Cultivation Begins From The Desert
Chapter 218 - 216: Expanding Territory (Part 1)

Chapter 218: Chapter 216: Expanding Territory (Part 1)

Excluding Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators, the Zhou Family has thirty-eight cultivators at or above mid-stage Qi Cultivation!

This time, except for the two absent individuals, the remaining thirty-six were transported in batches by Zhouyang using Eagle Lion Beasts to the undeveloped oasis. Among all the Zhou Family cultivators above mid-stage Qi Cultivation, only Zhou Xuanhao, a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, remained at Jade Spring Peak.

"See that expanse of sand dunes ahead? That’s the illusion created by the Natural Illusion Array. Once we advance over ten miles, we’ll be inside the Natural Illusion Array."

"Although this Natural Illusion Array has no offensive capabilities, it’s extremely potent in concealing aura. I even suspect that Golden Core Stage cultivators would struggle to discern the array’s presence unless they personally step into it!"

In the vast Desert Sea, the group of dozens from the Zhou Family paused atop a small sand dune, as their eyes followed the guidance of the old Clan Leader Zhou Minghan towards the rolling sand dunes ahead, listening to him reveal the truth hidden beneath the surface illusion.

By now, all the Zhou Family cultivators on this expedition understood that they weren’t here to attack a group of demon beasts occupying a Spirit Vein, but to expand a large-sized oasis.

Upon knowing this outcome, rather than fear or dread, their excitement and enthusiasm intensified.

To personally partake in the expansion of a large-sized oasis within one’s lifetime is undoubtedly a significant, memorable event.

Moreover, the benefits from expanding a large-sized oasis are tenfold, or even dozens of times greater than a Tier Three Spiritual Vein.

It was at this moment that they understood why Zhouyang previously articulated this as a crucial matter determining the Zhou Family’s prosperity or decline.

"Then we’ll proceed as planned. Aside from Ying’Er and Guangxiang leading teams towards the two Tier Two Spirit Mountains, the rest will follow me and my great-grandfather in a direct strike against the Tier Three Spirit Mountain inhabited by the Three-tailed Demon Fox!"

Zhouyang, with bright eyes directed toward the sand dunes ahead, glanced back at the Zhou Family members behind him, issuing the command to charge in a solemn tone.

Once the command was given, he instantly leapt onto the back of the Eagle Lion Beast, and with a swift thought, the beast let out a sharp cry, unfurling its wings and darting into the illusion array.

Like passing through a water screen, upon entering the illusion array riding the Eagle Lion Beast, Zhouyang was greeted by a vibrant Qingqing Grassland.

The grass here is far more lush than that on Jade Spring Lake Oasis, comparable even to Baisha River Oasis, indicating the oasis’s dense moisture.

Upon using the "Celestial Eye Technique" from the Eagle Lion Beast’s back, Zhouyang indeed saw several lakes ranging from seven to eight square kilometers to over ten square kilometers in size.

Along with the lakes, there were low-grade demon beasts radiating various spiritual lights.

"What a flourishing oasis!"

Standing on the Eagle Lion Beast’s back, surveying the entire oasis, Zhouyang couldn’t help but exclaim in full delight.

His eyes sparkled with brilliance and he laughed heartily, "From today on, this oasis belongs to the Zhou Family!"

As his laughter faded, the Eagle Lion Beast, under its owner’s command, fluttered its wings, charging straight toward a verdant Spirit Mountain towering two to three hundred meters in the oasis’s central area.

The demon beast occupying this oasis is a variant within the Fox Demon species, the "Three-tailed Demon Fox," a beast known for its remarkable power and keen senses.

When the Eagle Lion Beast, also a Tier Three High-Grade Demon Beast, approached within a hundred-mile radius of its mountain abode, the Three-tailed Demon Fox sensed the Eagle Lion Beast’s scent and went on alert.

Simultaneously, it summoned its two loyal Tier Three demon beast followers through its cries.

These demon beast followers subservient to the Three-tailed Demon Fox are the Middle Grade Tier Three "Flying Fire Bat King" and the Lower Grade Tier Three "Wind Shadow Leopard."

Among them, the "Flying Fire Bat King" is the leader of a horde of Tier Two demon beasts, the "Flying Fire Bats."

Upon receiving the Three-tailed Demon Fox’s call, the Flying Fire Bat King immediately led its minions out of hidden caves to the fox’s location. As Fire Demonic Beasts, these bats do not fear sunlight like ordinary bats, and can hunt and fight even during the day.

Shortly after the Flying Fire Bat King arrived, a low leopard roar echoed from the Spirit Mountain where the Three-tailed Demon Fox resided, followed by a blue leopard three to four yards in length leaping from a tall tree, landing behind the Flying Fire Bat King.

Thus, after another half-hour passed, the massive figure of the Eagle Lion Beast finally appeared in the sight of the three Tier Three demon beasts on the Spirit Mountain.

"Is that the Three-tailed Demon Fox? Truly different from normal fox demons!"

On the Eagle Lion Beast’s back, Zhouyang observed the Three-tailed Demon Fox, standing atop the mountain with two Tier Three demon beasts at its side, gazing towards him, a flicker of surprise momentarily crossing his eyes.

The Three-tailed Demon Fox measures about three yards in length with three lush fox tails: blue, red, and white in color. Beyond the tails, its fur is flame-red, brilliant and dazzling like a flame. Its eyes gleam gold, deep, mysterious, and saturated with spiritual essence.

