Cultivation Starting from Full Talent-Chapter 222 - 220 Annihilation of a Clan

Chapter 222: Chapter 220: Annihilation of a Clan Chapter 222 -220: Annihilation of a Clan The gentle breeze stirred, causing the elder’s clothing to sway with the wind.

The owner of the clothing had long since become bones buried in the sediment of time, so much so that within the skeleton was a tangle of old cotton padding, dense vines, and such—a chaotic mess that was impossible to identify.

Ning Daoran sat there in a daze, his Golden Core Divine Sense detecting an object.

About a zhang away from the clothing, half of a broken Flying Sword was embedded in the wrinkled bark of the “Holy Tree.”

Although the Flying Sword was broken, it had not lost all its Spiritual Energy, still faintly emitting a bloody red hue.

The Flying Sword was very familiar; it was indeed something Ning Daoran had personally crafted back in the day.

He remained composed, slowly closing his eyes.

…

“Boom boom boom~~~”

In the midst of drumbeats, the Great Witch of the Guiyuan Sect shouted loudly, “Those who are to be blessed, step forward and seek the Holy Tree’s divine favor!”

Instantly, dozens of disciples, led by a Foundation Establishment Elder, stepped forward and knelt before the ancient tree.

“We earnestly plead for the Holy Tree to bestow upon us an opportunity!”

“We earnestly plead for the Holy Tree to bestow upon us an opportunity!”

“We earnestly plead for the Holy Tree to bestow upon us an opportunity!”

A group of disciples knelt on the ground, not daring to raise their heads, incessantly chanting their plea.

In the air, the roots, vines, and leaves of the “Holy Tree” thrashed wildly, like a demon, trembling slightly as if sucking in its last breath.

For a moment, the corpses hanging from the tree swayed as well, and some bodies even seemed not quite dead. The people being hung emitted whimpers as the last of their essence blood was drained by the penetrating branches.

“Swoosh swoosh swoosh—”

In the air, dozens of slender roots descended from above, followed by these roots burrowing into the bodies of the tens of disciples with a “pfft pfft pfft.”

Almost instantly, wisps of blood-colored energy flowed along the roots, surging into the bodies of the young disciples. After enduring the immense influx of energy, they all became ferocious in appearance.

“Ahh ahh ahh~~~”

Even some of the young disciples couldn’t bear the pain and began to cry out loud.

Everyone tensed up, especially the parents of these young disciples.

“My child, you must hold on. With the blessings from the Holy Tree, our Liu family will finally be able to raise its head high, no longer to be bullied…”

“You must take in everything the Holy Tree gives, don’t let your pa down!”

…

Throughout this, Ning Daoran’s gaze remained impassive, showing no hint of emotion.

“Fellow Daoist Zhang.”

Beside him, Zuo Qiuhai suddenly turned his face, his eyes meaningfully fixed on Ning Daoran as he transmitted his voice, “Does Fellow Daoist have doubts in your heart, wondering perhaps if my Guiyuan Sect is actually a Demon Path?”

“Oh?”

Ning Daoran replied with a smile, “What is Sect Master talking about? How could I entertain such thoughts?”

“Alas…”

Zuo Qiuhai said, “Cats have their ways, mice have theirs. If my Guiyuan Sect was not forced into a corner, why would we take such a step? In the eyes of the so-called Righteous Cultivators, this Holy Tree is a ‘Big Evil Spirit,’ but in Zuo’s eyes, it is precisely because of this Evil Spirit that the young ones in our Guiyuan Sect have the opportunity to establish their foundation… the chance to witness the splendor of the Golden Core…”

With a sigh, he continued, “As for harming our own kind, such views are rather old-fashioned. Although the Holy Tree has indeed devoured the flesh of many Cultivators over the years, isn’t this how the Cultivation World works? The law of the jungle. How could I have grown the Guiyuan Sect step by step if I did not kill? ”

Ning Daoran nodded slightly, remaining silent.

“Fellow Daoist Zhang.”

Zuo Qiuhai continued, “The Primordial Qi given in return by the Holy Tree is of exceptional quality, not only beneficial for the youth but also for Golden Cores like us.”

