Chen Fangping

The White Sand River Oasis spans over 3,200 li from east to west and 1,700 li from north to south, with a population of millions. It is a renowned large oasis in the Boundless Sea of Sand.

The oasis gets its name from a long river that flows through it from north to south. This river originates from White Camel Ridge to the south of the oasis and empties into Golden Water Lake to the north. It is named the White Sand River because the river is abundant with white sand, as pure and fine as jade.

It is said that over a thousand years ago, the White Sand River Oasis was only half its current size. The cultivation family that later occupied the oasis expanded its area to its present extent through continuous investment of manpower and resources in artificial afforestation over more than a thousand years.

Currently, besides the Violet Palace family, the White Camel Ridge Chen Family, there are four Foundation Establishment families affiliated with the Chen Family, and dozens of small families composed of Qi Refining cultivators. If we add thousands of rogue cultivators who rely on the oasis's market town for a living, the White Sand River Oasis has indeed become a self-sufficient small cultivation world.

Because of the presence of a cultivator market town and the deterrence of Chen Yaohui, an ancestor of the Chen Family and a cultivator at the Late Purple Mansion Stage, the White Sand River Oasis does not restrict the entry and exit of outside cultivators.

However, because millions of mortals also reside on the oasis, the Chen Family and the cultivation families affiliated with them have set up reception points at conspicuous locations around the oasis. They have dispatched family cultivators to guard these points year-round to guide incoming cultivators to the market town, preventing them from disturbing the mortals.

If one enters the White Sand River Oasis without going through these reception points, they may be fined Spirit Stones if discovered by the Chen Family's patrol teams, or worse, be considered intruders and killed on the spot.

On this day, outside a reception point on the southern side of the White Sand River Oasis, a young man in white, riding a Sand Camel Beast, arrived.

The young man, perched on the back of the Sand Camel Beast, wore a weary expression on his face, much like most people who crossed the vast desert to reach the oasis.

Upon seeing the magnificent palaces and pavilions on the distant mountain peaks, his spirits lifted, and a look of excitement and anticipation appeared in his eyes.

The young man was Zhou Yang, who had been traveling in the desert for tens of days. Forty-two days had passed since he left the Jade Spring Lake Oasis.

Since the attack by sand bandits that day, his journey had been smooth. Apart from killing two foolish Tier 1 desert Demonic Beasts, he had not encountered any further dangers.

However, after forty-two consecutive days of desert travel, his mental energy was extremely depleted due to the constant use of his divine sense for navigation. He urgently needed to find a safe place to rest.

The reception points set up by various families around the White Sand River Oasis were undoubtedly a good place to rest.

"Greetings, fellow cultivator. I am Chen Fangping of White Camel Ridge. I have been assigned by my family to receive fellow cultivators from all directions. May I ask your esteemed name and origin?"

Outside the resplendent reception hall, Zhou Yang, having arrived at the mountain peak covered in dust, met the Chen Family cultivator stationed there.

As they were only responsible for guiding incoming cultivators to the market town, the Chen Family did not have high requirements for the cultivation level of the cultivators assigned to this task. Chen Fangping, the Chen Family cultivator before Zhou Yang, appeared to be over ten years older than him. He was fair-skinned, plump, and had a kind demeanor, with a cultivation level of only Qi Refining Layer Five.

However, with the White Camel Ridge Chen Family as a powerful backing, Chen Fangping's attitude was neither servile nor overbearing, but rather calm, even when facing Zhou Yang, who was at Qi Refining Layer Eight.

Zhou Yang was not surprised by this. If he were in Chen Fangping's shoes, with a Violet Palace Stage family ancestor as his backing, he would not grovel before a peer younger than himself, unless that peer was a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

He smiled, cupped his fists in return, and said warmly, "So you are Brother Fangping from White Camel Ridge. I am Zhou Yang of the Jade Spring Lake Zhou Family. I have been ordered by my family to come to the Golden Sand Market to manage the Zhou Family's [Jade Spring Pavilion] on behalf of my father, Zhou Xuanhao. This is my identity token."

