Chapter 302: Chapter 289: Completion of Perfection
Zhouyang never enforced a sole voice in the Zhou Family.
Every time he had a major decision or matter to announce, he would first inform the other clan members at the family meeting and seek the opinions of a wide range of clan members.
However, while he could avoid being the sole voice, others might not truly have the courage to oppose his decisions.
Especially after he reached the Purple Mansion Stage in cultivation, such people were almost nonexistent.
The matter of changing the clan leader in the Zhou Family was indeed a significant event, and even one of those seldom decisions that could not be made solely by the clan leader.
But truly, there were very few Zhou Family members daring enough to express their opinions on such a major issue.
More importantly, Zhou Guangxiang, being the only Upper-Grade Spiritual Root cultivator of the Zhou Clan, had been serving as the Vice Clan Leader presiding over family affairs for more than ten years. His succession to the position of clan leader was both reasonable and lawful, leaving no room for objection.
So ultimately, the matter of Zhou Guangxiang taking over as clan leader was settled.
According to Zhouyang’s instructions, the succession ceremony was set to be held a month later, during which most Zhou Clan cultivators would witness the event, and the clan leaders of other vassal clans would be invited to observe.
And during this month, Zhouyang was not idle.
According to his plan, once he formally stepped down from the position of clan leader, he would take his Dao companion Xiao Ying to the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm.
Thus, this month would be his last period spent within the clan.
During this time, he thoroughly sorted through his personal treasures and the items within the clan’s treasure vault. The items to be taken to the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm were placed into two storage rings, while some items were left within the clan.
At this moment, the benefits of him being the highest cultivation-level cultivator in the Zhou Clan became evident.
Within the Zhou Family’s treasure vault, any item he deemed suitable to take was unreservedly picked up and tossed into his storage rings.
Simultaneously, from the twenty to thirty thousand lower-grade spirit stones stored in the inner treasure vault, he left three thousand lower-grade spirit stones for the clan’s emergency use and put the rest into the storage rings.
Of course, this matter was only known to a few high-level Foundation Establishment members of the Zhou Clan; those at the Qi Cultivation Stage among the clan members would not know, as they could not access the inner treasure vault anyway.
Zhouyang would not explain to these clan members about everything he and his Dao companion Xiao Ying had done for the clan over the years, or the items left behind for the clan as foundational resources, which accumulated his clan contribution points to three to four hundred thousand.
Doing so would only lead to wild speculations among the clan members, which would be detrimental to the clan’s stability.
After organizing the items, Zhouyang also specifically compiled a notebook on artifact refining insights and cultivation experiences, which he handed over to Zhou Guangxiang for the reference and study of the family’s younger generation cultivators.
His Dao companion Xiao Ying also left a copy of her own comprehension and experiences in alchemy, recorded in her daily notes, for the family alchemists to learn and research.
This month quickly passed by.
A month later, with the testimony of hundreds of Zhou Clan members and Ma Shaoyang and other vassal clan leaders, Zhouyang publicly stepped down from the position of the Zhou Family patriarch, retiring to the background to become the Zhou Family’s Supreme Elder.
And after Zhouyang stepped down, Zhou Guangxiang formally took over the position, becoming the fifth generation patriarch of the Zhou Family.
This year, Zhouyang was one hundred and twenty-seven years old, and Zhou Guangxiang was eighty-seven years old.
Counting from when Zhouyang took over as the Zhou Family patriarch at the age of thirty-four, he had held this position for ninety-three years!
Over ninety-three years, he personally sent off the "Light" and "Xuan" generations of the Zhou Clan, including the old patriarch Zhou Minghan of the "Ming" generation.
Over these ninety-three years, the Zhou Clan, under his leadership, transformed from a small clan facing the risk of heritage disruption into a vibrant and strong Purple Mansion Clan.
The achievements he created during his tenure surpassed any previous patriarch of the Zhou Family, and his contributions were unparalleled in the Zhou Clan.
Now, all Zhou Family cultivators and all future Zhou Family descendants will forever remember the contributions of this fourth-generation patriarch to the clan, and his achievements will be eternally preserved in the clan’s history.
"Zhou Yuan Yang, fourth-generation patriarch of the Zhou Race, son of Zhou Xuanhao, mother Lin Yuting, Dao companion Xiao Ying, born in the 192nd year of the Zhou Clan Calendar, knowledgeable and wise from birth; began cultivation at four years old, reached Qi Cultivation at seven, reached Foundation Establishment at thirty-four and succeeded as the Zhou Clan Patriarch the same year... entered Purple Mansion at one hundred and five... stepped down as patriarch at one hundred and twenty-seven the same year became the Supreme Elder of the Zhou Family... Merit and deeds are great, virtue is passed on for generations, and among the Zhou Race, he stands alone!" — "Zhou Clan History · Biography of Ancestor Zhou Yuan Yang"
The rights and wrongs will be judged by future generations.
Zhouyang did not care about what evaluations he would receive in the future, as cultivators only seek longevity, and apart from this, they have no other pursuit.
Fame and fortune to him are like clouds of smoke; everything, in the end, serves the purpose of "immortality."
Therefore, after stepping down as Clan Leader, he publicly told the clan members that he was retreating to cultivate in his cave abode, becoming a leisurely Supreme Elder.
