Cultivation Begins From The Desert
Chapter 80: Godslaying Needle

Chapter 80: Chapter 80: Godslaying Needle

Of course, coincidences aren’t impossible. For instance, Zhouyang obtaining the "Qianyang Treasure Pearl" was an extremely coincidental event.

But when coincidences occur one after another, it certainly isn’t a coincidence anymore.

The group of sand bandits that attacked the Baisha River Oasis, although none of them revealed traces of the Demonic Dao Techniques and Divine Techniques, Zhouyang repeatedly obtained Demonic Secret Techniques from their storage bags, which was enough for him to associate these people with the legendary Demonic Cultivators.

Of course, all of this is still just his speculation. The Demonic Secret Techniques he acquired can only serve as evidence for this speculation and cannot prove that the sand bandits are disguised Demonic Cultivators.

Since it’s only a speculation, he couldn’t directly report his conjecture as a factual result to the Chen Family Ancestor and Zhang Yunpeng.

After all, the appearance of Demonic Cultivators is a major issue, and once confirmed, the entire Boundless Desert Sea Cultivation Realm could be shaken.

If he reports it now without being 100% sure of its authenticity, and if something goes wrong in the future, he would be held responsible!

"Anyway, the Chen Family Ancestor is about to cast magic to track the sand bandits. Once they are found and exterminated, the true nature of things will naturally become clear. Why should I muddy the waters?"

Zhouyang’s expression changed several times before he finally decided not to report his speculation, seeking to avoid mistakes rather than achieving merit.

He flipped his hand, storing the jade scroll that recorded the "Bloodthirsty Demon Saber" deep in his often-used storage bag.

This Demonic Secret Technique is something he definitely wouldn’t cultivate, nor would he allow anyone in the Zhou Family to practice it, but there’s no need to rush to destroy it now. Keeping it on hand might prove useful later.

Next, Zhouyang quickly browsed through the other jade scrolls found on the sand bandits and categorized them for storage.

Then, he took out the jade scroll on puppet beast refining obtained from the "Thousand Machines Grotto Heaven," along with another scroll detailing Spiritual Sense Secret Techniques.

Puppet beasts are a special type of magical artifact, and the refining method for this kind of artifact differs significantly from ordinary magical artifacts. It doesn’t require the cultivator to use magical power for control, but can use spirit stones as power sources instead.

It’s said that high-tier puppet beasts above Tier Five possess spiritual intelligence, capable of autonomously assisting their master in combat as pets. Consequently, artifact refiners renowned for creating puppet beasts prefer to call themselves "Puppet Masters."

The jade scroll acquired by Zhouyang records twelve puppet beast refining methods. Among them, three methods are for Tier One puppet beasts, seven for Tier Two, and two for Tier Three puppet beasts.

Previously in the "Thousand Machines Grotto Heaven," he didn’t have much time to examine these refining methods. Now, with spare time, as an excellent artifact refiner, he certainly wouldn’t miss the opportunity for research.

However, after studying the detailed refining methods for Tier One and Tier Two puppet beasts, he immediately ceased his research, shook his head, and stored the jade scroll away.

It’s not that he didn’t want to continue researching, but he realized that even the simplest Tier One Top Grade Puppet Beast had a construction complexity surpassing ordinary Tier Two High-Grade Spiritual Artifacts.

Under these circumstances, comprehensively understanding all twelve puppet beast refining methods is impossible without ten to eight years of time, and he simply doesn’t have enough time to dedicate to such tasks now.

Setting aside the puppet beast refining methods, Zhouyang picked up the jade scroll detailing Spiritual Sense Secret Techniques for further research.

This time, a smile finally graced his face.

The Spiritual Sense Secret Technique recorded in the jade scroll is called "Godslaying Needle," a Spiritual Sense Killing Secret Technique that uses divine sense to attack the enemy’s divine soul. Once initiated, part of one’s divine sense can be condensed into a needle to stab into the enemy’s brain.

If struck by this "Godslaying Needle," any enemy with divine sense less potent than Zhouyang’s would suffer intolerable severe pain in the head. If their divine sense is significantly weaker, it could directly rupture their Sea of Consciousness, turning them into a "living dead" with no awareness.

However, although the "Godslaying Needle" is formidable, it has a critical flaw, which is its danger against enemies with stronger divine sense.

If the enemy’s divine sense is stronger than yours, using the "Godslaying Needle" not only fails to harm them but causes permanent loss of one’s divine sense, leading to a state of unconsciousness.

A cultivator’s divine sense is even harder to recover than essence blood. Spiritual objects capable of enhancing divine sense are exceedingly rare treasures, and their value cannot be easily measured in spirit stones.

Zhouyang’s divine sense has always surpassed his peers; despite the fatal flaw of the "Godslaying Needle," its advantages completely overshadow for him.

The benefits of divine sense attack are enormous, not only is the attack method unexpected and difficult to defend against, ordinary magical artifacts and magic cannot protect against it, those specifically designed to defend against divine sense attacks are beyond the reach of Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

If Zhouyang masters this "Godslaying Needle" technique, combined with the "Qianyang True Flame" he already possesses, even Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators opposing him may inadvertently be killed instantly.

