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Chapter 59: Recruiting
Meng Zhang's true purpose for bringing Fang Yong along was not as he claimed verbally.
This time, Twin Success Valley's summon was of great intensity, mobilizing all vassal forces, including the Zhao Family. By taking Fang Yong undercover, if the opportunity presented itself on the chaotic battlefield, it would not be impossible to secretly strike at the Zhao Family. It was likely that the Zhao Family held similar intentions towards Taiyi Sect as well.
Twin Success Valley's summons left no time for delay, forcing all vassal forces to act immediately and rush to the designated location for assembly. The gathering point was an oasis located 800 li (around 400 kilometers) to the south.
This oasis served as an outpost of Twin Success Valley, situated on a First Rank spirit vein and guarded by Twin Success Valley's cultivators year-round. Not only were numerous spirit fields cultivated within the oasis, but there were also many mortal inhabitants.
Meng Zhang and his group, aided by their Wind Chasing Horses and with a relatively short distance to travel, arrived early compared to the other vassal forces.
In one corner of the oasis's northern area, Twin Success Valley had set up a large camp. The camp was divided into several sections, with Twin Success Valley's cultivators stationed at the center while the other sections were allocated to their vassal forces.
The different vassal forces were assigned different areas based on their numbers.
Taiyi Sect, with the fewest members, was received indifferently by the Twin Success Valley disciples who accommodated them hastily before leaving.
Taiyi Sect's camp was located in the northwest corner of the main camp, consisting of only three separate tents. Although they weren't given much importance, Meng Zhang didn't mind. With Taiyi Sect's current strength, it would be more trouble than it's worth if they attracted too much attention.
The main purpose of Twin Success Valley issuing the summons to Taiyi Sect was not because they genuinely needed three cultivators who were far from reaching the Refining Qi Late stage. The main intention was to display Twin Success Valley's authority, treating all vassal forces equally, so they would always remember that Twin Success Valley was the true master and held the power of life and death over them.
Not long after Taiyi Sect arrived at the main camp, Forest Mountain School also arrived. Forest Mountain School was also a small sect, though stronger than Taiyi Sect after a series of changes. However, it was still not outstanding among Twin Success Valley's vassal forces.
The Sect Master of Forest Mountain School, Xu Chengxian, though quite aged, took the initiative to greet Meng Zhang, a junior disciple.
He neither underestimated Meng Zhang's youth nor looked down on Taiyi Sect.
"Sect Master Meng, you've arrived quite early," Xu Chengxian said with a slight surprise.
Meng Zhang quickly went forward to greet the Daoist Master as Forest Mountain School's camp was not far from Taiyi Sect's, making their arrival not a rare event.
Both sects were vassal forces of Twin Success Valley and were relatively close neighbors with some knowledge about each other.
After exchanging pleasantries with the Daoist Master, Meng Zhang made a casual comment about the Li Family still not arriving, given their closest proximity to the gathering location. Xu Chengxian seemed surprised by Meng Zhang's question and asked if he was unaware of the situation.
Meng Zhang replied with some confusion, genuinely not knowing what Xu Chengxian was referring to.
Xu Chengxian hesitated for a moment, then looked around as if sharing a secret before explaining in a hushed voice.
The sand monster colony this time was enormous and extraordinarily powerful, causing significant disasters in a very short time. Both Twin Success Valley and its vassal forces suffered heavily.
Several of Twin Success Valley's vassal forces were wiped out, including the Li Family.
The Li Family had numerous cultivators, and there was even a Foundation Building stage cultivator in their family. Among Twin Success Valley's vassal forces, they ranked among the top in terms of strength.
The Li Family was situated on a Second Rank spirit vein, and their mountain gate was protected by a Second Rank defensive formation. However, the sand monster colony still managed to break through their defenses, leading to their annihilation.
The calamity caused by the sand monster colony was extensive, not only destroying two direct-claimed spiritual grounds of Twin Success Valley but also causing damages to nearby forces at the same level as Twin Success Valley, such as Forest Spring Watch, Liu Family, and Green Bamboo Mountain.
Furthermore, the sand monster colony continued to grow, and its attacks spread to the surrounding areas.
It was said that even the Flying Swan Sect had been alarmed, and if Twin Success Valley and other vassal forces couldn't eliminate the menacing sand monster colony, the Flying Swan Sect would intervene personally.
Meng Zhang was astonished by Xu Chengxian's words. Since he became the Sect Master of Taiyi Sect, they had been secluded and had hardly any interaction with the outside world, making their information severely limited.
Such vital information, if not for Xu Chengxian informing him, he would still be entirely unaware.
Meng Zhang felt a shiver down his spine but also a sense of relief. Thankfully, the sand monster colony had not targeted Taiyi Sect. Otherwise, even if they risked their lives, they wouldn't have been able to change the fate of the sect's destruction.
"I am truly ignorant, and if not for your guidance, I wouldn't have known the extent of the terror posed by this sand monster colony," Meng Zhang sincerely thanked Xu Chengxian.
Xu Chengxian waved it off with a dismissive gesture. "It's a small matter, not worth mentioning. This information has already spread. If I didn't tell you, you would have known sooner or later."
Meng Zhang silently reminded himself to pay more attention to external news in the future and not focus solely on closed-door cultivation.
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