Cultivation Begins From The Desert

Chapter 653 637: Vermilion Bird Fan, Tearing Off the Mask!

FD, after three thirty)

The spirit vein level on Golden Dawn Mountain is Tier Three Top Grade, one rank higher than the Zhou Family's Jade Spring Peak spirit vein, even though "Jade Spring Tower" isn't situated at the spiritual eye of this mountain's vein, the spiritual Qi environment is more than adequate for a Qi Cultivation Stage cultivator like Zhouyang to break through a minor realm.

After secluding himself for nine days in the seclusion chamber in the backyard of "Jade Spring Tower," he successfully broke through the cultivation barrier that had trapped him for over a year, reaching the ninth layer of Qi cultivation, becoming the first under-forty cultivator in the Zhou family to achieve ninth-layer Qi cultivation in over two hundred years.

It was only after breaking through to the ninth layer of Qi cultivation that Zhouyang understood why only ninth-layer Qi cultivators could hold the position of clan elder in the Zhou family.

He didn't know about others, but after he broke through from the eighth layer to the ninth layer of Qi cultivation, his magical power doubled, and his divine sense increased by a factor of one, extending to a range of three hundred meters!

With this level of magical power and divine sense, he could wield four or five Tier Two Top Grade magical artifacts at the same time in magical combat for half an hour, his combat power incomparable to before.

According to the Zhou family's clan rules, once a Zhou family cultivator breaks through to the ninth layer of Qi cultivation and reports it to the clan, they would be granted the position of clan elder by the old clan leader Zhou Minghan.

If Zhouyang had broken through to the ninth layer at Yuquan Lake Oasis, he likely would have become the ninth elder of the Zhou family the same day.

This is because his father Zhou Xuanhao, after succeeding in Foundation Establishment, was granted the higher rank of Supreme Elder by the old clan leader Zhou Minghan at the Foundation Establishment celebration, vacating a position among the nine elders of the Zhou family.

In principle, the Supreme Elder and the clan leader are equals, even the clan leader has no right to give direct orders to them, and in the event the clan leader makes a major mistake causing great loss to the clan, the Supreme Elder has the right to convene the elders to vote to depose the clan leader.

However, in clan practice, the Supreme Elder's position is still slightly lower than that of the clan leader; to say it bluntly, the Supreme Elder is a prestigious but largely powerless honorary position. As long as the clan leader does not make mistakes or provoke widespread dissatisfaction, the Supreme Elder is simply a figurehead collecting offerings and peacefully cultivating.

For those with a strong desire for power and control, of course, they wouldn't like to be a seemingly prestigious but practically powerless Supreme Elder, but such people are rare among cultivators.

So the actual situation in the cultivation realm is that high-tier cultivators in various powers often prefer to be Supreme Elders who only collect offerings and do little work, not wanting to waste their precious cultivation time handling sect affairs.

After all, the great power of cultivators is vested in themselves; as long as one's own cultivation remains intact, even being a leisurely Supreme Elder, no one would dare ignore their existence.

Therefore, Zhouyang was extremely envious of his father Zhou Xuanhao becoming a Supreme Elder.

Unfortunately, he could only be envious. As the almost predetermined next clan leader of the Zhou family, even if he succeeded in Foundation Establishment, he wouldn't be able to become a leisurely Supreme Elder. In the future, the Zhou family ship can only be helmed by him.

"Brother Nine, Brother Nine, the family trade mission has returned, Sixth Uncle and Eleventh Uncle are back at the marketplace with the trade mission!"

On this day, when Zhouyang was looking at a Marvels Collection book he'd bought on the third floor of "Jade Spring Tower," Zhou Xiong, who had been entertaining guests downstairs, suddenly burst in with great excitement written all over his face.

"Trade mission? Sixth Uncle and Eleventh Uncle? Wait... are you saying that the trade mission that set off with the Chen family's trade mission to Yellow Sand Sect years ago has returned?"

Zhouyang muttered to himself according to his brother's words, and then his face suddenly hardened, his eyes turning heavy with seriousness.

Both the Chen family and the Zhou family are clans affiliated with the Yellow Sand Sect. Every ten years, the families surrounding the Yellow Sand Sect unite as a trade mission carrying a large quantity of spiritual objects to offer tribute and trade at the Yellow Sand Sect's mountain gate location.

This trade mission is generally led by a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator of the Chen family, while Foundation Establishment clans like the Zhou family send several Qi Cultivation Stage cultivators to join, thus forming a caravan that departs from the Baisha River Oasis, covering a journey of over twenty thousand miles to reach the giant oasis where the Yellow Sand Sect's mountain gate is located.

