When the news that Zhou Yang returned from forming a golden elixir reached Huangshamen, Yang Wenxiong, the current head of Huangshamen, staggered and almost fell to the ground after receiving the news.
He looked at the monk who reported the news in shock, and moved his mouth, wanting to ask if the news was true.
But before the words left his mouth, he stopped again.
He knew very well that the messenger monk would not be able to talk nonsense about such a big matter.
"I understand, you go down first!"
He took a deep breath, forced himself to calm down, and then waved his hand to let the messenger monk leave first.
He is the leader of a sect and must have the majesty of a leader. Especially now, he must stabilize his mentality and not let other disciples know about his panic.
Since Zhou Yang's return after forming the golden elixir has become a fact, it cannot be changed.
The next thing he, the head of the Huangsha Sect, has to do is to figure out Zhou Yang's attitude.
In fact, regarding this issue, when he took over the position of head from the previous head Zhang Yunpeng, the other party had already made arrangements.
At this time, he forced himself to calm down, and after thinking carefully, he told the disciple who was waiting outside: "Come here, send a message to the Zhou family, saying that Yang has important matters and wants to invite Senior Zhou Yang to come.
A trip to Huangshamen."
According to common sense, when Zhou Yang returned from forming a golden elixir, Yang Wenxiong, who had a low level of cultivation, should have taken the initiative to visit Zhou's family. Only in this way could he show his sincerity.
But now he asked Zhou Yang to come to Huangshamen to see him, which is a bit ignorant.
However these are just appearances.
Yang Wenxiong's real intention in issuing this order was to test Zhou Yang's thoughts through this order.
Normal people know that when Zhou Yang returns after forming a golden elixir, the position of the overlord of the Huangshamen Boundless Sand Sea Immortal Realm will completely change hands.
So at this time, those in power in Huangshamen must be the most panicked and helpless.
When people are in panic, they will inevitably make some foolish and unwise actions.
What if Yang Wenxiong and other senior officials of Huangshamen are confused and want to take advantage of Zhou Yang's success in forming the elixir and before his footing is stable, and trick him into the mountain gate of Huangshamen, and then use the power of the sect's mountain protection formation?
, spending all the savings of the entire sect to kill him.
This situation is not impossible.
Yang Wenxiong unusually invited Zhou Yang to Huangshamen, which undoubtedly made people think this way.
And this is Yang Wenxiong's test of Zhou Yang.
"Zhou Yang, Zhou Yang, I hope you won't let me down!"
"Otherwise, even if Yang fights for the foundation of the sect, he will definitely not make things easier for your Zhou family!"
Yang Wenxiong's eyes flashed with gloom, but in his heart he had already prepared for the worst.
On the other side, nearly a month after Zhou Yang returned to his family, Zhou Guangxiang finally arrived at Lingxi Peak with his Taoist companion Liu Xuanxuan and his eldest son Zhou Tongxuan.
More than sixty years have passed, and Zhou Guangxiang's cultivation has reached the fifth level of the Zifu. He is only 260 years old. According to the lifespan of a monk in the Zifu period of 480 years, he has just passed half of his life.
It’s pretty good to have this level of cultivation at this age.
And his Taoist companion Liu Xuanxuan has also reached the ninth level of Foundation Establishment, and has become a fourth-level low-grade weapon refiner with the cultivation of the Foundation Establishment stage.
Even his eldest son Zhou Tongxuan already had the third level of foundation building cultivation at this time.
When Xiao Ying and Zhou Guangxiang came back from Far West, they had already told Zhou Guangxiang about their experiences in Far West, so when they met Zhou Guangxiang, Zhou Yang did not elaborate on his experiences in these years.
After reminiscing with his nephew, apprentice, and grandnephew, he called Zhou Guangxiang to a quiet room alone to talk.
"There is something I need to let you know. Uncle Jiu and I are going home this time just to calm the hearts of the family. In six or seven years at most, Uncle Jiu and I will go to the immortal world of Liuyun Continent to do a very dangerous thing!
"
At the beginning of the conversation, Zhou Yang revealed his background.
When Zhou Guangxiang heard what he said, his expression suddenly changed, and he opened his mouth to speak.
However, before his words could be spoken, Zhou Yang raised his hand to stop him.
"Don't speak out in a hurry. Let Uncle Jiu finish what I have to say!"
