Cultivation Begins From The Desert

"Ninth Uncle, please give my sister another chance, I beg you!"

Zhou Guangxiang looked at Zhouyang, whose face was dark and ready to explode with rage, his eyes filled with pain and desperation.

He knew he couldn't stop Zhouyang, and certainly didn't dare to actually fight Zhouyang.

But the news his sister Zhou Guangxiang sent out a month ago made him do everything he could to stop Zhouyang from opening the cave.

Indeed, Zhou Guangxiang failed to establish the Foundation.

She was unlucky to hit that 30-40% failure rate, but thanks to the Foundation Establishment Pill protecting her, she did not dissipate her cultivation and perish, but could only cultivate to the Qi Cultivation Tenth Layer Great Perfection like Zhou Guangqian from the Zhou Family decades ago.

This result was unacceptable not only to Zhou Guangxiang but also to Zhou Guangxiang who risked his life to leave the Foundation Establishment Pill for his sister.

He risked his life to leave the Foundation Establishment Pill for his sister, and in the end, she did not succeed in establishing the Foundation, which meant not only wasting a Foundation Establishment Pill but also exposing the fact that he had concealed the use of the pill to all clan cultivators.

After all, the difference between the Tenth and Ninth Layer of Qi Cultivation is obvious at first glance, and cannot be hidden.

Both siblings were hesitant about how they would face the strange looks and scoldings from clan members after wasting a Foundation Establishment Pill.

The clan had only a few Foundation Establishment Pills, and Zhou Guangxiang used his Upper-Grade Spiritual Root Cultivator identity to take one without cost, but gave it to his Middle-grade Spiritual Root sister, who still failed!

What would those Qi Cultivation Stage cultivators, who fought hard to exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill, think about this?

Their thoughts weren't important anymore; what was important was that Zhou Guangxiang couldn't accept this outcome.

So after days of tearful and confused thoughts, she gritted her teeth and sent a Sound Transmission Talisman to her brother Zhou Guangxiang outside the cave, expressing her determination to attempt Foundation Establishment once more.

A Qi Cultivation Tenth Layer cultivator can still attempt Foundation Establishment again.

Moreover, because she consumed a Foundation Establishment Pill which strengthened her meridians, her success rate was at least over 20%.

But according to Zhou Family's old clan rules, clan cultivators who consumed a Foundation Establishment Pill and failed are not permitted to attempt Foundation Establishment again.

The reason was simple; even if the success rate for Tenth Layer cultivators was slightly higher than that for ordinary Ninth Layer cultivators, if they failed without the protection of the Foundation Establishment Pill, they would either perish or become crippled.

This obviously didn't align with the interests of the clan.

The clan would give a Foundation Establishment Pill to a Ninth Layer cultivator, and even if they failed, at least they would attain the Qi Cultivation Tenth Layer Great Perfection, which was considered a partial failure.

However, if the cultivator attempts Foundation Establishment again after failing once, and fails again, it would be a total loss!

Not only would it waste a Foundation Establishment Pill, but also a Tenth Layer cultivator—it would be a huge loss!

And even without considering clan interests, Zhouyang personally didn't want to see Zhou Guangxiang perish.

Though he was the clan leader, he cared deeply for only about a dozen Zhou Family members, including Zhou Guangxiang and his siblings.

He couldn't bear to see a niece he watched grow up vanish before his eyes and worried Zhou Guangxiang might be left with a lingering regret that could hinder future cultivation.

To him, gaining another Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator was certainly gratifying for the Zhou Family.

But even without one, it wouldn't affect the clan.

The Zhou Family was no longer the same as back in the days when it urgently needed a Foundation Establishment cultivator to step up.

So, facing Zhou Guangxiang's plea, he suppressed his anger and kindly advised, "Guangxiang, it's not your Ninth Uncle trying to discourage you. Your sister's rash attempt at Foundation Establishment has an even higher chance of failure!"

"She's still young. Even if she wants to attempt again, she can wait ten more years, until she's fifty-nine!"

It was visible that upon hearing these words, Zhou Guangxiang revealed a look of struggle and hesitation.

He understood this reasoning and actually agreed with Zhouyang.

But recalling the firm tone in his sister's Sound Transmission Talisman made his hesitation vanish, replaced by a bitter smile that looked worse than crying. "Ninth Uncle, how could I not understand what you say? But my sister is determined, if I let you in, I fear I can only prepare her funeral!"

