Sand Bandits Attack (Part 1)

In the desert sea a thousand miles from the White Sand River Oasis.

Not long after the Chen Family's Old Ancestor flew over the White Sand River Oasis in his giant tower ship, a streak of red light crossed a thousand miles and landed in the hands of a black-robed cultivator waiting there.

"Chen Yaohui has taken his people and left, come quickly!"

Hearing the voice transmitted before the light in his hand dissipated, the black-robed cultivator's face lit up with joy, and he couldn't help but laugh heartily, "Hahaha, that old thief Chen Yaohui is finally gone. Since that's the case, it's time for us to make our move."

Before his laughter died down, a flash of yellow light appeared on the black-robed cultivator's body, and he directly used the "Earth Evasion Technique" to burrow underground.

Half a day later, the black-robed cultivator who had burrowed underground reappeared on the surface. However, he was no longer alone, but accompanied by over a hundred cultivators, all dressed in black robes like himself.

These hundred black-robed cultivators were all masked, with only their eyes exposed. Each pair of eyes gleamed with the greedy light of a wolf.

Sand bandits!

These black-robed cultivators were all sand bandits!

It was common for sand bandits to rob oases. The vast desert sea did not have Foundation Establishment cultivators stationed at every oasis. Many small oases without third-tier spiritual veins were occupied by small families of Qi Refining stage cultivators or powerful rogue cultivators.

After occupying these small oases, these small families or rogue cultivators would cultivate the spiritual veins, raise mortals, and select mortals with spiritual roots to teach them cultivation techniques and take them as disciples. Most rogue cultivators originated from these small oases.

Since these small oases lacked Foundation Establishment cultivators to guard them, they naturally became easy targets for sand bandits. Basically, once their location was exposed, they could not escape being plundered by sand bandits.

However, while sand bandits dared to rob small oases without Foundation Establishment cultivators, or even medium-sized oases like Jade Spring Tower Oasis that had Foundation Establishment cultivators, they should not have dared to attack a large oasis like White Sand River Oasis, which they were incapable of plundering.

Yet now, these hundred black-robed sand bandits appeared and headed straight for the White Sand River Oasis a thousand miles away.

This indicated that these sand bandits were either insane or had some backing, believing that the White Sand River Oasis, lacking the Purple Mansion stage cultivator Chen Family's Old Ancestor, could not withstand their attack at this time.

And judging by the fact that over a dozen sword lights were flying in the sky as these sand bandits advanced, it was clearly the latter.

On the other side, Zhou Yang and Zhou Xuanyu returned to the "Jade Spring Tower" after bidding farewell to the Old Clan Leader and the others.

Zhou Yang continued to study and ponder the Foundation Establishment experiences recorded by his predecessors, while Zhou Xuanyu, as usual, closed her door and drew spiritual talismans in the quiet room in the backyard.

Speaking of which, the reason the Zhou Family had her, a collateral elder who hadn't been involved in family affairs for many years, take charge of "Jade Spring Tower" was because the artifact business in the market town had become unprofitable after Zhou Yang's involvement.

Previously, "Jade Spring Tower" had focused on the artifact business due to the Zhou Family having Zhou Minghan, a top-grade third-tier artifact refiner. It was only later, when Zhou Xuanhao, a top-grade second-tier alchemist, joined, that elixirs and artifacts became the main businesses simultaneously.

However, by the time Zhou Yang took over, "Jade Spring Tower" had once again become focused on artifacts, and had even caused the entire market town's artifact business to decline.

In view of this, the Old Clan Leader Zhou Minghan, after struggling and hesitating, sent his granddaughter Zhou Xuanyu to the market town to take charge, hoping to change the main business of "Jade Spring Tower" with her exquisite talisman-drawing skills.

