Zhou Minghan had great expectations for Zhouyang.
Since the establishment of the Yuquan Zhou Clan by Zhou Yuquan, there have always been Foundation Establishment cultivators holding the fort, which allowed for the clan to grow to its current size in just over two hundred years.
However, at present, it seems that the Yuquan Zhou Clan's luck has run dry. After Zhou Minghan's time, there hasn't been a new Foundation Establishment cultivator in over a hundred years.
This is dangerous.
The most feared thing for a cultivation clan is the sudden discontinuation of high-tier cultivators.
Once the protection of Foundation Establishment cultivators is lost, let alone expanding further, even safeguarding the ancestral lands of Yuquan Lake Oasis and Jade Spring Peak might be uncertain for the Zhou Clan.
Thus, under Zhou Minghan's covert direction, the clan's development in recent years had already quietly stopped, fearing that further expansion might attract others' greed, leading to the clan's extinction after his demise.
Yet this is not a fundamental solution. The best course would be for the clan to produce new Foundation Establishment cultivators before his demise to uphold the family.
With Foundation Establishment cultivators in place, relying on the Tier Three Array "Array of Ten Thousand Trees Holding Up the Heavens" on Jade Spring Peak and assistance from dozens of Qi Cultivation stage clan members, even attacks by multiple Foundation Establishment cultivators wouldn't damage the Zhou Family's foundation.
Zhou Minghan originally placed his hopes on the younger generation designated by "Xuan," even prepared to offer most of Yuquan Lake Oasis and the family's production to the Yellow Sand Sect in exchange for protection if no one promotes to Foundation Establishment before his demise, to prevent jealousy and extermination from others.
But now, Zhou Minghan realized he might need to change his plans.
With the potential displayed by Zhouyang, the younger member of "Yuan" generation, given another twenty to thirty years, his hope of reaching Foundation Establishment might far exceed those of the "Xuan" generation.
He carefully observed the teenager standing in front of him, noting not the handsome and elegant appearance and temperament, but the composed demeanor the teenager displayed upon being assessed, able to steadily face scrutiny.
After observing, he had only one thought in mind.
This young man can be of great use!
Of course, as an elder, though exceedingly satisfied and happy, he would not express too much openly to avoid fostering arrogance in the young one.
Therefore, though joyful in heart, he resumed a calm demeanor, looking at Zhouyang and asked, "Do you know the purpose for my summon?"
"I do not know, grandfather," Zhouyang honestly replied.
"According to clan rules, young cultivators in the clan must go down the mountain to gain experience and serve the clan for a time after reaching twenty."
"However, your situation is special. Though only seventeen, you have already reached the Sixth-Layer Qi Cultivation. In the past hundred years, no one of your age descending the mountain had such cultivation."
"You have just used the Earth Vein Spiritual Qi to breakthrough, requiring at least five years to consolidate your magical power. Keeping you on the mountain would be a waste of manpower."
"So I've decided to make an exception for you, letting you descend the mountain early to serve the clan, which is also for your experience and greatly beneficial to your future cultivation."
Zhou Minghan watched Zhouyang, who listened attentively, with a slight smile, solemnly expressing his decision.
As expected, Zhouyang's expression changed upon hearing his words, clearly not expecting this outcome.
Uncertain whether to feel joy or distress, Zhouyang's expression quickly returned to normal, then respectfully bowed and said, "I understand, I am willing to comply with the clan's arrangement."
Seeing this, Zhou Minghan asked him oddly, "Don't you want to know where I plan to send you?"
"Grandson believes grandfather's arrangements are ultimately for his benefit."
Zhouyang inwardly smiled and delivered a line that left Zhou Minghan speechless.
After a lengthy pause, Zhou Minghan laughed grudgingly, "You are indeed a sly one. How did Xuan Hao, with such upright parents, produce a clever fellow like you?"
Without letting Zhouyang protest, Zhou Minghan proceeded to reveal his plans for Zhouyang.
"Your spiritual root attributes are inclined towards gold and fire. Your cultivation technique, 'Golden Sun Fiery Flame Technique,' is forceful and tyrannical. Though short on combat experience, your magical combat abilities aren't weaker than peers."
"Perfect timing, the cultivator guarding Cyan Ping Mountain has reached the term. You will replace him there for five years, after which I'll assign others for the position."
"Additionally, I hope you'll take this time to study artifact refining from the Hundred Skills of Cultivation. Currently, the clan lacks promising individuals to continue my lineage in the refining domain. If you can excel, it would be very beneficial to the entire family."
After explaining his arrangements, Zhou Minghan waved his hand, tossing a gray Storage Bag and a small silver shield to Zhouyang.
"In the storage bag are some low-tier artifact refining materials, along with some of the old man's insights on artifact refining skills, and a copy of the family-collected 'Artifact Refining Truth.' You must take good care of these things and never let them be shared outside."
