Cultivation Begins From The Desert-Chapter 867 - 12: Annihilation of the Mountain Sect (Part 2)

Although said to be rest, in reality, Zhouyang didn't dare rest for too long.

Now that so many Tier Seven beings from the Li Yang Realm are secretly watching them, resting for too long might send the wrong signal, making them think he was seriously injured in the previous battle.

If anyone really forms such an idea and acts on it, the situation would not be good for them.

So after about two days of rest, despite not having fully recovered, Zhouyang led Fairy Zi Yi, Master Cangming, and the others to attack the Grotto Heaven Blessed Land of the Chixiao Sword Sect.

After two days of searching, and performing a soul search on the Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators of the Chixiao Sword Sect they captured, the entrance to the Grotto Heaven Blessed Land has been locked down.

But those Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators were completely unaware of what was really inside.

Even those Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators who had fortunately entered once only remembered the image of a closed cave residence with no sight of the external situation, merely allowed to cultivate there for a period of time.

The cultivators who truly understand the situation in that Grotto Heaven Blessed Land are likely only Master Red Star and Master Cloud Sword who have already taken refuge inside.

The enemy's situation is unclear, but they must attack.

To be honest, when Zhouyang issued the attack command, both he and Master Lie Hu had already prepared for the worst.

If they truly encounter any fatal danger, even if the mission to the lower realm fails, they must immediately unleash the power granted by the Returning Void True Monarch to erupt into late-stage Tribulation Cultivation to ensure their own safety.

This was repeatedly emphasized by Master Zishan and the Li Yang True Monarch before their departure to the lower realm.

The Chixiao Immortal Palace cannot bear the loss of two Tribulation Crossing True Immortals!

Therefore, when the group arrived at the entrance to that Grotto Heaven Blessed Land, Zhouyang immediately shouted and unleashed the Immortal Technique Divine Ability [Void Shattering Spear] that he had used against the "King of Void Beasts" back then.

A nearly transparent spear pierced through the air, fiercely striking a void spot atop the main peak of the Chixiao Sword Sect Mountain Gate.

In an instant, the void was torn apart, revealing a vast, grayish rift.

Seeing this huge rift, Zhouyang couldn't help but glance at the immortals behind him, then took a deep breath and said, "Immortal friends, I will go ahead!"

Having said that, he cast various protective measures upon himself and resolutely took the lead in flying into the rift.

The person who enters first will certainly face concentrated attacks from those inside the Grotto Heaven Blessed Land, that's for sure.

As Zhouyang flew into the rift, his awareness hadn't even clearly discerned the outside situation when his mind began frantically issuing warnings.

But he had no choice; even knowing there were countless dangers ahead, he could only grit his teeth and charge forward.

Soon after his awareness clearly took in the situation inside the Grotto Heaven Blessed Land, various attacks rained down on him.

Among these attacks, the most glaringly prominent was undoubtedly that Sun God Sword.

Only this time, the Sun God Sword was much more powerful than the one Zhouyang had witnessed two days ago.

At the moment the sword's edge approached, Zhouyang truly felt the threat of death!

Fortunately, he was mentally prepared, and upon sensing the imminent danger, he unhesitatingly activated the Qianyang Treasure Pearl to unleash the Divine Technique [Law Body].

Two days prior, he had already used this Divine Technique, but at that time, he didn't maintain it for long; the remaining power within the Immortal Artifact was still enough to support using it again for a few breaths.

Though it was only for a few breaths, it was sufficient for preserving his life.

Before this Divine Technique involving Origin Law, any power below the Returning Void Stage could hardly graze Zhouyang at all.

He successfully avoided the most lethal first wave of concentrated attacks and discerned the array of enemies attacking him.

Aside from the expected Master Red Star and Master Cloud Sword, there were two more enemies this time.

The additional two enemies had significantly varying cultivation levels.

The one with lower cultivation was at the early-stage Tribulation Cultivation and didn't seem to be a Human Race True Immortal, but some other kind of being.

However, the one with higher cultivation shocked Zhouyang somewhat.

This person had unexpectedly reached late-stage Tribulation Cultivation!

Yes, late-stage Tribulation Cultivation!

Initially, Zhouyang thought he saw it wrong; late-stage Tribulation True Immortals, in any lower realm, could independently ascend to the True Immortal Realm, so why would they remain in the Li Yang Realm?

