Cultivation Begins From The Desert

"Hm? This feeling of being watched, could it be..."

On Red Tiger Mountain, Zhouyang was originally resolving doubts for his second disciple Liu Xuanxuan, who had come to ask about artifact refining skills, when he suddenly sensed something and joyfully looked toward a certain cave dwelling on the mountain.

That was where Zhou Guangxiang was in seclusion. After he entered his closed-door cultivation, Zhouyang controlled the mountain protection array to seal off that area, preventing anyone but himself from approaching it.

However, he clearly sensed an intention of observation coming from that direction just now, and from his past similar experiences, he almost immediately understood the reason behind it.

"Master, has something happened?"

Liu Xuanxuan saw Zhouyang stop talking in the middle of their conversation and noticed the change in his expression, so she boldly asked him why.

Since she became Zhouyang's disciple, her status within the Zhou Family had been rising daily, and from interacting with Zhouyang and his wife over the years, she knew they were both very approachable, so she didn't mind asking non-cultivation related questions.

Sure enough, after hearing her inquiry, Zhouyang didn't shy away from it. He immediately laughed heartily and said, "Haha, it's good news! Guangxiang has just successfully performed divine traveling heaven and earth, and our Zhou Family will have another Purple Mansion Cultivator!"

Adding another Purple Mansion Cultivator would be a cause for celebration for any clan, worthy of a family-wide festivity.

Liu Xuanxuan had been part of the Zhou Family for many years and had taken Zhouyang as her master, so in her heart, she already considered herself a Zhou Family member.

Upon hearing Zhouyang's words, she couldn't help but exclaim with surprise and delight, "Really? That's wonderful!"

Then her face briefly lit up with a smile as she quickly clasped her hands in congratulation and said, "Congratulations, Master, for having successors!"

Indeed, having successors.

Zhou Guangxiang was the heir of the Zhou Family personally groomed by Zhouyang. His successful opening of the Purple Mansion not only proved that Zhouyang's judgment was correct but also solidified the Zhou Family's Purple Mansion legacy.

With both generations producing Purple Mansion Cultivators, there was no longer any doubt about the Zhou Family's Purple Mansion status.

Thus, upon hearing her words "having successors," Zhouyang's smile grew even broader.

As he continued to smile, Zhouyang looked at his beautiful disciple before him, and a thought suddenly arose in his mind.

When this thought emerged, he pondered it for a while before ultimately deciding to speak.

His smile faded,and he suddenly looked at Liu Xuanxuan and asked, "Xuanxuan, what do you think of Guangxiang?"

Liu Xuanxuan had no idea he would suddenly ask such a question, so she was momentarily stunned.

No matter how quick-witted and intelligent she was, she couldn't figure out why Zhouyang would ask her such a thing out of the blue, and she didn't know how to respond.

Seeing her hesitation, Zhouyang understood she might be hesitant to speak freely, so he encouraged her with a smile, "It's okay, just say whatever comes to mind. I'm curious about how you all view Guangxiang."

Upon hearing Zhouyang's words, Liu Xuanxuan thought he might want to investigate Zhou Guangxiang's character, even though she found it odd that Zhouyang would suddenly do this. Nonetheless, she felt relieved and nodded slightly, saying, "Since Master says so, I'll speak my mind. If I'm wrong, please forgive me and treat it as my nonsense."

"The Clan Leader's cultivation aptitude is undoubtedly exceptional, with few in our Zhou Family surpassing him. Additionally, his character is quite mature and steady, he handles affairs methodically and treats all clan members fairly, satisfying most of them and garnering their respect. At least I admire him greatly."

Liu Xuanxuan spoke slowly and cautiously, observing Zhouyang's expression as she went, choosing her words carefully out of fear of inadvertently speaking poorly of Zhou Guangxiang and displeasing both Zhouyang and Zhou Guangxiang.

As the saying goes, don't interfere in others' affairs.

Though she was Zhouyang's disciple, closely associated with him, her relationship with the close bond between Zhouyang and Zhou Guangxiang was not the same, so she dared not speak carelessly.

Given Zhouyang's rich life experiences, he could obviously detect Liu Xuanxuan's concerns, feeling amused inside while maintaining a neutral expression as he continued to ask, "And? How do you judge his character? In your opinion, is he more satisfactory compared to Guangtai or Guangqing?"

Hearing Zhouyang's further inquiry, Liu Xuanxuan felt more convinced that he was trying to assess Zhou Guangxiang, leading her to withdraw from becoming involved in internal Zhou Family dynamics.

Therefore, she deliberately lowered her head in thought, and after a while, she looked up apologetically at Zhouyang and said, "Master, forgive me. I am not well-acquainted with Daoist friends Guangtai and Guangqing, so I can't accurately comment."

Hearing her response, Zhouyang seemed invigorated and asked with a smile, "Oh, so you are rather familiar with Guangxiang?"

"No, I'm not... I mean, compared to other Daoist friends, I'm closer to the Clan Leader, yes, that's it."

Liu Xuanxuan was initially startled, shaking her head furiously, but then worried that her reaction might cause a misunderstanding for Zhouyang, she awkwardly explained, making Zhouyang chuckle inwardly.

