Cultivation Begins From The Desert-Chapter 804 - 787: Beyond the Heavens
After easily defeating Jin Baisheng, who was at the Nascent Soul Seventh Stage, Zhouyang tested the power of the Divine Technique he created, the "Fire Lotus Eye," and got a good sense of his current strength.
According to his estimation, without using a Tier Seven Immortal Artifact, no "Half-Step True Immortal" at the Ninth-Layer Nascent Soul Stage could truly defeat him.
With this level of strength, he could already traverse this realm freely and stand proudly in the Cultivation Realm.
So Zhouyang was in a pretty good mood.
However, he did not publicize the outcome of his duel with Jin Baisheng to avoid any misunderstandings from the Great Bright Immortal Palace and the Anti-Light Alliance.
Right now, he just wanted to stay quietly in the Boundless Sea of Sand Cultivation Realm, peacefully cultivating, waiting for the Desert Sea's vitality to recover fully, and for the Zhou Family to grow into a major power in this realm.
As for those external matters, he had no interest in them if he could avoid it.
In the following years, Zhouyang and other Nascent Soul Stage cultivators from the Zhou Family took turns to lecture and teach throughout the Desert Sea Cultivation Realm, creating opportunities for many loose cultivators without mentorship.
This move earned the Zhou Family unanimous praise from all cultivators, and countless Low-Tier Cultivators were grateful to Zhouyang and other Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators.
Meanwhile, a group of Middle-Tier Cultivators from the Great Bright Immortal Palace of the Westernmost Cultivation Realm, escorted by several Golden Core Stage Cultivators, crossed the Sea of Death and appeared in the Boundless Sea of Sand Cultivation Realm.
This group, coming to the Boundless Sea of Sand Cultivation Realm for training, consisted of over a hundred individuals, with the lowest cultivation level being Foundation Establishment, and there were more than a dozen Purple Mansion Stage Cultivators.
They were first "escorted" by the Zhou Family cultivators to the Oasis of Rhino Horn Continent, where they registered their names and left their portraits before being allowed to move freely within the Boundless Sea of Sand Cultivation Realm.
In normal cultivation realm exchanges, this would be unnecessary.
But since the Boundless Sea of Sand Cultivation Realm had just decided to open to the outside, it was necessary to implement such measures to avoid problems in identifying people when incidents occurred.
Of course, this method could only prevent officially entering personnel, but those sneaking in unnoticed by the Zhou Family would not be identified in this way.
Fortunately, the two major natural barriers, the Sea of Death and the Broken Cloud Mountain Range, remained effective, giving the Desert Sea Cultivation Realm's cultivators plenty of time to adjust to the presence of outsiders.
Zhouyang had no interest in the affairs of the younger generation; he was merely waiting for the Heaven-Reaching Demon King to recover from injuries and discuss the secret realm space's ownership.
This issue needed to be resolved before he could have peace of mind.
In the battle for the secret realm space, the Heaven-Reaching Demon King was severely injured by Lan Daoist and fled back to the lair in the Broken Cloud Mountain Range to recuperate, but recovery was slow.
Witnessing Lan Daoist's power in that battle, even with Zhouyang's guarantee, he dared not meet for talks before fully recovering.
After nearly ten years of recuperation, with the help of some Healing Elixirs, the Heaven-Reaching Demon King fully healed, then traveled with his third brother, the Strong Ape King, to the Oasis of Rhino Horn Continent to meet Zhouyang.
Zhouyang was indifferent to the Heaven-Reaching Demon King's act of bringing help.
The Strong Ape King, as a Tier Six High-grade Demon King with the Tier Seven True Spirit Bloodline of the Mountain Giant Ape, was indeed formidable.
But his power was at most slightly stronger than Jin Baisheng wearing the Combat Saint Armor; either Zhouyang or Lan Daoist could easily suppress him.
"Fellow Daoist Tongtian, we have always gotten along well. I have always been grateful for your actions in opening the Broken Cloud Mountain Range to facilitate the Zhou Family cultivators," Zhouyang said respectfully.
"Hence, inviting you here this time, I have no intention of pursuing your intrusion into the Zhou Family's secret realm. I just want you to give me a confirmation to conclude this matter!"
At the Oasis of Rhino Horn Continent, Zhouyang met with the Heaven-Reaching Demon King and Strong Ape King and directly addressed the matter.
Upon hearing this, the humanized Heaven-Reaching Demon King clasped his hands in salute, expressing gratitude: "Fellow Daoist Zhou, with your broad mind and magnanimous character, you forgave past grievances and took the initiative to invite me for talks. I am deeply grateful and admired."
Then, his face turned solemn as he declared earnestly: "However, this matter concerns my opportunity to achieve the Dao and cannot afford any retreat on my part. I cannot make any concessions because of Fellow Daoist Zhou's noble character."
