Cultivation Begins From The Desert-Chapter 702 - 686: Treasure Moves the Heart!

As a Nascent Soul stage cultivator, Master Fire Dragon was able to escape with his Nascent Soul and survive even after his flesh was shattered by the Poison Fire Crocodile Shark.

However, a beast like the Poison Fire Crocodile Shark does not possess such capabilities.

Though its physical body is many times stronger than that of a typical Nascent Soul stage cultivator, and its recovery ability is also many times greater, it definitely does not have the power to continue living after its head is severed.

Moreover, after Zhouyang severed its head with one slash, Zhao Yuanpu quickly seized and confined the fallen head. This way, even if the creature had the ability to reattach its severed head, it would first need to get its head back onto its body.

"Fellow Daoist Zhou, your injuries..."

After confirming the Poison Fire Crocodile Shark was dead beyond doubt, Zhao Yuanpu quickly turned his gaze to Zhouyang, his eyes filled with concern.

He had witnessed Zhouyang's weakness after performing the Azure Dragon Sky Splitting Slash, and although Zhouyang's sudden strike to kill the Poison Fire Crocodile Shark was exhilarating, if it caused his side to lose a combatant, Zhao Yuanpu wasn't sure whether it was a gain or a loss.

After all, they had only dealt with this unexpected enemy, the Poison Fire Crocodile Shark, and not yet breached any of the five array platforms storing the pressing array items.

Facing Zhao Yuanpu's concerned inquiry, Zhouyang waved his hand and replied in a low tone, "Don't worry, Fellow Daoist Zhao. The injuries on my body are not severe, but my strength will be somewhat reduced!"

Whether he was truly unharmed, only he knew for sure.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yuanpu's eyes flashed with a hint of color, and he nodded, saying, "In that case, Zhao can rest easy. If we lost a critical combatant like Fellow Daoist Zhou just for killing this beast, then it truly deserved to die!"

"Fellow Daoist Sun also wishes to thank Fellow Daoist Zhou for avenging me!"

As Master Fire Dragon's Nascent Soul spoke, his gaze turned to Zhao Yuanpu.

"Fellow Daoist Zhao, in successfully killing the Poison Fire Crocodile Shark this time, Fellow Daoist Zhou made the greatest contribution. I propose that the demon pill inside this beast should belong to Fellow Daoist Zhou. What do you think?"

Zhao Yuanpu and Zhouyang were both slightly taken aback upon hearing this, and then they each glanced thoughtfully at the small Nascent Soul body of Master Fire Dragon, understanding the meaning behind his words.

Clearly, at this moment, Master Fire Dragon was willing to speak up for Zhouyang, not only because Zhouyang indeed made a significant contribution by avenging him, but also likely due to the matter of the Blood Lotus Rebirth Pill Zhouyang mentioned earlier.

For Master Fire Dragon, currently, no treasure is more important than the Blood Lotus Rebirth Pill, which can help him reconstruct a flawless physical body, so he must try to gain Zhouyang's favor before obtaining this Spirit Pill.

Upon understanding this, Zhouyang certainly wouldn't reject Master Fire Dragon's goodwill, but he also refrained from actively agreeing, choosing to remain silent instead.

In understanding Master Fire Dragon's predicament, Zhao Yuanpu couldn't help but feel a little dissatisfied, as he too had saved Master Fire Dragon's life earlier.

However, being a wise man, he knew that opposing Master Fire Dragon under such circumstances would not only incur the other's resentment but also potentially upset Zhouyang, which would be unwise.

Moreover, he had yet to achieve any of his goals, and if the division of spoils now led to conflicts with his companions, hoping for their honest help in reclaiming his sect's ancestral remains and relics afterward would be unrealistic.

Thus, his decision was not difficult to guess.

"Fellow Daoist Sun's words are reasonable. Zhao has had a grudge against this beast for hundreds of years. This time, Fellow Daoist Zhou displayed great power in helping Zhao kill it, fulfilling my long-held wish. This most precious demon pill certainly belongs only to Fellow Daoist Zhou!"

