The Azure Cloud Sect Arrives

Zhou Minghu returned to Baixi Mountain and recounted everything in detail to Zhou Ping.

"An ordinary wild deer... it seems she must have swallowed a Transformation Grass and luckily assumed a human form."

Hearing this, Zhou Ping finally understood Mu Lushi's true roots. A great weight lifted from his heart.

Naturally, he would not take action against Mu Lushi. She was, after all, his nephew's widow, and she had born a child blessed with immortal destiny for their clan. Raising her was of no consequence.

"Take this Restoration Spirit Grass immediately," Zhou Ping urged. "The sooner you recover, the better."

The herb Hu Li had traded to Zhou Minghu was known as Restoration Spirit Grass, an exceedingly rare first-grade healing Spirit Grass.

Zhou Minghu let out a sigh. The root system of the Restoration Spirit Grass had been completely severed, evidently torn off by Hu Li. Had the roots been intact, it could have been planted beside the Purple Gold Vine to be nurtured back to life, perhaps becoming the clan's third first-grade spirit plant.

It was a pity, but knowing it could heal his Dantian, he could not bring himself to feel too regretful.

"I shall return and enter Secluded Cultivation shortly, Father."

Meanwhile, somewhere at the eastern foot of Darong Mountain, Hu Li continuously poured pure demonic essence into an empty patch of earth, whipping up fierce gusts of wind all around. Before long, a tender sprout pushed its way out of the soil.

Seeing the sprout emerge, Hu Li ceased expelling his demonic essence and sauntered leisurely back into his cave to slumber.

That emerald sprout was none other than the root of the Restoration Spirit Grass.

Around the cave, an array of wondrous and bizarre flora grew. They swayed in the wind, exhaling a hazy, dense mist that made the Spiritual Qi surrounding the den extraordinarily rich.

In the distance, weaker creatures stared greedily at the herbs, yet not a single beast dared to step within a hundred zhang.

Golden Vine Pool

Zhou Ping was carefully inspecting the pile of scrap metal, searching for any Dharma Treasures that might still be usable.

Zhou Qianling sat quietly beside the Purple Gold Vine. Because of her demon bloodline, cultivating near spirit plants provided a significant boost to her progress.

"Qianling, you must not speak of the fox demon to anyone. Do you understand?"

"Ling'er understands. This is a secret between me, Granduncle, and Third Uncle," Zhou Qianling replied in her crisp, clear voice.

"That's right, it is our secret."

Zhou Ping smiled and affectionately patted her head before returning to his appraisal.

Although the vast majority of the Dharma Treasures were decayed and thoroughly ruined, entirely stripped of their original power, there were one or two that bore only minor damage and could still unleash some might.

Among them was a pair of copper beads the size of fists. Once refined, they could be controlled with a mere thought, moving as fluidly as an extension of one's arm. A single strike could shatter boulders, displaying formidable power.

There was also a long sword. Though its blade was heavily mottled with rust, it exuded a chilling aura of blood and slaughter.

Such damaged Dharma Treasures were still of immense value to the Zhou clan.

In the past, a small sword and a shield had been enough to deter the Wang and Sun clans, cementing the Zhou clan's foothold. The spirit wine brewed within the old gourd had not only aided Zhou Ping in breaking through to the Qi Condensation realm but was now diluted to create the clan's signature Baixi Brew, a highly sought-after commodity in the markets.

As for the spear and the jade seal, they were now wielded by Zhou Xuanya and Zhou Ping, respectively.

The jade seal, in particular, was a completely intact Dharma Treasure possessing a mighty suppressive force. Zhou Ping had simply never found an opportunity to wield it, preferring to keep it hidden as a trump card against unforeseen perils.

"The small sword has but a single strike left in it. I can sell it to exchange for some cultivation resources," Zhou Ping murmured. "The copper beads belong to the metal element, so I shall set them aside for Cheng Yuan."

"Once Minghu is fully recovered, I can pass this long sword to him for his protection."

He then glanced toward Zhou Qianling. "Qianling possesses a timid temperament. Though the gourd's power is faint, it retains some utility. I will give it to her."

Zhou Ping had thoroughly tested the gourd. It was likely an item specially refined by a wine-loving cultivator in ages past, designed to draw in spirit plants and the essence of demon beasts to refine them into spirit wine.

