Cultivation Begins From The Desert-Chapter 803 - 786: Killing the Chicken to Warn the Monkey!

"Congratulations to Master Zhou, the Lord Palace Master has agreed to Master's conditions and is willing to establish a contract in the Immortal Palace to announce to the world."

The cultivator surnamed Wang conveyed Yin Hanguang's decision with a smile, seemingly in a good mood.

Upon hearing this, Zhouyang also chuckled, saying, "Hehehe, I knew Palace Master Yin is a wise person who would see the reason."

After speaking, he paused slightly and then continued, "However, this contract establishment may need to wait for some years. I still have many matters to settle before I can visit the Immortal Palace."

The cultivator surnamed Wang, hearing this, immediately withdrew his smile, revealing a hint of concern as he subtly remarked, "Master, you'd better hurry; the Lord Palace Master can't wait too long."

"Don't worry, Fellow Daoist Wang, it won't take long, at most a decade," Zhouyang said with a reassuring wave.

After calculating Yin Hanguang's remaining time, the cultivator surnamed Wang found that a decade was acceptable, and thus, he relaxed and nodded in agreement.

Then, as if casually, he suddenly added, "There's one more small matter. If Master Zhou permits, the Immortal Palace would like to send some young disciples to the Desert Sea Cultivation Realm for training, to let these youngsters witness external heroes, lest they remain ignorant of the vast world outside."

Upon hearing this, Zhouyang immediately laughed and said, "That's a wonderful idea, promoting exchanges between the two cultivation realms. It's something I've always advocated for, Fellow Daoist Wang. Rest assured, regardless of how many juniors the Immortal Palace sends over for training, as long as they abide by the Cultivation Realm's rules, neither I nor the Zhou Family will have any objections."

"Rest assured, Master Zhou. Our Immortal Palace disciples are always very disciplined; their training here definitely won't compromise the Immortal Palace's reputation."

The cultivator surnamed Wang and Zhouyang exchanged wits, both tacitly avoiding the underlying implications behind the junior cultivator exchange.

As Zhouyang once told Zhou Liangyu, for the Zhou Family to control the Boundless Sea of Sand Cultivation Realm and be recognized by others of the same tier, they must not only fulfill the top-tier power requirements but also ensure the mid and lower-tier cultivators are not much inferior.

A force's short-term strength depends on top-tier cultivators, but for long-term strength, mid and lower-tier cultivators are crucial.

If the Zhou Family's mid and lower-tier cultivators can't match their status, it would lead to discord and inevitable misfortune!

On this point, Zhouyang couldn't help them.

After sending away the cultivator surnamed Wang from the Great Brightness Immortal Palace, about a month later, the Anti-Light Alliance also finally sent a Vice Alliance Leader to meet Zhouyang.

The Vice Alliance Leader from the Anti-Light Alliance was named Jin Baisheng, a Grand Elder from one of the five major sects comprising the alliance, the "Golden Body Fighting Sect," with Seventh-Layer Nascent Soul cultivation.

Back when Zhouyang was mingling in the Westernmost Cultivation Realm, he had long heard of the "Golden Body Fighting Sect," known for advocating dual cultivation of body and technique.

It's said that the sect's technique, "Golden Body Fighting Scripture," is unique, emphasizing physical tempering alongside magical cultivation.

Cultivators of this technique must meet standards not only in magical power but also in physical strength to break through realms.

Though the sect has few cultivators, and fewer high-tier cultivators, its position within the Anti-Light Alliance has always been stable.

"Earlier, Fellow Daoists Lin and Cheng reported that you seemed dissatisfied with the conditions our alliance previously proposed and requested a Vice Alliance Leader for further discussion."

"Jin is here now representing the alliance in fulfillment of that request. Although you, Fellow Daoist Zhou, might not enthusiastically welcome my arrival, bringing Jin to this desolate desert sea is quite puzzling."

Within the desert sea, Jin Baisheng, standing a foot tall in golden battle armor, sharply gazed at Zhouyang, his tone cautious as he questioned vigorously.

Upon arriving at Rhino Horn Continent, Zhouyang suddenly intercepted him and, with merely a greeting, took him here. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

This attitude hardly reflects a welcoming gesture.

Thus, his tone was so intense.

Facing his questions, Zhouyang narrowed his eyes, calmly replying, "No particular reason, just want to test Fellow Daoist Jin's strength and see if you're qualified to discuss alliance matters with me!"

Jin Baisheng's expression changed abruptly, and his gaze toward Zhouyang turned cold instantly.

By now, it was clear to him that Zhouyang never intended to join the Anti-Light Alliance.

The reason for summoning a Vice Alliance Leader was merely to establish his prestige.

Unfortunately, Jin Baisheng happened to be the victim in this situation!

Thinking of this, he laughed coldly in anger, "Very well, since Fellow Daoist Zhou is so confident, let Jin learn from your divine techniques!"

