Cultivation Begins From The Desert-Chapter 808 - 791: Another Mighty General Acquired!

Yin Hanguang's revelation about the secrets of the True Immortals was indeed a significant help to Zhouyang, allowing him to understand more clearly the path he should take in the future.

After thanking the other party again, he bid farewell and left the Westernmost Cultivation Realm.

He anticipated that for a long time to come, he would not venture into this place again.

Presumably, neither the Great Brightness Immortal Palace nor the Anti-Light Alliance would welcome him here any longer.

Upon returning to the Boundless Sea of Sand Cultivation Realm, Zhouyang patiently awaited the successful ascension of Zhou Family's two Tier Six Spirit Mountains while repairing and reforging the Great Derivation Celestial Spirit Sword, which had been severed during his battle with the Heaven-Reaching Demon King.

Fortunately, all these flying swords were crafted by himself, and he still had a considerable amount of similar materials at hand, otherwise, this repair and reforging task would have been impossible for an ordinary Artifact Refining Grandmaster.

At the same time, this experience with the broken sword also served as a reminder to him that although the Great Derivation Celestial Spirit Sword Array was formidable, its power hinged entirely on the thirty-six flying swords.

If he encountered an enemy wielding some extremely sharp Divine Weapon Immortal Artifact, or someone like the Heaven-Reaching Demon King who mastered Space Divine Techniques capable of tearing through everything, then half of the sword array's divine power would be rendered useless.

Of course, this was not Zhouyang's problem, nor was it an issue with these flying swords painstakingly forged with rare materials, but rather the nature of the world where nothing is truly perfect.

In the cycle of creation and destruction, even the Heaven-Reaching Demon King who grasped Space Divine Techniques wouldn't dare to conceive such an idea, let alone Zhouyang with just a mere sword array divine technique.

Once the flying swords were mended and reforged, and seeing that the ascension of the two spirit mountains was not imminent, Zhouyang then focused on practicing other divine techniques.

When he initially formed his Nascent Soul, he acquired several powerful divine techniques for cultivation but had concentrated his time on advancing his cultivation level. As of now, he had only mastered the Nine Heavens Qianyang Demon-Annihilating Divine Thunder and Vertical Earth Golden Light techniques.

Now that his cultivation was stuck at the bottleneck of the Ninth-Layer Nascent Soul stage and he had made significant progress in comprehending the laws, he could allocate some attention to practicing the remaining divine techniques.

Among these remaining divine techniques, the True Fire Refining Form Technique is one that enhances the power of True Flame. Once mastered, it not only boosts Zhouyang's Qianyang True Flame but also has the chance of nurturing a "Fire Spirit" to imbue the true flame with spirituality.

The Heaven-Burning Technique can enhance the power of all fire attribute divine techniques, and it complements the True Fire Refining Form Technique.

The Vajra Indestructible Body is a defensive divine technique that strengthens the physical body's defense. It is an essential technique for Zhouyang to cultivate, especially as he relies on such defensive divine techniques to mitigate the damage from tribulation thunder when undergoing Immortal Ascension Celestial Tribulation.

Currently, Zhouyang has the deepest understanding of fire attribute laws, making it easier for him to cultivate these two fire attribute divine techniques. Naturally, he chose to prioritize cultivating these fire attribute divine techniques first.

Given his current level of cultivation, mastering the basics of these two divine techniques was quite simple, and even reaching the minor achievement realm wouldn't be difficult, taking only three to five years.

However, advancing these divine techniques to the great success realm, without suitable environments to assist the cultivation, could take anywhere from several decades to over a hundred years.

Fortunately, having traveled extensively over the years, Zhouyang was aware of how to address this issue once he discovered it.

But all this needed to wait until the ascension of the spirit mountains of the Zhou Family was complete.

The time it takes for a Tier Five Spirit Mountain to ascend to a Tier Six Spirit Mountain is related to the accumulation of the spirit mountain itself.

Although Zhouyang infused Lingxi Peak with two pieces of top-grade spirit stones, due to its lesser accumulation compared to Pingsha Mountain, it was Pingsha Mountain that, after seventeen years of nurturing, first ascended to a Tier Six Spirit Mountain.

And because the spirit vein ascension involved embedding a top-grade fire attribute spirit stone, after Pingsha Mountain ascended to a Tier Six Spirit Mountain, the fire attribute spiritual qi was also more concentrated than other spiritual attributes, making it suitable for cultivators like Zhouyang who practice yang attribute techniques, so he established his abode here.

