Cultivation Begins From The Desert-Chapter 854 - 837: The End of the Boundless Desert Sea

Lu Xuewei's response dispelled the last bit of worry in Zhouyang's heart.

He immediately looked at Qin Yue'Er, who accompanied them, and said, "Yue'Er, you heard what Xuewei said. You possess the 'Profound Yin Spirit Body' by nature, and your resistance to the Ice Cold Power is much stronger than that of ordinary cultivators. From now on, you should refine more 'Cold Jade Essence' to enhance the strength of your flesh and resistance to the Ice Cold Power. In the future, you can also use this ice cave to extend your lifespan like Xuewei!"

Qin Yue'Er is only a few decades younger than Zhouyang. Even after consuming many life-extending spiritual objects, her remaining lifespan is now less than 700 years.

Zhouyang's biggest worry had been that he would witness her passing and ascension to immortality before him.

But now that this ice cave has been discovered, Zhouyang no longer needs to worry about such things.

Thanks to the effect of this ice cave on extending a cultivator's lifespan, as long as Qin Yue'Er makes sure to venture out every two to three hundred years and recuperate her damaged primordial spirit, she will still be able to live on even after ten thousand years!

Upon hearing Zhouyang's words, Qin Yue'Er cheerfully replied, "Understood, my lord. Please rest assured."

Then Zhouyang personally took action to conceal the massive glacial mountain where this ice cave is located using an array, preventing anyone from trespassing, and left a warning stone tablet on the mountain, warning intruders that this was his retreat.

Time was precious, and afterwards Zhouyang's family reunited for another thirty to forty years before going their separate ways, south to north.

Zhouyang returned to cultivating on the 'Donglai Immortal Island,' Xiao Ying went to 'Kurong Valley,' and Qin Yue'Er sealed herself within the ice cave.

Seventy years later, Zhou Guangcheng realized the Dao by the East Sea and successfully broke through the bottleneck of the Ninth-Layer Nascent Soul, officially stepping into the 'Half-Step True Immortal' realm of the Ninth-Layer Nascent Soul.

After his cultivation breakthrough, he immediately went to 'Donglai Immortal Island' to visit Zhouyang and share the good news.

He then took the 'Dragon Blood Holy Jade Fruit' on the 'Donglai Immortal Island,' and, similar to Zhouyang in the past, rebuilt the foundation of the 'Azure Dragon Body Refining Technique,' bringing his physical body to the Perfection Realm.

Subsequently, he made trips back to the Profound Sun Immortal Sect and the Boundless Desert Sea to handle sect affairs, spent over a decade with his children and grandchildren, and then returned to the 'Donglai Immortal Island' to follow his father Zhouyang in secluded cultivation, wholeheartedly practicing the 'Three Treasures Ruyi Technique' of the Tribulation Secret Technique.

Zhouyang, being more inclined towards this consistently obedient eldest son than the younger son, dedicated more attention to increasing Zhou Guangcheng's chances of successful Immortal Ascension. He specially sent an incarnation to the East Sea Dragon Palace to request a rare spiritual object, the 'Ten Thousand Years Water Soul Stone,' from the East Sea Dragon Saint.

This 'Ten Thousand Years Water Soul Stone' is a treasure formed by condensing the Essence Soul Power of a Tier Six 'Water Soul Demon' after its demise, able to greatly enhance the Divine Sense of Nascent Soul Stage cultivators, and is deemed a rare and valuable item even within the East Sea Dragon Palace's treasure vault.

If not for relying on Zhouyang for ascension to the Upper Realm, the East Sea Dragon Saint certainly would not have gifted such a precious spiritual object.

After all, concerning the primordial spirit, the Demon Race inherently has a weakness, yet this 'Ten Thousand Years Water Soul Stone' also has a greatly nourishing effect on demon souls.

During the time Zhou Guangcheng followed Zhouyang in seclusion on the 'Donglai Immortal Island,' whenever Zhouyang had time, he would use the 'Qianyang Immortal Light' to refine his physical body and condense his magical power.

Perhaps Zhou Guangcheng would find it difficult, like Zhouyang once did, to achieve the Perfection of the Three Treasures of body, magical power, and primordial spirit before achieving Immortal Ascension.

However, during Immortal Ascension, the closer these three aspects draw to perfection, the higher the chances of success.

Time flies, and before they knew it, Zhouyang had secluded himself on 'Donglai Immortal Island' for another two hundred years.

By this time, he had not only successfully mastered the immortal technique 'Indestructible Golden Bell,' but also had a deep understanding of the immortal technique 'Heaven-Burning Melting Furnace,' and was about to formally complete it.

At this moment, Zhou Guangzheng arrived on 'Donglai Immortal Island' with Zhou Tonghui, who had already successfully formed a Nascent Soul.

"What are you doing here?"

On the Immortal Island, upon seeing Zhou Guangzheng arriving, Zhouyang's expression immediately darkened, and he spoke in a rather displeased tone.

