Cultivation Begins From The Desert Chapter 530 - 515: A Man’s Responsibility! [Part 1]

Kunxu Realm, Celestial Rift Canyon.

In a vast and desolate rocky valley, Zhouyang and Jiang Fengxian were swiftly traversing, one ahead of the other.

Both of their faces showed so absent-mindedness, not fully focused on the journey, each pondering unknown thoughts.

At this mont, they had just parted ways with Lu Xuanji, the Ninth-Layer Nascent Soul Great Cultivator, not long ago. Zhouyang’s mind was still replaying the scene of their earlier conversation.

At that ti, seeing his straightforward willingness to help, a satisfied and happy expression appeared on Lu Xuanji’s calm face.

However, when faced with his subsequent inquiries, Lu Xuanji did not explain what he needed help with, only stating that once Zhouyang left Kunxu Realm, he should reach the Profound Sun Immortal Sect within ten years.

Moreover, as a reward for his willingness to help, before he left, Lu Xuanji gave him a jade talisman.

That jade talisman was not unfamiliar to Zhouyang; it was the "Profound Sun Purple Sky Divine Thunder" jade talisman that Master Cyan Yang had once bestowed upon him for use.

The difference was that the jade talisman Lu Xuanji gave him was made after Lu Xuanji had reached the Late-Stage Nascent Soul, powerful enough to severely injure an Early-Stage Nascent Soul Cultivator with a single hit.

The preciousness of this item surpassed even a Tier Six Spiritual Artifact, because it was truly a super trump card that could allow Zhouyang to turn the tables in the face of life-threatening danger.

After obtaining this item, Zhouyang felt much more at ease about the upcoming "Holy Infant Valley" journey.

With this treasure in hand, even if he encountered danger there, it could help him escape a disaster. Presumably, this was also Lu Xuanji’s intention in bestowing this treasure upon him.

Soon after, Zhouyang rembered another matter.

When parting from Lu Xuanji, due to his inquiry, Lu Xuanji briefly explained the origin of the Cultivator Yin and revealed the true reason for the death of the Wood Demon.

When he heard that Cultivator Yin was a Great Bright Immortal Palace Cultivator and had the ability to control the "Eye of Light" from a distance to slay the Wood Demon, Zhouyang was indeed shocked and speechless.

At the sa ti, he was extrely relieved that he hadn’t claid the "Eye of Light" as his own, otherwise, if Cultivator Yin pursued the matter, he truly wouldn’t have known how to explain it.

After all, from Cultivator Yin’s perspective, obtaining relics of the Great Bright Immortal Palace Cultivator and not returning them was definitely a capital offense.

Fortunately, at that ti, Cultivator Yin was still refining the "Eye of Light" and did not have the ti to pay attention to him, while the shock on his face was mistaken by Lu Xuanji as awe for the power of the Tier Seven Immortal Artifact, allowing him to narrowly escape disaster.

Because of this incident, Zhouyang had originally intended to ask Lu Xuanji to check on Qin Yue’Er’s condition inside the "Netherworld Profound Coffin," but had to put this idea aside for now.

He didn’t want to create additional trouble because of this matter, nor did he want to stay by Lu Xuanji’s side any longer, increasing the risk of exposure.

Thus, he quickly bid farewell to Lu Xuanji.

After recalling the conversation with Lu Xuanji and finding no major oversights, Zhouyang felt much more at ease.

Then he ca back to his senses, looked back at Jiang Fengxian who was silently following behind, and seeing her absent-minded and lost, he quickly stopped and looked at her with concern, asking, "Fengxian, are you okay physically... is there anything wrong? Should we find a safe place to rest for a few days before setting off again?"

Upon hearing his words, Jiang Fengxian’s body montarily halted, she glared at him with a phoenix-like gaze, then instead of answering, asked, "What do you intend to do?"

"What? What to do?"

Zhouyang’s heart skipped a beat, but his face showed a puzzled expression as he looked at Jiang Fengxian.

Seeing him like this, Jiang Fengxian’s pretty face flashed with anger, she glared at him with resentnt and snorted coldly, "Hmph, still pretending to be oblivious? Do you intend to take what you want and not take responsibility?"

After saying that, her expression darkened even more, her tone turning sarcastic as she continued, "Or do you think that I, Jiang Fengxian, am such a clingy woman that I can’t live without hanging onto you, Zhouyang?"

Here it cos!

Zhouyang sighed inwardly, knowing that his greatest fear had co true.

Ever since regaining consciousness inside the Cyan Treasure Cauldron, he had been pondering how to handle this matter.

But no matter how much he racked his brain, he couldn’t co up with a perfect solution.

The adult thought is, of course, to have it all.

But Zhouyang knew very well that a proud female cultivator like Jiang Fengxian would never be willing to beco a concubine.

He didn’t even dare to bring up the subject in front of her, knowing she would consider it an insult.

But if Jiang Fengxian wouldn’t beco a concubine, the position of legitimate Dao Companion had been promised to Xiao Ying for many years.

After more than two hundred years of affection between them, he couldn’t demote Xiao Ying to a concubine and give the position of legitimate Dao Companion to Jiang Fengxian. How would that make him any different from Chen Shii?

