116: Genealogy

"This, how can this be?"

"Immortal Master, please take it back."

Hearing this, Zhou Licheng was startled. The value of these two items was immeasurable. He spoke repeatedly, presenting both items with both hands.

"Patriarch Zhou, there's no need to say more."

"Fellow Daoist Mo eliminated the Cloud Jiao and the three Great Demon Kings, saving the lives of my Sect's Disciples. These small tokens of gratitude are not worth mentioning."

True Person Qingmu said with a serious expression.

He had originally intended to find something useful for Mo Xuan, but the Xuanqing Sect had suffered heavy losses, and after searching, he truly couldn't find anything suitable.

He then thought of the extraordinary relationship between the Zhou Family and Mo Xuan, which led to this gesture.

That Second-Rank Beast Taming Legacy was not the foundation of the Xuanqing Sect. According to his understanding, the Zhou Family's Beast Taming Legacy should have come from the original Liu Family, and it was incomplete. That's why he thought of sending this Legacy as a token of gratitude.

"This..."

Zhou Licheng's expression shifted. This Legacy was truly of no small use to the Zhou Family.

A moment later, Zhou Licheng made up his mind and cupped his hands in a bow to True Person Qingmu:

"Many thanks, Immortal Master!"

"It's nothing."

True Person Qingmu waved his hand.

"Since Fellow Daoist Mo is not here, it is not convenient for me to stay long. I shall take my leave."

True Person Qingmu added.

He then waved his sleeve, and his figure transformed into a green light.

"Immortal Master, travel safely!"

Zhou Licheng bowed again.

Seeing True Person Qingmu disappear, he let out a long breath, the pressure in his heart immediately lessening. He held the three items given by True Person Qingmu in his hands, feeling a slight thrill. However, he then thought of something else, and his expression dimmed.

During this period, Lin Muwan had become increasingly sorrowful.

After such a major event occurred, Zhou Kaiding and Zhou Lihai had not returned for a long time. Zhou Licheng could no longer continue to conceal it, and Lin Muwan learned of it. Suffering such a blow, Lin Muwan had no appetite for food or drink, and her excessive sorrow damaged her mind, causing her body to gradually weaken.

Thinking of this, Zhou Licheng sighed deeply, silently praying in his heart for a miracle to happen.

Returning home, Zhou Licheng opened his Storage Pouch. Inside were two massive Yao Beast corpses. Even though they were already dead, their intense fierce aura still impacted Zhou Licheng's mind.

After a long while, Zhou Licheng finally adjusted.

Looking at the Storage Pouch in his hand, he pondered. This belonged to Uncle Xuan, and it was not convenient for him to dispose of it. He then closed the Storage Pouch.

He then held the Jade Slip in his hand and extended his consciousness into it. Indeed, it contained a Second-Rank Beast Taming Legacy. He placed it in the Family's Cultivation Manual Tower, alongside the First-Rank Beast Taming Legacy.

He also carefully put away the token separately.

After tidying everything, he headed towards Lin Muwan's residence.

Zhou Liyue had already gone to Tianshui City several days ago. Without personally searching for them, the Zhou Family members would always remain unwilling to give up.

Half a month later, Zhou Liyue returned, but her face showed no joy.

She found Zhou Licheng and handed him the Storage Pouch in her hand.

Zhou Licheng's expression was heavy as he took it and opened it.

Inside were only a few fragments of clothing, precisely what Zhou Kaiding and Zhou Lihai were wearing when they left home, along with a few fragments of the Star Flame Mirror.

Zhou Licheng fell silent.

Several days later, at a treated area in the back mountain of Jade Moon Peak.

All the Zhou Family members were gathered there, establishing a cenotaph for Zhou Kaiding and Zhou Lihai.

Afterward, their spirit tablets were enshrined in the Zhou Family Ancestral Hall.

In the center of the Ancestral Hall, beneath the heavens and earth, hung a portrait. The person in the painting wore a green long robe, with a gentle and slightly smiling expression, his hands clasped behind his back. A golden halo undulated behind him, and a three-foot-long magical sword circled his body. Although his features were not particularly outstanding, he possessed an inherent transcendent aura.

