Cultivation Begins From The Desert Chapter 442 - 427: The Wheel of Fortune Turns [4000-Word Lar

Within a day, the Zhou family’s internal "Treasure Hunting Conference" had settled.

The top three Zhou Family cultivators were Zhou Tongyue, Zhou Tongkui, and Zhou Fuxing.

Interestingly, these three Zhou Family cultivators, aside from Zhou Fuxing who serves as an alchemist in the Hundred Arts Hall, the top two are both Zhou Family Martial Hall cultivators.

"According to the family rules, the first prize is a Foundation Establishnt Pill and a Tier Three High-Grade Spiritual Artifact. The second and third prizes are Foundation Establishnt Pill, Tier Three Middle-grade Spiritual Artifact, and Tier Three Lower Grade Spiritual Artifact, respectively."

"However, the Tier Three artifacts are of no use to you at this mont, so you’ll first receive the Foundation Establishnt Pill. If you succeed in Foundation Establishnt, you can naturally co to for the artifact. If not, you’ll receive the equivalent family contribution points as a reward!"

The rewards for the top twenty Zhou Family cultivators were still presented by Zhou Guangxiang. He first offered a few encouraging words to these twenty juniors before handing out the rewards to each of them.

The rewards for the top three naturally need not be ntioned; the seventeen cultivators behind them also received treasures such as Tier Three Spirit Talismans or Tier Two High-Grade Puppet Beasts.

Once the "Treasure Hunting Conference" ended, those Foundation Establishnt and Purple Mansion stage cultivators invited by the Zhou Family were the first to take their leave.

But those Qi Cultivation Stage cultivators were in no hurry to depart. Having traveled all the way to the Red Tiger Mountain Oasis wasn’t easy, so unless there was an urgent need to return, they didn’t mind staying for ten days to half a month in hopes of finding so opportunity or yield.

The Zhou Family also took the opportunity to announce the bridegroom recruitnt event, leveraging the popularity for a "Bridegroom Recruitnt Conference."

This "Bridegroom Recruitnt Conference" was certainly not attractive to those clan cultivators from Foundation Establishnt families. Even if they truly liked a Zhou Family woman, their own family wouldn’t want to see a cultivator nurtured with great resources beco a son-in-law elsewhere.

However, for loose cultivators or those from small families without even Foundation Establishnt stage cultivators, the chance to beco a Zhou Family’s son-in-law, a half Zhou Family cultivator, was indeed tempting.

Of course, these small matters did not concern Zhouyang.

Even the person he previously favored, Li Hong, before he explicitly declared a willingness to join the Zhou Family, Zhouyang would not bother to invest more energy into such a minor Qi Cultivation Stage cultivator.

After the "Treasure Hunting Conference" ended, he returned to Qianyang Cave to et the visiting Chen Ping’an.

"Without hiding anything from Fellow Daoist Zhou, Chen ca to see Fellow Daoist this ti to ask if your Dao Companion could help concoct a batch of Foundation Establishnt Pills. Chen is willing to offer fifty thousand Lower-grade Spirit Stones as compensation for Fellow Daoist Xiao’s assistance!"

Inside Qianyang Cave, upon eting Zhouyang, Chen Ping’an only exchanged a couple of pleasantries before anxiously clarifying his intent.

Since the Chen Family Ancestor, Chen Yaohui, fell, the Chen family was left with only one Tier Three Middle-grade Alchemist courageously enduring in the field of alchemy.

Although a Tier Three Middle-grade Alchemist can also refine Foundation Establishnt Pills, the success rate is shockingly low, and even if successful by chance, the quantity wouldn’t exceed three pills.

In comparison to the materials needed for refining a batch of Foundation Establishnt Pills, such success rate and yield are naturally unsatisfactory.

Thus, Chen Ping’an thought to seek help from the Zhou Family, requesting Xiao Ying, a Tier Four Alchemist, to assist in the refining of Foundation Establishnt Pills.

The Foundation Establishnt Pill is rely a Tier Three Lower Grade Spirit Pill, and the fifty thousand Lower-grade Spirit Stones offered by Chen Ping’an for assistance nearly match the fee for refining a batch of Tier Four Spirit Pills.

In this regard, Chen Ping’an’s sincerity was indeed substantial.

However, considering the past grievances between the Zhou Family and the Chen Family, as well as the special significance of Foundation Establishnt Pills, Chen Ping’an was genuinely unsure if Zhouyang would agree to his request.