Zhou Guangxiang explicitly stated in her Sound Transmission Talisman that she absolutely refused to meet other clan members as a Qi Cultivation Tenth Layer Great Perfection cultivator, and if Zhouyang went in, she would immediately break her heart meridian and commit suicide!

"Yes, Oh Zhou Lang, just give Xiang'Er a chance, this wife and Xiang'Er have been together for over ten years, and truly understand her character. Beneath her gentle appearance lies a strong will like ironwood; if you force your way in, you might push her to do something foolish!"

Accompanying Zhouyang was Xiao Ying, who couldn't help but speak up for Zhou Guangxiang at this moment.

Due to being spirit plant cultivators of similar age, Zhou Guangxiang's relationship with her Ninth Aunt, Xiao Ying, was like close sisters after over a decade, and Xiao Ying certainly did not want to see a good sister driven to a dead end by her own Dao Companion and meet a tragic end.

"Alright, since Ying'er also said so, I'll give Ying'er a face and give you another chance!"

Zhouyang's expression changed several times before he deeply looked at Zhou Guangxiang, turned away and left these words as he returned to his Purple Cloud Cave.

How could he bear the name of the uncle who pushed his niece to death?

It can only be said that being a good clan leader is truly difficult!

For the next month, due to this incident with Zhou Guangxiang, Zhouyang was unable to focus on his cultivation and was troubled by explaining the situation to the old clan leader Zhou Minghan.

He had hidden the truth for these siblings, concealing it even from Zhou Minghan. Now months had passed during Zhou Guangxiang's secretive cultivation, yet there was no news, how could he explain this matter?

With no other solution, he had to personally visit the old clan leader Zhou Minghan and confess the whole story.

As expected, Zhou Minghan was exceptionally enraged by this, ruthlessly scolding Zhouyang and sternly demanding punishment according to clan rules for Zhou Guangxiang and his siblings.

"Great-grandfather, please calm down. Punishment is indeed warranted, but given the circumstances, it's best to wait for the outcome!"

Zhouyang awkwardly faced Zhou Minghan's scolding, doing his utmost to speak favorably for Zhou Guangxiang and his siblings.

"Then what are you still doing here? Go back and watch those two little brats!"

Zhou Minghan glared at him with a bad temper, his anger difficult to dissipate, directly driving him out.

Zhouyang saw this, knowing that he had temporarily passed the hurdle with the old clan leader Zhou Minghan, and immediately gave an awkward smile, returning to Red Fox Ridge in a hurry.

After more than a month passed, there was an unusual fluctuation of spiritual qi in Zhou Guangxiang's cave, finally manifesting the phenomenon of "Spiritual Energy Infusion"!

Several days later, after nearly five months of seclusion, Zhou Guangxiang finally walked out of the cave as a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Due to successfully establishing a foundation with the cultivation of Qi Cultivation Tenth Layer Great Perfection, although Zhou Guangxiang had just achieved Foundation Establishment, his magical power cultivation was no weaker than those cultivators who had established their foundation for several years. This was equivalent to saving several years of cultivation time.

And Zhouyang, who had been paying attention to this side, appeared before the siblings with Xiao Ying half a day after she emerged from the cave.

"Greetings, Ninth Uncle and Aunt Nine. Xiang'Er acted recklessly, causing Ninth Uncle to be reprimanded. Please forgive Xiang'Er!"

Upon seeing Zhouyang and his wife arrive, Zhou Guangxiang, who had just learned about the situation from his brother, immediately half-knelt before Zhouyang, with a face full of guilt, bowing for forgiveness.

"Rise first. A dignified Foundation Establishment cultivator should have the dignity of a Foundation Establishment cultivator. This kneeling ceremony is only used when paying respects to ancestors and parents; for others, even if a Golden Core Ancestor is present, such ceremony is unnecessary!"

Zhouyang glanced at the young girl kneeling on the ground, flicked his large sleeve, and used magical power to lift her up.

Then he scanned the siblings with various expressions, coldly smiling: "I've not come here to congratulate you, but to execute family law!"

"We understand and are willing to accept any punishment from the clan!"

The sibling duo, Zhou Guangxiang and Zhou Guangxiang, exchanged a glance, responding in unison.

Their appearance made it evident that they were mentally prepared for this.

"I'm too lazy to state the reason for your punishment; you already know it. Now, I will only announce the results!"

