Chapter 553: Chapter 553
Zhou Tongxuan was undoubtedly lucky.
After being rescued by Zhouyang, he received treatment from Xiao Ying using the "Qinghua Tribulation Crossing Immortal Light," supplemented with spirit elixirs to restore his primal qi. Just six months later, he had fully recovered.
And after this life-and-death battle, he soon successfully advanced to the Fourth-Layer Foundation Establishment.
Moreover, his feats of single-handedly slaying a Tier Three High-Grade Demon Beast [Jade-faced Fox Wolf] and several Tier Three Demon Beasts, despite being isolated from all his subordinates, had spread through the Zhou Family during his recuperation, earning him countless praises.
From this perspective, the injury he suffered this time was indeed not in vain.
By this time, it had been seven years since Zhouyang returned to the Boundless Sea of Sand Cultivation Realm.
During these years, Zhouyang had been assisting his Dao companion Xiao Ying by using the "Qianyang Immortal Light" daily to condense magical power and refine her body, successfully helping her reach the Ninth-Layer of the Purple Mansion.
However, his own cultivation remained at the First-Layer Golden Core.
But this did not mean he had gained nothing.
After nearly a decade of nurturing, his lifebound spiritual artifact "Qianyang Golden Tower" finally advanced to a Tier Five Spiritual Artifact.
With the foundation of this lifebound spiritual artifact, after its advancement, it had become one of the most powerful artifacts in Zhouyang’s possession.
"Guangxiang, are you really not going out with me this time? With Guangxiang watching over the clan here and the numerous backup plans I’ve left with her, there shouldn’t be any trouble!"
On Lingxi Peak, Zhouyang looked at his nephew, who seemed even more mature than himself, feeling somewhat displeased.
After seven years, he was ready to set off for the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm.
However, Zhou Guangxiang had declined his offer to accompany him to the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm.
"Ninth Uncle, forgive me. It’s not that I don’t want to see the outside world, it’s just that I can’t rest easy leaving the family unattended!"
"Even though your presence, Ninth Uncle, deters all sorts of malicious entities from coveting our Zhou Family, in the vast family land we occupy, if only Xiang’Er, a Purple Mansion Stage cultivator, remains here, how could she possibly manage everything if some issues arise?"
"I am still young. There will be plenty of opportunities to visit the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm in the future. It truly isn’t necessary to risk the family’s safety!"
Zhou Guangxiang earnestly clasped his hands towards Zhouyang, yet he did not change his decision despite Zhouyang’s displeasure.
Moreover, what he said was reasonable and selflessly considered for the family, so even if Zhouyang was somewhat unhappy, he couldn’t excessively blame him for it.
Zhouyang waved his hand helplessly and said, "Alright, since you’ve decided, I won’t force you, Ninth Uncle."
However, while Zhou Guangxiang didn’t go, his eldest son Zhou Tongxuan would.
This time, Zhouyang was heading to the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm, bringing along not only his Dao companion Xiao Ying and his chief disciple Lu Xuewei but also selecting three young members from his family, including Zhou Tongxuan, to broaden their horizons.
Now that he was at the Golden Core Stage, with techniques far surpassing those of Cao Wenjin back then, bringing a few more people to the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm wasn’t a big problem.
Unlike his previous secretive trips to the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm, this time Zhouyang was leaving openly.
Previously, he had been concerned about others scheming against his family during his absence, but now he no longer had such worries.
Now, even if he traveled far from the Zhou Family, with Zhou Guangxiang guarding Rhino Horn Continent and his sister overseeing Red Tiger Mountain, both equipped with the Tier Four Puppet Beast and Tier Five Spirit Talisman and Talisman Treasure he granted them, they wouldn’t fear even if multiple peers attacked.
Moreover, as long as he lived, anyone in the Boundless Sea of Sand Cultivation Realm who dared to act against the Zhou Family would need to consider how to face his retaliation upon his return.
Due to the number of people, Zhouyang did not choose to fly on a cloud as Cao Wenjin did back in the day, but rather took out the Tier Four Flying Spiritual Artifact "Illusory Cloud Ship" that had not been used for a long time.
