gather the one million one hundred and eighteen thousand Spirit Stones; Zhouyang was not entirely sure how much.

But judging from his less than pleasant expression upon returning, the cost must have been substantial.

An auction house is not a charity; although they allow cultivators to temporarily use other treasures as collateral, converting them to Spirit Stones for payment, there are many stipulations for these treasures.

First, they do not accept collateral below Tier Three; secondly, the lower the grade of the collateral, the harsher the devaluation. Tier Three treasures, unless they are special items like Foundation Establishment Pills, are valued at sixty percent of market price, Tier Four at seventy percent, Tier Five at eighty percent.

Zhouyang estimated that Cao Wenjin must have devalued and mortgaged at least one Tier Five Spiritual Artifact and several Tier Five Spiritual Objects to gather such a large sum.

Of course, this wasn’t something Zhouyang could inquire about. Anyway, this had little to do with him, and he couldn’t expect to reclaim his Spirit Stones and Magical Artifacts that Cao Wenjin borrowed right now.

"The item is acquired; to avoid any unforeseen complications if we delay, we shall depart from Immortal Sun City early tomorrow. I’ll give you and your wife a night to pack your things!"

Cao Wenjin met with Zhouyang and Xiao Ying at the "Yunlai Immortal Inn" and directly conveyed his decision.

Zhouyang and Xiao Ying had already made preparations for this, and hearing this, did not say much and immediately went back to their abode to pack.

Early the next morning, Zhouyang and Xiao Ying vacated their abode and rushed back to "Yunlai Immortal Inn" to reunite with Cao Wenjin.

"Qian’Er, since you are unwilling to accompany your father to the Yellow Sand Sect, I will not force you. Just take care of yourself; I shall visit you again in a few decades!"

In the backyard of Yunlai Immortal Inn, Cao Wenjin, with a complex expression, looked at his daughter, Cao Qian, shook his head helplessly, then gestured to summon a white cloud, which carried Zhouyang and his wife into the sky and flew out of Immortal Sun City.

For a Golden Core Stage cultivator, the speed of Soaring Through the Clouds is exceptionally swift. Cao Wenjin took only a few days to fly Zhouyang and his wife back into the territory of Longchuan Country, which they had previously visited.

This time, having a Golden Core Stage cultivator like Cao Wenjin with them and with so much time having passed, Zhouyang pleaded with Cao Wenjin to make a slight detour to the Spiritual Mountain where Xiao Ying’s former master’s family resided. There, they used the "Golden Cicada Concealment Technique" gifted by Dong Jianping to conceal their cultivation to the Qi Cultivation Stage and secretly approached the outside of the Spiritual Mountain.

The "Golden Cicada Concealment Technique" is not particularly difficult to learn. Over seven years, Zhouyang and Xiao Ying set aside time every month to study it briefly and exchange experiences, quickly advancing to the second level of this secret technique.

Now, using this technique to conceal their aura, Xiao Ying, who was at the Second-Layer Foundation Establishment, reduced her aura directly to the First-Layer Qi Cultivation, and then with a Disguise Technique to mask her beauty, no one would pay attention to them.

Thus, they secretly found a scenic valley undetected by the Array on the Spiritual Mountain, quietly buried Xiao Ying’s master’s ashes, kowtowed a few times, and returned furtively.

Having buried her master’s ashes, Xiao Ying felt relieved of her last concern in the Cultivation Realm of Liuyun Continent, becoming more relaxed on the journey.

When Cao Wenjin flew them past Celestial Wind Country, across the buffer zone between the Broken Cloud Mountain Range and the Cultivation Realm of Liuyun Continent, and entered the actual Broken Cloud Mountain Range, Xiao Ying, who was seeing it from atop the clouds for the first time, was captivated by the majestic landscapes below.

"What a beautiful place!"

She stood on the white cloud, watching the swiftly passing scenery below with excitement, her beautiful eyes wide open.

"Don’t be too excited just yet, we have a long journey ahead. After you look at this for ten days or half a month, you’ll find it tiresome!"

Zhouyang smiled and shook his head, speaking in a knowing manner.

At this time, the "Beast Tide" had ended, and those high-tier Demon Beasts that had been laboring outside for nearly ten years had all returned to their lairs to sleep soundly. Thus, Cao Wenjin did not forbid them from conversing in private.

The three of them flew non-stop through the Broken Cloud Mountain Range for nearly twenty days, finally safely traversing the entire range and returning to the Boundless Sea of Sand Cultivation Realm.

Predictably, upon seeing the Boundless Sea of Sand for the first time, Xiao Ying couldn’t help but marvel once more, becoming excited.

This time, Zhouyang did not disillusion the girl, for his own mood was one of overwhelming excitement and joy.

As the proverb goes: no golden palace or silver palace compares to one’s doghouse at home.

No matter how barren and backward the Boundless Sea of Sand Cultivation Realm is, it remains where Zhouyang was born and raised in this world—it is his homeland.

The longing for one’s homeland is something every person possesses, and for Zhouyang, it is especially poignant.

No matter how good the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm is, he is merely a passerby there. The Boundless Sea of Sand Cultivation Realm is his true root.

Even if he becomes successful in the future and settles down elsewhere, this place will still be his hometown. If he has time, he will come back to visit.

After another day passed, Zhou Yang and the other two reached the Yellow Sand Sect.

