Cultivation Begins From The Desert-Chapter 47: The Breakthrough Battle (Part 3)

"Damn bastards, how dare they set us brothers up! Truly despicable!"

"Damn it, who would’ve thought that we’ve hunted daily, and today almost got our eyes pecked blind by a prey. What a sneaky brat, actually setting up an ambush with several Tier Two High-Grade Spirit Talismans in an array. If it weren’t for our usual caution, we might have really fallen into this brat’s hands today!"

"This won’t end here. Once we find that brat, we’ll destroy his meridians, cut off his hands, and throw him into the Desert Sea, letting him die slowly in endless despair!"

On an unnamed barren mountain, three sand bandits in black robes emerged from the ruins of a collapsed mountain cave, filled with anger as they cursed the ruins incessantly.

After tracking Zhouyang’s trail here, they accidentally triggered the array traps Zhouyang had set up, activating several Tier Two High-Grade Spirit Talismans inside, almost getting caught entirely within. So they certainly had reason to be furious now.

After cursing for a while, one of the sand bandits looked at his two companions and asked, "What now? That brat’s aura and trail vanished on this barren mountain. We don’t know if he’s hiding or fled elsewhere."

Hearing this question, one of the sand bandits immediately shouted, "He’s definitely still here. A guy who knows how to deceive people like this surely wouldn’t be unaware of those seniors patrolling everywhere to hunt down those who escaped. If he dares to run above ground now, he’s seeking death!"

Another sand bandit nodded in agreement and said, "Indeed, he must be hiding somewhere. I think he’s most likely hiding deep underground. We can use the Earth Escape Technique to search underground."

"Listening to both brothers, it does make sense. Let’s search then." The sand bandit asking the question’s eyes lit up, immediately making a hand sign to perform the "Earth Escape Technique" and escape underground.

The other two sand bandits saw this, nodded at each other, and followed with the "Earth Escape Technique," searching underground.

Zhouyang hadn’t expected these sand bandits to be so cunning, quickly seeing through his plan.

Though his underground hiding place was deep enough, standing on the ground couldn’t be detected with Divine Sense, but it was most fearful of people using "Earth Escape Technique" to search underground. The barren mountain wasn’t that large. With three sand bandits searching in a net-like fashion, they soon forced him out of hiding.

"Heh, originally thought someone who could set up such traps to deceive us brothers would be a veteran of the cultivation realm. Didn’t think it would turn out to be a young brat. Brat, you’re quite cunning. Where did you learn this trick? Does your family also have elders who’ve been sand bandits?"

On the barren mountain, seeing the person hiding underground was the young Zhouyang, the three sand bandits were slightly startled, then one of them seemed to have guessed something and sneered as he voiced his speculation.

Indeed, such methods of setting traps to deceive are mostly employed by sand bandit loose cultivators. Clan cultivators and sect cultivators even if they know such methods, generally disdain using such deceitful means.

Zhouyang knew of these methods from previously hearing elders in the clan talk about various sand bandit tactics and secretly noting them down.

He was different from those clan cultivators who disdained using such deceitful means. In his view, as long as it helps him defeat enemies, it’s a good method, regardless of being deceitful.

Of course, the premise is that such methods must not violate his inner moral boundaries nor harm the harmony of heaven.

For instance, some demons in the cultivation realm might use forbidden techniques to blood-sacrifice tens of thousands of mortals into refining evil demon artifacts. Such methods, even if Zhouyang knew, he certainly wouldn’t use.

"This is called using one’s own method against them. Speaking of cunning, who can be more wicked than you sand bandits?"

Scanning the three sand bandits, Zhouyang found their cultivation was within his capacity to deal with, his heart eased slightly, and he couldn’t help but mockingly smile at the three sand bandits.

These three sand bandits, one Ninth-Layer Qi Cultivation, two Eighth-Layer Qi Cultivation, against ordinary Ninth-Layer Qi Cultivation cultivators, even other elders of the Zhou Family apart from Zhou Xuan Yu, would have a highly probable chance of winning.

However, to him, as long as he used the treasures he had kept, taking on three alone wasn’t impossible.

"Such a boastful brat, still talking tough at the brink of death!"

The three sand bandits were enraged by Zhouyang’s attitude, without a word, they immediately summoned their spiritual artifacts to attack Zhouyang.

The spiritual artifacts of these three were quite good, with two possessing Tier Two High-Grade Spiritual Artifacts, specifically a Flying Sword and a black bottle that could release poisonous sand.

Especially the poisonous sand released from the black bottle, although each piece was only the size of a fingernail, the total number was more than a hundred, each with the power of a Tier One Top Grade Spiritual Artifact, and also carried corrosive poison that not only Zhouyang’s Silver Gang Shield Spiritual Artifact couldn’t block the poisonous sand attacking from all directions, he had to use the Defense Spirit Talisman to enhance his defense.

However, once a Defense Spirit Talisman is activated, it constantly drains the cultivator’s magical power to maintain its presence, otherwise, relying solely on the spiritual power within the talisman, it would dissipate after blocking a few enemy attacks.

This way, Zhouyang had additional magical power consumption.

Moreover, the sounds of magical combat here weren’t low; if the battle dragged on, attracting the attention of Foundation Establishment stage sand bandits would be disastrous.

So after initially testing the methods of the three sand bandits in combat, Zhouyang knew this fight needed a fast resolution.

Moreover, the sounds of magical combat here weren’t low; if the battle dragged on, attracting the attention of Foundation Establishment stage sand bandits would be disastrous.

So after initially testing the methods of the three sand bandits in combat, Zhouyang knew this fight needed a fast resolution.

"You asked for this!"

