Chen Fangping

White Sand River Oasis stretched more than 3,200 miles from east to west and over 1,700 miles from north to south. With a population in the millions, it was a large oasis of considerable renown within the Boundless Sea of Sand.

The oasis was named for the long river that ran through it from south to north. The river rose in White Camel Ridge south of the oasis and flowed north into Golden Water Lake. Because its waters produced an abundance of white sand, crystalline as jade and fine as snow, it came to be called the White Sand River.

It was said that over a thousand years ago, White Sand River Oasis had been only about half its current size. The Cultivation Families that later occupied it had spent more than a millennium continuously investing manpower and resources into artificial forestation, expanding the oasis to its present extent.

By now, aside from the White Camel Ridge Chen Family, a Violet Palace Family, the oasis was home to four Foundation Establishment Families dependent on the Chen Family, several dozen small families made up of Qi Refining Cultivators, and thousands of Rogue Cultivators who made their living off the oasis's markets. White Sand River Oasis had effectively become a self-sufficient miniature Cultivation World.

With cultivation markets in place and Old Ancestor Chen, Chen Yaohui, a Late Purple Mansion Stage cultivator, standing guard as a deterrent, White Sand River Oasis did not prohibit outside cultivators from entering or leaving.

However, because several million mortals also lived in the oasis, the Chen Family and the Cultivation Families dependent on them had specially established reception points in conspicuous locations around its perimeter. Family Cultivators were stationed there year-round to guide visiting cultivators properly to the markets, lest they disturb the mortals.

Anyone who entered White Sand River Oasis without passing through one of these reception points would be fined spirit stones if discovered by a Chen Family patrol inspecting the oasis. In serious cases, they might even be treated as invaders and killed on the spot.

That day, a young man in white riding a Sand Camel Beast arrived outside a reception point in the southern part of White Sand River Oasis.

Sitting atop the Sand Camel Beast, the young man's face was full of exhaustion, much like most people who had crossed layer upon layer of sandy seas to reach an oasis.

Only when he saw the resplendent palaces and pavilions atop the distant mountain peak did his spirits rise, excitement and agitation flashing through his eyes.

The young man was Zhou Yang, who had already spent dozens of days traveling through the desert. Forty-two days had passed since he left Jade Spring Lake Oasis.

Ever since he encountered the desert bandits that day, his journey had gone smoothly. Apart from killing two foolish Tier 1 desert demonic beasts along the way, he had not encountered any further danger.

Still, forty-two consecutive days of desert travel, with his divine sense consumed daily to scout the road ahead, had left his mind utterly exhausted. He urgently needed to find somewhere safe to rest properly.

The reception points established by the various families around White Sand River Oasis were undoubtedly excellent places to rest.

"Greetings, Fellow Daoist. I am Chen Fangping of White Camel Ridge, assigned by my Lineage to receive fellow Daoists from all directions. May I ask your honorable name and whether you have a master or any background?"

Outside the magnificent Reception Hall, Zhou Yang, dusty from his journey and having hurried up the mountain, met the Chen Family cultivator stationed there.

Since these cultivators were only responsible for guiding visiting cultivators to the market, the Chen Family did not set high cultivation requirements for the assignment. Chen Fangping, the Chen Family cultivator before Zhou Yang, looked more than a decade older than him. He was fair, plump, and amiable-looking, with only Qi Refining Layer Five cultivation.

Yet with the mighty White Camel Ridge Chen Family behind him, Chen Fangping remained neither servile nor overbearing even when facing a Qi Refining Layer Eight cultivator like Zhou Yang. His attitude was exceedingly calm.

