Cultivation Begins From The Desert Chapter 457 - 442: 5 Years of Harvest

Roar~ howl!

The quiet cultivation chamber was suddenly filled with the sound of dragon roars and beast howls.

On the Thousand-Year Cold Jade Bed within the chamber, Zhouyang sat cross-legged, stark naked, with his hands forming Dharma Seals and his eyes shut in practice.

But upon closer inspection, it was evident that the muscles in his arms and various parts of his body twitched unnaturally, his face twisted in agony as if enduring so unspeakable pain.

As he reached a crucial point in his cultivation, a cyan-golden dragon shadow suddenly ford behind him and let out an earth-shattering roar.

Whenever that dragon shadow appeared, Zhouyang’s body twitched even more violently, causing him to emit low growls reminiscent of wild beast howls.

No matter how unbearable the pain was, his hands remained steady in forming the seals, with no intention of stopping.

Body refining cultivation techniques and divine skills often produce unbearable pain, numbness, and itching during practice; the more powerful the technique, the deeper the cultivation, the more unbearable the pain becos.

The "Azure Dragon Body Refining Technique," as a top-tier refining divine skill that could transform a human body into one as powerful as a Flood Dragon’s, naturally demanded much more from the cultivator than ordinary body refining techniques.

Even though Zhouyang possessed extraordinary talent and a powerful physique well-suited for practicing this divine skill, the tearing pain during cultivation was by no ans lessened.

However, for him, all of this was worth it.

After five years of hard cultivation and the consumption of ten pounds of Flood Dragon Spirit Blood, he finally practiced the "Azure Dragon Body Refining Technique" to the second layer, conjuring the "Shadow of the Azure Dragon."

Upon reaching the second layer of the "Azure Dragon Body Refining Technique," the true divine skills of this refining divine skill began to manifest.

Now, whenever Zhouyang utilized this divine skill in magical combat, cyan-golden dragon scales would imdiately form on the surface of his skin, offering formidable defense.

He’s already tested it; the defense provided by the layer of cyan-golden dragon scales alone could withstand a Tier Four High-grade Spell attack without harming his body.

Besides the strong defense provided by the cyan-golden dragon scale armor, the second layer of the "Azure Dragon Body Refining Technique" also granted Zhouyang the qualification to practice the body refining combat skill known as the "Azure Dragon Martial Skill."

The "Azure Dragon Martial Skill" was similarly created by the predecessors who developed the "Azure Dragon Body Refining Technique," combining the Dragon Race’s combat techniques with human fighting skills, creating a combat skill for killing and slaughtering.

It’s not a single secret skill but encompasses various aspects related to combat, such as body technique maneuvers, offense, defense, and more.

Moreover, as the cultivator’s realm rises, the variations and changes in the moves within the "Azure Dragon Martial Skill" beco increasingly formidable.

According to Zhouyang’s speculation, if a Nascent Soul Stage cultivator could practice the "Azure Dragon Body Refining Technique" to the fourth layer, the combat power achieved by combining the "Azure Dragon Martial Skill" and the technique would definitely not be inferior to any great-success magical technique, and might even surpass most magical techniques cultivated to great success!

Unfortunately, although Zhouyang has practiced the "Azure Dragon Body Refining Technique" to the second layer that Golden Core Stage cultivators can practice, granting him the qualification to learn the "Azure Dragon Martial Skill," his actual cultivation is rely at the Purple Mansion Stage, leaving many variations in these martial skill moves beyond his reach.

Currently, what helps enhance his combat power is the water combat body technique known as "Wave-Riding Dragon Step" and an attack secret skill dubbed "Azure Dragon’s Fang."

When using the "Wave-Riding Dragon Step," Zhouyang can roam freely within rivers, lakes, and seas, greatly enhancing underwater agility and water combat ability.

The "Azure Dragon’s Fang" is actually a fist technique that requires proximity within ten zhang of the enemy to be effective.

Since just two days ago, he achieved the second layer of the "Azure Dragon Body Refining Technique," these two martial skills are still untouched by him, preserved only as written thods for future practice.

"Five years have passed, and the shopkeeper of Cyan Yuan Pavilion hasn’t contacted even once—did he change his mind halfway?"

In the cultivation chamber, Zhouyang recalled life over the past five years, and a hint of suspicion flashed in his eyes.

During the cultivation of the "Azure Dragon Body Refining Technique," he was not subjected to an undisturbable condition, hence prior to retreating into seclusion, he had already inford the shopkeeper of Cyan Yuan Pavilion to notify him promptly if any underground exchange eting or high-tier cultivator exchange eting was happening.

Yet, five years passed with no ssage from the other side, forcing him to wonder if he had been deceived.

"No, waiting like this won’t do, I need to co out of seclusion and find out what’s going on."

With this thought, Zhouyang imdiately left the cultivation chamber and sent out a ssage to summon his niece, Zhou Guangxiang, to the cave dwelling.

Zhou Guangxiang’s cultivation had already reached the Ninth Layer Foundation Establishnt before arriving at the Land of the Far West, surpassing further advancent; thus over the five years of Zhouyang and his wife’s retreat, she had moved around Haoyang Immortal City, expanding her social network.

Due to Zhouyang and Xiao Ying handing over so of their refined magic artifact spirit talismans and elixirs to her to help sell, and asking her to help procure high-tier spirit elixirs and items like "Taiyi Essence Gold" needed for Zhouyang’s sword refining, she has gained so fa within the Foundation Establishnt cultivator circle in Haoyang Immortal City.

When she received Zhouyang’s transmission, she was setting up a stall in the free exchange market of Haoyang Immortal City. Upon receiving Zhouyang’s ssage, she quickly packed up the stall and rushed to Zhouyang’s cave abode.

