Cultivation Begins From The Desert-Chapter 118 - 116: Heading to Red Tiger Mountain (Subscription Requested)
Chapter 118: Chapter 116: Heading to Red Tiger Mountain (Subscription Requested)
Zhou Yuanchen didn’t stay long during his visit home.
The Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Yellow Sand Sect are not as idle as the Supreme Elders of the Zhou Family.
Each Foundation Establishment cultivator of the Yellow Sand Sect must choose a Spirit Mountain to establish a cave mansion after Foundation Establishment, as arranged by the sect. They cannot easily leave the Spirit Mountain and their cave mansion. If they need to go out for any reason, they must apply for permission from the sect’s Ministry Hall in advance.
If one leaves without notifying, it’s fine if nothing happens. The senior members of the sect usually turn a blind eye to this, as long as the absence isn’t too lengthy, they won’t specifically punish anyone for it.
However, if one leaves without notifying and their absence leads to an incident at the Spirit Mountain, causing losses to the sect, then the days ahead will be miserable.
Not only do they have to compensate the sect for losses, but their benefits and offerings will be suspended for a certain period depending on the severity of the loss. More importantly, it directly affects their reputation among the sect’s senior members.
Zhou Yuanchen has been at the Foundation Establishment Stage for several years. The Ministry Hall of the Yellow Sand Sect has long arranged for him to guard a Tier Three Spirit Mountain. This time, when visiting home, he did not dare to leave until he applied and received approval from the sect.
After Zhou Yuanchen left, Zhouyang and the old Clan Leader Zhou Minghan gathered at Zhou Minghan’s cave mansion for secret discussions.
"The information Yuanchen brought this time is extremely important. Xiao Bufan has been sent to the Red Tiger Mountain Oasis to replace Luo Yunqing, who was injured, to guard the Spirit Mountain. Does this mean the Yellow Sand Sect has somehow learned that demon cultivators might be causing trouble over there?"
"Last time, Yu’Er said that Blood Mo Luo had been active around Red Tiger Mountain. Now the actions of the Yellow Sand Sect confirm that our initial suspicions were correct? Blood Mo Luo is indeed hiding around Red Tiger Mountain to recuperate!"
In the cave mansion, Zhou Minghan spoke seriously to Zhouyang, his tone grave as he shared his thoughts.
Upon hearing his words, Zhouyang nodded slightly and said, "Years ago, when the Golden Core Stage demon cultivator Blood Nether died, it was said that a Purple Mansion Stage demon cultivator was captured, right? Perhaps the Yellow Sand Sect got some information from this aspect and sent Xiao Bufan, who has already dispelled the Demonic Qi in his body, to replace Luo Yunqing in guarding Red Tiger Mountain."
"So what do you plan to do now, Xiao Jiu? Since Xiao Bufan had Yuanchen bring a message urging you to meet him, it surely isn’t just a simple request to return that Puppet Flying Eagle to him. I worry that once you visit Red Tiger Mountain, he might seize the opportunity to detain you, to punish the incident when you abandoned him to escape!"
Zhou Minghan looked at him with a worried expression, finally voicing his concerns.
"Great-grandfather’s worry is not unfounded. But now, he holds the knife while I am the fish. Since Xiao Bufan has already sent Yuanchen to convey the message, if I don’t meet him, wouldn’t I give him more reason to act?"
"In this matter, whether you face it or avoid it, the consequences are the same. A level higher crushes one completely. If a Purple Mansion Stage cultivator truly wants to deal with me, they have countless methods. I can avoid the first day of the lunar month but not the fifteenth. The longer I delay, the more I annoy him!"
With a helpless wry smile, Zhouyang shook his head, having seen through the essence of the matter and realizing that he truly had no other choice.
Hearing his words, Zhou Minghan fell silent.
With other matters, he could still advise Zhouyang or even act on his behalf.
But now Xiao Bufan specifically requested to see Zhouyang, so what could Zhou Minghan do?
After a long silence, he finally asked Zhouyang, "When do you plan to set out, Xiao Jiu?"
"In a few days perhaps. I first want to visit the Marketplace to meet my father and mother, explain this situation to them, and then I plan to visit Elder Chen Ping’an and see if he knows some insider information we aren’t aware of."
Zhouyang pondered briefly before voicing his plans.
"Then keep this item safe. If you encounter any danger, it should support you until you can use the Blood Escape Technique to flee!"
With a decisive bite, Zhou Minghan stretched out his hand, slapped his storage bag, retrieved a jade box, and handed it to Zhouyang.
With a puzzled expression, Zhouyang opened the jade box, discovering a yellow Spirit Talisman about a foot long lying inside quietly. The fluctuation of Spiritual Qi emanating from the talisman had already reached Tier Four!
"This..."
Zhouyang was shocked looking at the Spirit Talisman inside the jade box, staring in surprise at Clan Leader Zhou Minghan, completely taken aback by the presence of such a level of treasure in the Zhou Family.
"This [Mountain Talisman] is Tier Four Middle Grade. It was exchanged by me, using a Tier Four Lower Grade Spiritual Artifact, from a senior of the Purple Mansion Stage after acquiring the Tier Four artifact refining inheritance. At that time, I exchanged for a total of two Tier Four Spirit Talismans, and this is the last one remaining!"
Zhou Minghan knew what Zhouyang was shocked about and immediately explained the origin of the Tier Four Spirit Talisman inside the jade box.
