Cultivation Begins From The Desert-Chapter 870 - 15: Two Treasures

True Immortal Realm, Ascension Platform.

When Zhouyang shattered the void and left Li Yang Realm, the purple-robed elder guarding the "Gate of Ten Thousand Realms" on the Ascension Platform felt a ripple on his brows.

He pondered briefly, then swiftly formed seals with his hands, activating the power of an Immortal Artifact inside the Ascension Platform.

Instantly, a powerful wave of energy shot out from somewhere within the Ascension Platform, straight into the chaos void outside the True Immortal Realm.

"Is this the Guiding Immortal Light from the Reception Hall? Is some important figure arranging the return of their junior after training in the lower realm?"

On the Ascension Platform, many Immortal Guards belonging to the True Grotto Immortal Court raised their heads, looking towards the origin of the golden Immortal Light.

"Guiding Immortal Light" can only be released by the Immortal Artifact [Guiding Immortal Mirror] inside the Reception Hall, capable of traversing the chaos void to guide lower realm True Immortals to the True Immortal Realm.

Although [Guiding Immortal Mirror] is not as formidable as the "Gate of Ten Thousand Realms", it is still a treasure personally refined by the Celestial Immortal Dao Ancestor, ranking among the top treasures on the Ascension Platform.

On this Ascension Platform, those able to utilize [Guiding Immortal Mirror] are no more than a handful.

Now about Zhouyang.

Shortly after entering the chaos void, a strong, golden Immortal Light suddenly enveloped him.

Upon sensing the pure Immortal Spirit Power within the golden Immortal Light, he instantly realized its significance and did not resist, letting the golden Immortal Light carry him away.

After some time, the golden Immortal Light directly brought Zhouyang back to the Ascension Platform, appearing outside the "Reception Hall."

As soon as he steadied himself outside the "Reception Hall," he suddenly felt a tremendous force acting on him, trying to move him away.

He still offered no resistance.

A moment later, Zhouyang's figure reappeared near the "Gate of Ten Thousand Realms," seeing the purple-robed elder who had transported him there.

"Little Immortal Zhouyang, pays respects to the True Monarch elder, and thanks the elder for guiding me back."

Zhouyang still didn't know the title of the purple-robed elder, so he could only offer his gratitude respectfully.

The purple-robed elder also had no intention of introducing himself, merely asking Zhouyang, "Did you stay in the lower realm alone for many years just to break through to the late-stage Tribulation?"

Hearing this, Zhouyang's mind was filled with thoughts, surging with various speculations.

But he quickly suppressed all thoughts and replied softly, "The elder sees clearly, I indeed stayed alone in the lower realm for urgent reasons at the time, unable to return with Senior Brother Lie Hu. Additionally, I valued the benefits of the lower realm's slower time flow, seeking to quickly refine the Immortal Pill I obtained earlier and break through to the late-stage Tribulation."

"Is that so? Then take care of yourself!"

The purple-robed elder scrutinized Zhouyang for a while without saying more, simply waving his hand to dismiss Zhouyang from the Ascension Platform.

After Zhouyang left the Ascension Platform, he glanced back at it before swiftly flying towards the Immortal Realm below.

At that time, a couple of centuries had passed in the True Immortal Realm; the Ascension Platform was no longer above the Cold Abyss Immortal Realm but had moved to another Immortal Realm.

Upon entering the Immortal Realm, Zhouyang wasted no time, promptly finding the nearest Cross-Immortal Domain Transmission Array and heading towards Chi Xiao Immortal Palace.

The information Zhouyang obtained in the Grotto Heaven Blessed Land within Li Yang Realm was too important; he had to hurry back to Chi Xiao Immortal Palace and inform [Li Yang True Monarch].

In the ensuing years, Zhouyang was either on the road or hastening his journey.

More urgent and quicker than when he traveled from the Chi Ming Immortal Realm to Chi Xiao Immortal Realm.

Thus, after a journey of four or five years, Zhouyang finally returned to Chi Xiao Immortal Realm, back to Chi Xiao Immortal Palace.

"Wonderful, Junior Brother Huan Yang, you're finally back safe and sound!"

Inside Chi Xiao Immortal Palace, upon learning of Zhouyang's return, Master Lie Hu hurried over to see him, expressing his immense joy at Zhouyang's return.

Evidently, Zhouyang's choice to stay behind alone back then, allowing Master Lie Hu to leave first, had thoroughly ingrained Zhouyang as a valuable fellow disciple in his heart, unwilling to lose such a loyal comrade.

