Cultivation Begins From The Desert-Chapter 773 - 756: The Alternative Method!

Objects that can help a Nascent Soul Stage cultivator break through bottlenecks have always been extremely rare in the Cultivation Realm. Any Nascent Soul Stage cultivator who obtains one would regard it as a treasure and would not easily let others know.

Let alone a secret technique!

So, when Zhouyang asked Yin Hanguang, he actually harbored doubt in his heart.

After all, Lei Wanpeng could already be said to have a death wish on the battlefield, so why would he carry such an extremely rare secret technique with him?

Could it be that he deliberately left behind a fake secret technique, or a flawed one, to intentionally mislead the cultivator who obtained it?

However, these doubts did not diminish his interest in the secret technique.

So, knowing well that Yin Hanguang was telling him this to make him pay an equivalent exchange price, he still asked.

"Speaking of which, being able to kill Lei Wanpeng also involved some of Fellow Daoist Zhou's credit. According to the rules of the Cultivation Realm, this secret technique should have a share owed to Fellow Daoist Zhou."

Yin Hanguang said, with a wave of his hand, a jade scroll fell into Zhouyang's hand.

"I've already studied this secret technique several times. Apart from the difficulty in obtaining the five top-grade spirit stones of different attributes for the array, I haven't found any loopholes. Fellow Daoist Zhou might as well study it too!"

Upon hearing this, Zhouyang couldn't help but give him a deep look, then slightly nodded, releasing his divine sense to read the information within the jade scroll.

Not long after, Zhouyang withdrew his divine sense, furrowing his brow as he pondered.

He had already read the entire secret technique.

This secret technique, named the "Five Elements Barrier-Breaking Technique," indeed seemed to have no discernible loopholes. The idea of using five top-grade spirit stones of different attributes to arrange a secret array to forcibly help a cultivator break through bottlenecks seemed sound.

Many Nascent Soul Stage practitioners have had experiences breaking through cultivations with the pure spiritual qi within top-grade spirit stones, this has long been considered a feasible solution by many Nascent Soul Stage cultivators.

But due to his distrust of his enemy, Zhouyang still dared not to rashly make such an easy judgment.

Thus, he decided to seek the help of Lan Daoist.

At this moment, he seemed to be pondering, but in fact, he was taking the opportunity to contact Lan Daoist to inform him of the secret technique's contents, asking him to help with the research and consultation.

Fortunately, Yin Hanguang also seemed to understand his concerns and was not in a hurry to urge, patiently waiting with him.

After several hours had passed, Zhouyang's expression suddenly became solemn, and he earnestly looked at Yin Hanguang and said: "I've realized Lei Wanpeng's malicious intent in deliberately carrying this secret technique!"

Yin Hanguang was startled, slightly surprised to see him actually find a flaw.

He looked at him for a while before coming back to his senses and saying: "Fellow Daoist Zhou, please explain in detail."

"Using top-grade spirit stones to aid in breaking cultivation bottlenecks is, in itself, no problem. However, if you truly follow the secret array recorded in this 'Five Elements Barrier-Breaking Technique' to do so, using the power of the five elements to forcibly break through bottlenecks, it would permanently damage the cultivator's affinity to the elemental spiritual qi of heaven and earth, leaving those practicing five elements attribute technique unable to advance their cultivation any further!"

"Lei Wanpeng, that scoundrel, was already hopeless in becoming immortal, so using this secret technique to advance to the Ninth-Layer Nascent Soul naturally didn't require worry about the aftereffects."

"However, if we use this secret technique to break through cultivation bottlenecks, not only will it be difficult to advance in cultivation afterward, but we will also permanently consume five top-grade spirit stones. This bastard truly played a good trick!"

Zhouyang revealed Lan Daoist's analysis results with a dark expression, his voice icy.

Lei Wanpeng's move was undeniably sinister and brilliant.

Yin Hanguang found no issue with the secret technique because the secret technique itself wasn't altered; it was a genuinely feasible secret technique.

However, Lei Wanpeng deliberately obscured the aftereffects of the secret technique.

Normally, only when a cultivator successfully uses this secret technique to break through a bottleneck would they discover the aftereffects.

By then, regardless of whether the cultivator divulges the aftereffects, Lei Wanpeng's intent of using this secret technique to harm others would have already been accomplished.

"So that's how it is! Now that Fellow Daoist Zhou explains it like this, everything makes sense!"

Yin Hanguang nodded with a similarly grim expression, angrily cursing: "What a Lei Wanpeng, even in death he wants to harm people, truly despises living!"

He didn't doubt Zhouyang's words because he also felt something strange when obtaining this "Five Elements Barrier-Breaking Technique."

Even though he knew that Lei Wanpeng's carrying such a precious secret technique on him was suspiciously strange, the secret technique was so valuable that he couldn't help but hold onto a bit of hopeful curiosity to research it.

