Cultivation Begins From The Desert
Chapter 200 - 198: Clan Matters [3rd Update, Request for Subscription]

Chapter 200: Chapter 198: Clan Matters [3rd Update, Request for Subscription]

Because of signing the "Nether Blood Contract," Zhouyang couldn’t reveal specific experiences of the journey to the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm to the old Clan Leader Zhou Minghan or his father Zhou Xuanhao.

So the first thing he did upon entering the cave dwelling was to introduce Xiao Ying to the two elders.

"Great-grandfather, father, this is Xiao Ying. She and I have decided to become Dao Companions, and Ying’Er has come to settle at the Zhou Family because of this."

In the cave dwelling, Zhouyang held Xiao Ying’s jade hand and solemnly informed the two elders of their relationship.

Xiao Ying met her in-laws for the first time as a new bride. At this moment, she shyly greeted the two elders, saying, "Daughter-in-law Xiao Ying, greetings to great-grandfather, greetings to father."

Zhou Minghan and Zhou Xuanhao had some speculation when they saw the two holding hands on the back of the Eagle Lion Beast earlier. Now, hearing Zhouyang say it aloud, both their faces broke into delighted smiles.

"Hahaha, good, Xiao Jiu, you finally got some sense and have grown up!"

Zhou Minghan laughed heartily, expressing his approval with a playful tone.

As Zhouyang’s father, Zhou Xuanhao couldn’t settle just for this expression.

With a smile on his face, he repeatedly praised, "Good, good, my son has indeed grown up. If your mother knew you found a Dao Companion you like, she would also be happy for you even in the netherworld."

After speaking, he glanced at the slightly reserved and shy Xiao Ying, smiling gently, "My son is unruly in nature; I hope Miss Xiao can be understanding. If this boy ever wrongs you in the future, please let me know, and I won’t let him off!"

Of course, Xiao Ying understood that Zhou Xuanhao was merely speaking casually, so she just smiled and expressed her thanks.

Seeing the two elders’ attitude, Zhouyang was also pleased and continued, "For great-grandfather and father to know, Ying’Er is not only a Top-grade Spiritual Root but also a Tier Three Lower-grade Alchemist and a Tier Two High-grade Spirit Plant Cultivator. From now on, our Zhou Family will have its own Tier Three Alchemist!"

What!

The smiles on Zhou Minghan and Zhou Xuanhao’s faces froze for a moment, then quickly transformed into expressions of extreme joy as they looked at Xiao Ying, completely shocked by Zhouyang’s words.

Initially, they were satisfied with Xiao Ying because she matched Zhouyang perfectly in both cultivation and appearance. Zhouyang and Xiao Ying becoming Dao Companions meant the Zhou Family gained another Foundation Establishment Cultivator, which they naturally approved of.

However, now Zhouyang’s words made them realize that Xiao Ying joining the Zhou Family meant far more than just adding another Foundation Establishment Cultivator. It directly added a Tier Three Alchemist and a Tier Three Alchemist’s inheritance to the family!

"Xiao Jiu, I know you never lie, but a Tier Three Alchemist must have a master or an origin. Do her elders agree with her becoming your Dao Companion?"

Zhou Minghan looked at Xiao Ying with both surprise and joy but discreetly transmitted a message to Zhouyang, asking about the situation.

Being old and wise, and experienced, he naturally knew that an outstanding cultivator like Xiao Ying couldn’t lack a master or origin. Would her elders really be willing to let their painstakingly nurtured descendant be taken away by Zhouyang?

In any case, Zhou Minghan admitted to himself that he couldn’t do it.

"Don’t worry, great-grandfather. Ying’Er’s master passed away many years ago, and since then, she has been solely dependent on her master without any family,"

Understanding Zhou Minghan’s concerns, Zhouyang immediately transmitted reassurance to allay them.

Hearing Zhouyang say this, Zhou Minghan was instantly free from doubt, joyously praising, "Good, good, our Zhou Family finally has its own Tier Three Alchemist. Ying’Er, feel free to stay at the Zhou Family. If anyone dares to disrespect you, tell me, and I’ll peel their skin off!"

People say that mothers-in-law look at their sons-in-law and get increasingly satisfied.

In the eyes of Zhou Minghan and Zhou Xuanhao now, Xiao Ying as a daughter-in-law was entirely the same.

Initially, when Xiao Ying met the Zhou Family elders, she was somewhat anxious. But seeing the elders’ satisfaction with her now, she put her worries aside and broke into a joyful smile.

Next, Zhouyang took out the Healing Spirit Pill he bought for his father Zhou Xuanhao, explaining its usage.

Then he showed the formations, elixirs, and spiritual objects he had acquired to the old Clan Leader Zhou Minghan and his father Zhou Xuanhao, recounting how Cao Wenjin had used Yellow Sand Sect Merit Points to offset his debt after borrowing.

Finally, he brought out the four Yin Soul Stones, which he exchanged at the underground exchange in Zhenyue Immortal City, and the Foundation Establishment Pill he later exchanged with Jia Yunzhen.

"Great-grandfather, father, these items are essentially the entirety of my gains from this journey."

