Cultivation Begins From The Desert-Chapter 777 - 760: It’s Her!

Master Cyan Yang was certainly not out of his mind.

His request for Zhouyang to challenge the Ninth Layer "Half-Step True Immortal" realm Grand Elder of the Nine Yang Sect was also a helpless move.

The sudden passing of [Master Yujing] was a great blow to the entire [Profound Purity Dao Alliance], because with his demise, the [Profound Purity Dao Alliance] once again lost the presence of a top-tier power.

Originally, this was not a big deal. Although such situations were rare in the past, they were not unheard of.

But this time was different. With the Nine Yang Sect Grand Elder advancing to the Ninth Layer Nascent Soul stage, the threats facing the [Profound Purity Dao Alliance] now included not only their old rival [Six Paths Alliance], but also a newly strengthened Nine Yang Sect.

The Nine Yang Sect itself is a powerful sect whose strength is comparable to that of the Profound Sun Immortal Sect, and it has a long-standing grievance with the [Profound Purity Dao Alliance]. In the days when Lu Xuanji was still alive, they suffered much bullying from the [Profound Purity Dao Alliance].

This led to the situation where, after Lu Xuanji's death, when the [Six Paths Alliance] launched a war against the [Profound Purity Dao Alliance], sects like the Nine Yang Sect and Beast Taming Sect took advantage to loot.

Now, the Nine Yang Sect Grand Elder has advanced to the Ninth Layer Nascent Soul stage, while the [Profound Purity Dao Alliance] lost its Ninth-Layer Nascent Soul cultivator [Master Yujing].

In such a situation, it is difficult to guarantee that the Nine Yang Sect will not harbor any malice against the [Profound Purity Dao Alliance].

Master Cyan Yang called upon Zhouyang, representing the [Profound Purity Dao Alliance], to challenge the Grand Elder of the Nine Yang Sect, precisely to prevent such a situation from occurring.

"We do not expect Fellow Daoist Zhou to defeat that Fengyang Old Monster, as long as he can demonstrate his strength to make him realize that our [Profound Purity Dao Alliance] is not without the power to resist him. This should be enough to deter him and prevent him from rashly initiating hostilities."

Master Cyan Yang looked at Zhouyang with a pleading expression, sincerely stating his request.

However, this time, Zhouyang, who had always complied with Master Cyan Yang's requests, frowned without responding for a long time.

After a while, he finally looked at Master Cyan Yang and said, "If it's just about displaying strength, wouldn't Fellow Daoist Chongyang from the Yuqing Daoist Sect be more suitable than I am?"

"Fellow Daoist Chongyang himself is a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, and now wields the Tier Seven Immortal Artifact, [Heaven-Breaking Spike]. Even if the Fengyang Old Monster has advanced to the Ninth Layer Nascent Soul stage, without an Immortal Artifact in hand, he wouldn't be able to do anything to Fellow Daoist Chongyang!"

As if he anticipated such a question, Master Cyan Yang immediately responded with a wry smile, "Indeed, Fellow Daoist Chongyang is strong and fears not the Fengyang Old Monster, but Fellow Daoist Zhou, don't forget that the one from the [Six Paths Alliance] is also still around!"

"Moreover, the existence of the [Heaven-Breaking Spike] is yet unknown. If Fellow Daoist Chongyang prematurely reveals this item's existence, letting people know that our [Profound Purity Dao Alliance] possesses three Tier Seven Immortal Artifacts, without a Ninth-Layer Nascent Soul cultivator presiding, many more would inevitably covet us!"

That's true!

Zhouyang couldn't help but nod in agreement, acknowledging the truth in Master Cyan Yang's words.

While Tier Seven Immortal Artifacts are undoubtedly useful, they also attract attention.

The fact that Zhouyang possesses the Tier Seven Immortal Artifact, [Vermilion Bird Fan], has already spread across several cultivation realms. If not for the simultaneous spreading of the news that he had gained the favor of the Tribulation Crossing True Immortal Du Chongyang, there certainly wouldn't be few cultivators eyeing him.