Upon hearing that Zhou Yang was from an allied family of the Chen Family, Chen Fangping's expression shifted. After taking the identity token Zhou Yang handed him and seeing the information left by the Foundation Establishment Cultivator Zhou Minghan, he also revealed a smile.

"So you are Brother Zhou Yang from the Jade Spring Zhou Family. My apologies, my apologies. Although my cultivation is low, I have heard of your esteemed father's reputation as a Tier 2 High-grade Alchemist. I never expected you, young as you are, to inherit your father's business. Truly, a father's excellence is passed down to his son!"

Zhou Xuanhao had lived in the White Sand River Oasis for a long time, and his reputation as a Tier 2 High-grade Alchemist was well-known among the various families. Therefore, upon hearing that Zhou Yang was Zhou Xuanhao's son and seeing that he had already reached Qi Refining Layer Eight at such a young age, Chen Fangping's attitude immediately improved significantly.

As he returned Zhou Yang's identity token, he warmly extended his hand and made a gesture of invitation, saying, "Brother, you must have had a difficult journey from the Jade Spring Lake Oasis. Without further ado, please come this way, Brother. I will have someone prepare soup and meals to welcome you."

"Brother Chen is very kind. I thank you in advance, Brother."

Zhou Yang did not stand on ceremony. After putting away his token, he followed Chen Fangping into the reception hall. As for his Sand Camel Beast mount, it was naturally taken by the mortal groom arranged by the Chen Family to be properly fed and cared for.

Upon entering the reception hall, Zhou Yang was led by a maid to the hot spring pool in the back hall for a good soak. When he changed into clean clothes and returned to the front hall, Chen Fangping had already prepared a table of delicious food and drinks.

The dishes were medicinal meals made from Demonic Beast meat, hundred-year-old Huangjing, and hundred-year-old Ling Shen, along with other Tier 2 Spiritual Medicines. The rice was steamed from [Golden Pearl Rice]. After the meal, Zhou Yang and Chen Fangping were like sworn brothers. Anyone who saw them would have thought they were close friends of many years!

However, even sworn brothers need to settle their accounts. If I, Chen Fangping, treat you, Zhou Yang, as a brother, would you feel right about eating for free?

When Zhou Yang had eaten his fill, his expression became quite interesting upon receiving the consumption list from Chen Fangping.

He had been somewhat puzzled earlier. They were meeting for the first time. Even if Chen Fangping wanted to befriend him because of his father, Zhou Xuanhao, wasn't this meal a bit too extravagant?

But at that time, Chen Fangping had already started eating, and Zhou Yang was indeed tempted by the delicious food and drinks. He didn't think much of it then, assuming that the Chen family was wealthy and didn't care about such a small matter.

It was only when he saw the consumption list handed to him now that he suddenly understood that he had been tricked.

Chen Fangping wasn't trying to befriend him; he was clearly a meal tout!

Thinking back, Chen Fangping's attitude earlier had indeed been a bit too enthusiastic.

To put it nicely, their Zhou Family and the Chen Family were allies. In reality, the Zhou Family was a subordinate to the Chen Family. Although Chen Fangping's cultivation was low, he was still a legitimate member of the Chen Family. Without any benefit, there was no need for him to lower himself to curry favor with Zhou Yang.

Therefore, the real situation could only be that Chen Fangping, upon hearing that his father was the Tier 2 High-grade Alchemist Zhou Xuanhao, had identified him as a wealthy sheep and thus changed his attitude to enthusiastically entertain him, with the sole purpose of fleecing him.

After all, with the Chen Family as his backing and on his own territory, Chen Fangping wasn't afraid that Zhou Yang would refuse to pay.

Having figured all this out, Zhou Yang's expression gradually returned to calm. Since he had already eaten the food, he couldn't possibly refuse to pay. Besides, it was just a meal. Zhou Yang wasn't so poor that he couldn't afford the cost of a meal.

