Immortal Venerable of the Beast Race
Chapter 449 - 357 Jade Spring Zhou Family_1

Chapter 449: 357 Jade Spring Zhou Family_1

Jade Spring Oasis is located in the middle of the Western Desert; this place is the ancestral land of the Zhou Family.

Zhou Yuhua advanced to the Nascent Soul Stage, and the Zhou Family laid out a feast, widely inviting guests. As the Nascent Soul Ceremony approached, a large number of guests arrived at Jade Spring Oasis, and the Zhou Family dispatched additional patrolling members to ensure nothing went awry.

A group of Zhou Family disciples was patrolling near the Jade Spring Oasis, led by a tall man in golden clothing.

"Cultivators from the Donghua Cultivation Realm, the Southern Border Cultivation World, and the Northern Sea Cultivation Realm all hurried to attend Ancestor Yuhua’s Nascent Soul celebration, it’s a pity that our cultivation is too low to participate in the ceremony while being responsible for patrolling."

A Zhou Family disciple said with a tone of regret.

There are tens of thousands of cultivators in the Zhou Family; only the particularly outstanding members of the Zhou Clan are eligible to participate in the Nascent Soul celebration and network with cultivators from other powers.

"Ancestor Yuhua’s Nascent Soul formation calls for the family to distribute a year’s salary to us as we celebrate together. If we can secure a good ranking in the next major family competition, we might become a key focus of the family’s cultivation efforts."

"The family competition is held once every twenty years, and it’s too fierce. It’s too difficult to obtain a good ranking."

The Zhou Family disciples chatted idly.

"Stop chatting, someone is coming."

The man in the golden clothing instructed as he looked towards the northwest direction.

A blue Escape Light appeared in the sky, quickly flying towards them, and halted with a flicker.

The Escape Light receded to reveal a blue Flying Boat over ten zhang long, with Shen Long, Shen Yushan, Shen Hua’an, and Shen Huawei standing on it.

"I, Zhou Guangxin, pay my respects to the two seniors."

The man in the golden clothing bowed deeply, his expression respectful.

Shen Long and Shen Yushan took out their invitations, allowing Zhou Guangxin to inspect them.

A red Flying Boat appeared on the distant horizon, and after a short time, the red Flying Boat came to a halt.

Dozens of cultivators stood on the red Flying Boat, with Chu Buyu and Taoist Friend Xu standing in the front.

"Eh, Fairy Chu, Taoist Friend Xu, what a coincidence!"

Shen Long uttered softly, greeting them.

Xu Xin, surprised to see Shen Long, smiled and said, "What a coincidence, Taoist Friend Shen."

"Taoist Friend Shen, are you also here to participate in Fairy Zhou’s Nascent Soul celebration?"

Chu Buyu asked curiously.

Shen Long nodded and smilingly said, "I didn’t expect you all received an invitation from the Zhou Family as well."

"Taoist Friend Xu, Fairy Chu, it’s been a long time."

Shen Yushan greeted them warmly.

Xu Xin nodded and exchanged a few courteous words with Shen Yushan, then took out the invitation for Zhou Guangxin to check.

Zhou Guangxin took out a golden Law Disk, input a spell into it, and gestured for a while.

Shen Long, Shen Yushan, Chu Buyu, and Xu Xin started to chat casually. Before long, a yellow Escape Light flew out from the Jade Spring Oasis and came to a halt in the high air. The Escape Light receded, revealing a plump woman in a yellow dress with almond eyes and wavy water.

"I am Zhou Guangyao. Welcome, honored guests, for coming to participate in Yuhua’s Nascent Soul ceremony. Please follow me."

The woman in the yellow dress introduced herself briefly and led the way forward.

The area of the Jade Spring Oasis is vast, with a majestic green mountain in the center. There’s a large array of buildings at the foot of the mountain, and at the base of the mountain, there stands a green stone stele over a hundred zhang tall with the inscription ""

For cultivators, turning sand into stone is not a difficult task.

Jade Spring Mountain is the heart of the Jade Spring Oasis and an area rich in Spiritual Energy. It’s also the dwelling place of the Zhou Family’s high-level cultivators, where guests are accommodated.

