Cultivation Begins From The Desert-Chapter 850 - 833: Decisive Victory
As the Water Attribute True Spirit who attained enlightenment in the sea, the [Sea-covering Spirit Ape], upon contact with the ocean, seemed to become one with the vast sea.
The wounds on his body, originally inflicted by the Thunder Whip, rapidly healed under the nurturing of the Water Attribute Heaven and Earth Laws, significantly boosting his strength to the point of snapping the Flame Chain constraining him, and then attempting to escape into the sea using Water Escape.
However, Zhouyang would not let him succeed.
With a swift movement of the [Vermilion Bird Fan] in Zhouyang's hand, a fierce vermilion fire column abruptly crashed onto the towering water column, instantly shattering it into ruin.
Simultaneously, his incarnation flashed purple lightning from both eyes, two streaks of purple Tribulation Thunder transformed into purple thunder dragons striking the four-armed giant ape, exploding with continuous bursts of energy, leaving two massive bloody holes on its body.
Then, Zhouyang opened his mouth and spat out a crimson gold short spear, which shot forth like a flash of crimson gold lightning, impaling the chest of the four-armed giant ape; this was the seven-tier Immortal Artifact [Red Sky Divine Spear], passed down by the Profound Sun Immortal Sect for millennia.
"Today, even if you don't die, you're going to shed a layer of skin!"
Zhouyang looked coldly at the four-armed giant ape, his hands forming spells, as the seven-tier Immortal Artifact [Qianyang Golden Lamp] drifted over the head of the four-armed giant ape.
The palm-sized Golden Lotus Treasure Lamp swirled rapidly, releasing wave after wave of golden firelight falling down, engulfing the hundred-foot-tall four-armed giant ape within.
The golden firelight appeared beautiful and fantastical, yet was extremely perilous.
Once the four-armed giant ape was engulfed, a towering flame ignited on its body, regardless of how it channeled its internal magical power to resist, it could not extinguish it.
And the three-legged firebird that previously struck the four-armed giant ape, seemed to have been greatly replenished, instantly breaking through the four-armed giant ape's confinement and suppression, once again raising havoc.
This series of attacks left the four-armed giant ape somewhat bewildered.
He never imagined that Zhouyang, who had just ascended to immortality a mere few centuries ago, would be so difficult to deal with, nor did he expect Zhouyang to possess four seven-tier Immortal Artifacts!
This was a mistake from the start, leading to mistakes at every step, and by now, it was practically impossible to reverse the situation.
It wasn't even that easy for him to escape into the ocean.
The crimson gold short spear embedded in his body remained like a nail, releasing scorching power that burned his bloodlines, requiring substantial magical power to counteract.
And the golden flames burning on his body were not something he could afford to underestimate.
"Roar! I am the Demon Race True Spirit [Sea-covering Spirit Ape], I will not lose!"
The four-armed giant ape let out an earth-shattering roar, suddenly a water-blue Treasure Pearl flew out of his mouth, then exploded with a bang.
Bang!
The shattered water-blue Treasure Pearl transformed directly into a massive surge of blue water light flooding towards the four-armed giant ape.
Under the impact of this blue water light, the previously inextinguishable golden flames were quickly extinguished completely.
The three-legged firebird sensed the threat, hurriedly flew away from the four-armed giant ape, returning to the Golden Lotus Treasure Lamp.
The blue water light not only helped the four-armed giant ape extinguish the flames on his body, but also allowed him to completely escape the absorption of the [Qianyang Golden Tower], expel the [Red Sky Divine Spear] embedded deep within, and even heal most of his injuries.
The effectiveness was due to the water-blue Treasure Pearl, a condensation of the Sunflower Essence collected and refined by the four-armed giant ape over thousands of years from the Deep Sea Spiritual Eye.
This one explosion of the water-blue Treasure Pearl equaled thousands of years of painstaking cultivation consumed in an instant, a bitterness only he knew.
Now that he had gained freedom, he immediately attempted to flee into the ocean.
But at this moment, a flicker of gold-red firelight flashed in Zhouyang's eyes, causing the four-armed giant ape to let out a miserable scream, clutching his head, his body falling toward the ocean below.
Roar!
A resounding dragon roar echoed across the sky, as Zhouyang suddenly transformed into a several-hundred-foot-long purple-gold True Dragon, immediately lunging at the four-armed giant ape, entwining its body tightly.
Then, rolling golden flames surged from the purple-gold True Dragon, igniting the body of the four-armed giant ape once more.
"Today, even if you were Sun Monkey, Zhou would boil you to oil!"
Zhouyang roared like thunder, dragon claws gripping the body of the four-armed giant ape tightly, dragon mouth fiercely biting a limb, intending to sever it shoulder-wide.
"Damn it! Get off me!"