Zhou Yang stopped Zhou Guangxiang from speaking, and said calmly: "Although we can only stay for a few years, the fact that my Zhou family has become the overlord of the boundless sand sea and the immortal world will not change. Uncle Ninth I will leave it to you.
The trump card is completely enough to support my Zhou family to cope with various changes!"
"You have been in charge of the family for hundreds of years, and your understanding of the family's situation is much better than that of Uncle Jiu. I will not ask you in detail about Uncle Ninth."
"Next, while Uncle Jiu and I are still in the family, you summon the family's senior officials to make a plan. List all the things that need to be done after the family becomes the overlord of the boundless sand sea cultivation world, and list some things that were previously wanted within the family.
List all the ideas that are difficult to implement but give them to Uncle Jiu for me to review."
"Before Uncle Jiu leaves, I will help you clear all obstacles!"
After Zhou Yang finished speaking, he nodded slightly and said, "Okay, if you have anything to say, you can say it now."
"My nephew wants to know, Uncle Jiu, what is the dangerous thing you are going to do in Liuyun Continent to cultivate immortality? Do you need help from the family?"
Zhou Guangxiang looked at Zhou Yang with a worried face, and opened his mouth to ask what he wanted to say just now.
"I don't know, Uncle Jiu, I don't know what it is now. I only know that it is a very dangerous matter. This matter involves seniors in the Nascent Soul stage, and you and others cannot interfere!"
Zhou Yang shook his head, and the words in his mouth made Zhou Guangxiang's face look even more worried.
Matters involving Nascent Soul Stage monks are indeed not something he or the Zhou family can interfere with. In the face of such beings, the small Zhou family can be destroyed with a snap of a finger.
"My nephew understands. Uncle Jiu's instructions will be fulfilled as soon as possible."
He nodded gloomily and did not mention the matter of helping again. He agreed with Zhou Yang's previous instructions in a low tone. The joy in his heart because of Zhou Yang's return after forming the golden elixir had long since dissipated.
When Zhou Yang saw this, he didn't say anything on his face, but he was very happy in his heart.
What he likes about Zhou Guangxiang is that he knows how to advance and retreat, understands the general situation, and will not act recklessly. This is a quality that a family leader must possess.
In addition to these qualities, if you also know how to be grateful, it will be even more satisfying and gratifying.
"One more thing. Uncle Jiu, I will hold the golden elixir celebration in three years. The venue can be closer to Chihu Mountain. At that time, Uncle Jiu, I will personally go on stage to preach for ten days and ten nights.
Explain the secrets of spiritual practice to all the monks in attendance!"
Holding a Golden elixir celebration is a big event.
In a small place like the Boundless Sand Sea Cultivation World, the Golden Core Stage monks are the top beings. The significance of the Golden Core Ceremony is even greater than the Nascent Soul Celebration in places like the Liuyun Continent Cultivation World.
After the Golden elixir celebration, the Zhou family can officially replace Huang Shamen and become the new generation overlord of the boundless sand sea cultivation world.
"My nephew knows. Please rest assured, Uncle Ninth. My nephew will definitely let all the monks in the Immortal Cultivation World of the Boundless Sand Sea know the news, and let all the heads of the Cultivation Clan family attend this grand ceremony!"
Zhou Guangxiang's spirit perked up and he responded in a loud and passionate voice.
"I can rest assured that you will do the work."
Zhou Yang nodded and ended the conversation.
Within a few days, he went to the mountain gate of Huangshamen alone.
Zhou Yang didn't know what Yang Wenxiong was thinking.
But he has absolute confidence and is not afraid of Yang Wenxiong's tricks.
If Yang Wenxiong really lost his mind and used the mountain gate formation to deal with him, then he would laugh out of his dreams.
The original agreement between him and Cao Wenjin was that if Huang Shamen did not deal with him and the Zhou family, he would never take action against Huang Shamen.
Yang Wenxiong dared to break this agreement, which was equivalent to freeing him from the constraints. How could he not be happy?
But of course this kind of thing cannot happen.
When Zhou Yang arrived on the clouds and rushed outside the gate of Huangshamen, Yang Wenxiong, who had learned the news in advance, had already led all the senior officials and disciples of Huangshamen to welcome him out of the gate and wait for a long time.
Seeing him appear, these people all bowed and saluted him, and shouted in unison with great respect: "All the disciples of Huangshamen, welcome Senior Master Zhou to our sect!"