The six of them boarded this small boat, blending into the sea of clouds of the Broken Cloud Mountain Range like a wisp of white cloud, unnoticed.
And for this group, except for Zhouyang and his wife, it was their first time entering the Broken Cloud Mountain Range and leaving the Boundless Sea of Sand Cultivation Realm.
Much like Zhouyang’s earlier experiences, these people’s faces flushed with excitement, their eyes glowing, as they saw the magnificent landscape below for the first time.
Unlike Cao Wenjin in the past, Zhouyang didn’t prohibit these youngsters from asking questions along the way. Instead, he patiently answered their various queries.
"Old Ancestor, this grandson has heard that there are Tier Six Demon Kings in the Broken Cloud Mountain Range. Considering your vast experience, have you ever seen a Tier Six Demon King? Could you describe what one looks like?"
Zhou Tongxuan, being the son of the Zhou Family Patriarch, revered Zhouyang, the family ancestor, yet was somewhat bolder than his peers. Watching the splendid landscape, he couldn’t help but ask Zhouyang about the existence of Tier Six Demon Kings.
Zhouyang, looking at this handsome and valiant-looking descendant, noticed the expectant gaze in his eyes and couldn’t help but laugh as he replied, "Indeed, there are Tier Six Demon Kings in the Broken Cloud Mountain Range, though there are not just one or two. However, such entities generally cultivate on Heaven-Reaching Peak and rarely leave their sanctuaries. Your Old Ancestor here has yet to encounter such beings in this lifetime!"
"Ancestor, you said that those Tier Six Demon Kings are cultivating on Heaven-Reaching Peak, what kind of place is Heaven-Reaching Peak?"
Perhaps influenced by Zhouyang’s kind and approachable demeanor, another young Zhou Family cultivator traveling with them, Zhou Zehong, also mustered the courage to ask.
"Heaven-Reaching Peak is the main peak of the Broken Cloud Mountain Range, towering at seven thousand six hundred zhang. Its Spirit Vein grade is as high as Tier Six Top Grade. The mountain has three different landscapes. Below two thousand zhang is a lush forest of towering ancient trees, above two thousand five hundred zhang is a frost and snow region covered with ice year-round, and above seven thousand zhang are the Nine Heavens Forbidden Realm, surrounded by Gang Wind and Celestial Thunder!"
As Zhouyang answered the junior’s question, his eyes faintly glanced back towards the direction of the Boundless Sea of Sand Cultivation Realm.
He had asked the same question back then, and the person who answered him was Yang Wenxiong, the current Sect Leader of Yellow Sand Sect, whom he had long left behind.
"Ancestor, have you ever seen Heaven-Reaching Peak?"
The last of the three Zhou Family juniors traveling with him, Zhou Fujin of the "Fu" generation, seemingly unaware that the Ancestor’s thoughts had drifted, also gathered the courage to ask the question in his heart.
"Haha, I haven’t lived long enough to tire of life. That’s a secluded cultivation site for Tier Six Demon Kings. Even for a mere Golden Core Stage Cultivator like me, approaching within ten thousand miles of Heaven-Reaching Peak is a daunting task for Nascent Soul Stage Great Divine Power Cultivators."
Zhouyang shook his head and chuckled, amused by the questions from these juniors.
The three juniors he brought this time were all under a hundred years old. The youngest, Zhou Fujin, although he had successfully established his Foundation, had only just turned fifty.
These individuals were born and raised after the Zhou Family had gained prosperity and strength, growing up listening to the legends of their Ancestor Zhou, believing him to be all-powerful and omnipotent.
Little did they know that he was merely a Golden Core Stage Cultivator!
In the Boundless Sea of Sand Cultivation Realm, a Golden Core Stage Cultivator could dominate a region, revered and unparalleled.
Yet outside this small place, who would even know who he is!
This is also why he wanted to take a few youngsters out to broaden their horizons.
The three of them had decent aptitudes. With proper cultivation, there might be a chance to open the Purple Mansion in the future.
In contrast to the three young Zhou Family juniors, Lu Xuewei was much more composed.
Gazing at the splendid scenery of mountains and rivers below and listening to Zhouyang’s questions and answers with the three juniors, thoughts about Zhouyang’s arrangements for her came to her mind.
