Outside the Yuquan Lake Oasis, Zhou Yang looked at the land where he was born and raised, and let out a long sigh with emotion on his face.
At this time, seventeen months had passed since he set off from Rhinoceros Island!
Without a map to refer to and no specific route, his journey home was full of twists and turns and miserable.
During this period, he flew on the wrong route and got lost countless times. The total length of his wrongful flying was at least a million miles!
If he hadn't carried a large amount of spirit stones and Bigu Pills with him, he might have died of hunger or thirst in the vast sea of sand as a dignified foundation-building monk.
But now, those have become a thing of the past.
In the end, he successfully overcame various difficulties and returned to his family.
"I don't know what the situation is like now, whether Patriarch Cao has returned to Huangshamen!"
Zhou Yang thought about this, and his excitement quickly calmed down.
The reason why he went directly back to his family instead of going to Huangshamen was because he was worried that if the situation was unclear, he would cause trouble if he came rashly.
"Xiaojiu, you are finally back!"
"There has been no news about you for such a long time. If I hadn't seen that the soul card you left in the family was normal, I and your father would have been unable to help but go to Huangshamen to ask Patriarch Cao for help in finding you!"
On Yuquan Peak, Zhou Minghan, who was sitting here, saw Zhou Yang returning safely. His originally gloomy mood suddenly disappeared, just like the clouds opening up to see the sun, and his face looked indescribably happy.
Zhou Yang has been having a hard time for more than a year, so why not those of them who care about Zhou Yang!
The news coming from Huangshamen and from the mouths of some monks who had returned from Rhinoceros Island made them, who were waiting for the return of their relatives, frightened and worried.
Just as Zhou Minghan himself said, if the soul card left by Zhou Yang in the family had not been in good condition, and the situation in the Immortal Cultivation World in the Boundless Sand Sea was not optimistic, they would have sent people to search for it.
"My grandson is unfilial and makes my great-grandfather and father worried."
Zhou Yang bowed to the old man with an apologetic look on his face, feeling warm and touched in his heart.
Zhou Minghan has always shown a calm and dignified image, but now he showed his true feelings in front of him, showing such an expression, which shows the old man's care for him.
"Let's not talk about this anymore. As long as you come back, it will be fine!"
Zhou Minghan smiled and shook his head, not wanting to talk more about the love between children.
Then he looked solemn and looked at Zhou Yang seriously and said: "Originally, Xiaojiu, when you just came back, you should be allowed to accompany your father and your Taoist companions, but now the world of immortality has changed too much, and there are some things
There is an urgent need for you to know and make a decision, so I can only take up some of your time first."
When Zhou Yang heard this, he immediately nodded and said, "Business matters are important. Great-grandfather, please tell me."
Next, Zhou Minghan told the major events that happened during Zhou Yang's absence.
It turned out that while Zhou Yang was still looking for a way home in the vast sea of sand, some monks were lucky enough to return to their families and sects before him.
After these people came back and learned that Cao Wenjin was seriously injured and was recuperating in seclusion, and that the news was passed on to Zhang Yunpeng and his wife, they no longer had any scruples and spread the word about what happened on Rhinoceros Island.
One can imagine how much uproar it caused.
Originally, various families complained about Huang Shamen forcing their own foundation-building monks to go to Rhinoceros Continent. Now, the foundation-building monks and Zifu monks who supported the foundation of the family's existence have fallen away, and Huangshamen has not given any compensation. In their hearts
One can imagine how strong the anger was.
If Cao Wenjin was not seriously injured and his strength was intact, the leaders of these family forces would not dare to do anything wrong even if they were filled with anger. They could only write down this hatred and retaliate later.
But now it is said that Cao Wenjin was so seriously injured that he could not even leave the cave, and it is very likely that he has passed away.
No matter whether this news is true or not, it has given the angry families courage, so that they no longer need to suppress their anger and dare not do anything.
However, what really made these people determined to resist the "tyranny" of Huangshamen came from the turmoil within Huangshamen.
Cao Wenjin's initial worries were correct. After the two Zifu monks Luo Yunqing and Guo Shuyun returned to the sect, they were indeed very dissatisfied with him for directly handing over the fifth-level demon elixir to Jiang Yuyan for refining and passing the throne to Zhang Yunpeng.
They fought tooth and nail to seize the fifth-level demon elixir, so long as they did not have the right to use it, but how could Zhang Yunpeng be able to surpass them and take over as the leader?
In terms of seniority, seniority, and contribution to Huang Shamen, both Luo Yunqing, who has been guarding the sect for many years, and Guo Shuyun, who has been working hard for the sect as the head of the general affairs hall, all think that they are more suitable than Zhang Yunpeng, who only focuses on cultivation.
Assume the position of leader.
So when the two people's request to meet Cao Wenjin to seek justice was rejected by Zhang Yunpeng and his wife, they each left the mountain gate of Huangshamen with some disciples and blood descendants, and occupied a four-story building that originally belonged to Huangshamen.
Jie Lingshan directly became the local emperor, no longer obeying the sect's orders and no longer paying tribute taxes to the sect.
Among them, Luo Yunqing even returned the relics of the monks from various families that he had collected intact to the families where those monks lived, trying to buy people's hearts.
