Cultivation Begins From The Desert Chapter 139 - 137: Haoyang Cave Attacked

Yellow Sand Sect.

"Unceremoniously visiting, disturbing the master’s secluded cultivation, I hope Master He will forgive ."

In front of a serene and simple cave abode, Zhouyang looked at the Tier Three Middle Grade Array Master He Canghai erging from within, gently cupping his hands apologetically.

At this ti, it had been two months since the Zhou Family held a family eting. After discussing post-war recovery and reconstruction work with the clan elders, Zhouyang rushed to the Yellow Sand Sect to seek a Healing Elixir for his father Zhou Xuanhao and also invited this "Master He" to the Zhou Family to set up a "Seven-Star Spirit asuring Array."

Regarding the elixir request, Guo Shuyun, the Hall Master of the Ministry Hall at the Yellow Sand Sect, had already agreed to help. Zhouyang had paid a deposit of five thousand spirit stones for purchasing the elixir in advance, but when the Yellow Sand Sect would send people to the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm to procure and trade was not sothing he could control.

Afterward, he inquired about the location of He Canghai’s cave abode from the cultivator Ma Jingtao of the Yellow Sand Sect and hastened to visit.

"Oh, it’s Patriarch Zhou. So, is Patriarch Zhou here for the array-setting matter ntioned last ti?"

He Canghai’s face flashed with a look of realization, yet did not invite Zhouyang inside the cave abode to sit, directly asking about the purpose of his visit.

Seeing this, Zhouyang was also greatly astonished.

On his way here, he heard from Ma Jingtao that He Canghai has been passionate about arrays since childhood, responding awkwardly and slowly in social situations, even almost entirely lacking social skills.

Now upon seeing him, indeed, there was no mistake at all.

However, Zhouyang didn’t feel any dissatisfaction toward this, as he felt relieved.

He would rather deal with such a tech enthusiast than with those sly old foxes.

He imdiately smiled and replied, "Unexpected that Master He still rembers this matter. That’s correct, Zhouyang ca this ti precisely to invite Master He to help set up a [Seven-Star Spirit asuring Array]."

"Have you brought enough spirit stones? Let’s put it upfront, one thousand spirit stones, not a single one less."

He Canghai spoke, even gestured to Zhouyang, as if fearful Zhouyang might misunderstand.

"No problem, Zhouyang has brought the spirit stones, Master He, you can take them now!"

Zhouyang touched his waist, pulling out a storage bag filled with spirit stones and handed it to He Canghai.

He Canghai also took the storage bag without any politeness, releasing his divine sense on the spot to count the quantity.

A mont later, he lightly nodded, looking slightly relaxed as he said to Zhouyang, "Since Fellow Daoist Zhou even brought the spirit stones, He will go along with Fellow Daoist Zhou once. But before that, please wait a few days for He to report to the sect and prepare so array materials."

"This is agreeable, Master He, please prepare at your ease."

Several days later, He Canghai prepared the materials, and together with Zhouyang, proceeded to Yuquan Lake Oasis.

At Jade Spring Peak, He Canghai traversed the entire Spirit Mountain, finally finding a suitable site for the array formation at the foot of the mountain by the Jade Spring Lake.

Different from the "Small Five Elents Maze Array" in Zhouyang’s hands and the "Earth and tal Spear Array" arranged at Haoyang Cave Spirit Vein by the Zhou Family, the "Seven-Star Spirit asuring Array" belongs to a fixed array. Once set, it cannot be collected or moved.

After locating the array formation site, He Canghai spent a full three months refining and burying seven array bases, finally successfully laying out the array.

Taking such a long ti to set up, coupled with providing materials by himself, He Canghai only charged a setup fee of ten thousand spirit stones, which could be considered a reasonable price.

Though Zhouyang didn’t understand arrays, he wasn’t oblivious to the market price of hiring soone for array formation. Therefore, after the array was successfully set up and inspected, he purposely added an extra thousand spirit stones as a hardship fee.

And even though He Canghai was not socially adept, he did not refuse the benefit delivered to his door, accepting the gift straightforwardly.

"Finally finished a heartfelt task. With the [Seven-Star Spirit asuring Array], the clan’s Qi Cultivation Stage cultivators will no longer have to toil frantically in testing mortal children for spiritual roots, complaining incessantly!"

After sending off He Canghai, Zhou Minghan and Zhouyang looked at the newly established "Seven-Star Spirit asuring Array," showing gratified smiles on their faces.

The function of the "Seven-Star Spirit asuring Array" itself was secondary, but the significance it represents was extrely important. A clan having spare money to invite soone to arrange such an array signifies that this clan is currently in a prosperous and thriving state.

Previously, the Zhou Family could also afford such an expense, but at that ti, the Zhou Family was saving every spirit stone for the purchase of Foundation Establishnt Pills. How could they be willing to spend such a large sum on non-essential items?

Thus, Zhou Minghan would say a heartfelt task was completed because the plan to establish the "Seven-Star Spirit asuring Array" was set early when he took over the Zhou Family.

Of course, his heartfelt tasks weren’t limited to one, so after smiling, he imdiately looked at Zhouyang and said:

"Next is planning Xiao Jiu’s Foundation Establishnt Ceremony and advancent to Tier Three Refiner ceremony. Now that the demon chaos is quelled and everything back to normal, holding these ceremonies at ho will not only boost the confidence and morale of the clan mbers but also greatly enhance the clan’s reputation!"

Reputation, although intangible, brings undeniably tangible benefits.

The greater the Zhou Family’s reputation, the more its cultivators will be valued by other clans and loose cultivators when venturing out, facilitating friendships and seeking assistance.

