"No need, you may leave."
Zheng Qianqiu’s gaze, like a knife, swept across the other party’s face, filled with a clear warning.
"Understood!"
This young man from a collateral branch of the Cui family was quite perceptive. After closing the door securely, he left immediately.
...
After the young man departed, Zheng Qianqiu remembered that Wu Tao had killed two of his disciples. A surge of anger welled up within him, with nowhere to vent.
He pressed a palm onto the nearby black ironwood table. In an instant, the black ironwood table was reduced to nothingness by demonic fire, not even a speck of residue remaining.
After a long while, Zheng Qianqiu finally calmed his rage.
...
The next morning.
As dawn broke, Wu Tao set off.
It was summer, with continuous heavy rain in Yanzhou, and the road was lined with beautiful plains scenery.
Wu Tao, flying with his artifact, saw green fields of spiritual crops everywhere from above, shrouded in the misty rain.
The difference was that ordinary farmland tilled by mortals was located in areas devoid of spiritual energy.
Whereas spiritual fields tilled by cultivators were in places rich with spiritual energy.
The method of tilling by mortals was naturally not worth mentioning or referencing. After all, matters of the mortal world and the cultivation world were entirely separate and could not be conflated.
The way cultivators in Yanzhou tilled spiritual fields and planted spiritual crops was on a grand scale.
Spirit gathering formations condensed spiritual energy from the surroundings, which then flowed into the spiritual fields. A large number of Qi Refining stage cultivators, carrying low-grade spiritual artifact hoes, toiled tirelessly among the spiritual fields.
The reason why ordinary mortals were not used to till spiritual fields, but Qi Refining stage cultivators wielding spiritual artifacts were, was primarily because the soil in spiritual fields contained spiritual energy and was incredibly hard.
Its hardness was no less than that of ordinary iron ore. Mortals simply couldn't till it.
Imagine an iron ore deposit the size of an acre, needing to be broken into pieces and then ground into powder.
Let alone ordinary mortals, even cultivators below the fifth level of Qi Refining would not be able to handle such labor.
Of course, tamed and docile demonic beasts could also be used to till spiritual fields.
However, such demonic beasts were far more expensive than hiring a Qi Refining stage cultivator long-term.
The labor cost of Qi Refining stage cultivators was less than the cost of specially training demonic beasts for farming.
Furthermore, tilling was not the only task in cultivating spiritual fields.
Irrigating the fields, sowing seeds, fertilizing, weeding, and pest control – these tasks still required someone to perform them.
And cultivators were more obedient than demonic beasts!
The reason for this situation had a great deal to do with Yanzhou's unique geographical conditions.
Apart from a Tongtian mountain range stretching for tens of thousands of miles north to south, blocking east and west, Yanzhou was otherwise entirely plains.
The mountains within the Tongtian mountain range were all at least a thousand zhang high, with sheer cliffs and treacherous paths that were impossible to climb. Even cultivators flying with wind found it difficult to cross.
To the east of the Tongtian mountain range lay the domain of the Dan Di Immortal Sect, one of the ten orthodox sects.
Conversely, to the west of the Tongtian mountain range was the domain ruled by the Zheng Yi Immortal Gate, another of the ten orthodox sects.
...
Wu Tao was currently located to the west of the Tongtian mountain range, within the territory ruled by the two main powers of the Zheng Yi Immortal Gate, one of the ten orthodox sects.
Within the million-mile plains, although there were forests, rivers, and some low hills, one could still see the magnificent plains scenery clearly from a high vantage point.
After half an hour of rain, it finally stopped.
The dark clouds gradually dispersed in the sky, and streaks of red light pierced through the clouds.
At the same time, as time passed, the sky gradually turned a clear azure blue, pure and white.
A moment later, a red sun began to shine upon the land.
The million-mile plains were bathed in golden light, and the morning breeze was refreshing. Seeing this, Wu Tao felt his spirits lift, experiencing a new realization. Overjoyed, he let out a long roar to the heavens.
...
However, such a good mood would ultimately not last long.
Wu Tao, who had been flying with his artifact for several hours, suddenly frowned, his divine sense sensing something.
Wu Tao couldn't help but sneer and said loudly, "Come out, I've discovered you long ago. How long do you intend to follow me?"
...
"Haha! As expected of a heavenly proud disciple from the Taiyi Immortal Sect, you discovered me so quickly."
As soon as Wu Tao finished speaking, a figure swooped down, intercepting him. This person was Zheng Qianqiu.
As Wu Tao’s divine sense swept over him, he immediately gasped and asked with a dark expression, "Sir, as a Core Formation stage cultivator, why do you block my path as a junior?"
Zheng Qianqiu laughed heartily upon hearing this and replied word by word, filled with killing intent, "You are mistaken. I am not here to block you; I am here to kill you."
Wu Tao's brow furrowed, and he asked, "I believe I have never met you before, senior, and thus have no enmity with you. Why do you wish to put me to death?"
Zheng Qianqiu grinned menacingly and cursed, "You brat, you killed my two disciples, and yet you dare to say you have no enmity with me? Without further ado, kill!"