Now, if news of the Yuqing Daoist Sect obtaining another Tier Seven Immortal Artifact were to leak out, especially after the recent passing of [Master Yujing], it would be hard to say if the two forces, [Six Paths Alliance] and Nine Yang Sect, wouldn't join forces to initiate a war to forcibly seize the Tier Seven Immortal Artifacts of the Profound Sun Immortal Sect and Yuqing Daoist Sect.

However, even acknowledging this viewpoint, Zhouyang was not generous enough to put himself forward to challenge a newly advanced Ninth-Layer Nascent Soul cultivator.

He's had encounters with several Ninth-Layer Nascent Soul cultivators and is fully aware of the formidable strength of cultivators at this level.

Even with the [Vermilion Bird Fan] in hand, he had no confidence in defeating such powerhouses.

Furthermore, the grand elder of the Nine Yang Sect was newly elevated to the Ninth Layer Nascent Soul stage, brimming with confidence. If Zhouyang were to challenge him now, regardless of winning or losing, it would insult the other party, inevitably sowing seeds of resentment.

Why would he willingly create an enmity with a Ninth-Layer Nascent Soul cultivator?

"Elder Qingyang, it's not that I don't want to help, let me be frank with you, the Tier Seven Immortal Artifact [Vermilion Bird Fan] has already been given to [Vermilion Bird Demon King] Zhu Zizhen as a token of gratitude for her assistance several times!"

"You know, without this Tier Seven Immortal Artifact, with my cultivation, it's impossible for me to be a match for that Fengyang Old Monster!"

Zhouyang spread his hands helplessly, revealing that the [Vermilion Bird Fan] was no longer in his possession.

As he expected, upon hearing his words, Master Cyan Yang's face turned pale instantly.

"Fellow Daoist Zhou, you... you are misguided!"

"How could you give a Tier Seven Immortal Artifact like [Vermilion Bird Fan] to someone else? Moreover, you gave it to a Demon King of the Demon Race! You really are, you really are..."

Master Cyan Yang pointed at Zhouyang with a heartbroken expression, exclaiming vehemently, his demeanor unprecedentedly agitated.

He could hardly believe Zhouyang would do such a thing.

That was a Tier Seven Immortal Artifact!

Selling one's grandfather's land doesn't hurt one's heart!

This was the unspoken sentiment left by Master Cyan Yang.

He couldn't understand why Zhouyang would act this way, but he couldn't really blame Zhouyang much either, as the [Vermilion Bird Fan] was Zhouyang's possession, and how he chose to deal with it was his own business.

However, this rendered the proposal of Zhouyang challenging the Nine Yang Sect Grand Elder "Master Fengyang" infeasible.

Yet Zhouyang, at this moment, remained calm while looking at Master Cyan Yang, saying, "If the concern is merely about exposing the existence of the [Heaven-Breaking Spike], Elder Qingyang, you could temporarily exchange Immortal Artifacts. Let Fellow Daoist Chongyang hand over the [Heaven-Breaking Spike] to your care, then have him challenge the Fengyang Old Monster with the [Red Sky Divine Spear]."

"Sigh! There's no other choice now!"

Master Cyan Yang's lips moved slightly while looking at Zhouyang, but ultimately, he only sighed, accepting the suggestion.

Afterward, Master Cyan Yang seemed to have lost interest in the conversation, and after a few words with Zhouyang, he left Fire Birch Mountain, looking disappointed.

Watching Master Cyan Yang's departing figure, Zhouyang also remained silently thoughtful for a long time.

He clearly understood the real intent behind Master Cyan Yang's request.

If he went to challenge the Nine Yang Sect Grand Elder "Master Fengyang" on behalf of the [Profound Purity Dao Alliance], regardless of the outcome, he would, in the eyes of outsiders, become the new Guardian of the [Profound Purity Dao Alliance], essentially binding himself entirely to the [Profound Purity Dao Alliance].

If he had no better option, this wouldn't be a bad deal.

After all, to expect the horse to run, one must feed the horse.

The Profound Sun Immortal Sect and Yuqing Daoist Sect, in wanting him, an "outsider," to be the Guardian of the [Profound Purity Dao Alliance], would undoubtedly need to carve out significant rewards to satisfy him, such as providing the Zhou family with a substantial territory, a Tier Six Spirit Mountain, some ore veins, medicinal gardens, etc.

But unfortunately, he currently doesn't have only this option.

