Cultivation Begins From The Desert
Chapter 201 - 199: Clan Changes [Request for Subscription]

Chapter 201: Chapter 199: Clan Changes [Request for Subscription]

"Father, this is a gift from Ying’Er to you. It contains the lifelong alchemy experiences of her master and five Tier Three pill formulas."

In Zhou Minghan’s cave, after discussing the clan matters, Zhouyang took out a jade scroll and handed it to his father, Zhou Xuanhao.

Xiao Ying’s master was a Tier Three High-grade Alchemist during her lifetime, having crafted countless elixirs and possessing ample experience in alchemy, along with mastery of five Tier Three pill formulas.

Now Xiao Ying has given these as a gift to Zhou Xuanhao, her father-in-law, which is undoubtedly a generous gesture for Zhou Xuanhao.

"Is... is this appropriate?"

Zhou Xuanhao looked at the jade scroll in Zhouyang’s hand, his eyes filled with undisguised delight, yet he was also uneasy, hesitant to accept.

Giving away such inheritances is almost forbidden amongst the cultivators within a family, hence even though it is a gift from his daughter-in-law, Zhou Xuanhao was momentarily hesitant to accept such a grand gesture.

"Don’t worry, father, Ying’Er is her master’s sole disciple, and she decides over these matters now."

Zhouyang, knowing Zhou Xuanhao’s concerns, quickly spoke to dispel the worries in his heart with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Xuanhao couldn’t contain his joy and quickly took the jade scroll, then warmly smiled at Xiao Ying and said, "Ying’Er, I reluctantly accept this wonderful gift. I have nothing special to offer you in return; all I can promise is that, even if I become a Tier Three Alchemist in the future, the Zhou Family’s alchemical resources will always prioritize you. I will not compete with you for anything!" fre\e(w)ebn ov.e l\. co.m

In any clan, even within the Purple Mansion Clan, resources in all aspects of the Hundred Skills of Cultivation are limited and must be prioritized for the highest skilled cultivators.

If Zhou Xuanhao were to become a Tier Three Alchemist, while it would be an excellent matter for the Zhou Family, given the family’s capacity, it’s impossible to support the growth of two Tier Three Alchemists, so someone must make concessions.

Upon knowing Xiao Ying was a Tier Three Alchemist, Zhou Xuanhao was already prepared to step aside, as Xiao Ying is much younger; hence it is more prudent to foster her instead.

Now, receiving such a great gift from Xiao Ying only reinforces his decision not to compete.

However, Xiao Ying, hearing his words, shook her head urgently and said, "No, no, no, Father, you misunderstood, surely I meant no such thing!"

"I understand; this is just my promise to you, also the most appropriate course for the Zhou Family. I am old; achieving the rank of Tier Three Alchemist in this lifetime fulfills my lifelong aspirations, and I can die without regrets."

Zhou Xuanhao waved his hand, expressing the true thoughts in his heart with a long sigh.

Then he tightly held the jade scroll, turned to Zhou Minghan and Zhouyang, and said, "Grand Elder, Yang’Er, I will first retreat to heal; as for the clan meeting, I will not participate. Whatever decisions you make, I will unconditionally support them!"

After speaking, he hurriedly took the healing elixir and left the cave to begin his healing retreat.

Witnessing this, Zhou Minghan nodded approvingly and said, "Xuanhao is sensible and understands matters well. Seeing his state of mind, I believe there will be no issues in becoming a Tier Three Alchemist!"

"I also believe Father will surely succeed."

Zhouyang nodded, having great confidence in his father.

Then a flash of spiritual light appeared in his hand as he brought out the Tier Three High-grade Spirit Fruit "Jade Moon Fruit" he picked previously.

"Great-grandfather, this spirit fruit is a gift from grandchild. Consuming this and then another Fire Flood Dragon Pill should ensure your ascension to the Ninth-Layer Foundation Establishment in a few years without any issues."

This "Jade Moon Fruit" Zhouyang had decided to gift to the Grand Elder Zhou Minghan when he picked it, or its preciousness would make it worthy of auctioning.

He also purchased a Tier Three Top-grade Spirit Pill "Fire Flood Dragon Pill," suitable for Late-Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators to consume, specifically for Zhou Minghan.

It is said the "Fire Flood Dragon Pill" is primarily refined with the Spirit Blood of the Tier Five Spirit Beast "Red Fire Flood Dragon" raised by the Profound Sun Immortal Sect, possessing overwhelming potency. While causing intense fire-like pain to the consumer, it greatly enhances the Magical Cultivation of late-stage Fire Element technique Foundation Establishment cultivators. free\we\bnov(e)(l).com

"This, such a thing is too precious, best kept for Ying’Er to use in the future. I have little lifespan left; even achieving Ninth-Layer Foundation Establishment a decade or two earlier has no effect!"

Zhou Minghan stared at the jade-green spirit fruit in Zhouyang’s hand for a few moments, then quickly shook his head, refusing to accept it, unwilling to waste such a valuable spiritual object that could rival Foundation Establishment Pills on himself, a person about to reach his end.

