Cultivation Begins From The Desert
Chapter 78: Guilt-free (Part 2)

Chapter 78: Chapter 78: Guilt-free (Part 2)

After obtaining Zhouyang’s agreement to accept the "Heart Inquiry Skill" to question his mind, the Chen Family Ancestor did not trouble him further. He simply took him and Zhou Xuanhao, the father and son, along, continuing under his guidance to the "Thousand Machines Grotto Heaven" to investigate clues.

However, at this time, it had already been more than a day since Zhouyang and the others were attacked outside the "Thousand Machines Grotto Heaven." By then, the sand bandits had long escaped without a trace. Even with the profound cultivation of the Chen Family Ancestor, under such circumstances, it was impossible to find any useful clues.

In the end, with nothing gained, the Chen Family Ancestor could only bring Zhouyang and his son back, returning to the Baisha River Oasis.

When Zhouyang and his son returned to the Baisha River Oasis under the escort of the Chen Family Ancestor, Zhou Minghan, the old clan leader of the Zhou Family, who had set out from Yuquan Lake Oasis after receiving a flying sword communication, also rushed over hurriedly and got here first, meeting with Zhang Yunpeng, the Yellow Sand Sect Elder stationed at the White Camel Peak to assist the Chen Family.

At the White Camel Peak, the returning Chen Family Ancestor, upon seeing Zhang Yunpeng and Zhou Minghan together, was slightly taken aback at first. Then he nodded and, with a serious expression, said to the two of them, "It’s just right that Fellow Daoist Zhang and Minghan, you two are both here. Today, you can bear witness as this old man uses the ’Heart Inquiry Skill’ on the Zhou Family junior, Zhouyang, to interrogate the case of our Chen Family Foundation Establishment Cultivator, Chen Pingzhi, being murdered."

"What? You want to use the Heart Inquiry Skill?"

Zhou Minghan’s expression changed, and he looked worriedly at Zhouyang and his son.

He had just arrived at the Baisha River Oasis and only knew that Chen Pingzhi had fallen. He was completely unaware of the details of the situation.

Now hearing that the Chen Family Ancestor wanted to use the "Heart Inquiry Skill" to interrogate Zhouyang, he naturally assumed, under the circumstances, that Zhouyang had done something disgraceful in relation to Chen Pingzhi’s demise.

Seeing this, Zhouyang couldn’t help but speak out calmly to comfort, "Great-grandfather, please don’t worry. I have walked righteously, sat righteously, and have no shame in my heart. If Elder Chen wants to inquire, let him ask!"

After speaking, he looked toward the Chen Family Ancestor and Zhang Yunpeng, the two Purple Mansion Cultivators, and with a serious expression, he said, "If Elder Chen wishes to use the ’Heart Inquiry Skill’ on me to interrogate matters related to Elder Pingzhi’s death, I am of course willing to speak truthfully. But if the elder inquires about matters unrelated to this, I hope he will not blame me for not complying!"

Hearing his words, which were soft yet sharp, the Chen Family Ancestor’s face sank, and with an unhappy snort, he said coldly, "Hmph, do you think this old man is such a person? Rest assured, if I ask even one irrelevant question besides the matter of Pingzhi’s murder, I will gift your Zhou Family a Foundation Establishment Pill. Fellow Daoist Zhang can bear witness to this matter!"

Hearing the Chen Family Ancestor mention him, Zhang Yunpeng couldn’t help but step forward at this point, chuckling, "Haha, why should Brother Chen bicker with a junior? Zhou Family’s youngster, you can be reassured as well. I had some interactions with Junior Brother Yuquan a while back. Today, I’ll serve as your witness. If Brother Chen indeed inquires into matters of your personal privacy through this, I will immediately dispel the magic."

"Then I first thank Elder Zhang."

Zhouyang saluted Zhang Yunpeng, then closed his eyes and said firmly, "Elder Chen, you may perform the technique now."