With an obedient eldest son like Zhou Guangcheng, Zhouyang felt inherently dissatisfied with his younger son, Zhou Guangzheng, who, self-possessed with an extraordinary talent, acted without regard for authority or family and lacked moral and ethical grounding.

If not for the fact that his grandson Zhou Tonghui had come along, Zhouyang might not have even allowed him onto the island.

"Father, are you still angry with your son? Last time, your son acted inappropriately and offended you; your son is willing to ask for your forgiveness and humbly begs your pardon!"

Having said this, Zhou Guangzheng glanced at Zhouyang and immediately knelt down to kowtow and plead for forgiveness.

Yet Zhouyang, witnessing this scene, merely sneered and said, "If you were truly repentant, would you have waited until now to ask for forgiveness? If I'm not mistaken, you're only here to request that I teach you the Tribulation Secret Technique since your cultivation hasn't improved, is that it?"

The 'Pure Yang Dao Body', while having no cultivation bottlenecks before the Tribulation Crossing Stage, faces difficulties on par with those of cultivators with 'Profound Sun Spirit Body' qualifications like Zhou Guangcheng when attempting to break into the Tribulation Crossing Stage.

Moreover, due to the rapid increase in cultivation pace, Zhou Guangzheng's mental cultivation realm fell short of those Nascent Soul Stage cultivators who had formed Nascent Souls after enduring countless hardships.

This was the primary reason behind his former defiance towards Zhouyang, and one of the significant barriers to his current inability to cross the tribulation.

Zhouyang understood this reason and refrained from truly suppressing him at the time.

Otherwise, given Zhouyang's temperament, had he been defied by his son like this, he wouldn't have been so lenient to let him leave easily.

"Father, you misunderstand. This time, I genuinely recognize my mistakes. In the past, full of my self-assumed exceptional talent, I failed to acknowledge the majesty of true immortals, underestimated your prowess and, in youthful folly, offended you, angering you!"

"Now, I've come to understand the difficulties of Immortal Ascension, recognize the hardships of cultivation faced by you and my elder mother, and realize the magnitude of my past mistakes!"

"Thus, even if you do not pass on the Tribulation Secret Technique to me this time, I genuinely and sincerely come to seek your forgiveness!"

Raising his head and looking at Zhouyang with sincerity enveloping his face, Zhou Guangzheng spoke, and within his tone lay hints of regret.

However, from his words, Zhouyang discerned that while there might indeed be a sliver of regret, it wasn't born from truly understanding where he erred. Rather, he regretted falling out with his father and losing favor before strengthening his cultivation.

This only made Zhouyang feel even more displeased and irritated at heart.

But today, with Zhou Guangcheng and Zhou Tonghui also present, Zhouyang didn't wish to set a negative example for these younger generations. Hence, he coldly looked at Zhou Guangzheng and said, "If you truly recognize your mistakes, it's a good thing. However, your mental cultivation is lacking, your nature is volatile and lacks resolve; my Tribulation Secret Technique is currently unsuitable for your practice."

Having said that, he waved a hand dismissively, "When you finally suppress your arrogance, smooth out your rough edges, and can contain your haughtiness and impulsiveness, come see me then!"

Zhou Guangzheng's expression changed slightly, and he couldn't help but glance at Zhou Guangcheng and his son, who pretended to see nothing, and then fell silent.

After a long silence, he bowed to Zhouyang and said, "Child understands. Then I will not disturb your secluded cultivation any longer. Child takes his leave!"

Having said this, he left the Immortal Island directly, whereabouts unknown.

"Father, rejecting him this time, with his temperament, I'm afraid..."

Only after confirming that his second brother had left did Zhou Guangcheng look anxiously at Zhouyang, hesitant to speak.

"Humph, afraid of what? He almost dared to fight me back then, and I'm supposed to fear his dissatisfaction?"

Zhouyang knew what his eldest son wanted to say, and with a cold snort, he said disdainfully, "I don't look down on him, but unless he changes his temperament and learns reverence and patience, he can forget about Crossing the Tribulation and becoming immortal in this lifetime!"

"But Second Uncle is now the Master of the Great Brightness Immortal Palace, what if..."

Zhou Tonghui also looked at Zhouyang with worry, his words unspoken yet clear in meaning.

Zhouyang waved his hand and said, "Rest assured. As long as he still wants the Tribulation Secret Technique from me, he won't dare make any small moves. He knows my bottom line and won't risk being suppressed by me to cross it!"

Zhouyang had assessed countless people in his life and believed he could see through much of his son Zhou Guangzheng's current mindset.

Zhou Guangzheng, being arrogant and overbearing since childhood, fears most the sudden loss of everything he enjoys and takes for granted.

As the current Master of the Great Brightness Immortal Palace, apart from being unable to reach Immortal Ascension, he can do whatever he pleases. Even if he harbors resentment towards Zhouyang for not imparting the Tribulation Secret Technique, he wouldn't dare risk losing everything to cross Zhouyang's limits of tolerance.