Even sand bandits, in their plundering actions, choose targets based on reputation, rarely opting to target those from families with substantial renown.

At the sa ti, as the Zhou Family’s reputation grows, the goods sold by their various shops will beco more trustworthy, making even loose cultivators choose families with great reputation when looking for allegiance.

Therefore, Zhouyang did not directly oppose Zhou Minghan’s proposal to host a celebration for him.

He even offered a suggestion: "Great-grandfather’s words are indeed reasonable, but I believe either we don’t host one or we do it grandly and exceptionally well. Great-grandfather, you can start sending invites widely and even let people spread the word at the marketplace, saying that five years from now, our Zhou Family will host a Foundation Establishnt celebration at Jade Spring Peak, where any cultivator attending will be served to their heart’s content with Spirit Rice, Spirit Wine, and Spiritual Flesh!"

"Oh, what do you an by this..." Zhou Minghan looked at Zhouyang with surprise.

"You guessed it right, at this point, there’s no need for our Zhou Family to worry about hiding the location of our oasis. We currently have three Foundation Establishnt cultivators and a reserve of two Foundation Establishnt Pills. Such strength is sufficient to deter petty threats and prevent them from coveting our family’s Spirit Mountain."

Zhouding nodded and openly shared his thoughts.

Letting the existence of the family oasis be known to the outside world is sothing that a powerful cultivation clan must do, and it greatly benefits the family’s developnt.

Although many cultivators already knew the location of the Zhou Family’s Yuquan Lake Oasis, there were still more who were unaware. The "Yuquan Zhou Family" na may be shouted loudly but often feels fictitious to outsiders.

As the saying goes: hearing is false, seeing is believing.

rely hearing the na "Yuquan Zhou Family" loudly is less effective for outsiders than seeing for themselves.

Seeing the oasis and Spirit Mountain owned by the Zhou Family and finding Zhou Family mbers, those unfamiliar with the Zhou Family will engage more confidently in transactions with them, prioritizing the Zhou Family.

"Alright, since you wish to make it grand, let’s make it grand. I will personally oversee this matter, and after the celebration, I will spread the word that a small exchange eting will be held to thank the participating Foundation Establishnt companions!"

After pondering for a long ti, Zhou Minghan finally agreed with Zhouyang’s suggestion.

With plans in place, Zhou Minghan promptly left the oasis in person, visiting surrounding friendly families one by one to send invites inviting their clan leaders to witness the celebration. So renowned Foundation Establishnt loose cultivators were also included in his invitation list.

Zhouyang remained at the family headquarters, cultivating while handling so miscellaneous family affairs.

This continued for about half a year, when Zhouyang suddenly received a distress signal.

"What? A Tier Three High-Grade Demon Beast appeared inside Haoyang Cave!"

Inside the cave mansion at the top of Jade Spring Peak, Zhouyang was shocked as he read the information accompanying the Communication Flying Sword in his hand.

The sword was sent by his father Zhou Xuanhao; ever since being gravely injured by Blood Mo Luo and returning to the family, Zhou Xuanhao had gone to Haoyang Cave for recuperation and supervision.

This was why Zhouyang had not returned to cultivate in Haoyang Cave, as Jade Spring Peak needed a Foundation Establishnt cultivator stationed there.

Now, though recovering in Haoyang Cave, Zhou Xuanhao had sent him a distress signal, saying that a Tier Three High-Grade Water Beast suddenly appeared in the underground Dark River within Haoyang Cave!

Imdiately, Zhouyang swiftly sent a Communication Flying Sword to his father, advising temporary retreat, and sped towards Haoyang Cave.

After more than an hour, Zhouyang controlled his sword and arrived at the oasis outside Haoyang Cave’s Spirit Vein, eting his father Zhou Xuanhao, observing, and then Zhou Xuanyan and his mother Lin Yuting, who were constructing the oasis.

"Approximately two hours ago, a Black-Scaled Demon Fish emitting Tier Three High-Grade Demon Beast aura broke through the array guarding the underground Dark River, appearing in the Dark River within the Spirit Vein. Fortunately, the array gave an alert, allowing to activate the Earth and tal Spear Array to startle it back into the Dark River."

Zhou Xuanhao, pale-faced, explained the events to Zhouyang, his voice trembling.

It wasn’t that he was timid, but rather the forceful use of substantial magical power to control the Earth and tal Spear Array strained the injuries in his ridians, causing unbearable pain.

"I understand, father, please return to Jade Spring Peak to recuperate, and let handle things here."

Zhouyang anxiously supported his father’s body, feeling both shock and anger.

Although Zhou Xuanhao’s injuries hadn’t healed, they had been temporarily stabilized without worsening. However, this incident might lead to further complications.

"Be cautious, Water Demonic Beasts gain an advantage in the Dark River; do not engage it in combat underwater. If necessary, it’s okay to temporarily abandon Haoyang Cave!"

Zhou Xuanhao knew his continued presence would be of little use, so he did not object to Zhouyang’s suggestion to return and recuperate, only reminding him worriedly to avoid impulsive actions.

"Please rest assured, father, I won’t act recklessly."

Zhouyang nodded, his expression serious.

Zhou Xuanhao’s warning was indeed correct. Water Demonic Beasts have the upper hand in water, and cultivators without Water or Thunder Elent Techniques might not be able to exert even eighty percent of their strength.

Cultivators like Zhouyang, who practiced Fire Elent Techniques, would be severely suppressed.

Moreover, Water Demonic Beasts in the Desert Sea Cultivation Realm are rarely seen, aning most have unknown origins.

This ans Zhouyang cannot handle this Water Beast as he has done in the past, learning about its thods before combat.