Of course, although he established his abode here, it wouldn't be his primary place of cultivation in the future since, compared to his level of cultivation, a newly ascended Tier Six Lower-grade Spirit Mountain was not particularly useful.

This abode served more as a symbolic gesture, showing the Zhou Family cultivators that their patriarch was secluded on the mountain, overseeing the clan.

Five years later, Lingxi Peak also succeeded in its spirit vein ascension, becoming a Tier Six Lower-grade Spirit Mountain.

And because Zhouyang had embedded two top-grade spirit stones during the ascension, after Lingxi Peak's ascension was complete, the spiritual qi concentration was noticeably higher than Pingsha Mountain, and it was more suitable for planting various spirit herbs and elixirs.

After completing the ascension, Zhouyang personally traveled from Pingsha Mountain to place the ice attribute rare treasure Ice Crystal Source Stone, which he had acquired in the Beiting Continent Cultivation Realm, at the summit area, using its power to create a snow-covered realm on this spirit mountain in the desert sea!

Around three hundred feet from top to bottom of the summit area was covered in snow, becoming a realm of extreme cold and snow, which would be Lu Xuewei's future abode and Dao field, and also a place for growing various ice attribute spirit elixirs.

Further down, according to Zhouyang's instructions, Zhou Liangyu mobilized the entire Zhou Family's resources to transplant over two thousand spiritual woods of various tiers, creating a domain named Ten Thousand Wood Spiritual Domain, thus establishing a place suitable for cultivators like Xiao Ying who practice wood attribute techniques.

Below the Ten Thousand Wood Spiritual Domain, where the Cold Spring was, had now transformed into a mountaintop cold pool, forming a cold pool valley, which became the training ground for Qin Yue'Er, who possessed the Profound Yin Spirit Body.

Each of the three Zhou Family Nascent Soul Stage cultivators had their own abode suited for their cultivation, allowing them to reside and cultivate here permanently.

If any juniors of the Zhou Family showed good aptitude and talent and practiced the same attribute techniques, they might have the opportunity to meditate in these cultivation spiritual lands and even receive guidance from the Nascent Soul Stage cultivators training inside.

At this point, Lingxi Peak finally took on the visage befitting the foundation of a major force's mountain gate, matching the status and influence currently held by the Zhou Family.

Of course, a Tier Six Lower-grade Spirit Mountain, in terms of the Zhou Family's current status, was still somewhat lacking. In the future, after another one or two hundred years and once Lingxi Peak's spirit vein stabilizes from the current ascension fluctuations, Zhouyang will undoubtedly continue to enhance it until it ultimately ascends to a Tier Six Top-grade Spirit Mountain.

But these were matters to be considered in the future.

Now that the spirit vein ascension of the two spirit mountains was complete, alliances in the Westernmost Cultivation Realm had been formed where needed, battles had been fought where needed, and peace was made with the Broken Cloud Mountain Range in the east, the Zhou Family's dominance over the Boundless Sea of Sand Cultivation Realm was essentially established.

Going forward, family development matters no longer required Zhouyang's involvement; everything could be delegated to the cultivators below to manage.

Therefore, after the spirit vein ascension was complete, he took along the Cyan Flood Dragon Qing Luo, which had been mapping the underground water veins of the desert sea for over twenty years and had already completed the map, and journeyed according to his agreement to Donglai Immortal Island to release the Thunder Feather True Spirit, which was to be secluded there for a hundred years.

This time, apart from Qing Luo, he brought no one else. When passing through the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm, he didn't rush to meet old acquaintances like Master Cyan Yang at the Profound Sun Immortal Sect and instead headed straight east over the sea.

A year later, Zhouyang successfully arrived at Donglai Immortal Island.

What pleased and comforted Zhouyang was that as soon as he entered the island, he saw the Golden-winged Thunder Eagle soaring in the sky.

At this point, the Golden-winged Thunder Eagle should perhaps be referred to as Golden-winged Thunder Roc now.

Over the past hundred years, by refining a substantial amount of Thunder Roc True Blood granted by the Thunder Feather True Spirit, it had successfully transformed its bloodline into that of a Thunder Roc, thereby smoothly advancing to a Tier Six Demon King, rightfully earning the name "Golden Roc."

It wasn't only "Golden Roc" that had changed; even that Silver Flood Dragon Bell had somehow completed its advancement, becoming a Tier Six Silver Flood Dragon.