At this moment, the Chen Family Ancestor didn’t hesitate, and upon hearing this, he performed the technique without another word.

The "Heart Inquiry Skill" is merely a Tier Three Lower Grade Technique, one that any Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator can learn.

Once this technique is activated, it can serve to question the minds of cultivators below the Foundation Establishment Stage. A Qi Cultivation Stage Cultivator, once hit by the "Heart Inquiry Skill," would answer whatever is asked without the ability to lie. Moreover, they wouldn’t remember any of this experience afterward.

However, Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators, after going through the "Divine Sense Barrier" during the foundation formation process, have their mental cultivation enhanced, and their divine sense strengthened, making the "Heart Inquiry Skill" ineffective against them.

Nonetheless, the effectiveness of a technique doesn’t just depend on its rank but also on the cultivation of the one casting it.

Could a Nascent Soul Stage Great Power casting a Tier Two Magic have the same power as a Qi Cultivation Stage Cultivator casting a Tier Two Magic?

With the Late-Stage Purple Mansion cultivation of the Chen Family Ancestor casting the "Heart Inquiry Skill," as long as Zhouyang doesn’t resist intentionally, it can still be effective on him.

At that moment, two beams of white light shot out from the Chen Family Ancestor’s eyes, directly illuminating Zhouyang’s tightly closed eyes.

When bathed in this white light, Zhouyang’s body trembled slightly before his eyes automatically opened.

But at this time, his gaze was vacant and unfocused, like that of a fool.

"What is your name?"

While maintaining the "Heart Inquiry Skill," the Chen Family Ancestor immediately began to ask questions.

Hearing the question, Zhouyang immediately responded without hesitation, "Zhouyang."

"How old are you this year?"

"39 years old."

"What happened after you and Chen Pingzhi entered the ’Thousand Machines Grotto Heaven’?"

"At that time, Elder Chen Pingzhi went ahead into the ’Thousand Machines Grotto Heaven’ and was ambushed and besieged by two puppet beasts. After obtaining permission from Elder Chen, I intervened to help him deal with one of the lion beasts. Later on, the two puppet beasts..."

Under the effect of the "Heart Inquiry Skill," Zhouyang answered every question posed by the Chen Family Ancestor truthfully. Whatever was asked, he would answer, without omitting a word or adding anything unrelated to the question.

Even the matters he had intentionally hidden before, he now revealed in their entirety, including his intent to exchange the blood collected from the sand bandits for a Foundation Establishment Pill, with no concealment whatsoever.

Naturally, the matter of him using the "Blood Escape Technique" to flee for his life was also exposed.

It was evident when he mentioned the words "Blood Escape Technique," both Zhou Minghan and Zhou Xuanhao, the two Foundation Establishment Cultivators of the Zhou Family, turned pale, looking towards the Chen Family Ancestor and Zhang Yunpeng with full concern.

After all, the "Blood Escape Technique" is a demonic secret technique, and Zhouyang’s and the Zhou Family’s possession and practice of such a technique is neither trivial nor insignificant. It depends on whether a major sect like the Yellow Sand Sect would wish to pursue the matter.

However, what they didn’t know was that the Chen Family Ancestor and Zhang Yunpeng had already guessed that Zhouyang must have used such a demonic escape technique after discovering the severe depletion of his essence blood.

After all, as a particularly practical escape secret technique, there were still a number of cultivators who practiced the "Blood Escape Technique." Even if such Purple Mansion Stage Cultivators like them had not trained in this secret technique, they were at least knowledgeable about it.

Therefore, upon hearing Zhouyang say he used the "Blood Escape Technique" to escape, other than Zhang Yunpeng’s slight frown, the Chen Family Ancestor’s expression did not change at all, clearly indicating no intention to pursue the matter.

Seeing this, Zhou Minghan and Zhou Xuanhao slightly calmed down, relieved enough to continue watching Zhouyang speak further.

