Cultivation Begins From The Desert-Chapter 719 - 703: Deciding on the Journey

The answer from the Demoness Huan Qianqian relieved some of Zhouyang's doubts, letting him understand the true method to quell this demonic calamity.

It was evident that the true culprit behind this demonic calamity was none other than the "Celestial Corpse Ascendant" whose cultivation had reached the Ninth Layer Nascent Soul "Half-Step True Immortal" realm.

As long as this person is dealt with, the remaining demon cultivators will surely collapse without a fight, not daring to commit evil further.

However, even Nie Yushuang, who also possessed Ninth-Layer Nascent Soul cultivation, had been repeatedly defeated by this "Celestial Corpse Ascendant," illustrating how difficult it would be to slay this villain.

At least Zhouyang felt that before reinforcements from other cultivation realms arrived, this goal couldn't possibly be achieved.

And he had a feeling that this "Celestial Corpse Ascendant" certainly had some powerful trump card that hadn't been used yet, otherwise, no matter how clever his methods, he wouldn't be arrogant enough to confront several cultivators from different realms head-on.

In fact, after hearing Huan Qianqian's description, he seriously suspected that this "Celestial Corpse Ascendant" might already have some connection with certain existences in the True Demon Realm, obtaining some guarantees from there.

After all, for a demon cultivator of "Celestial Corpse Ascendant's" cultivation, only the temptation of further advancement to become a Tribulation Crossing True Demon would be worth risking everything.

Yet for a demon cultivator to ascend to the Tribulation Crossing True Demon in the Spirit Realm, it was nearly impossible.

Just think back to Lu Xuanji at the Ninth Layer Nascent Soul level; to tackle the Tribulation Crossing Stage, he had to find ways to enter a Pocket World with dense Spiritual Qi like the Dome Heaven Immortal Realm for seclusion.

For "Celestial Corpse Ascendant," a demon cultivator, a place with demonic Qi dense enough to support his ascension to the Tribulation Crossing Stage cannot be found in the Spirit Realm.

According to Zhouyang's knowledge, since the ancient Immortal-Demon War, no human demon cultivator has ever appeared in the Spirit Realm to ascend to the Tribulation Crossing True Demon.

Even during those ancient times, only a handful of demon cultivators with the help of true demons from the True Demon Realm could ascend to the Tribulation Crossing Stage.

So, demon cultivators in the Spirit Realm have always failed to rise, not only because they invite suppression from cultivators whenever they surface but also because this path cannot truly achieve the grand Dao.

Demon cultivators like "Celestial Corpse Ascendant" at the Ninth Layer Nascent Soul already represent the pinnacle that demon cultivators can achieve in this realm.

However, if there's Upper Realm interference, the situation might change.

With so many treasures in the Upper Realm, it's not strange if some treasure could aid one in ascending to the Immortal Realm.

Considering these, Zhouyang didn't linger long in the underground ice prison, quickly leaving to meet Xu Tianlin and the others to share the intelligence and his own deductions, allowing everyone to brainstorm and discuss what to do next.

As for Huan Qianqian's request for him to grant the "Demon Marrow Stone" to aid her recovery, it was naturally refused mercilessly.

He would prefer the demoness to remain weak and lethargic, so he wouldn't have to worry about her seeking an opportunity to retaliate against him.

In such circumstances, he would never hand over something that could aid her recovery.

At that moment, due to Nie Yushuang's sudden departure, Xu Tianlin and the others in Ice City were all alarmed, and when Zhouyang shared the news, everyone's faces drastically changed.

Xu Tianlin couldn't help but exclaim, "This is bad, if Fellow Daoist Zhou's information is true, there must already be a demon cultivator's spy within the Profound Nether Immortal Sect, disguised with a high status, possibly even..."

Possibly what, Xu Tianlin did not say outright, but Zhouyang and the others understood in their hearts.

In truth, this is the truly tricky issue; if there really is a Nascent Soul stage cultivator as a spy, the "Celestial Corpse Ascendant" and other demon cultivators entering the Ice Peak where the cultivation realm resides is like walking into their own home.

Master Cyan Yang couldn't help but sigh, "It's a pity that Fellow Daoist Guo and them are already on their way here, otherwise if they had stayed there, with the power of the Mountain Protection Array, they might have been able to guard the Spirit Mountain until our reinforcements arrived!"

The "Fellow Daoist Guo" he mentioned refers to the eight Nascent Soul cultivators who came to aid the cultivation realm of Beiting Continent but stayed for rest on the Ice Peak side due to differing opinions.

After they broke through the Demon City, they sent the news back, inviting those people to come to Ice City to unite and face the possible plots of the demon cultivators together.

And those people did come as they wished, calculating by time, they should be arriving soon.

