Xiuxian: Start with the medicine boy

Chapter 1756 Suspicion, Forbidden Zone!

The void interlayer was deep and dark, seemingly an ancient and desolate place.

Cheng Buzheng stood quietly behind the void barrier, his figure seemingly merging with the endless darkness.

His gaze pierced through the barrier, landing on the overwhelming, demonic shadows outside—

That was the Black Spirit Tiger Shark clan's army, its ranks imposing and its murderous aura filling the air, marching majestically toward the Golden Dragon clan's territory.

His lips curled slightly upward, revealing a smile that was not quite a smile.

"This spectacular coup is truly a rare sight in the world of cultivation!"

He patted the non-existent sunflower seed shells in his hand with a leisurely gesture, as if he were really watching a good show.

He then chuckled lightly, his tone carrying a hint of amusement and indifference.

Then, he put away his leisurely interest in watching the show, his expression gradually becoming serious as he carefully reviewed the farcical scene that had just unfolded.

One by one, doubts surfaced in my mind like an undercurrent.

First, there was the secret technique that Ao Yuan used before his death...

Its final burst of power was in no way inferior to the full-force attack of a Nascent Soul cultivator in the early stages.

In fact, it even slightly exceeded expectations.

This completely shattered the ironclad rules and perceptions that have been held in the cultivation world for countless years.

Even Cheng Buzheng himself was shocked by the terrifying power contained in Ao Yuan's final strike.

He asked himself, if he were still at the half-saint realm, there would be no way he could have unleashed such a world-destroying attack.

It was already a stroke of luck that he was able to escape with his life from the hands of the Nascent Soul Venerable.

To think they could confront them head-on is simply wishful thinking.

Even taking a direct hit would be impossible.

This point became especially clear to him after he truly entered the realm of Nascent Soul.

Is it the immense power of the very origin of laws?

Or is it a transformation of the essence of magic?

The difference between the Nascent Soul stage and the Divine Transformation stage is vast, and cannot be overcome by ordinary means.

however--

Today's farce has truly shattered his understanding.

However, there is one thing that Cheng Buzheng can almost be certain of:

The secret technique that Ao Yuan used before his death was definitely not a secret technique recorded on a fragment of the Heavenly Book in the Spirit Realm.

Although Ao Yuan's aura was contained and his secrets were not revealed when he used this technique, making it difficult for outsiders to perceive...

But he has the supreme pupil technique, the [Divine Eye of Luo Tian], to enhance him!

And it was precisely because of this that, in that instant, Cheng Buzheng clearly captured the subtle changes in the Golden Dragon bloodline within Ao Yuan's body—

It was an extreme burning, a reckless sublimation.

In other words, as Ao Yuan activated this secret technique, his Golden Dragon bloodline was also burning rapidly, transforming into resources for immense power.

Of course, this alone is not enough to unleash the true reason why it is close to the power of a god.

The real key lies in:

The burning and sublimation of bloodline is merely a "starter".

As for the deeper operating mechanisms and the hub of energy conversion...

Before Cheng Buzheng could observe closely, Ao Yuan unleashed a powerful strike, surpassing the realm of a half-saint and nearly reaching the level of a god, towards Sha Minghong.

The result was obvious:

After Ao Yuan unleashed that final blow, the demonic infant, the physical body, the bloodline... everything was burned to ashes and vanished into nothingness.

Naturally, it's impossible for there to be no residue left.

Therefore, Cheng Buzheng did not have the opportunity to continue observing.

Based on these clues, Cheng Buzheng concluded:

The secret technique that Ao Yuan used before his death was definitely not the secret technique recorded in the fragments of the Heavenly Book of the Spirit Realm, but should be a bloodline secret technique passed down from generation to generation by the Golden Dragon Clan.

after all--

Cheng Buzheng himself also collected several secret techniques originating from fragments of the Heavenly Book in the Spirit Realm.

Without exception, they all require mastering the fundamental laws.

And this is still just the threshold.

Even someone as powerful as him, who has now entered the Nascent Soul stage, has only mastered two of the four secret laws he possesses.

The other two are still inaccessible due to their extremely high legal thresholds.

They are not qualified to cultivate.

of course.

The higher the threshold, the more incredible the effects of the secret technique.

For example, the [Time Warp Technique], which can increase lifespan exponentially, makes it possible to live for millions more years after reaching its peak.

It can be described as the supreme method of creation.

For example, there's the [Reincarnation Technique], which allows one to be reborn perfectly, and even specifies the approximate location of the next life...

Regardless of the method, they can all be considered methods to seize the power of heaven and earth and defy fate.

In comparison, Ao Yuan's final blow, though incredibly powerful, was far from being a truly "fate-defying" feat.

If Ao Yuan's outburst before his death shocked Cheng Buzheng and shattered his understanding...

Then Sha Minghong's "survival" is even more difficult for him to understand.

