Cultivation Begins From The Desert

The issue with the Zhou Family's mortals is indeed serious.

Zhouyang values mortals more than almost any other Zhou Family cultivator. Therefore, after hearing Zhou Xuan Kun mention this, he immediately flew to the mortal settlements on the Yuquan Lake Oasis.

Upon conducting on-site visits and investigations, he found that the number of mortals on the Zhou Family's Yuquan Lake Oasis had exceeded two hundred thousand, among which, there were as many as thirty to forty thousand mortals aged between one and sixteen!

It's very clear that these mortals were all born in recent years.

Based on the previous data he had seen about the Zhou Family's mortals' growth, the annual birth rate of mortals in the past did not exceed eight hundred per year.

"Population!"

Seeing this scene, Zhouyang sighed endlessly in his heart.

In most countries within the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm, various cultivation clans desperately wish for the number of family mortals to increase as much as possible, and would even proactively introduce certain subsidies to encourage mortal fertility and stimulate population growth.

But in the Boundless Sea of Sand Cultivation Realm, even a Purple Mansion Clan like the Chen Family, which occupies a large oasis, dares not let their family mortals reproduce freely.

Although the medical and health levels of this world may not match those of his previous life, with the existence of cultivators and various powerful spirit elixirs, the infant mortality rate among mortals is also not high.

If a Zhou Family mortal woman becomes pregnant, just drinking a bowl of spiritual water infused with spiritual qi before delivery can greatly increase the chances of natural birth.

And this spiritual water infused with spiritual qi comes at very little cost; as long as it's spring water from Jade Spring Peak, it has this effect!

The Zhou Family even takes out some "Golden Pearl Rice" every year to cook congee in large pots for pregnant women and infants. As long as the pregnant women drink a small cup of congee water without rice grains, its placental stabilization effect is no worse than the medications in Zhouyang's previous life.

Therefore, without any measures to control the population, no cultivation clan in the Boundless Sea of Sand Cultivation Realm can support those surging numbers of mortals.

"These mortals must be relocated by half, but if it's through traditional migration means, letting these mortals themselves traverse the desert, not to mention how long it'll take to cross several thousand to tens of thousands of miles, even the supply of food and drinking water along the journey would be a huge problem."

"Hmm, it seems I can only wait until Great-Grandfather returns, and then research together to see if we can, through artifact refining means, create a desert transportation tool similar to a train to migrate these mortals!"

Zhouyang's mind drifted with thoughts. By combining his previous life's knowledge, he vaguely found a feasible solution.

Whether this plan will work or not needs to be verified.

Before that, he can only let the Zhou Family cultivators visit and cast rain spells for those mortals more often to promote crop growth and somewhat alleviate the mortals' food issues.

Then Zhouyang rode the Eagle Lion Beast to Haoyang Mountain Spirit Vein.

Since the spirit vein grade of Haoyang Mountain improved, coupled with the desert lake created by the water demon's disturbances, the oasis area has dramatically increased by several times now.

Back then, Zhouyang told the late elder of the Zhou Family, Xuan Yan, to build an oasis that could support and sustain ten thousand people within twenty years.

Although Xuan Yan has now passed away and transformed into an immortal spirit, she fulfilled her promise to Zhouyang and successfully built the oasis here.

"From now on, this oasis will be called Siyan Oasis, in memory of Eighth Aunt who built this oasis!"

Flying above Siyan Oasis, Zhouyang gazed at the new oasis covering over a hundred square kilometers below and the small mortal city established on the oasis, feeling an urge to cry.

He remembered his Eighth Aunt, once the Zhou Family's only water element cultivator. In the first half of her life she was a peripheral figure within the family and was never significantly valued, even though her cultivation was no lower than that of her siblings.

However, the task of building an oasis gave her an opportunity to display her talents, to contribute brilliantly to the family, and to prove herself to all clan members!

Thus, to fulfill the family's entrustment and prove her own value, this Eighth Aunt, nearing a hundred years of age, resolutely chose to stand firm in this yellow sand desert, silently using her own hands to build a new oasis for the family.

Now the oasis has been completed, but Eighth Aunt Xuan Yan, who single-handedly built it, did not live to handover the task to him before passing away. Thinking of these, Zhouyang's eyes became wet immediately.

"Eighth Aunt, rest assured and go in peace. I will let everyone in the family know about your deeds, letting everyone know that it's not only those who shed blood in battle for the family who can be called heroes. People like you, who silently contribute to the family behind the scenes, are also family heroes, deserving to be listed among the family's heroic martyrs!"

Zhouyang knew from his past life that even little people could make significant contributions.

In his past life, many people deemed to have moved the masses were little people, but among these little people, there were those who could single-handedly, through decades of perseverance, plant trees and create a forest, accomplishing things that many would dare not even dream of!

In the cultivation realm, his Eighth Aunt Xuan Yan's Ninth-Layer Qi Cultivation was indeed not remarkable.

