CHAPTER 270: CHAPTER 257: REVEALING THE TRUTH

As the saying goes, to return home in wealth and prestige is like wearing brocade clothing at night.

Zhouyang, having successfully established the Purple Mansion and joined the ranks of high-tier cultivators, has become a well-known figure in the Boundless Sea of Sand Cultivation Realm.

Thus, he naturally needs to let people know of this news.

Therefore, after leaving the ruins of the Yin Puppet Sect, his first stop was not returning to Purple Cloud Cave at Red Fox Ridge, but heading to the Baisha River Oasis.

At this time, the Baisha River Oasis, due to a great war over ten years ago, appeared somewhat desolate. Although the marketplace had reopened, there weren’t many shops open, nor many cultivators trading within.

However, when Zhouyang arrived outside the marketplace as a Purple Mansion Cultivator, it still caused a huge stir.

After all, Zhouyang was previously a well-known figure in the Baisha River Cultivation Realm. Any cultivator who had stayed at the Baisha River Oasis for a while knew of his reputation.

His cultivation at the eighth layer of the Foundation Establishment Stage was no secret.

Now, just over a decade later, he suddenly transformed from an eighth-layer Foundation Establishment Cultivator to a Purple Mansion Cultivator. How could this not shock those aware of his situation?

The Foundation Establishment Cultivators of the Chen Family stationed at the marketplace naturally recognized Zhouyang as a former comrade in arms.

Seeing Zhouyang appear outside the marketplace, and without prior notice, they neither dared to easily break the rules to let Zhouyang enter nor neglect him by leaving this newly promoted Purple Mansion Cultivator outside.

Thus, they quickly conferred among themselves, first informing Chen Ping’an stationed at White Camel Peak, and then sent a representative to step out of the array to entertain Zhouyang.

"Junior Chen Pingxu greets Elder Zhou."

"Due to the rules, I cannot invite Elder into the marketplace to rest. I ask for Elder’s forgiveness."

Chen Pingxu stepped out of the array, raising his head slightly to glance at Zhouyang, then quickly lowered his head, apologizing to him respectfully.

The two had previously addressed each other as fellow daoists, and his actual age was similar to Zhouyang’s father, Zhou Xuanhao.

But in the cultivation realm, the accomplished are always respected; Zhouyang was not a junior to him in the Chen Family. His age, in front of Zhouyang, not only showed no advantage of seniority but made him feel deeply ashamed.

Considering Zhouyang, who established the Purple Mansion at one hundred and five, and himself stagnating at the fifth layer of Foundation Establishment at over a hundred and fifty, there truly is no comparison without disparity!

Facing Chen Pingxu’s salutation and apology, Zhouyang merely laughed heartily and said, "Hahaha, Fellow Daoist Chen is too kind. We are old acquaintances; how could I not understand the marketplace’s rules? I came uninvited because I just returned from the Yellow Sand Sect, passing by the Baisha River Oasis, wanting to take a look."

Passing by just to take a look?

I think you came intentionally to show off!

Chen Pingxu cursed inwardly, yet could only accompany a smile outwardly and said, "I see, Junior has been presumptuous and rash."

After the two chatted for a while, Chen Ping’an, having received the news, arrived there as quickly as possible.

"Congratulations! Fellow Daoist Zhou, so young yet having succeeded in establishing the Purple Mansion, a Golden Core is foreseeable in the future! A Golden Core is foreseeable!"

Chen Ping’an landed with his sword light, expressing his sincere amazement as he clasped his hands in congratulation to Zhouyang.

When Zhouyang prominently went to the Yellow Sand Sect to close in and establish the Purple Mansion, he had heard about it, but having attempted twice to establish his own Purple Mansion, he didn’t fully endorse Zhouyang’s eagerness.

However, he couldn’t have imagined that Zhouyang would succeed in one attempt, and that too so swiftly.

"Fellow Daoist Chen praises me too highly. I have just established the Purple Mansion; how dare I think too far ahead. It’s Fellow Daoist Chen’s cultivation that has advanced rapidly. In just over ten years since we last met, your cultivation has advanced by another layer, truly enviable!"

In response to Chen Ping’an’s congratulations, Zhouyang’s attitude changed completely, becoming quite humble.

Chen Ping’an established the Purple Mansion decades earlier than Zhouyang and, aided by elixirs refined by the Chen Family Ancestor during his lifetime, within just decades, he reached the third layer of the Purple Mansion, quite rapid progress for the Purple Mansion Stage.

In contrast, Zhouyang himself, after reaching the Purple Mansion Stage, if unable to go to the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm, his future cultivation advancements would indeed rely solely on his own diligent cultivation.

"Since Fellow Daoist Zhou has ascended to the Purple Mansion, what are your future plans?"

After some pleasantries, Chen Ping’an solemnly asked Zhouyang about his future intentions.

With Zhouyang’s successful ascension to the Purple Mansion, the Zhou Family is bound to become a Purple Mansion Clan. At that time, the Baisha River Oasis’s resources won’t suffice for two Purple Mansion Clans.

So even though he had previously received hints of Zhouyang moving his entire family elsewhere, he needed to ask clearly now.

"Since Fellow Daoist Chen inquired, I shall not hide it from you. I have already negotiated with Sect Leader Zhang; the Yellow Sand Sect will award the Red Tiger Mountain Oasis to the Zhou Family as a new foundation. In return, the Zhou Family will henceforth follow the Yellow Sand Sect, aligning in every aspect!"

Zhouyang smiled faintly, no longer concealing the Zhou Family’s future intentions.