As Zhouyang knew, more than two years ago, Sixth Uncle Zhou Xuanjing, a clan elder and Eleventh Uncle Zhou Xuankun, who had the eighth-layer Qi cultivation, along with two outsider cultivators of the Zhou family and three young "Yuan" generation members, followed the caravan to Yellow Sand Sect.

A clan cultivator like Zhou Xiong, with an ordinary status, only knew this trade mission copied Yellow Sand Sect for tribute and trade as usual.

But Zhouyang knew this trade mission to Yellow Sand Sect had another task, which was to retrieve the last few pre-ordered spiritual items for refining Foundation Establishment Pills for the Chen Family Ancestor, Chen Yaohui.

Now that the caravan was back, it meant the "Foundation Establishment Conference" the old clan leader Zhou Minghan mentioned to him was about to be held.

Sure enough, after meeting with Sixth Uncle Zhou Xuanjing and Eleventh Uncle Zhou Xuankun, he soon saw the invitation penned by the Chen Family Ancestor himself in Sixth Uncle's hand, inviting the Zhou Family's old clan leader Zhou Minghan to gather at the Baituo Ridge Chen Family's ancestral land in half a year.

"Xiao Jiu, the old clan leader must have told you about the 'Foundation Establishment Conference,' right? Since you've reached the ninth layer of Qi cultivation, our Zhou family needs to acquire a Foundation Establishment Pill no matter what. You must stay in the marketplace during this time, do not leave!"

Inside "Jade Spring Tower," Zhou Xuankun looked at this younger generation who had surpassed his cultivation, with both relief and envy on his face.

He was nearly twenty years younger than Zhouyang's father Zhou Xuanhao. Initially, if Zhouyang hadn't broken through to the ninth layer, he would have had some chance to consume a Foundation Establishment Pill after the Zhou family purchased it.

Unfortunately, although he also had middle-grade spirit root talent, due to injuries sustained in a magical combat years ago, he delayed his cultivation for several years, remaining in the eighth layer of Qi cultivation without breaking through, thus completely missing out on the Foundation Establishment Pill this time.

"Old Eleven is right, Xiao Jiu, be more cautious at this time. Being outside is not the same as being in the clan; always be vigilant in everything you do."

Zhou Xuan Jing glanced at his complex-looking younger brother and advised Zhouyang with deep meaning.

"Don't worry, Uncles. At this point, unless the old clan leader orders otherwise, your nephew won't step out of the marketplace!"

Zhouyang understood the intentions of his uncles; they were concerned that once he left the marketplace, he would be targeted unfairly, thus missing the Foundation Establishment opportunity. Such incidents have happened before.

After all, even if the Chen Family Ancestor refined the Foundation Establishment Pills, there wouldn't be many, and if the Zhou family got one, it meant someone from another family would miss out.

In such circumstances, some families might take underhanded actions to harm potential Foundation Establishment candidates in opposing families, naturally resulting in less competition.

The old clan leader Zhou Minghan had especially instructed Zhouyang on these matters when he left the clan, so since arriving at the marketplace, he had not left even once.

While in the marketplace, he had the Chen family's backing for his safety; anyone who dared to act violently would be opposing the entire Chen family.

With Zhouyang's assurance, Zhou Xuan Jing and Zhou Xuankun both confidently returned to the family with the Chen Family Ancestor's invitation.

Although Zhou Xuan Jing and Zhou Xuankun left, the other few Zhou family cultivators who traveled with him to Yellow Sand Sect stayed in the marketplace to rest, intending to return to the clan after a month or two's rest.

Among these Zhou family cultivators were Zhou Bao and Zhou Qi, the second and third brothers who went to Cyan Ping Mountain Oasis while Zhouyang was stationed there.

And due to Elder Zhou Quan's past care and advice, after Eleventh Uncle Zhou Xuankun left, Zhouyang went to the backyard to visit the resting second brother Zhou Bao.

"Second Brother, I heard from Eleventh Uncle, you plan to start a family after returning home this time?"

In the courtyard, Zhouyang looked at his second brother Zhou Bao, not seen for nearly ten years. Over the decade, his second brother had aged considerably, even showing white hair.

"Yes, I'm getting older now; it's time for me to start a family and have children for the Zhou family. Grandfather was right; my temperament isn't suited for mixing in the cultivation world. Farming for the clan suits me better."

Perhaps due to aging, Zhou Bao now faced Zhouyang, the brightest star among his peers, with much more ease, at least not lacking the courage to look him in the eye.