As expected, Zhouyang did not imdiately respond to the request but instead pondered for a while.

After a mont of contemplation, Zhouyang suddenly looked at him and said, "It’s not that Zhou underestimates Fellow Daoist Chen, but with your cultivation strength, even with the assistance of other Foundation Establishnt cultivators, you should be unable to kill a Tier Four Demon Beast and obtain its demon pill, correct? Is the refined Foundation Establishnt Pill really only for the Chen family’s use?"

Defeating a Tier Four Demon Beast and killing one are two different matters. Zhouyang had seen Chen Ping’an in action before, and while his strength might be considered good in the Boundless Sea of Sand cultivation realm, actually killing a Tier Four Demon Beast would be unlikely.

Upon hearing Zhouyang’s words, Chen Ping’an did not display any awkwardness but quickly replied, "Being able to hunt a Tier Four Demon Beast certainly wasn’t by Chen’s strength alone, Fellow Daoist Nie assisted in successfully killing the beast. However, asking Fellow Daoist Nie for help was through a trade using other treasures, not sharing this batch of Foundation Establishnt Pills."

That explains it.

Zhouyang thoughtfully nodded and then gently smiled, "Since Fellow Daoist Chen’s request is simply this, naturally Zhou has no reason to refuse. But Spirit Stones are unnecessary; my Ying’Er is purely obsessed with alchemy and loves researching various pill formulas and the alchemy dao. Chen Yaohui Ancestor was once a dignified Tier Four High-grade Alchemist, as long as Fellow Daoist Chen is willing to lend his alchemy manual to my Ying’Er for a look, that will suffice!"

Having discovered a dium-sized Spirit Stone Ore vein with reserves exceeding tens of millions, a re fifty thousand Lower-grade Spirit Stones indeed wouldn’t catch Zhouyang’s attention.

Now, what interests him from the Chen Family, aside from those Tier Three and Tier Four Pill Formulas, is the alchemy manual left by the Chen Family Ancestor after becoming a Tier Four High-grade Alchemist.

Pill formulas involve family inheritance so Zhouyang reckons Chen Ping’an might not agree to offer them as compensation.

However, regarding the alchemy manual, although it is important, it does not involve the core of inheritance, making it sowhat possible for the Chen family to offer.

Xiao Ying’s alchemy skill had been at Tier Four Lower Grade for many years, and if she could acquire the Chen Family Ancestor’s alchemy manual, she might learn by analogy and promote herself to a Tier Four Middle-grade Alchemist.

Now that Chen Ping’an had proactively sought him, Zhouyang naturally wouldn’t miss this opportunity.

Sure enough, upon hearing Zhouyang’s request for the Chen Family Ancestor’s alchemy manual as compensation for alchemy services, Chen Ping’an’s expression imdiately changed.

As the forr first alchemist of the Boundless Sea of Sand cultivation realm, the Chen Family Ancestor’s alchemy manual might not be priceless, but surely not sothing that could be worth a re fifty thousand Lower-grade Spirit Stones.

Yet, he knew in his heart that with Zhouyang having already spoken, if he didn’t agree, the request to ask Xiao Ying for help with alchemy would undoubtedly fall through, and in the future, seeking Zhouyang’s help in artifact refining or Xiao Ying’s aid in alchemy would be nearly impossible.

Thus, after his expression changed repeatedly, he eventually gritted his teeth and agreed.

His face twitched, and with a low voice, he said, "The ancestor’s alchemy manual is with the clan. Chen will return to the clan to fetch it for Fellow Daoist Zhou. When does Fellow Daoist Xiao have ti to assist in alchemy?"

Upon hearing this, Zhouyang imdiately laughed and said, "Luckily, Ying’Er has just co out of seclusion, now is the ti. You can bring the alchemy materials when fetching the alchemy manual from the clan."

"In that case, please wait a mont, Fellow Daoist Zhou, Chen will be back soon."

After speaking, Chen Ping’an promptly left Qianyang Cave and returned to the Chen family to fetch the alchemy manual and materials.

And once Chen Ping’an left, Zhouyang couldn’t help but smile and mutter to himself, "The wheel of fortune turns; it’s our turn now. Your Chen family once used a mundane [Nourishing Essence Pill] formula to exchange for my hard-earned [Immortal Ganoderma Jade Dew Pill] formula and [Three Yang Barrier-Breaking Pill] formula. It’s ti for you to repay your debts!"