"Guangxiang, during these years of activity within the city, have you heard any news about the high-tier cultivator exchange eting or underground exchange etings?"

In the cave abode, after Zhouyang saw Zhou Guangxiang return, he imdiately asked her about the concern weighing on his mind.

He knew that not only was he concerned about this issue, but Zhou Guangxiang was even more concerned.

They had already been in the Land of the Far West for almost ten years, and Zhou Guangxiang was already one hundred ninety-two years old; in another eight years, she will exceed two hundred years old, at which point the odds of successfully opening the Purple Mansion would significantly decline.

Though Zhou Guangxiang hadn’t spoken about it at all these years, Zhouyang could easily guess that his niece must be extrely anxious at heart.

Sure enough, upon hearing his question, Zhou Guangxiang’s facial expression changed imdiately.

She first bowed her head and took a deep breath, then softly said, "Ninth Uncle, discern wisely; based on my inquiries over the past few years, there seems to have been a Golden Core stage cultivator-level exchange eting held within Haoyang Immortal City, because during that ti, it was discovered that more than a dozen Golden Core stage cultivators suddenly appeared in the city and all left after staying only two to three days."

What?

Zhouyang’s brows furrowed, his complexion imdiately becoming sowhat unsightly.

His face fluctuated between light and dark expressions, and after thinking for a while, he finally said in a deep voice, "I understand; I will investigate this matter thoroughly. Rest assured, Ninth Uncle promised to find the ’Purple Heart Jade Marrow’ for you before you’re two hundred years old, and I’ll certainly do it!"

Upon hearing his determined words, Zhou Guangxiang felt a warmth in her heart, looking at him with a face full of gratitude, saying firmly, "Niece has never doubted Ninth Uncle’s words. Your kindness to us siblings is sothing we can never repay in this lifeti, and even if in the end niece doesn’t have that opportunity, I will never resent Ninth Uncle because of it!"

"Rest assured on this, in three years, the grand auction of Haoyang Immortal City will be held; if the ’Purple Heart Jade Marrow’ appears then, no matter the spirit stone cost, Ninth Uncle will help you buy it!"

Zhouyang finished speaking, paused for a mont, then continued, "Even if the ’Purple Heart Jade Marrow’ doesn’t appear at the grand auction of Haoyang Immortal City, Ninth Uncle still has other ways to help you obtain it, so you needn’t worry excessively!"

He wasn’t deceiving Zhou Guangxiang; if truly the "Purple Heart Jade Marrow" couldn’t be bought in Haoyang Immortal City, then to fulfill his promise, he could only take the risk of accepting assassination tasks from the Anti-Light Alliance.

The Anti-Light Alliance and Great Brightness Immortal Palace, being mortal enemies, consistently have assassination tasks targeting the enemy’s important cultivators, and anyone who brings the corresponding personnel’s head or another identity proof to both parties’ offices can claim substantial rewards.

If Zhouyang rembers correctly, a reward of "Purple Heart Jade Marrow" can be claid in the assassination tasks promulgated by the Anti-Light Alliance, as long as a Late-Stage Purple Mansion cultivator from the Great Brightness Immortal Palace is assassinated.

And given his strength, if he truly wanted to undertake this task, there’s still a good chance of succeeding.

However, this plan could only be considered as a last resort.

Because venturing into the region of the Great Brightness Immortal Palace to hunt cultivators would be easy, yet escaping afterwards would be considerably difficult.

Moreover, even if he safely returns to the Anti-Light Alliance, he would always need to be cautious of the assassinations from Great Brightness Immortal Palace cultivators thereafter.

Therefore, Zhouyang would not risk choosing this path unless absolutely necessary.

Subsequently, Zhouyang sent Zhou Guangxiang away temporarily, heading towards Cyan Cloud Pavilion himself, to once again visit the shopkeeper of Cyan Yuan Pavilion.

"Fellow Daoist Zhou, it seems there’s indeed been a misunderstanding with Fellow Daoist Jin on this matter. It’s not that Fellow Daoist Jin didn’t inform you, but this exchange eting was exclusively open to Golden Core stage cultivators within the Anti-Light Alliance; not even Fellow Daoist Jin, nor Junior Martial Uncle Zhao introducing Fellow Daoist Zhou to it, could help Fellow Daoist Zhou join!"

Within Cyan Yuan Pavilion, upon hearing Zhouyang, who had co to visit, ntion the high-tier cultivator exchange eting, the shopkeeper Jin Qu imdiately burst into a bitter laugh, declaring it a misunderstanding, then explained the reasons.

These internal matters were certainly not known by the Foundation Establishnt cultivators that Zhou Guangxiang interacted with.

Zhouyang understood the situation at that mont, his face showing a fleeting look of realization, imdiately cupped his hands in an apologetic manner saying, "So that’s the case, it truly seems I wrongly blad Fellow Daoist Jin, my apologies."

His straightforward and decisive attitude to admit his mistake made Jin Qu feel a surge of goodwill, prompting him to smile and say, "Since the misunderstanding is clarified, that’s fine. But as Fellow Daoist Zhou made a special visit asking about this matter, I do have so news that might interest Fellow Daoist Zhou."

"In another six months, Elder Qin of the Qin Family on Wanhua Mountain will be celebrating his nine hundredth birthday. Elder Qin has made nurous friends throughout Jinyang and beyond in his early years, and as a Ninth-Layer Golden Core cultivator, he will invite many Golden Core stage cultivators from Jinyang Country and other regions to co and celebrate. During the occasion, a high-tier cultivator exchange eting is surely to be held in conjunction."

"If Fellow Daoist Zhou is interested, Fellow Daoist Jin can procure an invitation for you, allowing you to prepare a birthday gift and attend the celebratory ceremony on Wanhua Mountain."