Finishing his explanation, he seemingly understood what Zhouyang was about to say. Before Zhouyang could speak, he continued: "I know you want to say that this item is too precious, but you have to realize that no matter how precious a treasure is, it needs a living person to use it. If something happens to you, the loss to our Zhou Family is far greater than one or two Tier Four Spirit Talismans. You don’t need me to teach you the logic behind this, do you?"
Zhouyang was suddenly at a loss for words.
Right now, he indeed needed this kind of life-saving treasure, because both he and Zhou Minghan knew that his trip to Red Tiger Mountain was fraught with dangers. Without a treasure like this to shield against attacks from a Purple Mansion Stage Cultivator, should he encounter an enemy of such level, he wouldn’t even have a chance to escape.
At this moment, he no longer acted coy but silently accepted this weighty gift.
Days later, Zhouyang departed from Jade Spring Peak, headed toward Baisha River Oasis, and spent a few days with his parents, explaining the matter of his journey to Red Tiger Mountain.
Xuan Hao and Lin Yuting were not people who disregarded the big picture. Even though Zhouyang clearly laid out the facts to them, they were exceedingly worried about the safety of his journey, yet did not try to stop him, knowing full well they couldn’t hold him back.
Since Zhouyang took over the role of Clan Leader of the Zhou family, they understood that he is no longer just their son but also the helmsman of the Zhou Family Clan. He must bear responsibility for the entire Zhou Family.
According to his original plan, he intended to meet Elder Chen after his parents and gather intelligence about Red Tiger Mountain from him.
It was only after meeting with his father, Xuan Hao, that he learned from him that Elder Chen is currently not in the marketplace, but has returned to White Camel Peak to seclude himself and attempt to break through to the Purple Mansion Stage.
"Attempting the Purple Mansion breakthrough at such a time, truly strange!"
Zhouyang sighed inwardly, feeling there must be some unknown circumstances compelling Elder Chen to choose this moment for his breakthrough.
Unfortunately, the Zhou family’s level is still not high enough. Insider information circulating only amongst Purple Mansion Stage Cultivators often only becomes known much later.
There was no other way, feeling both anxious and apprehensive, he set off alone, controlling his flying sword toward Red Tiger Mountain Oasis.
The distance from Baisha River Oasis to Red Tiger Mountain Oasis is not considerably shorter than to Yellow Sand Sect, and it was Zhouyang’s first time traveling there. Although there was a map for reference and the Fixed Star Disc to help determine the direction, it still took him over half a month to arrive.
Having been developed for only a hundred years, the population of mortals on Red Tiger Mountain Oasis is less than five hundred thousand, with most parts of its vast area remaining uncultivated. As Zhouyang flew over the oasis, he even spotted some Tier One and Tier Two Demon Beasts roaming within.
Such a situation would be impossible in a highly developed oasis like Baisha River Oasis, where cultivators conduct regular patrols and quickly eliminate any demon beasts that intrude into the oasis or evolve from indigenous wildlife.
Zhouyang couldn’t understand, given Yellow Sand Sect’s capabilities, why they hadn’t transformed the land within several decades, and how it remained so barren even after more than a hundred years.
However, he knew there must be a rationale behind Yellow Sand Sect’s decision not to do so.
"Patriarch Zhouyang of the Jade Spring Zhou Family, summoned to pay his respects to Senior Xiao of Yellow Sand Sect!"
A few hours later, before a Spirit Mountain shrouded in colorful clouds, Zhouyang stood upon his flying sword and declared his intentions loudly.
Shortly after entering the oasis, he encountered a group of loose cultivators performing an anti-demon task for Yellow Sand Sect. From them, he learned the specific location of Red Tiger Mountain and hurried his way there.
As he declared his intentions aloud, he immediately sensed multiple Divine Senses of Foundation Establishment Level sweeping over him, among which one was even stronger than his own.
Having dealt with Elder Chen multiple times, his heart sank instantly, realizing that person must be another Ninth-Layer Foundation Establishment Cultivator.
Thus he made no effort to shield against these Divine Senses, allowing them to scan all over his body openly.
After the Divine Senses scanned over him several times, an elderly voice from the Spirit Mountain ahead said, "Fellow Daoist, please wait. I have already sent a message to Junior Martial Uncle Xiao. Once he has personally verified your identity, we can allow you to enter the mountain. We hope you understand."
"I understand."
Zhouyang nodded and descended from his Sword Light to wait at the foot of the mountain.
During this unique period, those outside, including cultivators from the main sect of Yellow Sand Sect, must undergo verification from Xiao Bufan, the Purple Mansion Stage cultivator, to enter the Spirit Mountain, let alone someone like him, an outsider.
After waiting for approximately two or three moments, a Sword Light suddenly flew out from the Spirit Mountain ahead, landing in front of Zhouyang, revealing a figure.
"Fellow Daoist Yan, what are you doing here? Could it be Fellow Daoist Yue..."
Zhouyang looked at the newcomer with a surprised expression, seemingly realizing something.
"It seems Fellow Daoist Zhou has guessed it. Yes, Fellow Daoist Yue is currently stationed here at Red Tiger Mountain as well. The three of us can fight side by side once again!"
Yan Yunfei from the Yan family of Fire Fox Ridge nodded with a bitter smile, saying the words Zhouyang left unfinished.
The source of this c𝐨ntent is fre𝒆w(e)bn(o)vel