His words barely finished when he moved swiftly, instantly using "Shrinking Inches" divine technique to appear ten feet away from Zhouyang's side, raising his golden glowing fist to strike Zhouyang.

Yet, facing his sudden fierce punch, Zhouyang didn't dodge but threw a punch himself, his fist shining with blue-gold spiritual light meeting Jin's fist directly.

Boom!

After the thunderous explosion, both Zhouyang and Jin Baisheng flew backward, stabilizing themselves after retreating several thousand feet.

The result of the punch was evenly matched, a tie!

However, for Jin Baisheng, a tie essentially meant losing.

Despite having the advantage of making the first move and fighting in his most adept domain of physical combat, drawing an equal outcome with Zhouyang, it is essentially a loss.

With over two thousand years of cultivation, Jin Baisheng clearly recognized this.

He stared at Zhouyang with a grim face, confirmed that Zhouyang sustained no injury from the previous strike, and decisively admitted defeat, "Fellow Daoist Zhou's skill is superb; Jin admires you. Since you have no intention of joining our alliance, Jin won't disturb you further. Goodbye!"

He promptly withdrew from the battlefield, intending to return to the Westernmost Cultivation Realm without waiting for Zhouyang's response.

His quick, decisive manner surprised Zhouyang slightly.

But having finally found a suitable opponent to test moves with, how could Zhouyang easily let him go?

"Hahaha, Fellow Daoist Jin, why rush to leave? I have yet to witness your renowned combat divine techniques from the Westernmost Realm!"

Zhouyang laughed loudly, golden light flowed from under his feet, and his figure vanished instantly, blocking Jin Baisheng's path.

Upon comprehending the space laws successfully, Zhouyang found the "Vertical Earth Golden Light" divine technique easy to cultivate to great success, more convenient and practical than "Shrinking Inches."

"Jin already admitted defeat; Fellow Daoist Zhou, why push further? Do you really think you can kill Jin?"

Jin Baisheng stopped abruptly, glaring at Zhouyang with anger and surprise.

Zhouyang turned a blind eye to his anger, merely smiling indifferently and said, "Fellow Daoist Jin, you misunderstand. I have no enmity with you, why would I harbor the intent to kill? It's just that worthy opponents are hard to find, and today, having the chance to spar with a foe like you, how could I pass up this opportunity to test myself!"

Jin Baisheng would not believe such words!

At this moment, Jin Baisheng was convinced that he had lured the Vice Alliance Leader of the Anti-Light Alliance under the guise of negotiating alliance terms, simply to seize the opportunity to kill someone of significant weight, thereby demonstrating his stance to the Great Brightness Immortal Palace in exchange for their recognition of the Zhou Family's domination over the Boundless Desert Sea.

Therefore, upon hearing Zhouyang's words, Jin Baisheng instead felt a desperate determination.

"Well, well, well, since Fellow Daoist Zhou is so adamant, let Jin see how you intend to slay me today!"

With a mournful shout, his magical power surged all over his body, and the golden battle armor he wore instantly emitted a radiant light, transforming into an integrated armor that covered his entire body, even his palms were equipped with gloves bristling with sharp spikes.

This set of combined spiritual artifact known as "Combat Saint Armor" is the sole inheritance spiritual artifact left by the founder of the Golden Body Fighting Sect, traditionally only the Grand Elder of the sect could refine and use it.

When Jin Baisheng was at the Sixth-Layer Nascent Soul stage, wearing this Combat Saint Armor allowed him to contend with Seventh-Layer Nascent Soul cultivators without defeat.

Now that he possessed the Seventh-Layer Nascent Soul Cultivation, the enhancement brought by this Combat Saint Armor might not be as significant as before, but it still gave him the confidence to not fear any cultivator below the Ninth-Layer Nascent Soul "Half-Step True Immortal" realm.

Boom!

With a thunderous roar, Jin Baisheng's newly risen fighting spirit and confidence were immediately shattered by a ferocious crimson gold divine thunder.

Zhouyang formed a lightning seal with his fingers, and a strike from the Great Success Realm Nine Heavens Qianyang Demon-Annihilating Divine Thunder hit Jin Baisheng, instantly paralyzing him, his body feeling as if it were being burned and chopped by blades.

He let out a muffled groan, golden light surged from him, quickly dispelling the paralysis effect upon him, transforming into a golden rainbow as he attempted to flee westward.

Seeing this, Zhouyang was in no hurry, and merely waved his hand, causing a purple-gold ruler to vanish from his hand, only to reappear instantly upon Jin Baisheng on his escape path, forcibly knocking him out of his escape light.

Times have changed, now not only has his cultivation reached the Eighth-Layer Nascent Soul stage, but he also has made considerable insights into the Space Law, enabling him to leverage the full might of the Tier Six Top Grade spiritual artifact, Purple Gold Qiankun Ruler.