The four-armed giant ape roared repeatedly, three arms clenched into fists, pounding fiercely on Zhouyang's dragon body, trying to forcibly remove Zhouyang.
The two colossal beasts wrestled fiercely in mid-air, like water and fire.
But the four-armed giant ape seemed to forget that Zhouyang was not alone; he also had a Tier Seven Cultivation incarnation.
As the four-armed giant ape busied himself trying to dislodge Zhouyang's main body, Zhouyang's incarnation was once again rubbing thunder together, forming Thunder Lock Chains to entwine around the arms and head of the four-armed giant ape.
Once those Thunder Lock Chains seized their target, they instantly left charred scars on the True Spirit Body of the four-armed giant ape, while the Thunder Power surged into him, causing his muscles and bones to numb, unable to exert full strength.
Despite not yet mastering any Immortal Techniques, Zhouyang's current strength appeared to already surpass [Sea-covering Spirit Ape], a Tier Seven True Spirit who had attained enlightenment for thousands of years.
[Sea-covering Spirit Ape] was actually aware of this, but his pride would not allow him to concede to Zhouyang.
Furthermore, he wasn't worried that Zhouyang dared to kill him.
Not to mention whether Zhouyang could kill him, even if he could, [East Sea Dragon Saint] would definitely not allow Zhouyang to do so.
Such fearlessness allowed [Sea-covering Spirit Ape], despite being in a disadvantaged position, to not concede even a bit before Zhouyang.
Zhouyang naturally understood [Sea-covering Spirit Ape]'s mindset but he did not care.
Indeed, he could not possibly kill this [Sea-covering Spirit Ape], but beating him severely, seriously injuring him, was enough to vent his anger.
Now, he only aimed to continuously wear down the [Sea-covering Spirit Ape]'s strength and morale, planting a fear in him whenever recalling this battle, never daring to appear before Zhouyang again.
Whether it's a Tribulation Crossing True Immortal or a Tier Seven True Spirit, both possess extraordinary magical power and vitality.
Without severely injuring or killing the opponent in a single strike, ending a battle is not something achievable quickly.
This battle lasted a full ten days and nights, ultimately concluding with the [Sea-covering Spirit Ape] having four arms broken and three-tenths of his body burnt by Zhouyang.
Even though the [Sea-covering Spirit Ape] is a Tier Seven True Spirit, such an injury is enough to leave it unable to heal for hundreds of years.
The power of the fire attribute law left in its body by Zhouyang will subject it to the torment of fire poison burning its body for the next hundred years!
And this battle directly established Zhouyang, who has been in the path for only a few centuries, as the human race's number one immortal in the minds of all Tier Seven beings across various races.
"Fellow Daoist Zhou must be satisfied this time, but I'm afraid Fellow Daoist Gu will blame this old dragon for not stepping forward to save him!"
At the sea surface after the great battle, the incarnation of the [East Sea Dragon Saint] reappeared and complained to Zhouyang with a rather displeased look.
Naturally, he had been watching the battle closely all along, but to avoid any "misunderstanding" between the battling parties, he observed from a great distance, only appearing on the battlefield to "mediate" after the [Sea-covering Spirit Ape] was severely injured.
But the [Sea-covering Spirit Ape] isn't foolish; even if it didn't realize initially, it would surely understand what deal he had made with Zhouyang upon his belated appearance.
Yet, due to his strong power and status, it didn't dare to openly question this matter.
"Fellow Daoist Hai, you're overestimating. Given your power and status, even if the [Sea-covering Spirit Ape] understood the whole story, what could it do? Without you, even if I were to kill it, it wouldn't be an impossible task!"
Zhouyang smirked indifferently, unconcerned about the complaints from the incarnation of [East Sea Dragon Saint].
"Let's put it to rest since it's over. This old dragon came to see Fellow Daoist Zhou to discuss the matter of ascension further, it would be beneficial to hear more about [True Monarch Donglai]'s situation!"
The incarnation of [East Sea Dragon Saint] waved his hand, not wanting to dwell further on the matter, and instead brought up his main agenda.
With a long lifespan nearing twenty thousand years, he was already a Tier Six Top-grade Demon King back when [True Monarch Donglai] was still in the "Spirit Realm," and he had seen this human True Immortal.
Zhouyang, upon hearing this, did not attempt to deceive him, and he began narrating his first cross-boundary communication with [True Monarch Donglai] upon entering [Donglai Immortal Island], followed by the second cross-boundary communication after sending out [Innate Five Elements Jade], recounting most of the communication content.
"So that's how it is! So, because of the light from the innate spiritual object, Fellow Daoist Zhou's cultivation advanced so quickly!"
The incarnation of [East Sea Dragon Saint] gazed at Zhouyang with admiration for his remarkable luck.