At this moment, the Three-tailed Demon Fox was half-crouched atop a cyan rock on the mountain top, akin to a human sitting upright, observing the rapidly approaching Eagle Lion Beast and Zhouyang with a heavy gaze and an anthropomorphic expression of concern.

Fox demons are renowned for their intelligence, and as a variant of those species, the Three-tailed Demon Fox exceedingly surpasses the wit of ordinary fox demons.

Although only at Tier Three Upper Grade, its intellect rivals that of normal humans and exceeds many Tier Four demon beasts.

Moreover, with one to two centuries of life, the Three-tailed Demon Fox possesses abundant experience, instantly recognizing that the enemy, upon sighting Zhouyang on the Eagle Lion Beast’s back, comes prepared.

The Eagle Lion Beast may be an Exotic Beast, but when truly engaged, the Three-tailed Demon Fox harbors confidence to outmatch it.

However, regarding the human cultivators on the Eagle Lion Beast, the Three-tailed Demon Fox lacks such assurance.

It could see that Zhouyang’s cultivation was not high, at most a bit stronger than the Flying Fire Bat King. However, Zhouyang could make the Eagle Lion Beast, with the same cultivation as it, submit to him, indicating the prowess of this human cultivator.

What happened next confirmed the worries of the Three-tailed Demon Fox.

After Zhouyang, riding the Eagle Lion Beast, went ahead, Zhou Minghan and Huang Yi, who were flying over on swords, appeared in the sight of the Three-tailed Demon Fox.

When it sensed the momentum of the Ninth-Layer Foundation Establishment from Zhou Minghan, a tinge of panic flashed in the golden eyes of the Three-tailed Demon Fox.

The enemy indeed came prepared!

The eyes of the Three-tailed Demon Fox narrowed, and it already had the intention to retreat.

Although it was reluctant to give up this oasis where it had resided for over a hundred years, its intelligence was high enough to prefer not becoming a lifeless corpse.

With its abilities, it could find another spirit vein to cultivate after leaving this oasis.

When it advances to the fourth tier and condenses the demon pill, it can come back to reclaim the oasis.

However, as a demon beast, even though it had the intention to retreat, it couldn’t simply escape without a fight; it needed to engage the enemy first and then flee if overpowered.

Thus, it took the initiative to attack.

With a low howl, the Flying Fire Bat King, hanging upside down from a large tree on the mountain, led a group of its underlings and charged at the Eagle Lion Beast.

Simultaneously, the Wind Shadow Leopard flashed with blue light, utilizing the power of the wind to become invisible and vanished from the sight of Zhouyang and the others.

As for the Three-tailed Demon Fox itself atop the mountain, its green fox tail swayed, and its body transformed into a green afterimage, rushing straight towards the weakest Huang Yi.

It could actually fly!

"How dare you, wicked beast!"

From atop the Eagle Lion Beast, Zhouyang saw the actions of the three demon beasts, and anger appeared on his face.

The fact that he and his companions, who came prepared, were being handled by a single demon beast made him feel his intelligence was being insulted!

With a wave of his hand, he released the four flying swords he had refined.

Against the numerous Flying Fire Bats, using a sword array to slaughter them was more convenient and swift.

Immediately, the four flying swords, under Zhouyang’s control, dove into the group of Flying Fire Bats like four flood dragons, causing a fierce and bloody storm among them.

Simultaneously, the Eagle Lion Beast flapped its wings, releasing dozens of blue wind blades to join the attack lineup.

In the sky behind Zhouyang, Zhou Minghan’s expression dramatically changed upon seeing the Three-tailed Demon Fox abandon him and target the weaker Huang Yi.

Although they opted to bring Huang Yi instead of Zhou Guangxiang fearing unexpected deaths, it did not mean they were willing to see Huang Yi fall.

The Zhou Family had invested a lot in Huang Yi, so letting him perish here would mean all prior investments went down the drain.

Zhou Minghan, of course, wouldn’t allow such a thing to happen.

So, while he hastily signaled Huang Yi to prepare defenses, he also waved his hand to cast a Tier Three Lower-Grade Thunder Talisman at the Three-tailed Demon Fox.

At that moment, only the fastest thunder magic could intercept the Three-tailed Demon Fox.

Boom!

The celestial thunder roared, and the Three-tailed Demon Fox was indeed intercepted by the thunder talisman unleashed by Zhou Minghan.

Demon beasts inherently fear celestial thunder; although the Three-tailed Demon Fox’s intelligence wasn’t low, it couldn’t entirely suppress the instinctive fear of celestial thunder pounding overhead.

As it halted to fend off the thunder strikes, the flying sword Zhou Minghan released had already come up to attack, denying it another chance to ambush Huang Yi.

"Thank you, old clan leader, for saving me!"

Having narrowly escaped death, Huang Yi, with sweat on his forehead, quickly expressed his gratitude to Zhou Minghan.

Then, with a turn of his sword light underfoot, he swiftly descended to the ground below.

As an Earth Element Cultivator, standing on the ground was more advantageous for combat.

According to the battle plan set by Zhouyang beforehand, his opponent was the Tier Three Lower-Grade Demon Beast Wind Shadow Leopard. Since it was feared he couldn’t match the Wind Shadow Leopard, Zhou Xuanhao, who stayed back with the family, temporarily lent him the Tier Three Puppet Beast he possessed.

Upon landing, he promptly released the "Vajra Battle Tiger" puppet beast, focusing entirely on locating the Wind Shadow Leopard.