Cultivation Begins From The Desert

Haoyang Mountain.

Zhouyang had been staying at Jade Spring Peak for less than a day when he headed directly to Haoyang Mountain's spirit vein to meet his father Zhou Xuanhao.

Since Zhou Xuanhao hadn't received any prior information, he was overjoyed when he saw his son return safely.

Compared to the old clan leader Zhou Minghan, as a father, he was naturally more concerned about his son's safety. During the time Zhouyang was away, he was constantly worried, unable to focus on his cultivation.

Now that Zhouyang had finally returned safely, one can imagine the joy in his heart.

Zhouyang stayed at Haoyang Mountain for three days, sharing the general experiences of his journey to Rhino Horn Continent with his father Zhou Xuanhao, and only then did he head to Red Fox Ridge to meet his Dao companion Xiao Ying.

When Zhouyang went to Rhino Horn Continent, the person who cared the most about him was undoubtedly Xiao Ying.

In fact, if not for the many heartfelt persuasions from Zhou Minghan, Zhou Xuanhao, and other Zhou family Foundation Establishment cultivators, Xiao Ying, who was eager to see her husband, would have left the Zhou family to embark on a journey to find her husband!

At this moment, when she saw Zhouyang return, her excitement was beyond words.

"Boohoo, Zhou Lang, you finally came back. I've missed you so much!"

The young woman threw herself into her Dao companion's arms, tightly hugging his waist, tears of longing streaming down her cheeks.

"Ying'Er, don't cry. It's my fault for making you worry."

Zhouyang held his Dao companion tightly, gently kissing her smooth white forehead while softly comforting her.

He could understand Xiao Ying's longing for him.

Having left everything behind to follow him to the Boundless Desert Sea Cultivation Realm, Xiao Ying's attachment to him was unquestionable. Now that he'd been gone for a year and a half without a word, how could Xiao Ying, who was so deeply attached, not be anxious and troubled?

At this point, words were ineffective; Zhouyang simply lifted Xiao Ying's head and kissed her deeply, using this direct method to let his Dao companion feel his presence.

In Red Fox Ridge, Zhouyang stayed for a total of seven days. During these seven days, he stayed by his Dao companion Xiao Ying's side every moment, even acting as a human pillow for her to sleep in his embrace.

Such warm companionship was very comforting to the extremely insecure Xiao Ying, who quickly returned to her normal emotional state.

During this time, Zhouyang also met with the Zhou Guangxiang siblings who were cultivating at Red Fox Ridge and shared the array insights he had gained from the yellow-faced middle-aged man, assisting Zhou Guangxiang in his attempt to break through to a Tier Three Array Master.

Zhouyang also entrusted Xiao Ying with all the various spirit herbs he obtained from his journey to Rhino Horn Continent for her to use in alchemy. He even handed over the already tamed "Golden-Eyed Spirit-Seeking Rat" to Xiao Ying to care for.

The "Golden-Eyed Spirit-Seeking Rat," though low in rank, was highly intelligent, afraid of death, and greedy.

Zhouyang had tamed this little creature by crafting a necklace spiritual artifact from the Iron Armor Rhinoceros' sinew mixed with Profound Iron Silk and placing it around its neck, then giving it a chance to escape.

When the little creature thought it found an opportunity and tried to escape underground, Zhouyang would quickly activate the artifact to confine it and bring it back, administering various minor punishments.

After repeating this cycle a dozen times, the little creature resigned itself to accepting Zhouyang as its new master, no longer thinking of escaping.

Only then did Zhouyang feed it the "Essence Pills," originally meant as food for the Eagle Lion Beast, teaching the creature that following him meant plenty to eat.

The Tier Three "Essence Pills" could only be refined using the blood and flesh of Tier Three Demon Beasts. Even the previous owner, the yellow-faced middle-aged man, valued this little creature greatly and had fed it many good things, but nothing like Zhouyang, who casually treated these treasures like candies.

Under Zhouyang's "sugar-coated" approach, the little creature soon forgot its previous master and wholeheartedly followed its new master, happily freeloading meals.

Xiao Ying, knowing the importance of the "Golden-Eyed Spirit-Seeking Rat," was both touched and delighted that Zhouyang entrusted her with such a rare pet to raise.

In the Cultivation Realm, many high-tier female cultivators would keep some charming and spiritually intelligent low-tier demon beasts as pets to alleviate loneliness.

The "Golden-Eyed Spirit-Seeking Rat" Zhouyang had obtained, regardless of its rare and gifted divine abilities, fit the definition of a pet by appearance alone.

Its soft white fur and its golden, spiritually intelligent eyes were irresistibly attractive to many female cultivators.

Xiao Ying took an instant liking to the little creature, and upon learning from Zhouyang that it liked eating elixirs and spiritual objects, she immediately took out some Tier Two Spirit Pills and spirit fruits she had refined and fed them to the little creature.

Recognizing Xiao Ying's special relationship with its new master, the highly intelligent "Golden-Eyed Spirit-Seeking Rat" quickly accepted her as its mistress.

After entrusting the "Golden-Eyed Spirit-Seeking Rat" to Xiao Ying's care, Zhouyang also checked on the "Flying Divine Leopard," which had been in Xiao Ying's care for over a year.

Because Zhouyang had been caring for the "Flying Divine Leopard" since it was born, it had long memorized his scent. Even after more than a year had passed, it hadn't forgotten who its real master was.

The moment Zhouyang appeared in front of it, the creature excitedly leapt onto him for a hug.

Now twenty-one months since birth, after nearly two years of growth, the little leopard that was once the size of an ordinary dog had grown to the size of a regular tiger, emitting an aura of Tier One Top Grade.