Subsequently, the Chen Family Ancestor also kept his promise and did not take the opportunity to inquire into Zhouyang’s private matters or secrets. After ensuring that his words were consistent with what was previously said in the Desert Sea, he stopped the spell.

As soon as the spell stopped, Zhouyang’s body shuddered, his eyes instantly refocusing, and his consciousness was restored.

Upon regaining consciousness, he blinked in confusion for a moment, then immediately recalled the events before being subjected to the "Heart Inquiry Skill," and couldn’t help but look toward the pondering Chen Family Ancestor, asking loudly, "So, Elder Chen, do you now believe what I’ve said?"

The Chen Family Ancestor hearing his question, instead of answering, asked in return, "You said you have the blood obtained from the sand bandits?"

Hearing this, Zhouyang had no choice but to follow up with, "Since Elder Chen has brought it up, may I be bold enough to ask you a question? You offered a reward of a Foundation Establishment Pill for information on the whereabouts of those sand bandits. Can presenting this item count as completing the task?"

The Chen Family Ancestor didn’t expect him to mention the matter so directly, and his face showed some embarrassment.

However, he had indeed promised this in person, and it was even posted in writing as a reward notice in the marketplace. At this point, it was impossible to renege on it.

Thus, he could only swallow his pride and respond, "If this item truly leads to the discovery of the sand bandits’ hideout, during my next alchemical session, your Zhou Family can indeed receive a Foundation Establishment Pill as a reward based on this merit!"

His words still left much room for maneuvering, namely that the blood provided by Zhouyang must be useful, and that at the next "Foundation Establishment Conference," the Zhou Family must still send cultivators to participate.

In the end, even if a Foundation Establishment Pill were given for free, it would come from the allotted pills distributed among the families, not taken from the Chen Family’s share.

Considering this, the Chen Family would at most earn one less Foundation Establishment Pill worth of spirit stones at the next "Foundation Establishment Conference," which actually did not deplete the Chen Family’s foundation.

Yes, the foundation.

A Foundation Establishment Pill, in any power, is a substance that can be regarded as foundational.

Zhouyang certainly understood the underlying meaning of the Chen Family Ancestor’s words, but he was quite satisfied with the response he received.

After all, expecting the Chen Family to take out their own pills to reward outsiders was unrealistic; he himself wouldn’t be so generous.

As for whether the Chen Family Ancestor’s decision would harm the interests of other families and arouse their resentment towards the Zhou Family, that was not his concern.

There’s always a risk of choking while eating, but should one stop eating because of it?

The Zhou Family must develop, which inevitably means encroaching on the development space of other families. Zhouyang has earned the Foundation Establishment Pill through legitimate means and his own skills. Why shouldn’t he take it? Why shouldn’t he want it?

"Elder Chen, you are indeed trustworthy. I, the junior, admire you!"

His pale face finally showed a slight smile, as he hurriedly took out the jade bottle containing the sand bandits’ blood and handed it to the Chen Family Ancestor.

Simultaneously, he did not forget to say, "If Elder Chen finds the whereabouts of those sand bandits, please do notify me to participate. It was thanks to Elder Chen Pingzhi lending me his abode that I successfully established my foundation, and when the sand bandits attacked the oasis, nine of our Zhou Family cultivators perished because of them. As the current clan leader of the Zhou Family, I am duty-bound to avenge them, both emotionally and rationally!"

The Chen Family Ancestor, hearing him say this, had a change in expression and couldn’t help but nod gently, "You do have a heart. If Brother Yuquan knew the Zhou Family had such descendants as you, he would rest in peace."

After saying this, he suddenly slapped his storage bag, took out a jade bottle, and tossed it to Zhouyang, "Since you are determined to slay the enemy, this bottle of [Jade Essence Pill] to restore the essence blood of Foundation Establishment Cultivators should be considered an apology on behalf of Pingzhi for you."