Cultivation Begins From The Desert

Yellow Sand Sect.

After Cao Wenjin paid a great price to escape the pursuit of the Tier Five High-Grade Demon Beast Golden-winged Thunder Eagle using the "Blood Escape Technique," he rushed back to the Yellow Sand Sect without daring to stop.

He was, after all, a Golden Core Stage cultivator. As long as he was willing to pay the price, there were always ways to temporarily suppress his injuries and continue traveling.

With his escape speed and the desperation of the situation, the journey of two to three hundred thousand miles was just a matter of days.

"Master, Master, what happened to you? Why did you come back alone first? Who inflicted such severe injuries on you?"

In Cao Wenjin's cave dwelling, after he returned, Zhang Yunpeng and Jiang Yuyan, the two Purple Mansion cultivators, hurriedly arrived to meet him.

Seeing him looking as though on the verge of collapse, both were frightened and turned pale, while Jiang Yuyan couldn't help but exclaim in shock.

"Cough cough, this old man is not dead yet. Yu Yan, both of you, sit down and listen to what I'm about to say. My words not only concern your future prospects but also determine whether our Yellow Sand Sect's legacy can continue!"

Cao Wenjin coughed lightly, his face pale, then raised a hand to wipe the blood off his lips, and seriously gestured for the two in front of him to sit down and listen to his instructions.

Zhang Yunpeng and Jiang Yuyan's expressions changed again and again upon hearing this, but they eventually obeyed and sat down to listen to his final words.

"Regarding the details of this expedition to the Rhino Horn Continent, I won't say much. You can learn from other returning cultivators in the future. Now the old man will speak about a few things."

"The first thing, during this expedition to the Rhino Horn Continent, due to one of the Golden-Horned Rhinoceros self-destructing its demon pill, the old man couldn't achieve the set goal of acquiring two demon pills in one go. So now, the Tier Five demon pill in my possession can only be refined and used by Yu Yan!"

"The second thing, the reason I've ended up hurt like this, is thanks to a Tier Five High-Grade Demon Beast Golden-winged Thunder Eagle. This Golden-winged Thunder Eagle is presumably the ancestor of the Golden-winged Thunder Eagle clan in the Broken Cloud Mountain Range. It attacked me, likely at the behest of a Tier Six Demon King, seeking revenge for the two Golden-Horned Rhinoceros at the Rhino Horn Continent!"

"Now that I've escaped back to the sect, and since that beast was injured by the sect's treasure passed down from the ancestor, I'm worried it holds a grudge and will travel thousands of miles to attack our sect as revenge. Be extra cautious and avoid leaving the sect lightly!"

"The third thing, I've arranged for you two to remain in the sect, which has already displeased Yun Qing and others. To prevent them from doing anything foolish after I pass, you two must unite and face challenges together."

"It's my opinion that the two of you should become Dao Companions. This way, Yu Yan can refine the demon pill into an Outer Dao Golden Core, and I'll accept Yunpeng as my disciple and pass the leadership position of the sect to you!"

"And the fourth thing, if Zhouyang from the Yuquan Zhou Family manages to return alive this time, you two must befriend him. He is blessed with great fortune and has received recognition from Master Cyan Yang of the Profound Sun Immortal Sect's newly advanced Nascent Soul Zhenren, who has bestowed upon him the Profound Sun Order, an exceptional status!"

"I've made an agreement with him: if he returns alive, there will be a grand gift for him. If he returns and I have already passed, you two should open this Jade Scroll and follow its instructions; it will greatly benefit both you and the sect in the future!"

"The final fifth thing is this expedition to the Rhino Horn Continent has greatly shaken the foundations of our Yellow Sand Sect's rule. So after I pass, if any vassal clans cause trouble, don't rush to suppress them. Just guard the sect, keep the key resource points and Spirit Mountains secure."

"Remember, the real foundation of our Yellow Sand Sect is still the giant oasis where the sect is based, and the method to access the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm. As long as you can protect these, even if the entire Cultivation Realm of the Boundless Desert Sea falls into chaos, no one can truly sever our Yellow Sand Sect's legacy!"

Cao Wenjin finished saying everything he wished, his expression relaxed as if he had lifted a heavy burden, and he let out a long breath.

Before returning to the sect, his biggest fear was dying halfway, unable to pass on his final instructions, which would truly mean the end of the Yellow Sand Sect!

Now that he had said all he needed to say, even if he passed away, he could leave at peace.

After exhaling deeply, he then addressed the two, who had changed their expressions due to his series of words: "Alright, I've finished what I wanted to say. While I can still speak, if you have anything to ask or say, do so quickly. Once finished, I'll enter closed-door meditation to heal, and won't emerge unless the sect faces life or death!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yunpeng quickly asked first:

"Uncle Master, you said that the beast who injured you was a Tier Five High-Grade Demon Beast, the Golden-winged Thunder Eagle. If this beast were to truly seek revenge, even if we could rely on the Mountain Gate Grand Array to defend the sect, how would we protect the mortals and other Spirit Mountains outside the gate?"

"Moreover, if Junior Brother Yun Qing and the others were to return and discover your arrangement, what if they truly cause a division within the sect? How should we handle that?"