"I do not fear telling you, Fellow Daoist Zhou, that the power of spatial origin is my only hope for achieving the Dao in this realm. I've sought this power for two or three thousand years, and now that I've finally encountered this opportunity, not even a True Immortal face-to-face would deter me from risking everything!"
Stating his stance and bottom line first, then using it to bargain, the Heaven-Reaching Demon King was unconventional in his approach.
However, he miscalculated Zhouyang's intentions; Zhouyang never planned to negotiate with him personally.
Zhouyang, with an unchanged expression, nodded slightly and said, "I understand Fellow Daoist Tongtian's stance. However, I fear you misunderstand. The person truly negotiating terms with you isn't me but Fellow Daoist Lan, who controls the secret realm space. I've merely arranged this meeting on his behalf."
The Heaven-Reaching Demon King's expression froze, then furrowed his brow, glaring at Zhouyang with a hint of anger, and growled: "What is the meaning of this, Fellow Daoist Zhou? Do you truly think my people are so easily fooled? Do you think I don't know you're in cahoots with that Lan Daoist?"
"Fellow Daoist Tongtian, you misunderstand me. I and Fellow Daoist Lan are merely collaborators. The stability of the secret realm space, preventing its collapse, is thanks to Fellow Daoist Lan's dedicated suppression and organization."
Zhouyang spread his hands and said, "Fellow Daoist Tongtian, do you think under such circumstances I could possibly make decisions over the secret realm space without Fellow Daoist Lan?"
"If you can't make decisions, why invite my brother here to negotiate? Do you truly think we are easy to toy with!"
The Strong Ape King suddenly shouted in anger, his eyes fierce as he stared at Zhouyang.
"You audacious monkey, I am talking with Fellow Daoist Tongtian, and you have no place to interrupt!"
Zhouyang's eyes subtly flickered with two golden fire lotus shadows, and as soon as his words ceased, the Strong Ape King suddenly burst into flames, screaming in agony as he rolled on the ground.
"Third brother!"
The Heaven-Reaching Demon King, startled, hurriedly cast a green light to extinguish the flames on the Strong Ape King.
But he couldn't assist in the attack targeting the demon soul and primordial spirit.
Witnessing this, the Heaven-Reaching Demon King, both shocked and angry, couldn't help but utter sternly to Zhouyang: "What is the meaning of this, Fellow Daoist Zhou? Are you willing to sever all ties with the Broken Cloud Mountain Range?"
"No need to worry, Fellow Daoist Tongtian. I merely gave this monkey a little punishment to teach him a lesson not to act recklessly against just anyone!"
Zhouyang calmly replied to the Heaven-Reaching Demon King's question, then continued coldly: "And Fellow Daoist Tongtian, no threats are necessary. Even without the relationship of the Thunder Feather True Spirit, I have nothing to fear from you, so let us address our respective positions before the discussion."
The Heaven-Reaching Demon King could hardly believe how quickly Zhouyang's demeanor shifted.
For a moment, anger surged in his heart, and he couldn't help but sneer repeatedly, "Well, well, well, it seems Fellow Daoist Zhou, after greatly advancing your cultivation, already thinks your power is invincible. In that case, let this King experience your divine techniques!"
"Since Fellow Daoist Tongtian is willing to teach, Zhou will naturally be happy to accompany!"
Zhouyang agreed without hesitation.
Jin Baisheng was just a small test of strength, and only an existence like the Heaven-Reaching Demon King, ranking at the top in terms of cultivation and power, could truly test Zhouyang's entire strength now.
Meanwhile, the Heaven-Reaching Demon King was thinking of taking the opportunity to teach Zhouyang a lesson, to show him how high the sky is and how thick the earth is, not to think he's invincible just because his cultivation has broken through continuously.
Each had their own thoughts, and once the Strong Ape King awoke, they immediately left Rhino Horn Continent Oasis and headed to a deserted place for their duel.
"Make your move. For the sake of the Thunder Feather True Spirit, this King shall let you make three moves first!"
High in the sky, the Heaven-Reaching Demon King revealed the true form of the Azure Heaven Beast, standing in mid-air, allowing the fierce Gang Wind to blow over him, showcasing the demeanor of a senior expert as he showed off to Zhouyang.
Seeing this, Zhouyang was not angry, and immediately responded, "Since Fellow Daoist Tongtian is so generous, then Zhou will not be polite."
After saying this, his gaze grew sharp, and with a swing of his sleeve, he released thirty-six Great Derivation Celestial Spirit Swords.
Dealing with an opponent like the Heaven-Reaching Demon King who is adept at teleportation divine techniques, Zhouyang knows many of his divine techniques and methods are difficult to touch the opponent.
