Cultivation Begins From The Desert-Chapter 783 - 766: Greed Blinds!

There were no surprises; the Tree Demon, under the comprehensive suppression by Zhouyang, was completely unable to resist his hunt.

Zhouyang didn't even need to use his incarnation and easily subdued and killed it.

According to the agreement between Zhouyang and Ou Mingyu, he would only take the most precious Heart of the Tree Demon from this Tier Six Tree Demon, and the rest would belong to Ou Mingyu.

So even though Ou Mingyu did nothing but lead the way during this action, after taking out the Heart of the Tree Demon, he had no thoughts of reneging.

"Fellow Daoist Ou, I have acquired what I desired; our agreement ends here. I shall take my leave now!"

In the valley, after taking and securing the Heart of the Tree Demon, Zhouyang nodded at Ou Mingyu, clearly indicating his intention to depart.

Ou Mingyu was hoping for this; upon hearing Zhouyang's words, he quickly smiled and cupped his hands in farewell, saying, "Safe travels, Fellow Daoist Zhou. I need to clean up the battlefield, so I won't see you off."

Zhouyang smiled lightly upon hearing this, said nothing more, and left Black Cloud Valley directly.

After watching Zhouyang leave and ensuring he had gone far, Ou Mingyu could not suppress his joy and burst into laughter.

"Hahaha, it seems fortune is smiling upon me, Ou! That Zhouyang is indeed powerful, but he is blind to what is precious, not understanding the importance of this [Yin Insect Wood] and its use for us insect cultivators!"

"Now with the tree roots and trunk of this Tier Six [Yin Insect Wood] in hand, I can mass-produce high-tier [Insect-Attracting Incense]. By then, using these high-tier [Insect-Attracting Incense] to lure away the mature insects from among the Barbaric Strange Insects in the Wilderness Jungle, whether their larva from their nests or the Spiritual Objects they guard, they will all be mine for the taking!"

No wonder Ou Mingyu was so pleased.

With his cultivation, even if he broke through to the Mid-Stage Nascent Soul, without Zhouyang's help, he couldn't have dealt with the Tree Demon, as all his skills were restrained by it.

But now, with Zhouyang's assistance in slaying the Tree Demon, he'd succeeded in obtaining the tree trunk and roots he'd longed for in his dreams, allowing him to finally realize a plan that had been brewing in his heart for a long time.

Once that plan was realized, both he and his Celestial Silkworm Sect would significantly advance, stepping onto a new level.

However, in his excitement, Ou Mingyu failed to notice a pair of dark purple, eerie eyes staring at him from a rock crevice in Black Cloud Valley.

When he gleefully descended from the sky and began digging out the Tree Demon's roots left underground, a cold glint flashed in those dark purple eerie eyes.

Half an hour later, Zhouyang, who had left Black Cloud Valley, returned once more.

At this time inside Black Cloud Valley, Ou Mingyu lay on the ground, his entire body a livid blue, long devoid of any breath.

"Oh Fellow Daoist Ou, you shouldn't have been so greedy. Since ancient times, greed has blinded people. If there is a next life, I hope you can remember this lesson!"

With a calm expression, Zhouyang looked at Ou Mingyu's corpse in the valley, seemingly unsurprised by this outcome.

Long before while the Tree Demon was still alive, he had, through his incredibly powerful Divine Sense, discovered the presence of a Barbaric Strange Insect [Shadow Purple-eyed Scorpion] hidden within Black Cloud Valley.

This [Shadow Purple-eyed Scorpion] was likely the Tree Demon's secret weapon, aimed to ambush him at a crucial moment.

Unfortunately, he displayed too much strength and never relaxed his guard; the Tree Demon never got the opportunity to use this Barbaric Strange Insect adept at stealth attacks.

Undoubtedly, the Tree Demon was also a cunning and treacherous entity. Knowing that the [Shadow Purple-eyed Scorpion] couldn't harm Zhouyang, it preferred to die without exposing it, even eventually giving up resistance in its last moments.

Clearly, the Tree Demon did all this to allow the [Shadow Purple-eyed Scorpion] a chance to strike after its death, seeking vengeance for itself.

After all, in normal circumstances, after confirming the deadly foe's demise, no one would continue expending Magical Power to maintain Protective Divine Techniques.

And in order to unearth the extensive root system left by the dead Tree Demon, one would inevitably have to descend to the ground, providing the [Shadow Purple-eyed Scorpion] an opportunity to strike.

Fortunately, Zhouyang had noticed the [Shadow Purple-eyed Scorpion] early on and naturally understood the Tree Demon's plan, thus avoided being fooled.

Moreover, based on his agreement with Ou Mingyu, he was only supposed to take the Heart of the Tree Demon, while the roots underground weren't part of his share.

As he was dissatisfied with Ou Mingyu's extortion, he naturally didn't inform him of the [Shadow Purple-eyed Scorpion]'s existence.