According to Zhouyang’s plan, after taking her to the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm this time, he would first help her open her Purple Mansion. Then, she would need to independently explore and cultivate in the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm for decades before returning to the Boundless Sea of Sand Cultivation Realm.
Evidently, Zhouyang was replicating the Yellow Sand Sect’s method for training high-tier cultivators, and Lu Xuewei would be the first high-tier cultivator of the Zhou Family to take that plunge.
The journey was relatively smooth, and a few months later, Zhouyang and his party successfully arrived at the place where he once fought—Zhenyue Immortal City.
Over two hundred years had passed, and Zhenyue Immortal City had undergone several "beast tide" impacts. But just like the dozens of "beast tides" over the past thousands of years, they had failed to inflict any harm on this majestic city.
It still stood towering there, like a reef in the sea, withstanding the onslaught of "beast tides" erupting from the Broken Cloud Mountain Range without faltering.
Knowing he was still wanted by the Beast Taming Sect and was on the "Demon Slaying List" as a wanted demon, Zhouyang dared not enter Zhenyue Immortal City.
The target a Golden Core Stage Cultivator presented was still too big. If he entered Zhenyue Immortal City, it would undoubtedly attract a lot of attention.
Although he could disguise his identity through some means, the Cultivation Realm was full of numerous exotic techniques. Who knows if someone might just happen to possess related techniques and recognize his true identity? Thᴇ link to the origɪn of this information rᴇsts ɪn novel·fıre·net
He had encountered such a situation once before and did not want it to happen again.
Furthermore, his main purpose for coming to Zhenyue Immortal City this time was to fulfill a promise made long ago.
He had once promised the Loose Cultivator Jia Yunzhen of the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm, who had taught him the "Great Derivation Sword Technique," that if he ever found the complete version of the "Great Derivation Sword Technique," he would definitely bring a copy to burn at his grave for him to see.
Over two hundred years had passed, and if Jia Yunzhen hadn’t formed his Golden Core, he had likely faded away.
Zhouyang did not necessarily need to enter Zhenyue Immortal City to inquire about his news.
After recalling what Jia Yunzhen had once told him, he led the group to search in a certain mountain range west of Zhenyue Immortal City.
After a half-day of searching, he found the place Jia Yunzhen had mentioned.
It was a precipitous peak resembling an inverted sword piercing the sky, only two or three hundred zhang high, with no trace of a Spirit Vein.
At the top of the peak, Zhouyang found a grave, in front of which stood a black stone stele. On it, someone had carved with a sword the words "Grave of Sword Cultivator Jia Yunzhen" in seven fierce and bold characters.
However, when Zhouyang swept his Divine Sense over the grave, he discovered inside only a broken sword devoid of Spiritual Qi and an urn of ashes.
He immediately knew upon seeing this that Jia Yunzhen probably died at the hands of an enemy before his lifespan ran out, and this grave was erected by his friends according to his wishes before death.
This result was both surprising and unsurprising to him.
With Jia Yunzhen’s arrogant and unrestrained nature, it was easy for him to make enemies. People with such a personality can only meet a good end if they have invincible strength or a very strong background, which he seemed to lack in both aspects.
"Elder Jia, I have already found the complete version of the ’Great Derivation Sword Technique.’ Today, I use it as a tribute to comfort your spirit in heaven and fulfill the fate between us."
In front of the raised grave mound, Zhouyang waved his hand, and a jade scroll recording the complete version of the ’Great Derivation Sword Technique’ was burned to ash on the spot.
From this moment on, the karma between him and Jia Yunzhen was completely settled, and neither owed anything to the other.
After offering his respects at Jia Yunzhen’s grave, Zhouyang left Zhenyue Immortal City with his companions without any regrets.
His next destination was Dan Yun Peak, where he first met his Dao Companion, Xiao Ying.
Whenever he visited the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm, Zhouyang would always go there to reminisce about the past, and this time was no exception.
Learning that they were going to the place where the clan’s ancestors met, the juniors of the Zhou Family, along with Lu Xuewei, showed great interest.