But after repeated confirmation, he had to admit that the aura on that person was undoubtedly late-stage Tribulation, not forcibly enhanced to that level by Secret Techniques, but genuinely possessing late-stage Tribulation Cultivation!

Is this Master Red Star's trump card?

Zhouyang wondered, while also taking a look at the situation of this Grotto Heaven Blessed Land.

The internal space was indeed sprawling, several times larger than the Jade Heaven Immortal Realm in the Spirit Realm, truly a Blessed Land of Grotto Heaven.

Much like when Zhouyang first entered the Jade Heaven Immortal Realm, it was likewise full of various Spirit Herbs and Elixirs, including some ten-thousand-year-old Spirit Elixirs and even Transformation Elixirs.

Such a treasured land, for a Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator arriving here, might truly make them believe they've reached the True Immortal Realm.

Sadly, this treasure land is now witnessing its final glory. Soon, it will become a ruin!

Thinking of this, Zhouyang decisively unsealed the power sealed within his body, his aura rising rapidly, instantly reaching the late stage of the Tribulation Crossing.

There was no choice. Among the enemies, a late-stage Tribulation Crossing True Immortal appeared, wielding the [Sun God Sword], a Tier Seven Top-Grade Immortal Artifact. Without using this power, he simply couldn't continue the fight.

This wasn't Zhouyang's first time wielding late-stage Tribulation Crossing power. Previously, when he was swallowed by the "King of Void Beasts," he had temporarily gained late-stage Tribulation power through two potential-exciting methods to regain his freedom.

However, compared to the power gained by exciting his potential last time, this time, by tapping into the power granted by a Great Power of the Returning Void Stage to reach the late stage of the Tribulation Crossing, his strength had a massive difference.

The magical power gained by exciting his potential merely allowed his magical cultivation to step into the late stage of the Tribulation Crossing, but his realm remained at the mid-stage.

However, the power granted by the Returning Void Stage Great Power directly elevated Zhouyang's realm temporarily to the late stage of the Tribulation Crossing. Only this way could they successfully shatter the void and return to the True Immortal Realm after using this power.

With the powerful energy filling his body, Zhouyang felt his state was unprecedentedly good.

He revealed his form, wielding the [Red Sun Dragon Spear] in hand, slashing out a heaven-tearing red light directly at Master Red Star.

At this moment, Master Red Star no longer had the [Sun God Sword] in hand; he was just an ordinary mid-stage True Immortal now. Facing such an assault, he turned pale with fright and urgently called out to the red-haired elder for help.

"Ancestor, save me!"

The red-haired elder certainly wouldn't let Zhouyang succeed. With a cold snort from his mouth, he raised his hand and summoned a red Immortal Sword to block the red light.

Then he looked at Zhouyang and said, "Is this your trump card? Relying on external power to reach the late stage of the Tribulation Crossing, how long can you maintain this state?"

"I am also very curious, since you've cultivated to the late stage of the Tribulation Crossing, why haven't you ascended to the Upper Realm?"

Zhouyang squinted at the red-haired elder, seemingly trying to see through him.

Even though his cultivation was now at the late stage of the Tribulation Crossing, Zhouyang couldn't see anything unusual about the red-haired elder.

Yet he instinctively felt that the other party couldn't possibly be a normal late-stage Tribulation Crossing True Immortal.

It's not that Zhouyang hadn't seen late-stage True Immortals who didn't ascend to the True Immortal Realm; the founder of the "Spirit Realm's Great Brightness Immortal Palace," [True Monarch Guangming], was one such example.

But the issue was that [True Monarch Guangming] did not ascend to the True Immortal Realm because he had offended a Great Power there and would certainly be suppressed if he ascended.

But this red-haired elder obviously didn't have such concerns, so why didn't he ascend to the True Immortal Realm?

"I can ascend to the Upper Realm at any time. If I don't now, I naturally have my reasons."

The red-haired elder gave Zhouyang a faint glance before speaking deeply: "For the sake of Ancestor Chi Xiao, if you retreat now and leave the Li Yang Realm, I won't hold you accountable for killing my disciples and breaking into my mountain gate!"

These words were very similar to the ones Zhouyang had said to Master Red Star two days ago.

It's just that the words he had said himself, now spoken back to him from another perspective, sounded really harsh.

Despite Zhouyang's temperament, hearing these words made his face sink, looking rather unpleasant.

"Oh? Then let's see if you have the skill for that!"