At that time, Zhouyang thought if Ou Mingyu survived the [Shadow Purple-eyed Scorpion]'s ambush, it would be his fortune, and he would let him have the benefits.

But if Ou Mingyu died, then Zhouyang would just come to collect his corpse.

Now the outcome was evident; Ou Mingyu ultimately paid for his greed with his life.

The terrifying venom of the [Shadow Purple-eyed Scorpion] made him fall before he had the chance to manifest his Nascent Soul.

Having completed its task of avenging the Tree Demon, the poison-killer [Shadow Purple-eyed Scorpion] gained its freedom completely and had already left Black Cloud Valley.

"Hmm, let me see what transpired during that time."

Zhouyang muttered softly, immediately forming a seal and casting a spell, employing the "Circular Light Retrospect" technique, which can only be used by Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators, to review what had happened during the half-hour after his departure.

With his cultivation level exceeding Ou Mingyu's by a small realm, and given that Ou Mingyu never practiced the related Tribulation Avoidance Secret Technique nor possessed related artifacts, it wasn't difficult for him to retrospectively visualize past events at the expense of some Magical Power.

As expected, everything Ou Mingyu said after he left also came into both his view and hearing.

"So the origin of the Tree Demon's roots is of the Spirit Wood named [Yin Insect Wood]? There's such a uniquely functional Spirit Wood in this world?"

Zhouyang's eyes glinted with intrigue.

He saw that the method for producing the so-called [Insect-Attracting Incense] was within Ou Mingyu's Storage Ring and found numerous Insect Cultivation items within, including insect-controlling Secret Techniques and Spirit Insect Cultivation Secret Techniques, along with the method for refining the Spiritual Insect Special Worm Pill.

Thanks to these Secret Techniques, Zhouyang could add a lineage of Insect Cultivation to the capabilities of the Zhou Family.

Having examined the many Treasures in Ou Mingyu's Storage Ring, Zhouyang couldn't help but smile wryly.

"That Ou Mingyu really was..."

It's rare for cultivators, even those from a Major Sect and who've advanced to the Nascent Soul Stage, to leave with so many sect Secret Techniques in their possession.

After all, when out in the world, there are always risks, and it's not advisable to allow Sect's Techniques to fall into the hands of outsiders upon an untimely demise.

Yet, Ou Mingyu had made that mistake, causing most of the insect-controlling and cultivation arts from his Celestial Silkworm Sect to fall into my hands."

With these Secret Techniques, Zhouyang could indeed add another Insect Cultivation legacy to the Zhou Family.

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But now, with the many insect cultivation inheritances he had obtained, he realized that even if he truly did this, the Celestial Silkworm Sect would never be grateful to him.

He had no choice but to burn Ou Mingyu's body to ashes with a fire, then finish what he hadn't completed, and leave Black Cloud Valley with his spoils.

Now that he had the Tier Six Tree Demon Heart at hand, the substitute spiritual objects required for cultivating the "Five Elements Barrier-Breaking Technique" were fully collected. Zhouyang was eager to return to the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm to retreat and make a breakthrough.

Therefore, after leaving Black Cloud Valley, he headed straight for Cloud Peak Immortal City.

Zhouyang has always been a person who distinguishes between gratitude and grudges.

Since Duan Zhengming aided him in obtaining the Tier Six Tree Demon Heart this time, he naturally intended to give the other party some compensation before leaving the Celestial South Continent Cultivation Realm.

However, the last time Duan Zhengming met with him, he made it very clear that he didn't want Zhouyang to enter Cloud Peak Immortal City and bring the trouble of the Cyan Scale Demon King to Zhengyang Sect and Cloud Peak Immortal City.

Thus, when Zhouyang arrived outside Cloud Peak Immortal City, he simply found a Purple Mansion Cultivator from Zhengyang Sect and handed over a sealed jade bottle to this Purple Mansion Cultivator to pass on to Duan Zhengming.

"Two True Origin Pills capable of refining one's cultivation are more than enough to repay Duan Zhengming for his efforts this time."

Retracting his gaze from the direction the Purple Mansion Cultivator of Zhengyang Sect left, Zhouyang did not hesitate and immediately began his journey northward.

However, after flying northward for only a few days, he encountered trouble.

"I, Zhou, believe I've been quite cautious all the way, and no one knows where I'm heading, but I wonder how Your Excellency the Demon King found me?"

Hovering above the undulating mountain ridge, Zhouyang stood with a serious expression, his eyes full of curiosity as he looked at the blue-haired burly man opposite him and posed his question.

Even though they had not interacted before, when the blue-haired burly man suddenly pursued him with strong hostility, Zhouyang recognized the identity of the other from his powerful aura.

This blue-haired burly man was precisely the Celestial South Great Demon, the Cyan Scale Demon King.

"Do you think this king would tell you that? Enough chatter, show me what you've got. This king wants to see what abilities you possess to have even caused the demise of my younger brother, Chongming Demon King!"