The Cyan Flood Dragon Qing Luo and Silver Flood Dragon Bell had originally been the companion pets of the Young Clan Leader of the Dragon Taming Family, Dragon Taming Golden Radiance. They had trained in the family's secret haven, the Dragon Transformation Pool, and possessed relatively pure Flood Dragon bloodlines.

After following Zhouyang and long-term cultivation in such an Immortal Blessed Land like Donglai Immortal Island, over eight or nine hundred years passed, advancing to Tier Six was quite reasonable.

"It seems you have gained a lot over a hundred years; leaving you here was the right decision."

On the Immortal Island, Zhouyang, looking at the vastly improved Golden Roc and Bi'Er, smiled brightly, his mood extremely good.

"Golden Roc could reach its current state all thanks to the master's nurturing; the grace of the master's fostering and recreation is something Golden Roc could never repay, even with a thousand deaths!"

The Golden Roc, having taken on a thunder-god-like beak after its transformation, bore a significant resemblance in appearance to a certain mythical figure from Zhouyang's past life, complete with a pair of golden-winged eagle feathers on its back, displaying strikingly prominent demon race features.

Although, from a human aesthetic standpoint, its appearance after transformation was somewhat ugly, Golden Roc's mind was exceptionally agile and, while being fiercely loyal to Zhouyang, it also knew how to be pleasing and win hearts with its words.

Upon hearing Zhouyang's loyal words, he couldn't help but laugh: "Hehehe, you clever bird truly know how to speak. It seems that the title of the Zhou Family's foremost clan guardian divine beast is yours by right!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Jin Peng immediately replied: "Master, rest assured, Jin Peng will definitely protect the Zhou family in the future, so you no longer need to worry about trivial matters!"

"Hmm, not bad. It's rare for you to have such awareness, so my efforts in nurturing you have not been in vain."

Zhouyang nodded, showing contentment with the ideological awareness of his spirit pet.

Compared to Bi'Er and the two Flood Dragons, who were forcibly subdued through violent means, Jin Peng, whom he personally hatched and raised from an egg, naturally endeared himself to Zhouyang more and was more trusted.

And with Jin Peng being a descendant of a True Spirit with a long lifespan, he could protect the Zhou Family for five or six thousand years without issue.

This was far more beneficial than nurturing a Nascent Soul Stage cultivator.

The nearby Bi'Er, Qing Luo, and Silver Bell, the three female demon servants, felt disdain for Jin Peng's behavior, thinking it brought shame to a Tier Six Demon King.

They would absolutely never do something like that.

But they soon realized the difference in treatment between loyalty and disloyalty.

After praising Jin Peng, Zhouyang immediately waved his hand and tossed a golden spirit fruit to him.

"This is a Qilin Vermilion Fruit, a gift from a friend of mine. After consuming it, it can increase your cultivation by a hundred or two hundred years at least, as a reward for achieving Tier Six Demon King status."

"Later, when you meet the Thunder Feather True Spirit, I'll ask him for a few feathers to forge a Tier Six artifact for you by combining it with your own feathers!"

Hearing Zhouyang's words, the eyes of the three female demon servants immediately turned red.

The Qilin Vermilion Fruit was extremely precious. After obtaining six of them, Zhouyang and Xiao Ying each consumed one while breaking through to the Eighth Layer Nascent Soul stage. One was given to his son Zhou Guangcheng, and one to his disciple Lu Xuewei. Then, Xiao Ying and Qin Yue'Er used one each to reach the Mid-Stage Nascent Soul.

The last one was originally intended to be a gift to Master Cyan Yang in gratitude for the guidance he had provided to Zhou Guangcheng over the years.

However, Zhouyang changed his mind and bestowed it upon Jin Peng, clearly showing his favoritism.

Moreover, wanting Thunder Feather True Spirit's feathers for artifact refining made even the two Flood Dragons, who didn't possess a Tier Six artifact, envious and jealous.

Artifacts refined using feathers from a Tier Seven True Spirit would far surpass ordinary artifacts of the same tier, even if the refiner could only create a Tier Six artifact.

Even Bi'Er, who possessed the Mid-grade Tier Six artifact "Profound Nether True Water Banner," was filled with envy.

Zhouyang naturally observed the expressions of the three female demon servants, which was precisely the effect he desired.

He understood deeply that these demon servants, forcefully subdued halfway through their lives, feared strength but did not respect virtue.

