Cultivation Begins From The Desert-Chapter 806 - 789: Upheaval in the Immortal Palace

After confirming that the [Heaven-Reaching Demon King] can indeed make effective repairs to the secret realm space, Lan Daoist's agreement with him was fulfilled.

Zhouyang could thus set his mind at ease and attend to other matters.

Upon returning from the secret realm space, he asked his Dao companion Xiao Ying and others to guard the two Spirit Mountains that were in the process of upgrading to prevent any accidents. Then he set off alone to the Westernmost Cultivation Realm for the appointment.

This time, when heading to the Westernmost Cultivation Realm, Zhouyang specifically took a look at the spatial rift while passing through the [Sea of Death].

To his disappointment and shock, despite the Power of the World Origin converging towards the Boundless Desert Sea, bringing about drastic changes, it had no effect on the spatial rift.

The spatial rift looked the same now as it did a thousand years ago.

Zhouyang couldn't imagine what kind of powerful force was affecting the spatial rift, enabling it to resist the world's laws and remain unhealed for a millennium. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

He gazed deeply at the spatial rift, which still intermittently emitted demonic qi, suppressing his doubts and shock, before turning away from the place.

After crossing the [Sea of Death], Zhouyang slowed down to observe the Desert Sea along the way and found that there were already many cultivators from the Westernmost Cultivation Realm moving around, with some places forming oases where cultivators had set up arrays for defense.

However, Zhouyang also noticed that the cultivators currently active in the Desert Sea were mostly loose cultivators and small cultivation clans.

The sects and major clans under the Great Brightness Immortal Palace and the [Anti-Light Alliance] had not yet stationed here or openly claimed territory.

This indicates that the two major powers currently do not wish to engage in another conflict over such a place with uncertain potential.

For Zhouyang, this was good news.

From his perspective, the Boundless Desert Sea Cultivation Realm is sufficient for the Zhou Family's development for many years.

During such times, an external peaceful environment is extremely important for the Zhou Family.

If the Great Brightness Immortal Palace and the [Anti-Light Alliance] were to go to war, regardless of who wins, it would not be beneficial for the Zhou Family.

If one party were to eliminate the other and dominate the Westernmost Cultivation Realm, it would be even worse for the Zhou Family.

Therefore, upon realizing this, Zhouyang felt quite pleased.

Thinking about what he might encounter during this visit to the Great Brightness Immortal Palace, his mood improved.

He was quite clear on why Yin Hanguang invited him to the Great Brightness Immortal Palace.

If it were merely to sign some non-aggression pact, there would be no need to make such a grand invitation.

It was simply because Yin Hanguang was nearing the end of his lifespan and did not want his palace master position to be taken by Elder Lin's faction after he passed away. He wanted to re-enact the events from when he initially claimed the palace master position.

Zhouyang previously did not want to be involved in such matters because he feared a potential failure could harm him and the Zhou Family.

But now, even without Yin Hanguang's promise of a drop of [Immortal Spirit Jade Dew], he was inclined to use this opportunity to weaken the Great Brightness Immortal Palace's power.

Moreover, for him, his relationship with the Great Brightness Immortal Palace relied entirely on Yin Hanguang.

If Yin Hanguang passes away and someone from a different faction replaces him as palace master, it is uncertain whether the Great Brightness Immortal Palace would maintain its favorable attitude towards the Zhou Family in the future.

Now that there's a chance to determine the next palace master, Zhouyang certainly doesn't want to gamble on unknown possibilities.

He traveled west and soon arrived near the Great Brightness Immortal Palace's mountain gate, but did not rush to pay homage at the mountain. Instead, he secretly sent a communication flying sword to Yin Hanguang.

As Zhouyang expected, Yin Hanguang, upon receiving the communication flying sword, did not let him proceed openly to the mountain gate. Instead, he asked Zhouyang to conceal his cultivation and identity and follow a Golden Core Stage cultivator to quietly enter the Great Brightness Immortal Palace's mountain gate.