However, looking at Zhou Bao now, Zhouyang instead felt a bit nostalgic for the serious, introverted second brother of the past.

The present Zhou Bao dared to look him in the eye because he had completely abandoned the pursuit of cultivation elevation, thoroughly losing his upward motivation.

But since this is Zhou Bao's own choice, he can't say much more, so he just nodded and said, "Since you've already decided, Second Brother, then apply to the clan to go to the Haoyang Cave. I will explain the situation to the old clan leader and have you appointed as the City Lord of the mortal city there. This way, you won't have to leave the clan to perform tasks anymore!"

Elder Zhou Quan had asked him several times to take care of this second brother. He originally planned to wait until he established his Foundation and took power, then find an opportunity to arrange a more relaxed and safe job for this second brother, such as working long-term as a shop assistant at the Jade Spring Tower or becoming an instructor for the next generation of cultivators.

However, since Zhou Bao has now decided to give up cultivation, he can only let him be a city lord in a mortal city.

"Thank you, Ninth Brother, thank you!"

Zhou Bao also knew that this was already the greatest help Zhouyang could offer him within his power. After all, the clan belonged to the entire Zhou Family, not just one person. It wasn't possible for Zhouyang to let the family support him without him having to contribute anything, as that would make the rest of the clan look down on him.

He merely gave up the pursuit of cultivation, but he certainly did not intend to give up the identity of a cultivator or stop receiving the clan's offerings.

"Ah! Then, Second Brother, please get some rest, and I won't disturb you any longer."

Zhouyang sighed deeply, shook his head, and had nothing more to say, so he rose and left the courtyard.

Until he returned to the third floor of the Jade Spring Tower, picked up the Marvels Collection he had been reading, his mind was still replaying the words his third granduncle Zhou Quan had told him the day before he passed away.

At that time, Elder Zhou Quan had anticipated his end and specifically summoned him to advise, "Xiao Jiu, the greatest regret of my life is that when I was young, I lacked the resolve and did not muster the courage to attack the Foundation Establishment!"

"I can't make it anymore; the future of the Zhou Family will depend on you younger ones. Even if you achieve the Foundation Establishment, you must never slack off in your cultivation!"

"I'll be selfish for a moment. We cultivators establish sects and clans, isn't it to gather the power of others for our convenience in cultivation? Xiao Jiu, you have remarkable talent. As long as you diligently cultivate, surpassing all of Zhou Family's predecessors is not out of the question. You must not end like I did, regretting that I did not put in enough effort in my life, leaving only regret!"

"I'm leaving. Your second brother is entrusted to you to take care of by your third granduncle. I don't expect him to accomplish much in cultivation, but only hope that he can pass away naturally like I will!"

Recalling Elder Zhou Quan's prowess when he hammered to death the Tier Two High-Grade Demon Beast, the Gold-Eating Rat, and comparing it to his exhausted appearance before his death, Zhouyang couldn't help but sigh deeply.

Ah!

Now, he was already at the Ninth-Layer Qi Cultivation. In terms of strength, he was probably even stronger than the elder Zhou Quan was at his peak, and barring any accidents, he would soon be able to consume the Foundation Establishment Pill to advance to the Foundation Establishment Stage.

But what does it mean to achieve Foundation Establishment?

The lifespan of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator is indeed double that of a Qi Cultivation Stage Cultivator, but without opening the Purple Mansion, it only lasts beyond two hundred years.

Even an illustrious Purple Mansion Stage Cultivator like Chen Family Ancestor Chen Yaohui only extends his lifespan by another fold. Without achieving Golden Core, after five hundred years, he would still turn to dust.

Even if by luck, one achieved Golden Core, living a thousand years, what then?

Nascent Soul Stage?

In nearly two thousand years, no Nascent Soul Stage cultivator has emerged from the Desert Sea Cultivation Realm!

"Without achieving immortality, one is still an ant!"

These eight words suddenly echoed in Zhouyang's mind, revealing the true essence of why cultivators pursue cultivation.

"An ant? Even if I am an ant, I will be a bigger and stronger ant. Ants can also defy the heavens!"

Murmuring to himself, Zhouyang suddenly laughed, revealing a very joyful smile.

In that instant, Zhouyang felt a significant enhancement in his mental cultivation.

Mental cultivation differs from magical cultivation. For Qi Cultivation Stage cultivators, once they reach the Ninth-Layer, without striving for Foundation Establishment, their magical power will not advance further. However, mental cultivation is not restricted in this way.

Mental cultivation is a very vague concept. It refers to the level of understanding and comprehension a cultivator has about cultivation and the great Dao. It doesn't have specific levels like Qi Cultivation and Foundation Establishment.