Now revealed by Zhouyang, who pointed out the hidden pitfalls in the secret technique, he knew Lei Wanpeng's intentions of carrying such a precious secret technique.

Even if they discovered the hidden dangers of this secret technique, Lei Wanpeng wouldn't lose anything.

If they failed to detect the dangers and actually used this secret technique to break through bottlenecks, then Lei Wanpeng would have truly succeeded.

Since the secret technique had such enormous hidden dangers, the matter of Yin Hanguang using it as leverage to trade with Zhouyang naturally became moot.

Fortunately, he had more than just this leverage.

So, after slightly calming his emotions, he looked at Zhouyang and said: "I won't hide it from Fellow Daoist Zhou; in fact, I do have something I want to entrust you with. If Fellow Daoist Zhou is willing to assist, Yin will supply you with another drop of Immortal Spirit Jade Dew!"

The value of Immortal Spirit Jade Dew needs no elaboration. Zhouyang, having used such a spiritual object before, deeply understands how potent it is.

Hearing that Yin Hanguang was willing to use this spiritual object as payment, he instantly became interested, asking inquisitively: "But, I wonder what matter Fellow Daoist Yin wants to entrust?"

"Yin's lifespan has been drastically reduced, at most able to endure only two or three more centuries, but if some people think that Yin's death means they can have their way, they are dreaming!"

Yin Hanguang first spat with rancor, then looked at Zhouyang, saying: "What Yin wants to entrust to Fellow Daoist Zhou is very simple, that is, when Yin is about to sit in meditation, Fellow Daoist Zhou can do once more what Elder Xuanji did, and help the designated elder of the Immortal Palace ascend to the position of Palace Master, completely shattering some people's delusions!"

"This..."

Zhouyang looked at Yin Hanguang with a troubled expression, not expecting him to propose such a condition.

Involvement in another force's internal affairs is a major taboo in the Cultivation Realm. When the time came for the change of the Palace Master in the Donghua Immortal Palace, he refrained from getting involved. Now he should get involved in the Great Brightness Immortal Palace's power struggle – it truly put him in difficulty.

Seeing him troubled and speechless, Yin Hanguang's expression also dimmed slightly and he couldn't help raising his voice a little: "What, is Fellow Daoist Zhou unwilling? Or does he feel what I'm offering is insufficient?"

"I beg Fellow Daoist Yin's understanding, such involvement with your sect's internal affairs is a great taboo in the Cultivation Realm. Although tempted by this Immortal Spirit Jade Dew, doing such a taboo thing is better avoided if possible!"

Zhouyang cupped his hands, tactfully expressing his stance.

He originally thought that after saying this, Yin Hanguang would sensibly drop the matter.

Unexpectedly, after listening to his words, Yin Hanguang's expression darkened, and he suddenly said, "Then how about adding a Fire Attribute Transformation Spirit Elixir! Fellow Daoist Zhou surely wouldn't dismiss even such a Spiritual Object, would he!"

Zhouyang fell silent at this point.

It wasn't that Yin Hanguang's promises had aroused his greed, but he suddenly realized that something was off about Yin Hanguang's state.

He had an intuitive feeling that if he refused again as he had before, who knows what reckless action Yin Hanguang might take.

As this thought arose, he felt increasingly heavy-hearted.

After all, they were currently in a place teeming with more than ten Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators from the Great Brightness Immortal Palace. If Yin Hanguang did something crazy, even though he had plenty of trump cards, it was uncertain whether he could retreat unharmed.

Therefore, rationally speaking, Zhouyang did not believe that Yin Hanguang would risk the danger of being overturned by the [Anti-Light Alliance] to fall out with him, but he still didn't want to take that risk.

You can't predict a madman's behavior with a normal person's thinking.

Whether Yin Hanguang was mad or not, Zhouyang didn't know, but he truly didn't dare to gamble on that possibility, unwilling to provoke him further.

A wise man does not stand under a dangerous wall; he had no need to gamble on this possibility.

"Alright, since Fellow Daoist Yin insists, I shall make an exception for you this once!"

He spoke indifferently with lowered brows, not showing the slightest panic, as if he had truly been weighing the pros and cons just now.

"In that case, I thank Fellow Daoist Zhou in advance."

Yin Hanguang's expression relaxed, and he cupped his hands towards Zhouyang in gratitude.

Then he continued, "But please forgive me, Fellow Daoist Zhou, for the fulfillment of [Immortal Spirit Jade Dew] and the Transformation Spirit Elixir; they can only be handed over when the time comes."

"Naturally, I have no objection,"

Zhouyang nodded slightly and agreed readily.

A potential crisis, whether real or imagined, thus quietly dissipated into nothingness.

After leaving Yin Hanguang's cave abode and returning to his temporary residence, Zhouyang's face turned grim.

He thought to himself that he hadn't done anything to wrong Yin Hanguang. He had initially owed him a favor, and this time he had repaid it earnestly.