With a cold look in his eyes at the three sand bandits, he raised his hand, tossing several Tier Two High-Grade Spirit Talismans at the sand bandit using the black bottle spiritual artifact, then moved with his Divine Sense, the four "Armor-Piercing Daggers" in mid-air combating the enemy’s Flying Sword suddenly turned and shot towards the sand bandit being attacked by multiple Tier Two High-Grade Techniques.

The three sand bandits clearly hadn’t expected Zhouyang to be so decisive and daring, momentarily slowed down, leaving the other two sand bandits no time to save their companion.

And the sand bandit targeted by Zhouyang, because his spiritual artifacts consumed quite a bit of magical power, only had a Copper Mirror Spiritual Artifact summoned with "Golden Light Body-Protecting Technique" as protection.

This level of defense wasn’t necessarily poor, at least Zhouyang with just the "Armor-Piercing Daggers" set of Tier Two High-Grade Spiritual Artifacts wouldn’t be able to break the double defense and hurt him in one strike.

However, he severely underestimated Zhouyang’s methods and even more underestimated Zhouyang’s determination to kill him.

Zhouyang spared no expense, slamming four Tier Two High-Grade Spirit Talismans onto him, instantly tearing apart all the defenses he hastily set up, and then had his head easily cut off by the following "Armor-Piercing Dagger".

The other two sand bandits, upon seeing this, were both shocked and furious. They quickly added several layers of protection to themselves and also started throwing Spirit Talismans at Zhouyang.

They had just robbed the Jinsha Marketplace and each of them had grabbed quite a number of good things, making their wealth and methods far superior to those of the sand bandits Zhouyang had encountered in the desert before.

Zhouyang did not expect that these two sand bandits, because of their companion’s death, would feel such grief and fight him with all their resources.

Such loyal and righteous sand bandits are truly rare.

Now it was his turn to be in trouble.

He had many Spirit Talismans as well and was confident he could outspend the two sand bandits until they were broke.

However, using Spirit Talismans also consumes Magical Power, especially when Defense Spirit Talismans are used to defend against attacks, they are major Magical Power consumers.

Facing two against one, not only did his use of Spirit Talismans multiply compared to his enemies, but his Magical Power was also draining rapidly, like water gushing uncontrollably from a faucet.

"I can’t continue like this. Even if I exhaust their Spirit Talismans, my Magical Power won’t hold out for the final victory. It seems I can only use that item!"

Zhouyang, covered in various multicolored defense shields, secretly lamented, knowing that if he didn’t use other methods to break the deadlock, he might really fall here today.

He did indeed have a trump card that could decide the victory, but this item was extremely precious, and using it on two Qi Cultivation Stage sand bandits seemed too wasteful. He hadn’t planned to use it until now.

But now it seemed that without using this trump treasure, he might find it hard to end this day well.

Faced with the choice between life and treasure, he naturally chose life.

Since he had made up his mind, Zhouyang no longer hesitated. He slapped his Storage Bag at his waist, and a black metal cylinder about a foot high appeared in his hand.

He then forcefully threw this black metal cylinder into the sky between the two sand bandits. With a surge of Magical Power, the metal cylinder spun in the air and instantly shot out a dense shower of dark red poison needles with a "whizz-whizz-whizz" sound.

Ahh!

In succession, two miserable screams almost simultaneously burst from the mouths of the two sand bandits.

The two of them had been fully alert, preparing their defenses when they saw Zhouyang throw the metal cylinder, but they still underestimated the terror of those poison needles and were instantly brought down to the ground after their defenses were pierced by the thousands of poison needles.

The instigator, Zhouyang, was not surprised at all by this scene.

The metal cylinder, hidden with three hundred thirty-three poison needles, was specially refined by the old Clan Leader Zhou Minghan using the stingers of three hundred thirty-three "Poisonous Fire Scorpions" and Profound Iron.

This Magical Artifact can only be used once. Once used, all the poison needles inside will shoot out, and even if picked back up one by one afterward, they would lose their effect.

Because it can only be used once, the poison needles inside the metal cylinder, upon being shot out, each have the power equivalent to half the power of a Tier Two Lower Grade Spiritual Artifact. Among them, twenty-four needles are refined using Tier Two Poisonous Fire Scorpion stingers, with power equivalent to a Tier Two Middle Grade Spiritual Artifact.

Only a Tier Three High-grade Refiner like the old Clan Leader Zhou Minghan could craft such intricate and powerful disposable Spiritual Artifacts. If it were Zhouyang crafting, even if told the method, it would be impossible for him to succeed.

"I can’t stay here. I have to leave immediately."

With a flash of regret in his eyes, Zhouyang didn’t bother to pick up the now-useless metal cylinder and went straight to the sand bandits’ bodies to collect the spoils of war before leaving.

However, just as he crouched down beside the sand bandit corpse, the "corpse" lying motionless on the ground suddenly opened its eyes and fiercely spat a sharp blood arrow at him.

Oh no!

Zhouyang shouted internally that something was wrong and quickly tried to dodge back.

But it was too late.

With a flash of blood, his body fell backward as though struck by lightning.

The sand bandit who spat out the blood arrow saw this and a look of satisfaction flashed in his eyes. Tilting his head, he finally breathed his last.

It turns out, after being hit by the poison needles just now, he hadn’t died immediately but knew that surviving was impossible. So he secretly activated a Secret Technique he had obtained before, mobilizing all of his Essence Blood to prepare for this strike.

This strike contained all of his Essence Blood’s Magical Power, its power not inferior to a Tier Two High-grade Technique. If a Qi Cultivation Stage cultivator was caught off guard and hit by the blood arrow, it was almost impossible to survive.

Thus, when the sand bandit saw Zhouyang fall to the ground after being hit by the blood arrow, he showed a look of vengeance fulfilled before finally exhaling his last breath.

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