"Brother Chen has excellent methods. I am impressed, truly impressed!"

With a calm expression, he looked at Chen Fangping, who was also looking at him calmly, and cupped his fists, paying the dining fee of over a hundred Spirit Stones.

Upon receiving the Spirit Stones, Chen Fangping's calm expression changed again. He smiled broadly at Zhou Yang and said, "Brother, you truly are an outstanding disciple of the Zhou Family. Your generosity is evident in your actions. I am determined to be your friend. If you ever need my help with anything in the White Sand River Oasis in the future, Brother, please don't hesitate to ask. Although my cultivation is not high, I can still speak a few words with my father."

"Oh, may I ask who your esteemed father is?" Zhou Yang's expression shifted, and he looked at Chen Fangping with some surprise.

Could this thick-skinned, dark-hearted, round-faced fatty also be a second-generation cultivator?

"My father is Chen Pingan!"

A hint of pride flashed across Chen Fangping's face as he proudly uttered a name that made Zhou Yang's expression change drastically.

"Chen Pingan! Could it be that Senior Chen Pingan, who killed the Tier 3 High-grade Demonic Beast [Gold Swallowing Toad] with a single sword?"

Zhou Yang couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

"Indeed!" Chen Fangping seemed very satisfied with Zhou Yang's change in expression and nodded proudly.

"So Brother Chen is Senior Chen's son. No wonder..." Zhou Yang looked at the proud, round-faced fatty with a strange expression, thinking to himself, no wonder this guy, with a cultivation of only Qi Refining Layer Five, dared to con him, a cultivator at Qi Refining Layer Eight.

It seems people are relying not only on the Chen Family's influence, but also on the great tree that is Chen Ping'an.

Chen Ping'an is no ordinary person. He is one of the Chen Family's more than a dozen Foundation Establishment Cultivators, with a cultivation level of Foundation Establishment Layer Nine. He is the foremost Foundation Establishment cultivator in the Chen Family, second only to the Old Ancestor. His most glorious achievement was using a Tier 4 flying sword, the "White Rainbow Sword," to kill a Tier 3 high-grade Demonic Beast known for its defense, the "Gold Swallowing Toad," with a single strike.

With such a powerful father, as long as Chen Fangping doesn't offend any Purple Mansion Stage cultivators, he can basically do as he pleases in the White Sand River Oasis. Of course, he wouldn't fear Zhou Yang, a mere cultivator from a Foundation Establishment Family.

Seeing the change in Zhou Yang's expression, Chen Fangping knew what he was about to say. However, he didn't mind, as it was indeed the truth.

He narrowed his eyes and walked up to Zhou Yang with a friendly demeanor, patting his shoulder. "How about it? Do you still feel like you're at a disadvantage, my dear brother? By treating me to a meal, you have the chance to connect with my father. This is an absolute steal. You know, with my father's status, even your Zhou Family's Clan Leader would find it difficult to get an audience with him!"

"I..."

Zhou Yang looked at Chen Fangping, who was beaming as if to say, You've hit the jackpot, and felt like he'd been thoroughly bamboozled.

He averted his gaze slightly, avoiding the direct stare of that round, chubby face, and let out an awkward cough. "Ahem, since Brother Chen puts it that way, allow me to be presumptuous and ask another question. Sleeping and resting here doesn't require Spirit Stones, does it?"

Zhou Yang had been tricked too many times. He learned from his mistakes; now, besides breathing, he had to confirm if drinking water or sleeping was free of charge beforehand.

Seeing him like this, Chen Fangping was amused by his words and couldn't help but laugh heartily. "Hahaha, my dear brother, you're so funny. Don't worry, not only is sleeping free, but I'll even give you two beautiful women to warm your bed for free, how about that?"

Phew, so tired! Requesting recommendation tickets, collection, and joining the new book investment group.