For him, the benefits of becoming the Guardian of the [Profound Purity Dao Alliance] do not outweigh the costs he would need to incur.

The [Profound Purity Dao Alliance], as the name suggests, is primarily led by the Profound Sun Immortal Sect and Yuqing Daoist Sect.

Even if Zhouyang could become the Guardian of this power, he could never wrest control from these two sects.

Besides, given his character, it's impossible for him to do such a thing.

It's clear that he is not willing to be just a "tool man".

Master Cyan Yang probably guessed his thoughts and understood his determination, which is why his expression was so forlorn and helpless when he left.

To this, he could only say sorry in his heart.

"Even though the Profound Purity Dao Alliance has lasted for so many years, if it could be easily defeated just because there is no Ninth-Layer Nascent Soul Cultivator holding the fort, it would really underestimate the foundation of such a superpower."

"As long as the Grand Elder of the Nine Yang Sect isn't overwhelmed by his breakthrough in Cultivation, he should understand to take what he can get, using the influence of his breakthrough to take a piece of flesh from the Profound Purity Dao Alliance without pushing both sides to an unending death struggle, ultimately benefiting others!"

"Yes, in the end, it's because my strength isn't strong enough. If I had Late-Stage Nascent Soul Cultivation now, even without an Immortal Artifact in hand, I could face those Ninth-Layer Nascent Soul Cultivators directly, without worrying about this and that."

Zhouyang turned his thoughts, shook his head slightly, and promptly gathered his mind, no longer dwelling on these matters.

According to his pre-planned schedule, he informed Liu Yunxiang of the Suyun Sect and the Thunder Feather Demon King of his intention to go to the Celestial South Continent Cultivation Realm, so that if they needed anything from him, they could wait until he returned.

After arranging everything properly, Zhouyang asked Qin Yue'Er, who had returned from her travels, to help look after the Fire Birch Mountain Cave Mansion. He then temporarily lent her his Tier Six Puppet for self-defense and set off for the Celestial South Continent Cultivation Realm with his Dao companion Xiao Ying and Lan Daoist.

Under normal circumstances, Cultivators from the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm traveling to the Celestial South Continent Cultivation Realm either go through the Cross-Cultivation Realm Teleportation Array in Liuyun Immortal City or detour through the Donghua Continent Cultivation Realm.

But now was neither the time for the Cross-Cultivation Realm Teleportation Array to open, nor did Zhouyang want to take such a large detour.

So this time, he chose the unconventional path of directly traversing the Wilderness Jungle to reach the Celestial South Continent Cultivation Realm.

For someone of his current Cultivation, the Wilderness Jungle, considered forbidden by Middle-to-Low Tier Cultivators, was no longer impassable.

However, what truly gave him this confidence, besides his Cultivation strength, was a Barbaric Map he had acquired from Zhu Zizhen.

This Barbaric Map not only marked the locations of large Barbaric Alien Race tribes within the Wilderness Jungle but also the activity areas of numerous powerful Barbaric Beasts and Barbaric Strange Insects.

Having this map as a reference, coupled with confidence in his own Cultivation strength, allowed Zhouyang to dare to undertake what others would consider a crazy endeavor.

He flew southward, and within half a year he had penetrated hundreds of thousands of miles into the Wilderness Jungle, entering a region highly active with Barbaric Alien Race.

Some Barbaric Alien Races were extremely belligerent and deeply hostile to Human Race Cultivators. Even knowing Zhouyang and his group were not to be trifled with, they still attacked him when he passed through their territory.

As for the attacks from these alien races, Zhouyang would not tolerate them; those who dared to attack were harshly dealt with and slain in great numbers.

After all, he was merely a passerby and did not worry about thoroughly offending those Barbaric Alien Races by doing so.

On this day, as Zhouyang's group was traversing the Wilderness Jungle, they suddenly encountered an extremely rare spectacle, causing him to unconsciously stop, descending the flying vehicle to admire this rare sight.

Beneath them, on a misty enormous lake, tens of thousands of blue Spiritual Lotuses, resembling sleeping lotuses, suddenly bloomed in unison at dawn.

And beneath the water, the five-colored Spirit Fish, resembling carp, seemed to have been waiting for this moment for a long time.