Zhao Yuanpu smiled slightly and immediately waved his sleeve, summoning the flying sword to slit open the Poison Fire Crocodile Shark's body and extracted a large, human-head-sized fiery-red crystal to hand it to Zhouyang.

This fiery-red crystal was the equivalent of a demon pill within the Poison Fire Crocodile Shark, and calling it a demon pill wasn't wrong.

After receiving the fiery-red crystal from Zhao Yuanpu, Zhouyang briefly examined it and couldn't help but reveal a look of satisfaction and joy.

Throughout his sensing, the fiery-red crystal contained extremely pure and rich fire attribute spiritual power, akin to a large fire attribute top-grade spirit stone.

Even more valuable was the fact that the Poison Fire Crocodile Shark's aura contained within the fire attribute spiritual power was rapidly weakening, seemingly on the verge of completely dissipating.

This meant that once the aura of the Poison Fire Crocodile Shark entirely dissipated from within the fiery-red crystal, Zhouyang could directly absorb and refine the fire attribute spiritual power within to enhance his cultivation.

Considering the size of this fiery red crystal, the pure fire attribute spiritual power it contains can be completely refined and will save Zhouyang at least several decades of cultivation time. This naturally makes him extremely joyous.

The reason cultivators cannot directly refine the spiritual power within demon pills to enhance their cultivation is primarily because, even if the demon beast has died, the spiritual power within the demon pill still retains its aura.

If one directly absorbs and refines such spiritual power containing the demon beast's aura into their body, it is very likely to cause severe conflict with their original magical power. At that time, it not only becomes difficult to refine cultivation but also easily leads to qi deviation.

However, the fiery red crystal in Zhouyang's hand has no such hidden danger.

With a joyful expression, he carefully placed the fiery red crystal into a jade box and stored it in his storage ring. He then cupped his hands towards Zhao Yuanpu and the two others, saying, "Since I have obtained this exotic beast's demon pill crystal core, I won't compete with both fellow daoists for the remaining items on its body. You two may distribute them among yourselves!"

Upon hearing this, Master Fire Dragon immediately shook his head repeatedly, saying, "The defeat of this Poison Fire Crocodile Shark is entirely due to the efforts of Fellow Daoists Zhao and Zhou. I, Sun, have nothing to claim; thus, whatever is left surely belongs entirely to Fellow Daoist Zhao."

Though his words are honest, the three fought together, and even if he has no merit, he has shared in the hardships. It wouldn't be reasonable for Zhao Yuanpu to let him walk away empty-handed, as that would be neither reasonable nor fair.

"Fellow Daoist Sun, your words are incorrect. As the saying goes, those who see have a share. We cannot send you away empty-handed just because you contributed less. If word gets out, who would dare to travel with Fellow Daoist Zhao and me in the future?"

Zhao Yuanpu spoke while looking at Zhouyang, asking, "Fellow Daoist Zhou, do you think what Zhao said is right?"

"Indeed, indeed, Fellow Daoist Zhao speaks very correctly. Fellow Daoist Sun, please do not be overly modest. If you don't choose something when this incident spreads, Fellow Daoist Zhao and I would be unable to keep our reputations!"

Zhouyang nodded repeatedly without objection.

Seeing this, Master Fire Dragon finally stopped refusing, instantly cutting off two pieces of the abdominal fins from the Poison Fire Crocodile Shark and keeping them, leaving the rest of the corpse to Zhao Yuanpu.

This time, Zhao Yuanpu did not hold back. He immediately wielded his sword to divide the corpse into several parts and stored them in his storage ring, planning to carefully dissect and dispose of them later when he has time.

After properly dividing the spoils, to avoid potential unforeseen complications, they each consumed spirit elixirs to recover their magical power state, and then continued attacking the five array platforms.

In attacking the array platforms this time, naturally, Zhao Yuanpu remained as the main force.

After Zhouyang demonstrated the Azure Dragon Sky Splitting Slash, although he claimed to be fine, seeing his pale complexion and weak aura after the transformation, it was evident that he was certainly not as capable as before, and how much power he could truly exert was known only to himself.