The Zhou Family Genealogy recorded:

"Zhou Kaiding, the ancestor who established the Zhou Family, was born into a Mortal Family of scholars."

"At the age of fourteen, he coincidentally obtained an immortal fate/opportunity and embarked on the immortal path."

"After enduring hardships, he rose from a Loose Cultivator. At the age of thirty-three, he established his foundation on Jade Moon Peak in Qingyuan Town."

"With medium aptitude, he entered Foundation Establishment at the age of sixty, becoming the Zhou Family's first Foundation Establishment Cultivator."

"At the age of seventy-eight, a beast tide invaded, and he died resisting it."

... The Zhou Family was in mourning.

After mourning Zhou Kaiding, Yang Huaiyuan felt a sense of melancholy. He took the Yang Family and left the Zhou Family, returning to Qizhi Peak. Now that the situation in Huichuan Prefecture was gradually stabilizing, it was time to leave.

After Yang Huaiyuan left, Yang Linxi took out the Talisman-Making Legacy and handed it to Zhou Licheng. Zhou Licheng naturally refused to accept it, but Yang Linxi's expression was resolute, as if she would throw a big tantrum if Zhou Licheng didn't accept it.

Zhou Licheng, helpless, could only accept it and placed it in the Family's Cultivation Manual Hall.

By then, the Zhou Family already possessed a First-Rank Spiritual Plant Inheritance, a First-Rank Formation Legacy, a First-Rank Talisman-Making Legacy, and a Second-Rank Beast Taming Legacy.

They also had one Third-Rank Cultivation Technique Legacy, two Second-Rank Cultivation Technique Legacies, and more than ten First-Rank Cultivation Technique Legacies.

The Zhou Family's Cultivation Manual Hall had now also grown considerably.

In the future, they could develop in multiple directions based on the talents, specialties, and interests of the Family's Juniors, strengthening the Zhou Family's power.

In Qingyuan Town, the remaining Cultivators each re-established their foundations, but the personnel changes and the feeling of things being different were not few.

Seizing this opportunity, the Zhou Family released news, designating the entire Qingyuan Lake as the Zhou Family's territory and a Zhou Family Forbidden Ground.

As for the Lake Heart Island Market, they would have to find another location to rebuild it.

The Cultivators of Qingyuan Town all had no objections.

Given the Zhou Family's current status, let alone Qingyuan Lake, even if they designated the entire Qingyuan Town as a Zhou Family Forbidden Ground, it would be perfectly acceptable.

However, the Zhou Family did not do so.

Thereafter, the news that Old Ancestor Mo of the Zhou Family in Qingyuan Town was a Golden Core Stage Demon King gradually spread.

After this beast tide incident, everyone was in a state of alarm. Cultivators from other towns flocked to Qingyuan Town, wishing to settle there.

Several conflicts even occurred, and Zhou Licheng, helpless, could only personally step forward to establish rules.

From then on, the number of Cultivators in Qingyuan Town gradually increased.

The same was true around the Xuanqing Sect.

More than a month later, news came from the Xuanqing Sect that the beast tides in the other surrounding prefectures had also receded.

Each prefecture suffered heavy losses, with Golden Core True Persons falling and Sects and Families being destroyed.

Only then did Zhou Licheng, Zhou Liyue, and the others completely let go of their worries.

Several months later, Lin Muwan passed away from illness and was buried with Zhou Kaiding.

The Zhou Family members suffered another blow, and the atmosphere in the Family became even more sorrowful.

Juniors like Zhou Leren and Zhou Leyi were no longer as lively as before, their grief evident.

Zhou Licheng, Zhou Liyue, and Zhou Linuo felt the deepest sorrow, having lost three close relatives within a few short months. The pain was unimaginable.

Xia Chuxue also looked much haggard, her smile gone, as if she had returned to the time when she had avenged her parents.

However, at that time, Zhou Liyue had pulled her back, and now she still had her children by her side, so she did not harbor thoughts of death as she had before.

Time flowed on.

A year later, Qingyuan Town was completely renewed, its vitality gradually recovering. Various families established their foundations with the Zhou Family as their center.

Of the original families in Qingyuan Town, only a handful remained, the rest having changed.

At the same time, Zhou Leren had a Breakthrough, entering the Ninth Level of Qi Refining.