If not for Zhouyang being a Late-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivator with arms strong enough to lift a thousand tons, it would have been quite the challenge to hold this large creature.

Even so, he was pushed back several steps by this big fellow before he could steady himself.

Xiao Ying saw this scene and couldn't help but smile softly, "Zhou Lang, Xiaoqing is really clever, even after you've been gone for so long, it still remembers you."

Upon hearing this, Zhouyang felt a bit proud and said, "Of course, I raised it with my own hands. How could it possibly forget me? But the name Xiaoqing is too dainty, not suitable for this little guy. It's destined to be the future guardian spirit beast of our Zhou Family, so how can this name live up to it?"

He couldn't help it; whenever he heard the name "Xiaoqing," he thought of a certain snake lady.

Xiao Ying, not knowing his inner thoughts, curiously asked, "Then, Zhou Lang, what do you think would be a good name?"

"Xiaotian, let's call it Xiaotian from now on!"

A flash of inspiration hit Zhouyang's mind, and he suddenly thought of a very suitable name.

After saying the name, he gently patted the leopard head that was licking his pant leg and murmured, "Xiaotian, oh Xiaotian, you must not disgrace this name in the future. You have to become a powerful spirit beast!"

The "Flying Divine Leopard" had extraordinary bloodlines. According to Xiao Ying, it was not yet two years old but could already hunt Tier One high-grade demon beasts of the same rank by itself.

Judging by its performance, as long as the Zhou Family is willing to invest, it should have no problem becoming a Tier Three demon beast in the future, and might even have a chance to advance to Tier Four.

If it could become a Tier Four demon beast, considering the lifespan of at least a thousand years for Tiger and Leopard-type Tier Four demon beasts, it could protect the Zhou Family for at least six to seven hundred years.

After resting for several days at Red Fox Ridge, Zhouyang finally rode the Eagle Lion Beast to the Yellow Sand Sect.

However, upon arriving outside the oasis where the Yellow Sand Sect was located, he did not rush into the oasis but instead sent a Communication Flying Sword to his cousin Zhou Yuanchen, asking him to inform Zhang Yunpeng and his wife of his arrival.

At this time, Jiang Yuyan was still in closed-door cultivation practicing the "Outer Dao Golden Core," and the affairs of the Yellow Sand Sect were being handled by Zhang Yunpeng, the Sect Leader.

Because of Cao Wenjin's past instructions, Zhang Yunpeng no longer dared to underestimate Zhouyang, whom he had once ridiculed.

After receiving the message relayed by Zhou Yuanchen, he immediately sent a trusted Foundation Establishment cultivator to quietly meet Zhouyang outside the oasis, avoiding the eyeliners of other disciples within the sect, and secretly brought the disguised Zhouyang into the Yellow Sand Sect's mountain gate.

Zhouyang had no other choice; given the current situation at the Yellow Sand Sect, if he openly visited Cao Wenjin, it wouldn't take two days for Luo Yunqing, Guo Shuyun, and others to get the news.

He couldn't believe that in such a large Yellow Sand Sect, there wouldn't be informants planted by those two and other clans.

And with the strength of him and the Zhou Family now, they couldn't afford the reprisal of those Purple Mansion cultivators.

"Please wait here, Fellow Daoist Zhou. I have already informed my master, and I expect there will be a response shortly."

In a side hall of the Yellow Sand Sect mountain gate, Zhouyang, who had hidden his identity, waited for a while. Soon, Zhang Yunpeng, who was now in charge of the entire Yellow Sand Sect, walked in.

"Thank you for the trouble, Elder Zhang. I am deeply grateful," Zhouyang said as he stood up and saluted, his eyes showing a slight anomaly when he looked at Zhang Yunpeng.

According to the information he had, Zhang Yunpeng should be just over four hundred years old now, which, for a Purple Mansion Stage cultivator, should be considered still in the prime of life.

However, Zhang Yunpeng now had white hair and looked much older than when Zhouyang had seen him more than a decade ago, resembling a sixty-year-old mortal.

This abnormal situation naturally caught his attention.

"If he didn't use some Secret Technique that costs lifespan, it must be that the pressure recently has been too great for him!"

He speculated privately but dared not reveal any different emotion on his face.

Zhang Yunpeng was, after all, a Purple Mansion cultivator and the current sect leader of the Yellow Sand Sect. Even though Zhouyang had a special relationship with Cao Wenjin, he dared not slight this person, despite any previous unpleasantness between them.

And after Zhang Yunpeng learned of Zhouyang's connection to a Nascent Soul Stage Zhenren, he also didn't dare to underestimate him at all.

During their conversation, Zhouyang could even vaguely sense the deliberate flattery from Zhang Yunpeng, which made the clueless Zhouyang somewhat puzzled and at a loss.

Fortunately, their conversation didn't last long before they received a response from Cao Wenjin. Zhouyang was then personally led by Zhang Yunpeng to visit Cao Wenjin's cave residence.

Once they reached the cave entrance, Zhang Yunpeng personally guarded outside after seeing Zhouyang enter.

Meanwhile, as Zhouyang walked into the cave, he quickly saw the figure of Cao Wenjin.

But as soon as he saw Cao Wenjin now, his complexion changed drastically, almost crying out in shock.

"I've been waiting for you for over a year, and finally, you've come!"

On the Thousand-Year Cold Jade Couch, Cao Wenjin smiled slightly, seemingly unconcerned about Zhouyang's change in expression, and let out a satisfied sigh.

It was as if he had become like this entirely for waiting for Zhouyang.