Cultivation Begins From The Desert

After discovering that the poisoner was actually the rare insect demon beast "Illusory Spirit Jade Butterfly," Zhouyang was not in a hurry to eliminate the demon.

He knew that the "Illusory Spirit Jade Butterfly" had a characteristic: it would choose the area with the highest quality Spirit Jade distribution within a Spirit Jade vein as its habitat.

This demon beast also had a special ability, which was to merge itself into the Spirit Jade and sleep, like an insect in amber.

Therefore, unless you see the "Illusory Spirit Jade Butterfly" with your own eyes, even if a piece of Spirit Jade right in front of you contains one of these butterflies, you would not detect any aura from it.

Zhouyang kept watch for most of the night, and the butterfly danced under the moonlight for most of the night as well.

When it was either tired from flying or had absorbed enough Moonlight Power, the "Illusory Spirit Jade Butterfly" finally started to move.

Zhouyang followed along with his Divine Sense and discovered that after the butterfly flew to a location somewhat off from the ore vein he had explored, it landed and burrowed underground.

Currently, if Zhouyang were to focus his Divine Sense underground, he could penetrate at most about thirty yards deep, given normal sand structure.

However, the burial depth of the Light Jade vein was below seventy yards.

So after the "Illusory Spirit Jade Butterfly" burrowed underground, he actually lost track of it.

But he was not worried, since he knew that the poisoning of mortals' drinking water was caused by the butterfly, he could kill it next time it came out to absorb Moonlight Power.

What interested him now was whether his previous exploration had been wrong, and there was also a Light Jade vein here?

Zhouyang was not a professional in exploring ore veins, so making a mistake was normal.

He did not feel bad about this; he just wanted to correct the mistake.

So he waited for another half night, and when dawn arrived, he released his Flying Sword to dig down where the butterfly disappeared.

After digging for half an hour, Zhouyang made a surprising discovery.

"It's actually Misty Jade, now I've hit the jackpot!"

Zhouyang held a transparent white jade about an inch long and three inches wide, examining it with a face full of joy.

This white jade was as transparent as a crystal, with a light, warm texture, and almost invisible white mist flowing within.

This item is called "Misty Jade," a Tier Two Spirit Jade, and even rarer than the Light attribute material, Light Jade.

Unlike Light Jade, which can only refine lighting Magical Artifacts like Jade Lamps and Jade Pearls, the uses of "Misty Jade" are much broader. It is essential for Array Masters to arrange Illusion Arrays and refine Illusion Array Plates, can be used to refine illusion attribute Magical Artifacts, and can serve as a medium for performing certain illusion spells.

Things like the Projection Crystal Mirror Zhouyang saw at an auction and the Memory Pearls he used before were made from similar illusion attribute materials.

In the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm, "Misty Jade" is listed by major forces as an important strategic material, and some forces have even fought over large "Misty Jade" veins.

Thus, selling this Spiritual Object in the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm, even just as raw materials, would be profitable.

If not for the butterfly, Zhouyang would never have thought that beside the Light Jade vein underground, there was also a "Misty Jade" vein!

Now thinking about it, the appearance of such a rare demon beast as the "Illusory Spirit Jade Butterfly" here must be due to the presence of the "Misty Jade" vein, because this Spirit Jade is the most suitable treasure for the butterfly's growth and evolution, and perhaps that butterfly evolved from an ordinary butterfly due to the "Misty Jade" vein.

"This matter is way too significant, it's best not to reveal it to ordinary clan members yet. If the news leaks, Zhou Family with its current strength cannot protect this Misty Jade vein!"

After the initial joy, Zhouyang regained his rationality and promptly thought of the consequences that selling "Misty Jade" might trigger.

Small-scale sales of several pieces would be unnoticed by anyone.

But if sold on a large scale, only fools wouldn't guess that Zhou Family discovered a Misty Jade vein, and perhaps even Yellow Sand Sect might intervene for a share.

After all, Yellow Sand Sect controls the methods to reach the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm. If they could mine and sell a large amount of "Misty Jade" there, given its status as a strategic material, it would definitely prompt some forces to take out truly valuable items for exchange.

Only once Zhou Family ascends to become a Purple Mansion Clan can it barely possess the strength to protect the Misty Jade vein, provided the vein's reserves are not large!

Thus, Zhouyang began a survey of the Misty Jade vein with complex feelings.

After seven or eight days of continuous exploration, he finally confirmed that this Misty Jade vein could only be classified as a micro vein in terms of reserves, not even small-sized.

Faced with this result, Zhouyang didn't quite know how to react.

A micro mineral vein means that even if the entire "Misty Jade" vein is mined, its total value won't exceed two hundred thousand Lower Grade Spirit Stones. If the Zhou Family can ascend to become a Purple Mansion Clan, it can almost ensure the vein won't be touched by others.

But it also means his dream of great wealth is shattered!

"The heart is insatiable, like a snake swallowing an elephant!"

