Planting the Golden Vine on Ming Peak

If not for the spiritual treasure manual left behind by Zhang Ting, Zhou Xuanya truly would not have recognized this Purple Gold Vine seed.

Gazing at the stone-like object, his eyes grew increasingly fervent.

After all, the Purple Gold Vine was an extremely rare first-grade High Grade spiritual plant. Its root network could stabilize mountains and condense soil, gathering Spiritual Qi and drawing in the world's aura, which earned it the name Mountain God Vine. Its vines were ink-black, incredibly dense, and as hard as ironstone, making them a superior low-grade spiritual material. Its blood-red leaves could also be harvested for medicine and alchemy.

Yet, the most precious part was its annual harvest. When the fruit was green and unripe, it bore a faint purple-red hue. Once mature, a strand of Golden Gang Qi would condense within, transforming it into a coveted Purple Gold Fruit.

The fruit contained rich Spiritual Qi and possessed the miraculous effect of washing the marrow and cleansing the bones. If a mortal consumed it, they would be immune to a hundred diseases and live to a ripe old age. If a cultivator refined the trace of Golden Gang Qi within, it would grant substantial benefits to their cultivation.

Ordinary Golden Gang Qi was sharp and fierce, capable of harming the user if handled with the slightest carelessness. However, the Golden Gang Qi within the Purple Gold Fruit was entirely different. Nourished by the vegetative properties of the vine, its razor-sharp edges were tempered, making it exceptionally gentle to absorb. It was a cultivation treasure that Gold Path cultivators would pursue relentlessly.

While every part of the Purple Gold Vine was a treasure, it possessed a single massive flaw: its growth rate was agonizingly slow, barely creeping forward a few feet per year. It would take at least a dozen years to fully mature.

For the Zhou family, however, this was hardly a drawback. Though a rising cultivation clan was poor and hard-pressed, time was the one resource they had in abundance. As long as they planted it within the clan territory and tended to it with care, it would eventually become one of the foundational pillars of their family heritage.

Furthermore, its inherent ability to gather spiritual energy was an immense blessing for the Zhou family. Although the Four Poles Origin-Stabilizing Formation covered a vast area, it sacrificed a portion of its efficacy in drawing in Qi and defending against enemies. The Purple Gold Vine would perfectly remedy this deficiency.

If the Spiritual Qi on Baixi Mountain grew denser, the cultivators would naturally advance much faster. Under the nourishment of spiritual aura, the local flora would also undergo a slow transformation, eventually producing spiritual plants. Even if they were ungraded, they would still contribute to gathering Qi. Through this cyclical process, the mountain could truly become a permanent asset for the clan.

It would be just like the Pingyun Huang Clan, which was renowned among immortal families for its spiritual green pines.

Zhou Xuanya thought of all these possibilities in an instant, though his expression shifted only slightly before returning to a mask of calm.

There were too many mortals around. If they noticed his excitement and word leaked out, the consequences would be disastrous.

Zhou Xuanya said softly, "Dig the cavern wider. Be careful, there might still be rat monsters hiding in the dark."

The opening was deep. If he leaped down impatiently, it would inevitably arouse suspicion. Nor could he simply command the mortals to fetch the seed for him. The most sensible course was to widen the passage so he could walk down openly.

"Fifty percent of the gold and silver below will be distributed among you all as drinking money for your hard work."

The surrounding men grew wild with excitement, their strength surging as they fell to work with frantic fervor.

Standing nearby, Wang Feng was somewhat surprised. He possessed a fair understanding of the Zhou family's third generation. Zhou Xuanya had always been taciturn, indifferent to the ways of the world. How had he suddenly become so adept at managing human relations today?

Ultimately, Wang Feng simply assumed that as the youth grew older, he was finally maturing and learning how to handle worldly matters.

On the other side, Niu Zhou was beaming with joy. Ignorant of Zhou Xuanya's usual temperament, he simply took the gesture as the young master's innate generosity.

"Put some muscle into it, and watch your step! Don't let those rats bite your toes!"

Niu Zhou barked orders loudly, even running off to fetch tea himself, hovering around Zhou Xuanya like an attentive servant.

Before long, they cleared a relatively flat path leading straight to the bottom of the cavern.

Zhou Xuanya strode down, scanning the area as if appraising the gold and silver. He casually picked out a few valuable-looking jewels and gold ingots, while subtly slipping the Purple Gold Vine seed into his sleeve.