This strike on Jin Baisheng not only knocked him out from his escape light state but also caused him to spew fresh blood, sustaining significant internal injuries.

This ruler seemed to make Jin Baisheng realize that escaping back to the Westernmost Cultivation Realm was not as easy as he had imagined.

Therefore, he stopped his body again, faced Zhouyang with a livid expression, and shouted angrily, "Why do you have to push me to the brink, Fellow Daoist Zhou? Jin has no enmity with you, yet you continue to make things difficult. Do you truly wish to force Jin into a desperate fight with you?"

"Fellow Daoist Jin, you misunderstand. As stated before, I merely wanted to spar with you to test myself. Instead of thinking about how to escape, why not confront Zhou with all your might."

Zhouyang replied calmly to Jin Baisheng, waving his hand, causing a golden lotus treasure lamp to spin out, landing atop his head, this being the Qianyang Golden Lamp which he had nurtured into a Tier Six Top Grade spiritual artifact.

Casually capturing a wisp of Jin Baisheng's magical power, Zhouyang inserted it into the golden lamp, harnessed the artifact with a seal, and suddenly a golden flame erupted from Jin Baisheng's body, instantly burning away all his hair and clothing.

"Ah, ah, ah… Jin will fight you to the death!"

Jin Baisheng let forth continuous angry roars, golden light suddenly surged from him, and he forcefully extinguished the golden flame clinging to him.

Then his figure moved, launching himself violently toward Zhouyang, taking the initiative to attack.

But unexpectedly, Zhouyang did not engage him in a physical contest this time; instead, he waved his hand and called forth his lifebound spiritual artifact, Qianyang Golden Tower, to suppress him.

Clang, clang, clang!

Jin Baisheng swung his fists, instantly delivering hundreds of afterimages onto the golden treasure tower, seemingly hammering iron as the golden treasure tower spun frantically, emitting clear bell sounds.

"That should be enough!"

Zhouyang muttered to himself, his eyes flashing a fiery light, suddenly revealing two golden fire lotus phantoms.

Ah——

A piercing scream echoed across the sky.

The previously imposing Jin Baisheng suddenly seemed to have been struck by lightning, and following a scream, he fell to the ground with his body engulfed in flames.

Upon witnessing this, Zhouyang did not pursue victory instead, he waved his sleeve, retracting the numerous artifacts he had deployed earlier, and patiently waited.

After waiting for about a dozen breaths, the rapidly descending Jin Baisheng quivered slightly, finally awakening from a dazed state, managing to stabilize his falling body and extinguish the flames burning on him.

Thanks to his dual cultivation of body and technique, with a robust physical form rivaling that of a Tier Six Flood Dragon, he avoided his flesh being incinerated by the flames.

Yet the flame that carried a hint of Power of Laws inflicted enduring wounds upon both his body and Nascent Soul.

However, Jin Baisheng's thoughts at this moment were not on this matter.

He bravely endured the scorching pain from his flesh and Primordial Spirit, gazing at Zhouyang with an expression of disbelief, he asked, "Why not kill me?"

His voice was weak, filled with bewilderment.

"By now, Fellow Daoist Jin should trust what I said earlier!"

Zhouyang observed Jin Baisheng with a satisfied expression, very pleased with the power of the Fire Lotus Eye divine technique he had created.

This divine technique's power was even stronger than he had initially predicted; even a Late-Stage Nascent Soul cultivator like Jin Baisheng was dazed for a dozen breaths before regaining clarity.

A disoriented duration this long, for cultivators of his caliber, could entirely decide the outcome of a battle.

Thus, it could be inferred that even if a Ninth-Layer Nascent Soul "Half-Step True Immortal" realm cultivator was struck by this divine technique, unless they had a Primordial Spiritual Treasure like him, they would be dazed for at least several breaths.

And several breaths is more than enough time to accomplish many things.

"So, you truly were just using Jin as a whetstone!"

Jin Baisheng, with vacant eyes, stared at Zhouyang, uncertain whether to feel elated or resentful about this outcome.

He was a dignified Late-Stage Nascent Soul cultivator, a sect leader, a figure of immense prestige anywhere.

Yet today, he was brazenly used as a whetstone, casually toyed with, and finally had to rely on his adversary's mercy to survive!

This blow to him was not any less severe than the physical injuries he had sustained.

"Fellow Daoist Jin is a smart man, so Zhou will not say any unnecessary words to you. Upon returning, please inform your alliance colleagues, Zhou, myself, have no intention of disrupting the current situation of the Westernmost Cultivation Realm, but if your alliance insists on forcing a black or white declaration from me and my Zhou Family, then the one who suffers will certainly not be me or the Zhou Family!"

With a profound glance at the stupefied Jin Baisheng, Zhouyang left behind these words and immediately transformed into a beam of golden light and departed.