Xiao Ying had been with the Zhou Family for many years, and the spirit pills she refined benefited countless Zhou Family cultivators. Coupled with being Zhouyang’s Dao Companion, her status in the Zhou Family was no less than that of Zhou Guangxiang, the current Clan Leader.
Especially because she was gentle and kind, treating people with kindness and rarely getting angry, she was deeply loved by the younger cultivators in the Zhou Family.
In contrast, Zhouyang’s heavy prestige made him difficult to approach.
"Master’s wife, you have never told us how you met Master; why not take this chance to tell us?"
Lu Xuewei, the female disciple, seemed very interested in her master’s romantic affairs. Seizing this rare opportunity, she pestered Xiao Ying for details.
Although the other three Zhou Family juniors dared not question so boldly, they all pricked up their ears and looked at Xiao Ying, their grandmother, with anticipation.
Xiao Ying’s soft nature, combined with Lu Xuewei’s affection for her, left her no choice but to consider recounting how she met Zhouyang.
Zhouyang realized that he had to speak up.
If Xiao Ying truly revealed the story of his youthful trickery, how could he maintain his dignity as a role model afterward? How could he uphold his image as the wise and mighty ancestor?
With a darkened face, he sternly rebuked the juniors: "Nonsense! Matters concerning elders are not to be recklessly inquired about by you juniors!"
Always composed before, his sudden change in demeanor startled the juniors, including Lu Xuewei, who trembled as they pleaded, "Master (Ancestor) calm your anger; we realize our mistake and will never dare do so again. We beg your forgiveness!"
Seeing this, Xiao Ying couldn’t help but let out a laugh.
She was no longer the ignorant young girl hidden away in the mountains, unaware of worldly dangers. She understood well why Zhouyang suddenly changed his face.
Truth be told, in the hundreds of years as Dao Companions, she had never seen Zhouyang so guilty from a prank, making her want to laugh, which she couldn’t suppress.
The juniors heard her laugh, feeling confused as they looked at her, not understanding why she was amused.
Only Zhouyang blushed, pretended ignorance, and waved his hand saying, "Enough, leave it at that; there will be no next time."
His authority was deeply ingrained, and the juniors were frightened by the earlier incident, quickly thanking him and no longer daring to mention the subject.
Soon, they arrived at Dan Yun Peak.
However, to Zhouyang’s surprise, tiny Dan Yun Peak had turned into a battlefield.
Two cultivation clans were fiercely battling over the ownership of this Spirit Mountain, unaware of the powerful figure watching them from the sky.
"It’s the descendants of that couple from back then; I didn’t expect their small clan to have flourished after more than a hundred years!"
In the sky, Zhouyang watched the hundreds of cultivators fiercely battling below, displaying a slight expression of surprise.
He remembered clearly that when he and Xiao Ying stayed here over a hundred years ago, the couple of independent Foundation Establishment cultivators occupying Dan Yun Peak had only a dozen descendants.
Now, as his divine sense scanned, there were no fewer than fifty cultivators defending the mountain, showing that the clan had thrived well over the years.
"The couple was good-hearted, my husband, help their descendants; I would hate for Dan Yun Peak to be stained with blood!"
Xiao Ying frowned slightly as she looked at the bloody battlefield below, an expression of displeasure flickering in her eyes.
"Why use a butcher’s knife to kill a chicken? I won’t get involved. Let Xue Wei and these youngsters help out; consider it a trial for them."
Zhouyang smiled and shook his head, revealing his plan.
Upon hearing this, Lu Xuewei remained unfazed, but the three young juniors, Zhou Tongxuan and the others, had their eyes light up with eager anticipation.
"Ancestor is right, you and Ancestor Grandmother can wait here while your grandchildren clear the field for you!"
Zhou Tongxuan exclaimed and immediately controlled his flying sword, charging downwards.
Seeing this, Zhou Zehong and Zhou Fujin were unwilling to fall behind and followed closely, rushing out as well.
Lu Xuewei, worried about their safety, quickly saluted Zhouyang and the other, then hurriedly followed to support them.
The cultivators attacking Dan Yun Peak comprised only three Foundation Establishment Cultivators—one mid-stage and two early-stage—along with seventy or eighty Qi Cultivation Stage Cultivators.