Treating them well would only make them think that it was a Demon King's right, unaware that they were just servants.

Therefore, only by punishing them harshly and making them realize their status as servants could he ensure they followed orders.

Qing Luo, a Cyan Flood Dragon, was a clear example.

After severe punishment from Zhouyang and suffering the hardships of life outside, she no longer dared to slight his orders.

Even when forced to continuously delve into the underground Dark River to map water veins previously, she dared not show any complaint openly.

So now, Zhouyang had to discipline and punish those disobedient ones while rewarding obedient ones like Jin Peng with treasures to train them and teach them obedience.

Next, Zhouyang inspected the growth of rare spirit fruits and elixirs like Jade Peach and Holy Infant Fruit on the island, harvested high-tier spirit elixirs that matured over a century in the medicinal garden, and then visited Thunder Feather True Spirit in seclusion for cultivation.

Over a century had passed, and Thunder Feather True Spirit's True Spirit Dharma Body had almost completely stabilized and matured.

At this moment, when showing his True Spirit Dharma Body, its wingspan reached over three hundred zhang, and a Tier Six Flood Dragon over a hundred zhang long looked like a big snake in front of him!

However, after stabilizing and maturing, Thunder Feather True Spirit no longer needed to maintain this form and returned to his human form when meeting and conversing with Zhouyang.

In contrast to his previous silver-winged youth form, he could now completely hide all demon race traits, making it impossible for Zhouyang to distinguish whether he was a human or a demon now that he had become a Tier Seven True Spirit.

"It's been over a hundred years, and Fellow Daoist Zhou's cultivation has indeed advanced again, truly astonishing and enviable!"

More than a century separated them since they last met, and Zhouyang marveled at Thunder Feather True Spirit's massive True Spirit Dharma Body. Thunder Feather True Spirit was also quite surprised by Zhouyang's cultivation progress, unable to resist words of envy.

But such words sounded insincere coming from him, prompting Zhouyang to helplessly wave his hand: "Fellow Daoist Lei Yu jests. You've already become an immortal, while my little cultivation progress is negligible before you. If anyone should be envious, it's me envying you, Fellow Daoist!"

Upon hearing this, Thunder Feather True Spirit just laughed noncommittally and gazed deeply at him: "Fellow Daoist Zhou should not be modest. With your cultivation speed, you might achieve immortality and join our ranks within a few centuries!"

"Ah, I can only hope your words will come true, Fellow Daoist Lei Yu."

Zhouyang sighed with resignation, finding it hard to humble himself further.

He realized that his high level of cultivation made others uncomfortable whenever he humbly downplayed it, going against his intent.

Perhaps this was the trouble of being too outstanding!

Moving past this, Zhouyang openly recounted the story of visiting the Boundless Desert Sea to extract the Innate Five Elements Jade at his master True Monarch Donglai's instruction and delivering this innate spiritual object to the Upper Realm.

Since the Innate Five Elements Jade was already gone, having claimed all the benefits from that secret realm space with True Monarch Donglai as his great backer, he wasn't afraid of Thunder Feather True Spirit harboring ill intentions after hearing the story.

The true purpose of mentioning this was to segue into the ensuing rift with the Heaven-Reaching Demon King.

Since Thunder Feather True Spirit was likely to reside permanently in the Broken Cloud Mountain Range as the demon race's hidden guardian, Zhouyang needed him to understand these matters to avoid future misunderstandings.

As expected, upon learning about the cross-border teachings and treasure dispatch by True Monarch Donglai, Thunder Feather True Spirit, a Tier Seven True Spirit, was greatly shocked.

"So that's how it is! It turns out Fellow Daoist Zhou maintains cross-realm communication with such a great divine powerholder as True Monarch Donglai! So, the barren and desolate Boundless Desert Sea harbored the Innate Five Elements Jade, an innate spiritual object like this!"

"The reason for the desolation of the Boundless Desert Sea is rooted in such reasons!"

"Fellow Daoist Zhou's extraordinary adventures truly broaden my horizons!"

Thunder Feather True Spirit gazed at Zhouyang in amazement, genuinely awed and intrigued by his experiences.

As for the rift between Zhouyang and the Heaven-Reaching Demon King, it seemed trivial to him.

"I understand, Fellow Daoist Zhou. Rest assured, once I return, I'll explain the situation to Fellow Daoist Tongtian and others, ensuring they won't disturb your cultivation again."