Zhou Yang found this unsurprising. If it were him, with a Purple Mansion Stage family ancestor as his backing, he would not bow and scrape before an unfamiliar cultivator of the same generation who was even younger than himself—unless that person were a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

He smiled and returned the salute with cupped hands. In a warm tone, he said, "So it is Brother Fangping of White Camel Ridge. I am Zhou Yang of the Jade Spring Zhou Family at Jade Spring Lake. By my Lineage's order, I have come to Golden Sand Market to take over my father Zhou Xuanhao's duties managing the Zhou Family's Jade Spring Pavilion. This is my identification token."

Hearing that Zhou Yang came from an allied family of the Chen Family, Chen Fangping's expression shifted. After accepting the identification token Zhou Yang handed over and reading the message left inside by the Foundation Establishment Cultivator Zhou Minghan, a smile appeared on his face as well.

"So you are Brother Zhou Yang of the Jade Spring Zhou Family. My apologies for failing to recognize you. Though this elder brother's cultivation is shallow, I have heard of your esteemed father's reputation as a Tier 2 High-grade alchemist. I never expected that, at such a young age, little brother would already be able to inherit his father's trade. Truly, a tiger father has no dog son!"

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

As he returned Zhou Yang's identification token, he warmly extended a hand and made an inviting gesture. "Little brother has traveled all the way here from Jade Spring Lake Oasis. You must be weary. No need for more words—this way, please. This elder brother will have someone prepare soup and food to wash away the dust of your journey."

"Brother Chen is most generous. This little brother thanks Brother Chen in advance."

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, the mortal stablehands arranged by the Chen Family took it away to feed it well.

After entering the Reception Hall, Zhou Yang first followed a maid into the hot spring pool in the rear hall and enjoyed a thorough hot bath. By the time he changed into clean clothes and returned to the front hall, Chen Fangping had already had a table full of fine dishes prepared and was waiting for him.

The dishes were medicinal meals made from demonic beast meat and Tier 2 Spiritual Medicine such as century-old Polygonatum and century-old spiritual ginseng. The rice was steamed Golden Pearl Rice. By the end of the meal, Zhou Yang and Chen Fangping were calling each other brothers. Anyone unaware of the truth would have thought they were close friends of many years' standing!

But even blood brothers had to settle accounts clearly. If I, Chen Fangping, treated you, Zhou Yang, as a brother, did you really have the nerve to eat for free?

When Zhou Yang had eaten and drunk his fill, and received the bill Chen Fangping handed over, his expression became quite spectacular.

He had found it strange earlier. They had only just met. Even if Chen Fangping wanted to befriend him because of his father Zhou Xuanhao, this meal had been far too lavish.

But Chen Fangping had already picked up his chopsticks, and Zhou Yang himself had indeed been so tempted by the splendid spread that his appetite was thoroughly whetted. He had not given it further thought, merely assuming that the Chen Family was wealthy and powerful enough not to care about such a small expense.

Only now, upon seeing the bill Chen Fangping handed him, did he suddenly understand. He had been led into a trap.

Chen Fangping had not been trying to befriend or curry favor with him at all. He was clearly a meal scammer!

Thinking back, Chen Fangping's earlier attitude truly had been a little too enthusiastic.

The Zhou Family and the Chen Family might sound like allies, but in truth, the Zhou Family was simply the Chen Family's little brother. Though Chen Fangping's cultivation was low, he was still a legitimate Chen Family descendant. Without profit driving him, there had been no reason for him to lower himself and ingratiate himself with Zhou Yang.

Thus, the only possible truth was that once Chen Fangping heard his father was Zhou Xuanhao, a Tier 2 High-grade alchemist, he had decided Zhou Yang was a fat sheep with deep pockets. That was why his attitude had changed so drastically and he had entertained him so warmly: he wanted to carve a hefty cut from him.

With the Chen Family as his backing and this being his own territory, Chen Fangping truly was not afraid that Zhou Yang would dare eat without paying.

After figuring all this out, Zhou Yang's expression gradually returned to calm. The food was already in his stomach; he could not very well refuse to pay. Besides, it was merely a meal. Zhou Yang was not so poor that he could not afford a single meal.