The Zhou Family's current revenue sources were relatively limited, with only two: one was relying on the sale of resources like the Qingping Mountain iron ore vein and the [Golden Pearl Rice] grown in the spiritual fields on Jade Spring Peak; the second was the income from the two shops, "Jade Spring Tower" and "Drunken Immortal Tower."

The first of these two income sources was stable and long-lasting, but its drawbacks were also obvious. The annual income was relatively fixed and did not fluctuate drastically.

For the second, encountering opportunities like Zhou Yang's great artifact refining spree could bring in income in one year equivalent to several years of the family's total income in the past.

Especially now that "Jade Spring Tower" had established its reputation, many cultivators would visit it when purchasing spiritual items in the market town. These were all high-quality customers.

Whether it was artifacts, elixirs, spiritual talismans, or even formations refined by Zhou Family cultivators, as long as the quality was good and the price was reasonable, they could be sold quickly at "Jade Spring Tower."

After these items were sold, not only did the Zhou Family cultivators who consigned their items earn spirit stones, but the family also received a considerable commission, greatly alleviating the family's financial difficulties.

As for reputation, if not managed carefully, it could be lost as quickly as it was gained.

Once cultivators who came to "Jade Spring Tower" out of curiosity found nothing else appealing besides artifacts, they would likely not return.

Therefore, even though the Old Clan Leader Zhou Minghan was reluctant to have his granddaughter Zhou Xuanyu far from the family and himself, for the sake of the family's development, he had to send her to the market town to take charge.

Just as Zhou Xuanyu was more than halfway through drawing a mid-grade second-tier spiritual talisman and was preparing to finish, the market town suddenly erupted with deafening bell tolls. The bells rang nine times, and the soundproofing formation outside the quiet room seemed to have failed, having no effect at all.

Bang!

The jade-like hand holding the talisman brush trembled slightly. The spiritual talisman, which was about to be completed, instantly exploded into a ball of flame and turned to ash due to the cultivator's disturbed state of mind.

However, Zhou Xuanyu could no longer afford to care about this. Upon hearing the bell tolls, she stared blankly in the direction of the bells, towards the summit of Golden Mist Mountain.

"The [Spirit Shock Bell] ringing nine times, this is the warning issued when the market town is attacked by a Purple Mansion stage enemy and a fourth-tier demonic beast!"

"Why? Why would it be such a coincidence? Why would such a powerful enemy attack just after Old Ancestor Chen and Grandpa left?"

"No, that's wrong, this is a conspiracy! This must be a well-planned conspiracy! The market town is in danger!"

Zhou Xuanyu's pretty face suddenly changed color. She quickly put away her brush and rushed out of the quiet room towards "Jade Spring Tower."

As soon as she reached the ground floor, she saw that Zhou Yang and the others inside the tower had already come out and were looking up at the summit.

Above the summit of Golden Mist Mountain at this moment, the three Foundation Establishment cultivators stationed by the Chen Family at the market town had all emerged from their cave dwellings, hovering in the sky with their sword light, looking down at the countless cultivators in the market town.

"Fellow Daoists, we have just received an urgent warning from cultivators at the front. A large number of sand bandits are heading towards the market town. Not only do they include over a dozen Foundation Establishment cultivators, but there may also be Purple Mansion stage cultivators among them!"

"Due to the formidable strength of the approaching enemy, we cannot guarantee the safety of all cultivators in the market town. Therefore, if any of you wish to leave the market town and seek your own survival, we will give you fifteen minutes."

"After fifteen minutes, all cultivators who are unwilling to leave must obey our command. I will state this clearly beforehand: if anyone is unwilling to leave and is passive in carrying out my orders, be careful, lest my flying sword take your head!"

"Alright, time is of the essence. You may now make your choice!"

The clear and cold voice came from the three Foundation Establishment cultivators. Amplified by the power of their spells, it instantly spread throughout the entire market town, causing a huge uproar like a massive stone thrown into water.