"Fellow Daoist Guo and them not being there is not necessarily a bad thing, since the demon cultivators have plotted for a long time and now have the help of spies, once they attack, the Mountain Protection Array will surely be their first target to destroy, and without its protection, facing 'Celestial Corpse Ascendant,' this Ninth-Layer demon, Fellow Daoist Guo and them might get entrapped themselves!"

Xu Tianlin shook his head, showing disagreement with Master Cyan Yang, not thinking this was a bad thing.

After voicing his view, he looked at everyone and said, "Whether it's a good or bad thing, Fellow Daoist Guo and them now cannot return, what we need to consider is what to do next."

"Suppose the teleportation array is indeed destroyed, delaying the arrival of reinforcements, should we continue to advance our battle line, reclaiming lost ground occupied by demon cultivators, or simply defend on the spot, waiting for reinforcements to come and then decide?"

Originally, this was a decision for Nie Yushuang and other cultivators from Beiting Continent to make, but since she's not present now and the Nascent Soul cultivators in Ice City are overwhelmingly from Liuyun Continent's cultivation realm, Xu Tianlin's proposition for discussion wasn't overstepping.

After hearing his words, all cultivators each pondered over this issue seriously.

As everyone was contemplating, the atmosphere felt somewhat gloomy.

It continued like this for nearly a quarter of an hour; seeing no one seemed willing to speak first, Xu Tianlin took the lead to break the silence, loudly saying, "Since none of you wish to begin, let me first share my opinion."

"In my view, the fact those demon cultivators urgently destroyed the teleportation array, delaying reinforcement, implies they know once reinforcements arrive, under our large-scale counterattack, they absolutely cannot resist."

"But even without the teleportation array, reinforcements will come eventually, and those demon cultivators surely understand this, yet they still proceed as such, what does this imply?"

"I secretly believe this indicates they have secretly initiated some important plan unbeknownst to us, reaching a critical moment now, intolerant to interference, hence using this method to delay our reinforcements to strive for completing this plan before they arrive."

"And they are confident in resisting our forces here before additional reinforcements arrive, until their secret plan is completed."

"If my speculation is correct, once the demon cultivators' plan succeeds, it certainly will bring them enormous benefit, substantial assistance, or even something sufficient to overturn the entire battlefield situation!"

Zhouyang couldn't help but nod, expressing agreement with Xu Tianlin's speculation.

He had guessed earlier that "Celestial Corpse Ascendant" might have some hidden trump card yet to be revealed, and boldly speculated that there might be a shadow of higher powers from the Upper Realm behind him.

If this speculation of his were true, then the matter Xu Tianlin spoke of would naturally make sense.

With intervention from great powers of the Upper Realm, it wouldn't be surprising for "Celestial Corpse Ascendant" to do something big.

And noticing his change in expression, a Nascent Soul Cultivator immediately looked at him and said, "Fellow Daoist Zhou, didn't you take that captured Witch as your servant? If those Demon Cultivators are really secretly carrying out some important plan, then as a member of the Demon Cultivators, it's impossible for that Witch not to know some situation, right!"

Zhouyang glanced at the Cultivator who spoke and recognized him as someone from a major sect within the Beiting Continent Cultivation Realm, and if he didn't remember incorrectly, this person should have the surname Wen.

"Fellow Daoist Wen's words do make sense, let me ask that Witch first."

He nodded and immediately sent a strand of Divine Sense into the [Dongxuan Pearl], to inquire about the matter with the Witch who was healing.

A moment later, he withdrew his Divine Sense, slightly shook his head towards the gathered cultivators and said, "I just followed Fellow Daoist Wen's words and asked the Witch via sound transmission, but she said she didn't know anything about these matters. Moreover, according to her, besides a very few Demon Cultivators trusted by the [Celestial Corpse Ascendant], most like her who were summoned are not trusted, and they wouldn't be involved in truly confidential matters."

"Can Fellow Daoist Zhou confirm that the Witch's words are true?"

Cultivator Wen frowned, looking at Zhouyang with a somewhat disbelieving expression as he asked.

Hearing this, Zhouyang immediately felt a bit unhappy, his face darkened, and he said in a deep voice, "I guarantee on my own reputation, that Witch absolutely did not lie."

"Ahem, since Fellow Daoist Zhou says so, it must be true, no doubt about that!"

Xu Tianlin, seeing Zhouyang getting angry, hurriedly coughed softly and interjected to ease the atmosphere.

At this time, Cultivator Wen also realized his previous words were very inappropriate, and recalling Zhouyang's brilliant achievements in the previous battle at Demon City, his heart tightened immediately, and he clasped his hands in apology, saying, "Please calm your anger, Fellow Daoist Zhou, I misspoke earlier and deeply offended you, please forgive me."

