CHAPTER 259: CHAPTER 246: TIME REVEALS A PERSON’S TRUE NATURE

The contents of this family meeting quickly spread throughout the Zhou Family via word of mouth from the attendees. The news Zhouyang revealed at the meeting indeed had an immediate effect in stabilizing people’s hearts and boosting morale.

At the meeting, Zhouyang also issued several orders to the entire family of cultivators to begin strengthening war preparations and start stockpiling Spirit Grains and Demon Beast meat, while vigorously refining Magical Artifacts, Spirit Pills, Spirit Talismans, and other items.

War is about to begin!

This is the realization many Zhou Family cultivators had after seeing the family’s actions.

Soon, they realized that it wasn’t that war was about to begin, but that war had already arrived.

At the Baisha River Oasis.

Luo Yunqing suddenly arrived with nearly forty Foundation Establishment Cultivators and over four hundred Late-Stage Qi Cultivation cultivators at the outskirts of Baisha River Oasis, declaring that if the Chen Family and the various cultivation clans of the Baisha River Oasis Cultivation Realm did not side with them, they would exterminate the rebels.

Chen Ping’an had just reconciled with the Zhou Family through Zhang Yunpeng’s mediation, and at this time, he was certainly unwilling to side with Luo Yunqing.

Moreover, he did not have high hopes that Luo Yunqing and his group could succeed.

Most importantly, even if he joined Luo Yunqing, the benefits he would receive might not be much.

The things he wanted, Luo Yunqing might not be able to provide, and the things Luo Yunqing promised, he might not need.

Reality is just like this.

So after receiving Luo Yunqing’s ultimatum, he both stalled for time by pretending to comply and used the Communication Array established by the Yellow Sand Sect to send summons to the Zhou Family, Yang Family, and other clans while seeking help from Zhang Yunpeng of the Yellow Sand Sect.

Zhouyang was originally preparing to return to the Purple Cloud Cave at Red Fox Ridge to go into seclusion and attempt breaking through to the eighth layer of the Foundation Establishment Realm. At this moment, upon receiving the emergency summons sent by the Chen Family, he could only temporarily set aside this plan and discuss countermeasures with the old clan leader, Zhou Minghan.

"Under a collapsed nest, how can there be unbroken eggs? Since the Chen Family asked for help, unless our Zhou Family wants to side with Luo Yunqing, we definitely have to provide support!"

"But the current situation is that we do not know if the personnel and forces Luo Yunqing brought this time are truly only those he has revealed so far, and we also cannot guarantee that after failing to destroy the Chen Family, he won’t turn his target to attack our Foundation Establishment Clan’s Spirit Mountain!"

"So we can support, but while supporting, the defense on our family’s side must not be slackened either."

Zhouyang, as the clan leader, first expressed his view at this juncture.

As soon as he finished speaking, the old clan leader, Zhou Minghan, nodded in agreement and said, "Xiao Jiu, what you say is right. We indeed need to prepare both hands. In my view, while supporting the Chen Family, we can let most of the clan’s low-tier cultivators go to Red Fox Ridge to take refuge. This way, even if Luo Yunqing really brings people to attack our Zhou Family, at most we will temporarily hand over the Oasis to them!"

"The Oasis is right here; no one can take it away. Even if Luo Yunqing occupies it, he, a dignified Purple Mansion Cultivator, cannot be stationed here permanently. When he leaves, this Oasis will sooner or later still belong to our Zhou Family!"

Abandoning Jade Spring Peak and Haoyang Mountain, these two Tier Three Spiritual Veins, is undoubtedly a significant loss for the Zhou Family.

But Zhou Minghan knows that these losses are only temporary. Once Zhouyang successfully establishes a Purple Mansion, the Zhou Family will not only easily retake these two Spirit Mountains but also take a big chunk out of Luo Yunqing’s manpower.

Giving up to gain—without loss, there is no gain!

Having lived for over two hundred and thirty years, how could Zhou Minghan not understand this principle?

His view coincidentally aligned with what Zhouyang had in mind.

In fact, Zhouyang also intended to say these things earlier, but he worried that the elderly Zhou Minghan might not accept this idea, so he hadn’t immediately proposed it.

Now it seems he assumed too much.

Although Zhou Minghan was old, his mind was still clear, and he could discern the importance of the situation.

Therefore, he readily said, "Grandson fully agrees with the great-grandfather’s opinion. Then, I entrust the task of transferring people to Red Fox Ridge to you, great-grandfather. As for aiding the Chen Family, I will take Guangxiang over."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Minghan’s face changed slightly, and he looked at him with furrowed brows.

After staring directly at Zhouyang for nearly half a cup of tea’s time, he finally nodded gently and said, "Very well!"

"Then it’s settled. Grandson will contact the Chen Family right away, then head to Red Fox Ridge to pick up Guangxiang."

Zhouyang slightly averted his gaze from Zhou Minghan’s scrutiny, quickly decided on this arrangement with a swift agreement.

On the other side, upon receiving the Zhou Family’s reply, Chen Ping’an’s face also brightened with joy.

If the entire Baisha River Oasis Cultivation Realm’s forces can be united, and with the help of the Arrays, Luo Yunqing, the formidable figure coming from afar, might not necessarily be able to overpower them, the local power here.

However, after a short while of smiling, his expression gradually darkened again.

After the Zhou Family replied, none of the other clans, including the Yang Family from Golden Spring Valley, sent a definitive response saying they would support the Chen Family.