Back then, the Chen Family Ancestor had threatened to report the valuables Zhouyang obtained from the Wang Family to the Yellow Sand Sect unless Zhouyang agreed to exchange two rare Tier Three Pill Formulas for the mundane formula in the Chen family’s possession.

At that ti, circumstances were such that Zhouyang had to endure the pain and make the exchange to have the Chen Family Ancestor speak up to protect his war trophies.

Now the wheel of fortune had turned, and the Chen Family found themselves seeking him out, so Zhouyang naturally would not show any courtesy to Chen Ping’an.

Chen Ping’an’s actions were indeed fast, taking only two days to deliver the alchemy manual and materials into Zhouyang’s hands.

After Zhouyang handed over the items to Xiao Ying, who was taking care of the "Yuan Condensing Fruit" tree on Red Tiger Mountain, it took less than five days before he delivered five Foundation Establishnt Pills to Chen Ping’an.

Xiao Ying, being only a Tier Four Lower-grade Alchemist, managed to produce five pills in one batch, which was indeed a stroke of luck.

Seeing that there were actually five Foundation Establishnt Pills, Chen Ping’an’s initial pain of parting with the alchemy manual faded considerably.

The alchemy manual he gave to Zhouyang was rely a copy; the original remained within the Chen Family, allowing their future alchemists the opportunity to advance to Tier Four Alchemist with it.

In truth, he hadn’t lost anything at all.

So, after offering his thanks, he left the Red Tiger Mountain Oasis with mixed emotions.

Next, while Xiao Ying continued to study the alchemy manual of the Chen Family Ancestor and tended to the "Yuan Condensing Fruit" tree,

Zhouyang prepared for his journey to the region of the Great Brightness Immortal Palace.

According to his plan, when he traveled to the region where the Great Brightness Immortal Palace was located, he would not go alone but would take a group of Zhou Family cultivators to teleport together.

It’s worth noting that activating that large-scale remote teleportation array required the expenditure of half the energy from thirty-six top-grade spirit stones, and if Zhouyang didn’t seize the opportunity to bring so people over, it would be quite a loss for him.

However, he couldn’t just bring anyone indiscriminately, because, barring any unforeseen circumstances, over ninety percent of the people he took with him would unlikely be able to return alive to the Boundless Desert Sea Cultivation Realm in their lifeti. Thus, selections had to be made carefully.

Given the scale of that large-scale remote teleportation array, it could transport over fifty people at once, so Zhouyang planned to take forty-nine Zhou Family cultivators with him, in addition to himself.

Previously, he hadn’t disclosed this idea to anyone until now, when he confird that the other end of the teleportation array seed to be a relatively safe place. Only then did he share his plan with Zhou Guangxiang and began to discuss and plan the selection of personnel.

Zhou Guangxiang had heard Zhouyang ntion the teleportation array before but didn’t imagine that Zhouyang had such a grand plan.

Zhou Guangxiang had never considered leading the Zhou Family out of the Boundless Desert Sea Cultivation Realm, as even he, a Purple Mansion Stage cultivator, had not ventured beyond it. How could he dare to dream of such a thing?

However, upon hearing Zhouyang’s intentions, he too beca excited.

Even though he knew that Zhouyang wouldn’t take him along to the Great Brightness Immortal Palace region, just the thought of helping the Zhou Family establish a branch outside the Boundless Desert Sea Cultivation Realm during his tenure as the Zhou Family Patriarch filled him with uncontrollable excitent.

This would be a trendous achievent and honor!

In the future, the Zhou Family’s history would undoubtedly record this event with intensity and praise his role as the contemporary patriarch.

...

Three months quickly passed, and the results of the cultivators who received Foundation Establishnt Pills from the "Treasure Hunting Conference" slowly erged.

Firstly, among three Zhou Family cultivators, except for Zhou Tongkui, who failed in Foundation Establishnt due to lower-grade spiritual root talent, both Zhou Tongyue and Zhou Fuxing successfully advanced and beca Zhou Family Elders.

As for the loose cultivator Li Hong, his luck was not that great either; despite the assistance of a Foundation Establishnt Pill, he ultimately failed.

After the failed attempt, there were only two paths left if Li Hong wanted to attempt Foundation Establishnt again.