Zhouyang laid out all the items on the ground, speaking with a proud expression.

He was indeed somewhat prideful, as each of these items was indeed a true treasure for the previous Zhou Family.

Now that he is back, he’s brought so many treasures with him, how could he not be pleased?

"These, these are all bought by you?"

Astute as Zhou Minghan is, he becomes dizzy seeing the ground full of treasures, his words faltering.

As for Zhou Xuanhao, he’s simply staring dumbfounded!

Most of what Zhouyang bought consisted of elixirs, and he had already recorded the related information about those elixirs and placed them beside the pill bottles. As an alchemist, Zhou Xuanhao could hardly maintain his composure upon seeing these.

"Let me calculate; Xiao Jiu, the spirit stones you took, amounted to over eighty thousand. Even with the treasures you took, the value shouldn’t exceed a hundred thousand...where did you get so many spirit stones to buy these things?"

Zhou Minghan looked at Zhouyang with a face full of astonishment and doubt.

He wouldn’t foolishly think that the prices in the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm would be low enough for a hundred thousand spirit stones to buy so many things. Not just to buy all the things on the ground, even that Tier Four Lower Grade Array, "Heaven Wind Cloud Thunder Array" might not be affordable!

"Water Demon, Heaven and Earth Spiritual Water!"

Zhouyang had anticipated Zhou Minghan’s question and promptly pointed out the key elements with a smile.

"I see!"

The doubt in Zhou Minghan’s eyes vanished, and he nodded with understanding, not asking any more about the matter.

He knew Zhouyang had signed the "Nether Blood Contract," and many things couldn’t be disclosed. He feared that asking further might lead Zhouyang to inadvertently violate the contract, and the contract’s backlash would care not if it was intentional or not.

So he quickly changed the topic, asking: "Then, how do you plan to deal with these items?"

"The array, Foundation Establishment Pill, Yin Soul Stone should be kept within the clan. The rest of the elixirs, except for the Profound Pure Pill, should also be given to us to use. Keep three Profound Pure Pills for the clan, the rest should all be sold to interested cultivators at a thousand spirit stones apiece!"

Zhouyang had already considered the plan on the way and immediately voiced it.

The "Profound Pure Pill" he bought were nine in total, after keeping three, there are still six left, allowing for the retrieval of sixty thousand spirit stones in funds, enough to repay the Zhou family’s debts.

And since he was the one who bought these items, not knowing their original prices, Zhou Minghan could hardly comment. After hearing Zhouyang, he pondered for a moment before nodding: "Xiao Jiu, you’ve never let me down in handling matters; it’s all yours to manage. If you need me or Xuanhao for anything, just speak up."

"Thank you for understanding, great-grandfather. I won’t let you down." Zhouyang responded then hesitated a little but still asked: "I’ve been away for over ten years, hasn’t anything major happened in the family?"

He feared hearing bad news, but it was something that had to be asked.

"As for any truly major events, none really. Just that you haven’t returned for a long time caused some creditors to be uneasy and urged for repayment, which was a bit awkward for me. Luckily, later the Yellow Sand Sect spread some news, and I showed them the soul token you left with the family, reassuring those people to patiently wait for news!"

"Also, your second uncle, fifth uncle, and eighth aunt passed away over these years, aged away and turned into immortal spirits!"

"Oh, and there’s a piece of good news, Guangxiang’s cultivation has reached the Ninth-Layer Qi Cultivation, and I advised him not to rush into Foundation Establishment but to go to the marketplace to temper his mindset before attempting Foundation Establishment at thirty years old. It’s not too late at all!"

"Then there’s the two Golden Rock Sheep that also gave birth to four lambs, Yuan Chen also sent word years ago that he’s successfully advanced to a Tier Three Talisman Maker, and that Huang Yi, who delayed Twelve, his cultivation reached Ninth-Layer Qi Cultivation and is preparing to attempt Foundation Establishment in a year or two!"

...

Zhou Minghan recounted to Zhouyang matters he deemed worthy of mention.

As for trivial matters like whose family had a child with spiritual root, whose cultivation improved a layer, or who progressed in the Hundred Skills of Cultivation, he didn’t mention, lest he ends up recounting for days on end.

Besides, these matters are recorded in the family records, Zhouyang can learn them at leisure by reviewing the records later, so they don’t need much elaboration.

When Zhou Minghan finished talking, he paused, and Zhouyang pondered for a moment before speaking: "Now that I have returned, great-grandfather, you can spread the news, let’s repay the debts quickly, and even offer extra interest to avoid tarnishing the Zhou family’s reputation."

"As for Guangxiang’s Foundation Establishment, I agree with great-grandfather’s decision. Those in their generation haven’t suffered much; indeed, their mindset needs tempering so they can withstand the first hurdle of Foundation Establishment."

"As for Huang Yi, his Foundation Establishment is permissible, but we must prepare that if he succeeds, he must sign the [Nether Blood Contract], pledging lifelong allegiance to the Zhou family. If he refuses, the Zhou family mustn’t be blamed for being ruthless!"

He’s the clan’s leader of the Zhou family; though Zhou Minghan could act in his stead, now that he’s returned, these matters require his final decision.