The caravan set off with twelve enormous humped sand lizard beasts, forming a long line as they passed through the gates of Singing Sand City and headed northwards.
Though the humped sand lizard beasts were massive and appeared clumsy, their speed in the desert was not slow. With their broad feet thumping on the sand, they left deep footprints and steadily moved forward, seemingly slow but fast.
Controlling the humped sand lizard beasts was not a complicated task; simple commands were enough for them to obediently proceed in the designated direction. This kind of simple work could be done by ordinary mortals.
Each humped sand lizard beast had several mortal handlers, taking turns to drive them forward. There were over ten Cultivators serving as guards for the caravan, all of them in the Refining Qi middle or late stages. They rode various mounts, most of which were riding demonic beasts.
Once they left Singing Sand City and entered the vast desert, they no longer needed to march in a single line. Due to the openness of the desert, the humped sand lizard beasts formed two columns, advancing side by side. The guards, each on their own mounts, spread out around the caravan to provide vigilance and protection.
Meng Zhang rode on his Wind Chasing Horse, staying at the left side of the caravan. As the host, Lao Bulu, also rode a demonic beast and accompanied Meng Zhang.
"Senior Lao is really too kind. I feel somewhat overwhelmed by your favor," Meng Zhang said.
"Sect Master Meng is a distinguished leader of Taiyi Sect. Perhaps, in the future, I might have a chance to cooperate with you," Lao Bulu replied with a smile.
Having traveled far and wide and being a businessman for many years, Lao Bulu was well-versed and witty, making him an interesting old man who was easy to get along with. Meng Zhang, who was recently appointed as Taiyi Sect's Sect Master, had already developed a dignified aura fitting of his position. He showed no fear while conversing with Lao Bulu.
Before long, the two found themselves engaged in pleasant conversation, feeling an inexplicable connection with each other. They both had a genuine desire to build a good relationship.
Lao Bulu was mostly driven by his instincts as a businessman – the more friends he had, the more opportunities he might gain. As for Meng Zhang, he was considering that besides the spirit field's output, Taiyi Sect had no other steady source of income. To expand and grow the sect, they needed to explore more financial resources. This realization led him to plan stricter financial management within the sect upon his return.
During the conversation with Lao Bulu, apart from inquiring about some general news, Meng Zhang hoped to gain some business opportunities. Although the conversation didn't lead to any specific opportunities, the relationship between the two became even more harmonious.
Such business opportunities were not easily obtained, Meng Zhang thought.
Despite the relatively slow speed of the caravan, they managed to cover over a hundred li during the day, taking breaks every half day to rest. In the evening, they found a place to camp against a large sand dune to spend the night.
For a slow-moving caravan like theirs, the night in the vast desert was more dangerous than the day.
During the first two days, nothing unexpected happened, and they journeyed smoothly and safely. No one felt bored, as the caravan sought nothing more than a safe journey during their travels.
On the morning of the third day, before the sky had fully brightened, the caravan set off again. Not long after, a streak of light flew from a distance. It was a message talisman that flew directly into Lao Bulu's hand.
After reading the information in the message talisman, Lao Bulu's expression changed drastically. Without bothering to converse with Meng Zhang, he immediately called all the guards together.
"The situation is not good. Our scouts have found a group of sand monsters approaching from the front," Lao Bulu said with a stern expression, unlike the kind old man from before.
Sand monsters were as terrifying to Cultivators in the Endless Sea of Sand as the plague was to mortals. No one knew the exact origin of sand monsters or how they were born. They had appeared not long after the arrival of Cultivators in the Endless Sea of Sand and displayed an extreme hatred towards them, relentlessly chasing and killing them.
In the vast desert, nests of sand monsters often appeared in hidden places. As time went on, the number of sand monsters born in these nests would increase. When the population reached a certain threshold, they would leave the nest in groups to hunt and kill Cultivators.
Numerous Cultivators had attempted to communicate with sand monsters, but all efforts had been in vain. Sand monsters were creatures without individual intelligence, driven solely by instinct. Their strongest instinct was to hunt and kill Cultivators.
Sand monsters had ravaged the Endless Sea of Sand for a long time, and the number of Cultivators they had killed and the cultivation families and sects they had destroyed were countless.
Fifteen years ago, a large group of sand monsters had appeared in the vicinity of Taiyi Sect, causing numerous families and sects to suffer. Twin Success Valley had gathered their affiliated forces to exterminate these sand monsters, but in the ensuing battles, Taiyi Sect suffered heavy losses, losing all their elders in the Refining Qi late stage. Zhao Family, who had always been at odds with Taiyi Sect, lost their only Foundation Building cultivator.
The reason Meng Zhang became Taiyi Sect's Sect Master at such a young age was that Taiyi Sect's previous Sect Master, Daoist Profound Spirit, died in the war against the sand monsters.
For Taiyi Sect, sand monsters were a recurring nightmare. When they received news of sand monsters, even Meng Zhang, who had been calm, turned somewhat pale.
In the Cultivation World, there had been large sects and organizations that organized massive campaigns to exterminate sand monsters, but they were like cockroaches, never completely wiped out. Even after destroying their nests, new ones would soon be born.
Of course, while sand monsters couldn't be eradicated entirely, whenever they appeared in the Endless Sea of Sand, the surrounding cultivation forces would immediately organize operations to avoid disaster spreading.
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