Stone Stronghold Joins

Most of the Northern Region was barren for thousands of miles, with not a blade of grass in sight. Scattered across the crimson deserts were specks of oases, some only a few miles wide, others stretching for a thousand miles. Oases spanning several thousand or even ten thousand miles were not uncommon.

Jiang Yun sped along like the wind and lightning. Life had gradually returned to the land, and laughter and cheerful voices drifted out from some of the villages.

This was all thanks to Xia Weier. Without the support of the four sects, those bandits had become rootless duckweed. Moreover, Xia Weier had frequently gone out these past few days to intercept and kill them.

This entire region had become forbidden ground for the bandits. Those who did not flee had all died.

With Purple Mountain serving as a landmark, Jiang Yun did not lose his way. Before long, he found a small oasis spanning a little over ten miles.

However, this oasis was far too small. It seemed as though a single fierce sandstorm could bury it completely.

Stone Stronghold was a settlement built entirely from piled stones. It had only a few dozen households, with a total population of barely more than two hundred.

Back when the Source Heavenly Master's inheritance still existed, its population must have been far greater.

There were also several tall, extraordinary Dragon-Scale Horses tethered beside the trees in Stone Stronghold. It was clear that the people of Stone Stronghold treasured them greatly, and several people were enthusiastically building a stable.

Jiang Yun revealed himself and landed in the oasis.

"Immortal Master, may I ask what brings you here?"

The elderly man directing the construction of the stable spotted Jiang Yun and cautiously stepped forward to ask.

The villagers were quite united. They followed behind the old man and gathered around as well.

The strongest cultivator in Stone Stronghold had only reached the Life Spring realm. Faced with Jiang Yun, whose aura was unfathomable, they naturally did not dare provoke him.

Jiang Yun secretly assessed him, feeling that this man was likely Fifth Master Zhang. "My name is Jiang Yun. I came to this area more than ten days ago to search for the legendary inheritance of the Source Heavenly Master. I presume you are Fifth Master Zhang?"

Fifth Master Zhang's heart skipped a beat. This man had come right to his doorstep and had even learned his name.

"Could you be one of the two Immortal Masters who swept through the four great sects and the bandits?" The one who spoke was a sharp-looking youth.

More than ten days had passed. With the bandits no longer running rampant through this region, word had already spread, and Jiang Yun's arrival had been such a coincidence.

"That's right. I saw the bandits running wild here, while the villages suffered in dire straits. In a fit of righteous anger, I uprooted that cancer."

Jiang Yun had not expected word to spread so quickly, but he immediately adopted a sincere, impassioned expression and spoke with righteous conviction, like a Saint grieving for all living beings.

"Thank you for your mercy, Immortal Master. Otherwise, who knows how much longer our villages could have endured? We have even built a longevity archway in your honor."

Upon hearing this, the crowd immediately prepared to kneel.

"There is no need for that."

Jiang Yun could not help laughing. He had not expected them to have erected a longevity archway for him.

He hurriedly used divine power to support them. There were so many elderly people among them; he truly was not accustomed to making them kneel before him.

When Fifth Master Zhang and the others found that they could not kneel, they instead performed a deep bow, tears of gratitude in their eyes.

As they all spoke at once, Jiang Yun also learned what had happened.

A few days earlier, a group of bandits had wanted to pull off one final major raid before leaving the region. They had set their sights on several villages around Stone Stronghold.

At that time, a fairy descended from the heavens and slaughtered every last one of those bandits. The Dragon-Scale Horses in Stone Stronghold had been given to them by that fairy.

Jiang Yun broke out in a cold sweat when he heard that. He had nearly forgotten about the butterfly effect. I'll have to be more careful in the future.

Everything was changing. The only constant was change itself.

If Xia Weier had not spent every day wiping out bandits, Stone Stronghold might have been erased from existence.

After hearing their account, and because of Xia Weier's casual act of kindness, Fifth Master Zhang admitted that they were a branch of the Source Heavenly Master's inheritance.

"Immortal Master, the inheritance was lost together with our ancestors a thousand years ago," Fifth Master Zhang told him truthfully.

Jiang Yun naturally understood that. He merely wanted Fifth Master Zhang to tell him the details of what had happened back then.

After discussing some old matters from the past, Jiang Yun extended an invitation.

"Fifth Master Zhang, we have only just restored stability to this region. If we wish to preserve its peace for the long term, establishing a force is indispensable. The Source Heaven Sect I have founded is currently in need of people. Would you be willing to come with us?"

Everyone in Stone Stronghold was talented. The Zhang lineage were descendants of the Source Heavenly Master.

The Wang and Lei lineages were descendants of the Primordial Silver-Blood Royal Clan. Even though their bloodlines had now grown thin, they could still become powerful cultivators.

There were even two Silver-Blood Twin Emperors in Stone Stronghold awaiting the return of their ancestral bloodline.

During the Primordial era, powerful clans stood in great numbers. Among them, the Silver-Blood Royal Clan had risen and fallen through countless ages. Though they had never produced an ancient emperor, they had ruled the world on several occasions and were known as uncrowned emperors.

They were few in number, and their blood was pure silver. They possessed terrifying talent. Once they matured, they were mysterious and powerful. Though they produced no emperors, Great Saints never ceased to emerge among them, and even imperial clans did not dare provoke them lightly.

In the Primordial era, they had attempted to enter the Immortal Mausoleum, only for their entire clan to be buried there.

Any inheritance that had never produced a Great Emperor or ancient emperor would never understand the terror of a forbidden zone. Such matters were secrets never passed down.

"This..."

The people of Stone Stronghold exchanged looks. Though they were tempted, they did not know how to make up their minds. In the end, everyone turned to Fifth Master Zhang.

Fifth Master Zhang looked at Jiang Yun, his gaze flickering as he pondered for a while.

"Since Immortal Master Jiang thinks so highly of people like us, we will naturally give our all."

He had his reasons for agreeing. If Jiang Yun could find him today, could others not find him in the future as well?

Judging from what this Immortal Master had done before, he did not seem to be a bad person.

They did not seek fame or success, but neither did they wish to be bullied by bandits forever. Too many villages in the Northern Region had already been wiped out by bandits.

Small villages and settlements were like little boats sailing through raging waves. One careless mistake, and the boat would be wrecked and everyone aboard would perish.

Everything was fate; not even the slightest part was up to them.

"Good. Since everyone has agreed, I will arrange for the sect's disciples to help with the relocation."

Seeing that the people of Stone Stronghold had agreed, Jiang Yun prepared to return and make some arrangements.

Before leaving, Jiang Yun also revealed his identity as a Jiang Family disciple to Fifth Master Zhang, which only strengthened his resolve.

Although Jiang Yun could have taken everyone from Stone Stronghold away at once, he did not do so. There was no need to rush things when they had only just met. He needed to give them time to gather information and adjust.

"Source Heaven Sect" was merely a name he had just come up with. He still needed to return and make arrangements.

Thus, three days passed. The sign at the former mountain gate of Mysterious Moon Cave was changed to read Source Heaven Sect.

After notifying the elders and disciples and changing their attire, the Source Heaven Sect was officially established.

Jiang Yun brought Xia Weier, along with a group of disciples and elders, to Stone Stronghold to help Fifth Master Zhang and the others relocate.

"Immortal Master Jiang, Fairy Xia, you've come."

"Thank you, Fairy Xia, for saving our lives."

"When I grow up, I'll definitely be as pretty as Fairy Xia."

Jiang Yun led them into Stone Stronghold, where the villagers warmly greeted them.

Xia Weier was clearly far more popular than Jiang Yun.