When those families saw this, they reciprocated the favor and issued statements one after another that they would no longer recognize the orthodox status of Zhang Yunpeng and his wife, and would only recognize Luo Yunqing as the new head of Huangshamen, and would only pay tribute to Luo Yunqing in the future.
In the eyes of Zhang Yunpeng and his wife, the actions of these families are tantamount to betrayal.
If it weren't for Cao Wenjin's special instructions before going into seclusion, and Jiang Yuyan was busy refining the "Heretic Golden Pill" and couldn't get away, the two of them would definitely come directly to a certain family and use the lives of all the monks in their clan to tell those betrayers
What is the price of betrayal?
But the fact is that they can do nothing but issue a stern statement to warn those traitors.
And their move, which can be said to be a sign of weakness, gave some onlookers greater confidence, allowing more families to choose to sever ties with the Huangshamen and no longer be vassals of the Huangshamen.
Of course, these families do not include the Zhou family. The top leaders of the Zhou family all know that Zhou Yang and Cao Wenjin have a close relationship. In addition, except for Huang Yi, the Zhou family does not know whether he is alive or dead. Zhou Yang and Zhou Yuanchen, who went on the expedition to Rhinoceros Continent together, both survived.
, they will naturally not take sides rashly.
However, they did not take sides and refused to make any statement about breaking away from Huangshamen. In the eyes of Luo Yunqing and others, they undoubtedly supported Zhang Yunpeng and his wife.
For this reason, all the monks outside the Zhou family have been recalled to the family by Zhou Minghan. Even the shops in Baishahefang City have been temporarily closed for fear of being murdered by monks from Luo Yunqing's faction.
After Zhou Yang listened to Zhou Minghan's story, his mind was full of thoughts. After thinking for a while, he looked at Zhou Minghan and asked: "Where is the Chen family? What is the current situation of the Chen family, the Yang family, and other families?"
"The reaction of the Chen family is rather strange. It is clear that the ancestor of the Chen family fell on Rhinoceros Island because of Huang Shamen. With Chen Ping'an, a monk from the Zifu, sitting in charge, they have no intention of resisting Huang Shamen, nor do they have any intention of resisting Huang Shamen.
Recall the Chen family members who are in Huangshamen."
"As for the Yang family, the head of the Yang family, Yang Xingyan, failed to open up the Zifu, which hurt his soul. Now he doesn't dare to act rashly and is still waiting and watching."
Zhou Minghan slowly told the situation of the Chen and Yang families, then looked directly at Zhou Yang and asked: "The situation is roughly like this now. In your opinion, Xiaojiu, where should our Zhou family go from here?"
Where should the Zhou family go?
In Zhou Yang's view, this is not a problem.
There was a flash of light in his eyes, and he whispered back to Zhou Minghan:
"My great-grandfather knew that during this expedition to the Rhinoceros Continent, Cao Laozu once told his grandson that if his grandson could successfully survive the battle of Rhinoceros Continent and return to the family, he would send a big gift to his grandson and his family.
Zhou family."
"Now that my grandson has returned safely, it's naturally time to go see his old man to receive this great gift."
"Where our Zhou family should go will naturally become clear after our grandson goes to Huangshamen to meet Ancestor Cao!"
"This is happening!"
Zhou Minghan looked at Zhou Yang in surprise, shocked by the news he revealed.
Although he knew that Zhou Yang and Cao Wenjin had an unusual relationship, he never expected that Cao Wenjin would value Zhou Yang so much.
He immediately expressed his stance and said: "Since Patriarch Cao values you so much, Xiaojiu, then our Zhou family really cannot betray Huang Shamen. This matter will be left to you to decide. No matter what decision you make, I will
I support you unconditionally!"
"Thank you, great-grandfather, for your trust. My grandson will definitely not let you down."
Zhou Yang nodded gratefully, feeling very touched by Zhou Minghan's trust.
The Zhou family could not be what it is today without his contribution, but without Zhou Minghan's unreserved trust and 100% support, the Zhou family would never be as strong as it is today.
Without Zhou Minghan's trust, it would not have been so easy for Zhou Yang to change the ancestral rules and drastically reform the family system.
Seeing this, Zhou Minghan couldn't help but smile softly and said: "Okay, then this matter is settled. Regarding your return, Xiaojiu, I will first ask the clansmen to keep it secret and not reveal it. Then you will first keep it secret within the family."
Take a month's rest and spend more time with your father and fellow Taoists. After you have rested, it won't be too late to go to Huangshamen to meet Patriarch Cao!"
Of course, Zhou Yang was very moved by Zhou Minghan's consideration, but he shook his head and said: "It won't take that long. After my grandson goes to see his father and Ying'er, he will rest for a few days and then go to Huangshamen to meet Mr. Cao."
Ancestor, the sooner this matter is done, the sooner you will feel at ease!"
Zhou Minghan didn't know Cao Wenjin's character, so he could still be so optimistic.
However, he had dealt with Cao Wenjin a lot, but he knew that even if this Patriarch Cao had not died as rumored, he was definitely on the verge of death.
Otherwise, with the character of this ancestor, he would not let Luo Yunqing and his ilk act like this.
Therefore, he must meet Cao Wenjin before he dies, and get a large sum of investment for himself and the Zhou family before he dies!