The first path was to emulate Zhou Guangxiang, who had likewise failed to Foundation Establishnt despite taking the Foundation Establishnt Pill, and riskily attempt to force his way into the Foundation Establishnt Stage with the Great Perfection of the Qi Cultivation Tenth Layer.

The second path was to accept Zhou Guangxiang’s earlier offer to join the Zhou Family as a way to obtain another Foundation Establishnt Pill for another attempt at reaching the Foundation Establishnt Stage.

Faced with the choice between a perilous venture and the worst possible failure, Li Hong didn’t need to ponder much.

Over the past few months, other clans had tried to entice Li Hong, but none of their offers were as straightforward or advantageous as the Zhou Family’s.

After all, if he were to join a cultivation clan, entering the first family of today’s Boundless Sea of Sand Cultivation Realm, the Zhou Family, was certainly a better option.

This was evident from the Zhou Family’s success in the "Bridegroom Recruitnt Conference" held after the "Treasure Hunting Conference."

Despite having only thirty-three Zhou Family female cultivators seeking spouses, the number of cultivators eager to marry into the family reached three to four thousand, truly a situation of selecting one from a hundred.

Thus, after a few days of consideration, Li Hong proactively approached the Zhou Family to agree to their terms, marrying a Zhou Family female cultivator at the Fourth-Layer Qi Cultivation, Zhou Fuxiang.

Another month passed, and Li Hong, having received a Foundation Establishnt Pill and ventured into seclusion for another attempt, finally succeeded in Foundation Establishnt and advanced to the Foundation Establishnt Stage.

As a result, the number of Zhou Family Foundation Establishnt Stage cultivators suddenly increased to thirteen.

Shortly after Li Hong’s success, Zhouyang, after discussions with Zhou Guangxiang and so Zhou Family cultivators, finalized the candidates who would accompany him to the Great Brightness Immortal Palace region.

The selected individuals included Golden Core Stage Ghost Cultivator Xu Song, Zhouyang and Xiao Ying, both Purple Mansion Stage Cultivators and a married couple.

Foundation Establishnt Stage cultivators included Zhou Guangxiang, Zhou Tongyue, Zhou Fuyun, and Li Hong.

As for the Qi Cultivation Stage cultivators, Zhouyang wasn’t in a hurry to select them imdiately.

Zhang Yunpeng from Yellow Sand Sect had at most a decade left in his lifespan, and Zhouyang would need to wait for his passing before feeling secure enough to leave.

Additionally, among the selected Foundation Establishnt cultivators, Zhou Tongyue and Li Hong had just reached Foundation Establishnt, and they needed a few years to stabilize their cultivation and improve their strength, so they could be of genuine help when the ti ca.

Most importantly, the "Yuan Condensing Fruit" tree had just blood and required Xiao Ying’s dedicated care since only she, having cultivated a Wood Elent Technique to the Purple Mansion Stage, could gather Wood Essence Qi to nourish the tree.

Having preliminarily finalized the list of candidates for the journey to the Great Brightness Immortal Palace region, Zhouyang and Zhou Guangxiang visited Rhino Horn Continent to establish the Zhou Family’s legacy treasure vault on Lingxi Peak.

This legacy treasure vault was built within the belly of Lingxi Peak, with its inner walls constructed from "Forbidden God Stone," and its outer walls made of a special alloy of various Tier Two and Tier Three Spiritual Golds, over a zhang thick, enough to withstand attacks from a Mid-Stage Purple Mansion Cultivator with sheer hardness alone.

The vault had only one main door and two magical artifact keys. To open the vault, not only must the corresponding magical artifact key be used, but also a cultivator with the Zhou Family main lineage blood must verify their bloodline.

Without the key, even if one had the key but was not a Zhou Family main lineage cultivator, even a Golden Core Stage Cultivator would be unable to open the vault door.

Should force be used to break down the door or attack the vault walls, an automatic trigger would activate a Tier Four Array inside that would set off an explosive array to destroy all the treasures within once the walls and door were breached.

After this legacy treasure vault was established, Zhouyang transferred all the important items, such as Tier Four Spiritual Objects and cultivation technique secrets, from the Zhou Family Treasure Vault into it. He and Zhou Guangxiang each took one of the two keys.

In the future, only they or their descendants could personally unlock the vault using the keys.

ps: A new map is opening soon. I’m working on the detailed plot outline for the new map, so writing is slightly slow. Only one update today, please understand!