Cultivation Begins From The Desert
Chapter 207 - 205: He who schemes against others will also be schemed against!

Chapter 207: Chapter 205: He who schemes against others will also be schemed against!

It will take Huang Yi at least two to three months to complete the Foundation Establishment process, so Zhouyang naturally cannot stand guard for him outside the cave dwelling.

However, because the three cave dwellings were all occupied, Zhouyang was forced to move back to the courtyard halfway up the mountain where he previously lived.

Here, he couldn’t cultivate normally, so he spent his time practicing the "Five Elements Life and Death Sword Array."

During his leisure time, he would also guide the young cultivators of the Zhou Family in their cultivation or help some Zhou Family cultivators who came seeking his assistance in refining magical artifacts.

He even spent several days writing a piece titled "The Cultivation Memoirs of Dong Ping," where he disguised Dong Jianping as the loose cultivator "Dong Ping," artistically transforming his life experiences and replacing certain place and power names in the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm, while emphasizing Dong Ping’s deeds of repaying kindness.

The Zhou Family needs someone like "Dong Ping," and the Cultivation Realm needs someone like "Dong Ping."

Zhouyang hoped that the cultivators of the Zhou Family could take "Dong Ping" as an example; even if only one out of a hundred cultivators becomes a "Dong Ping," his wish for writing "The Cultivation Memoirs of Dong Ping" would be fulfilled.

Nearly two months passed this way, and one day while Zhouyang was practicing his sword techniques halfway up the mountain, his expression suddenly changed as he turned to look towards the top of Jade Spring Peak.

"Oh, did this boy named Huang really succeed?"

A peculiar look flashed in his eyes, and he immediately rode the sword light up to the mountain top.

At this moment, Zhou Yuanchen, who was making talismans in another cave dwelling, also sensed the abnormal fluctuation of spiritual qi on the mountain, and he walked out of the cave dwelling with a surprised look on his face.

"Brother Nine, who is undergoing Foundation Establishment in this cave dwelling? Is our Zhou Family going to have another Foundation Establishment cultivator?"

Zhou Yuanchen looked at Zhouyang with surprise and joy, his expression genuinely pleased.

"Ultimately, it’s our own brothers that are dependable. Even after joining the Yellow Sand Sect, they still think of the clan!"

Zhouyang looked at Zhou Yuanchen’s joyful expression and couldn’t help but feel sentimental.

He nodded, then shook his head and said, "The one undergoing Foundation Establishment is Sister Twelve’s husband, Huang Yi. This person does not have a good disposition; he can be used but not trusted!"

"I understand; it’s not convenient for me to say anything about this matter. As long as Brother Nine knows what he’s doing, it’s fine."

Zhou Yuanchen slightly nodded, wisely choosing not to say more.

After all, he was a cultivator of the Yellow Sand Sect and not suited to be involved in the management of the Zhou Family affairs; otherwise, Zhouyang would have invited him over for several family meetings and even the Foundation Establishment celebration initially.

"I will keep an eye on things here; Brother Yuanchen, you can continue and return to making talismans. Once you finish, I will personally escort you back to the Yellow Sand Sect!"

Zhouyang indeed did not intend for Zhou Yuanchen to meddle in family affairs. This was not an attempt at dictatorship but avoiding suspicion.

As a cultivator of the Yellow Sand Sect, if Zhou Yuanchen were to meddle in Zhou Family affairs, even if none of the Zhou family members had opinions, the Yellow Sand Sect would invariably exile him if they found out.

Sects belong to sects, and families belong to families; this is the basis for coexistence between sects and families.

As for him saying he would escort Zhou Yuanchen back to the Yellow Sand Sect, it wasn’t merely politeness. With Huang Yi successfully accomplishing Foundation Establishment, he indeed had to visit the Yellow Sand Sect to exchange for the "Nether Blood Contract" for him to sign, as well as deal with the exchange for the Tier Four Defense Spirit Talisman.