In reality, however, after settling all matters, he secretly took his Dao Companion, Xiao Ying, and went to the Yellow Sand Sect to meet with the Sect Leader Zhang Yunpeng.
"This is the [Hidden Spirit Incense] prepared for Fellow Daoist Zhou; it’s extremely difficult to make. Fellow Daoist, please do not use it casually outside, otherwise you’ll have to risk a dangerous crossing through the Broken Cloud Mountain Range to return to the Boundless Sea of Sand Cultivation Realm later!"
"In addition, this storage bag contains a significant gift prepared by my master during his lifetime. I ask you, Fellow Daoist Zhou, to help deliver it to Master Cyan Yang. This is one of my master’s dying wishes, and I hope you will not refuse!"
"Lastly, this storage bag contains 200,000 Low-grade Spirit Stones. Fellow Daoist Zhou, should you encounter an auction in the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm where [Purple Heart Jade Marrow] is for sale, please purchase some for our Yellow Sand Sect. If the price does not exceed 200,000 Low-grade Spirit Stones, feel free to bid higher!"
Inside the Yellow Sand Sect, upon seeing Zhouyang’s arrival, Zhang Yunpeng immediately handed over the prepared items and also made his requests clear.
Zhouyang knew that, a few years ago, Zhang Yunpeng had secretly gone to the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm with the goal of escorting back the Yellow Sand Sect Purple Mansion Cultivator Yang Wenxiong, who had traveled there with him. He also aimed to bring spirit stone treasures obtained from eliminating traitors to procure spiritual objects for opening a Purple Mansion.
However, Zhang Yunpeng’s luck did not seem to be good. Although he successfully brought back Yang Wenxiong, he did not manage to acquire precious spiritual objects like "Purple Heart Jade Marrow."
After all, even in the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm, such spiritual objects are not available just anywhere or anytime. Only during large-scale auctions and exchanges between high-tier cultivators might such items be obtained, and it was clear Zhang Yunpeng did not dare stay in the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm for too long.
Therefore, upon hearing Zhang Yunpeng’s request, he only paused for a moment before taking the items and solemnly said, "Please rest assured, Sect Leader Zhang. If I truly encounter such an opportunity, I will certainly assist."
After speaking, he paused and then earnestly looked at Zhang Yunpeng, saying, "At the same time, I also ask Sect Leader Zhang to help look after the Zhou Family after my departure!"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Yunpeng also solemnly promised, "Fellow Daoist Zhou, rest assured that if the Zhou Family truly encounters any difficulties during your absence, as long as I, Zhang, can assist, I will protect the Zhou Family even at the cost of my life!"
"Then I will first thank Sect Leader Zhang here!"
Zhouyang slightly cupped his hands in gratitude and then, accompanied by Zhang Yunpeng’s personal farewell, discreetly left the Yellow Sand Sect, officially embarking on his second journey to the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm.
This time heading to the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm, Zhouyang had no escort and could only rely on himself, and additionally, he had to bring his Dao Companion Xiao Ying, adding considerable pressure.
Fortunately, he had already memorized the route to the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm from his last visit, and the Yellow Sand Sect also retained a rough map, which Zhang Yunpeng also provided him this time.
With the map and his memories from the last time, at least he didn’t have to worry about getting lost in the vast mountains, which was very important.
The Broken Cloud Mountain Range is vast and boundless; if one gets lost within, even with his Golden Core Stage strength, Zhouyang might not survive.
He used sword flight to carry Xiao Ying along Cao Wenjin’s initial route into the mountains, flying over a snow peak that was relatively lower than the others.
Upon entering the mountains, he immediately lit the "Hidden Spirit Incense" and then flew over the snow peak at the fastest speed into the mist layer behind the snow peak.
The vast mist concealed the figures on the flying sword, so that Demon Beasts could not detect them unless they came within a hundred meters of Zhouyang and his companion.
However, Zhouyang was ultimately not Cao Wenjin. Although his Divine Sense was strong, compared to Cao Wenjin, it was still significantly lacking, unable to detect Demon Beasts approaching from 60-70 miles away in advance like Cao Wenjin.
This sometimes led to situations where, having just discovered a flying Demon Beast coming against the current in the mist, he had no time to slow down and change direction to evade before being spotted.
Each time this happened, he could only strike first, killing the creature with lightning speed before it could raise the alarm.
Given his current strength, unless encountering a Tier Four Demon Beast, dealing with all Tier Three Demon Beasts was a matter of a single sword stroke.
Often, those Demon Beasts, upon discovering his presence, would be decapitated by a flying sword suddenly emerging from the mist behind them.
Once these Demon Beasts were killed, Zhouyang would not allow their bodies to fall and be discovered by other Demon Beasts; instead, he would immediately collect them into his Storage Ring.
These two Storage Rings were items he had been afraid to wear in the Boundless Sea of Sand Cultivation Realm for fear of their origins being deduced.
But for this trip to the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm, there was no need for such caution anymore.
In the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm, some well-off Purple Mansion Stage Cultivators also possess Storage Rings.
After all, in terms of storage space size and security, Storage Rings are superior to Storage Bags in many ways.