Looking at their respectful attitude, people who didn't know saw it and thought that Zhou Yang was the ancestor of their Huangshamen's golden elixir!
And Zhou Yang saw the respectful look of everyone in Huangshamen below from the golden auspicious clouds, and he couldn't help but think of his first experience in Huangshamen.
At that time, he had just succeeded in building the foundation, because he had received the merit points reward promised by Zhang Yunpeng, the previous head of the Huangsha Sect, in the battle to exterminate the demons. At the begging of the family elder Zhou Xuanbin, he agreed to transfer the merit points to his son Zhou Yuanchen.
Come and redeem the Foundation Building Pill.
This is where Huangshamen comes from.
At that time, he never thought that one day he would single-handedly lead the Zhou family to trample Huangshamen under his feet, and let Huangshamen, who had been powerful in the world of Immortal Cultivation in the Boundless Sand Sea for more than two thousand years, act according to his eyes.
After being in a trance like this for a moment, Zhou Yang came back to his senses and looked down at Xiangyun. He waved his hands with a smile on his face and said: "Fellow Taoists, you are so polite. Zhou and Master Yang are also old friends. There is really no need for such courtesy.
."
Hearing him call him "old friend", Yang Wenxiong couldn't help but feel relieved.
At least from now on, Zhou Yang's attitude is quite friendly and not aggressive. In this case, things may not develop in the worst direction as he thinks.
He immediately forced a smile on his face and said: "It is really a blessing for Yang to get to know Senior Zhou before he became famous, but the rules are rules. Since Senior Zhou has formed a golden elixir, he is like me on the road of cultivation.
Senior, how could Yang break the rules?"
When Zhou Yang heard this, he just smiled and accepted it.
In the world of cultivating immortals, the strong are respected. When two monks who have no blood relationship or mentoring relationship meet, it is normal for the monk with a lower level of cultivation to call the monk with a higher level of cultivation as his senior.
This is also what Yang Wenxiong calls the "rules".
Zhou Yang has long been accustomed to this "rule" and does not feel any discomfort.
Next, after Zhou Yang said a few polite words, Yang Wenxiong invited him into the master's hall alone for a secret discussion.
No one else knows what the two talked about in the master's hall.
Others only saw that after the two men talked secretly in the master's hall for half a day, Zhou Yang was sent out of the mountain gate in person by Yang Wenxiong with a smile on his face.
"This Yang Wenxiong is quite sensible. It seems that after Zhang Yunpeng's lesson, he has already understood the situation clearly, which saved me a lot of effort."
"But looking at the way he is prepared, it seems that he has been prepared for this day for a long time?"
"That's right. My Zhou family has been prospering over the years, but his Huangshamen has been declining. As the head of Huangshamen, he would be too incompetent if he doesn't want to go further!"
On the golden auspicious clouds, Zhou Yang, who left Huangshamen, thought of what he had gained from his trip, and couldn't help but reveal a satisfied smile on his face.
In the main hall, he and Yang Wenxiong had a detailed discussion about the future situation of the Immortal Cultivation World in the Boundless Sand Sea.
He promised that he would continue to take care of Huang Shamen and would not violate the "Netherworld Blood Contract" he signed.
And Yang Wenxiong will publicly express Huang Shamen's decision to lead the boundless sand sea cultivation world together with the Zhou family at his Golden elixir celebration.
It is said that they jointly lead the boundless sand sea to cultivate immortality, but everyone with a discerning eye knows that it is actually Huang Shamen, the former overlord, who gave up his position as a hegemon. This is just to say that Huang Shamen has ruled the boundless sand sea to cultivate immortality for more than two thousand years.
The previous overlord left his last bit of face.
If these things are just a false name in terms of status, then the "Yinling Incense" formula and some finished products of "Yinling Incense" handed over by Yang Wenxiong are real benefits.
With the formula of "Hidden Spirit Incense", the Zhou family has mastered the passage to the immortal world of Liuyun Continent. In the future, high-level monks of the Zhou family can use this spiritual object to help them travel to the immortal world of Liuyun Continent.
This is of extraordinary significance to the Zhou family.
Of course, Zhou Yang did not take advantage of Yang Wenxiong in vain.