"You need not concern yourselves with him. Once Cheng'Er achieves Immortal Ascension, even if he manages to do so later on, there will be little difference in strength between you. At most, he will be the next Feng Wuji!"

Zhouyang said, then left Zhou Guangcheng and his son to continue their discussion while he returned to cultivate the Immortal Techniques.

Soon, three hundred years passed, and after Zhou Guangcheng completed the refinement of the "Three Treasures Ruyi," he returned to the Profound Sun Immortal Sect to seclude himself in the Dome Heaven Immortal Realm, aiming to break through to the Tribulation Crossing Stage.

Zhouyang first went to the Ice Cave in the Extreme North Icefield to awaken Qin Yue'Er, allowing her to visit her son Zhou Guangzheng at the Great Brightness Immortal Palace and recover her damaged Primordial Spirit.

He then traveled south to "Kurong Valley" to awaken his Dao Companion Xiao Ying, and the two awaited their eldest son Zhou Guangcheng's news of breaking through to the Tribulation Crossing Stage at the Profound Sun Immortal Sect.

It was then that they learned their granddaughter Zhou Tongyue had tragically fallen decades ago following a failed Nascent Soul Formation, mirroring the fate of their two daughters-in-law.

But Zhou Tonghui knew his father Zhou Guangcheng couldn't be disturbed during his practice of the "Three Treasures Ruyi Technique," deliberately keeping the information under wraps and not informing him of it during his seclusion.

After learning this, Zhouyang and Xiao Ying were deeply saddened and returned to the Zhou Family to pay their respects at their granddaughter's grave.

During these three hundred years, apart from Zhou Tonghui, another Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator, Zhou Weixian, emerged from the Zhou Family.

This son of the Demoness Huan Qianqian ultimately fulfilled his mother's wish and became a formidable Master Nascent Soul.

Zhouyang met him when paying respects at granddaughter Zhou Tongyue's grave.

Zhou Weixian had already broken through the seal Zhouyang placed on him years ago and understood his origins.

However, those few childhood years paled compared to his hundreds of years of experiences within the Zhou Family.

He wouldn't forsake his position as a revered Zhou Family Elder to become a reviled Demon Cultivator.

Therefore, besides expressing gratitude to Zhouyang for giving him an opportunity, he harbored no resentment for having his memories sealed.

"Your mother was an evildoer, and the Beiting Continent Cultivation Realm has yet to recover due to the sins committed by Demon Cultivators back then. I, as the ancestor, allowing her to live out her natural life span was already a mercy!"

Zhouyang calmly recounted the deeds of his mother to the respectful Zhou Weixian, unafraid of what he might think after knowing.

After finishing, he looked deeply at Zhou Weixian and said, "As for you, although a child of a Demoness, you are also of Zhou Family blood. As long as you live peacefully as a Cultivator, no one will pursue this matter further. You will have a place in the Zhou Family Ancestral Hall!"

"I will keep the Ancestor's teachings in mind, never to forget. I will always be proud to be a Zhou Family member and never have any dealings with the Demon Dao!"

Zhou Weixian knelt and paid a deep respect, expressing his gratitude and then departed with treasures gifted by Zhouyang.

At this time, the Zhou Family had five Nascent Soul Stage members. Including Lu Xuewei, Xiao Ying, and Qin Yue'Er, there were eight, more than any independent force except the Great Brightness Immortal Palace and the Donghua Immortal Palace.

Meanwhile, other than the Zhou Family, the Boundless Sea of Sand Cultivation Realm saw the emergence of several subordinate small sects and Golden Core Clans. Although the overall strength was still not comparable to the Great Cultivation Realm, it had finally taken on the air of an independent cultivation realm.

At this moment, Zhouyang made a significant decision.

"Now, the desert region of the Boundless Sea of Sand Cultivation Realm is less than an eighth of the whole. The name 'Boundless Desert Sea' should become history!"

"Send the order: from now on, the Boundless Sea of Sand Cultivation Realm shall be renamed the West Sand Continent Cultivation Realm, becoming the seventh Great Cultivation Realm!"

When Zhouyang proclaimed this on Lingxi Peak of the Zhou Family, it quickly spread across the Spirit Realm.

Since then, the term "Boundless Sea of Sand Cultivation Realm" became history in the Cultivation Realm, replaced by West Sand Continent Cultivation Realm, a name indistinguishable in stature from the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm or Donghua Continent Cultivation Realm.

However, in the Cultivation Realm, many cultivators sometimes preferred to call it the "Western Zhou Cultivation Realm."

The Zhou Family, originally a small cultivation clan from a minor locale, had now achieved fame beyond regional constraints, becoming a symbol representing an entire cultivation realm.

In terms of prestige, it had surpassed long-standing great forces like the Great Brightness Immortal Palace and Donghua Immortal Palace.