Looking at the siblings with resolute faces, Zhouyang extended his fingers slowly: "First, the clan welfare supply for you two will be suspended for the next twenty years; second, in the next twenty years, you must repay the clan contribution points owed for exchanging the Foundation Establishment Pill; third, within a hundred years, you are prohibited from exchanging Foundation Establishment Pills from the clan!"

After solemnly stating the clan's punishment, his tone serious, he asked the two sternly: "Are you willing to accept the punishment?"

"We are willing!"

The sibling duo nodded, accepting the punishment honestly.

Admittedly, this punishment was not lenient. Just the suspension of clan welfare supply for twenty years for the two Foundation Establishment cultivators meant losing over ten thousand clan contribution points between them, with an additional obligation to repay the twenty thousand points for the Foundation Establishment Pill. This punishment was truly heavy.

In comparison, the third prohibition of exchanging Foundation Establishment Pills for a century seemed negligible for now.

After all, neither sibling had established a family nor had the need to exchange Foundation Establishment Pills for descendants.

Once they do establish a family and have descendants, they can control the timing of having descendants and wait until after the century has passed to exchange Foundation Establishment Pills for their offspring.

Of course, that's presuming the Zhou family has Foundation Establishment Pills available for exchange at that time.

After punishing the siblings, Zhouyang did not linger and directly went to Yuquan Lake Oasis to report the good news to the old clan leader, Zhou Minghan, leaving Xiao Ying to represent him in congratulating and celebrating with the sibling duo.

The old clan leader Zhou Minghan was fairly satisfied with Zhouyang's punishment. Given that Zhou Guangxiang ultimately succeeded in establishing a foundation, he did not further pursue the matter, pretending to know nothing, not letting other clan members know about the many events that transpired during this time.

Meanwhile, the news of Zhou Guangxiang's successful Foundation Establishment quickly spread across the Zhou family, sparking widespread discussion among the Zhou family cultivators.

Those uninformed only assumed Zhou Guangxiang achieved Foundation Establishment without using a Foundation Establishment Pill. In a certain sense, this was indeed the case.

Thus, this news served as a significant motivation for many Zhou family cultivators.

First there was Zhou Xuanhao, followed by Huang Yi and Zhou Guangxiang; given that all three managed to establish a foundation without using the Foundation Establishment Pill, it showed that achieving Foundation Establishment without it wasn't as difficult as rumored!

Moreover, since others could succeed, why couldn't they?

In the following decades, numerous Zhou family cultivators reached the Ninth Layer in Qi Cultivation and applied for a cave from the clan without a Foundation Establishment Pill, resolutely pushing towards the Foundation Establishment stage.

Although none succeeded, their actions certainly spurred on the zeal of the clan cultivators, improving the family ethos considerably and greatly enhancing the vitality of the clan.

Of course, all these were later events.

For Zhouyang, after the matter of Zhou Guangxiang's Foundation Establishment, his life returned to normal, spending time either in cultivation or researching the sixth Basic Sword Array of the Great Derivation Sword Technique, "Six Harmonies Unifying Sword Array," living a simple yet fulfilling life.

This fulfilling life went on for another five years.

Five years passed, and his cultivation increasingly approached the Eighth Layer Foundation Establishment, with a deeper understanding of the "Six Harmonies Unifying Sword Array," nearing complete mastery.

Simultaneously, the Wind Shadow Leopard finally gave birth to an offspring with the Eagle Lion Beast after five years of gestation.

It was a peculiar demon beast with a leopard head, lion body, and eagle wings, born as a Tier One Middle Grade demon beast, unequivocally a wind-focused demon beast.

Zhouyang named this demon beast "Flying Divine Leopard," personally bringing it to Haoyang Mountain for cultivation, caring for it daily so that the young leopard became accustomed to his scent and recognized him as its master.

As for the true parents of the young leopard, the Eagle Lion Beast and Wind Shadow Leopard, they were left at Red Fox Ridge, temporarily not allowed to interact with the young leopard.

Wind Shadow Leopard certainly did not want its young to be taken by Zhouyang, but unfortunately, it couldn't overturn the situation at its peak, let alone with reduced strength post-delivery.

As for the Eagle Lion Beast, it only cared about mating, indifferent to Zhouyang taking away the offspring that bore no resemblance to itself.

While Zhouyang strained to train the "Flying Divine Leopard," the Zhou family's future clan guardian spirit beast, a summoning order signed by Cao Wenjin spread across dozens of cultivation clans in the Boundless Desert Sea.

The Zhou family received one as well.