Cultivation Begins From The Desert

Maybe it was because he was already accustomed to Zhouyang’s extraordinary performances that the old Clan Leader, Zhou Minghan, was not too surprised by his completion of the first layer of the "Flying Star Sword Technique" in less than two months, merely giving the usual praise.

As they returned to the clan, just as Zhouyang had expected, the entire Jade Spring Peak was draped in white banners, the sound of weeping from Zhou Clan Members who had lost loved ones echoing everywhere.

On this Jade Spring Peak lived not only the Zhou Family Cultivators but also the direct mortal descendants within two generations of the Zhou Family Cultivators, such as Zhou Xuan Yu’s two sons without Spiritual Roots, who lived with dozens of their family members beside her courtyard.

This scene of the whole mountain wrapped in mourning, Zhouyang was witnessing for the first time in decades, and at first glance, it truly touched him deeply.

"Does it feel uncomfortable? If it does, that’s good!"

"Why do our Clan Cultivators have stronger cohesion than Loose Cultivators, or even Sect Cultivators? It’s because every Cultivator of our clan has lived and practiced together from birth. Besides having the same ancestors, they’ve shared familial friendships, and when a family member or friend passes away, we naturally mourn and commemorate them."

"In contrast, while sect cultivators may have master-apprentice relationships and camaraderie, it can never be like our Zhou Family, where even the death of low-tier cultivators can trigger heartfelt mourning across the entire clan."

"Look at this whole mountain draped in white, all done spontaneously by the clan members, and each wail is sincere and heartfelt."

At the top of Jade Spring Peak, the old Clan Leader Zhou Minghan, who had somehow arrived behind Zhouyang, was the source of the voice speaking earlier.

"Great-grandfather’s meaning, this grandson understands, but compared to the now mourning-clad mountain, I would much prefer to see it adorned with red banners, with the clan celebrating the advancement of our cultivators to Foundation Establishment, Purple Mansion, or even to Golden Core!" Zhouyang turned back to look at the old Clan Leader, murmuring in a low tone.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Minghan’s expression shifted, and he couldn’t help but look deeply at him as he said, "I too look forward to that day coming. If it truly arrives, you must hang a red banner on my grave, so I can also partake in the celebration!"

Zhouyang frowned at hearing his somewhat discouraged words and said, "Great-grandfather, you’re being a bit too pessimistic. Foundation Establishment Cultivators have a lifespan of up to two hundred forty years. You’re not even two hundred yet; you are still in the prime of life, and the Zhou Family, this great ship, still needs you at its helm."

"Enough, regarding the succession of the Clan Leader, Xiao Jiu, there’s no need to persuade me further. My decision is made, and no one can change it. You should think more about how you will reform the clan after you take over as Clan Leader. Now that our Zhou Family has gained two Foundation Establishment Cultivators, including you and your father, some old systems should be revised!"

Zhou Minghan waved his hand, clearly not wanting to discuss the succession issue further with Zhouyang, evidently genuinely intending to retire as he had stated.

Seeing this, Zhouyang felt utterly helpless.

Since returning to the clan, he had discussed this matter with his father, Zhou Xuanhao, who stayed at the clan, asking him and Zhou Xuantai and other clan elders to persuade the old Clan Leader to retract his decision. However, the results were far from ideal.

Not only did Zhou Xuanhao and others fail to persuade the old Clan Leader, but they were also convinced by him, turning to support his succession as Clan Leader, which left him feeling deeply troubled.

Yet despite his distress, the necessary actions still had to be taken.

Half a month after returning to the clan, Zhouyang, in front of all the clan cultivators, accepted the clan registry handed over by the old Clan Leader Zhou Minghan and officially became the fourth-generation Clan Leader of the Yuquan Zhou Family, with the old Clan Leader Zhou Minghan retiring to become the clan’s first Supreme Elder.

After taking over as Clan Leader, Zhouyang’s primary task was to listen to the reports from the clan elders about family affairs, personnel, and financial situations.

"Currently, our Zhou Family has one Late-Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator, two Early-Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators, four Ninth-Layer Qi Cultivation Elders, six Late-Stage Qi Cultivators, eight Mid-Stage Qi Cultivators, three Early-Stage Qi Cultivators, and two Guang-generation Innate Realm cultivators, totaling twenty-six people."

"In terms of external relatives, there are currently five cultivator relatives, including two Late-Stage Qi Cultivators and three Mid-Stage Qi Cultivators."

"Regarding the secular family members, based on the statistics from three years ago, there are a total of 113,720 mortals with Zhou family bloodline across several oases, plus 38,465 other surnamed mortals."

After Zhouyang and others returned to the clan, the elder responsible for managing clan personnel became the Second Elder, Zhou Xuanbin, and he was the one who gave the first report during the family assembly convened by Zhouyang.

Even though Zhouyang and the other participants had been prepared for the dire data on this aspect, upon hearing it, their hearts sank, and everyone’s faces turned somber and unpleasant.

Zhouyang still remembered that when he first descended the mountain at seventeen, excluding the old Clan Leader Zhou Minghan, the only Ming-generation cultivator, there were forty to fifty cultivators among the Guang, Xuan, and Yuan generations combined.

But now, in just over a decade, all the Guang-generation cultivators had either passed away peacefully or died in battle, with none remaining.

Furthermore, important figures like Zhou Xuan Yu and Zhou Xuanjing, originally the backbone of the clan among the Xuan generation, were gone, and Zhou Xuantai had even lost an arm, totaling three significant losses.

"The ’Guang’ generation cultivators are all dead, the ’Xuan’ generation cultivators are severely injured, the ’Yuan’ generation cultivators haven’t grown up yet, the ’Guang’ generation cultivators are still children..."