He responded in a low voice, immediately spreading his spear horizontally, showing his attitude with action.

Seeing this, the red-haired elder didn't say anything more, immediately wielding the [Sun God Sword] to launch a fierce attack on Zhouyang, while Master Red Star and the others assisted from the side, displaying their skills to besiege Zhouyang.

As the saying goes, two fists can't fight four hands. Facing the siege from four Tier Seven presences, even though Zhouyang's cultivation had risen to the late stage of the Tribulation Crossing, he was at a disadvantage in an instant, forced to take a beating.

Fortunately, with his strong physical body and many Immortal Artifacts in his hands, he could barely withstand their siege.

But he knew in his heart that he could hold on for a while, but not for long.

What made Zhouyang particularly uneasy was that Master Lie Hu and the others, who were supposed to enter with him, hadn't appeared yet.

"What's going on? Why aren't Senior Brother Lie Hu and the others coming over yet!"

Zhouyang didn't believe that Master Lie Hu would harm him deliberately, but it was a fact that they hadn't appeared yet.

Without these people's support, relying solely on himself, it wouldn't be possible to withstand the siege of four Tribulation Crossing True Immortals, and he might not even be able to escape!

"How about now? Realizing your remorse, it's too late!"

The red-haired elder noticed the change in Zhouyang's expression and a grim smile flashed across his face as his attacks grew fiercer.

Obviously, Master Lie Hu and others were delayed by some means employed by him.

And the reason Zhouyang had come in so easily was probably due to deliberate arrangements by him.

But Zhouyang, after all, was Zhouyang; after so many years, what dangerous situations hadn't he encountered? Which time did he easily concede?

Without paying attention to how smug the red-haired elder and others were, he focused solely on defending against the attacks of the four immortals of the Chixiao Sword Sect.

He still trusted Master Lie Hu, believing that they would not watch him remain trapped within this Grotto Heaven Blessed Land.

This trust led him to choose to hold his ground and wait for reinforcements rather than breaking out to escape.

As it turns out, Zhouyang's choice was correct; Master Lie Hu did not betray his trust.

Outside the Grotto Heaven Blessed Land, when Zhouyang went inside and the entrance suddenly closed, making it inaccessible, Master Lie Hu quickly realized they were deceived.

So he first attempted to see if he could reopen the entrance with his own strength.

Seeing his attempts were futile, he immediately activated the power granted to him by the Returning Void True Monarch, instantly elevating his cultivation to the Late-Tribulation Crossing Stage.

This was different from Zhouyang within the Grotto Heaven Blessed Land. When Master Lie Hu's cultivation suddenly rose to the Late-Tribulation Crossing Stage, both Fairy Zi Yi, Master Cangming, his companions, and the tier seven observers of the Li Yang Realm were all drastically shocked.

Even the heavens manifested various signs; the Heavenly Dao Will of the Li Yang Realm, which already repulsed him, now wished to cast him away.

However, Master Lie Hu ignored the shocked natives of the Li Yang Realm and continuously employed the Void-Breaking Technique, bombarding the entrance to the Grotto Heaven Blessed Land.

Under the persistent assault powered by his Late-Tribulation Crossing Stage strength, the reinforced entrance shattered quickly.

Once the entrance reappeared, Master Lie Hu, without waiting for Fairy Zi Yi and others, boldly rushed in first.

"What should we do? Should we follow?"

Outside, watching Master Lie Hu charge into the entrance, Fairy Zi Yi and Master Cangming exchanged glances, unsure whether to follow.

By now, the situation had developed beyond their expectations, and their confidence was not as strong as before.

But as they hesitated, the Cyan Simurgh True Spirit spoke, "We've come this far, and even if we don't go in, do you think Master Red Star will spare us? Don't forget the disciples of the Chixiao Sword Sect who we killed before!"

On hearing this, Fairy Zi Yi and Master Cangming's expressions changed, and they nodded firmly, decisively following into the entrance.

This made it uncomfortable for those tier seven spectators watching from behind.

The battle inside the Grotto Heaven Blessed Land meant that they had to follow if they wanted to continue observing.

Yet the problem was that no one knew what the situation inside was like, nor if entering would result in them being attacked as enemies by both sides!

"Don't you all want to see what that legendary Grotto Heaven Blessed Land is like? Don't you want to know what Master Red Star and the others are hiding?"

A deep voice suddenly floated over the Chixiao Sword Sect's main peak, its source unknown.