Moreover, to be fair, he had contributed significantly back when Yin Hanguang managed to retrieve the [Eye of Light], that Tier Seven Immortal Artifact.

Even though Yin Hanguang still didn't know about this.

But even so, Yin Hanguang's abrupt change of attitude left him feeling quite cold.

He couldn't remember how many years it had been since someone had threatened him like this. In the old days, when his cultivation was low, being threatened was understandable; after all, he was a weaker arm trying to bend a stronger leg, and not complying could mean mortal danger.

But now his cultivation had already reached the Sixth-Layer Nascent Soul, yet he was still facing such threats, which made him quite angry.

"I originally intended to honor the agreement and leave only after the war ended, but now it seems it's best to leave first." 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

"After all, with Lei Wanpeng dead, unless the Great Brightness Immortal Palace is addled enough to engage in internal strife, it can't possibly be overturned again!"

With a grim face, Zhouyang muttered to himself, feeling increasingly inclined towards leaving without saying goodbye.

He had never been a rigid person who didn't know how to adapt. Once he realized that staying any longer might involve him in a whirlpool quagmire, he wasn't foolish enough to stay.

However, even if he were to leave without notice, he couldn't leave just yet. At the very least, he needed to find a suitable excuse to leave his current location, so he could slip away quietly.

Therefore, he quickly composed himself and focused on another matter.

With a wave of his hand, Lan Daoist, who was hiding inside the [Dongxuan Pearl], was released.

"Fellow Daoist Lan, about the alternative method you mentioned earlier, how feasible is it? Could you explain it to me in more detail?"

Zhouyang cupped his hands in a salute to Lan Daoist, and with a solemn expression, he stated his reason for bringing him out.

It turned out that earlier when Zhouyang sought Lan Daoist's help in studying the Five Elements Barrier-Breaking Technique, Lan Daoist not only discovered the hidden dangers of this Secret Technique but also pointed out that other Spiritual Objects could replace the five Top-grade Spirit Stones, thereby using this Secret Technique to break through bottlenecks without lasting harm.

However, at the time, with Yin Hanguang watching, Zhouyang could not discuss it in detail, so he hadn't inquired further.

Now, alone in his cave, Zhouyang had no more concerns and naturally wanted to ask more about this matter.

"Of course,"

Lan Daoist looked at Zhouyang and nodded slightly, then immediately began to explain his alternative method in detail.

According to Lan Daoist, although the Spiritual Power within Top-grade Spirit Stones is pure, it lacks a certain vitality compared to the Spiritual Qi generated by Spirit Veins.

If a cultivator simply absorbs the Spiritual Qi from a single Top-grade Spirit Stone that matches their attribute to cultivate and break through a bottleneck, the amount absorbed wouldn't be substantial enough to affect the cultivator's future path significantly.

However, if, according to the Secret Technique of the Five Elements Barrier-Breaking Technique, they simultaneously absorb the Five Elements Spiritual Power contained within five different attribute Top-grade Spirit Stones to break through a bottleneck, this inert Spiritual Power will erode both the cultivator's Nascent Soul and physical body significantly, thereby hindering and damaging the cultivator's future affinity with the Heaven and Earth Five Elements Spiritual Qi.

Lan Daoist's method was to replace Top-grade Spirit Stones with other Spiritual Objects while leveraging the Five Elements Barrier-Breaking Technique to break through bottlenecks, thereby avoiding the severe future repercussions these stones could have on a cultivator's practice.

After all, the Secret Array merely required pure and massive Five Elements Spiritual Power, and Top-grade Spirit Stones were just the most readily available source of such power.

"The Demon Pill of a Tier Six Gold-eating Beast contains pure Gold Attribute Spiritual Power and can be used as a substitute for a Gold Attribute Top-grade Spirit Stone."

"The Heart of a Tier Six Tree Demon contains pure and robust Wood Attribute Spiritual Power and can be used as a substitute for a Wood Attribute Top-grade Spirit Stone."

"Water's nature is gentle, and there are several substitutes for a Water Attribute Top-grade Spirit Stone, including a Ten Thousand Years Water Spirit Pearl, a Tier Six Water Spirit Treasure nurtured by a Clam Demon, the Demon Pill of a Tier Six Water Attribute Demon Beast with a True Spirit Bloodline of the Black Tortoise, and the Essence Treasure, Water Spirit Jade."

"Fire is frenzied, but because it aligns with Fellow Daoist Zhou's own attribute, finding a substitute is relatively easy. You only need to find a Demon Pill from a Tier Six Demon King with a rich Fire Attribute True Spirit Bloodline or from a Tier Six Fire Qilin Beast."

"Tier Six Spiritual Object Earth Essence Marrow Crystal and the Demon Pill of a Tier Six Earth Dragon Beast can both be used as substitutes for an Earth Attribute Top-grade Spirit Stone."