Fearing any unforeseen circumstances, Zheng Qianqiu made his move.
The next moment, his palm spread out like a claw, striking towards Wu Tao.
"Giant Demon Ghost Claw!"
Demonic energy surged, forming a massive ghost palm that enveloped Wu Tao entirely.
Wu Tao snorted coldly, and the Chuxi Sword automatically unsheathed.
Without any apparent movement from Wu Tao, the Chuxi Sword transformed into a dazzling rainbow, instantly slicing through the sky. Like a flash of light, it severed the ghost palm and instantly retreated.
If Wu Tao in the past would have been certain to die when facing a Core Formation stage cultivator, after this experience in the Sea of Origin, he could now fight against weaker Core Formation stage cultivators for a dozen moves without defeat.
Seeing this, Zheng Qianqiu’s eyes widened in disbelief. He opened his mouth and exclaimed, "How is this possible? Your combat power shouldn't be this strong!"
Wu Tao's expression was stern. "Nonsense, there are many things you don't know, and I am not obligated to tell you. It is only polite to reciprocate. You take a move from me as well."
With a step forward, Wu Tao’s aura intensified. The Chuxi Sword suddenly shone with brilliant sword light, and its sword intent surged.
At this moment, the five-inch-long Chuxi Sword seemed to grow against the wind, instantly towering into the sky.
Even Zheng Qianqiu's face showed extreme fear.
With a single finger, the Chuxi Sword slashed down from the sky!
At this moment, Zheng Qianqiu felt as if the entire world had been split in two. It was a sword intent so shocking that even he, a nascent Core Formation stage cultivator, felt a terrifying power.
It was impossible to describe this terrifying feeling. In that instant, Zheng Qianqiu could not even think; he could only stare in stunned silence at this breathtaking scene!
Under Zheng Qianqiu’s utterly shocked gaze, the Chuxi Sword, in a mere instant and without any fancy maneuvers, struck him.
Zheng Qianqiu forcefully activated his lifebound artifact, the Ghost Wind Mad Pattern Club, to block. The result was that he was sent flying back several hundred meters, spitting blood uncontrollably from his mouth.
At this moment, he was in a state of extreme disarray, a stark contrast to his previously overbearing demeanor.
Wu Tao's swordplay was simple: fast, accurate, and ruthless. Yet, this alone had suppressed Zheng Qianqiu to the point where he had no recourse but to defend passively.
"Gack!"
Another mouthful of blood spurted out uncontrollably. Zheng Qianqiu’s face was pale and bloodless.
He rasped, "Damn brat, I will tear you to shreds, then extract your soul and burn it for a hundred years to appease my hatred."
As he spoke, Zheng Qianqiu unleashed his true power. His aura suddenly surged by more than a notch.
Seven-rank divine ability: "Three Heads, Six Arms."
Zheng Qianqiu manifested three heads and six arms, greatly increasing his combat power. Wielding the Ghost Wind Mad Pattern Club, he relentlessly drove Wu Tao back.
Zheng Qianqiu was also a genius in his youth. He found an unnamed demonic path inheritance in the cave dwelling of an ancient cultivator and cultivated for another century to reach his current realm.
The most terrifying aspect of Zheng Qianqiu's ultimate divine ability, "Three Heads, Six Arms," was that fighting against him was equivalent to fighting three Core Formation stage cultivators simultaneously.
Everything in the world has its pros and cons. Such a fearsome demonic art would not be a mere seven-rank divine ability if it didn't have terrible side effects.
Due to damage to his soul during cultivation, Zheng Qianqiu, who cultivated the "Three Heads, Six Arms" divine ability, would be forever limited to the Core Formation stage and would never make further progress in his life.
The divine ability gained at such a great sacrifice was naturally incredibly powerful. Fortunately, after his experience in the Sea of Origin, Wu Tao's abilities were also extraordinary.
Although he couldn't defeat Zheng Qianqiu, Wu Tao could still escape.
...
His hand seals flying, spiritual energy surging, Wu Tao shouted, "Five Elements Eight Trigrams Golden Light Array, activate!"
Golden radiance erupted, flowed, and intertwined, covering the area.
"Lock!"
"Set!"
"Seal!"
He uttered these three words in quick succession, activating the array’s restrictions.
In an instant, Zheng Qianqiu was trapped by the Five Elements Eight Trigrams Golden Light Array.
...
However, as Wu Tao flew away on his sword, explosions erupted one after another.
Without even looking back, Wu Tao knew what was happening. From beginning to end, the Five Elements Eight Trigrams Golden Light Array had only bought him three minutes of escape time.
Daring not to delay any longer, Wu Tao increased his flying speed.
After the time it took for an incense stick to burn, Zheng Qianqiu broke free from the Five Elements Eight Trigrams Golden Light Array, and the attacks from behind followed suit without a moment’s delay.
As the sounds reached him, a bone spear shot towards him. The incredibly sharp spearhead was just about to pierce Wu Tao's head.
The bone spear was entwined with Yin Demon ghost energy, and faint sounds of ghostly wails could be heard incessantly.