"As for this 'Silver Gang Shield' magical artifact, it's one of the top-tier ones among the many Tier Two artifacts crafted by the old man himself. Consider it compensation for you leaving the mountain early."
"Alright, if you have no other matters, you may leave. It's best to complete the journey to Cyan Ping Mountain within a month."
Zhouyang was left bewildered by Zhou Minghan's words and actions, and in the end, he instinctively clutched the items in his hand and responded, "Then I take my leave, dear grandpa."
He didn't snap back to reality until he walked out of the cave residence and heard the door closing behind him. It was then that he realized what had just happened.
Recalling what Zhou Minghan had instructed in the cave, he was confused and muttered to himself, "What just happened to me? Why was I so helpless, unable to even react? This isn't like me!"
Before his voice had fallen, his heart suddenly skipped a beat, and a bold guess emerged in his mind.
"Could it be that the old clan leader cast some kind of spell on me?"
In the next instant, he immediately dismissed this dangerous thought.
Even if the old clan leader had used some magic on him, it must have been just a joke. There's no need to overthink it; wild speculation would only harm himself.
Thinking of this, he carefully stowed away the storage bag and magical artifact, then went over to where Grandpa Qi, Zhou Yun, was enjoying tea alone under the tree, and asked him for help to open the array and send him down the mountain.
Before he left the array, Zhouyang glanced back at the mountain top, and saw Grandpa Qi Zhou Yun standing under the tree, smiling as he waved him goodbye.
"This kid seems to have noticed something. It seems I shouldn't use such little tricks to tease him in the future, to avoid any misunderstandings."
In the mountain-top cave residence, Zhou Minghan, watching Zhouyang's expression change after leaving, felt somewhat awkward as he tugged his beard, a look of regret flashing across his face.
Earlier, indeed, while speaking, he had quietly used a soul capturing technique obtained in his early years to influence Zhouyang's mind.
It wasn't that he feared Zhouyang would resist his arrangements, he just couldn't stand Zhouyang's precocious demeanor and wanted to play a little prank.
Just like in the mortal world, where adults give children a sip of strong liquor to tease them, watching as the supposedly mature child gets all flustered and laughs with tears flowing.
Such pranks, at the moment, might bring the adults pride in their success, but when they realize it causes the younger ones to mentally repel them, they regret it deeply.
Zhou Minghan found himself in such a situation now.
Fortunately, Zhouyang was truly mature psychologically, not just putting on an act, and wasn't genuinely displeased with this elder who dedicated himself to the family because of this small joke.
After descending from the mountain top, he soon returned to his attic located halfway up the mountain, closing the doors to organize today's gains.
First was the storage bag given by the old clan leader. This storage spiritual artifact made from the skin of demon beasts like the 'Spirit Void Mouse' was something almost every cultivator had to have. Even the poorest loose cultivators would do everything they could to get one.
Of course, storage bags also came in different sizes and levels. The kind used by Qi Cultivation Stage loose cultivators typically had a space dimension of only three feet square, just enough to store a few sets of clothing and a small number of miscellaneous items.
As for the Yuquan Zhou Clan, every clan member who reached the Qi Cultivation Stage could receive a five feet square storage bag for free from the family, while Zhouyang, due to having a good father, typically used a storage bag that was a full ten feet square.
But now, his storage bag had been upgraded again.
The seemingly drab storage bag given by the old clan leader surprisingly had a thirty feet square space inside, and it was filled not just with an artifact cauldron and several artifact refining classics, but also packed with low-tier artifact refining materials such as Profound Iron, Red Copper, and Centennial Iron Wood.
Zhouyang roughly estimated that if he were to refine artifacts like swords, which required less material, these resources could allow him to attempt refining hundreds of times.
"Generally, when clan members learn artifact refining skills, the family provides materials for practice for free, but at most they give about a hundred attempts. With so many materials given by the old clan leader, even the slowest person could succeed two or three times!"
Looking at the storage bag filled with materials, Zhouyang couldn't help but feel moved.
He knew that the old clan leader was always fair, never making exceptions for anyone, not even him with his extraordinary talent.
Thus, there could only be one reason he now had so many materials to practice with: the old clan leader had used his own savings to exchange for these materials from the family's storehouse.
"It seems that the old clan leader truly wishes for me to inherit his artifact refining skills. As the only Tier Three Refiner in the family, he must have seen something in me; perhaps I truly have some talent in artifact refining as well."
Zhouyang thought of the cultivation technique he practiced, the 'Golden Sun Fiery Flame Technique,' and suddenly understood, a knowing smile appearing on his face.
Then he carefully stored away the bag, turning his attention to the other item the old clan leader had given him, the Tier Two magical artifact 'Silver Gang Shield.'