At least the moment Ao Yuan delivered that blow, Cheng Buzheng thought that Sha Minghong was doomed.

But the reality was beyond his expectations—

Not only did Sha Minghong survive, but he also appeared to be... completely unharmed?

Cheng Buzheng originally wanted to activate the [Luo Tian Divine Eye] to find out more.

But an unexpected situation arose:

When his divine eye, imbued with the power of 'Nirvana,' fell upon Shar Minghong, it was as if he had fallen into an endless fog, unable to discern the truth from the falsehood.

However, it wasn't all without gains.

In the instant that Shark Minghong blocked Ao Yuan's final blow, Cheng Buzheng clearly caught a fleeting glimpse of it—

Law fluctuations!

Although the fluctuations in the laws appeared quickly and disappeared even faster, he did indeed perceive them.

And it was at that very moment...

Cheng Buzheng overturned some of his previous guesses, and a bold suspicion arose in his mind:

Sha Minghong's combat power is not solely due to his cultivation of a fragment of a spirit world book that enhances combat strength.

Firstly, the secret techniques recorded in the fragments of the Heavenly Book of the Spirit Realm require at least the mastery of a trace of the origin of laws, which is beyond the reach of Nascent Soul cultivators.

Second: Ao Yuan's last words before his death...

Cheng Buzheng leaned towards the latter, suspecting that Ao Yuan was not lying.

It should be noted that a cultivator's aura, appearance, cultivation level, and even bloodline can all be disguised or altered.

However, subtle habits formed over the years, as well as subconscious expressions and movements, are extremely difficult to completely conceal.

Even if it was done intentionally...

But sometimes a casual action, or even a glance, can give away the truth.

Although the chances are very low, even people who know you well might not notice.

But for Ao Yuan, his nemesis with whom he had fought for countless years, even if he were reduced to ashes, he would still recognize him.

Naturally, he was also very familiar with Shark Minghong, even his every move was extremely familiar to him.

Even the slightest abnormality of Sha Minghong was clearly visible to Him, like a beacon in the darkness.

This is why other cultivators could not detect the changes in Shark Minghong, but Ao Yuan could.

In view of this...

Cheng Buzheng made a bold conjecture:

The Shark Minghong before me is no longer the Shark Minghong of the past.

It is highly likely that a wisp of the spirit of a Nascent Soul cultivator possessed this body!

In this way, everything makes sense.

The logic makes sense now!

That fleeting fluctuation of law was definitely the original imprint of law carried by a wisp of the old monster's soul in the Nascent Soul stage.

This is also the real reason why Sha Minghong, at the late Nascent Soul stage, was able to withstand Ao Yuan's near-death attack unscathed!

same--

This is also the fundamental reason why "Shark Minghong" suddenly changed his temperament and brazenly launched the expedition plan.

Everything, all of this, is because:

Shark Minghong is no longer his original self, but has been completely replaced by a Nascent Soul level old monster.

Even more coincidentally, this change occurred precisely after the two races' deities had successively perished in the Forbidden Sea.

The timing was so "perfect" that it couldn't help but make Cheng Buzheng feel a sense of awe.

Thinking of this, even more mysteries arose in his mind:

"So... which Nascent Soul cultivator will possess Shark Minghong's body?"

The answer doesn't seem hard to guess.

The person who was able to possess and be reborn at this point in time, and suppress all those who forcibly took over, is very likely a Nascent Soul being who had already perished in the Forbidden Sea.

It was only because the main body perished that the hidden secondary spirit or backup plan was triggered.

And Sha Minghong became the unfortunate "vessel" chosen.

At first, Cheng Buzheng was also unable to determine which Nascent Soul stage monster it was.

until--

The moment Shark Minghong manifested his bloodline phenomenon before the thousands of tiger shark demons...

Cheng Buzheng finally made up his mind.

Not bad.

In his deduction, the old monster who possessed Shark Minghong was almost certainly a Nascent Soul demon lord from the Black Spirit Tiger Shark clan!

Otherwise, the bloodline phenomenon manifested by Sha Minghong could never have been so perfectly harmonious and natural.

All of this stems from the uniqueness and exclusivity of the demon race's bloodline.

Such secrets are completely unknown to ordinary cultivators.

However, Cheng Buzheng, being a Nascent Soul cultivator, possessed extensive knowledge that ordinary cultivators could not match.

same--

It was this perfect and flawless bloodline phenomenon that completely dispelled the last trace of doubt in the hearts of those semi-elders of the Black Spirit Tiger Shark Clan who had submitted for personal gain.

Otherwise, if Shark Minghong cannot prove himself and does not manifest any unusual bloodline phenomena...

It is estimated that this would immediately trigger a split within the tribe and the collapse of the army.

Needless to say, they continued their expedition.

For a time,

A myriad of thoughts, like flashes of lightning, swirled endlessly within Cheng Buzheng's sea of ​​consciousness.