"Thank you for worrying, Senior Brother Lie Hu."

Zhouyang nodded at Master Lie Hu, smoothly exchanging experiences from his time away.

After a while, Master Zishan appeared on the scene, gravely saying to Zhouyang, "The ancestor already knows of your return, Junior Brother, and you can go pay respects to the ancestor now."

"Understood, I won't keep the two senior brothers waiting."

Zhouyang's face sobered, responding before quickly heading to [Li Yang Blessed Land].

Soon after, in the grand hall within [Li Yang Blessed Land], Zhouyang again met [Li Yang True Monarch], the Returning Void True Monarch.

"I've heard you've returned and even successfully broken through to the late-stage Tribulation. As an ancestor, I'm very gratified; it seems my decision to keep you within this sect was truly right."

"If all disciples were like you, considering the bigger picture and being loyal, how could our sect not thrive!"

In the grand hall, [Li Yang True Monarch] looked at Zhouyang who had returned below, his words full of praise for Zhouyang's deeds in Li Yang Realm, showing immense appreciation.

As a protector and guardian of the sect, he naturally hoped there were more disciples like Zhouyang who prioritized sect affairs.

Yet he also knew, due to the selfish nature of cultivators, such people were surely few.

This rarity only highlighted the preciousness of such individuals.

"The disciple merely did what was necessary given the circumstances; I dare not accept such high praise from the ancestor."

Zhouyang remained poised, unaffected by [Li Yang True Monarch]'s praises, seemingly accustomed to such reactions.

With his breakthrough to the late-stage Tribulation, he no longer needed to tread cautiously around [Li Yang True Monarch], the Returning Void ancestor of Chi Xiao Immortal Palace, as he did when he first arrived.

Furthermore, the journey to Li Yang Realm had entirely proven his loyalty to Chi Xiao Immortal Palace.

Neither [Li Yang True Monarch] nor the overseer of external and internal affairs, Master Zishan, would be foolish enough to resent him for inappropriate attitudes or words.

Hence, he had no reason to continuously act subserviently, overly cautious in every word and action.

At this time, after responding to [Li Yang True Monarch]'s praises, his face turned solemn, respectfully bowing and saying, "Moreover, during the hundreds of years I stayed in Li Yang Realm, I made a significant discovery concerning Ancestor Chi Xiao's disappearance..."

"Wait, slowly speak."

[Li Yang True Monarch] suddenly spoke out, interrupting what Zhouyang was about to say.

He closed his eyes with a solemn expression, and then his hands continuously formed seals, releasing bursts of magical power and spiritual light, as if he was activating something.

After a moment, he opened his eyes, looked at Zhouyang with a serious expression, and said, "Alright, you can continue with your discovery now."

"Yes, disciple obeys."

An expression of doubt flashed in Zhouyang's eyes, and he quickly composed himself, recounting in detail his experience in the central pool of that Grotto Heaven Blessed Land.

It turned out that in that pool, he indeed received a piece of inherited information left by the "Chixiao Dao Ancestor."

According to the information left by the "Chixiao Dao Ancestor," he had discovered clues in the Chaos Void that could help him further advance and wanted to leave the True Immortal Realm in pursuit of a higher Dao.

He did not know if he would ever return to the True Immortal Realm or be able to return.

Therefore, before leaving, he left some things at a certain place outside the True Immortal Realm.

Although the "Chixiao Dao Ancestor" did not explicitly state that these items were for any specific force or person, the Chixiao Immortal Palace, as the force he had once protected and acknowledged, was undoubtedly the most qualified to inherit what he left behind.

Moreover, the Chixiao Immortal Palace had already obtained this information first.

At this moment, after solemnly listening to Zhouyang's narrative, [Li Yang True Monarch] was both surprised and delighted, nodding repeatedly and exclaiming, "No wonder! No wonder those things that Liehu brought back earlier seemed off. It turns out there was such a hidden secret within that Grotto Heaven Blessed Land. Truly blessed by the Ancestor, blessed by the Ancestor!"

For a dignified Returning Void Stage True Monarch to shout "blessed by the Ancestor" shows how intensely [Li Yang True Monarch]'s emotions are fluctuating at this moment.

It also shows how little confidence he has in the current state of the Chixiao Immortal Palace.

After getting excited for a while, he then looked at Zhouyang with great appreciation, exclaiming, "You did very well, this matter you handled extremely well!"

"If we can truly extract what Ancestor Chixiao left behind, you shall receive the highest merit!"

Without Zhouyang, he would not have known the real reason for the "Chixiao Dao Ancestor"'s disappearance, nor the existence of the treasure.