At this moment, Zhouyang finally understood how dire the situation of the Zhou Family truly was, and also understood why the old clan leader Zhou Minghan insisted on retiring.

"What about the financial income and expenditure? Seventh Uncle, please continue!"

He looked gravely at the Third Elder, Zhou Xuanlin, who had taken over as the Household Affairs Elder from Zhou Xuan Yu.

The family finances have always been managed in part by the Household Affairs Elder, so this elder has always been a close confidant of the clan leader. Given the current situation of the Zhou Family, as long as Zhou Xuanlin doesn’t cause trouble, Zhouyang won’t be able to replace him.

"As for the finances, our Zhou Family currently has one Tier Three Middle-Grade Spiritual Vein, one Tier Three Low-Grade Spiritual Vein, one Tier Two Low-Grade Spiritual Vein, two hundred and twenty acres of Spirit Field, thirty acres of Spirit Medicine Garden, one large Red Flame Iron Ore, and one medium-sized Refined Iron Ore."

"From these assets, the Spirit Field generates an annual net revenue of about fifteen hundred spirit stones, the Spirit Elixirs from the Spirit Medicine Garden, on average, provide around seven hundred spirit stones in net revenue annually, while the Refined Iron Ore brings in around five hundred spirit stones a year. The Red Flame Iron Ore Vein has not yet been exploited, so its income is currently indeterminable."

"In addition, the family currently possesses a supply source of Tier Three Spiritual Object [Earth Element Spirit Milk], one Tier Two High-Grade Spirit Wood Dragon Scale Tree, six Tier Two Low-Grade Spiritual Fruit Fire Crystal Jujube Trees, three Tier Two Low-Grade Spiritual Fruit Yellow Jade Pear Trees, thirty-two Tier One High-Grade Sand Camel Beasts, thirty-four Tier One High-Grade Spiritual Fruit White Jade Grapes, and one hundred and thirty-four Tier One Middle-Grade Spirit Beast Phoenix Crowned Fire Chickens."

"As for the treasure vault, the family currently possesses four Tier Three Lower Grade Spiritual Artifacts, nineteen Tier Two High-Grade Spiritual Artifacts, thirty-three Tier Two Middle-Grade Spiritual Artifacts, and fifty-seven Tier Two Lower Grade Spiritual Artifacts, along with twenty-seven Tier Two High-Grade Spirit Talismans, forty-nine Tier Two Middle-Grade Spirit Talismans, twenty-one Tier Two Lower-Grade Spirit Talismans, and two sets of Tier Two Middle Grade Arrays, as well as five sets of Tier Two Lower Grade Arrays."

"Furthermore, the treasure vault contains a number of demon beast materials and materials such as refined iron, whose values are difficult to calculate. If we consider only the material value, it should not exceed five thousand spirit stones."

"Finally, concerning expenditures, the largest family expenditure is the allowance for family cultivators. According to family regulations, a Late-Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator receives an annual allowance of 500 spirit stones, an Early-Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator receives 300 spirit stones, and a Ninth-Layer Qi Cultivation Elder receives 150 spirit stones. For the current cultivators of our Zhou Family, excluding those who do not meet the allowance criteria, the allowance expenditure for other cultivators is approximately two thousand two hundred spirit stones annually."

"The second largest expenditure is the tribute to the Yellow Sand Sect. The family needs to pay tribute to the Yellow Sand Sect once every ten years. Previously, the value of the tribute materials and spirit stones amounted to no less than two thousand spirit stones, but now there are two additional Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the family. The tribute at the next instance will increase to three thousand spirit stones."

"The third major expenditure is the subsidy for family cultivators studying the ’Hundred Skills of Cultivation’. This expenditure is considered special and does not count towards the annual expenditure total."

"Currently, the family has a balance of 2,478 spirit stones, which is barely enough to cover the allowances for the family cultivators for the next year."

Zhou Xuanlin held a thick ledger in his hands and listed the financial income and expenditure of the Zhou Family one by one.

Zhouyang, upon hearing his report, actually felt a sense of relief in his heart.

From the perspective of income and expenditure, the financial status of the Zhou Family remains strong. Not only has there been no fiscal deficit, but there is also a considerable annual surplus.

This does not account for the income from the marketplace shops, "Jade Spring Tower" and "Drunken Immortal Tower", and the Red Flame Iron Ore Vein has yet to be exploited.

The Chen Family has explicitly stated that once the marketplace is rebuilt, the shops owned by each family within the original marketplace will be returned as before, with additional rent discounts offered.

Mining of the Red Flame Iron Ore Vein is also about to commence.

Under actual calculations, the current financial status of the Zhou Family remains favorable.

"Alright, now everyone is clear about the family personnel and financial situation. Next, let’s discuss the internal affairs."

Zhouyang stood up from his seat and looked at the four elders participating in the meeting and those ’Xuan’ generation elders listening in.

"Firstly, regarding the establishment of a Zhou Family branch in the Baisha River Oasis, the Chen Family Ancestor has agreed to let our Zhou Family occupy a Tier Two Spiritual Vein to establish a branch, and has permitted us to relocate mortals there for habitation."

"As compensation, our Zhou Family needs to station a Foundation Establishment Cultivator permanently at the Baisha River Oasis, obeying the Chen Family’s directive, and send at least five cultivators of Mid-Stage Qi Cultivation or above to join the Baisha River Oasis cultivator patrol team."

"Secondly, given that our Zhou Family now has three Foundation Establishment Cultivators, the Red Flame Iron Ore Vein can officially be exploited. I plan to hold my Foundation Establishment celebration in the Haoyang Cave Oasis in the future."

"Finally, following discussions with my father and great-grandfather, we have decided to reform the current family rules and regulations. The reform will focus on the following key aspects."