He quickly suppressed the distracting thoughts in his mind, shook his head slightly, and regained his usual composure:

"Even if Shark Minghong is truly a Nascent Soul Demon Lord from the Black Spirit Tiger Shark Clan possessing another body, so what?"

Given the current situation, it is not difficult to deduce that:

The high-level resources suitable for Shark Minghong within the Black Spirit Tiger Shark clan have been exhausted...

That's why this old monster, who had been reborn through possession, launched a campaign at any cost even though his cultivation level hadn't fully recovered.

Presumably, they knew that the Nascent Soul cultivators of other top races had all perished, which is why they dared to take a gamble, intending to plunder resources from other races to help them quickly recover their cultivation.

"Of course, some of them probably harbor ambitions to seize human territory."

"Otherwise, they wouldn't be in such a hurry."

"in other words--"

Cheng Buzheng's gaze turned cold, and a murderous intent flashed in his eyes:

"Sha Minghong is now my rival in the struggle for resources!"

With this thought in mind, a chilling killing intent suddenly surged forth.

But then, he thought of the boundless demon army under Shark Minghong's command, and the interconnected, intertwined battle formations...

He ultimately suppressed his murderous intent.

"Although I am unable to forcibly kill you for the time being..."

"But if you wish to compete with me for resources and obstruct my path?"

Cheng Buzheng snorted coldly, his tone indifferent and arrogant:

"Absolutely impossible."

"A mere old monster who has been reborn through possession and whose cultivation level has not yet recovered, dares to challenge me?"

Immediately,

He didn't linger any longer; his figure flickered and vanished like a phantom, completely merging into the depths of the void.

This time, he no longer traveled at his leisure as before.

Instead, he used his escape technique to the fullest extent, transforming into an almost invisible stream of light, tearing through layers of space, and speeding towards the Golden Dragon Clan's territory.

They must arrive before the Black Tiger Shark army arrives.

The resources accumulated by the Golden Dragon Clan over ten thousand years—

Loot everything and take it all!

···

True Dragon Sea, the deepest abyss...

Dark as ink, eternally silent.

A bottomless underwater canyon, like a hideous scar, is etched on the boundless seabed.

A thin, distorted glimmer of light struggled to penetrate the distant, unreachable sea, barely illuminating this body of water.

Within the pillar of light, only countless pale, slender seaweeds swayed silently and eerily, accompanied by the endless undercurrents, like the hair of the dead.

Apart from that, there was no trace of any living creature, and a suffocating sense of desolation permeated the air.

The steep rock walls on both sides of the canyon are dotted with caves of all sizes.

Two particularly secluded caves are shrouded in dense, impenetrable darkness, resembling an endless abyss, teeming with terror.

But upon closer inspection...

However, they found only two figures sitting cross-legged in the cave.

Their bodies were covered in thick layers of dust and mineral deposits, the line between their clothing and skin blurred, almost blending into the rock beneath them.

The ancient stone carvings seem to have existed here since time immemorial, unchanged through the ages.

There was no rise and fall of breath, no roar of a heartbeat.

Even the slightest energy fluctuations were completely contained.

If it weren't for the seemingly elusive yet boundless vitality silently flowing deep within its body, anyone who witnessed this scene would have concluded...

This is merely the remains of a body that has been dormant for many years.

however--

In this absolute silence, forgotten by time...

The aura surrounding that "stone sculpture," which was covered in dust and whose true form was obscured, suddenly became clear and perceptible!

An aura of majesty, possessed only by a terrifying being who has reached the "half-saint" realm, though restrained, already caused the surrounding seawater to freeze.

An invisible pressure spread out, causing the seaweed swaying at the cave entrance to freeze instantly.

Not bad!

These two figures, with their prominent horns and imposing presence, exuded an aura as deep and unfathomable as a mountain...

It was a half-saint level expert from the Golden Dragon Clan who was ordered to guard this forbidden area and protect the clan's destiny!

One of the figures, sitting cross-legged deep within a cave in an underwater canyon, resembling an ancient sculpture, suddenly opened its eyes, which had been closed for countless years.

His eyes seemed to hold the primordial chaos, and suddenly a dazzling golden light shone forth.

His gaze, as cold as ancient ice, seemed almost tangible, piercing the darkness and rippling the eternal stillness that had enveloped the cave.

His gaze was sharp as he slowly scanned the dark seawater outside the cave and the silent, swaying pale seaweed.

His brows suddenly furrowed, and a barely audible whisper echoed in the cave:

"Could it be... that my senses are wrong?"

The next moment, he abandoned the idea.

"impossible.

"I have been stationed in this forbidden area for countless years, and my divine sense has long since merged with this sea. No disturbance escapes my notice, and I have never made a mistake."

"so···"

A chill suddenly appeared in his eyes.

“There must be a cultivator who has infiltrated this place using secret methods.”

"···"

...(End of this chapter)