Most of the Northern Region was barren for thousands of miles, without a blade of grass. Scattered across the crimson desert were specks of oases, some only a few miles wide, others stretching for thousands. Oases spanning tens of thousands of miles were not uncommon either.
Jiang Yun sped along like wind and lightning. Signs of life gradually returned to the land, and laughter 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 been going out frequently these past few days to intercept and kill them.
This entire region had become a Forbidden Zone for the bandits. Those who did not flee had all died.
With Purple Mountain as a landmark, Jiang Yun did not lose his way and soon found a small oasis spanning a little over ten miles.
However, this oasis was too small. It seemed as though a single fierce sandstorm could bury it entirely.
Stone Stronghold was a settlement built wholly from stacked stones. It had only a few dozen households, totaling barely more than two hundred people.
Back when the Source Heavenly Master's lineage still existed, its population surely could not have been so sparse.
Several tall, extraordinary Dragon-Scale Horses were tethered beside the trees in Stone Stronghold. It was clear that its people treasured these horses dearly, and some were enthusiastically building a stable.
Jiang Yun revealed himself and descended onto the oasis.
"Immortal Master, may I ask what brings you here?"
An elderly man directing the others in building the stable spotted Jiang Yun and cautiously stepped forward to ask.
The villagers were quite united. They followed behind the elder and gathered around as well.
The strongest cultivator in Stone Stronghold had only reached the Life Spring realm. Facing Jiang Yun, whose aura was unfathomable, they naturally did not dare provoke him.
Jiang Yun quietly guessed that this man should be Fifth Master Zhang. "My name is Jiang Yun. I arrived in this area more than ten days ago in search of the legendary Source Heavenly Master's inheritance. You must be Fifth Master Zhang, correct?"
Fifth Master Zhang's heart skipped a beat. This man had tracked him all the way 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 speaker was a clever-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 bandits running rampant here, with every village and settlement struggling in misery. In a fit of anger, I uprooted the cancer."
Jiang Yun had not expected news to spread so quickly, but he immediately put on an expression of heartfelt sincerity and righteous conviction, like a compassionate Saint grieving for the world.
"Thank you for your mercy, Immortal Master. Otherwise, who knows how long our villages could have endured? We have even built longevity memorial arches for you."
At those words, everyone immediately moved to kneel.
"There's no need for that."
Jiang Yun did not know whether to laugh or cry. He had not expected them to have erected longevity memorial arches already.
He hurriedly supported them with divine power. There were so many elders among them; he truly was not accustomed to making them kneel.
Seeing that they could not kneel, Fifth Master Zhang and the others instead gave him 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 last major raid before leaving this region. They had set their sights on several Stone Stronghold villages.
At that moment, a fairy descended from the sky and slaughtered every last bandit. The Dragon-Scale Horses in Stone Stronghold had been given to them by that fairy.
Jiang Yun broke out in a cold sweat upon hearing this. He had nearly forgotten about the butterfly effect and silently reminded himself to be more careful in the future.
Everything was changing. The only thing that remained unchanged was change itself.
If Xia Weier had not spent every day exterminating bandits, Stone Stronghold might have been wiped out.
After hearing their account, and because of Xia Weier's casual act of kindness, Fifth Master Zhang acknowledged 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 those old events.
After speaking of some 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 peace here in 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?"
Every person 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. Although their bloodlines had now grown thin, they could still become powerful cultivators.
Stone Stronghold also had two Silver-Blood Twin Emperors awaiting a return to their ancestral bloodline.
During the Primordial era, powerful clans stood everywhere. Among them, the Silver-Blood Royal Clan had endured the rise and fall of 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 had few people, and their blood was pure silver. They possessed terrifying talent, and once they matured, they became mysterious and powerful. Though they never produced an emperor, Great Saints emerged without end, 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.
Those whose inheritance had never produced a Great Emperor or Ancient Emperor would never understand the terror of a Forbidden Zone. These were secrets never passed to outsiders.
"This..."
The people of Stone Stronghold looked at one another. Though they were tempted, they did not know how to make up their minds. In the end, everyone turned their gaze toward Fifth Master Zhang.
Fifth Master Zhang looked at Jiang Yun, his eyes flickering as he pondered for a while.
"Since Immortal Master Jiang thinks so highly of people like us, we will naturally give it our all."
There was a reason he agreed. Jiang Yun had been able to find him today; would others be able to 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 prominence, but neither did they wish to be constantly bullied by bandits. Too many villages in the Northern Region had been destroyed by bandits.
Small villages and settlements were like little boats sailing through stormy seas. One moment of carelessness could lead to wreckage and death.
Everything was fate; not even half of it was within one's control.
"Good. Since everyone agrees, I will arrange for disciples of the sect to help you relocate."
Seeing that the people of Stone Stronghold had agreed, Jiang Yun prepared to return and make some arrangements.
Before parting, Jiang Yun also revealed to Fifth Master Zhang that he was a disciple of the Jiang Family, which made Fifth Master Zhang even more resolute.
Although Jiang Yun could have taken everyone from Stone Stronghold away at once, he did not do so. They had only just met, so there was no need to rush. He needed to give them time to investigate and adjust.
"Source Heaven Sect" was merely a name he had just come up with. He still had to return and make some arrangements.
Thus, three days passed. The sign above Mysterious Moon Cave's mountain gate was replaced with the name Source Heaven Sect.
After informing the elders and disciples and changing their clothing, 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."
As Jiang Yun led them into Stone Stronghold, the villagers warmly greeted them.
Xia Weier was obviously far more popular than Jiang Yun.
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