Upon arriving at the Yellow Sand Sect, Cao Wenjin first took out a "Nether Blood Contract" from the sect and had Xiao Ying sign it, mainly to prevent leaking information about their Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm experiences to cultivators of the Boundless Sea of Sand Cultivation Realm. He then said to Zhou Yang, "I keep my promises. This time, lending you Spirit Stones and Magical Artifacts amounts to eighty-seven thousand Spirit Stones in total. I will give you enough to make it ninety thousand Merit Points. You can then go to the Ministry Hall and ask Junior Guo to exchange them for treasures!"

"I understand, thank you, ancestor, for looking after me on this journey!"

Zhou Yang respectfully bowed to Cao Wenjin, expressing genuine thanks.

Although Cao Wenjin’s forced borrowing had left Zhou Yang feeling displeased, the great gains from the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm journey were rooted in Cao Wenjin’s actions. Thus, Zhou Yang was indeed grateful to him.

Cao Wenjin accepted the bow with a calm demeanor and then waved his hand lightly, saying, "Alright, I’ve been away for over ten years, and there must be many sect matters needing attention. I won’t say much to you now. Whether you wish to stay in the sect or return to your family, it’s up to you!"

Staying was not an option. Having been away from the sect for over ten years, Cao Wenjin needed to deal with sect affairs, and Zhou Yang, the Clan Leader, also wished to understand the family’s situation over the years.

Therefore, after bidding farewell to Cao Wenjin, he sent a message to his clan brother Zhou Yuanchen at the Yellow Sand Sect, instructing him to request leave promptly and return to the family. Then, he released the Eagle Lion Beast from the Spirit Beast Bag, which had not flown for a long time, and with Xiao Ying rode the Eagle Lion Beast toward Yuquan Lake Oasis.

The speed of the Eagle Lion Beast was unsurpassed, and few Demon Beasts in the Boundless Desert Sea could threaten it. Riding on it, Zhou Yang and the other took little more than two days to return to Yuquan Lake Oasis, not even stopping at Baisha River Oasis.

"Ying’Er, look, that is Yuquan Lake Oasis where my family resides. Let me first send a message to my father and the old Clan Leader lest they see the Eagle Lion Beast and mistake it for a Demon Beast invading the oasis!"

From several miles away from Yuquan Lake Oasis, Zhou Yang commanded the Eagle Lion Beast to halt in midair, and with an excited expression, pointed toward the oasis ahead, speaking to the young woman beside him. Meanwhile, he sent a Communication Flying Sword to inform Zhou Minghan at Jade Spring Peak.

After just a short while, two Sword Lights flew from Yuquan Lake Oasis toward them, stopping thousands of meters away, revealing the figures of Zhou Minghan and Zhou Xuanhao.

"Yang’Er, is it really you, Yang’Er?"

On the Flying Sword, Zhou Xuanhao looked with great excitement and disbelief at the young man standing on the back of the formidable Demon Beast opposite him.

When the old Clan Leader Zhou Minghan relayed Zhou Yang’s message, he was both excited and incredulous. Seeing Zhou Yang standing on the back of a Tier Three High-Grade Demon Beast Eagle Lion Beast, he still couldn’t quite believe what he saw was real.

Compared to the uncontrollable excitement of Zhou Xuanhao, Zhou Minghan was more composed. Although his eyes were filled with excitement, his logic remained intact.

He gazed sharply at Zhou Yang and asked loudly, "Xiao Jiu, are you sure you can fully control this Demon Beast? Letting it into the family won’t harm those in the First-Layer Qi Cultivation Stage, will it?"

Due to the "Nether Blood Contract," Zhou Yang couldn’t reveal what happened in the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm, nor could he let Zhou Minghan and others know about the existence of the "Demonic Soul Contract."

Upon hearing Zhou Minghan’s inquiry, he marveled at the old-timer’s wisdom and replied loudly with a smile, "Great-grandfather, rest assured that this creature will be as obedient as the Shatuo Beast!"

Hearing his assurance, Zhou Minghan clicked his tongue in wonder and breathed a sigh of relief, waving his hand, "In that case, let’s not linger here. Let’s return to the family and discuss matters there!"

With these words, he immediately turned his Sword Light, flying back.

Moments later, the Eagle Lion Beast with Zhou Yang landed on Jade Spring Peak.

At this moment, due to the sudden departure of two Foundation Establishment cultivators from the mountain, most of the clan cultivators at Jade Spring Peak came out to observe.

When they saw the massive Eagle Lion Beast landing on the mountain, it terrified many people.

After seeing the Clan Leader Zhou Yang, who had been gone for over ten years, jump off the Demon Beast’s back, they barely returned to their senses, then pointing with shock at the Eagle Lion Beast and Zhou Yang, whispering about the beast’s origin and its relationship with Zhou Yang.

Of course, many also cast their gaze toward the beautiful girl with Zhou Yang, secretly guessing their relationship.

Seeing this, Zhou Minghan was instantly displeased and waved his hand, "Enough, look at you acting like you’ve never seen anything of worth! It’s merely a Tier Three High-Grade Demon Beast. With me here, can it devour you? Return to your dwellings first; once I’ve had a conversation with Xiao Jiu, I’ll convene a family meeting for you to listen in and take part!"

At this moment, Zhou Yang also swiftly patted the Spirit Beast Bag at his waist, storing the Eagle Lion Beast inside. He then smiled and waved at the clan members, before taking Xiao Ying’s delicate hand and following his father Zhou Xuanhao and the old Clan Leader Zhou Xuanhao toward his cave dwelling.