"Brother Chen has impressive methods. This little brother admires them greatly."

With a calm expression, he looked at Chen Fangping, who was likewise gazing back at him with an indifferent face. He lightly cupped his hands and handed over the meal fee—more than a hundred spirit stones.

Upon receiving the spirit stones, Chen Fangping's calm expression changed again. Beaming with delight, he smiled at Zhou Yang. "Little brother truly is an outstanding descendant of the Zhou Family. Your generosity is extraordinary. This old brother has decided that you are a friend for life. If anything comes up in White Sand River Oasis and you need this old brother's help, just speak. Though my cultivation is not high, I can still get a few words in with my father."

"Oh? May I ask who your esteemed father is?" Zhou Yang's expression shifted as he looked at Chen Fangping in surprise.

Could this round-faced, thick-skinned, black-hearted fat man also be a second-generation cultivator?

"My father is Chen Pingan!"

A flash of pride passed over Chen Fangping's face as he proudly spoke a name that caused Zhou Yang's expression to change dramatically.

"Chen Pingan! Could he be Senior Chen Pingan, the one who killed the Tier 3 High-grade Demonic Beast Gold Swallowing Toad with a single sword strike?"

Zhou Yang could not help crying out, his face full of astonishment.

"Indeed!" Chen Fangping seemed highly satisfied by the change in Zhou Yang's expression and nodded proudly.

"So Brother Chen is actually Senior Chen's son. No wonder..." Zhou Yang looked strangely at the proud round-faced fat man and thought, No wonder this fellow, with merely Qi Refining Layer Five cultivation, dared swindle a Qi Refining Layer Eight cultivator like me.

So aside from using the Chen Family's tiger hide as a banner, he also had the great tree that was Chen Pingan at his back.

Chen Pingan was no ordinary man. He was one of the Chen Family's dozen or so Foundation Establishment Cultivators, with cultivation as high as Ninth Layer Foundation Establishment. He was the foremost Foundation Establishment cultivator in the Chen Family beneath Old Ancestor Chen. His most glorious feat had been using the Grade 4 flying sword, White Rainbow Sword, to kill the Tier 3 High-grade Demonic Beast Gold Swallowing Toad—renowned for its defensive power—with a single strike.

With such a powerful father, as long as Chen Fangping did not offend Purple Mansion Stage cultivators, he could essentially swagger sideways through White Sand River Oasis. Naturally, he had no fear of Zhou Yang, a mere minor cultivator from a Foundation Establishment Family.

Seeing the change in Zhou Yang's expression, how could Chen Fangping not know what he had left unsaid? Yet he did not mind, since it was the truth after all.

He narrowed his eyes, walked over to Zhou Yang with a friendly smile, patted his shoulder, and said, "Well? Do you still think you lost out now? By treating this old brother to a meal, you have a chance to establish ties with my father. That is absolutely an enormous profit. You should know that, given my father's position, even if the patriarch of your Zhou Family came seeking an audience, it would not be easy for him to meet my father!"

"I..."

Zhou Yang looked at Chen Fangping, who was staring at him as though saying, "You've made a huge profit," and felt as if he had screwed an orange tabby.

He turned his head slightly, avoiding the direct gaze of that round, fat face. After an awkward cough, he said, "Ahem. Since Brother Chen puts it that way, this little brother shall presumptuously ask one more question. Sleeping and resting here do not cost spirit stones, right?"

Zhou Yang had been frightened by the scam. Once bitten by a snake, twice shy of a rope; now, aside from breathing, he would ask in advance whether even a cup of water or a night's sleep was free.

Seeing his appearance, Chen Fangping was amused by his words and burst into hearty laughter. "Hahaha! Little brother is truly interesting. Don't worry. Not only is sleeping free, this old brother will even give you two beauties to warm your bed for free. How about that?"

Whew, so tiring! Please vote with recommendation tickets, add this to your collection, and join the new book investment group.