The content of the voice indeed struck the nerve of those covert observers.

Even though the Chixiao Sword Sect's Grotto Heaven Blessed Land had been known in the Li Yang Realm for countless years, it seemed no tier seven outsider had entered.

Over endless years, every cultivator aware of a Grotto Heaven Blessed Land within the Chixiao Sword Sect had wished to explore it.

Yet, the sect's strength left them with no chance to fulfill that wish.

Now, the opportunity lay before them. Who, faced with such a once-in-a-millennium chance, wouldn't be tempted?

Even with such thoughts, no one responded to the voice.

They just saw strands of escape light flying from various places, all plunging into the entrance shattered by Master Lie Hu.

Their owners, however, were not the tier seven entities but clones made through various methods.

Those merely observing refused to join the battle; their true bodies would never enter under any circumstances.

Unfortunately, they underestimated the intensity of the war inside. Without tier seven strength, their clones inside the Grotto Heaven Blessed Land were quickly annihilated by battle remnants, bringing back no useful information.

Inside the Grotto Heaven Blessed Land, chaotic warfare ensued.

After Master Lie Hu entered, Zhouyang and his two Late-stage Tribulation True Immortals quickly overturned the situation.

With Fairy Zi Yi and Master Cangming joining the battle, the Chixiao Sword Sect side completely fell into a disadvantageous position, the situation dire.

Not long into the battle, Zhouyang suddenly lashed out with a spear, instantly shattering the tier seven alien fighting the Cyan Simurgh True Spirit.

Boom!

As his body exploded from Zhouyang's spear, the alien's Primordial Spirit appeared, revealing his true nature at last.

It turned out to be a Half-Demon!

This fiend walked the path of the Immortal Dao, cultivating an Immortal Dao Primordial Spirit, so although appearing as a Tribulation True Immortal, his aura wasn't pure.

Now that Zhouyang had destroyed his True Immortal Body, it caused immeasurable shock to Master Red Star and Master Yun Jian.

In a lower realm like the Li Yang Realm, completely slaying a Tribulation True Immortal is extremely difficult.

Otherwise, the impact wouldn't have been so great when the Chixiao Sword Sect used the Mountain Protection Immortal Array, the Array of Ten Thousand Tribulations and Immortal Slaying, to eliminate an avenging Demon True Spirit.

Now, seeing a Tribulation True Immortal in front of them have his True Immortal Body shattered by Zhouyang, leaving only the Immortal Soul and Primordial Spirit sheltered behind another, it was a tremendous shock for all present tier-sevens.

Master Red Star and Master Yun Jian realized that their enemies now had the power to eradicate them completely.

But matters had progressed to a point where, even if they wanted to surrender, Zhouyang might not agree. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

After activating the sealed power within him, Zhouyang and the others only had a mere quarter-hour to spare. In such a short time, there was simply no opportunity to bargain with Master Red Star and the others.

So at this moment, Zhouyang and Master Lie Hu were attacking with full force, completely displaying an attitude of decisively slaying Master Red Star and the others.

To be honest, with the fierce offensive of Zhouyang and Master Lie Hu now, not only were Master Red Star and Master Cloud Sword terrified, but even Fairy Zi Yi, Master Cangming, and the others were astonished.

They had never seen any Mid-stage Tribulation True Immortals fight so desperately like the Two Immortals of Zhouyang did at this moment.

Inspired by the desperation of the Two Immortals of Zhouyang, they did not dare to preserve their strength like they did during the battle two days ago, awaiting any changes.

Thus, in a situation where they were outnumbered and were at a cultivation disadvantage, Master Cloud Sword was soon directly suppressed and absorbed into the Qianyang Golden Tower by Zhouyang.

With Master Cloud Sword gone, only Master Red Star remained, along with the half-demon with only an Immortal Soul and Primordial Spirit left, unable to withstand the overwhelming offensive from powerful foes.

It was inevitable that they would follow in the footsteps of Master Cloud Sword.

At this point, the previously defiant Master Red Star could no longer maintain his defiance.

While resisting the aggressive attacks from Zhouyang and the others, he yelled loudly, "Stop! We can give you what you want. Please stop and spare Junior Brother Cloud Sword?"

Upon hearing this, Zhouyang did not pause his assault, but answered coldly, "Hand over the items first; otherwise, I'll assume you're stalling for time!"

By now, it had been more than half a quarter-hour since Zhouyang entered the Grotto Heaven Blessed Land, leaving him with very little time. He had no time to bargain with Master Red Star.