Although most cultivators who understood the meaning of the continuous nine tolls of the [Spirit Shock Bell] had some preparation in their hearts, hearing the actual situation directly from the Chen Family's Foundation Establishment cultivators still left everyone in disbelief and shock.

"Did I hear that right? Did that senior say sand bandits are attacking? Since when have sand bandits dared to attack a cultivation market town guarded by several Foundation Establishment cultivators and a fourth-tier formation!"

"Bandits! They're bandits! This is terrible! Those bandits are like man-eating demons, completely devoid of humanity. If they break through the market town, they'll kill us even if we hand over our storage bags!"

"A conspiracy, this is a long-planned conspiracy! To unite over a dozen Foundation Establishment bandits is something even an ordinary Nascent Soul cultivator couldn't do. The market town is in danger, we should flee. These bandits are only targeting the cultivators from the major families in the town. We rogue cultivators are just small fries; as long as we don't provoke them, they might not want to cause unnecessary trouble!"

Whoosh!

A flying sword sliced through the air, instantly decapitating the cultivator who had shouted about a "conspiracy" and sending his head to the ground.

"A clown, rushing to his death. I shall grant your wish!"

A cold, disdainful laugh echoed from the sky. The Chen Family Foundation Establishment cultivator who had unleashed the flying sword frowned, his gaze sweeping coldly over the low-level rogue cultivators trembling below. He barked, "I know there are spies among you who have infiltrated as bandits. So, if you want to collect your bounty alive, you'd best shut your mouths and get out of the market town right now. Otherwise, if I catch you showing the slightest slip-up later, just you wait and see if my flying sword recognizes you!"

"Anyone else who dares to spread seditious talk will be dealt with as a spy!"

As this voice fell silent, the remaining cultivators in the market town looked at each other, none daring to speak further. Their eyes flickered as they contemplated their escape routes.

The cultivator who had just been killed, whether he was truly a spy sent by the bandits outside or an innocent, was unimportant to the other cultivators who had no connection to him.

What mattered was that, although he was dead, his words were not without reason. The bandits attacking the market town were naturally after wealth. Many rogue cultivators felt their own possessions were meager and, compared to the affluent family cultivators in the town, they shouldn't attract the bandits' attention.

Therefore, after the Chen Family Foundation Establishment cultivator finished speaking, some bold cultivators quickly cupped their fists towards the three Foundation Establishment cultivators in the sky and said, "Please forgive our rudeness, esteemed seniors. We have worked hard to cultivate and do not wish to lose our lives here!"

This time, the Chen Family Foundation Establishment cultivator who had wielded the sword to kill remained motionless. Only another old cultivator with a head full of white hair, wearing a wry smile, nodded in response to the speaking cultivator, "Little Daoist friends, you may leave if you wish. It is our Chen Family's fault. If the market town can be preserved this time, I will petition the family to reduce the market town's residency fee by half for the next ten years as thanks for your support!"

The cultivator who spoke's face lit up upon hearing this. He quickly exclaimed, "Esteemed senior's benevolence is admirable. If I can escape with my life this time, I will surely spread the fame of esteemed senior and the Chen Family to all fellow rogue cultivators!"

After speaking, he directly applied a "Divine Speed Talisman" to himself and fled towards the outside of the market town. The three Chen Family Foundation Establishment cultivators in the sky, as expected, made no move.

Seeing this, other cultivators who intended to leave followed suit, bowing to the three Foundation Establishment cultivators in the sky, offering a few pleasant words, and then safely exiting the market town.

In less than fifteen minutes, the market town, which had originally gathered seven to eight hundred people, was left with less than half its original number.

Outside the "Jade Spring Tower," Zhou Yang and Zhou Xuanyu, along with other Zhou Family cultivators, saw this scene. Their expressions couldn't help but change, their eyes filled with an indescribable complexity.

Thank you, reader Zui Ren Xin, for the reward of 300 book coins. This is the first update of the day. Please continue to vote for recommendations, invest in new books, and add this book to your reading list!