As an ancient being nearing twenty thousand years old, [East Sea Dragon Saint] clearly understood the immense value of innate spiritual objects, which are even coveted by great powers of the Upper Realm.
"Since Fellow Daoist Zhou is the closed-door disciple of [True Monarch Donglai] and has received cross-border teachings from [True Monarch Donglai], the ascension technique mentioned by Fellow Daoist Zhou is indeed worth trying. However, may I ask when Fellow Daoist Zhou plans to ascend?"
The incarnation of [East Sea Dragon Saint] stared intently at Zhouyang and solemnly asked the crucial question.
Upon hearing this, Zhouyang shook his head slightly and replied, "As for when to ascend, I haven't decided yet, but probably not for another six to seven hundred years at the earliest. I need to master one or two immortal techniques and assure myself of strength before undertaking such a dangerous task!"
"Six to seven hundred years? That's not too long!"
The incarnation of [East Sea Dragon Saint] nodded, satisfied with Zhouyang's answer.
Then, he became more serious and looked at Zhouyang, saying, "It's settled then, inform this old dragon several years in advance when Fellow Daoist Zhou plans to ascend."
After finishing, he prepared to disperse his incarnation formed from seawater.
But at this moment, Zhouyang spoke up to stop him, "Fellow Daoist Hai, don't leave just yet, I have a list of materials related to ascension preparation, and I'd like to ask Fellow Daoist to mobilize the East Sea Demon Race's forces to collect them, so we can pool our efforts quickly to gather all the materials."
"This old dragon understands, rest assured Fellow Daoist Zhou, as long as the materials can be found in the East Sea Treasure Vault, this old dragon will not spare anything!"
Without looking, the incarnation of [East Sea Dragon Saint] accepted the jade scroll given by Zhouyang and promptly returned to the East Sea Dragon Palace with it.
Upon seeing this, Zhouyang also turned back to his waiting wife and children, smiling gently, "Let's return to [Donglai Immortal Island]."
The secluded [Donglai Immortal Island], even after centuries had passed, was not much different from when Zhouyang had left, except there were more demon beasts and wild beasts on the island.
The two Jiao Dragons, Qing Luo and Silver Bell, on the island loyally cared for the vast medicine field, not allowing a single high-tier spirit elixir to wither due to their negligence.
When Zhouyang landed on the immortal island with his companions, the two Jiao Dragons sensed the presence of a stranger and immediately hurried over to check the situation.
Upon seeing Zhouyang, they were both stunned.
The difference between a Tribulation Crossing True Immortal and a Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator is immense, so Zhouyang hadn't deliberately hidden his aura, and thus the two Jiao Dragons immediately noticed the change in his aura.
"What? Haven't seen me in a few hundred years, don't recognize me?"
Zhouyang smiled slightly, his voice calmly awakening the two Jiao Dragons from their daze.
"Master, you, you've ascended to immortality!"
Silver Flood Dragon Bell gaped at Zhouyang, her voice trembling.
Cyan Flood Dragon Qing Luo, however, reacted much quicker, immediately kneeling and offering a grand salute, "Congratulations to Master on attaining Dao and ascending to immortality!"
"Rise, you've all worked hard these centuries, there will naturally be rewards from me,"
Zhouyang nodded slightly and instructed the two sisters to go to the island and hunt a few demon beasts for spiritual cuisine to entertain Zhu Zizhen visiting for the first time.
"I had long heard that the [Donglai Immortal Island] is independent of the world, a world unto itself, and today, seeing it, it truly lives up to its name, a secluded cultivation haven for immortals!"
In the Donglai Daoist Palace, with spiritual cuisine prepared by the two Jiao Dragon maids being served, Zhu Zizhen, who had toured the island with Zhouyang, returned, full of envy as she praised the immortal island.
What she truly envied was the island's Tier Seven Immortal Array, currently the only Tier Seven Immortal Array in the "Spirit Realm," an array that even a Tier Seven True Spirit could do nothing about.
After hearing her remarks, Zhouyang simply smiled lightly, "If Fellow Daoist Zhu likes, you can stay here for a while longer."
"No need, although this place is nice, it clashes with my attributes, I still prefer the environment of Chixia Mountain,"
Zhu Zizhen shook her head, graciously declining Zhouyang's goodwill.
As a Demon King, she's much more particular about cultivation environments than cultivators, and unless necessary, she wouldn't stay for even a moment in a place that clashes with her attributes.
Zhouyang understood this too, so he didn't try to persuade her further.
He was merely being courteous.
ps: Initially planned to write six thousand words for this chapter today, but since the new book "Cyan Cloud Immortal Path" is being launched at midnight, I can only write four thousand to fill in. Also, due to the new book's launch tomorrow, there might be no update from Desert tomorrow!