After he obtained the formula of "Hidden Spirit Incense", he also took out a spiritual object "Condensing Pill Grass" that can assist in forming pills as compensation.
He originally wanted to leave this thing to Taoist companion Xiao Ying for future use in forming elixirs, but now he has made a decision. When he goes to Xuanyang Immortal Sect to help Lu Xuanji, he makes a small request to the other party.
Ask the other party to help make a "Jade Liquid Golden Pill" afterwards for his Taoist companion Xiao Ying to use.
I believe that with the kindness of Lu Xuanji and Master Qingyang, they will not refuse his small request.
After returning to Lingxi Peak from Huangshamen, Zhou Yang gave one copy of the recipe for "Hidden Lingxiang" to Taoist companion Xiao Ying, and then deposited the other copy into the family secret treasury.
After that he went into seclusion.
During this retreat, Zhou Yang planned to take the "Enlightenment Xuanzhen Fruit" to assist him in practicing the second level of "Taixu Divine Refining Technique".
This was something he finally decided after thinking about it.
He only has less than ten years to practice. In such a short time, even with the help of the "Enlightenment Xuan Zhen Fruit", it is impossible to achieve any magical power in his hands.
Although he has now obtained the complete version of "Dayan Sword Art", because he does not have the matching fifth-level flying sword, even if he quickly cultivates the third level of the sword art with the help of the "Enlightenment Xuanzhen Fruit", he will not be able to improve much.
strength.
More importantly, although he didn't know what help Lu Xuanji and Qingyang wanted from him, he also knew that they definitely didn't need to fight by themselves.
In this way, whether he is practicing magical powers or practicing sword techniques, it is actually of little help.
On the other hand, the "Taixu Divine Refining Technique" is different. This secret technique enhances the spiritual consciousness of the immortal cultivator, and it is an absolutely unmistakable choice.
Two years have passed by in a flash.
With the help of the "Enlightenment Xuanzhen Fruit", Zhou Yang successfully completed the second level of "Taixu Divine Refining Technique" in a little more than two years, and the strength of his spiritual consciousness increased by 10% again.
At this time, the intensity of his spiritual consciousness was even stronger than that of ordinary ninth-level golden elixir monks, and only slightly weaker than those of those ninth-level golden elixir monks who also practiced the secret method of enhancing their spiritual consciousness.
"I have to find opportunities in the future to find a profound spiritual consciousness to attack the magical power, otherwise my powerful spiritual consciousness will be wasted!"
In the retreat room, Zhou Yang took back the spiritual consciousness he had released, and the light in his eyes flashed away.
Although immortal cultivators have gained great resistance to spiritual attacks after opening the Zifu, this does not mean that spiritual attacks are useless for cultivators above the Zifu stage.
Some profound spiritual attack powers can also be effective against Golden Core Stage monks and even Nascent Soul Stage monks.
However, such profound supernatural powers rarely spread, and the monks who possess them keep it secret. Whether or not they can obtain it depends on chance.
During Zhou Yang's two years of seclusion, Zhou Guangxiang had already completed the matters he had assigned to Zhou Guangxiang.
As soon as he got out of quarantine, he received the Zhou family development plan that Zhou Guangxiang spent a year or two working on.
"Uniform clothing and unified family emblems will help enhance the collective sense of honor of the family monks, and make it easier for outsiders to recognize the identity of my Zhou family members and create awe."
"Changing the welfare distribution system and conducting cultivation assessments for all family monks will help improve the progress of the family monks and help the family save some unnecessary expenses."
"Establishing a direct vassal family will help expand the family's influence and provide the family with more outstanding elite children."
"Forming a patrol team to fight against sand bandits can not only train the tribe's practical capabilities, but also gain a good reputation for the family."
"Optimizing the structure of the family hall and dividing the hierarchy internally can improve the efficiency of family operations and encourage the progress of clan members."
In the cave, at Zhou Yang's request, Zhou Guangxiang explained the planned projects he had made one by one.
He has been in charge of the Zhou family for many years, and his understanding of the internal situation of the Zhou family is unparalleled. The plans and projects he has made are all based on the actual situation.
Originally, without Zhou Yang's instructions that day, he might have slowly implemented these plans in the future.
But since Zhou Yang is ready to use his unparalleled influence in the family to clear all obstacles within the family for him, he doesn't need to think so much, he can just do it.