Following the Golden Core cultivator into the mountain gate, Zhouyang was not led to Yin Hanguang's palace master cave but met Yin Hanguang in a normal cave halfway up the mountain.

At that time, Yin Hanguang appeared aged like an ancient old man, with white hair, loose skin covered in wrinkles, close to the end of his life.

Upon seeing Zhouyang, who looked heroic and handsome, he was slightly dazed, a flash of unhidden envy crossing his eyes.

After a long pause, he returned to his senses with a downcast expression and bitterly smiled at Zhouyang, saying, "Fellow Daoist Zhou finally arrived. If Daoist Zhou hadn't come, I would have had to send someone to urge you again!"

"Certain matters were only dealt with a few months ago, causing Fellow Daoist Yin to wait." Zhouyang shook his head slightly and explained casually, not wanting to elaborate.

Yin Hanguang, recognizing Zhouyang's reluctance to share, wisely refrained from asking further and immediately responded, "It's fine to come now. There's still time; I can manage to hold on for a few more years."

"Fellow Daoist Yin, have you truly decided? You must know, once you take this step, there's no turning back. Years from now, this could become a significant stain on your life!" Zhouyang said seriously, looking at Yin Hanguang solemnly.

"I've pondered this for a century and have concluded it's a necessary action. If I don't do this, I'd die with regrets!" Yin Hanguang said with a cold expression, and then glanced at Zhouyang meaningfully, "Besides, for Fellow Daoist Zhou, this matter is purely beneficial, isn't it?"

Both were shrewd, not needing to hide anything from each other.

Zhouyang and the Zhou Family's ambitions were clear to Yin Hanguang.

But knowing is one thing.

If he still had five or six hundred years of lifespan and could wield the [Skull of Light], that Tier Seven Immortal Artifact, he wouldn't have agreed to Zhouyang's conditions so easily, granting such convenience to the Zhou Family.

But now that he's about to die, even if he wants to do it, he has no power to achieve it.

Moreover, for him, the person he hates the most now is the fellow disciple who made him waste five hundred years of lifespan for nothing without achieving full success.

Zhouyang said he wasn't afraid of getting a stain he couldn't wash off, but little did he know how much regret and anger he felt when he couldn't seize the moment to eliminate the Anti-Light Alliance.

To him, since someone doesn't want him to become the most glorious Palace Master of the Immortal Palace in ten thousand years, leading it to exit with glory and legend, he would rather bear infamy for eternity after death to foil that scoundrel's schemes, dying before him!

They're all smart people, so Zhouyang understood Yin Hanguang's meaning and didn't pretend to persuade any further. Instead, he asked directly, "When does Fellow Daoist Yin plan to act? How do you plan to do it?"

"Half a year later, I will convene all elders back to the palace under the pretext of confirming the next Palace Master to see who genuinely supports me and who harbors other intentions!"

"By then, Fellow Daoist Zhou's task is to immediately take down that old dog Lin during the meeting, and I'll handle the others!"

Yin Hanguang coldly stated his plan, his words filled with a killing intent.

Capturing a Seventh-Layer Nascent Soul Cultivator wielding the Tier Seven Immortal Artifact Eye of Light is indeed no easy task.

Zhouyang looked at Yin Hanguang with a doubt whether the other had known about his sparing Jin Baisheng.

However, without evidence, he couldn't ask directly, so he immediately replied, "It's no problem for me to take down Elder Lin, but should Fellow Daoist Yin also fulfill the promise of the Immortal Spirit Jade Dew?"

Upon hearing this, Yin Hanguang showed a displeased expression and said, "What does Fellow Daoist Zhou mean? Could it be you suspect I would deceive you?"

"Not that I don't trust Fellow Daoist Yin, it's just that Zhouyang always acts cautiously. If I could get the reward in advance, I'd have more motivation to do the job well and beautifully."

Zhouyang smiled, unconcerned about Yin Hanguang's attitude.

Seeing this, Yin Hanguang's face turned green and red, fluctuating for a long while before finally nodding, "Very well, since Fellow Daoist Zhou puts it this way, in order to set your mind at ease and wholeheartedly assist, I'll give you the Immortal Spirit Jade Dew first. Please take it."