As for Master Fire Dragon, no need to mention further; with only one nascent soul left, if not for the Fire Dragon Shield exotic treasure protecting him, even the Red Lotus Earth Fire within the array space could have refined him.

Even with this exotic treasure guarding him, he could only help from the side, offering advice and strategy, not daring to join the battle directly.

Fortunately, when dealing with the Poison Fire Crocodile Shark earlier and clearing its path, they had already tested the changes in the array platform's killing moves nearby. At this moment, the three prepared responses in advance, thereby compensating for the combat deficiencies due to personnel injuries.

Thus, after nearly half a month had passed, all five array platform suppressing items were finally extracted by Zhouyang and the others.

These five suppressing items were a Tier Six Spiritual Object Earth Fire Source Stone, a Tier Six Middle-grade Spiritual Artifact Flame Serpent Sword, a Tier Six Lower-grade Spiritual Artifact Red Lotus Magical Platform, and two Treasure Pearls with seals containing Tier Six Flame Flood Dragon and Tier Six Fire Rhinoceros Demon Souls.

Among them, the Earth Fire Source Stone was the suppressing item placed on the array platform initially pointed out by Zhouyang. Its uses were mainly threefold: the first was to elevate the earth fire's temperature, needing only to store it at the earth fire opening within the earth fire chamber, which can boost the earth fire's temperature to even rival the nascent fire of a Nascent Soul Stage cultivator.

The second was to serve as an earth fire source in certain special places where connecting with earth fire underground is inconvenient. Wherever earth fire is needed, this item can act as a medium, endlessly generating earth fire through arrays to supply cultivators for alchemy and artifact refining.

The third was to use it as a suppression item for certain fire arrays to increase the array's power.

The uses of the two spiritual artifacts need not be explained; one is an attack artifact and the other a defensive one. Though differing in grade, both are excellent treasures.

As for the last two Treasure Pearls, resembling magical artifacts yet not quite magical artifacts, they seemed to be produced using a special artifact refining method, turning demon pills into unique containers to house demon souls.

The Flame Flood Dragon and Flaming Giant Rhinoceros encountered by Zhouyang within the array were actually transformations of the demon souls within the two Treasure Pearls; their demon souls and Treasure Pearls merged into one, seemingly gaining an "immortal" trait. As long as the Treasure Pearl itself remained undestroyed, they could use the Treasure Pearl's power for rebirth, while the Treasure Pearls could draw strength from the array's power as a recharge.

According to the previously agreed distribution method, Zhao Yuanpu contributed most during the attack on the array platforms; hence, he chose the highest-valued Tier Six Middle Grade Flying Sword Flame Serpent Sword.

Zhouyang, the second to choose a treasure, selected the Tier Six Lower-Grade Defense Spiritual Artifact Red Lotus Magical Platform.

When it was Master Fire Dragon's turn, he first declined repeatedly, citing that he had not exerted much effort, but eventually chose that Earth Fire Source Stone when he saw that refusal was impossible.

Then, Zhao Yuanpu selected a Treasure Pearl with a sealed Flame Flood Dragon Demon Soul, while Zhouyang picked a Treasure Pearl with a sealed Fire Rhinoceros Demon Soul.

Upon acquiring the Treasure Pearl, Zhouyang studied it casually, discovering that while it did not demand high Magical Power, its Divine Sense requirement was extraordinarily high.

To ensure the demon soul within the Treasure Pearl would obey the cultivator's commands once released, a Divine Sense at the level of a Mid-Stage Nascent Soul Cultivator was the minimum requirement.

This realization alone made him lose interest in it.

This item seems suitable only as a pressing object in an array, not as a usable magical artifact.

After the treasures were divided, the problem before Zhouyang and the two others was how to break through the array to enter the true cave mansion.

Actually, after the five Array Platforms had been destroyed and their pressing objects retrieved, the three felt the array power weaken significantly, with the originally frequent fire column and fireball attacks now much reduced in frequency, and even the pervasive Red Lotus Earth Fire within the Realm Space starting to thin.

Such changes occurring, even Zhao Yuanpu and Master Fire Dragon, who were not well-versed in the way of arrays, realized that something was very wrong with this array, which had existed for unknown years.

