Cultivation Begins From The Desert-Chapter 791 - 774: True Spirit [Sea-covering Spirit Ape]

Outside the Immortal Island.

The moment the silver roc, shimmering with silver and purple electric light, appeared, the four-armed monster and other demon tribes such as the Golden Scale Demon King waiting outside the island were all shocked, and a clear and melodious bird's cry suddenly echoed in their minds.

Awoo~ Roar! Roar!

The successive roars quickly resounded throughout the sea area near the Immortal Island.

It turned out that the various demon kings who had transformed into human shapes were all involuntarily reverting to their demon forms under the influence of that bird's cry.

At this moment, the true form of the four-armed monster could be seen, which was an azure water ape covered in blue dragon scales and possessing four arms.

Ordinary water apes are just a type of low-tier demon beast, but this azure water ape is different; it bears a formidable and impressive name, called the Sea-covering Dragon Ape, a direct descendant of the Tier Seven True Spirit Sea-covering Spirit Ape and the Tier Six Flood Dragon.

As a direct descendant of the Tier Seven True Spirit Sea-covering Spirit Ape, the status of the four-armed monster within the demon tribes is needless to say extraordinarily high.

No wonder even a Tier Six top-grade Flood Dragon like the Golden Scale Demon King showed it such respect and politeness.

Being forced to reveal its true form at this time, the azure water ape was not frightened but delighted, and with joy painted across its face, it laughed heartily, "Hahaha, it's truly a success. From now on, our demon tribes will have yet another true spirit!"

The birth of a Tier Seven True Spirit is a celebratory event for the entire demon tribes, even in the True Immortal Realm.

Not to mention it's in the Lower Realm like the Spirit Realm.

Moreover, for the demon tribes, the significance of gaining a Tier Seven True Spirit is not simply about having another top strong force.

For the entire demon tribes, the most important meaning of a Tier Seven True Spirit is not in itself but in the true spirit population it can propagate.

A true spirit might fall, but as long as the true spirit population is not exterminated, it can continue to pass down until a new true spirit is born again.

Take for example the Thunder Feather Demon King, who has now transformed into the Thunder Roc True Spirit; the original Thunder Roc True Spirit fell a long time ago, its time of demise unknown.

Yet, the various bird species with Thunder Roc bloodline that it propagated have already spread throughout myriad realms, and over countless years, countless birds have, like Thunder Feather Demon King, re-gathered true blood through ancestral regression and ascended to become new Thunder Roc True Spirits.

The Spirit Realm had never before seen a real Thunder Roc True Spirit, only some birds with true spirit bloodlines existing.

Now with the Thunder Feather Demon King achieving a Tier Seven True Spirit, as long as he is given some time, one day the Thunder Roc race will certainly become one of the most powerful demon species in the Spirit Realm.

This is undoubtedly great news for the demon tribes whose living space is increasingly encroached upon by the human race.

The azure water ape, as a true spirit descendant, was naturally exceedingly pleased with this event from the perspective of the broader demon tribes.

Meanwhile, within the Immortal Island, upon seeing the majestic silver roc flashing with silver and purple electric light, Zhouyang couldn't help but reveal a genuine smile.

He was not unaware of the immense benefits Thunder Feather Demon King's advancement to a true spirit would bring to the demon tribes.

But as someone who had fought alongside him several times, he still hoped for the Thunder Feather Demon King's success.

What's more, from his own perspective, the benefits brought by Thunder Feather Demon King advancing to a Tier Seven True Spirit were substantial for him.

Not to mention their past camaraderie, just the fact that Xiao Ying's gift of the Rejuvenating Immortal Dew greatly helped the Thunder Feather Demon King succeed in Crossing the Tribulation.

Having such a great favor, the Thunder Feather Demon King would definitely not treat him lightly.

"A roc rises with the wind in one day, soaring upwards ninety thousand miles; Fellow Daoist Lei Yu's true spirit dharma body is now complete, and henceforth, though heaven and earth are vast, it is freely traversable by you. Truly worthy of celebration and congratulations!"

At this moment, Zhouyang looked at the imposing silver roc, his face full of smiles as he sincerely offered his blessings.

Upon hearing his words, the silver roc immediately spoke out in human language in response: "It's thanks to Fellow Daoist Zhou and your esteemed lady for your assistance that I managed to overcome this tribulation; Lei is infinitely grateful and shall repay this kindness well in the future."

Without waiting for Zhouyang to respond with polite remarks, it continued in a serious tone: "My dharma body is newly formed, and I still need some time in secluded cultivation to stabilize it, so I ask that Fellow Daoist Zhou allows me to seclude myself on this island for a hundred years."

Upon hearing this, Zhouyang immediately replied with a smile: "This is well said. Don't speak of a hundred years; even a thousand years, ten thousand years, as long as Fellow Daoist Lei Yu speaks, the gates of this Immortal Island will always be open for you!"