"Additionally, Uncle Master, could you tell us how many of the Purple Mansion Cultivators who went with you to Rhino Horn Continent survived?"

Cao Wenjin hesitated slightly upon hearing this and then smiled bitterly: "Yunpeng, these questions are indeed difficult for me to answer. All I can say is that, given the arrogance of the Golden-winged Thunder Eagle, it should disdain attacking ordinary mortals. After all, I wouldn't vent my grievances with a specific demon beast on its ordinary kin!"

"As for Yun Qing and the others, if they dare to attempt a division within the sect upon their return, you shouldn't hold back. Kill if necessary; do not be merciful!"

"Regarding the Purple Mansion Cultivators, I can confirm that among the five vassal Purple Mansion cultivators accompanying us, three fell in the battle at Rhino Horn Continent. As for the rest, including Yun Qing, I don't think their chances of returning alive are very high."

He then shook his head and suddenly turned to Jiang Yuyan and asked, "Yuyan, what do you think of me suggesting a Dao Companion alliance between you and Yunpeng? Both of your cultivations are now at the Eighth Layer of the Purple Mansion. If you were to engage in Combined Dual Cultivation and with the help of elixirs, you could both certainly advance to the Ninth Layer, thereby fully unleashing the power of the Outer Dao Golden Core!"

Within the Yellow Sand Sect, only Zhang Yunpeng and Jiang Yuyan have yet to enter a Dao Companion Dual Cultivation. Both of them originally aimed to break through to the Golden Core Stage.

But under the current circumstances of the Yellow Sand Sect, Cao Wenjin is evidently not optimistic about their chances of achieving Core Formation, especially Jiang Yuyan. If she were to refine the Tier Five Demon Pill into an "Outer Dao Golden Core," she would completely cut off any possibility of Core Formation.

This is why Cao Wenjin wanted, before his passing, to have his last disciple and the most promising Purple Mansion cultivator, Zhang Yunpeng, form a Dao Companion alliance. This way, after his death, they could lower their defenses against each other and jointly lead the sect.

When he mentioned it again, Jiang Yuyan thought for a moment before softly replying, "I have no objections, I'm just afraid that doing so may delay Junior Brother Zhang's path!"

"And what about you, Yunpeng? What's your take?"

Cao Wenjin shifted his gaze towards Zhang Yunpeng and asked.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yunpeng took a deep breath, refrained from looking at Cao Wenjin, and instead bowed towards Jiang Yuyan, saying, "Senior Sister Jiang, you overestimate. At this point, what's the point of discussing one's path? Zhang Yunpeng has deeply received the grace of the sect; how can he disregard the sect's legacy in its time of crisis for personal reasons? To form a Dao Companion alliance with Senior Sister Jiang is my fortune!"

"Then it's settled. I will personally officiate your union in front of the entire sect and formally accept you as my disciple, passing on the Sect Leader position to you. This will all be arranged tomorrow!"

Cao Wenjin decided immediately, setting the matter firmly in place.

After this, Cao Wenjin, despite his frail state, witnessed by dozens of Foundation Establishment cultivators and hundreds of Qi Cultivation Stage cultivators remaining in the sect, formally accepted Zhang Yunpeng as his disciple and declared him the next Sect Leader. He then officiated the Dao Companion alliance between Jiang Yuyan and Zhang Yunpeng.

Having done all this, he handed the "Golden-Horned Rhinoceros" demon pill to Jiang Yuyan, instructing her to refine it into an "Outer Dao Golden Core," and then sequestered himself to engage in a barrier-breaking meditation.

Meanwhile, a few days after Cao Wenjin's return to the Yellow Sand Sect, Jin Peng, having recovered from its injuries, returned to Heaven-Reaching Peak in the Broken Cloud Mountain Range.

Upon returning to Heaven-Reaching Peak, it immediately went to see the "Fire-Scaly Demon King," recounting in detail its actions during the expedition to Rhino Horn Continent, only omitting the part concerning the Spirit Stone Ore.

After narrating the events, it lowered its eagle head and said in a low voice, "Jin Peng was incompetent and allowed the perpetrator to escape wounded. If the Fire-Scaled King is dissatisfied, Jin Peng can make another trip to the Yellow Sand Sect, annihilate their sect, and bring the perpetrator's head back to you as an apology!"

The Scale Armor Demon Ox, "Fire-Scaly Demon King," upon hearing this, narrowed its eyes slightly, then replied in a deep voice:

"No need. According to your account, even if that human cultivator fled back to the sect, he surely has only a few years left to live, and the fact that he managed to pull out a spatial treasure to trap you indicates that this Yellow Sand Sect still maintains some connections with Nascent Soul Stage cultivators."

"If you were to go and annihilate their sect, it would violate the non-aggression pact we demon kings of the Broken Cloud Mountain Range made centuries ago with the Nascent Soul cultivators of the Great Brightness Immortal Palace. Should they investigate this matter in the future, not even the Mountain-Relocating Demon King could protect you!"

Then, its eyes widened as it looked at Jin Peng and said, "Hand over the soul of that human alchemist and the storage bag you brought to me, and I can give you two more Spirit Awakening Pills as remuneration."