Cultivation Begins From The Desert-Chapter 664 - 648: The Temptation of Going Home

The imminent threat posed by the Seeking Truth Treasure Mirror forced Zhou Yang to alter his original plan and remain in Donghua Immortal City.

He now realized that a century ago he was able to escape unscathed because Master Tongxuan, who possessed this treasure, was coincidentally away from the Donghua Continent Cultivation Realm, traveling far away.

In fact, Ling Chao had made the decision to help him back then because he knew this information.

Now that Master Tongxuan had returned to the Donghua Continent Cultivation Realm after his journey, Zhou Yang could no longer afford to take chances.

Thus, on Ling Chao's recommendation, he accompanied him to Donghua Immortal Mountain and met the Palace Master of Donghua Immortal Palace, Ling Zixu.

A century ago, when Zhou Yang fled from the Donghua Continent Cultivation Realm, he had once seen an avatar of Ling Zixu.

At the time, the avatar had the cultivation level of a Mid-Stage Nascent Soul, and with its assistance, the seals and prohibitions placed by Lou Feifeng on Jiang Fengxian and Jiang Yufeng were broken.

Now, he finally saw the true form of this Ninth-Layer Nascent Soul Great Cultivator.

Ling Zixu's true form differed slightly from the avatar Zhou Yang had seen before, appearing older but exuding much more majesty and strength.

Zhou Yang couldn't help comparing Ling Zixu to Lu Xuanji, a Great Cultivator he was most familiar with, and found that Ling Zixu gave him a more powerful impression than Lu Xuanji did.

Of course, this was just his impression since Lu Xuanji was in the world when Zhou Yang was only at the Golden Core Stage, so this feeling might not be accurate.

"Junior Zhou Yang greets Palace Master Ling."

After briefly observing Ling Zixu's appearance, he decisively averted his gaze, showing a respectful demeanor and bowing with cupped hands in the manner of a junior.

Ling Zixu was over two thousand years older and had a much higher cultivation level than him, so he felt no loss of face in addressing him as "senior."

Back then, Yin Hanguang, with his Mid-Stage Nascent Soul cultivation, still addressed Lu Xuanji as "senior," let alone himself now.

However, facing Zhou Yang's respectful demeanor, Ling Zixu gave him no courtesy and looked at him coldly, saying in a chilling voice, "Fellow Daoist Zhou dares to come to Donghua Immortal Palace now; aren't you afraid that Ling might suppress you, seize your Tier Seven Immortal Artifact, and hand you over to the Dragon Taming Clan and Longevity Immortal Alliance for disposal?"

Zhou Yang had certainly considered this possibility, so when Ling Chao suggested bringing him to meet Ling Zixu at Donghua Immortal Mountain, he had hesitated.

But after weighing the pros and cons, he decided to meet Ling Zixu.

Therefore, hearing Ling Zixu's blunt words, he was only slightly stunned before he quickly replied, "Senior Ling must be joking. If you truly intended that, when I sent a message to Young Palace Master Ling, you would have summoned the experts of Donghua Immortal Palace to surround me, why wait until now."

"Then you guessed wrong. If Ling truly wanted to take action against you, it would definitely be on Donghua Immortal Mountain; no matter what measures you have, you wouldn't leave here unharmed!"

Ling Zixu gave him a meaningful look, hinting at something unspoken.

Hearing this, Zhou Yang could only smile bitterly and nod, "Of course, Donghua Immortal Palace has many experts, and Senior Ling's might, along with your partner, is unmatched in the Donghua Continent Cultivation Realm. If indeed intending to deal with me, my minor tricks certainly couldn't make any waves."

"As long as you understand."

Ling Zixu casually said, then unceremoniously asked, "Ling asks you one question: those two who helped you eliminate the Tier Six Demon King of Divine Lady Palace, what is their background? Do they plan to cultivate in the Donghua Continent Cultivation Realm hereafter?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yang immediately replied, "Fellow Daoist Lei Yu and Fellow Daoist Lu Caixia are friends I made in the Overseas Cultivation Realm. They have decided to accompany me to the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm and will most likely settle and cultivate in the Wilderness Jungle."

"If so, that's for the best."

Ling Zixu's expression relaxed, as if letting go of some concern, nodding slightly to drop the subject.

Then, with a glint in his eyes, he stared intently at Zhou Yang, asking, "May Fellow Daoist Zhou reveal your Tier Seven Immortal Artifact for Ling to appraise?"

"Since Senior Ling requests to see it, I naturally have no objection."

Zhou Yang laughed freely and, with a breath, summoned the Vermilion Bird Fan.

Holding the vermilion feather fan in both hands, he offered it forward with a gesture of "please."