However, just as he was about to close-off and ponder the "Godslaying Needle" Secret Technique, he suddenly received a Sound Transmission Talisman from the old Clan Leader Zhou Minghan; after days of preparation, the Chen Family Ancestor was finally ready to perform the "Ten Thousand Miles Soul-Chasing Technique."

On White Camel Peak.

When Zhouyang and the three Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Zhou Family arrived outside the newly constructed array altar by the Chen Family, more than thirty Foundation Establishment cultivators had already assembled there.

Among these thirty-plus Foundation Establishment cultivators, besides ten dressed in yellow magic robes from the Yellow Sand Sect, the rest were all senior members from the Chen Family and nearby cultivation clans in the Baisha River Oasis, with not a single loose cultivator among them.

Zhouyang noticed Liu Qingsong and Yang Xingyan, both of whom had visited him on Jingming Peak, each bringing a family Foundation Establishment cultivator to join the battle as summoned.

Upon seeing the arrival of the three Zhou Family Foundation Establishment cultivators, the ten from the Yellow Sand Sect merely glanced at them before losing interest, while the others from the nearby clans of the Baisha River Oasis greeted Zhou Minghan and Zhou Xuanhao with nods and smiles.

Zhouyang, being a newly established Foundation Establishment cultivator, had been heard of by many, but recognized by few. Seeing that the Chen Family Ancestor had not yet begun the ritual, Zhou Minghan naturally seized the opportunity to introduce him to other families’ Foundation Establishment cultivators, helping him integrate into the Baisha River Oasis Cultivation Realm’s circle of Foundation Establishment cultivators.

This is the advantage of being a clan cultivator; as long as one’s cultivation reaches a certain level, they can easily squeeze into the circle of peers through the networking of clan elders.

For a regular loose cultivator, even if they luckily achieve Foundation Establishment, their connections at that stage would be blank, requiring much time and effort to establish friendships and enter the surrounding Foundation Establishment cultivator circles in the future.

Connections don’t directly enhance cultivation, yet their importance is universally recognized.

A simple example in the Baisha River Oasis Cultivation Realm: Only a few families can refine Tier Three and above elixirs and magical artifacts, and they rarely sell them directly in family shops. Even if sold, they’re often marked high to draw attention.

If one lacks connections and doesn’t know those Tier Three refiners and alchemists, they’d have to endure paying higher prices to acquire these items.

But if one knows those Tier Three refiners and alchemists and has some rapport with them, they could negotiate purchases directly, paying prices far lower than in the shops.

The Patriarch of the Yang Family in Golden Spring Valley, Yang Xingyan, once remarked "Purple Mansion is expected" about Zhouyang, showing his optimism about Zhouyang’s future path.

And other family cultivators reaching Foundation Establishment are all astute, right?

Unless there’s some clear grievance with the Zhou Family, who would refuse to establish friendships with Zhouyang?

Moreover, Zhouyang is currently the clan leader of the Zhou Family, a Tier Two High-grade Refiner destined to become a Tier Three Refiner.

Thus, after Minghan’s brief introduction of Zhouyang’s situation, the Foundation Establishment cultivators from other families amiably greeted him, accepting his entry into the circle.

While conversing with these Foundation Establishment cultivators, Zhouyang also discreetly observed the altar used for the "Ten Thousand Miles Soul-Chasing Technique."

The altar was shaped like an octagon, with eight sides, stood nine feet high, and had a diameter of about three feet, entirely cast from refined iron.

On each side of the octagonal altar, there was a black dharma banner, with cinnabar blood ink used to write runes on the banner, runes that Zhouyang couldn’t understand.

The Chen Family Ancestor was currently meditating on the altar with closed eyes, while Zhang Yunpeng was nowhere to be seen.

Finding nothing interesting about the altar, Zhouyang looked away after a while, turning his gaze toward another person, a lean middle-aged man with a sheathed long sword on his back and wearing a silvery white daoist robe.

This man was Chen Ping’an, the foremost Foundation Establishment cultivator of the Chen Family, and the already deceased brother of Chen Pingzhi.

The Chen Family Ancestor had investigated the cause of Chen Pingzhi’s death previously; at that time, Chen Ping’an didn’t know his brother had perished, but he surely knew now.

Since Zhouyang arrived, he felt a scrutinizing gaze upon him, aware that it was Chen Ping’an observing him.

After all, his own younger brother’s death, regardless of the Heart Inquiry Skill conducted by the Chen Family Ancestor absolving him, Chen Ping’an evidently had some thoughts about Zhouyang, who had gone out with Chen Pingzhi.

Feeling uneasy under Chen Ping’an’s gaze, Zhouyang pondered for a while, then bravely stepped up to greet him, saying, "Junior greets Elder Chen; regarding the matter of Elder Chen Pingzhi, junior apologizes..."

Before Zhouyang finished speaking, Chen Ping’an waved his hand, interrupting him, "No need to say more, young friend. The Ancestor has already cleared it up; you did nothing wrong, it was Pingzhi’s own fault. I’m not holding any grudge, I just wanted to take a look at you!"

Look at me? I’m not a breathtaking beauty, what’s there to see?

Zhouyang was speechless, not quite believing Chen Ping’an’s words.

However, since the other had said so, bringing it up again would only make things awkward for himself. Thus, he managed a bitter smile, saluted, and withdrew quietly.

Then, they waited until the sun slanted westward, when the Chen Family Ancestor, who had been seated on the altar all afternoon, finally stood up tall.