In the following days, Zhouyang waited outside the mountain top cave dwelling. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Meanwhile, after undergoing the "Spiritual Energy Infusion," Huang Yi stably adjusted his cultivation level, and then he walked out of the cave dwelling full of vigor.

"Congratulations! You actually managed to win this gamble!"

Zhouyang observed Huang Yi, who was brightly spirited walking out of the cave dwelling, a peculiar look flashed in his eyes, and then he offered a light smile with his congratulatory words.

No matter what plans he had for Huang Yi, now that the other party had just succeeded in Foundation Establishment, it was necessary to offer words of congratulations.

"I must thank you, Clan Leader, and all the other clan elders for leaving behind the Foundation Establishment insights. Without thoroughly studying those insights, I fear it would have been very difficult to get past the second checkpoint!"

Huang Yi said with a trace of lingering fear in his eyes, and his previously smug demeanor finally slightly diminished.

Zhouyang saw this and nodded his head, then said while looking at him, "According to the Zhou Family’s rules, after Foundation Establishment, you can choose a cultivation technique from the family’s collection directly. Have you decided which cultivation technique you’ll pursue after Foundation Establishment?"

Huang Yi was momentarily stunned upon hearing this, then he cupped his hands and replied, "Clan Leader, this matter has yet to be thought over by Huang. Could you allow me to look at the family’s collection of cultivation techniques before making a choice?"

Previously, the Zhou Family had been wary of him. Besides lending him Foundation Establishment insights to study, he was not allowed to enter the Scripture Cave, so he truly did not know which cultivation techniques the Zhou Family had available for post-Foundation Establishment cultivation.

"The truly important cultivation technique inheritance of the family is personally guarded by the Supreme Elder. I only have a directory list here; you can study it first. After deciding, you can inform me, and I’ll have the Supreme Elder fetch it for you."

While speaking, Zhouyang handed over a jade scroll he had prepared in recent days to Huang Yi.

Huang Yi’s spirit root attributes leaned towards earth and metal. Among the cultivation techniques suitable for him in the Zhou Family’s collection, there were four; however, Zhouyang only recorded two into the jade scroll for him, so he practically didn’t have many options to choose from.

Indeed, Zhouyang waited for less than half an hour before hearing Huang Yi say, "Clan Leader, I have made my choice. I will cultivate the ’Earth Guarding Golden Body Technique’."

"Are you sure? I must remind you that although the ’Earth Guarding Golden Body Technique’ is powerful, it is quite challenging to cultivate. Additionally, every month you must absorb Earth Qi and Geng Metal Qi to temper your body. The pain resulting from these two types of Spiritual Qi coursing through your body will not be much less than the pain you experienced during the Foundation Establishment Stage!"

Zhouyang looked at Huang Yi and was not surprised by his choice, yet he still had to say what needed to be said.

"It’s just a little pain, which will help temper my Dao Heart!"

Huang Yi grinned broadly, clearly disregarding Zhouyang’s warning.

"In that case, wait here. I will go get the copy of the ’Earth Guarding Golden Body Technique’ for you, and you can start cultivating it in seclusion here!"

Zhouyang nodded slightly and immediately went to the Scripture Cave. From his father, Zhou Xuanhao, who was stationed there, he obtained the copy of the cultivation technique and handed it to Huang Yi. He then watched as Huang Yi re-entered the cave abode to cultivate in seclusion. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

As he watched Huang Yi enter the cave abode with an excited expression, he mumbled to himself, "The path is your own choice. In the future, if you regret it, don’t say that I didn’t give you a chance in the beginning!"

He gave Huang Yi two choices. One was to choose a low-level cultivation technique that could only be cultivated to the Purple Mansion Stage. Although its power was not as great as the ’Earth Guarding Golden Body Technique,’ which was powerful and could be cultivated to the Golden Core Stage at the intermediate level, it was safe and stable.