Seeing this, Ling Zixu showed no intention of taking it, merely glancing at the vermilion feather fan with blue light in his eyes before waving his hand, "That's enough, Fellow Daoist, put it away."

Zhou Yang's heart, which had been tense, finally relaxed at Ling Zixu's words.

Honestly, despite his earlier carefree appearance, his heart was tense.

After all, this was a complete Tier Seven Immortal Artifact!

Even a millennial demon like Mu Qingyun coveted it immensely but failed to obtain it.

Though Ling Zixu was the esteemed Palace Master of Donghua Immortal Palace, a Ninth-Layer Nascent Soul Great Cultivator, and held the inheritance Immortal Artifact of Donghua Immortal Palace, he might still covet such an item.

Yet now it seemed Ling Zixu indeed deserved to lead a major power, displaying a level of poise and resolve far beyond that of a creature like Mu Qingyun.

He retracted his magical artifact and respectfully asked, "Does Senior have any other orders?"

Upon hearing his question, Ling Zixu's eyes flashed with hesitation, but he ultimately looked at him with curiosity, asking, "As far as Ling knows, over ninety percent of the remaining Tier Seven Immortal Artifacts in this world were left by those True Immortal seniors from tens of thousands of years ago. Could Fellow Daoist Zhou perhaps reveal which True Immortal senior this item came from?"

"If anyone else asked about this, Zhou definitely wouldn't speak truthfully. But since Senior Ling inquires, Zhou won't hide it. This item was crafted by Master Donglai, the Overseas True Immortal from ten thousand years ago!"

Zhou Yang looked at Ling Zixu, calmly answering his question in a low voice.

Right now, besides himself, the Thunder Feather Demon King, and Lu Caixia, the Sea Flood Dragon Race and the Dragon Taming Family knew about this, and it's unlikely those two parties would broadcast the message far and wide throughout the cultivation realm.

After all, knowing Zhou Yang possessed a Tier Seven Immortal Artifact was one thing, but knowing he inherited the Dao lineage of a Tribulation Crossing True Immortal was another.

A Tier Seven Immortal Artifact was at most just a powerful artifact, but the Dao lineage of a Tribulation Crossing True Immortal could become the cornerstone for establishing a great power, potentially creating a top force with a legacy lasting ten thousand years.

This difference was something every cultivator understood.

"So, it's Master Donglai! It's unexpected that Fellow Daoist Zhou actually had the chance to ascend Donglai Immortal Island and inherit that senior's Dao lineage!"

Ling Zixu looked at Zhouyang with a face full of shock, clearly taken aback by the information revealed in Zhouyang's words.

Little did he know that Zhouyang, upon hearing his words, was also quite surprised that he knew of the existence of Donglai Immortal Island, and couldn't help but exclaim, "Oh, does Elder Ling also know about Donglai Immortal Island?"

"Of course I know. The founding ancestor of our Donghua Immortal Palace, Master Donghua, had a very good relationship with Master Donglai. He was frequently invited to Donglai Immortal Island for the Immortal Assembly, and these events are recorded in the notes left by our ancestor, which are a must-read for successive Palace Masters!"

Ling Zixu looked at Zhouyang with eyes full of admiration, speaking softly of the background story.

Hearing this, Zhouyang couldn't help but be moved, remembering the Three Immortals Symposium recorded in the Profound Light Shadow Mirror, which seemed to feature a Tribulation Crossing True Immortal named Master Donghua.

With this in mind, he immediately took out the Profound Light Shadow Mirror, adjusted it to show the image of Master Donghua preaching during the Three Immortals Symposium, and then turned the mirror towards Ling Zixu, saying, "Elder Ling, please take a look. Is the senior in this mirror your sect's ancestor?"

"It is indeed the immortal countenance of Ancestor Donghua. Never did I think that I could actually hear the ancestor's teachings this way!"

Ling Zixu looked at the blue-clad figure in the treasure mirror with a complex expression, letting out a long sigh full of emotion.

Then, he composed himself and looked seriously at Zhouyang, saying, "Fellow Daoist Zhou, I have a request, and I hope that Fellow Daoist Zhou will agree to it."

Upon hearing this, Zhouyang's expression changed, and he couldn't help but ask, "Elder Ling, are you referring to the request to replicate your sect's ancestor's teaching images?"

"Indeed, I wish to record the ancestor's teachings so that the core disciples of the sect can venerate the ancestor's immortal visage and listen to the ancestor's teachings!"

Ling Zixu nodded, candidly admitting to this request.

Zhouyang immediately stated, "If that's the case, I am willing to fully cooperate with the elder."

