Chapter 468: Chapter 453: Zhou Guangxiang Advances to the Purple Mansion! Something Big Happened!
"Guangxiang, this is the Purple Heart Jade Marrow that Ninth Uncle promised you, prepare yourself to close in retreat at Ninth Uncle’s cave in a few days and strive for the breakthrough to the Purple Mansion!"
Zhouyang returned to the cave from the Cyan Yuan Pavilion, immediately summoned his niece Zhou Guangxiang into the cave, and handed over the "Purple Heart Jade Marrow" he had just received from Zhao Hao to this niece.
The long-awaited matter finally had a result, and to say Zhou Guangxiang wasn’t excited would be untrue.
She had waited too long for this piece of "Purple Heart Jade Marrow"!
Over the years, she watched helplessly as her physical condition aged more each year, and often felt the fear that drove her to want to attempt the breakthrough to the Purple Mansion directly.
But she held back every time.
Because she trusted Zhouyang, trusted that Zhouyang would never deceive her, trusted that Zhouyang would fulfill his promise to her.
This unwavering trust kept her going through, surviving until today.
Today, her decades-long wait finally had a perfect result.
Her arm trembling, she reached out to take the "Purple Heart Jade Marrow" from Zhouyang’s hand, and tears of excitement unknowingly streamed from her eyes.
She, with tears streaming down her face, looked up at Zhouyang for a moment, suddenly knelt down on the ground, and kowtowed heavily several times, tearfully expressing gratitude, "The kindness of Ninth Uncle, Xiang’Er, Xiang’Er has no way of repaying it in this life, can only kowtow a few times for Ninth Uncle, praying for heaven to bless Ninth Uncle with safety and to form the Golden Core soon!"
"Get up quickly, Ninth Uncle, since I am your elder, of course, have the responsibility to help you juniors walk further on the path, not asking for any return!"
Zhouyang stretched out his hand to help his kneeling niece, gently brushed her sleeve to wipe the tears from her face, his heart was also filled with emotion.
This was not a performance, but truly how he felt inside.
Unlike the Zhou family cultivators whose relationship with him spanned several generations, Zhou Guangxiang and Zhou Guangxiang’s brother were named by him and watched grow up, and their status in his heart was completely different from other Zhou family cultivators.
This pair of siblings listened to him since childhood, respected and admired him like a father, he naturally had unique feelings toward them, hoping they could walk further on the cultivation road.
If it wasn’t for them, replaced with other Zhou family cultivators, he might not be willing to risk fighting with Golden Core Stage cultivators for them.
When Zhou Guangxiang heard his words, her expression of emotion and gratitude strengthened even more, and then she seemed to remember something, asked softly, "But Ninth Uncle, wasn’t it agreed that after obtaining the Purple Heart Jade Marrow, Xiang’Er would return to Cangyuan Immortal City to join the Zhou Family, and then make the breakthrough to the Purple Mansion there? Why now have Xiang’Er breakthrough to the Purple Mansion in Haoyang Immortal City?"
"Things have changed, you temporarily cannot have too close contact with Tong Yue and others, to avoid linking them to Ninth Uncle, leading others to spy!"
As he spoke, Zhouyang explained how he killed Golden Core Stage cultivators to exchange for the "Purple Heart Jade Marrow."
Hearing Zhouyang risked life and death to kill Golden Core Stage cultivators for her, Zhou Guangxiang was simultaneously frightened and immensely grateful, with tears that had initially stopped flowing again, gushing down like a waterfall.
Her face pale, she tightly grabbed Zhouyang’s sleeve, crying softly while repeatedly shaking her head, "It’s too dangerous! This matter is really too dangerous!"
"Xiang’Er, Xiang’Er how could be worth Ninth Uncle risking such dangers for Xiang’Er?"
"If, if something were to happen to you, how could Xiang’Er face Aunt Nine, face my brother, and all the clan members!"
Though she desperately wished to obtain the "Purple Heart Jade Marrow" and breakthrough to the Purple Mansion, if the price were for Zhouyang, the pillar of the Zhou family, to encounter trouble, she’d rather forfeit the breakthrough for a lifetime.
Zhou Guangxiang was well aware that even if she miraculously succeeded in breaking through to the Purple Mansion, she would certainly stop at the Purple Mansion Stage for life.
But Zhouyang was different, Zhouyang had a great chance of forming a Golden Core, the entire Zhou family relied on him for support, and no one could take that place.
If anything happened to Zhouyang, causing him to stagnate at the Purple Mansion Stage because of her, she would never forgive herself, and none of the Zhou family cultivators would forgive her either.
"You’re talking nonsense again, Ninth Uncle dared do such a thing, naturally knowing what he’s doing, and wouldn’t joke with his life."
"And the matter has passed, mentioning it is meaningless, if you truly wish to repay Ninth Uncle, then prepare thoroughly and don’t waste this opportunity!"
Zhouyang patted his niece’s head, smiling brightly, and comforted her with words.
Hearing his words, Zhou Guangxiang’s tears grew even more.
Next, Zhou Guangxiang began her retreat in Zhouyang’s cave, while Zhouyang wholeheartedly guarded the outside as a protector.
During this time, Jin Qu came around once, subtly probing to inquire about Ba Yan’Er’s demise.
As the intermediary linking him to Zhao Hao, Jin Qu naturally knew Ba Yan’Er was not killed by Zhao Hao who was always at Cyan Origin Sword Sect’s mountain.
But to say Ba Yan’Er, the Golden Core Stage cultivator, was slain by Zhouyang, Jin Qu simply could not believe it.