However, through decades of perseverance, she created a desert oasis spanning hundreds of square kilometers in the Boundless Desert Sea, accomplishing a feat that even Golden Core Stage cultivators could not easily achieve.

Zhouyang felt that if he didn't do something for Eighth Aunt, he would be failing as the Clan Leader of the Zhou Family, failing as a son.

Once he made up his mind, he immediately had the Eagle Lion Beast carry him atop Haoyang Mountain, where he met his foster mother, Xuan Yu, who had been secluded there cultivating.

Originally, he should have brought Xiao Ying to pay respects to his foster mother, but demonic cultivators, especially those from the Blood Slaughter Demon Sect, had a notorious reputation in the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm.

He wasn't sure how Xiao Ying would perceive Xuan Yu if she learned the inside story, so he decided to temporarily set the matter aside, planning to discuss it later.

In any case, Xuan Yu had a long lifespan, so this wasn't an urgent matter.

"It's good you know to find a Dao Companion; foster mother is pleased. Foster mother believes you have a discerning eye, and Miss Ying'Er must be as beautiful as a Celestial Immortal. In the future, when you have the chance, you must bring her to meet foster mother, as this was a matter your mother entrusted to foster mother before her passing!"

On Haoyang Mountain, Xuan Yu was quite pleased to learn that Zhouyang had found a Dao Companion.

She had always treated Zhouyang as her son, so seeing that Zhouyang found a Dao Companion made her feel as if her own son had found a partner, and how could she not be happy?

"Don't worry, foster mother. After a few years, when Ying'Er becomes familiar with the clan members, I will find an opportunity to bring her to pay respects to you."

Zhouyang readily agreed, staying to chat with Xuan Yu for nearly an hour before riding the Eagle Lion Beast back to the Yuquan Lake Oasis.

A few days passed, and Zhou Minghan finally returned to the Yuquan Lake Oasis, also bringing back Zhou Guangxiang, who had been tempering his character at the Baisha River Oasis.

"Nephew pays respects to Ninth Uncle and Aunt Nine!"

At just over twenty years old, Zhou Guangxiang somewhat resembled his father Zhou Bao, appearing slightly awkward but inheriting the clever personality of his wise mother, displaying considerable intelligence.

"Haha, Guangxiang, you've got quite a sweet tongue; not bad, Ninth Uncle's affection wasn't wasted on you!"

Zhouyang looked at Zhou Guangxiang, who was just two inches shorter than him, chuckled, and lightly patted the nephew's shoulder, finally enjoying the role of an elder and the benefits that come with being one.

Zhou Guangxiang's experiences were quite similar to Zhouyang's, having been cherished and taught by many clan elders since childhood.

Of course, it was beneficial, but every visit to an elder required fulfilling ceremonial duties and being teased like a child, a matter Zhouyang often found troublesome.

Now, he could finally turn things around, take control, and enjoy the respect from talented young clansmen.

To say it sincerely, this feeling was rather delightful!

"Alright, there will be time for catching up later. Xiao Jiu, come with me; I have something to say. Guangxiang, notify other clan members to assemble in the newly constructed Council Hall in two hours."

However, Zhou Minghan didn't give Zhouyang much time to savor this feeling, soon interrupting their conversation with a wave and his voice.

Once Zhouyang followed him into his cave dwelling, he saw the elder clan leader's face suddenly grow solemn.

Looking puzzled, he couldn't help but ask, "What happened? Did something occur again during your trip, Great-grandfather?"

"Indeed, something significant happened!"

Zhou Minghan nodded and began to recount his recent experiences.

"I went to deliver messages at the Baisha River Oasis this time; the responses from various families were quite favorable. Six Profound Pure Pills were almost immediately reserved by several families and some loose cultivators. Many families even sent messages expressing interest in visiting the clan, likely to inquire about affairs in the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm."

"However, when I visited the Chen Family, Elder Chen heard about our purchase of auxiliary materials for refining Foundation Establishment Pills. He suggested that we cancel the repayment of the twenty thousand Spirit Stones debt, instead using a portion of the auxiliary materials for Foundation Establishment Pills as repayment, and decided to hold a Foundation Establishment Conference in three years!"

"Elder Chen is raising prices arbitrarily! The cost price of the auxiliary materials for Foundation Establishment Pills I bought was twenty-four thousand Spirit Stones. Even if he envies my recent harvest, he didn't have to act like this!"

Zhouyang looked astonished at Elder Clan Leader Zhou Minghan, not expecting things to turn out this way.

"No, he isn't arbitrarily raising prices; he wants to use this opportunity to remind us not to think we can compete with the Chen Family on Baisha River Cultivation Realm territory just because we built some connections with Elder Cao. A mountain cannot have two tigers, and he's beginning to fear our Zhou Family!"

Zhou Minghan shook his head, worriedly explaining Elder Chen's real intentions.

Upon hearing this, Zhouyang fell silent.