With a gleam in his eye, he said, “As long as Fellow Daoist joins our Sect and becomes our Tribute, I am willing to persuade the Holy Tree to allow Fellow Daoist the opportunity to secretly participate in the grand ritual to receive the Holy Tree’s nourishment. The last time I received its nourishment, I was just short of breaking through to the Mid-stage Golden Core. Next time, I will certainly Breakthrough!”

Zuo Qiuhai became more and more excited as he spoke, “I felt an instant affinity with Fellow Daoist. If you agree to stay, you and I could together lead the Sect. In the end, wouldn’t this territory of Huangzhou be at the mercy of our Guiyuan Sect? With the nourishment of the Holy Tree’s Power, it is almost certain that you and I will successfully form our Nascent Souls. What do you think, Fellow Daoist?”

Ning Daoran responded with an unaffected demeanor, “Let’s discuss this another time.”

He turned his gaze towards the Holy Tree and frowned as he transmitted his voice, “Sect Master, using the Holy Tree to inherit and nourish one’s cultivation appears to provide rapid advancement; however, there is also great danger. I see that even the bodies of the Chaotic Sect’s Foundation Establishment disciples… Such actions could provoke the Chaotic Sect—how then shall we cope?”

“Hmph!”

Zuo Qiuhai scoffed, “Fellow Daoist must be referring to the Foundation Establishment Cultivator from the Chaotic Sect named Zhao who came up the mountain years ago to exterminate demons. Indeed, it was quite laughable that he thought his mere little Flying Sword could slay the Holy Tree… He ended up drained of his flesh and essence blood by the Holy Tree. That was the result of overestimating himself.

Rest assured, Fellow Daoist, what is there to fear from the Chaotic Sect? I heard that several of their Golden Core Elders have already fallen in the border battles twenty years ago. Now the Chaotic Sect is led by but one Early Stage Golden Core. Should they dare come knocking, what’s to stop Zuo from exterminating their entire Sect?”

Ning Daoran simply smiled, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

“Fellow Daoist Zhang, won’t you really consider it?”

Zuo Qiuhai seemed sincere, “If Fellow Daoist is willing to stay and accept the Tribute position, I am willing to increase the annual Tribute of Spirit Stones.”

“No need.”

Ning Daoran said with a smile, “I truly am accustomed to wandering the world, I thank you for your earnest offer, Sect Master!”

“Since that is the case, I will not press Fellow Daoist any further.”

Zuo Qiuhai looked genuinely regretful.

Ning Daoran naturally wouldn’t feel pity or guilt just because Zuo Qiuhai acted in such a way. On the contrary, the reason Zuo Qiuhai was so eager to bring Ning Daoran up the mountain was that several years ago, Guiyuan Sect had been warned by a first-class sect in Huangzhou, which cautioned that if they continued to harm people with the Demon Tree, the first-class sect would not stand by idly.

Through the soul-searching memories of the Mou Yuan Three Killers, Ning Daoran had already learned of this.

Thus, while Zuo Qiuhai’s invitation appeared sincere, he actually wanted to keep Ning Daoran, the Golden Core Cultivator, at Guiyuan Sect to “face trouble” with him. If Ning Daoran really stayed, it would be very easy for him to become a sacrificial pawn for Guiyuan Sect.

Of course, what Zuo Qiuhai valued most was the Spiritual Beast White Deer that seemed silly to others. This White Deer’s combat power was comparable to a Golden Core Middle Stage Practitioner of the Human Clan. With its help, even if a first-class sect attacked, there would be nothing to fear.

However, Ning Daoran insisted on leaving, and Zuo Qiuhai naturally would not force him to stay.

“Wu wa~~”

At this, the youths who had received the “Holy Tree” endowment revealed expressions of extreme pain, and blood vessels appeared on the chest of one of them. Suddenly, he vomited a mouthful of turbid blood, and his aura surged violently.

“Lin Qiang has made a breakthrough! He’s reached Mid-stage Foundation Establishment!”

