"[Earth Element Spirit Milk] is indeed a necessary auxiliary medicine for refining the Foundation Establishment Pill, but it has another function. For Ninth-Layer Qi Cultivation cultivators under a hundred years old, it can restore their body's vitality to the state it was before sixty, giving them a precious opportunity to attempt breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Stage!"
Ignoring the drastic change in Xuan Hao's expression, the old clan leader Zhou Minghan spoke in a low tone, bringing up what Xuan Hao had deliberately ignored earlier.
"Old Clan Leader, you..."
Xuan Hao opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but as if he had some unspeakable concern, he couldn't bring himself to say it, looking very distressed.
Unexpectedly, the old clan leader did not let him off the hook, but instead looked at him and sternly said, "Xuan Hao, I know what you want to say, but let me tell you, once you step onto the path of cultivation, you must keep moving forward without hesitation!"
"If your cultivation is just to live twenty or thirty years longer than a mortal and to possess this mediocre power, you might as well have been an ordinary person, living a stable and uneventful life!"
Xuan Hao's body shuddered, and a fierce struggle suddenly appeared in his eyes.
At this moment, Elder Zhou Quan also spoke, "Xuan Hao, you know yourself that your spirit root talent is not inferior to Xuan Yu's. If it wasn't for the family's lack of alchemists, making you spend so much time on alchemy, you wouldn't have only reached the Ninth Layer of Qi Cultivation at sixty-three!"
After Elder Zhou Quan spoke, the Zhou Family's Third Elder, Elder Zhou Dan, immediately chimed in, "That's right, Xuan Hao, the Old Clan Leader and third brother are right. You delayed your chance to break through to the Foundation Establishment Stage for the family. Now that you have another chance, why can't you decide to try again? I'll be blunt; even if you fail, you still have Xiao Jiu, an outstanding descendant to carry on your legacy, living this life without regrets!"
Upon hearing this, the struggle in Xuan Hao's eyes became even stronger. He looked complexly at Zhouyang, who was somewhat bewildered, his throat moving as if he had something to say.
"Alright, you all stop talking now. This [Earth Element Spirit Milk] seems to need about ten years to solidify into a portion. Xuan Hao, you still have plenty of time to consider. When you've made up your mind, come talk to me. If you want it, this first portion will certainly be reserved for you!"
The old clan leader Zhou Minghan waved his hand, stopping the words the elders wanted to say and also making Xuan Hao suppress the words that were about to come out of his mouth back into his stomach.
He suppressed what he wanted to say, nodded heavily, and responded, "Xuan Hao understands. I will seriously consider the words of the Old Clan Leader and all the elders."
Zhouyang hadn't spoken all along because he had no idea what kind of puzzle the Old Clan Leader and the others were playing.
But hearing up to this point, if he still didn't understand what the Old Clan Leader and the others were discussing, then he would have lived these years in vain.
"So the Old Clan Leader and the others want father to take [Earth Element Spirit Milk] to attempt breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Stage. No wonder father, who has always respected his elders, is so troubled this time!"
Understanding this, Zhouyang's heart suddenly felt immensely heavy.
Xuan Hao was already eighty-seven years old this year, and had also lost his Primordial Yang. Even if he took [Earth Element Spirit Milk] to restore his body's vitality to the state before sixty, the probability of successful Foundation Establishment wouldn't exceed five percent!
With such low chances of Foundation Establishment, it's no wonder Xuan Hao can't make up his mind.
After all, he is no longer alone now; he has a wife and a son, all of whom are his concerns.
On the other hand, as Elder Zhou Dan said, after having a wife and son and living nearly a century, having another chance to attempt Foundation Establishment, even if it fails, would be seen as a life without regrets.
"Will father agree? If it were me, what choice would I make?"
Zhouyang took a secretive glance at his heavy-hearted father, and despite having countless things to say, he couldn't utter a single word.
As a son, if he persuades his father to agree, and his father fails the Foundation Establishment and perishes, that would be considered unfilial.
But as a cultivator, if he persuades his father not to agree, it would mean personally cutting off his father's path to cultivation, which is equally unfilial.
At this time, he could only pretend to be clueless!
Fortunately, just then, other Zhou Family elders entered the stone chamber to report their exploration findings to the old clan leader, alleviating his awkwardness.
"Reporting to the Old Clan Leader, I have explored the area by the Dark River; no other demon beasts were found hiding, nor did I notice any signs of spiritual objects. It seems to be just a regular underground Dark River tributary passing through."
The speaker was Zhou Xuanyan, the eighth-ranked female cultivator in the Zhou family's 'Xuan' generation. She was a rare water element cultivator in the Boundless Desert Sea, so upon entering the cave, she voluntarily took on the task of investigating the underground Dark River.
Underground Dark Rivers are peculiar places; even in arid inland areas like the Boundless Desert Sea, water demonic beasts can appear in these rivers. These water demonic beasts live within the underground Dark Rivers, almost without any natural enemies, and can sometimes reach the level of Tier Three or even Tier Four great demons.
