Cultivation: Immunity to Negative Effects

"It’s actually the Hundred Flowers Palace from the Hundred Flowers Oasis? As expected of a super-large oasis and a top-tier sect!"

"Rest assured, seniors, we will give it our all and won’t disappoint you!"

Hearing this, the Golden Core Peak Cultivators cried out in amazement, their reverence for the trio growing even deeper.

In the Endless Desert Sea, oases were innumerable, but super-large oases were clearly limited in number, and each one was incredibly famous.

The Hundred Flowers Oasis was one of them.

And the Hundred Flowers Palace was a place countless cultivators yearned to visit.

Over ninety percent of its members were female cultivators, who were rumored to be exceptionally beautiful.

Of course, the Nascent Soul Female Cultivator before them was probably an exception.

Furthermore, as a male cultivator, the golden-armored young Nascent Soul was a relatively rare sight in the Hundred Flowers Palace.

’No wonder they could produce a defective Nine Revolutions Soul Reviving Pill!’

Even Zhang Chi was somewhat surprised to hear this.

He also noticed that many of the cultivators had lowered their guard toward the trio because of this revelation.

After all, if their identities were legitimate, perhaps they really could produce more than ten Nascent Soul Spiritual Objects.

"The Demon Beast we are hunting this time is called the Black Sand Profound Snake. It is a powerful Demon Beast that only appears in the distant, forbidden Black Desert to the north. Although our target is a Tier Four Low Grade, its strength is at the top of its tier." The Nascent Soul Female Cultivator nodded in satisfaction and continued speaking.

"What? A Black Sand Profound Snake?"

"Heavens, it’s that kind of Demon Beast?"

The cultivators were all shocked, and they finally understood why the trio had sought them out.

The Black Sand Profound Snake was extremely rare in the Endless Desert Sea; the few that did appear were carried out by black sandstorms originating from the Black Desert.

But the Black Sand Profound Snake was incredibly ferocious, even capable of turning small oases into ruins, and thus it had earned an infamous reputation.

Almost all the cultivators present had heard of it.

Zhang Chi hadn’t been in the area for long, but he had read about it in the *Immortal Cultivation Treasures Record* and knew that the Black Sand Profound Snake held a true treasure.

"Correct. Our Young Palace Master happens to need some materials from this Black Sand Profound Snake. We specially requested a senior skilled in Celestial Secret Calculation to act, which is how we located one. It’s currently near Beichen Oasis."

"Also, this long serpent is extremely clever. The moment it senses a powerful expert’s aura, it will instantly flee without a trace. That’s why we didn’t ask more Nascent Soul True Monarchs for help, and came to you instead!"

As the Nascent Soul Female Cultivator continued her explanation, understanding once again dawned on the cultivators, and none of them felt any suspicion.

According to legend, the Black Sand Profound Snake was indeed extremely cunning and cautious, one could even say it moved like a ghost.

"Of course, you don’t need to be afraid. Once we arrive, you just need to follow our agreement and obey my commands. Each of you will guard one Array Flag."

"As for the extra person, he will stay by the Young Mistress’s side as a substitute, ready to support the others at a moment’s notice. The Black Sand Profound Snake can be left to the two of us Nascent Soul Cultivators to handle!"

While speaking, the Nascent Soul Female Cultivator waved her hand, producing several Array Flags that were as tall as a person and entirely golden.

Emitting a Spiritual Light, the Array Flags flew before the Golden Core Peak Cultivators. There was exactly one for each of them—except for Zhang Chi.

Zhang Chi wasn’t surprised by this.

He had primarily displayed his Body Refining Cultivation before, and his "injuries" hadn’t seemed severe. The other party had surely taken note, concluding that he was the strongest but not adept at using Magical Power.

In truth, however, he couldn’t help it.

He had already tried to hide his true abilities, but he had still inadvertently ended up performing the best.

This was simply because the other cultivators were far weaker than he had anticipated.

The Nascent Soul Female Cultivator’s arrangement made the other Golden Core Cultivators quite envious of Zhang Chi, but none of them dared to question it.

Afterwards, the Nascent Soul Female Cultivator went on to explain the specific details of hunting the Black Sand Profound Snake.