Thus, giving this merit to Zhouyang, he feels there's nothing improper about it.

Upon hearing this, Zhouyang felt a surge of joy in his heart, and he quickly responded with gratitude, "Disciple thanks the Ancestor for the kindness."

Afterward, Zhouyang handed the spatial coordinates of the treasure's location to [Li Yang True Monarch].

This treasure was stored outside the True Immortal Realm, and only someone like [Li Yang True Monarch], a Returning Void Stage True Monarch, has the ability to go and retrieve it.

And once Zhouyang handed over the spatial coordinates, the matter, as far as he was concerned, was concluded.

Now he just had to wait for [Li Yang True Monarch] to retrieve the treasure and bring it back, the benefits he was due would naturally not be lacking.

As for cultivation, he was already the fourth person in the Chixiao Immortal Palace.

When there were benefits, he and Bai Chuan Zhenren, both Late-Stage Tribulation True Immortals, would definitely be prioritized.

After leaving [Li Yang Blessed Land], Zhouyang returned to the place where he had previously conversed with Master Zishan and Master Lie Hu; the Two Immortals were still waiting for him there.

After another round of conversation, Master Zishan seemed to remember something, suddenly looking at Zhouyang and saying, "Oh right, there's something I forgot to tell you, Junior Brother Huan Yang. While you were in the Lower Realm, an Immortal Friend named Lan Daoist came looking for you, saying he was here to fulfill an agreement with you."

"But after learning that you had descended, he left and asked me to give you this item."

With that, he waved his sleeve, handing a Jade Scroll toward Zhouyang.

Lan Daoist has been here?

Zhouyang was slightly taken aback, quickly took the Jade Scroll, and examined the information inside.

After reading the information in the Jade Scroll, Zhouyang's expression changed several times, showing surprise, worry, and complexity.

After a while, he cupped his hands apologetically toward Master Zishan and Master Lie Hu, and said, "Senior Brother Zishan, Senior Brother Lie Hu, I apologize. I have matters to attend to and must return to my cave estate for now. Let's talk another day when free."

"No problem, Junior Brother Huan Yang. You go ahead and attend to your business."

Master Zishan nodded understandingly, watching Zhouyang leave.

Upon returning to his cave estate on Dongyang Peak, Zhouyang repeatedly read through the information within the Jade Scroll, feeling an extremely subtle complexity in his mood.

It turns out Lan Daoist, in addition to explaining his experiences over the years in the Jade Scroll, also clearly stated his whereabouts.

According to him, after successfully forming an Immortal Body, he unexpectedly regained some memories that might have been sealed, learning much about his true self.

Moreover, within those memories, he acquired information about a treasure.

It was a treasure his true self had prepared anticipating a calamity, specially set aside to rise again after the tribulation.

Though Lan Daoist did not specify his original form as a prominent figure in the True Immortal Realm.

But based on the information he disclosed, it must be a Great Power of the Returning Void Stage, likely beyond just the Early-Stage Returning Void.

Furthermore, in the Jade Scroll, Lan Daoist explicitly proposed to Zhouyang that he wished to share the treasure with him.

He revealed the treasure's location to Zhouyang, suggesting that upon returning to the True Immortal Realm, they could together unlock it.

This outcome was something Zhouyang never anticipated.

One could say happiness came too unexpectedly, he needed time to think it over and calm his mind.

After quietly pondering alone in his cave estate for three days, Zhouyang decided to find Lan Daoist and open the treasure together.

Currently, he was already at the Late-Stage Tribulation Cultivation, just needing to overcome the Three Calamities to refine the spirit and enter the Returning Void Stage.

But the Three Calamities are difficult to overcome, and without some special opportunity, the success rate for a Late-Stage Tribulation Cultivator in crossing them is very low, and extremely time-consuming.

Zhouyang always thought about returning to the "Linghuan Realm" to bring his wife and children to the True Immortal Realm; of course, he did not want to waste a lengthy time grinding slowly.

Now that Lan Daoist placed the opportunity before him, how could he not take a chance!

ps: I know this chapter is a bit short, but it's been a long time without updates, also worried that everyone might think I've disappeared, so I'll update first, another chapter will come in a few days, guaranteed to finish before the 20th!

Lastly, let me recommend two new books by friends, one is an urban type "Farming and Practicing Martial Arts to Rule the World," by Bai Yuhuan, and the other is "Reincarnating into Heaven, I Can Simulate Infinitely," an original world infinite flow, by Tudou Dun Laoying. If you're interested, you can check them out.