In the past, I didn’t mention these things for two reasons: first, it wasn’t suitable at the time to let outsiders know about his relationship with the Yellow Sand Sect; second, he hadn’t yet opened the Purple Mansion, and the agreement hadn’t been formally carried out.

Now that he’s signed the "Nether Blood Contract," he can naturally announce the Zhou family’s new direction to the world.

Indeed, upon hearing his response, Chen Ping’an was first taken aback and then clapped his hands in delight, saying, "Excellent, if the Zhou family relocates to the Red Tiger Mountain Oasis, I and the Chen family will certainly lend our full support. Fellow Daoist Zhou, if there’s anything you need our Chen family to help with, please don’t hesitate to ask!"

"Even if Fellow Daoist Chen hadn’t offered, I would shamelessly ask for this favor anyway."

Zhouyang nodded with a smile, then said, "My Zhou family has tens of thousands of mortal people, and although they can’t all migrate to the Red Tiger Mountain Oasis, at least half must relocate to establish our foundation there."

"However, migrating such a large population over such a long distance is difficult with only my Zhou family’s strength."

"Therefore, I ask Fellow Daoist Chen to lend us the Shatuo Beasts that the Chen family has domesticated for some time to help us complete the migration."

This, in fact, was the true purpose of his visit to the Baisha River Oasis this time.

The Zhou family can move away from the Baisha River Oasis Cultivation Realm, but the Chen family can’t just stand by and do nothing.

Chen Ping’an, being a wise man, immediately responded to Zhouyang’s request with enthusiasm, "This is easily done; my Chen family owns over five hundred Shatuo Beasts. I can decide to lend three hundred of them to the Zhou family for three years. Fellow Daoist Zhou, how does this sound?"

Upon hearing this, Zhouyang immediately exclaimed with joy, "Fellow Daoist Chen, you are indeed straightforward. Then I will thank you in advance!"

After chatting a while longer, Zhouyang bade farewell and left the Baisha River Oasis.

Half a day later, upon leaving the Baisha River Oasis, Zhouyang finally returned to Red Fox Ridge.

At Red Fox Ridge, there was no communication array set by the Yellow Sand Sect, so the Zhou clan people didn’t yet know that their Clan Leader had successfully opened the Purple Mansion. Therefore, when Zhouyang returned, he was not greeted by anyone.

Of course, this was intentional on Zhouyang’s part.

He could boast in front of outsiders like the Chen family to intimidate them, but there was no need to do so before his own clan.

Nonetheless, upon his return, the news of Zhouyang’s successful opening of the Purple Mansion quickly spread throughout the oasis, causing all the Zhou family cultivators who heard the news to cheer excitedly.

"The heavens and our ancestors protect us. My Zhou family finally has a Purple Mansion Stage cultivator! My son Zhou Xuanhao is a Purple Mansion Stage cultivator!"

Inside the Purple Cloud Cave, upon seeing Zhouyang return at the Purple Mansion Stage, Zhou Xuanhao was overwhelmed with joy and hugged him with tears of happiness.

Which father in the world doesn’t hope his son will achieve greatness?

Zhou Xuanhao was no exception.

Now Zhouyang has truly accomplished what countless generations of Zhou family cultivators have not done and surpassed all his predecessors. How could he not be happy? How could he not be excited?

Moreover, which among these clan cultivators does not wish to glorify their ancestors?

With Zhouyang’s advancement to the Purple Mansion Stage, the Zhou family would rise to become a Purple Mansion Clan, realizing the wish to glorify their ancestors. Zhou Xuanhao, as his father, is honored and can’t help but feel genuine happiness and excitement for him.

"Success at the Purple Mansion, extending life to five hundred years, this calls for a ten-day celebration. I will immediately arrange, no, I will personally send invitations to all clans to invite their clan leaders to come to our Zhou family for my son’s Purple Mansion celebration!"

Zhou Xuanhao, overwhelmed with excitement, danced with joy, eager to let everyone know about Zhouyang’s successful opening of the Purple Mansion.

Zhouyang understood his father Zhou Xuanhao’s thoughts—when a mortal’s son becomes a scholar, they would wish the whole city to know.

But he has now advanced from a Foundation Establishment cultivator to a Purple Mansion cultivator, which is vastly more significant than a scholar earning a title.

However, understanding is one thing; he does not support such actions, at least not for the time being.

He raised his hand and gently grabbed his father Zhou Xuanhao’s wrist, saying softly, "Father, please calm down. Celebrating, of course, is necessary, but it doesn’t need to be so hasty. At the very least, we should wait until I’ve killed Luo Yunqing, and used his head to honor our great-grandfather before doing this!"

"Kill Luo Yunqing? Yang’Er, be honest with me, are you confident you can kill him?"

Zhou Xuanhao’s expression changed slightly, showing a trace of concern as he looked at Zhouyang and asked quietly.

Previously, he hadn’t much cared about this question, because he understood the significance of the Dao Heart Oath Zhouyang made under those circumstances.

As the family patriarch, being indebted to the former patriarch Zhou Minghan’s mentoring, if Zhouyang had remained indifferent after seeing Zhou Minghan’s head severed and body burned without knowing the truth, that would have been truly heart-chilling!

But now, with Zhouyang having opened the Purple Mansion successfully at 105 years old, his future potential is immense, and as his father, Zhou Xuanhao can’t help but worry about the Dao Heart Oath he took.

"Father, don’t worry; what promise have I not fulfilled?"

Zhouyang gently rubbed the storage ring on his finger, smiling as he patted his father’s wrist, giving him a reassuring look.