As the countless blue Spiritual Lotuses opened, these five-colored Spirit Fish leaped several feet out of the water, tearing off a petal or several petals from the blooming lotus to swallow.

In the sunlight, the light reflected off the scales of the five-colored Spirit Fish dyed the misty lake in five hues, creating a truly breathtaking picture.

"How beautiful! I didn't expect to see such a breathtaking sight within the Wilderness Jungle!"

In the clouds, Xiao Ying looked down at the picturesque scene below, her face full of delight as she exclaimed in amazement.

Throughout the journey, she had already seen many of the unique beautiful scenes of the Wilderness Jungle, but she was still captivated by this absolutely stunning sight below, reluctant to let such an exquisite spectacle wither.

"Husband, quickly use the Profound Light Shadow Mirror to record this beautiful scene. Later when we return and I tell Sister Liu and the others about this beauty, we can let them feast their eyes on it as well!"

She gently shook Zhouyang's arm, her beautiful eyes full of anticipation as she looked at her beloved, softly voicing her thoughts.

In fact, this wasn't the first time she had done so. Throughout the journey, Zhouyang's Profound Light Shadow Mirror had already captured a lot of the grand sceneries of the Wilderness.

"Alright, alright, as long as Ying'Er likes it, anything will do."

Zhouyang smiled and complied with his Dao companion's words, waving his hand, using the Tier Six Lower Grade Spiritual Artifact Profound Light Shadow Mirror as a recording tool to record the beautiful scene below.

After several hours, most of the Spiritual Lotuses in the lake had been devoured by the Spirit Fish, leaving only countless broken lotus remains floating on the lake's surface caused by the Spirit Fish diving.

Seeing this scene, Zhouyang's mind stirred, and he suddenly said, "I wonder how delicious these Spirit Fish are, let me catch a few fatty ones to try."

Saying so, he casually reached out, causing the lake below to explode, lifting a few half-zhang-long Spirit Fish into the sky before landing them before him.

Afterward, he used his fingers to form a sword, flicking strands of fine Sword Qi onto the Spirit Fish, slicing them into thin, translucent slices of fish in the blink of an eye.

"Delightfully fragrant, indeed!"

"Fresh and palatable, melting in the mouth, with a faint lotus fragrance lingering, truly leaving a lasting impression!"

After a few slices of fish disappeared into his stomach, Zhouyang's eyes lit up, praising the fish's delectable taste loudly.

At his words, Xiao Ying couldn't resist bringing a few slices of fish to her mouth, and with a face full of happiness, she agreed, "Indeed, it leaves a lasting impression."

Saying so, she couldn't help but eat a few more slices.

For even Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators like them who've tasted numerous delicacies to say so, the fish's taste was undoubtedly extraordinary.

"Such deliciousness, if only relished once, would truly be a pity!"

As Zhouyang spoke, he suddenly took out the Dongxuan Pearl, a Pocket World Spiritual Artifact, and directly absorbed a large amount of lake water and the roots and stems of those Spiritual Lotuses into it. Then he personally caught hundreds of five-colored Spirit Fish, placing them inside as well.

After doing all this, he nodded in satisfaction and said, "That'll do, with fish and flowers in place, if taken proper care of, there'll be fish to eat every year!"

Xiao Ying saw this and immediately praised, "Husband is indeed remarkable; with the Spirit Fish's deliciousness, the Zhou Family will surely have another notable specialty Spiritual Object."

Hearing this, Zhouyang chuckled and said, "Having a Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator like myself personally catch fish for them, those youngsters truly have good fortune!"

As the two chatted and laughed, they boarded the Misty Cloud Vehicle hovering in mid-air and continued their journey.

However, they hadn't traveled far this time, roughly twenty thousand miles, before a war between the Demon Race and Barbaric Alien Race in the Wilderness Jungle suddenly forced Zhouyang to halt.

It's her!

In the sky, Zhouyang watched from afar at the monstrous beast army composed of Spirit Deer, Spirit Oxen, Spiritual Sheep, and Spiritual Horses below, and the colorful Spirit Deer leading the army, his eyes full of amazement.

He never expected that in the depths of the Wilderness Jungle, he would encounter an "old acquaintance" he knew.