But at this moment, the red-haired elder, tightly entangled by Master Lie Hu, suddenly roared, "Never give in! They've forcibly elevated their cultivation, and the duration is surely limited. Once time passes, they'll naturally revert to their original state, possibly even entering a period of weakness!"

Initially, Master Red Star was hesitant, but hearing this, he dared not hesitate any longer.

He understood the logic, but he wasn't the red-haired elder who possessed a late Tribulation Crossing Stage cultivation with the Sun God Sword, a Tier Seven Top-Grade Immortal Artifact.

Who knows how long it would take for Zhouyang and the others' cultivation to drop?

Immediately, he pointed to a place and said to Zhouyang, "The items are inside the ancestral hall over there. Go there and you'll find them!"

Then he voluntarily retreated and made concessions.

"Traitor, how dare you!"

Witnessing this, the red-haired elder was so furious that he wished he could cut Master Red Star with a sword.

However, at this moment, Master Lie Hu relentlessly tangled him up, leaving him powerless to stop Zhouyang.

With no obstacles, Zhouyang performed instant teleportations repeatedly, quickly arriving in front of the ancestral hall mentioned by Master Red Star.

Time was of the essence, so he couldn't afford to inspect the situation carefully. After violently breaking the outer restrictions, he put everything inside into a storage spiritual artifact, then swiftly returned to the battlefield to rendezvous with Master Lie Hu.

"Senior Brother Lie Hu, the items are all inside. Take them and deliver them to Senior Brother Zishan. I'll hold off this old fool!"

As soon as he returned to the battlefield, Zhouyang handed the storage spiritual artifact containing the collected items to Master Lie Hu, instructing him to leave first.

The outcome evidently surprised Master Lie Hu greatly.

For a moment, he was astonished and transmitted his voice to Zhouyang in disbelief, "Junior Brother Huan Yang, what do you mean? Aren't you returning with me, Senior Brother?"

Upon hearing this, Zhouyang replied helplessly, "I don't have enough time left. I can maintain this state for at most a hundred breaths now, and this old fool from the Chixiao Sword Sect certainly won't let us leave easily. If we don't have someone to hold him off, none of us might be able to escape!"

"But if I leave, what about you, Junior Brother? How will you return?"

When Master Lie Hu asked this question, chaos filled his heart, and he lost his focus.

But Zhouyang remained calm, stating directly, "I have several Immortal Pills on me. Since this old fogey from the Chixiao Sword Sect can cultivate to the Late-Tribulation Crossing Stage in the Li Yang Realm, I can also achieve that with the help of the Immortal Pills by cultivating here for several years, and I'll ascend back to the Upper Realm myself!"

After finishing speaking, without waiting for Master Lie Hu to say anything else, he declared, "Senior Brother, there's no need for more words. The mission must take precedence; otherwise, our trip here would be in vain!"

"Fine, then Junior Brother Huan Yang, take care. I'll be waiting for you in the Upper Realm!"

Master Lie Hu took a deep look at Zhouyang, gritted his teeth, and quickly turned away to leave.

The red-haired elder saw this and immediately understood Zhouyang's plan. He simultaneously launched a fierce sword attack on Master Lie Hu as he tried to escape, angrily shouting at Master Red Star, "Look, traitor! Look at the foolish thing you've done, you stupid traitor!"

Master Red Star naturally understood the elder's meaning, but in his heart, he didn't feel that he was wrong at all.

Indeed, seeing Master Lie Hu swiftly withdraw after succeeding, it appeared the increased cultivation wouldn't last much longer.

But if he hadn't surrendered earlier, he might have ended up following in the footsteps of his junior brother Master Cloud Sword.

So he ignored the elder's chiding, merely watched Zhouyang and Fairy Zi Yi and the others with a gloomy expression, no longer participating in the battle, as if he were uninvolved.

After a while, Zhouyang felt the time was almost up. He immediately instructed Fairy Zi Yi and the others to retreat, while personally covering the rear.

Once Fairy Zi Yi and the others had withdrawn, Zhouyang moved his thoughts to release Master Cloud Sword, who he had suppressed inside the Qianyang Golden Tower. "Don't say Zhouyang is unfaithful; here is Cloud Sword returned to you!"

Having said that, he stabbed the spear into the vault of heaven with full force, soaring out of the Grotto Heaven Blessed Land.