Zhouyang wasn't brushing off Zhou Xuanbin; the merit points from the Yellow Sand Sect were truly acquired by the three Foundation Establishment Cultivators together. It was only reasonable and proper that all three had to agree on how to use them.
Originally, without Zhou Xuanbin raising this matter, Zhouyang and Zhou Minghan already had plans on how to spend these merit points.
According to their initial plan, the merit points would be divided into two parts: one part to hire a Tier Three Array Master from the Yellow Sand Sect to help the Zhou Family arrange a Tier Three Lower Grade Array "Seven-Star Spirit Measuring Array" on Jade Spring Peak for detecting spiritual roots.
The other part would be used to hire a Purple Mansion Stage Cultivator and a Tier Three Array Master to help open an Earth Fire Opening within Haoyang Cave, channeling earth fire for the clan cultivators to use for artifact refining and alchemy.