"Junior Zhouyang, pays respects to Elder Guo, may the ancestor be at peace." The opulent and spacious hall housed Guo Jinhong lounging like an emperor on the deepest jade bed within. Around him, several beautiful concubines attended, akin to palace maidens, serving wine, fresh fruit, and meat without reservation, feeding Guo via gestures of his eyes without minding Zhouyang, bowed in greeting dozens of feet away. Meanwhile, Wang Qian who accompanied Zhouyang inside, was being held by Guo Jinhong in an embrace, like a pampered pet cat receiving strokes from its owner. "I heard you’re leaving Haoyang Immortal City, what’s the reason for this?" A dignified, booming voice slowly emerged from Guo Jinhong’s lips. Though Zhouyang felt no spiritual power fluctuate, the voice drew an immediate, unreflective reply: "Responding to the ancestor, the junior wishes to leave Haoyang Immortal City due to constant harassment, unwilling to feign diplomacy with cultivators seeking recruits, intending to temporarily evade attention from Jinyang Country!" "Why not accept their invitations? Did you originate from some major sect?" "The junior refuses their invitations simply for not wishing to become a tool, a mere weapon for others; I have never joined any sect." "Within the Anti-Light Alliance records, your trace stops at your initial appearance in Yu Country’s Cangyuan Immortal City, where did you cultivate before? From where do you hail?" Zhouyang’s face paled in shock, awakening abruptly, he gazed in terror at Guo Jinhong upon the jade bed. Guo Jinhong, seeing this, let a flicker of surprise pass through his gaze, seemingly not expecting Zhouyang’s escape from his divine technique’s influence. His expression darkened, his stare commanding Zhouyang, he questioned fiercely: "What? You are unwilling to speak?" "I dare not; since the ancestor inquiries, the junior naturally dares not hide it!" Zhouyang promptly bent his head, repeatedly declaring his lack of dare. Then he paused, speaking solemnly: "I dare not deceive the ancestor; the junior actually is not a cultivator within the Anti-Light Alliance territory, but originates from the easternmost Boundless Desert Sea, being the highest authority among a cultivation clan there." "Just that the Desert Sea is barren, the oasis where the junior resides lacks even a Tier Five Spirit Vein and has not produced Golden Core Stage cultivators for millennia." "Upon reaching the Purple Mansion Stage, the junior uncovered a map to the Great Brightness Immortal Palace and Land of the Far West within the journals left by predecessors, unwilling to wither away in the Desert Sea, ventured forth at the late-stage Purple Mansion with a Dao companion and beloved niece towards the Land of the Far West!" "Decades ago, the junior alongside Dao companion and niece braved risks, after traversing a lengthy journey of over ten years, the trio arrived at the Land of the Far West, entered the easternmost Rocky Wilderness under the Anti-Light Alliance domain, thereafter stealthily crossing into Yu Country, secluded for years, learning local language and culture, choosing Yu Country’s Cangyuan Immortal City as the first foothold!" A lie entirely false in its content, deceiving clever beings is quite challenging. The finest lies are half-truths, or even nine parts truth to one part false, leaving truth indistinguishable from falsehood. Facing the probing inquiries of the Nascent Soul Stage cultivator Guo Jinhong, Zhouyang recognized that fabricating a false identity at haste could not deceive the latter, risking angering him, resulting in the application of Soul Search to uncover desired truths. Therefore, hesitating briefly, Zhouyang honestly revealed his identity and origin, concealing only the true means of reaching the Land of the Far West and the real cultivation level of the Boundless Sea of Sand Cultivation Realm. This indeed was a gamble, betting that Guo Jinhong, a formidable Nascent Soul Stage cultivator, wouldn’t be interested in an oasis dwelling deep within the Boundless Desert Sea, in a barren, backward cultivation realm lacking Golden Core Stage cultivators and Tier Five Spirit Veins. Evidently, his gamble succeeded. Upon hearing his words, Guo Jinhong merely scrutinized him briefly, then nodded slightly saying: "You’ve shown sense; did not attempt to deceive the elder." "The ancestor indeed once saw in sect records that a backward small cultivation realm existed within the Boundless Desert Sea. Back then, the Great Brightness Immortal Palace established a teleportation array to that realm, but after inner turmoil within the palace and our Anti-Light Alliance’s rise, that teleportation array was seemingly destroyed beyond use." "Speaking of which, our Anti-Light Alliance initially sent several Golden Core Stage cultivators to search for oases within the Desert Sea, but all found were impoverished, even if cultivators inhabited them, their cultivation was insufficient, lacking even Purple Mansion Stage cultivators, holding no development value." "A cultivator of your prowess within such barren lands is indeed akin to a rare existence!" As Guo Jinhong concluded, he shook his head, losing interest in further discussing this topic. What he told and the truth of the Boundless Sea of Sand Cultivation Realm naturally diverged significantly. Nonetheless, his disregard for the Boundless Sea of Sand Cultivation Realm bore justification, because, even in its zenith, Nascent Soul Stage cultivators rarely emerged there. Moreover, if one fortuitously reached Nascent Soul Stage, they would promptly depart from the barren, backward realm towards the Land of the Far West Cultivation Realm or Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm for carefree dwelling. Thus, without teleportation array linkage, even knowing of the realm, Guo Jinhong harbored no interest in its conquest. Similarly, many in the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm acknowledge the realm’s existence but sects like the Profound Sun Immortal Sect lack ambitions to conquer such remote small places, aware of disproportionate investment versus returns. To conquer and occupy a territory necessitates dispatching high-tier cultivators and abundant middle-lower tier cultivators to station and guard it. Without large-scale teleportation arrays, transporting these cultivators—be it from the Land of the Far West Cultivation Realm or Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm—poses substantial challenges. Moreover, even if we can transport people there, if their existence is discovered by the enemy, and high-tier cultivators are dispatched to wipe them out from afar, the guarding cultivators will be annihilated before they can report back to the sect and request reinforcements. This is actually why the Great Brightness Immortal Palace, despite holding a map to the Boundless Sea of Sand Cultivation Realm, has never considered sending people there after their power diminished significantly. After all, the large-scale teleportation array is located within the "Fallen Demon Valley," which is now the territory of the Anti-Light Alliance. Even if the Great Brightness Immortal Palace sends people to repair the teleportation array in the underground ruins of the Boundless Sea of Sand Cultivation Realm, it’s impossible to control the realm with it; instead, it might allow the Anti-Light Alliance to seize the advantage. Zhouyang also has some suspicions about these matters, which is why he’s unafraid to reveal some information to Guo Jinhong—so long as the large-scale teleportation array remains unexposed, he’s unafraid of any of Guo Jinhong’s ambitions in the Boundless Sea of Sand Cultivation Realm. After Guo Jinhong learned the answers he wanted, he lost interest in conversing, saying directly, "Since you’re not a cultivator from any sect, this is even easier!" "The Elder now gives you two paths: the first is to become a registered disciple of mine and tackle assignments for me; if you perform well, I won’t treat you unfairly!" "The second path—I’ll announce publicly that you harbored lustful intentions in the Valley of Forgetfulness, disrespecting my concubine and I killed you with a slap!" Guo Jinhong’s words finally showed Zhouyang the domineering nature of a Nascent Soul Stage cultivator. The other party had no intention of soliciting his opinion, and arrogantly declared the decision to take him as a disciple, leaving him no room for refusal. Dare to refuse, and it’s death! Compared to Guo Jinhong, Master Cyan Yang, who also sought to take him as a disciple, suddenly seemed much more noble in Zhouyang’s mind. Both are Nascent Soul Stage cultivators, yet their moral disparities are remarkably vast. "So, have you decided which path to choose?" Guo Jinhong’s urging voice slowly drifted forth, chilling Zhouyang as he struggled to respond. He glanced up at Guo Jinhong, and Wang Qian who was nestled in Guo Jinhong’s embrace, causing his heart to jolt. "Could it be that Wang Qian did this under Guo Jinhong’s directive, deliberately setting a trap for me?" "If that’s true, Guo Jinhong is truly despicable, it’s practically a disgrace to Nascent Soul stage cultivators!" With that thought chilling his heart, Zhouyang dared not hesitate further, he hurriedly stepped forward and knelt down, saying, "Disciple Zhouyang, greets Master!" He certainly didn’t wish to die here, thus he could only choose the first path. Seeing his prudent choice, Guo Jinhong revealed a satisfied expression, waving him up, "Rise. From today, you’re my third registered disciple. If anyone attempts to recruit you again, feel free to disclose this identity, it’s unlikely anyone in the Anti-Light Alliance territory would dare poach from me!" Whether it was his own guilt or Guo Jinhong had intended something, Zhouyang couldn’t help but sneak a glance at Wang Qian in his embrace, filled with fear and anger. Today’s events truly left him feeling aggrieved and furious. He hadn’t felt this way for a long time, not since Elder Chen of the Chen Family utilized the "killing with the help of demons" method to coerce the Zhou Family’s old clan leader Zhou Minghan to lure the Tier Four Demon Beast "Gold-devouring Beast" into attacking. Now, Elder Chen of the Chen Family is long dead! "Disciple thanks Master for your generosity!" Zhouyang repressed his rage and grievances, ensuring no emotion showed as he bowed respectfully once more. Though Guo Jinhong was a Nascent Soul Stage cultivator, it was impossible for him to know Zhouyang’s thoughts, and even if he did, he wouldn’t care. Just like when humans keep cats and dogs as pets, they never consider whether the animals willingly serve as pets, nor whether they resent them. Of course, the premise is that these pets wouldn’t attempt to bite them! Seeing Zhouyang’s politeness, Guo Jinhong nodded in satisfaction and said, "According to tradition, even registered disciples receive gifts upon initiation. I’ve long prepared your gift, hoping you will like it." For more chapters visıt 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭•𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮•𝘯𝘦𝘵 After his words, he glanced at the Wang Qian in his embrace and said faintly, "Bring the gift I’ve prepared for my new disciple!" Instantly, Wang Qian’s eyes widened. Noticing this, Zhouyang, who had been secretly observing Wang Qian, first slightly froze, then myriad thoughts quickly flashed through his mind.