"Then I thank you in advance, Fellow Daoist!"

The silver roc nodded, then with a swift motion, disappeared from Zhouyang's sight, heading to its place for solitary cultivation.

In such an urgent manner, Zhouyang didn't have time to express what he wanted to say next.

Lan Daoist, observing this, for some unknown reason was suddenly touched and sighed empathetically, "The spiritual Qi environment in this lower realm is still too scarce. If it were in the Upper Realm, with the supply of the Immortal Spirit Vein, whether it's for stabilizing the dharma body of demon true spirits or for human true immortals condensing their true immortal body, it would be extremely convenient and quick, not facing such a dire situation as this Thunder Feather True Spirit!"

The Immortal Spirit Vein refers to the Tier Seven Spirit Vein that exists only in the True Immortal Realm.

It's said that the Immortal Spirit Vein, besides being far richer in spiritual Qi than Tier Six Spirit Veins, has special advantages for Tribulation Crossing True Immortals.

"Immortal Spirit Vein indeed!"

Zhouyang sighed, shaking his head, no longer discussing the matter, but instead, he soared toward the Thunder Feather Demon King's Tribulation Land to collect the remaining tribulation thunder power from the ground.

Last time, Great Demon Mu Qingyun's failed tribulation left behind a large amount of tribulation thunder power, and the Thunder Pearls Zhouyang refined from collecting that power afterward were immensely helpful to him.

This time, although the tribulation thunder power left by the successfully tribulating Thunder Feather Demon King wasn't as much, it was still enough to refine several more Thunder Pearls; he naturally wouldn't let such treasures go to waste.

When he had gathered the remaining tribulation thunder power and was about to return to refine it, his son Zhou Guangcheng suddenly spoke up.

"Father, I plan to go into secluded cultivation here to form my Nascent Soul, I ask for your permission."

Zhouyang's expression immediately grew solemn.

He looked seriously at his son, pausing slightly before saying, "Forming a Nascent Soul? Here?"

"Yes, right here, I am ready!"

Zhou Guangcheng nodded solemnly, his expression firm.

"Ying'Er, what do you say?"

Zhouyang shifted his gaze toward his son's mother.

Somewhat unexpectedly, Xiao Ying, who had always been gentle and without much opinion, gazed tenderly at the father and son and said, "Cheng'Er has never disappointed me or you. I believe that since he's made this decision now, he must have sufficient confidence; therefore, I support his decision."

What else could Zhouyang say now?

He could only nod slightly and say, "Alright, since even your mother has such confidence in you, naturally, I, as your father, have no reason to oppose anymore. Just focus on your closed-door training to form your Nascent Soul at Donglai Peak!"

Zhouyang was over four hundred years old when he had Zhou Guangcheng, and now he is more than twelve hundred years old.

Zhou Guangcheng, despite possessing the Profound Sun Spirit Body, had delayed forming his Nascent Soul until such an advanced age, which was already somewhat unusual.

Now that he had finally resolved to undergo closed-door training for Nascent Soul formation, Zhouyang and his wife Xiao Ying, although inevitably worried, had no reason to stop him.

For cultivators, hindering someone's path is akin to killing one's parents; it's an irreconcilable enmity.

Even parents and close relatives should not do such things.

Because of Zhou Guangcheng's sudden decision to undergo closed-door training to form his Nascent Soul, Zhouyang's original plan to return to the Boundless Desert Sea Cultivation Realm after the Thunder Feather Demon King crossed the tribulation was naturally postponed.

He could not leave his son's side at a time like this, even though Donglai Immortal Island was quite safe, and there was no worry about someone disturbing his son Zhou Guangcheng's secluded training.

So, in the time that followed, after refining the collected Tribulation Thunder Power into three Celestial Thunder Pearls, Zhouyang focused on cultivating several divine techniques, including the Shrinking Inches divine technique, which only late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators could use.

It must be said that for cultivators, focusing on refining their cultivation level was always prioritized for good reasons.

After his cultivation reached the late-stage Nascent Soul, Zhouyang looked back on practicing various divine techniques and truly had an overwhelming advantage. He easily grasped the keys to understanding them.

Otherwise, he would not have spent less than eight years mastering the fourth layer of the Great Derivation Sword Technique and mastering the Annihilation Sword Array, the Great Derivation Celestial Spirit Sword Array.

And at this time, if he calmed down to comprehend, he could even vaguely "see" the traces of the Heaven and Earth Laws.

Just because he could "see" them didn't mean he could grasp them.

To grasp the Heaven and Earth Laws, one must continuously observe their operational tracks and repeatedly attempt to succeed.

And only by grasping the laws could one analyze and comprehend their nature, their likes, and then borrow their power according to their preferences.

The Great Dao is formless, manifesting through the laws.

To comprehend the true Great Dao, a cultivator must first comprehend the laws, understand them, and control them.