At this point, after the treasures were divided, Zhouyang immediately said, "I have already discovered the weakness of this array. Fellow Daoist Zhao, follow my instructions, and we can break the array and enter the mansion!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yuanpu's spirit was instantly lifted and he gladly replied, "Fellow Daoist Zhou, please speak directly; Zhao will certainly comply."

Thus, Zhouyang outlined the array's weaknesses he had discovered, and Zhao Yuanpu, upon understanding, began to exert force and attack in the directions pointed out.

In less than half a short moment, the three successfully broke through the array, seeing the cave mansion behind the array.

Unexpected yet reasonable was that the cave mansion behind the array greatly differed from the typical cave mansion opened within mountain or earth by cultivators.

This so-called cave mansion was a large piece of rock floating on magma, roughly circular with a diameter of over a hundred zhang. A grand stone hall originally stood on this rock, but unfortunately, it had been shattered and destroyed, leaving only some collapsed debris to barely identify it.

Of course, Zhouyang and the two others would certainly not linger long over that pile of ruins. Upon entering here and taking in the scenery atop the rock, their eyes settled on two places.

One place contained a desiccated corpse with a shattered chest, wearing a damaged red robe similar to Zhao Yuanpu's, thus its identity in life needed no further words.

This corpse seated slumped on the ground was Chu Zhennan, the Grand Elder of Divine Fire Palace from several millennia ago.

And not far from Chu Zhennan's corpse, beside a fire pool, also lay a corpse.

This corpse seemed even older, with only a withered skeleton left after being eroded by time, the skull nowhere to be found.

Judging from the actual situation, this skeleton likely belonged to the true owner here, a Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator from thousands or tens of thousands of years ago who immortalized here due to exhaustion of lifespan or some other reason.

As for why Zhouyang and the two others could ascertain this corpse was that of a Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator, naturally, because once a cultivator's cultivation reached the Tribulation Crossing True Immortal Realm, they could reshape their immortal body and condense a True Immortal Body.

A True Immortal Body, unless deliberately destroyed, could remain incorrupt and undamaged despite its owner's demise, persisting unchanged even after tens of thousands of years.

Yet the object attracting the gaze of Zhouyang and the two others was not this barren skeleton but rather something in the fire pool beside it.

The fire pool was not large, just over three zhang in length and more than two zhang in width, with the deep purple Earth Fire within blazing fiercely, never extinguished in countless years.

Floating and growing amid the blazing Earth Fire was a splendidly blooming purple strange flower.

This purple strange flower resembled a camellia but lacked a stem or leaves, appearing as though tossed there after being picked.

However, Zhouyang and the two others could unmistakably feel that it was a living being, exuding the aura of life's vitality.

"Fellow Daoist Zhao, Fellow Daoist Sun, your cultivation time is several times that of mine, can you identify the origins of that strange flower?"

Zhouyang's eyes gleamed as he gazed at the purple mysterious flower, exerting great effort to tear his eyes away, and then turned to Zhao Yuanpu and Master Fire Dragon to inquire about the flower's origins.

He had just deliberately reviewed in his mind the various spiritual object illustrations and literature he had read, yet found that he had never seen any spiritual object matching this purple mysterious flower's condition in any books.

However, to his disappointment, neither Zhao Yuanpu nor Master Fire Dragon, both seasoned Nascent Soul cultivators with over two thousand years of cultivation experience, had any knowledge of this purple mysterious flower.

"Although I, Sun, do not know the origins of this purple mysterious flower, seeing it thrive amidst the Earth Core Purple Flame for ten thousand years, a rare treasure it must undoubtedly be. Even if someone claims it to be the legendary Tier Seven Immortal Elixir, I would not doubt it in the slightest!"

Master Fire Dragon spoke these words with excitement in his voice, yet his gaze had already shifted from the purple mysterious flower to Zhouyang and the others.

With a flash of reluctance across his face, his expression turned serious as he looked at the two and said, "Fellow Daoists, I, Sun, know my strength is inadequate and that I have contributed little in this venture. I shall not compete for the ownership of this purple mysterious flower."

