Chapter 380: Chapter 365: Secrets and Bad News [Update 1]
The origin of the "Kunxu Order" was far beyond what Zhouyang had imagined.
According to Xu Song, this item is the token for entering and exiting the "Kunxu Realm," which is said to originally be an independent small world, later transformed by Celestial Immortals into a trial ground.
The "Kunxu Realm" opens once every eight hundred years, and each opening lasts for three years. During this time, any cultivator holding the "Kunxu Order" can infuse their magical power into it to be transported into the "Kunxu Realm" and only return through a teleportation array inside once the trial period ends.
Each time the "Kunxu Realm" closes, the "Kunxu Order" will disappear from its original owner’s hands, seeking a destined person.
Xu Song knew the origins of the "Kunxu Order" because he had entered the "Kunxu Realm" once over six hundred years ago, and the "Nine Heavens Profound Gold" in Zhouyang’s hand, along with the "Spiritual Treasure Token" and "Spirit Plant Map," were treasures he obtained from the "Kunxu Realm" back then.
It was also because of that trip to the "Kunxu Realm" that Xu Song, an independent Golden Core Cultivator, accumulated wealth even more abundant than that of Golden Core Cultivators from large sects.
"The Kunxu Realm is extremely vast; I estimate it might be as large as half of the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm, or even larger!"
"Inside, there are various trials set by the immortals, testing various aspects of a cultivator’s abilities. Some trial grounds are very dangerous; a slight mistake can be fatal."
"However, if one can pass the trials, they can obtain precious treasures hidden by the immortals, including genuine Immortal Family cultivation techniques and Tier Six spiritual artifacts and elixirs!"
"The Kunxu Realm, though, imposes no restrictions on the strength of cultivators. Qi Cultivation Stage cultivators can enter, and Nascent Soul Stage cultivators can also enter. Moreover, whether they are cultivators from the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm or other cultivation realms, as long as they have the ’Kunxu Order,’ they can enter. Therefore, incidents of killing and treasure-snatching among cultivators inside are very common."
...
On Red Tiger Mountain, inside Qianyang Cave, Zhouyang listened to Xu Song’s introduction and couldn’t help but grasp the "Kunxu Order" tighter, fearing it might slip away from his hand.
If Xu Song hadn’t exaggerated, the value of this "Kunxu Order" was astonishing.
"Hehe, Fellow Daoist Zhou, is your interest in the Kunxu Realm piqued?"
Xu Song observed Zhouyang’s movements and chuckled, bluntly voicing his thoughts without reservation.
Zhouyang, hearing this, didn’t hide anything and simply smiled calmly, "If the Kunxu Realm is indeed as miraculous as Elder Xu described, naturally I wouldn’t miss such an opportunity."
"Then you must focus on cultivation, for in another hundred fifty to sixty years, the Kunxu Realm will open again. By then, if your cultivation isn’t at the Golden Core Stage, not to mention reaping any rewards, even surviving would be a challenge!"
Xu Song’s ghostly eyes flickered with a ghostly light as he spoke meaningfully.
Zhouyang, of course, understood the hidden meaning in this ghost servant’s words: if he died in the Kunxu Realm, then Xu Song surely couldn’t survive either.
He chuckled lightly and said, "Then I’ll accept Elder’s good wishes."
The "Kunxu Order" could not be used for at least another hundred fifty to sixty years, so once Zhouyang understood its use, he didn’t pay it much attention anymore.
Subsequently, he set up a Tier Four High-grade Array called the "Eight-direction Flame Dragon Annihilation Array," which he obtained from Xu Song’s belongings, on Red Tiger Mountain, replacing the previous Tier Four Lower Grade Array "Heaven Wind Cloud Thunder Array."
Then he found a suitable spot on Red Tiger Mountain to transplant the "Yuan Condensing Fruit" tree and specifically set up a Tier Three High-grade Array for protection.
Xiao Ying, after transplanting the "Yuan Condensing Fruit" tree, went into seclusion for healing.
The injury she sustained from forcibly taking a hit of the "Celestial Spirit Divine Thunder" was not as simple as she told Zhouyang; she merely said that to ease his heart back then.
Now that she returned to the family base, she no longer concealed her injury and proactively confessed the truth.
Hearing this, Zhouyang was both angry and touched. He couldn’t bring himself to reprimand her and only urged her to quickly go into seclusion and take spirit pills for healing.
Next, Zhouyang met with the heads of various vassal family forces in his cave dwelling, subtly hinting at a major auction to be held in the coming years, implying that Foundation Establishment Pills would be the finale item for auction.
The idea of auctioning Foundation Establishment Pills to reclaim spirit stones and replenish his depleted storage ring was something Zhouyang had thought of even before returning.
He had more than a dozen Tier Four Demon Pills on him, along with eight "Yuan Condensing Fruits" that could also be used to refine Foundation Establishment Pills. If all these treasures were used for refining, they could produce sixty to seventy Foundation Establishment Pills.