Nascent Soul Stage cultivators can comprehend the laws, Tribulation Crossing True Immortals can understand the laws, and Returning Void Stage Earth Immortals can control the laws.

Once Returning Void Stage Earth Immortals control the laws, they can use the laws as a basis to glimpse the true Great Dao, and then unify with the Dao, becoming Harmonious Celestial Immortals who truly achieve eternal life.

But although Zhouyang could "see" the laws, he didn't have the mind to spend much effort trying to touch them and comprehend them, even though one day he would have to do so.

He's always been keenly aware that his cultivation level could advance so swiftly, not just because of the various spirit elixirs aiding him but also because he rarely diverted his attention to divine techniques and magic cultivation.

If, like many other Nascent Soul Stage cultivators, after entering the Nascent Soul Stage, he believed he had a long lifespan of three thousand years and thus diverted attention to practice those high-power divine techniques, underwent prolonged closed-door training to comprehend the laws, and busied himself with things that did not aid in refining his cultivation.

Then he definitely wouldn't have been able to raise his cultivation level by six layers within six hundred years after forming the Nascent Soul to reach the late-stage Nascent Soul.

Zhouyang, of course, understood the importance of divine techniques and magic, and he was even more aware of the critical nature of law comprehension.

But he was keenly aware that cultivation level is the most fundamental aspect of a cultivator.

The Tribulation Crossing stage had stopped countless brilliant Nascent Soul Stage cultivators throughout history, and most of them never even reached the threshold of this stage in their lifetime.

And those Ninth-Layer Nascent Soul "Half-Step True Immortal" realm cultivators who could reach that threshold found themselves with only a few hundred years of lifespan left when they got there.

A few hundred years may seem long, but pushing open that Door of Immortality during that time is immensely difficult, like reaching for the sky.

Just look at Lu Xuanji back then, and you'll see he spent decades in a single session just attempting to push open the door.

Even if those Ninth-Layer Nascent Soul "Half-Step True Immortal" realm cultivators spent all their remaining few hundred years trying to push open the door, they'd only manage about ten attempts.

In the end, they might end up like Lu Xuanji, after many attempts, barely opening a crack in the door, with no chance for further attempts.

Zhouyang didn't want that for himself in the future.

Inadequate training in divine techniques and magic could be compensated with powerful magical artifacts.

Lack of law comprehension could be addressed by retreating for prolonged meditation after his cultivation reached the Ninth-Layer Nascent Soul.

If he didn't even have the qualification to stand at the door, then even having everything else would only take him further from immortal ascension.

So even though he already had advantageous conditions for law comprehension, he wasn't planning to spend a lot of time investing in this.

If it weren't for an upcoming treacherous battle, even during his son Zhou Guangcheng's period of closed-door training to form his Nascent Soul, he wouldn't be practicing divine techniques but would continue practicing to refine his cultivation.

What Zhouyang didn't expect was that just under three years after his son Zhou Guangcheng entered seclusion, an uninvited guest arrived outside the immortal island.

After arriving outside the island, the uninvited guest somehow transmitted his voice through the island protection immortal array to the inside of the island.

"Hearing that a fellow Daoist from the Thunder Peng Race has attained enlightenment here, Gu Cangming of the East Sea has come to congratulate and pay a visit, and I ask this fellow Daoist to kindly step out and meet me!"

The majestic, grand voice reverberated above the island, and just hearing it caused Zhouyang and other Nascent Soul Stage cultivators to feel a sinking heart, as a virtual image of a four-armed giant ape riding the waves and roaring at the sky appeared in their Primordial Spirit awareness.

Poof! Poof! Poof!

Cultivators and Demon Kings like Xiao Ying, Qin Yue'Er, and Bi'Er with shallower cultivation were struck by the virtual image of the four-armed giant ape in their Primordial Spirit awareness, spurting a mouthful of fresh blood on the spot, suffering internal injuries not light.

Zhouyang, with his inherently strong cultivation, Divine Sense far superior to his peers, and having the protection of a Primordial Spirit Treasure, was fine and quickly dispelled the virtual image of the four-armed giant ape.

However, upon seeing this situation, his expression turned extremely unsightly.

And Xiao Ying, after spitting out a mouthful of blood, didn't even have time to wipe away the blood stains at the corner of her mouth before she called out to Zhouyang in alarm, "Quick, husband, quickly check on Cheng'Er, we must ensure nothing happens to Cheng'Er!"

Although Zhou Guangcheng's closed-door training site was protected by layers of arrays, since the four-armed giant ape's voice and Divine Sense Attack could penetrate the island protection immortal array and attack everyone on the island, it's hard to say if he would be unaffected.

That's why Xiao Ying appeared so panicked at that moment.

And hearing this, Zhouyang's expression changed several times, and immediately he turned into a phantom, rushing towards the location of Zhou Guangcheng's closed-door training chamber.