"Very good, let's follow your plan. After Uncle Jiu's golden elixir celebration is held, we will call all the clan members to hold a family meeting to implement these plans!"
Zhou Yang nodded with satisfaction, put down the plan produced by Zhou Guangxiang, and made a decision on the spot.
When Zhou Guangxiang heard that he agreed, he was relieved and at the same time extremely excited.
Without the support of Zhou Yang, the patriarch of the Jindan period, to implement these reforms, even he, the leader of the Zifu period, would not be able to withstand the huge pressure from within the family and force them to be implemented.
You must know that if the reform is carried out according to his plan, the interests of all the monks in the entire family from bottom to top will be affected. I don't know how many family monks will lose their interests because of his reform.
Only Zhou Yang, the family ancestor with unparalleled prestige in the family and who has not yet left any descendants, dares to do such a thing that offends all the monks in the family, and has the courage to do it.
"This is the Uncle Nine that I admire and respect!"
Zhou Guangxiang looked at Zhou Yang with reverence, his heart agitated.
He has followed Zhou Yang as his target and role model since he was a child. Even though he is now a monk in the Zifu period and the patriarch of the Zhou family, his admiration for Zhou Yang, his uncle, has never changed.
Immediately, he left the cave with full of joy and energy, and went down to prepare for the Zhouyang Golden Elixir Celebration.
Zhou Yang looked at his leaving figure and then looked at his plan, but he fell into deep thought.
It can be seen from this plan that Zhou Guangxiang has great ambitions.
If he really implements these reform plans according to the plan he made, given time, even if the Zhou family does not have him, the ancestor of the Jindan stage, no one can shake the status of the overlord of the boundless sand sea and the immortal world.
However, just as Zhou Guangxiang worries, when these reform plans are implemented, they are bound to encounter unprecedented resistance within the family.
Not to mention a few other items, just changing the welfare offerings and conducting assessments for family monks is enough to cause opposition from 80% to 90% of family monks.
According to the current welfare and offering system of the Zhou family, as long as the children of the family reach the Qi training stage and reach the age of twenty, they can continue to receive the welfare and offering corresponding to their cultivation level until they are sixty years old.
However, if Zhou Guangxiang's reformed welfare offering standards are followed, the children of the family must pass the assessment standards set by the family if they want to receive the corresponding welfare offerings every year.
For example, if a family monk reaches the third level of Qi training this year, he can receive 40 family contribution points every year. If he does not make progress in his cultivation after five years, the family contribution points he receives will be halved. If he does not make any progress in ten years,
If you make progress, your family contribution points will be stopped.
On the other hand, if the family can be promoted to the fourth level of Qi training within five years, the family will be rewarded with an additional 100 family contribution points.
Just because of this, there are countless clan members who are dawdling and neglecting their spiritual practice, and their income will be greatly reduced as a result.
Especially those tribesmen with low-grade spiritual root qualifications will find it difficult to pass this test if they do not practice hard and diligently after their cultivation reaches the middle stage of Qi training.
If they fail to pass the assessment, these people will be cut off from a regular source of income. If they want to obtain cultivation resources in the future, they can only take on family tasks or go out on adventures like casual cultivators.
This is why it is said that Zhou Guangxiang's reform will affect the interests of all family monks.
In order to provide a reliable way out for these monks who failed to pass the examination, another reform plan was proposed by Zhou Guangxiang.
Create a direct vassal family!
What is a direct vassal family?
It means that every few years, we eliminate some family monks who are not qualified and have no desire to make progress, give them a considerable severance package, and let them leave the family to branch out and establish their own small family.
The small families established by these people are nominally dominated by the Zhou family and are counted as branches of the Zhou family. In fact, the Zhou family will not provide any actual material assistance to them, and their descendants are not included in the Zhou family tree.
It's just to provide them with a layer of protection.
If they want to obtain practical benefits from the Zhou family, there is only one way to go, and that is to transport the descendants with good spiritual roots in the small family to the main family, obtain the descendants from the main family, include them in the genealogy, and enjoy the main family.
The treatment of domestic monks.
As long as a small family sends a monk with high-grade spiritual root qualifications to the main family, or a cumulative total of five monks with mid-grade spiritual root qualifications, they can get a foundation-building pill as a reward.
As long as a foundation-building monk appears in a small family, it can officially become a branch of the main family, and the descendants of the family will be re-entered into the Zhou family tree.