Shen Long was arranged to stay in a three-storied green pavilion with the plaque "Spirt Control Pavilion" written in golden characters.

From the name on the plaque, it was clear that the Zhou Family had already made preparations to receive guests.

Shen Yushan and Chu Buyu, among others, resided in a sprawling estate. Both the Shen Family and the Sun Moon Palace were major forces, with the Spirt Control Sect being slightly less influential.

The Spirt Control Pavilion was fully equipped, complete with an Alchemy Room and an Artifact Refining Room.

Shen Long entered the Practice Room, seated himself on a blue cushion, took out a Seven Stars Nourishing Spirit Pill, and placed it into his mouth where it melted instantly upon contact.

He quickly began cultivating to refine the power of the elixir. The Golden Soul Pill, Seven Stars Nourishing Spirit Pill, and Dragon Scale Pill respectively strengthened his Divine Soul, Divine Sense, and physical body. With this approach, Shen Long could devote more time to polishing his mana, making it even more pure.

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At the very top of Jade Spring Mountain stood a resplendent palace, with three silver characters on its signboard: "Jade Spring Hall."

A spirited elder in yellow robes sat in the main seat, his gaze profound.

Zhou Guangyao walked in and said, "Ancestor Hua Lei, Taoist Friend Shen from the Shen Family, the Sun Moon Palace, and the Spirt Control Sect has arrived and has been settled in."

"Who is leading the Shen Family’s delegation?"

Zhou Hualei asked.

"Shen Yushan. He only brought two juniors with him," Zhou Guangyao answered.

"The Shen Family has engaged in a fierce conflict with the Thousand Puppet Sect, so it’s good enough that they could send a Nascent Soul Cultivator. The fact that Shen Yushan only brought two juniors indicates that the Shen Family is under considerable pressure," Zhou Hualei said gravely.

"Thousand Puppet Sect cultivators are adept at puppetry. A disciple from the sect can manipulate multiple Puppet Beasts, gaining quite an advantage in one-on-one situations. From the intelligence we’ve gathered, the Shen Family has suffered significant losses. It remains to be seen whether they will seek our help," Zhou Guangyao added.

"Hard to say, the Thousand Puppet Sect and the Shen Family are clashing over a large turmeric crystal vein that lies on the borders of their territories. Neither wants to concede, leading to heavy casualties. The value of a large turmeric crystal vein exceeds a hundred million Spirit Stones and can be mined for over a thousand years if done so properly," commented Zhou Hualei.

"Hundreds of years ago, the young master of the Thousand Puppet Sect died at the hands of a Shen Family cultivator. A few decades ago, an elder who acted as a guardian for the Shen Family was killed while traveling outside—allegedly ambushed by a Nascent Soul Cultivator from the Thousand Puppet Sect. They are mortal enemies, unlikely to reconcile. The struggle will continue until their losses become unbearable, and one seeks assistance," analysed Zhou Guangyao.

Zhou Hualei nodded and then asked, "Has Guangshan returned yet?"

"Not yet. They went to the Heavenly Sand Ruins, having discovered a Golden Soul Fruit tree. By the time—"

Zhou Guangyao’s words were cut short as she produced a Messaging Plate that flickered with yellow light. She inserted a spell into it and her expression turned very grim.

"Don’t panic. What’s happened?" inquired Zhou Hualei.

"The Life-Bound Lamps of Guangshan and Qingwei have been extinguished. It seems they’ve met with misfortune and died in the Heavenly Sand Ruins," Zhou Guangyao said with a furrowed brow.

The Heavenly Sand Ruins were well-known perilous lands within the Western Desert Cultivation Realm, and one of the seven great dangers of the Qianyang Realm, replete with both natural and man-made prohibitions.

"We must keep this matter confidential. After the celebration of Ancestor Yuhua’s Nascent Soul formation is over, we will send someone to investigate," Zhou Hualei instructed.

"Yes, Ancestor Hua Lei," Zhou Guangyao affirmed, then took her leave.

"Guangshan possessed mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivation and had a Defensive Spirit Treasure. Even if faced with mighty Monster Beasts, he should have been able to escape if outmatched. It seems the Heavenly Sand Ruins have erupted with Absolute Spirit Qi again," Zhou Hualei mused to himself, his expression turning solemn.