With a long sigh, Zhouyang shook his head, quickly composed himself, covered the pits he had dug, and returned to Red Fox Ridge.

Since the matter of the "Misty Jade" vein cannot be disclosed for now, it certainly can't be mined. He has figured out the reasons behind the poisoning, so staying here is naturally unnecessary.

Upon returning to Purple Cloud Cave at Red Fox Ridge, Zhouyang explained the poisoning by the "Illusory Spirit Jade Butterfly" to Xiao Ying, instructing her to handle the demon beast after the next full moon, while he himself headed to Jade Spring Lake Oasis to meet the old Clan Leader, Zhou Minghan.

After carefully thinking about the matter of brewing contraceptive potions, Zhouyang decided it wasn't appropriate for Xiao Ying to undertake this task and didn't mention it to her, planning to have his father, Zhou Xuanhao, do it instead.

Since the Eagle Lion Beast hasn't yet impregnated the Wind Shadow Leopard, Zhouyang had to use Sword Flight himself when going out. Otherwise, without the Eagle Lion Beast overseeing the Wild Wind Shadow Leopard, the hard-to-tame creature would certainly try to escape.

He flew on his sword back to Jade Spring Lake Oasis and immediately went to the mountain-top cave residence to meet the old Clan Leader, Zhou Minghan, recounting the discovery of the "Misty Jade" vein.

"Good, it seems it's destined for my Zhou Family to prosper; I have good news to share with you too!"

Upon hearing Zhouyang's words, Zhou Minghan's face instantly brightened with an extremely delighted smile. Then, smiling broadly, he looked at Zhouyang and said in a low voice, "Recently, Xuan Yu went out to hunt Demon Beasts for cultivation and unexpectedly discovered a group of wild Shatuo Beasts, numbering over thirty. Now, all these Shatuo Beasts have been captured and brought back for domestication by me, along with Xuan Zhao. It shouldn't be long before our Zhou Family's Shatuo Beast count reaches a hundred!"

Just as camels are important assets to mortal families living on desert oases, the Shatuo Beasts, capable of being ridden and carrying goods, are important assets to Cultivation Clans in the Boundless Desert Sea Cultivation Realm.

With Zhou Family's Shatuo Beast count breaking a hundred, the clan can transport minerals, Spirit Grain, and other large goods to farther places for sale.

This carries significant meaning for the Zhou Family, which already has strained relations with the Chen Family.

Hearing this, Zhouyang was also delighted and then said, "Speaking of Foster Mother, I think it's time to move her to the New Oasis over there. I don't think there will be any issues with Ying'Er in that regard."

"You can discuss this with her yourself."

Zhou Minghan nodded, having no objections to such small matters.

Then, looking at Zhouyang, after a moment of inner turmoil, he still said, "Xiao Jiu, your ancestors have a matter they are uncertain about; could you provide some advice?"

"Ancestor, please speak."

Zhouyang's expression froze for a moment, then he agreed without hesitation.

"It's like this: you still have two Foundation Establishment Pills left, right? Yu'Er recently asked me to lend contribution points to Yuan Yao to exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill for her cultivation. I didn't agree but didn't reject her either, just said I'd consider it."

"Now you are the Clan Leader; do you think it's appropriate if I lend contribution points to Yuan Yao to exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill for cultivation?"

Zhou Minghan hesitantly and slowly spoke out the conflict in his heart.

Upon hearing this, Zhouyang immediately understood why this usually smart and decisive old Clan Leader appeared so tentative.

He straightened his expression and solemnly looked at Zhou Minghan, bowed, and said, "Ancestor, please forgive my rudeness. Before answering you, I have a few daring questions to ask. Do you mind?"

"No problem, Xiao Jiu, ask anything you wish; I will definitely answer."

Zhou Minghan waved his hand, generously agreeing to his request.

Zhouyang then immediately asked, "Did you not agree to lend Foster Mother contribution points to Yuan Yao Sister to exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill because of Yuan Yao Sister's background, or because you fear that this action might set a bad precedent, causing clan members to complain about family unfairness, questioning the family's fairness and justice, thus lowering loyalty to the clan?"

Zhou Minghan shook his head and said, "Yuan Yao's demon father has been dead for so many years; I can't possibly still hold a grudge over that."

Zhouyang continued asking, "Then did you not refuse Foster Mother's request due to a guilty conscience for not helping her purchase a Foundation Establishment Pill back then?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Minghan's expression dimmed; he nodded and said, "That's exactly right!"

Seeing this, Zhouyang understood and, in a low voice, posed the final question: "Have you thought about whether if you could help this time but still do not help Yuan Yao Sister exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill, Foster Mother would feel any resentment towards the clan and your decision as she did years ago? Would Yuan Yao Sister still regard you as her ancestor?"

"I..."

Zhou Minghan stared blankly at Zhouyang, his expression seeming to age by over ten years, becoming wearier, so much so that he couldn't speak for a long while.