These attackers initially had the upper hand against the cultivators of Dan Yun Peak, as the peak was only guarded by a single early-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator.
The sudden attack by Zhou Tongxuan and the other two caught the attackers off guard, and panic spread through their ranks.
The leading mid-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator hastily recalled his magical artifact to intercept Zhou Tongxuan and loudly declared his background, hoping to intimidate the trio with words.
It turned out they hailed from a Purple Mansion Clan, attacking Dan Yun Peak because the Gu Family on the peak refused to submit to their clan.
However, upon learning they were merely from a Purple Mansion Clan, Zhou Tongxuan and the others were instantly relieved of any concerns.
Not to mention they weren’t originally from the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm, the Zhou Clan, with Zhouyang as its Golden Core Ancestor, had no need to fear a mere Purple Mansion Clan.
After a battle that was hardly fierce, the three Foundation Establishment Cultivators attacking Dan Yun Peak met their demise at the hands of Zhou Tongxuan and his companions.
With their leaders dead, the Qi Cultivation Stage Cultivators no longer dared remain there and scattered like birds and beasts in flight.
Zhou Tongxuan and his companions, not bothering to pursue these low-tier cultivators, gathered the spoils and proudly flew back to report to their ancestors.
"Gu Qingchen of the Gu Family on Dan Yun Peak pays respects to the esteemed seniors. The life-saving grace of the seniors is something the Gu Family is deeply grateful for and will never forget. Please accept our bow!"
On Dan Yun Peak, as Zhouyang and Xiao Ying, accompanied by the younger generation, landed there, the current head of the Gu Family, Gu Qingchen, hurriedly led the entire family to kneel in gratitude.
"This Dan Yun Peak was originally the spiritual mountain for my Dao companion’s cultivation."
Zhouyang, looking at the middle-aged Gu Qingchen before him, said something that took the latter by surprise.
"Ah! Could it be that you are the Elder Zhou who visited our Gu Family a hundred years ago!"
Gu Qingchen exclaimed, as if recalling something, looking at Zhouyang with delight, then reaching into his storage bag, he pulled out and unfurled a painting, revealing the images of a man and woman—Zhouyang and Xiao Ying.
"Forgive me, elder. This was drawn by my grandfather after seeing your magnificence, and he specifically instructed us juniors that if the elder returned to Dan Yun Peak, we must extend the utmost courtesy to you. Never did I expect today we’d rely on the elder to avert a disaster!"
Seeing Zhouyang glance at the painting, Gu Qingchen quickly explained the painting’s origin, looking at Zhouyang with a face full of gratitude and emotion, letting out a long sigh.
"Since your ancestors left you the instructions, I won’t say much more. I need to requisition Dan Yun Peak for three days, move your entire family elsewhere for now. Also, clean up this battlefield to avoid an eyesore."
Zhouyang nodded slightly, not taking the painting, and directly stated his request.
Not to mention he had just saved the Gu Family, even his status as a high-tier cultivator left Gu Qingchen with no room to object, prompting him to immediately nod and arrange for his clan’s evacuation.
Zhouyang didn’t stay for nothing. The day after he settled on Dan Yun Peak, upon sensing the shattering of the soul tokens of the clan’s Foundation Establishment Cultivators, the Supreme Elder of the Purple Mansion Clan attacking the Gu Family personally arrived at Dan Yun Peak, seeking vengeance for their fallen juniors.
However, when Zhouyang, disturbed, uttered just the word "Scram," it frightened the elder, who was of the Sixth-Layer of Purple Mansion cultivation, so badly that he fell from the clouds and then fled back to his clan without daring to utter another word, never daring to send anyone against the Gu Family again.
This scene, witnessed by Gu Chensha, both startled and delighted him, making him realize they had indeed met a true benefactor.
He wished to curry favor with Zhouyang, but unfortunately, Zhouyang gave him no such opportunity, leaving abruptly without staying the full three days.
This time, having saved the Gu Family twice, Zhouyang didn’t even leave behind a single artifact or elixir.
Moreover, after this occasion, seeing Dan Yun Peak had been completely transformed by the Gu Family, bearing no resemblance to the past, Xiao Ying completely lost any attachment to it, saying she never wished to return.