"What are you saying, Great-Grandfather? Not to mention that Ying’Er herself has a Top-grade Spiritual Root; reaching the Ninth Layer of Foundation Establishment is not an issue at all. You’ve dedicated your life to the Zhou Family, with merits and hard work combined, this spirit fruit should be consumed by you!"

"Moreover, don’t forget that undeveloped oasis is waiting for us to occupy and develop. The sooner you break through to the Ninth Layer, the sooner we can conquer that oasis!"

Almost forcibly, Zhouyang thrust the spirit fruit into Zhou Minghan’s hand, and his reasoning was irrefutable to Zhou Minghan.

This time, Zhou Minghan didn’t say much else, silently accepted the spirit fruit and put it away.

"In that case, I will accept the spirit fruit. Now, I shall personally go to Baisha River Oasis to inform each clan of your return and spread the news of the Profound Pure Pill. Once I return, we shall hold a clan meeting."

Without delay, Zhou Minghan left the cave and flew straight toward Baisha River Oasis on a sword. free\we,bnovel.c o(m)

At this moment, Zhouyang also took Xiao Ying out of the cave to introduce her to the Zhou Clan Members at the Qi Cultivation Stage, and then went to his mother’s grave to pay respects. The couple respectfully knelt before the grave several times.

Most Zhou Clan Members were pleased and supportive that the Clan Leader, who left for over a decade, returned with a Dao Companion as beautiful as a Celestial Immortal at the Foundation Establishment Stage.

Their thoughts were simple: the Clan Leader’s Dao Companion is a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, meaning the clan gains a member who enhances the clan’s fate without any sacrifice, elevating the clan’s power to a new level.

With a stronger clan, life for those Qi Cultivation Stage Cultivators would only get better, so naturally, they were glad.

Careful calculation revealed that, considering Zhou Yuanchen, Zhou Xuan Yu from the Yellow Sand Sect, and the Eagle Lion Beast, Zhou Family now had seven Foundation Establishment fighting forces.

Among them, Zhouyang’s fighting strength surpassed ordinary Ninth-Layer Foundation Establishment Cultivators, while the Eagle Lion Beast had the strength of a Ninth-Layer Foundation Establishment Cultivator. Once Zhou Minghan consumed and refined the Jade Moon Fruit and Fire Flood Dragon Pill, he would truly be a Ninth-Layer Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

This lineup, without peer throughout the Boundless Desert Sea Cultivation Realm, could not be matched by any Foundation Establishment Clan.

Under these circumstances, many Zhou Family Cultivators with insight knew that the next decade or two would be a period of rapid ascent for the Zhou Family.

The small Yuquan Lake Oasis and Haoyang Mountain Oasis could no longer accommodate so many Foundation Establishment Cultivators. The Zhou Family must step out of Yuquan Lake Oasis and establish new clan branches!

As Zhouyang and Xiao Ying acquainted themselves with the Zhou Clan Members, accepting their blessings, they also took the opportunity to understand clan personnel changes and gather clan intelligence, preparing for the upcoming clan meeting.

Through these interactions and conversations, Zhouyang learned that despite the Zhou Family having three Qi Cultivation Ninth-Layer Elders pass away over the past decade and a few others nearing the end of their lifespan.

However, the remaining cultivators of the "Xuan" generation benefited from the Zhou Family’s development and, except for the youngest, Seventeenth Uncle Zhou Xuanzhao, had all advanced to the Ninth-Layer Qi Cultivation, becoming the new clan elders.

Therefore, the Zhou Family still had seven Qi Cultivation Ninth-Layer Elders.

Furthermore, over the ten years Zhouyang was absent, the stewardship system established during the last clan meeting was already in place, and Zhou Family’s Spirit Fields, Medicinal Gardens, Mines, Fruit Gardens, Spirit Beast Gardens, Shops, and other fixed resource points had appointed stewards for management.

These stewards encompassed cultivators from the "Xuan," "Yuan," and "Guang" generations, possibly of varying cultivation levels, but were, at present, the most suitable for their positions within the Zhou Family.

"Clan Leader, in the past decade, the mortal population in the family has increased dramatically, and Yuquan Lake Oasis can no longer support so many mortals. In this upcoming clan meeting, please address this issue urgently, as the longer the delay, the greater the fallout!"

At Jade Spring Peak, when Zhouyang was discussing with the Grand Elder Zhou Xuan Kun, the 116-year-old elder expressed his concern with grim news.

The Zhou Family had always intentionally maintained the mortal population at a fixed number; otherwise, over two hundred years, how could there only be tens of thousands of mortals?

However, in recent years, with the family gaining power, especially as Haoyang Mountain’s Spirit Vein diverted some mortals there, the Zhou Family slightly relaxed the population control.

No one expected that the Zhou Family’s mortal group, after enduring methods that restricted birth rates, would experience a population surge once restraints were lifted, doubling in just over a decade!

These mortals mostly share common ancestry with the Zhou Family cultivators; being descendants of the same forebear from over two hundred years ago, the current cultivators couldn’t possibly eliminate infants without Spiritual Roots, could they?

So now, Yuquan Lake Oasis was struggling to sustain the rapidly growing population of mortals!