Only after about a day had passed did two or three families eventually reply, saying they would send support, but none of them were the Yang Family from Golden Spring Valley.

"Well, well, indeed, only through long journeys do we know a horse’s strength, and only over time do we see a person’s true heart!"

"Who would have thought that when true disaster strikes, the only ones willing to share adversity with our Chen Family would be the Zhou Family, whom we once opposed!"

"The Yang Family, well played, Yang Family!"

Chen Ping’an muttered darkly to himself, his eyes flashing with a terrifying killing intent.

Including the former Zhou Family, the Chen Family had been quite generous to these clans.

Putting aside other matters, whenever the Foundation Establishment Conference was held by the Chen Family Ancestor, it was a tremendous act of goodwill towards those attending clans.

Over the past two or three hundred years in the Baisha River Oasis Cultivation Realm, the number of cultivators who successfully established their foundation using the Foundation Establishment Pill from the conference exceeded ten.

Several clans managed to extend their family traditions due to obtaining the Foundation Establishment Pill from the conference.

Yet now, less than two years after the Chen Family Ancestor’s passing, those clans who benefited greatly from the Chen Family scarcely regard its orders, making it hard for Chen Ping’an not to grit his teeth.

With an icy look on his face, Chen Ping’an muttered, "I’ll remember this. Once we survive this ordeal, I will make sure that you traitors who betray insiders understand that my Chen Family, which can give you Foundation Establishment Pills to help extend your family lineage, can also take them back and eradicate your entire clan!"

Luo Yunqing gave the Chen Family three days to consider, which was enough time for Zhouyang to travel from the Yuquan Lake Oasis to Red Fox Ridge, and then proceed to the Baisha River Oasis.

After riding the Eagle Lion Beast with Zhou Guangxiang to the outskirts of the Baisha River Oasis, to prevent Luo Yunqing from using a "surround and attack reinforcements" tactic, the two used the Golden Cicada Concealment Technique to hide their aura and walked to the Chen Family’s White Camel Peak as Qi Cultivation Stage cultivators.

Coincidentally, the Chen Family was also recalling scattered family members to return, so the two of them heading to White Camel Peak at this time wasn’t too conspicuous.

After safely arriving outside White Camel Peak, Zhouyang immediately sent a flying sword message to inform Chen Ping’an of his whereabouts, and then Chen Ping’an personally ordered someone to open the array to let them onto White Camel Peak.

Once on White Camel Peak, after a brief exchange of pleasantries, Zhouyang immediately looked at Chen Ping’an and asked, "Elder Chen, has there been any reply from the Yellow Sand Sect? How do you plan to fight this war?"

"Sect Leader Zhang can’t make it personally, but he has already promised to send people with a Tier Four Puppet Beast to support us. According to him, if we can hold on for a year and a half, Lady Jiang should have successfully cultivated the Outer Dao Golden Core and be out of seclusion. At that time, he will personally help us repel the enemy."

Chen Ping’an’s eyes flashed as he quietly revealed the reply from the Yellow Sand Sect.

After the battle at Rhino Horn Continent, Cao Wenjin reclaimed the Tier Four Puppet Beasts previously given to the various Purple Mansion cultivators, which, in hindsight, was his most correct decision.

If not for this, apart from the Yellow Sand Sect Mountain Gate protected by a Tier Five Array, no clan could withstand the attacks from Luo Yunqing, a Purple Mansion cultivator, along with several Tier Four Puppet Beasts.

"Is it a strategy to hold the fort and await reinforcements?"

Zhouyang muttered softly to himself, unsurprised by the strategy.

After all, Luo Yunqing was at the Sixth Layer of the Purple Mansion, while Chen Ping’an was only at the Second Layer. With such a significant difference in cultivation, even if Chen Ping’an was stronger than his peers, managing a draw would be quite a feat.

But let’s not forget that Luo Yunqing isn’t acting alone; he has Guo Shuyun as an ally.

Who knows if Guo Shuyun is currently hiding in the shadows, waiting to strike together with Luo Yunqing once Chen Ping’an steps outside the protection of the array?

Moreover, as far as Zhouyang knew, several Purple Mansion loose cultivators in the Boundless Sea of Sand Cultivation Realm, who were previously very low-key, have been frequently appearing as if intending to take action.

These individuals were once suppressed by the Yellow Sand Sect. Given the current circumstances, who can say if they’ve reached some agreement with Luo Yunqing and Guo Shuyun, the two traitors from the Yellow Sand Sect?

Zhang Yunpeng fears leaving the Yellow Sand Sect Mountain Gate, likely worrying Luo Yunqing and others might lure him out to ambush him.

Knowing this, Zhouyang wasn’t surprised by Zhang Yunpeng and Chen Ping’an’s choice, and simply asked, "Can Elder Chen share how many defense forces we currently have?"

Upon hearing Zhouyang’s question, Chen Ping’an’s expression instantly turned grim.

He spoke with a low voice, "Even with the most optimistic estimate, our defense force now includes no more than fifteen Foundation Establishment cultivators, yet there are over a thousand Qi Cultivation Stage cultivators."

Through years of recuperation, the Chen Family’s Foundation Establishment cultivators have restored their numbers to seven, and together with the Foundation Establishment cultivators from the four vassal families on Baisha River Oasis, that makes eleven.

These eleven, plus two from the Zhou Family, total thirteen.

After listening to Chen Ping’an, Zhouyang realized what had transpired, and his face turned gloomy in an instant.