"However, I also hope you two will remain restrained and not let external matters harm our friendship!"

For Master Fire Dragon to advance to the mid-Nascent Soul stage as a loose cultivator, regardless of anything else, his understanding of making choices and interpersonal skills surely far surpass those of ordinary people.

Since his physical body was destroyed by the Poison Fire Crocodile Shark, he had been intentionally downplaying his presence within the team, avoiding competition or quarrels over any benefits, fearing it might bring deadly disaster upon himself.

Although the purple mysterious flower is undoubtedly scarce and exceedingly precious, Master Fire Dragon knows very well that with only a Nascent Soul left, to compete with Zhao Yuanpu and Zhouyang over it would be seeking death.

No treasure, no matter how great, is worth more than one's life. Having cultivated for over two thousand years, Master Fire Dragon understands this truth better than anyone.

So, despite his great reluctance to miss out on such a treasure, he can still restrain his greed and make the right decision.

Upon hearing his words, Zhouyang and Zhao Yuanpu exchanged a silent glance.

Master Fire Dragon knew he was outmatched and was willing to give up this opportunity, but neither Zhouyang nor Zhao Yuanpu, confident of their strength, wanted to easily relinquish it.

And with only this one visible treasure at present, no one mentioned the agreement made by the three of them beforehand.

After all, the agreement was merely oral and not an oath that must be fulfilled.

Such ventures to seek fortune through exploration rarely have anyone foolish enough to bind themselves with a deadly contractual oath.

"It seems we've all forgotten something!"

Zhouyang gazed at Zhao Yuanpu and then pointed to the remains of the Ancestor Master of the Divine Fire Palace, saying, "Since the original owner here has long passed, who was it that your sect's Ancestor Master fell at the hands of? Has the perpetrator truly already left this place?"

Upon hearing this, not only did Zhao Yuanpu's expression change, but even Master Fire Dragon was suddenly shocked. He quickly infused more magic power into his protective Fire Dragon Shield and looked around with a face full of suspicion.

Zhao Yuanpu, however, after his expression changed several times, murmured, "Although the fall of Ancestor Zhen Nan at this place is indeed peculiar, his demise and extinction happened over three thousand years ago. If the murderer was able to kill Ancestor Zhen Nan, surely they haven't been trapped here all these years!"

After saying this, he couldn't help but glance at Zhouyang, implying, "Fellow Daoist Zhou, you may be overthinking. If the assassin who killed our Ancestor Zhen Nan were truly trapped here, we would have likely fallen victim when trapped in the array. Even if the assailant couldn't ambush us within the array, when we first appeared here before we had steadied ourselves would have been their best opportunity, yet aren't we still standing here unharmed now?"

But Zhouyang acted as if he hadn't caught the implication and indifferently said, "Perhaps. I just feel that being cautious doesn't harm, especially since your esteemed Ancestor Master, an illustrious eighth-layer Nascent Soul cultivator, met such a tragic end here. It's hard to feel assured about the safety of this place!"

Hearing this, Zhao Yuanpu couldn't help but look deeply at him and then nodded, "If so, then let me first collect our Ancestor's remains and relics, and then you and I can discuss how to handle that purple mysterious flower. What do you think, Fellow Daoist Zhou?"

Upon hearing these words, Zhouyang's face suddenly changed, his eyes fixed coldly on the remains, and he stated, "Fellow Daoist Zhao's words remind me. Since your esteemed Ancestor was killed by an external force, why did the murderer leave your Ancestor's relics untouched? Surely an eighth-layer Nascent Soul cultivator's treasures wouldn't be dismissed so easily!"

Instantly, Zhao Yuanpu and Master Fire Dragon's expressions changed as well, and they both quickly summoned their prized magical artifacts, watching the remains with full vigilance like Zhouyang.

Indeed!

Even the treasures carried by an eighth-layer Nascent Soul cultivator are not something those at the Tribulation Crossing Stage True Immortals would easily abandon.

If Chu Zhennan was slain, why were his belongings and the purple mysterious flower in the fire pool left untouched by the assailant?