He decided to stop teasing his disciple, who was almost frightened by him, and revealed directly, "Haha, look how scared you are! I asked you all this to see if you have ever thought about finding a Dao Companion for life? If you have such intentions, you might consider Guangxiang. He's not young anymore and should reflect on his lifelong commitment!"

He had, upon hearing Liu Xuanxuan's phrase "having successors," considered the other layer of meaning behind it, stirring thoughts of matchmaking.

Though he has been Dao companions with Xiao Ying for nearly a century, he had long made up his mind not to break his Primordial Yang Body until he reached the Golden Core. As such, they have never consummated their relationship, let alone thought of offspring.

Furthermore, even if he did form the Golden Core, he would likely restrain himself for them to stay together longer, and wait until his Dao companion Xiao Ying also formed her Golden Core before engaging in combined dual cultivation.

After all, for a female cultivator, preserving the pure Primordial Yin Qi is also helpful for forming the Core.

But in that case, it would greatly extend the time before they could have children.

Besides, once cultivators reach the Golden Core Stage, they initially obtain the Dao, subject to the restrictions of the Heavenly Dao Laws. Having offspring is not as easy as for Foundation Establishment and Purple Mansion cultivators, and whether they can have children at that time is still an unknown.

Therefore, now that Zhou Guangxiang successfully established the Purple Mansion, Zhouyang began to have the idea of letting him have descendants.

After all, the offspring of high-tier cultivators generally have a good chance of possessing spiritual roots and possibly having excellent qualifications.

Most importantly, if Zhou Guangxiang could leave behind a lineage, it would greatly assist a plan Zhouyang intends to implement in the future.

Of course, this kind of matter, he can only mention. Whether Zhou Guangxiang would be willing to take the risk of damaging his Dao path for such a thing still depends on his own opinion.

Moreover, regarding Liu Xuanxuan, he can only express the desire to matchmake like he is doing now, and cannot truly force her to marry any cultivator from the Zhou Family.

Should she consider finding a Dao companion to spend her life with?

Liu Xuanxuan felt a hint of shyness on her face upon hearing Zhouyang's words, and then seriously began contemplating the question Zhouyang raised.

She was well aware that Zhouyang's words about Guangxiang not being young and needing to think about a lifelong issue were also subtly directed at her.

After all, she would soon be seventy years old, and most of the female cultivators in the Zhou Family of her age, except for two foundation establishment cultivators, were long married and had children.

Although she successfully established her foundation with the Foundation Establishment Pill Zhouyang provided, she did not have much hope for establishing the Purple Mansion.

Resources are limited, and the treasures that help establish the Purple Mansion are particularly precious.

The Zhou Family can produce Foundation Establishment Pills themselves, and even if Zhouyang were to give her two more pills for foundation establishment, it would be a simple matter.

But the treasures needed to open the Purple Mansion are incredibly valuable, and even the Zhou Family's own Foundation Establishment cultivators eagerly compete for them. What could she, an outsider, possibly have to compete with them?

She's not an upper-grade spiritual root cultivator like Lu Xuewei, nor does she have Zhou Family blood!

In such circumstances, considering Dao path aside, why wouldn't she think about finding a Dao companion to live an ordinary life of marriage and childbirth?

If she decides upon marriage and childbirth, given her cultivation and lifespan, she surely wouldn't consider Qi cultivation stage cultivators, thus her choice would be among foundation establishment or higher-level cultivators.

Due to her apprenticeship under Zhouyang and the significant investment the Zhou Family has made in her, they surely wouldn't want her marrying into another family.

Therefore, if she wants to marry and have children, she must choose from several unmarried foundation establishment or Purple Mansion cultivators in the Zhou Family, or recruit a foundation establishment loose cultivator to join and serve the Zhou Family with her.

But here's the problem: how many foundation establishment loose cultivators are without wives or children?

If they haven't married and had children, they most likely have taken concubines.

Even without any of the above, he would need to meet her age and character conditions and satisfy her.

Thinking this way, Liu Xuanxuan immediately dismissed the idea of recruiting a husband.

If she wants to marry and have children, she can only consider the Zhou Family cultivators like Zhouyang has.

Given this, in terms of cultivation, familiarity, and others, Zhou Guangxiang seems to be her optimal and best choice.

When she joined the Zhou Family, Zhou Guangxiang was always secretly instructed to look after her, helping her greatly, and she has kept that favor in mind.

Furthermore, as she had earlier said to Zhouyang, Zhou Guangxiang's mature and steady personality, systematic approach, is reliable during key moments, making him a good partner in life for a woman.

Ultimately, if she could become Zhou Guangxiang's Dao companion, her status within the Zhou Family would be quite significant.

By then, with Zhouyang as her teacher and Zhou Guangxiang as her husband to take care of her, progressing further in Dao cultivation and competing for treasures to establish the Purple Mansion's usage rights would indeed be more advantageous for her than many cultivators within the Zhou Family.

Contemplating deeply for a long time, Liu Xuanxuan's face flushed with a hint of shyness, she slightly lowered her head and softly said to Zhouyang, "Master's kindness towards his disciple is as heavy as a mountain. All my family elders have passed away, so this marriage matter should be decided by the master."

"If, if the Clan Leader does not mind my willow-like appearance, I am willing to become Dao companions with him!"