However, since Huang Yi chose the ’Earth Guarding Golden Body Technique,’ it showed that he had great ambition and was not content to stop at the Foundation Establishment Stage.

Originally, this was not a wrong choice, but something worthy of encouragement.

But Huang Yi made a mistake in that he does not bear the surname Zhou and has no intention of integrating into the Zhou family.

This was evident from his consistent self-reference as "Huang" in front of Zhouyang.

This seemingly innocuous self-address, when linked to his status as a son-in-law, reveals his inner thoughts.

For someone with great ambition who refuses to integrate into the Zhou family, yet wants to leverage the Zhou family’s resources and wealth for cultivation, Zhouyang, as the Clan Leader of the Zhou family, naturally wouldn’t be courteous to him.

Therefore, what Zhouyang didn’t tell Huang Yi was that, although the ’Earth Guarding Golden Body Technique’ was powerful and cultivated both magical power and the body, it had a fatal flaw.

The flaw was that cultivators practicing this technique would, the more they used Earth Qi and Geng Metal Qi to temper their bodies, gradually lose normal human emotions, and their lifespan would be reduced by two to three tenths compared to ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

This is why, despite its prowess competing with most high-level techniques, it is only considered an intermediate-level technique.

By choosing to cultivate this technique, it seemed that Huang Yi gained great power, but he actually severed his upward path.

After handling Huang Yi’s issue, Zhouyang made a trip to Haoyang Mountain, as Huang Yi’s nominal wife, Zhou Yuanzhen, was still there.

"Sister Twelve, Huang Yi has successfully established his foundation. What are your plans for the future? Will you reconcile and live with him, or continue as things are now?"

On Haoyang Mountain, Zhouyang found his Sister Twelve, Zhou Yuanzhen, who was catching pests in the Spirit Fields, and informed her about Huang Yi’s successful Foundation Establishment.

Currently, Zhou family cultivators almost all knew of their nominal yet reality-defunct Dao companionship. Under the restraint of the family senior members, no one dared to openly discuss this matter.

However, it was impossible to completely prohibit private discussions.

Otherwise, Zhou Yuanzhen wouldn’t have come to Haoyang Mountain to find peace.

"Brother Nine, I think things are fine as they are. Now that he’s at Foundation Establishment, I stand less of a chance with him. Please tell him for me that I allow him to take concubines and have children with mortal women in the Zhou family, apart from that, I have nothing to do with him."

Zhou Yuanzhen lifted her head, gazing at Zhouyang’s handsome face, unchanged for decades, with a slightly dazed look before quickly lowering her head, softly stating her decision.

"Ah! It’s Brother Nine who has wronged you!"

Zhouyang sighed deeply, his face full of regret.

He understood Zhou Yuanzhen’s decision. Let alone a cultivator, even an ordinary mortal woman would be filled with resentment if deceived by her chosen husband in such a way.

Only Zhou Yuanzhen herself knew the mental stress she had borne over the last ten-odd years.

Thinking of this, he couldn’t help but pat Zhou Yuanzhen’s fragrant shoulder reassuringly, "Sister Twelve, don’t worry. That lad will pay for what he’s done. If you don’t want to return to Jade Spring Peak, feel free to cultivate at Haoyang Mountain. If you want to visit home, you can go anytime."

After saying this, as if something occurred to him, he suddenly patted his Storage Bag, producing a Pill Bottle in his hand.

"Hmm, Brother Nine didn’t bring you any gifts this time. Here is a bottle of ’Beauty Pill’ that your sister-in-law bought back then. I’ll give it to you as a gift. Please relax; half your life is still ahead of you. Don’t let that rascal Huang Yi affect your mood and health."

Xiao Ying had bought this "Beauty Pill" back then, and he’d chided her for it, but he hadn’t expected it to come in handy today.

Seeing Zhou Yuanzhen’s surprised and delighted expression upon receiving the "Beauty Pill," Zhouyang’s mood also lifted significantly.