However, as it was merely an ordinary Dharma Treasure, it was only truly effective for refining Guide Qi level spirit plants. Refining graded spirit plants proved exceedingly strenuous. He had previously attempted to refine White Marrow Grass with it, an endeavor that took a grueling four months to barely succeed, which had consequently delayed their spirit wine trade.

Even so, the spirit wine brewed from the White Marrow Grass possessed tremendous potency. If consumed during a realm breakthrough, it could add half a strand of Spiritual Qi, significantly bolstering the chances of success.

Because of this, Zhou Ping made it a point to brew a single jar of White Grass Brew each year, burying it deep within the woods beside the Golden Vine Pool. There, it would ferment and age, its medicinal efficacy deepening over time to serve as a hidden reserve for the clan. Should a clan member with fourteen or fifteen strands of Qi emerge in the future, they could rely on it to attempt their breakthrough.

Before long, a heavy stone door rumbled open. Zhou Minghu strode out confidently. The lingering gloom that had clouded his features over the past few days was entirely swept away, replaced by an energetic and vigorous spirit.

"Father, I have fully recovered."

Within his Dantian, not a single trace of the agonizing cracks remained; there was only a faint, thin current of Spiritual Qi gently flowing within.

Zhou Ping nodded. "It is good that you are healed. Do not rush to gather Spiritual Qi just yet. From now on, you shall also practice the Jade Rock Spirit Origin Art."

"Also, take this long sword back with you and properly familiarize yourself with it."

"I understand, Father," Zhou Minghu nodded.

Zhou Ping intended to establish the Jade Rock Spirit Origin Art as the foundational cultivation method for the clan's direct bloodline. As for the original Guide Qi method and the Qi Condensation manuals, Mountain Stream and River Torrent, they would be bestowed as rewards to loyal cultivators of foreign surnames.

Even if two individuals were both at the Qi Condensation realm, a practitioner of the former would possess vastly superior combat prowess, fully capable of holding their own against multiple peers.

As for his ongoing dealings with Hu Li, he had decided to refine a larger batch of Jade Rock Green Origin Pills. The demon had treated their clan with straightforward honesty; the Zhou clan could not afford to act too treacherously in return.

After all, should the beast discover the truth of the pill's actual worth, it might invoke its wrath.

In the blink of an eye, several months passed.

Down in Zhou Family Town, Zhou Changhe was deeply engrossed in managing local affairs. As the mortal population under his jurisdiction swelled, the burdens he had to shoulder grew increasingly heavy.

Balancing the friction between the various surnames, settling the influx of landless refugees, and expanding the roads connecting the four surrounding villages to the main town-these tasks alone were exhausting. Combined with the countless trivial matters of the clan's merchant caravans, he would have long been crushed beneath the weight of these duties had Zhou Hu and reliable servants like Zhou Le not shared the burden.

"Assign Zhou Qing as the deputy steward of the East Village," Zhou Changhe instructed slowly, holding a thick stack of documents. "And why is the spring plowing in the South Village still incomplete? One thousand four hundred mu of land remain unplanted. Go and inform Wang Hui that the task must be finished within three days."

"This servant will go at once," Zhou Le replied from the side before hurrying out the door.

A long while later, having finally resolved the day's pressing matters, Zhou Changhe rubbed his temples, pressing hard against his acupoints to relieve his mounting fatigue.

This was the sorrow of a clan with a thin bloodline. The entire third generation consisted of a mere six people. Changxi had passed away early, Chang'an served as a mortal official in the distant county seat, while Minghu and Xuanya were wholly occupied with cultivation and clan affairs up on the mountain. As for Zhou Bai, he was still far too young, only capable of managing minor errands.

If he could just grit his teeth and endure for a few more years, wait until Zhou Bai, Cheng Qian, and Cheng Yang grew older, they would finally be able to shoulder some of these burdens.

As Zhou Changhe was silently comforting himself, Zhou Hu suddenly strode into the room.

"Eldest Young Master, urgent news has arrived from the county seat! The immortal masters of the Azure Cloud Sect have arrived, declaring their intent to recruit new disciples!"

Zhou Changhe was stunned. He recalled that the Azure Cloud Sect was the very same Sect his uncle had once belonged to. He immediately stood up. "Quickly, accompany me up the mountain!"

Borne by the county yamen's messengers, the news of the Azure Cloud Sect cultivators' arrival rapidly swept across the entirety of Qingshui County.

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