Chapter 711: 363: Time Is Merciless [Please Subscribe]

Chapter 711: Chapter 363: Time Is Merciless [Please Subscribe]

Zhou Chun first succeeded in entering the Purple Mansion Phase, followed by Lin Hongyu’s successful Core Formation.

This double celebration probably marked the happiest moments for Zhou Mingde and Zhou Daoyi in a century.

Their long-pursued goals, for which they had always strived, now seemed hopeful due to these two joyous events, real hope.

After the celebration, the three of them gathered in Zhou Mingde’s cave dwelling to discuss how to manage the affairs concerning Lin Hongyu.

“After all, Taoist Friend Lin comes from the Dragon Transformation Sect, and she clashed numerous times with cultivators from the three major factions during the Southern Campaign, with quite a few perishing at her hands.”

“If we openly reveal her existence, the three major factions may not listen to our explanations, and the friends and relatives of those cultivators who died by her hand will certainly view our Zhou Family as an enemy.”

“What’s more, if the Dragon Transformation Sect learns that Taoist Friend Lin has betrayed them, they will surely take action; they would not sit idly by!”

“Considering all these factors, I believe that it would be best for Taoist Friend Lin to avoid appearing in public.”

In the cave dwelling, upon hearing the words conveyed by Zhou Daoyi, Zhou Mingde pondered for a moment and then was the first to share his viewpoint.

Although it was he who had zealously facilitated Lin Hongyu’s joining the Zhou Family, he coveted Lin Hongyu’s abilities, not intending for her to represent the Zhou Family publicly.

Besides personal sentiments, the points he brought up were indeed matters that required attention.

“But if we don’t let Senior Lin make public appearances, not to mention whether she herself, as a dignified Golden Core Stage cultivator, would be willing to continue hiding her identity, arranging a cultivation site for her is also problematic for us!”

“Jiufeng Ridge can barely accommodate the cultivation needs of one Golden Core cultivator. If we don’t let Senior Lin take charge within the family, where can we arrange for her to cultivate?”

Zhou Chun said this and immediately furrowed his brows.

Zhou Mingde felt the same, his brows instantly furrowing over this issue.

To maintain a Golden Core Stage cultivator’s daily cultivation needs, a vast amount of nature’s spiritual energy is required; a small settlement like the Hongyu Peak Stronghold couldn’t possibly sustain the normal meditative practices of a Golden Core cultivator.

Even a Spirit Land like the Zhou Family’s Jiufeng Ridge could only barely meet the supply, and it might become necessary for a few Purple Mansion Phase cultivators, including Zhou Chun, to relocate, preventing competitive hoarding of spiritual energy.

If the Zhou Family doesn’t allow Lin Hongyu to appear openly, it would inevitably mean she couldn’t stay within the Zhou Family mountain gates.

For if other Golden Core cultivators were to suddenly visit the Zhou Family, or some Purple Mansion Phase cultivators with acute senses arrived,

They could easily discern, through the tremendous daily spiritual energy demands of Lin Hongyu’s cultivation, that a Golden Core cultivator was concealed within the Zhou Family mountain gates.

Aside from the Jiufeng Ridge, the Zhou Family currently lacks any other Spirit Land capable of supporting the cultivation of a Golden Core cultivator.

And if the Zhou Family cannot even provide a cultivation site, how can they have the gall to ask a Golden Core cultivator to serve them incognito?

As Zhou Chun and Zhou Mingde were both steeped in thought with furrowed brows, Zhou Daoyi suddenly spoke up, “What about the Wasteland Territory? Can our family establish a large-scale stronghold on a Spirit Land there for Hongyu to cultivate?”

“After all, she has cultivated in the Wasteland Territory since her youth; if she were to return there to cultivate, she probably wouldn’t refuse.”

“Moreover, the family would just be asking her to cultivate there, not restricting her freedom. If she wishes to travel among the various countries in the Cultivation World, she can still do so under an assumed identity!”

Upon hearing this, Zhou Chun immediately frowned and said, “While certainly there is no shortage of Spirit Lands suitable for Senior Lin’s cultivation in the Wasteland Territory, to establish and maintain a large-scale stronghold would at the very least require hundreds of Qi Refinement cultivators. Our family currently can’t possibly spare so many clan members to go there.”

“Furthermore, even if the family could send people over, Senior Lin’s presence would eventually become known. Surely we can’t expect those clan members to never return to the family in the name of secrecy!”

Zhou Chun mentioned only the number of people.

But in reality, establishing a large gathering place capable of accommodating the regular cultivation of a Golden Core Stage cultivator would require not only a significant number of people but also the appropriate Formation.

However, after hearing Zhou Chun’s words, Zhou Mingde’s expression quickly changed, and he suddenly said, “The family may not be able to spare so many people, but what about abducting outsiders? Just as we did before; we abduct some utterly wicked bandit cultivators and send them to the Wasteland Territory, where they contribute to the pioneering effort and have a chance for redemption.”

Zhou Chun hadn’t expected Zhou Mingde to make such a suggestion and was momentarily taken aback.

But soon, he shook his head and said, “I’m afraid that won’t work. Those who become bandit cultivators are not ones to settle for less; they are typically fearless and might never agree to operate the Spirit Cleansing Formation in a frontier base for the rest of their lives until they die of old age!”

Having said this, Zhou Mingde also opened his mouth but didn’t know how to counter the argument.

Indeed, cultivators who turn to banditry tend to be restless souls with unscrupulous methods for achieving their goals.

Controlling such people is already difficult, let alone expecting them to engage in selfless acts that benefit others.

“They are restless, so give them an opportunity and a hope for advancement!”

After a long silence, Zhou Daoyi suddenly spoke again, “The family could use the pretext of secretly pioneering under the command of the three major factions to conceal the real purpose, allow Hongyu to preside over the stronghold with her Golden Core identity, providing them with a sense of security and deterrence, and then acquire the Spiritual Objects they find in the Wasteland Territory at lower prices.”