Chapter 482: The Old Friends Pass Away |
Meng Zhang, Gu Yue Huaidie, and Luo Ye, a Daoist Master, would occasionally go outside the Crow's Nest to provoke the Dark Crow Demon General, preventing it from acting recklessly.
Without the interference of the Dark Crow Demon General, Meng Zhang's senior disciple, Niu Dawei, organized Taiyi Sect disciples to conduct initial construction and development in the Demon Wind Gobi. They first selected several Second Rank spirit veins and First Rank spirit veins to establish strongholds.
Relying on these strongholds, Taiyi Sect disciples stationed there took turns to launch attacks, eliminate scattered demons nearby, and exploit some easily accessible mineral deposits. They also slowly cultivated spirit fields on the spirit veins, planting spirit grain and spirit medicine. When the conditions were ripe, some of these spirit fields could be transformed into spirit medicine gardens.
Taiyi Sect also arranged some First Rank flying boats and flying mounts to travel between these strongholds. On the one hand, they were responsible for aerial patrols, and on the other hand, they provided support and supplies to various strongholds.
The flying boat network established by Taiyi Sect in the Endless Sea of Sand was also transplanted by Niu Dawei into the Demon Wind Gobi. Fixed routes were set up in the Demon Wind Gobi, directly connecting to the routes in the Endless Sea of Sand. Second Rank flying boats coming from the Endless Sea of Sand would rest and replenish supplies here before continuing to Great Wind City. The return journey of Second Rank flying boats from Great Wind City would bring a large number of resources that were scarce in the Endless Sea of Sand.
The establishment of the flying boat routes marked the complete integration of Demon Wind Gobi into the Taiyi Sect system. Taiyi Sect did not adopt a policy of exterminating the demon beasts in the Demon Wind Gobi. In the impoverished Endless Sea of Sand, demon beasts were valuable resources.
During this invasion of Demon Wind Gobi, Taiyi Sect, in alliance with Flying Swan Sect and Northern Desert Qi Family, killed countless demon beasts and captured a large number of demon beast corpses, including two Third Rank demon beast corpses. The resources harvested from these demon beast corpses were transported to Great Wind City in large quantities, almost affecting the prices of various demon beast products in the Great Wind City market.
Though Taiyi Sect gained immense benefits from this endeavor, it was just a one-time transaction, and continuous efforts were required for sustainable development. Therefore, besides capturing some demon beasts to bring back for domestication, Taiyi Sect intentionally preserved many wild demon beasts. Taiyi Sect disciples drove these demon beasts to remote areas, away from the strongholds and transportation routes, so as not to hinder Taiyi Sect's development. The demon beasts driven to these secluded areas served as training objects for Taiyi Sect disciples, facilitating their practical combat training and also providing a steady supply of demon beast corpses, a win-win situation.
Of course, when Taiyi Sect periodically hunted these demon beasts, they did not exhaust their resources but rather allowed them to breed and multiply. Young beasts and pregnant mother beasts were intentionally protected.
Taiyi Sect still had a huge stake in the Endless Sea of Sand and could not easily give it up. However, the resources that could be invested in the Demon Wind Gobi were limited, leading to a slow but smooth development.
Of course, the news brought by Niu Dawei was not entirely good. Meng Zhang's senior brother, Tian Zhen, who used to be the General Affairs Elder of Taiyi Sect, passed away in his hometown during the invasion of Demon Wind Gobi by the three sects.
At the time of Tian Zhen's death, the situation in Demon Wind Gobi was tense. According to his last words, his family could only announce his death to the sect after the situation on this side had settled.
This senior elder, who made significant contributions to Taiyi Sect, was still concerned about the sect's overall situation even in his last moments. Meng Zhang received the news of Tian Zhen's passing with some disbelief at first, but then he found it quite natural.
As a Refining Qi stage cultivator, Tian Zhen was nearly a hundred years old. Passing away at this age could be considered a long life. Meng Zhang had deep feelings for this senior brother who had accompanied and supported him throughout his growth.
When Tian Zhen completely gave up on his cultivation path, Meng Zhang knew that this day would come sooner or later. However, when this day truly arrived, he was still reluctant to accept it.
Ever since Tian Zhen resigned from the position of elder and returned to his hometown for retirement, Meng Zhang's meetings with him had become fewer and fewer. The last time they met was during Meng Zhang's Gold Core ceremony. At that time, Tian Zhen appeared carefree, having fulfilled his wishes, which left a deep impression on Meng Zhang.
Tian Zhen's passing not only meant losing a loved one for Meng Zhang but also marked the end of an era. Before this, Daoist Clear Spirit and several other disciples had passed away. Now, with Tian Zhen gone, there were no more peers or seniors left in Taiyi Sect for Meng Zhang.
Tian Zhen's departure left Meng Zhang feeling low, and he took several days to recover emotionally. Entrusting the temporary care of Demon Wind Gobi to Gu Yue Huaidie and Luo Ye, Meng Zhang personally returned to the Endless Sea of Sand.
Without alarming anyone, he returned alone to Sweetwater Oasis. This place was where he spent his childhood and where Tian Zhen was born and died. Among Tian Zhen's descendants, none had awakened their spiritual roots to embark on the path of cultivation.
Given Tian Zhen's identity, even after his passing, the Taiyi Sect disciples managing Sweetwater Oasis would take good care of his family. Tian Zhen's most valued junior, Tian Li, never fully recovered after failing to build his Foundation and retired to his hometown many years ago.
Meng Zhang didn't visit Tian Zhen's family or Tian Li. He only went to Tian Zhen's grave alone, offered incense, and remained silent for a long time. After a while, he sighed deeply and soared into the sky, flying back to the Demon Wind Gobi at high speed.
Due to the presence of the Dark Crow Demon General, the situation there was not stable, and Meng Zhang couldn't afford to be away for too long. Once back at Grand Lion Ridge, he set aside all his emotions and focused all his energy on cultivation. Since reaching the Gold Core stage, Meng Zhang hadn't had the opportunity to interact with other Gold Core Daoist Masters. He had been practicing alone all this time.
Luo Ye, who recently entered the Gold Core stage, had limited experience, but Gu Yue Huaidie was an old-timer, a mid-Gold Core cultivator with abundant experience and many insightful perspectives.
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