Therefore, when a cultivator discovers an underground Dark River, they meticulously explore it to be sure of the surroundings before deciding whether to establish a settlement nearby.
"This matter cannot be taken lightly. I remember that Qian repaired a high-grade Tier Two water attribute array and stored it in the clan's treasure vault. Later, I will have Xuantai retrieve it to set up in the Dark River, and at that time, Xuanyan, you will assist him."
Elder Zhou Minghan pondered for a moment and decided it was best to be cautious.
Although a Tier Two Top Grade Array couldn't defend against attacks from Tier Three or Tier Four Demon Beasts, it could at least serve as a warning, giving the clan cultivators stationed in the stone chamber time to react.
However, thinking of the departed Grand Elder Zhou Qian of the Zhou Family, Zhou Minghan's mood inexplicably grew heavy.
He glanced over the Zhou Family cultivators inside the stone chamber. With a flick of his sleeve, a metal disc with a dozen or so pale yellow flags suddenly appeared in his hand.
"This set of the Earth and Metal Spear Array is the last work left by Qar'Er in this world. Though it is only Tier Three Lower Grade, it is extremely compatible with the spirit vein attributes of this place. Go now and assist Xuantai in setting it up!"
With a sigh, he spoke of the origin of the metal disc and gently tossed it, letting it fall into the hands of Elder Zhou Quan.
As everyone began to leave one by one, following the orders, he suddenly seemed to have remembered something and said, "Oh, Xiao Jiu, stay behind."
"Xiao Jiu, since you were the one who discovered this spirit vein, have you thought of a name for it?"
Zhouyang, who had been named to stay, was puzzled as to why the elder wanted him, but received a question instead.
He was momentarily stunned but then responded, "Since Great-Grandfather asks, grandson shall be bold and suggests, how about 'Haoyang Cave'?"
"Haoyang Cave, Haoyang Cave, good! From now on, this place shall be named Haoyang Cave!"
The clan leader repeated the name "Haoyang Cave" twice, waved his sleeve, and a gleaming sword light swiftly flew out, carving the three characters of "Haoyang Cave" onto the stone wall.
After doing so, the clan leader retrieved the flying sword and looked earnestly at Zhouyang, asking, "Xiao Jiu, this Haoyang Cave is a Tier Three Lower Grade Natural Spiritual Vein and is connected to an underground Dark River. It has great potential for future development. I am considering that when you establish your foundation, you could settle here. What do you think?"
Why ask about matters after establishing a foundation now?
Zhouyang's face briefly held a puzzled expression before something clicked in his mind, and he blurted out, "Could Great-Grandfather mean for me to retreat here and cultivate in the coming time?"
"A promising youngster indeed!"
Zhou Minghan looked at Zhouyang approvingly and nodded, then explained his plan.
"Haoyang Cave is a Tier Three Natural Spiritual Vein and lies adjacent to a Red Flame Iron Ore Vein. In terms of actual value, it is no less than the Yuquan Lake Oasis. Until there's a Foundation Establishment Cultivator guarding here, I won't let low-tier cultivators from the clan come here, to prevent the news from leaking out.
"Once the Earth and Metal Spear Array is set up, I will take Xuan Hao and others back to the clan. Then, this place will be entrusted to Quan'er, Dan'er, Xuan Yan, and you, Xiao Jiu, to guard. With you four as late-stage Qi Cultivation cultivators here, and by relying on the array, even if a Tier Three Demon Beast attacks, you can hold out until I arrive for rescue. There's no need to worry about safety!"
"Most importantly, the environment here is more suitable for your cultivation than Jade Spring Peak. Cultivating here increases your chances of advancing to the Ninth Layer of Qi Cultivation within a decade or so."
Zhouyang understood the reasoning, but thinking about being separated from his parents shortly after reuniting made his heart ache.
He actually wanted to tell the clan leader to let his father Zhou Xuanhao stay with him as well.
But he knew better that his father, as the clan's only Tier Two High-Grade Alchemist now, could only make use of his abilities by overseeing the shop at the marketplace.
If his father Zhou Xuanhao were to decide to break through to the Foundation Establishment Stage, he would definitely need to select an heir from the "Yuan" generation juniors in the next ten years or so to inherit the alchemy skills, to ensure the family's lineage of alchemists continues, should he fail.
"Grandson understands."
He suppressed his inner discomfort and responded in a low voice.
"Ah! You and your father have worked tirelessly!"
Zhou Minghan sighed deeply and couldn't help but gently pat Zhouyang's shoulder, indicating he understood everything.
If there were a choice, Zhou Minghan wouldn't do this either, but the current predicament facing the Zhou Family forced his hand.
For a family to develop and grow strong, sacrifices are always necessary.
As a clan cultivator, one cannot enjoy the benefits of the clan without bearing any responsibilities. The more one benefits, the more they must give back.
The same was true for Zhou Qian in those days, for Zhou Xuan Yu, and how could it be any different for Zhou Xuanhao and Zhouyang now?