This chapt𝒆r is updated by frёewebηovel.cѳm.

“The power of the Holy Tree is truly boundless!”

For a moment, the entire ceremony site was seething with excitement.

Countless youths looked on with feverish anticipation, all longing to be among those kneeling under the tree.

It wasn’t long before another youth broke through, reaching Perfect Qi Refining.

Young and old alike went completely mad.

Regardless of gender, each face was flushed with excitement, all going wild for this grand ceremony, each hoping to be the next in line to receive the “endowment.”

Finding no common ground, Ning Daoran sighed and stood up, deciding it was time to leave.

Zuo Qiuhai subtly waved his sleeve and, silently, a gleam of light landed on Ning Daoran’s elbow.

In a small courtyard within the Spirit Garden Cave Heaven.

Little Bai waved her hand, and a gleam of Wood Attribute Spiritual Energy shone, revealing an inconspicuous mark on Ning Daoran’s elbow.

“Young Master.”

Her brows knitted lightly as she said, “That Zuo Qiuhai secretly placed a mark on you. What could he be planning?”

“Hmph…”

Ning Daoran frowned slightly: “He probably doesn’t want me to leave Guiyuan Sect alive, does he?”

“Just him?” Little Bai said indignantly.

That night, no more Outer Sect female cultivators from Guiyuan Sect came to deliver food. Instead, as night fell, auras appeared all around the dense woods, and even underground, a group of extremely dense evil spirits emerged.

It was not only Zuo Qiuhai and a group of Foundation Establishment Elders who had come, but even the tree known as the “Holy Tree”—the Demon Tree—had arrived!

This Demon Tree was roughly at the Golden Core Late Stage Cultivation, and having dwelled on Yan Gui Mountain for many years, it had perfectly fused with the local terrain and water. This was likely the reason behind Zuo Qiuhai’s decision to act and keep Ning Daoran here.

“Young Master, what should we do? Fight our way out, kill them all, or what?” Little Bai asked.

“No need for that.”

Ning Daoran shook his head: “Rushing out to fight now would surely leave some escapees, which would be to our disadvantage.”

Saying this, he stepped out of the Spirit Garden Cave Heaven. His body radiated with Golden Core energy, and he effortlessly dispersed the mark on his arm with a laugh, saying cheerfully, “Fellow Daoist Zuo, with such petty tricks, do you really think you can keep me here?”

“Fellow Daoist is indeed formidable.”

Zuo Qiuhai stepped out from the night, one hand behind his back and his face full of ferocious murderous intent: “But do you really think you can escape today?”

“Let’s find out!”

Instantly, Ning Daoran cast a spell, his body transformed into a streak of green light and plunged into the earth, disappearing without a trace.

“Earth Escape Technique!?”

The Guiyuan Sect Foundation Establishment Elders were shocked.

Zuo Qiuhai was even more startled. If this man escaped, Guiyuan Sect would anger a Golden Core adversary. If this Transcendent Zhang truly came for vengeance, how could they possibly defend against it?

“Activate the Mountain Protection Array, quick!”

Half a cup of tea later.

Outside Yan Gui Mountain.

Ning Daoran gracefully emerged from the soil, lightly tapped the Spirit Garden Cave Heaven, and out came Big Stupid Deer and Little Bai.

“Old Lu…”

He gazed toward the distant Yan Gui Mountain and said calmly, “Back then, Senior Brother Zhao Lichen left the sect for many years of training and never returned. Everyone thought he had decided to cultivate somewhere else, but I never imagined he had died within Guiyuan Sect.

It was Senior Brother Zhao who led us up the mountain. Since he died unjustly, shouldn’t we avenge him?!”

“Ow ow~~~”

More than a hundred crossed blue veins appeared on the forehead of Big Stupid Deer!

“This Guiyuan Sect must be eradicated.”

Ning Daoran lightly patted his Storage Bag, and immediately thirty-six Array Flags and thirty-six Array Plates flew out. Then, he spread seventy-two Second-class Paperfolk, each holding either a flagpole or an Array Plate.

“Form the array! Fiery Fire Fish Dragon Formation!”