Now that the other party is being generous by allowing him three moves, he wouldn't be polite and naturally would use his killing move.
Thirty-six silver-gray flying swords bloomed rapidly under his Sword Technique, evolving into the Great Derivation Celestial Spirit Sword Array.
Though the sword array had yet to fully evolve, its power already caused the Heaven-Reaching Demon King's eyes to change color.
Since he had declared he would let Zhouyang make three moves, for the sake of face, he couldn't directly go back on his word.
Once the sword array formed, and when the endless sword light engulfed him like a tide or a sea, Zhouyang's chilly voice transmitted to his ears.
"Fellow Daoist Tongtian, be careful. Even Master Purple Mist was defeated under this sword array of Zhou!"
The ferocity of the sword array soon became apparent to the Heaven-Reaching Demon King.
As the boundless sword light surged towards him like tide, he attempted to use teleportation divine techniques to move himself out of the sword array.
But just as he initiated his divine technique, he found the surrounding space law disturbed by a certain power, making his divine technique unable to be performed smoothly.
Before he could resort to other means, the tide-like sword light landed on him, instantly leaving countless shallow wounds on his demon body.
Roar!
The injured azure-green giant beast couldn't help but let out an angry roar, with silver-gray radiance bursting forth from him, rapidly forming a layer of barrier that protected him within, unyielding to any sword light slashing it.
Then, he slightly lowered his head, and countless silver dots of talisman runes the size of rice grains gushed forth from the silver-gray horn at the top of his head, quickly forming an arc-shaped light blade composed of silver talisman rune dots.
Swish!
With a slight shake of the azure-green giant beast's head, the arc-shaped light blade condensed at the top of his head shot out rapidly, slicing through the air with great speed.
Along its path, countless sword lights were obliterated, and even the void was torn apart, forming a linear crack.
An unfortunate Great Derivation Celestial Spirit Sword couldn't dodge in time and was cleaved by the arc-shaped light blade, its body forged from celestial meteorite gold and rare spiritual gold was severed into two, falling to the ground, causing an opening in the sword array.
The Heaven-Reaching Demon King, experienced as he was, immediately seized upon the opening, his figure shifting as he sought to use teleportation divine techniques to escape from it.
Yet no sooner had his figure vanished from the original spot than a muffled hum sent him tumbling back into the sword array.
A flash of the purple-gold ruler emerged amid the sword light and disappeared in an instant.
Outside the sword array, Zhouyang retrieved the Purple Gold Qiankun Ruler that had just achieved a remarkable feat. He had no time to feel sorry for the Great Derivation Celestial Spirit Sword that had been severed, and decisively activated the ultimate killing move of the Great Derivation Celestial Spirit Sword Array.
As his Sword Technique transformed in his hands, thirty-five Great Derivation Celestial Spirit Swords hidden in the sea of sword light suddenly assembled from four directions to form four giant swords each three zhang long, striking towards the azure-green giant beast within the sword array.
As the giant swords converged from four directions, the powerful sword intent firmly locked onto the Heaven-Reaching Demon King, creating the illusion that he absolutely couldn't evade this strike.
No, it wasn't merely an illusion!
In fact, as the four giant swords converged, the sword qi tore through the void, also confounding the surrounding space law, preventing the Heaven-Reaching Demon King from executing any divine techniques or escape techniques involving teleportation to dodge them.
But the Heaven-Reaching Demon King, renowned for thousands of years, was unperturbed by the powerful sword intent and quickly made the right judgment, roaring in anger as he transformed into a silver light charging towards the right in breakout.
To the right, where the giant swords converged, was the only one missing a sword among the four, thus, naturally, its power was the weakest.
The Heaven-Reaching Demon King met the giant sword head-on, and as the sword broke through the silver barrier surrounding him, he struck his horn against the sword blade, instantly shattering the giant sword into eight flying swords, falling towards the ground.
But this didn't mean his crisis was completely over.
For when the other three giant swords converged at the center point, they seamlessly merged into a single, much larger giant sword measuring ten zhang.
The moment this ten zhang giant sword formed, it suddenly transformed into a burst of silver sword light and disappeared, reappearing above the azure-green giant beast's head.
Yet just as the giant sword was about to descend, Zhouyang's expression changed as if realizing some danger, and hurriedly dispelled the giant sword, breaking it into twenty-seven flying swords scattered apart.
Moments after he did this, a silver-gray spindle spiritual artifact burst from the azure-green giant beast's mouth, appearing where the giant sword had been a split second before.
Wherever the silver-gray spindle spiritual artifact passed, it directly tore the void, forming a space rift with a width of about an inch!
"Well? Fellow Daoist Zhou, do you want to keep fighting? If we continue, this King might not be able to hold back his power!"
In the sky, the azure-green giant beast coldly stared at Zhouyang, his voice icy and murderous.