This matter truly gave Zhouyang a headache, to the point where he developed an avoidance ntality, not wanting to think about it.

Now, hearing Jiang Fengxian bring up this matter, he knew in his heart that things were about to get bad.

This is forcing him to co clean!

"Cough cough, Fengxian, don’t be angry. Don’t you know what kind of person I, Zhouyang, am? How could I do sothing so irresponsible?"

Zhouyang coughed twice, righteously making a statent, indicating that he would definitely take full responsibility.

Then he changed the subject, not saying how he would take responsibility, just looking at Jiang Fengxian with admiration and saying, "Besides, Fengxian, you’ve always been the extraordinary woman I admire most, a heroine among won. I, Zhou, have walked the Cultivation Realm for hundreds of years and have seen many female cultivators, including so Golden Core Stage Cultivators, but none have given the sa feeling as you, Fengxian, making respect you from the bottom of my heart."

It was plainly visible that, after hearing his words, Jiang Fengxian’s charming face, previously filled with evil qi, instantly cleared a lot. Her face, as beautiful as one that could overthrow a nation, suddenly shone like ice lting, emitting a captivating radiance, so beautiful it left Zhouyang breathless.

He stared blankly in awe at that charming face, his mind filled with the events that happened in the Cyan Treasure Cauldron in the past few days.

Not the things that happened when their wills were both lost, but those that occurred as their consciousness gradually returned because of the lingering silver poison and so peculiar feeling.

The events that occurred while sober made Zhouyang truly understand why the ancients sighed with, "To die under the peony blossom, even as a ghost is also amorous."

At that ti, didn’t he just feel that if he could enjoy himself that ti, it would be worth it even if he died!

Thinking about those things, looking at Jiang Fengxian, his gaze unknowingly changed.

Jiang Fengxian sensed the change in his gaze, and for so reason, certain images erged in her mind.

Then her face flushed, her phoenix eyes widened as she glared at Zhouyang and spat, "Don’t try to use sweet words to coax ; just tell what you’re planning to do! Answer honestly, that’s all!"

"I..."

Zhouyang opened his mouth but was at a loss for words.

If he knew what to do, he would have brought up this matter long ago, instead of dragging it out without resolution!

Hence he opened his mouth, mustered his courage, and said, "Fengxian, you know my situation. You know what kind of person I, Zhouyang, am. Since we’ve already had that kind of relationship, of course I’ll take full responsibility for you, it’s just, it’s just..."

"It’s just that you can’t give what I want, is it?"

Jiang Fengxian looked at him with a grim expression, helping him to finish his unspoken words, her voice icily frightening.

Zhouyang’s heart grew cold. He couldn’t care less anymore, and hurriedly stepped forward several steps to grab her jade hand, looking earnestly at her, "Fengxian, don’t be angry. I know saying this might make you uncomfortable, but think about it. If I, Zhouyang, were to abandon the Dao companion I’ve been with for hundreds of years for you, would you really be happy? Would you really still want to beco Dao companions with such a man?"

"Look, we’re both cultivators, pursuing longevity and freedom. As long as we can journey together and explore the Great Dao together later, becoming immortal lovers roaming the world, what does it matter whether or not we have a formal title?"

"If you’re truly not at ease, I can make a Dao Heart Oath to guarantee that in my heart and actions, I’ll treat you no differently than a true Dao companion!"

His deanor was sincere and earnest, his tone truthful and resolute, leading anyone who saw or heard him to believe in the authenticity of his words.

Jiang Fengxian’s face also changed several tis because of his words. Her charming face alternated between anger, hesitation, contemplation, and reluctance—truly complex.

She looked at Zhouyang with a complex expression, softly pulling her hand, but couldn’t pull it out of Zhouyang’s firm grasp, so she stopped trying. Instead, she said in a resentful tone, "Does that Dao companion of yours really make you so reluctant?"

"This is not about being reluctant, but about responsibility, the responsibility a man should bear!"

"Just like you want to be responsible for you, since I promised Ying’Er back then, I would take good care of her for a lifeti; I can’t betray her sincere feelings for !"

Zhouyang held her jade hand tightly, responding with a serious face.

Hearing his words, Jiang Fengxian’s expression naturally softened—a responsible man is never a bad one.

However, just as Zhouyang thought he could get through this, he was faced with another ultimatum!

"Then let ask you, putting aside responsibility, do you like more, or her?"

Jiang Fengxian looked seriously at Zhouyang, waiting for his answer.

Zhouyang furrowed his brows, bowing his head in contemplation, his expression conflicted, thinking hard...

After a long while, he finally said to Jiang Fengxian with a troubled face, "I don’t know either. I like both of you, and you both have qualities I admire. I don’t know how to answer your question."

"I know what you want to hear, Fengxian. If I were to say I like you more, it would certainly make you happy, but I don’t want to lie to you!"

"Similarly, if Ying’Er were to ask the sa, I definitely wouldn’t say I like her more, for that would also be a kind of harm to you, Fengxian!"

Jiang Fengxian didn’t expect him to answer like this and was montarily stunned.