Cultivation Begins From The Desert
Chapter 92 - 91: Return

Chapter 92: Chapter 91: Return

The matter of hosting the exchange meeting benefits everyone, so naturally, no one opposes it.

However, despite the suggestion to hold the exchange meeting being first brought up by Yang Xingyan, the family presiding over it ultimately can only be the Chen Family.

As the only Purple Mansion Clan in the Baisha River Oasis Cultivation Realm and the wealthiest family, if the Chen Family does not participate in the exchange meeting, its value will significantly decrease.

Zhouyang especially hopes for the Chen Family to preside, because according to the rules for hosting the exchange meeting, the organizer must present some truly valuable items as a precursor to initiate and stimulate the atmosphere.

In all previous times when the Chen Family hosted exchange meetings, without exception, they have chosen Tier Three Spirit Pills capable of enhancing cultivation as the headliner. With the Chen Family Ancestor being a Tier Four Alchemist, their clan’s Foundation Establishment Cultivators likely have the least need for these pills.

Originally, one reason Zhouyang befriended Chen Pingzhi and Chen Ping’an was to negotiate for some Tier Three Spirit Pills from them to boost his cultivation. Now, if he can obtain them through the exchange meeting, it’s far better than having to ask them directly.

The exchange meeting was soon set, just waiting to request the Chen Family Ancestor to determine the date upon returning to the Baisha River Oasis.

Roughly half a day later, the Chen Family Ancestor and Zhang Yunpeng finally returned to the small oasis together.

Upon seeing the two Purple Mansion Stage Cultivators with gloomy faces, Zhouyang didn’t need to ask to know the answer.

Indeed, upon returning to the small oasis, the two Purple Mansion Stage Cultivators gathered everyone together.

"I suppose without me saying, everyone has guessed the result. Indeed, that demon Blood Mo Luo managed to escape,"

The Chen Family Ancestor gave everyone a gloomy glance before directly stating the result in a low voice.

Then he changed his tone, speaking loudly and sternly: "However, the demon was severely injured by us, so even with spirit elixirs and demonic techniques to heal, it undoubtedly cannot recover its full strength for fifty to sixty years. During this time, you must remain vigilant. If you discover any large-scale disappearances or deaths of mortals, report them immediately."

"Additionally, whoever can discover that demon’s whereabouts and report to me will not only be rewarded with a Foundation Establishment Pill but also receive guidance from me for a month in cultivation."

Another Foundation Establishment Pill!

Upon hearing the Chen Family Ancestor’s words, Zhouyang felt not only a sense of awe at the Chen Family Ancestor’s willfulness with pills but also a touch of ambition.

In fact, finding Blood Mo Luo wouldn’t be difficult for the Zhou Family.

As long as they took some blood from the girl Zhou Yuanyao, born from Zhou Xuan Yu and Blood Mo Luo, and cast the "Heaven- and Earth-Shaking Reunion Spell," they could surely locate the hiding, wounded Blood Mo Luo.

But Blood Mo Luo originally had the cultivation of the Ninth-Layer Purple Mansion. To ensure that techniques like "Ten Thousand Miles Soul-Chasing Technique" and "Heaven- and Earth-Shaking Reunion Spell" effectively work on him, a Golden Core Stage Cultivator must personally perform the spell to ensure success.

The Yellow Sand Sect has Golden Core Stage Cultivators, but the issue is, once they learn that Zhou Xuan Yu is involved with the demon and know Zhou Yuanyao is the demon’s offspring, would they spare this mother and daughter and the Zhou Family?

Reflecting on this, Zhouyang’s burgeoning impulse quickly cooled down.

This plan cannot proceed!

He nearly immediately abandoned the idea.

Though the Foundation Establishment Pill is good, sacrificing Zhou Xuan Yu’s female kin and the entire Zhou Family’s life for one pill is far from worthwhile.

Golden Core Stage Cultivators have a lifespan of millennia; every cultivator who can achieve a Golden Core is a monster hundreds of years old, forged through mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

Zhouyang dared not wager the entire clan’s life on the goodwill of these hardened warriors as losing the gamble would mean annihilation of the entire clan.

Though the Chen Family Ancestor possesses sharp insight like a beacon, without the divine technique of mind reading, how could he know what’s in Zhouyang’s mind? His offering of a reward was based on mere chance, with little genuine hope of success.

Thus, after speaking, he didn’t observe those drawn into reverie by his words but instead nodded slightly toward Zhang Yunpeng, indicating he had finished speaking.

Seeing this, Zhang Yunpeng’s magical power stirred slightly, instantly drawing everyone’s attention to him.

"Everyone performed well in this battle against the demonic cultivators. My previous words will be kept, and once I finish calculating everyone’s performance in this battle, I will report the deserved merit points to the sect for approval."

"However, before that, I ask everyone to hand over all the demonic techniques and secret techniques obtained in this battle, as well as demonic spiritual artifacts, demonic elixirs, and other demon-related items to me for destruction!"

"Let me forewarn everyone that anyone caught hiding demon-related items will be treated as a demonic cultivator. I hope everyone thoroughly considers the consequences and does not err!"

As he spoke these words, his sharp gaze swept over all the Foundation Establishment Cultivators present, an invisible atmosphere of ominous tension enveloping the entire arena.