However, as summarized by predecessors, the higher a cultivator's mental cultivation, the less likely they are to encounter mental deviation during cultivation, and they are less likely to encounter bottlenecks in future cultivation compared to those with lower mental cultivation.

Someone with lower mental cultivation wouldn't necessarily be unable to achieve Foundation Establishment or form a Golden Core.

However, under the same circumstances, those with higher mental cultivation will definitely have higher chances of success in Foundation Establishment and Golden Core formation than those with lower mental cultivation.

Only the individual cultivator knows if their mental cultivation has improved; even outsiders with higher cultivation can't detect it, and enhancing mental cultivation relies mainly on the cultivator's own comprehension and opportunity, with external forces having minimal impact.

Therefore, although everyone knows the benefits of enhancing mental cultivation, no one actively pursues it because it cannot be forced.

After all, no matter how high one's mental cultivation is, it cannot directly raise a cultivator's Foundation Establishment success rate by a few percentages like a Foundation Establishment Pill can. For Qi Cultivation Stage cultivators, it's more worthwhile to spend time earning Spirit Stones rather than pondering how to elevate mental cultivation.

Zhouyang also didn't pay particular attention to the enhancement of his mental cultivation, so after laughing, he picked up the Marvels Collection and continued reading.

The black stone he obtained from that sturdy middle-aged man, Zhong Quan, always seemed extraordinary to Zhouyang, so without anything to do during this period, he continued to peruse various classics and search archives, hoping to find records about this mysterious object.

Unfortunately, having scoured through all available literature on the market, he hadn't found a trace of information.

In any world, knowledge is the most precious wealth. Zhouyang knew that not finding the desired information did not mean there were no records about the black stone in the Cultivation Realm but rather that the texts documenting the origins of the black stone were rare and held only by longstanding major powers, not widely circulated like the Record of Wondrous Treasures of Heaven and Earth that he had.

Just like the Foundation Establishment Stage Techniques held by his Zhou Family, and the Tier Four Refiner inheritance obtained by the old clan leader, Zhou Minghan, unless a Zhou Family cultivator advanced to the Foundation Establishment Stage, they wouldn't have access to such high-level knowledge.

Perhaps having caught some wind, within the next few months, there was a noticeable increase in the number of cultivators in the Jinsha Marketplace, including rare appearances of Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators.

This increase in cultivators was undoubtedly beneficial for the shops in the Marketplace. All the shops seized the opportunity to launch various promotions to attract customers.

However, this didn't include the Jade Spring Tower. Due to the popularity brought by Zhouyang's previous Great Refining event, most of the Spiritual Objects within the Jade Spring Tower had sold out, and they hadn't been replenished in time. Even if Zhouyang wanted to join the excitement, he had no capital to do so.

In this looming storm, Zhouyang finally received support from the clan, having waited through the absence of Sixth Uncle, Zhou Xuanjing, and Eleventh Uncle, Zhou Xuankun, for three or four months.

The Zhou Family had prepared for this "Foundation Establishment Conference" for decades, so when brother Zhou Xuanjing and another returned to the clan with the Chen Family Ancestor's invitation and news of Zhouyang's breakthrough to the Ninth-Layer Qi Cultivation, the old clan leader, Zhou Minghan, immediately gathered the personnel to set off as planned.

To ensure a smooth acquisition of Foundation Establishment Pills in this "Foundation Establishment Conference," the Zhou Family not only had the old clan leader, Zhou Minghan, who was at the Seventh-Layer Foundation Establishment, lead the team himself but also dispatched five Ninth-Layer Elders, including Zhou Yun, Zhou Qi, Zhou Xuantai, Zhou Xuanjing, and Zhou Xuanbin, to participate in the event.

Additionally, Zhou Xuan Yu, the Zhou Family Household Affairs Elder, had come to the Marketplace, waiting to take over the management of the Jade Spring Tower and the Drunken Immortal Tower after the "Foundation Establishment Conference."

This team, with the lowest cultivation level at the Ninth-Layer Qi Cultivation, and led by the experienced old clan leader, Zhou Minghan, took significantly less time than Zhouyang had in reaching the Baisha River Oasis.

Upon arriving at the Baisha River Oasis, the old clan leader, Zhou Minghan, went straight to the Baituo Ridge Chen Family to consult with the Chen Family Ancestor on the details of the "Foundation Establishment Conference," while the rest waited for news in the Marketplace, also replenishing the stock of Spiritual Objects on the shelves of the Jade Spring Tower with those brought from the clan's Treasure Vault.