"Then I thank you, Fellow Daoist Zhou."

Ling Zixu said as he immediately took out a Treasure Pearl with similar photo and audio recording capabilities, capturing the image of Master Donghua preaching from the Three Immortals Symposium in the Profound Light Shadow Mirror.

Once this was accomplished, Ling Zixu put away the artifact and looked at Zhouyang with satisfaction, saying, "Since Fellow Daoist Zhou is a practitioner of the lineage of Master Donglai, he is a friend of our Donghua Immortal Palace. The task of sending you back to the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm rests on my shoulders."

Hearing this, Zhouyang finally breathed a sigh of relief.

He quickly clasped his hands in a salute and said, "With Elder Ling's words, this junior truly feels at ease. I thank the elder in advance!"

…

Three months later, above the East Pole Grassland, which divides the Donghua Continent Cultivation Realm and the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm, a cyan flying ship was coming from east to west, flying towards the western Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm.

On the cyan flying ship, a man and two women stood at the bow, relaxedly admiring the scenery of the grassland below.

These three were Zhouyang and Jiang Fengxian and her daughter, who had safely escaped from the Donghua Continent Cultivation Realm.

It turned out that after Ling Zixu promised to help Zhouyang return to the Donghua Continent Cultivation Realm, he quickly took out three Void Escape Talismans refined from Kong Sang Tree leaves and handed them to him and Jiang Fengxian and her daughter.

The Kong Sang Tree is a Tier Six Spirit Wood and holds a space attribute, comparable in value to the Red Emperor Fire Mulberry Tree of the Nine Immortals Palace.

The Donghua Immortal Palace currently cultivates the only Kong Sang Tree in the Linghuan Realm, the undisputed "Treasure of the Palace" of their sect.

The Void Escape Talisman refined from the Kong Sang Tree leaves can create a space barrier within a foot's range of the user, completely concealing the cultivator's presence, making it undetectable by any tracking methods.

Zhouyang and Jiang Fengxian and her daughter used the teleportation arrays spread throughout half of the Donghua Continent Cultivation Realm by the Donghua Immortal Palace, transferring dozens of times within an hour, directly teleporting to a secret base on the far west side of the Donghua Continent Cultivation Realm, and then used a Void Escape Talisman to conceal their presence, heading west into the East Pole Grassland with the Water-Resistant Golden-Eyed Beast.

As a result, after seven days, when the effect of the Void Escape Talisman dissipated, they had already penetrated more than two million miles into the East Pole Grassland.

By now, even if Master Tongxuan used the Seeking Truth Treasure Mirror to locate him, it would be hard to catch up with him.

"The records state that the East Pole Grassland spans three hundred and twenty thousand miles from east to west. We've traversed about two-thirds of the grassland. In no more than ten days, we'll be able to fly out of the grassland and reach the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm!"

On the cyan flying ship, Zhouyang looked down at the boundless grassland below, feeling an inexplicable sense of joy at the thought of soon returning to the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm and seeing his long-separated family.

The East Pole Grassland he refered to, which stretched below them, was a forbidden zone for cultivators separating the Donghua Continent Cultivation Realm from the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm.

This grassland had extremely sparse Spiritual Qi, with very few Spirit Veins, and even those that existed were low-tier, with never any mention of a fourth-grade Spirit Vein.

Additionally, the grassland frequently experienced fierce green gales that could completely cut off a cultivator's aura from any tracking techniques, lifting the person up as much as hundreds of thousands of feet into the air.

If they were lucky, some would eventually manage to land on water and barely survive.

Fortunately, Nascent Soul Stage cultivators were not affected by the restriction. Zhouyang and Jiang Fengxian took turns withstanding these assaults from the green gales, while keeping Jiang Yufeng, who only had Sixth-Layer Golden Core Cultivation, safe inside the Dongxuan Pearl.

Due to these dangerous winds, although the East Pole Grassland itself lacked any dangerous creatures or alien races, it became a cultivator's forbidden zone, only tranversable by Nascent Soul Stage cultivators or those in their protection, while its limited low-grade Spirit Veins made it even less travelled.

Even though the East Pole Grassland did not have any demonic beasts or tribes like the Broken Cloud Mountain Range, Wilderness Jungle, and Endless Snowfield, it served as a formidable barrier between the two cultivation realms.

Thirteen days later, Zhouyang and his group successfully traversed the entire East Pole Grassland, reaching the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm.

"We've arrived, let's go down."

Hearing his words, Jiang Fengxian seemed unperturbed, though at least on the surface, she managed not to show any emotion.

However, Jiang Fengxian's daughter, Jiang Yufeng, was visibly tense, her expression filled with nervousness.