The blue-haired burly man looked coldly at Zhouyang, not considering Zhouyang as an opponent of the same level in his words.

Indeed, in his eyes, Zhouyang, with only a Nascent Soul Sixth Stage Cultivation, even if his combat strength far exceeded his cultivation, could not possibly be a match for him, who was comparable to a Ninth-Layer Nascent Soul Cultivator.

Since he was personally taking action, he didn't believe Zhouyang had any chance of survival.

"Is the Demon King so confident? Let Zhou test the divine techniques of the Demon King then!"

As Zhouyang spoke, he waved his hand, releasing his External Incarnation and the Lan Daoist, who was hiding inside the Dongxuan Pearl.

As they say, the person's name, the shadow of the tree.

Since the Cyan Scale Demon King had such a great reputation, his strength must not be comparable to demon kings like the Chongming Demon King.

Although Zhouyang was somewhat displeased with the Cyan Scale Demon King's disdain for him, he absolutely would not underestimate the opponent's strength due to it, and thus he didn't intend to hold back from the start.

After summoning all his helpers, he solemnly said to the Lan Daoist, "Fellow Daoist Lan, this demon's strength is comparable to a Ninth-Layer Nascent Soul Cultivator. Today I must ask for your full assistance in helping me repel the enemy!"

"Lan will certainly do my best!"

The Lan Daoist gave the Cyan Scale Demon King a calm look, responding to Zhouyang's request with a flat tone.

"Hmm? You are not human? Nor like the Demon Race!"

The Cyan Scale Demon King glanced at the suddenly appearing Lan Daoist, his pupils narrowing, and he quickly discerned that the Lan Daoist wasn't human.

Then he smirked, looking at Lan Daoist with interest and muttering to himself, "Interesting, neither human nor demon, nor those barbaric alien races. This king is now a bit interested in your origins and background. Hopefully, you won't disappoint this king!"

"Attack!"

Zhouyang issued a low shout, waved his hand, and launched the Purple Gold Qiankun Ruler towards the blue-haired burly man.

At the same time, his External Incarnation also activated the Wood Thunder Element Token, releasing streaks of "Wood God Thunder" towards the blue-haired burly man.

The Lan Daoist, however, did not make a move, squinting at the blue-haired burly man, his intentions unknown.

The Treasure Ruler tore through the air, appearing above the blue-haired burly man's head in the blink of an eye, emitting waves of purple-gold spiritual light as it smashed down towards his head.

However, when the Treasure Ruler actually fell, Zhouyang realized that the blue-haired burly man had already vanished, leaving only an illusion created by his divine technique.

More terrifying was that Zhouyang's powerful divine sense, comparable to a Ninth-Layer "Half-Step True Immortal" realm cultivator, hadn't even detected this!

"The magical artifact is quite good, surprisingly a rare spatial attack artifact, but unfortunately your understanding of space law is too weak, fundamentally unable to utilize the true power of this artifact!"

A cold voice sounded from behind Zhouyang, who turned to see, with a difficult expression, the blue-haired burly man's form had somehow appeared ten thousand feet behind him.

"Wind Escape Technique!"

He gritted out in low growl, eyes filled with suspicion and surprise.

"Not just Wind Escape, but also Wind Concealment and Wind Breath Techniques!"

The Lan Daoist gravely continued, sharing his observations unabashedly.

Before Zhouyang could respond, he continued, his face somber, "This time we've got a problem. This demon king's understanding of the Wind Attribute Law has reached a profound realm; he could now provoke the True Spirit Celestial Tribulation if he wished!"

What!

Zhouyang's face transformed drastically, utterly shocked by the Lan Daoist's words.

He was all too aware of how powerful a demon king capable of provoking the True Spirit Celestial Tribulation was.

Not to mention the Great Demon Mu Qingyun of Donglai Immortal Island, who nearly crossed the True Spirit Celestial Tribulation, just the Thunder Feather Demon King whom he knew well served as the best comparison.

"You've got a good eye; it seems this king had underestimated you a bit. There aren't many cultivators on this Celestial South who could notice this!"

With narrowed eyes, the blue-haired burly man cast a deep glance at the Lan Daoist, his tone carrying a touch of seriousness.

Then his gaze turned cold, he smiled coldly at Zhouyang, and said, "Boy, you only have yourself to blame for being too ostentatious. With merely a Nascent Soul Sixth Stage Cultivation, yet daring to roam around with a Tier Seven Immortal Artifact and even hunting the Chongming Demon King, a True Blood Demon King. Once this king kills you and seizes your Tier Seven Immortal Artifact, I will attempt to cross the True Spirit Celestial Tribulation. By then, even that old ghost Du Chongyang won't be able to do anything to this king!"

Before his words finished, he suddenly let out a tiger roar, revealing his original form of the Cyan Scale Tiger.