Zhouyang and the others lowered their heads, none daring to meet the eyes of a Sixth-Layer Purple Mansion Stage Cultivator, nor would anyone doubt Zhang Yunpeng’s resolve.

When it comes to dealing with Demonic Cultivators, all major influences of the Immortal Dao hold the same attitude: eradicate them entirely, better to kill mistakenly than to let go!

"Demon Extermination and Dao Protection is the responsibility of all. Even without Elder Zhang’s words, we as juniors must do the same. Here are the demon artifacts and demonic secret techniques I’ve seized in battle; please inspect them, elder."

While Zhouyang and the others were still pondering Zhang Yunpeng’s words, Chen Ping’an had already stepped forward first, directly casting forth the Tier Four Demon Spiritual Artifact "Blood Flame Demon Gourd", along with some jade scrolls and pill bottles, even opening his storage bag for Zhang Yunpeng to inspect with his Divine Sense.

Seeing this, Zhouyang and the others, though aware of Chen Ping’an’s showmanship in this act, could only follow suit reluctantly.

At this moment, he couldn’t help but feel grateful for the foresight of the old clan leader Zhou Minghan, who had, after recognizing with Zhou Xuan Yu, instructed them to hand over some inconvenient illicit goods to Zhou Xuan Yu to take away. Thus, the three of them only had a few intentionally left demonic items in their storage bags to deceive the eyes and ears.

In no time, all the demon items surrendered by the crowd piled up into a heap on the ground.

Only then did Zhang Yunpeng slightly nod to the Chen Family Ancestor, who personally came forward, using a greenish-red spiritual fire to burn all these items publicly.

Once all the demonic items were incinerated completely, Zhang Yunpeng nodded in satisfaction and then waved his hand, saying, "Alright, this matter concludes here. Next, Brother Chen will lead everyone back; I must return to the sect and report, so I’ll take my leave."

With that, he immediately cast a flying sword, transforming swiftly into a blue sword light and disappearing into the sky.

"Let’s go, we’re heading back too."

After Zhang Yunpeng departed, the Chen Family Ancestor scanned the crowd and waved his hand, releasing the giant Void Traveling Tower Ship to carry Zhouyang and the others back to the Baisha River Oasis.

Upon returning to the Baisha River Oasis, the remaining Foundation Establishment Cultivators of the Yellow Sand Sect left first.

However, the cultivator surnamed Ma, Ma Jingtao, expressed his gratitude to Zhouyang for his earlier reminder before leaving, and left his contact information, indicating that when Zhouyang travels on business to the Yellow Sand Sect in the future, he could find him, essentially signaling his willingness to owe a favor.

This, of course, was good news for Zhouyang. Although the Zhou Family originated from the Yellow Sand Sect, since the passing of Ancestor Zhou Yuquan, there are few Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators left in the sect who can speak up for the Zhou Family.

Ma Jingtao, being an Eighth-Layer Foundation Establishment Cultivator, holds a respectable position among the many Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the Yellow Sand Sect; befriending him would be greatly beneficial.

After sending off the Yellow Sand Sect members, the Chen Family Ancestor then reassembled the clan members to hold a meeting.

"I believe you are all aware; with this demonic invasion, Yellow Sand Sect will surely issue a summoning order."

"Currently, I don’t know exactly what type of summoning order it will be, but judging by past events, you Foundation Establishment Cultivators are definitely within the summoning ranks, whether Qi Cultivation Stage Cultivators will be summoned is uncertain, so you must make preparations for mobilization once you return."

"Also, concerning the trade fair being held early, I’ve agreed to it. It will be held in three months, at which time you should come to the marketplace with your items."

"Moreover, though the Blood Mo Luo has escaped, it’s unknown whether other Demonic Cultivators are hiding near Baisha River Oasis. After returning to your clans, it’s best to thoroughly check the mortals and low-tier cultivators for any sign of the Blood Demon Dao, as demonic cultivators use human blood and lives as materials for their techniques, secret methods, refining of demon artifacts or demon pills, pay close attention to this!"

"Lastly, let me share some methods to identify Blood Demon Dao Cultivators, if you’re unaware of them, pay heed!"

Though termed a meeting, it was essentially the Chen Family Ancestor speaking, while Zhouyang and other Foundation Establishment Cultivators listened.

Regarding knowledge of Blood Demon Dao Cultivators, aside from Zhou Xuan Yu, a true Demonic Cultivator, Chen Family Ancestor who had once traveled the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm was the most knowledgeable in the Baisha River Cultivation Realm.

Considering the greater good, he disclosed all he knew about identifying Blood Demon Dao Cultivators’ characteristics to Zhouyang and the others without reservation.

Once the Chen Family Ancestor finished imparting his knowledge and left, Zhouyang and the other Foundation Establishment Cultivators exited in groups, preparing to return home.

"Please wait, Fellow Daoists Zhou."

The three Zhou Family members stepped out the door, just about ready to leave White Camel Peak, when they heard someone call them.

Zhouyang turned back to see the person who stopped the three of them was none other than Chen Ping’an from the Chen Family.

"Fellow Daoists, please join me, I have matters to discuss with you."

As Chen Ping’an spoke, he was already leading the way towards his cave abode on White Camel Peak.