In the afternoon, while Meng Zhang was organizing scrolls in the Hidden Scripture Pavilion, Tian Zhen received a message token from a Taiyi Sect disciple stationed at Sweetwater Oasis. The message brought both good and bad news.
The good news was that someone had awakened their spiritual root in Sweetwater Oasis, which was the only mortal territory under Taiyi Sect's jurisdiction. According to the customs of the Cultivation World, all residents in Sweetwater Oasis were affiliated with Taiyi Sect. If someone awakened their spiritual root there, they must prioritize joining Taiyi Sect. Only if Taiyi Sect declined to accept them could they join other sects or become loose cultivators.
As a small sect like Taiyi Sect, whenever someone awakened their spiritual root, regardless of its quality, they would be accepted. Given Taiyi Sect's scarcity of manpower, there was no room for being picky.
Sweetwater Oasis had been the main source of Taiyi Sect's disciples for many years, providing a significant number of disciples to the sect. Hearing that someone had awakened their spiritual root in Sweetwater Oasis, Meng Zhang was delighted. After experiencing the betrayal of Zhen Ling (True Spirit) and Fang Meng leading some disciples to leave, Taiyi Sect finally had fresh blood.
The bad news Tian Zhen brought was infuriating for Meng Zhang. Fang Meng, who had already left Taiyi Sect, had somehow joined forces with the nearby cultivation family Zhao Family. Now, Fang Meng was causing trouble at Sweetwater Oasis and intended to take away the resident who had awakened their spiritual root.
Back when Meng Zhang first became the Sect Master of Taiyi Sect, he didn't want to start with internal conflicts among the disciples. Therefore, he allowed Fang Meng to leave without resistance. Unexpectedly, this ungrateful person, Fang Meng, ran to Sweetwater Oasis to snatch the resident with the awakened spiritual root.
It was like he was digging Taiyi Sect's foundation, threatening its stability. Meng Zhang wished he could fly to Sweetwater Oasis and slap Fang Meng to death.
However, upon hearing that a member of Zhao Family was involved, Meng Zhang couldn't help but ponder a little. Zhao Family was situated to the west of Taiyi Sect and their territory bordered closely with Taiyi Sect. They were not good neighbors, often taking advantage of their family's strength to oppress Taiyi Sect. However, being Twin Success Valley's vassals, neither Taiyi Sect nor Zhao Family dared to go too far.
This time, the involvement of a member of Zhao Family with Fang Meng likely meant Zhao Family was looking to cause trouble again.
Considering this, Meng Zhang hesitated for a moment. Nevertheless, he knew he couldn't back down in this matter.
Meng Zhang went to the underground chamber below the Sect Master's quiet room and retrieved the Spiritsnake Spear, which he had been nurturing with his spiritual vision. Since the last strike that injured its spirituality, the Spiritsnake Spear had not fully recovered. Meng Zhang took it out to be prepared for the worst. He wouldn't use this spiritual weapon unless it was absolutely necessary.
Without further delay, Meng Zhang and Tian Zhen each mounted a wind-chasing horse and hurried towards Sweetwater Oasis. It was about twenty miles away from Taiyi Sect's residence.
Within a short time, they arrived at Sweetwater Oasis on their wind-chasing horses. In the barren surroundings, Sweetwater Oasis stood as a prominent oasis, offering a refreshing green view.
Sweetwater Oasis covered a considerable area and had over three thousand residents. The periphery of Sweetwater Oasis was surrounded by tall walls. The Endless Sea of Sand was not a safe place, filled with numerous threats that could wipe out mortal settlements. It was only because of the protection of Cultivators that mortals could survive here.
As Meng Zhang and Tian Zhen slowed their horses and entered the city gate, they passed through the city entrance. Both of them were well-known in Sweetwater Oasis, having grown up there, and even after becoming disciples of Taiyi Sect, they occasionally visited. They knew many people in this place.
"Meng Zhang and Big Brother Tian are back."
One of the young guards at the city gate said to his companion.
"Don't call him that. Since Meng Zhang became the Sect Master, address him as Sect Master."
An older guard admonished the younger one with a pat on his back, leading everyone to greet Meng Zhang and Tian Zhen with respect.
"Greetings, Sect Master."
"Enough with the formalities. We are all from the same hometown; there's no need for such formality. I have something to take care of this time, so I won't keep you all."
Before he finished speaking, Meng Zhang had already entered Sweetwater Oasis with Tian Zhen.
Initially, Meng Zhang intended to find the person in charge of Taiyi Sect in Sweetwater Oasis to discuss the matter. However, as soon as they entered the city, a man in his sixties approached them.
"Sect Master, you finally came. If you hadn't come, I wouldn't have been able to stop them."
Meng Zhang had seen this elderly man before when he became the Sect Master of Taiyi Sect. He was a Taiyi Sect disciple named Li Baofu. Taiyi Sect had no threshold for accepting disciples; as long as the residents of Sweetwater Oasis awakened their spiritual root, they were required to join Taiyi Sect. Most of them had low-grade spiritual roots, and their qualities were mediocre.
With such poor aptitude, Taiyi Sect couldn't provide enough resources for these disciples. As for seeking opportunities outside, it was practically a joke. Not everyone had the luck to find treasures whenever they went out.
A group of rookie Refining Qi stage disciples, leaving the sect, would face difficulties surviving in the perilous Endless Sea of Sand. It was a problem in itself.
When they were young, these disciples had the motivation to cultivate and actively contribute to the sect. But as they grew older, their ambitious dreams faded away. Countless Cultivators embarked on the path of cultivation, seeking immortality and inquiring about the Dao. However, in the end, how many could become immortals and achieve enlightenment, attaining longevity?
Leaving aside more distant goals, even among the many Refining Qi stage Cultivators in the Endless Sea of Sand, how many could reach Foundation Building, or form the core?
Understanding this, these disciples lost their enthusiasm for cultivation. Instead, they preferred to enjoy life in the mortal world. Many would return to their homes in Sweetwater Oasis whenever they had free time, and some even married and had children early.
Once they reached their sixties and met the requirements of Taiyi Sect, they hurriedly left the sect to return to Sweetwater Oasis. Taiyi Sect had always been lenient towards these disciples, as long as they didn't violate the sect's rules, they would let them be.
Moreover, from among these disciples, Taiyi Sect would select those with a little more ability to be stationed in Sweetwater Oasis as representatives of Taiyi Sect. There were quite a few Taiyi Sect disciples like Li Baofu who spent their old age in Sweetwater Oasis. Most of them were elderly people in their seventies.
In fact, these elderly disciples staying in Sweetwater Oasis were not entirely without benefits for Taiyi Sect. Although their Cultivation Base was weak, most of them were just novice Refining Qi stage Cultivators. Without the sect's support, including the lack of spirit veins and resources for cultivation, their Cultivation Base couldn't advance, and even maintaining their current state was extremely difficult.
However, Cultivators were still Cultivators. Even the weakest among them could be of some use. With the protection of these novice Cultivators nearby, Sweetwater Oasis not only enjoyed peace and prosperity but also had a stronger defense against external dangers.
As Meng Zhang arrived at Sweetwater Oasis, Li Baofu expressed his joy at seeing the Sect Master and eagerly wanted to share something with him, but Meng Zhang promptly interrupted him.
"Enough with the pleasantries. Your message was too brief. Tell me the whole story in detail."
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