The moment Zhou Xuanya stepped back out, the laborers rushed into the pit as if given a silent signal, scrambling to grab whatever they could in a chaotic, rowdy mess.

Zhou Xuanya cupped his hands to the two men beside him. "Uncle Feng, Uncle Zhou, I shall take my leave first."

Wang Feng and Niu Zhou intended to exchange a few more words, but the rowdy shouting of their men drowned them out.

"This is mine! Keep your filthy hands off it!"

"To hell with you! I saw it first!"

...

Seeing their own kinsmen behaving so crudely made both leaders' faces turn green and black with frustration at their lack of decorum.

Zhou Xuanya quickly led a few clan soldiers toward Zhou Family Town. The moment he arrived, he handed the soldiers over to Zhou Changhe, refusing to tarry for even a breath before rushing back toward Baixi Mountain.

"Xuanya, wait, I have some..."

Before Zhou Changhe could finish his greeting, he was left staring at Zhou Xuanya's receding back. He shook his head with a wry smile, a hint of bitterness and loneliness creeping into his eyes.

Zhou Changxi's death had filled him with immense guilt, and that grief had transformed into a deep, protective affection for his remaining brothers.

He yearned to spend more time with them, but now that they had grown, maintaining those close bonds was no longer simple.

Even his own blood brother, Zhou Chang'an, who resided right here in the town, had become somewhat distant and formal, shutting himself away in the academy. They rarely met.

As for Zhou Xuanya and Zhou Minghu, they remained stationed up on the mountain, making visits rare. Only his youngest brother, Zhou Bai, who was still studying at the academy, frequently sought him out. Though the boy only came to ask for allowance, Zhou Changhe was genuinely happy whenever he appeared.

Still, having raised Zhou Xuanya for several years, seeing the youth depart without even a formal greeting left a faint ache in his chest.

Yet, he had no way of knowing that Zhou Xuanya was not acting out of coldness. The youth simply did not dare to delay. Terrified of encountering an unforeseen disaster on the road, Zhou Xuanya knew he would only find peace once the Purple Gold Vine was safely planted on Baixi Mountain.

The moment Zhou Xuanya crossed into the boundaries of the great formation, he let out a long sigh of relief. Slowing his pace, he walked up the mountain and found Zhou Ping tending to the soil.

"Father, why are you planting these trees yourself?"

Zhou Xuanya was deeply puzzled. Logically, such menial tasks could easily be assigned to servants. There was no need for Zhou Ping to exert himself.

Zhou Ping smiled. "Because if you infuse a plant with Spiritual Qi at the moment of planting, you can instantly revitalize it. Nine times out of ten, it will survive and grow far stronger."

As he spoke, Zhou Ping channeled ten strands of Spiritual Qi into the small sapling before him.

The withered branches and limp leaves instantly perked up, turning an emerald, glossy green, vibrant with newfound life.

Zhou Xuanya watched in silence, a sudden wave of discouragement and frustration washing over him at his own perceived inadequacy.

Currently, both he and his elder brother only possessed eleven or twelve strands of Spiritual Qi in total. If a single sapling consumed ten strands, then a fully grown tree would completely drain them. They truly were too weak.

Reading his son's thoughts, Zhou Ping smiled gently. "I am currently the strongest cultivator in the family, so it is only right that I bear the heaviest burdens. If even I am unwilling to exert myself, who else can the family rely on?"

"Though you and Minghu are not yet powerful, it does not mean your contributions to the clan are minor."

"Look at your cousin, Zhou Changhe. He may be a mortal, but he manages our properties flawlessly and keeps our territory perfectly organized. Your cousin, Zhou Chang'an, educates the younger generation in reading and writing. Meanwhile, you and Minghu protect our family's safety."

"Though our strengths vary and our talents lie in different areas, every single soul is indispensable to this home. Everyone is striving for the prosperity of the clan."

"I endure a bit of hardship now so that all of you may have an easier path forward. Once you all grow strong, you can let your father enjoy his golden years in peace."

A glint of moisture appeared in Zhou Xuanya's eyes. Suppressing his swelling emotions, he drew the Purple Gold Vine seed from his sleeve, his voice thick and slightly hoarse.

"Father... I discovered a Purple Gold Vine seed in East Village."

Zhou Ping froze. He took the seed, examining it with intense scrutiny, before bursting into a resounding, joyful laugh.

"Good! Wonderful! I shall plant it upon the highest precipice of Ming Peak. I want it to stand tall and witness the rise of our Zhou family!"

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