CHAPTER 139: CHAPTER 137: HAOYANG CAVE ATTACKED

Yellow Sand Sect.

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

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

At this time, it had been two months since the Zhou Family held a family meeting. 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 Measuring 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 something 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 mentioned last time?"

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 immediately smiled and replied, "Unexpected that Master He still remembers this matter. That’s correct, Zhouyang came this time precisely to invite Master He to help set up a [Seven-Star Spirit Measuring 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 moment 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 some 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 Elements Maze Array" in Zhouyang’s hands and the "Earth and Metal Spear Array" arranged at Haoyang Cave Spirit Vein by the Zhou Family, the "Seven-Star Spirit Measuring 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 time 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 someone 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 Measuring 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 Measuring Array," showing gratified smiles on their faces.

The function of the "Seven-Star Spirit Measuring Array" itself was secondary, but the significance it represents was extremely important. A clan having spare money to invite someone 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 time, the Zhou Family was saving every spirit stone for the purchase of Foundation Establishment 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 Measuring 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 immediately looked at Zhouyang and said:

"Next is planning Xiao Jiu’s Foundation Establishment Ceremony and advancement to Tier Three Refiner ceremony. Now that the demon chaos is quelled and everything back to normal, holding these ceremonies at home will not only boost the confidence and morale of the clan members 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 same time, as the Zhou Family’s reputation grows, the goods sold by their various shops will become 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 Establishment 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 mean 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 Establishment cultivators and a reserve of two Foundation Establishment 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 something that a powerful cultivation clan must do, and it greatly benefits the family’s development.

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" name may be shouted loudly but often feels fictitious to outsiders.

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

Merely hearing the name "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 members, 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 meeting will be held to thank the participating Foundation Establishment companions!"

After pondering for a long time, 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. Some renowned Foundation Establishment loose cultivators were also included in his invitation list.

Zhouyang remained at the family headquarters, cultivating while handling some 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 Establishment 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!

Immediately, 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, meeting 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 me to activate the Earth and Metal 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 Metal Spear Array strained the injuries in his meridians, causing unbearable pain.

"I understand, father, please return to Jade Spring Peak to recuperate, and let me 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 Element Techniques might not be able to exert even eighty percent of their strength.

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

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

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