With that, he tossed a jade bottle containing a drop of Immortal Spirit Jade Dew to Zhouyang.

Zhouyang received the jade bottle, opened the stopper to examine it carefully, and only after confirming it was indeed the Immortal Spirit Jade Dew he had taken once before did he put it away with a smile.

"Fellow Daoist Yin is straightforward, so I shall await your call."

In the following six months, Zhouyang hid in the cave dwelling of an ordinary Golden Core Cultivator, not stepping out, patiently waiting for Yin Hanguang's day to take action.

On the day Yin Hanguang mentioned, all current Nascent Soul Stage Elders of the Great Brightness Immortal Palace, totaling twelve elders, gathered at the mountain gate to discuss the next Palace Master candidate with the Palace Master.

According to the rules of the Great Brightness Immortal Palace, besides the current Palace Master who can nominate any Nascent Soul Stage Elder for the next Palace Master, other Nascent Soul Stage Elders must get support from three elders to be eligible for the election.

If several candidates exist simultaneously, the current Palace Master and all elders will vote to decide the next Palace Master. The Palace Master has three votes.

Under this mechanism, the Palace Master's nominee undoubtedly holds a significant advantage.

After all, the current Palace Master's position indicates he obtained most of the Elder Council's support back then.

The successor he nominates, besides gaining his three votes, naturally receives the support of the elders who originally backed him.

Yin Hanguang was nominated by "Master Chihua" after recovering the sect's Inheritance Immortal Artifact, the Eye of Light, thus successfully ascending the Great Brightness Immortal Palace's throne.

But before recovering the Eye of Light, "Master Chihua" was more inclined to favor Elder Lin, almost deciding him as the successor, and several Palace elders had already aligned with Elder Lin.

Yin Hanguang's unexpected intervention snatched the throne that was practically earmarked for Elder Lin, so it's no wonder Lin harbors deep hatred, preferring to prevent the possibility of the Palace uniting the Westernmost Cultivation Realm rather than allowing Yin Hanguang to achieve this unparalleled feat.

This time, when Yin Hanguang chose the successor, even knowing he could only serve two or three hundred years as Palace Master, Elder Lin spared no effort to rally other elders, determined to sabotage his plan.

He could be said to have succeeded.

When Yin Hanguang announced his nominee, a Fifth Layer Nascent Soul Stage Elder, only four people, including the nominated elder, voted in favor among the twelve-member Elder Council.

Those four votes plus Yin Hanguang's three voted made seven.

The remaining eight, including Elder Lin, all voted for Lin.

With eight to seven, Elder Lin narrowly won the election.

However, before Elder Lin could fully enjoy or mock Yin Hanguang's failure, Yin Hanguang crushed the Communication Jade Talisman he had been holding.

Immediately, Zhouyang, who had been waiting outside, dashed into the meeting hall, instantly using the Fire Lotus Eye divine technique to severely injure Elder Lin and then contained him within the Qianyang Golden Tower.

All of this occurred in a flash, thanks to Yin Hanguang's coordination in removing the meeting hall array, taking less than ten breaths of time.

The elders who supported Lin never expected Yin Hanguang to dare act in the mountain gate.

Nor did they expect Zhouyang to incapacitate and suppress Elder Lin, who held the Eye of Light, in an instant.

By the time they regained their senses, the situation had become extremely unfavorable.

Without Lin as their leader, despite still having seven Nascent Soul cultivators, including one Late-Stage Nascent Soul cultivator, facing Yin Hanguang and Zhouyang, they had no chance of winning.

"Each elder is a significant figure within our Palace, an essential part, the loss of whom would be a devastating blow, so please act with caution to prevent avoidable tragedy."

"I promise you all that if you forget today's unpleasantness and swear loyalty to the new Palace Master, continuing to serve our Palace, today will be forgotten, and none shall pursue today's events under any pretext!"

In the meeting hall, Yin Hanguang gazed over all elders with eyes brimming with resolve, voicing his plan with authority, displaying the essence of a victor.