Such a quantity of Foundation Establishment Pills would take the Zhou Family a hundred or two hundred years to deplete if used exclusively by them.
In that case, Zhouyang figured it would be better to use these items to collect a wave of spirit stones while also enhancing the Zhou Family’s prestige and presence.
Although Zhouyang had initially promised Cao Wenjin not to encroach upon the Yellow Sand Sect’s territory, this didn’t mean he intended for the Zhou Family to remain under the Yellow Sand Sect’s shadow forever.
The things that elevate the influence of a sect and family go beyond just territory; it’s also about winning hearts.
When the Zhou Family can sustain themselves while providing Foundation Establishment Pills to external cultivators, those seeking the pills for their own establishment will naturally gravitate towards the Zhou Family, following their command.
Over time, Zhouyang’s orders in the Boundless Sea of Sand Cultivation Realm will be even more effective than Zhang Yunpeng, the Sect Leader of the Yellow Sand Sect.
By then, even if the Zhou Family only occupies the large Red Tiger Mountain Oasis, they will be the uncrowned king of the Boundless Sea of Sand Cultivation Realm.
As expected, upon receiving Zhouyang’s hint that Foundation Establishment Pills would be for sale, the vassal Foundation Establishment cultivators like Huang Yi and Ma Shaoyang couldn’t help but light up with joy.
Especially Ma Shaoyang, who had once swapped information on the Purifying Blue Lotus Flame from Zhouyang in exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill, subsequently allowing a younger family member to successfully establish foundation.
This information has become public knowledge over the years, widely known among the Foundation Establishment cultivators and some informed Qi Cultivation cultivators around Red Tiger Mountain.
So now, with Zhouyang releasing the news, no one doubts its authenticity.
Those hearing the news are eager and ready to strive for a new path for their descendants.
After meeting and reassuring the vassal clan cultivators, Zhou Xuanhao, upon hearing the news of Zhouyang’s return, also hurried over from Red Fox Ridge to meet him.
Father and son hadn’t seen each other for seventeen years, and naturally felt overwhelming emotion upon reunion.
"Good, good, it’s good that you’re back, good that you’re back!"
In Qianyang Cave, at the age of two hundred and nine, Zhou Xuanhao, his hair now white, tightly clasped his son’s hands, with an expression full of joy as he repeatedly praised.
The older one gets, the more they desire to have their children around. Zhou Xuanhao took the risk of establishing foundation at the age of ninety, succeeding by chance, yet suffered primordial qi damage due to Spiritual Energy Infusion, later injured by Blood Mo Luo, making it challenging to reach the lifespan limit of Foundation Establishment cultivator of two hundred forty years.
Thus, during the years Zhouyang was away, he deeply missed his only relative left on earth, fearing he might die before seeing his son return.
Now that Zhouyang has come back, his worries are unfounded and his heart filled with joy.
Upon hearing his father’s ecstatic words and observing his father’s head full of white hair and wrinkled, aged face, Zhouyang’s heart wrenched, tears cascading down, wetting his cheeks.
"I am unfilial, causing you worry, Father!"
Zhouyang, with a soft kneel, bowed twice heavily to his father, his face showing deep remorse.
While traveling, he seldom thought of his father waiting for him at home.
It wasn’t until now, seeing his father’s aged face, that he realized his father might soon leave him like his mother years ago.
"Yang’Er, rise; I never blamed you for this. My life’s greatest pride is having such an outstanding son like you. Seeing your path lie ahead, I am elated rather than resentful!"
With a warm smile, Zhou Xuanhao quickly pulled his son up from the ground, with tender eyes caressing Zhouyang’s handsome face murmuring, "This life of mine, achieving Foundation Establishment, is already a gain; living a hundred years longer than fellow cultivators is significant gains; seeing you become a Purple Mansion cultivator, seeing the Zhou Family ascend to a Purple Mansion clan, I have no regrets when I die!"
"I’ve lived over two hundred years, long enough. Recently, I dream of your mother, remembering her youthful visage. She was a beauty rivaling Ying’Er. From the first glance, I was captivated..."
"Cultivators rarely dream. I know my life is near its end, but seeing you return before it arrives, I am content, truly content!"
Zhou Xuanhao, perhaps truly entering age, spoke extensively this time, a marked contrast to his formerly taciturn self, sharing much with Zhouyang.
Never had they exchanged words so abundantly, their dialogue surpassing all they had spoken in the past forty or fifty years combined.
Zhouyang felt increasingly distressed as he listened.
Understanding his father was right when a cultivator, especially a Foundation Establishment cultivator, frequently dreams, their lifespan limit is indeed near.
Past Zhou Family elders approaching their ends also often experienced this phenomenon.
Thus, Zhou Xuanhao facing this implies his life is limited, no more than five years.
Despite Zhouyang’s high cultivation at the Fourth-Layer of the Purple Mansion, he finds himself helpless, resolving secretly to spend the remaining time accompanying his father, walking with him through the last stretch of life’s journey.