Zhouyang also knew this matter couldn’t be concealed from Jin Qu, but he was even clearer that Zhao Hao must have warned Jin Qu not to spread the news of their meeting, so facing Jin Qu’s indirect inquiries, Zhouyang could only play dumb and pretend not to know.
Jin Qu was also a clever person. From Zhouyang’s attitude, he had already guessed the inner truth, and thereafter did not disturb him with more questions about this matter.
However, when Zhouyang handed over some matters to Jin Qu for handling afterward, Jin Qu’s attitude was noticeably warmer and even held a sense of reverence when he came to give Spirit Stones to Zhouyang.
Half a year passed like this, and suddenly guarding Zhou Guangxiang outside the cave residence, Zhouyang had a feeling of being watched.
Having experienced a few times this feeling before, he knew immediately that Zhou Guangxiang had succeeded!
Indeed, a few days later, after Zhou Guangxiang slightly stabilized his cultivation, he couldn’t help but come out of the cave residence to share the good news with Zhouyang.
The Foundation Establishment Cultivator successfully opened the Purple Mansion, doubling his lifespan, Zhou Guangxiang’s body, which had begun to age, unexpectedly rejuvenated back to the youthful state of a thirty-year-old in just a few days. Her lost beauty returned anew.
"Congratulations, Guangxiang, you made it! Congratulations on successfully entering the ranks of High-Tier Cultivators!"
"Guangxiang will surely be thrilled upon hearing this news."
Looking at Zhou Guangxiang who had regained her youthful appearance, Zhouyang sincerely felt happiness for his niece, offering congratulatory words with a beaming smile.
"Xiang’er can achieve today’s success, all thanks to Ninth Uncle’s nurturing. From now on, whatever you command, Xiang’er shall willingly risk her life!"
With full respect and gratitude reflected on her face, Zhou Guangxiang sincerely bowed to Zhouyang.
"You’ve just opened the Purple Mansion, it’s best to first stabilize your cultivation and refine a few Magical Artifacts before venturing out. Only after handling these affairs can your Ninth Uncle feel at ease letting you step out."
Saying this, Zhouyang immediately took out several Tier Four Spiritual Artifacts from his Storage Bag and handed them to Zhou Guangxiang.
In the subsequent two years, Zhou Guangxiang remained within Zhouyang’s cave residence, focusing on cultivating Divine Techniques without stepping out.
More than two years later, the once-a-decade auction assembly in Haoyang Immortal City was held on schedule, and after receiving the invitation brought by Jin Qu, Zhouyang, along with his Dao Companion Xiao Ying, attended the auction assembly.
Numerous treasures appeared in this auction, but none of them included items like "Purple Heart Jade Marrow", which made Zhouyang quite relieved that he had foresight and did not place all his hopes in one basket.
Eventually, he spent over two hundred thousand Low-grade Spirit Stones to buy a bottle of ten Tier Four High-Grade Spirit Pills that can refine cultivation, and also bought two types of rare Spirit Elixirs for alchemy for his Dao Companion Xiao Ying.
In recent years, Xiao Ying tried refining Tier Four Middle Grade Spirit Pills several times, resulting in failures each time.
However, these failures accumulated much experience, leaving success only a matter of time.
After the auction assembly ended, back in the cave residence discussing with his Dao Companion Xiao Ying whether to open a shop in Haoyang Immortal City to increase some income, Jin Qu suddenly came mysteriously to visit.
"Visiting so suddenly, Fellow Daoist Jin, is there something you wish to enlighten?"
Inside the cave residence, Zhouyang looked at Jin Qu who arrived unannounced, a hint of surprise showing on his face.
Jin Qu, as a businessman, had always been wary of such etiquette, always sending a message in advance to announce his visit once confirming Zhouyang had time to meet.
"Fellow Daoist Zhou, it seems you are yet unaware. A significant event is about to transpire!"
Jin Qu gazed solemnly at Zhouyang, his voice heavy with gravity.
Seeing him in this manner, Zhouyang’s heart sank, he couldn’t help but ask in tandem with his words: "A significant event? May I ask what sort of event?"
Jin Qu was not secretive. Upon hearing, he sighed with a look full of worry and said: "War is about to break out! After two hundred years of silence, the Anti-Light Alliance will once more clash with the Great Brightness Immortal Palace!"
What?
Zhouyang’s face changed dramatically, looking shocked at Jin Qu, almost thinking he misheard.
Jin Qu seemed to comprehend his reaction well, couldn’t help but smile bitterly, reconfirming with a nod, saying: "Fellow Daoist Zhou, you didn’t hear wrong, this news has already spread in the circles of High-Tier Cultivators within the alliance. In short, the war will erupt within three to five years, and no longer than ten years; it is bound to escalate to battles between High-Tier Cultivators, even Nascent Soul conflicts!"
"Why? Do you know the reason for this outbreak?"
Frowning, Zhouyang looked at Jin Qu, also bewildered by this sudden news.
"The primary reason is, of course, the absence of warfare for centuries has caused worries among the high ranks within the alliance that lower-tier cultivators may gradually forget the mutual hatred between each side, diminishing the battle intent. You know, the founding of our Anti-Light Alliance was to resist exploitation by the Great Brightness Immortal Palace, and without the threat of war, restlessness and other thoughts would arise within the alliance!"
"For secondary reasons, one of them is related somewhat to Fellow Daoist Zhou, due to Haoyang Sect’s extreme irritation over the chaos caused by Great Brightness Immortal Palace Cultivators in Jinyang Country last time, eager to retaliate, while Li Huo Sect is still aggrieved by the lost territory from the last war, strongly supporting Haoyang Sect’s proposition."
Jin Qu didn’t avoid anything, unequivocally revealing the reasons.