Chapter 88: Chapter 87: Witch

In the vast desert sea, three members of the Zhou Family gathered around a heap of scattered puppet beast parts, each looking rather displeased.

They all knew that the puppet beasts could self-destruct, but before such an event actually happened, everyone held onto a fluke, believing that as long as they were fast and fierce enough, they could take down the sand bandit before he could issue the self-destruct order.

But in practice, how could it be so easy!

This sand bandit had acquired the entire inheritance of Chen Pingzhi, and his magical artifacts were even better than those of Zhou Minghan, a Tier Three High-grade Refiner. If it weren’t for the fact that the Zhou Family’s three people had the advantage in numbers, and Zhouyang mastered the “Qianyang True Flame,” a formidable weapon, it would have been uncertain whose life was at stake today.

“Forget it, if I gain it, I’m lucky; if I lose it, it’s fate. At least we’re not leaving empty-handed this time; didn’t we manage to keep this guy’s storage bag intact?”

Zhou Minghan, the oldest and most experienced among them, felt dejected for a moment but quickly came to terms with it, sighing softly to console Zhouyang and his son.

Hearing this, Zhouyang’s expression eased considerably, and he forced a smile, saying, “Great-grandfather is right. This guy not only contributed several Tier Three High-grade Spiritual Artifacts to us but also five thousand Yellow Sand Sect Merit Points. With those we earned from killing two Blood Evil Demon Corpses earlier, we’ll just need a bit more to exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill from the Yellow Sand Sect!”

The Yellow Sand Sect disciples needed ten thousand merit points to exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill, so Zhouyang was not wrong in saying so.

However, hearing this, Zhou Minghan and Zhou Xuanhao did not show any joy.

Such treasure as the Foundation Establishment Pill isn’t something simple merit points can exchange for. To prevent it from flowing outside the sect, the Yellow Sand Sect doesn’t provide such treasures to outsiders, and even disciples within the sect must queue to exchange for it.

This queue has its rules: first, Golden Core stage cultivators are given priority, followed by Purple Mansion stage, then top-grade spiritual root Ninth-layer Qi Cultivation cultivators, then Foundation Establishment cultivators, and finally middle-grade spiritual root Qi Cultivation disciples.

Moreover, Golden Core stage cultivators can only exchange for five Foundation Establishment Pills in a lifetime, one per century; Purple Mansion stage cultivators can exchange for three, also one per century; and a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator can only exchange for one.

And cultivators who have exchanged for a Foundation Establishment Pill cannot arbitrarily hand it over to outsiders but must give it to disciples within the Yellow Sand Sect.

Given the shortage of Foundation Establishment Pills in the Boundless Desert Sea, the ones refined by the Yellow Sand Sect are in short supply internally, so much so they periodically send people to the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm to procure more. How could outsiders like Zhouyang even have the chance to exchange for one?

“Alright, alright, let’s not talk about this anymore. We’d better hurry back to meet up with Elder Chen. I wonder if they’ve managed to take down that demonic cultivator.”

Zhou Minghan shook his head, breaking the silence.

Zhouyang and Zhou Xuanhao both nodded in agreement and quickly packed up the battlefield, flying back on their swords.

However, after flying less than a hundred miles back, they suddenly saw two streaks of sword light, one chasing the other, approaching them head-on.

The fleeing figure was a Foundation Establishment female cultivator masked in black gauze, holding a child about two or three years old. Chasing her was a Clan Leader from a Huang-named cultivation clan in the Foundation Establishment stage.

Seeing this, Zhouyang couldn’t help but exclaim softly, “Huh, where did that woman holding the child come from? How come we didn’t see her among those sand bandits earlier?”

Zhou Minghan’s expression changed, and he said gravely, “Not good, this woman is likely a disciple developed by the Blood Slaughter Demon Sect in our Boundless Desert Sea. Look at the Blood Evil Demon Qi on her; it’s a characteristic of those who practice authentic Blood Demon Dao techniques.”

As they spoke, the Huang Family Patriarch, who was chasing behind, was delighted to see them and couldn’t help but shout, “Fellow Daoists of the Zhou Family, please stop that witch!”

“Fellow Daoist Huang, rest assured, she won’t escape!”

Zhou Minghan responded loudly, leading Zhouyang and his son to intercept the witch.

Before long, the witch was forced to halt her sword light and descend to the ground under the encirclement of four Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Seeing the witch land on the ground, the Huang Family Patriarch was not in a hurry to fight her but rather sincerely thanked the three Zhou Family cultivators, “Thank you, three fellow Daoists of the Zhou Family, for your assistance. Today, Huang owes you a favor. Once I capture this witch, I will certainly host a banquet to thank you!”

The three members of the Zhou Family frowned upon hearing this.

The Huang Family Patriarch spoke politely, but he was hinting that they should not compete with him for the credit of subduing the witch.

It’s well-known that this witch is an authentic demonic Foundation Establishment cultivator. Killing her or capturing her alive to present to the Yellow Sand Sect could earn at least several thousand merit points, and possibly other unexpected rewards.

Such a significant contribution, how could it be compared to a small favor from a Third-layer Foundation Establishment cultivator like the Huang Family Patriarch?

“Fellow Daoist Huang’s words…” Zhouyang initially wanted to joke, but as soon as he spoke, a change flashed across his eyes. He then gently smiled and said, “Fellow Daoist Huang is right. My great-grandfather, father, and I will just act as your backup and watch how you slay the demon!”

Such an agreeable response left not only the Huang Family Patriarch but also Zhou Minghan and Zhou Xuanhao stunned, not knowing what Zhouyang was up to.

But since Zhouyang had said so, the other two couldn’t say more, or they would embarrass him, the Clan Leader, in public.

After a moment’s surprise, the Huang Family Patriarch quickly regained his composure, nodding happily as he said, “That’s kind of you. Thank you, fellow Daoists of the Zhou Family.”

With that, he placed his flying sword and charged straight at the witch.

The witch, seemingly unwilling to go down without a fight, released her flying sword as well, engaging in battle with him.

However, with a child in her arms and two layers lower in cultivation than the Huang Family Patriarch, even with a protective Tier Three Demon Artifact, she was quickly forced into retreat, seemingly about to be defeated.

“Witch, take this sword!”

Whether the Huang Family Patriarch intended to show off in front of the Zhou Family or was too happy about the credit he was about to earn, he relaxed his control over his protective artifact after gaining the upper hand, channeling most of his magical power into his flying sword to launch a full-force attack with its divine technique.

However, at that moment, an unexpected event occurred.

When the Huang Family Patriarch relaxed his control over the protective artifact, a sudden sword light shot out from Zhou Minghan’s hand, instantly knocking the protective artifact aside and piercing through his defense shield, pinning him to the ground.

“Wha… why?”

With his heart pierced and his life slipping away, the Huang Family Patriarch knew he was dying, but he couldn’t comprehend why Zhou Minghan would attack him, why he would want to kill him. He turned his disbelieving eyes towards Zhou Minghan, hoping for an explanation before he died.

“No reason, it’s because the person you wanted to kill is my granddaughter,” Zhou Minghan replied, his expression emotionless, his voice icy as he revealed the reason.

“You, you, you…”

The Huang Family Patriarch, filled with disbelief, couldn’t finish his sentence before he took his last breath.