Zhouyang squinted at him, said lightly, "Fellow Daoist Wen, you are too kind, everyone can misspeak at times, how could I possibly hold a grudge?"

Thus, this matter was considered settled.

The gathered cultivators then each expressed their opinions, continuing to speculate and rehearse possible plans on the part of the Demon Cultivators.

When Master Cyan Yang spoke, he suddenly said loudly, "In my opinion, we need not waste time here guessing what schemes the Demon Cultivators might have. At this moment, we should seize the opportunity while the main force of the Demon Cultivators is heading to destroy the Teleportation Array, and send a surprise force to attack their rear, probe their real situation."

"If they are really plotting something secretly, there will certainly be traces left behind. Once we can find those traces, we will naturally understand what they are plotting!"

Zhouyang, who had been quietly listening to the discussions without much speaking, suddenly had his eyes light up.

He seemed to be inspired by Master Cyan Yang's words, suddenly bowing to him and saying, "Senior, your words are indeed a wake-up call, the junior might understand what we should do."

"Oh, Fellow Daoist Zhou, what have you understood? Please, speak out and let us hear."

Xu Tianlin also showed interest, looking at Zhouyang with anticipation, waiting for him to present his insight.

Master Cyan Yang also stroked his beard with a smile, saying, "This old man knows Fellow Daoist Zhou has always possessed great wisdom, so I am quite eager to hear his valuable opinion this time."

"Elder Cyan Yang is too kind, it can't be called a valuable opinion, just a humble one!"

Zhouyang waved his hand, first modestly, then looked at the gathered cultivators and said inspiringly, "Everyone think about it, how did the demonic calamity in the Beiting Continent Cultivation Realm escalate to such an extent? What are the reasons?"

After speaking, without waiting for them to respond, he continued, "I believe there are two main reasons: Firstly, it's because of the rallying of the [Celestial Corpse Ascendant], a Ninth-Layer Nascent Soul Demon Cultivator, which gathered almost eighty percent of the Nascent Soul Demon Cultivators in this realm; Secondly, it's due to the abnormal movement of Demonic Qi from the Ice Sea Demon Abyss erupting to form a Demon Realm on the surface, causing many Demon Beasts to demonize, and provided Demon Cultivators a solid base to rely on!"

"Based on these two points, I believe if the Demon Cultivators are secretly plotting something and don't want us to know, then that Demon Realm, especially the Ice Sea Demon Abyss, would be the best place to hide."

"Now the Demon Cultivators are preparing to destroy the Teleportation Array, which indeed delays our reinforcements, but also, in reality, weakens the defense on the Demon Realm's side, losing the possibility of support to that side."

"Why don't we take this opportunity to charge into the Demon Realm, even onto the Ice Sea Demon Abyss, to investigate the matters behind the Demon Cultivators' plots and the reasons for the eruption of the Ice Sea Demon Abyss!"

What Zhouyang meant actually aligned with Master Cyan Yang's previous words, except his words contained more specific, clearer, and direct objectives.

Thus, when the assembled cultivators heard his words, they felt a sudden clarity.

Xu Tianlin immediately decided, "Let's do it! I will send a message to Fellow Daoist Guo and others to get here as quickly as possible, and then together, we will go to the Demon Realm to see the true picture!"

Master Cyan Yang also added, "This matter still requires cooperation from fellow Daoists across the Beiting Continent Cultivation Realm, we can have the cultivators stationed at other front line positions initiate a counterattack to divert the enemy's attention, and should any situation arise with us in the Demon Realm, they can rescue in time!"

At this, Cultivator Wen, who had previously doubted Zhouyang, immediately responded, saying, "Leave it to me, I will be responsible for contacting the fellow Daoists at those other positions, and will surely convince them to cooperate with our operation!"

"Right, Fellow Daoist Wen, when contacting, don't reveal our true plan initially, just tell them we're preparing to assault the enemy while they're retreating, and then after we set out, have several Golden Core Cultivators fly over to convey our handwritten letter with the details."

Like remembering something, Zhouyang, with deep insight, looked at Cultivator Wen and shared his opinion.

Upon hearing his words, the others also had their expressions move, all looking towards Cultivator Wen.

Cultivator Wen's expression tightened, and he nodded solemnly, saying, "Thank you for reminding, Fellow Daoist Zhou, I understand what to do now."

After each group had shared their views and finalized the action plan, Xu Tianlin bowed to everyone and said, "Everyone, the battle is approaching, please go back and prepare, once Fellow Daoist Guo and they arrive, we will depart immediately!"

Zhouyang and others also returned the gesture, responding in unison, "We obey."

Then the gathered cultivators dispersed, each going to their preparations.