All the cultivators pricked up their ears, listening intently.

After all, this would directly impact the mission’s success or failure, and even their own survival.

Zhang Chi also listened attentively, but his mind couldn’t help but drift to the detailed records in the *Rare Treasures Record* concerning the materials of the Black Sand Profound Snake.

The Black Sand Profound Snake was a treasure trove from head to tail. Its hide, Demon Pill, teeth, Snake Gallbladder, and even its flesh were all exceptional materials for Alchemy and Artifact Refining, all starting at Tier Four Low Grade without exception.

But the most precious part was the single horn on the Black Sand Profound Snake’s head.

This horn was incredibly hard and sharp, a full grade higher than its other materials.

More importantly, after killing a Black Sand Profound Snake, a portion of Marrow Fluid that gestated within its horn could be extracted.

This Marrow Fluid, also known as Profound Snake Spirit Marrow, was the true exotic treasure.

Consuming a dose of this Profound Snake Spirit Marrow could directly add one Dao Pattern to the Golden Core of any Golden Core Cultivator with fewer than Nine Patterns.

However, this substance had a very short shelf life. It had to be harvested immediately after the kill, within two hours.

The *Rare Treasures Record* also stated that there was no way to extend its preservation time.

For instance, putting it in a Storage Bag or Storage Ring, using a special container, or even freezing it—none of these methods worked.

Furthermore, capturing a Black Sand Profound Snake alive was also impossible.

First, capturing a Black Sand Profound Snake alive is incredibly difficult. The horn on its head can emit a special pulse that is stronger and more sensitive than the Divine Thought Power of cultivators and Demon Beasts.

If too powerful a threat appeared, the Black Sand Profound Snake would flee ahead of time.

Second, the Black Sand Profound Snake’s own combat power is extremely high. It is difficult to defeat, even harder to kill, and capturing it alive is undoubtedly the most difficult of all.

Finally, the Black Sand Profound Snake is very intelligent. It knows that being captured alive means its horn will be removed, leading to certain death. Thus, if it were ever truly captured, it would immediately use a Secret Technique to destroy its own horn and the Marrow Fluid inside.

Based on his deductions, Zhang Chi suspected that these three cultivators from the Hundred Flowers Palace were here precisely for the Profound Snake Spirit Marrow.

Especially the Hundred Flowers Palace Saintess.

If it were just for ordinary Tier Four Demon Beast Materials, a person of her status wouldn’t need to take such a personal risk.

’No wonder the Spirit Contract stipulated that we Golden Core Peak cultivators couldn’t touch any of the Demon Beast’s materials. It was all for this Profound Snake Spirit Marrow.’

Zhang Chi had a sudden realization.

A single Black Sand Profound Snake could only provide one dose. While it was useful to the Hundred Flowers Palace Saintess, it would be just as useful to them.

For instance, he possessed a Four Patterns Golden Core; after consuming this Marrow Fluid, he could advance directly to a Five Patterns Golden Core.

At that point, both his strength and potential would increase dramatically.

Moreover, rumor had it that the more Golden Core Dao Patterns one possessed, the higher the success rate of Nascent Soul Formation.

The legendary Nine Patterns Golden Pill, with the help of a Nascent Soul Pill, could achieve a 100% success rate, even with average conditions and no additional Spiritual Objects.

A Four Patterns Golden Core plus a Nascent Soul Pill resulted in a success rate of forty percent.

Five patterns meant fifty percent.

With the addition of all six types of Nascent Soul Spiritual Objects, a Five Patterns Golden Core was basically guaranteed not to fail.

Of course, Zhang Chi currently had a Four Patterns Golden Core. If he gathered all the necessary Spiritual Objects and a Nascent Soul Pill, he was also highly confident he wouldn’t fail.

But there were different degrees of success.

Depending on the number of Golden Core Dao Patterns, even after reaching the Nascent Soul realm, one’s strength, cultivation speed, and ultimate potential would differ greatly.

Of course, with the Spirit Contract in place, even if the cultivators present knew about the Marrow Fluid, there was nothing they could do.

Furthermore, based on Zhang Chi’s powerful perception, he judged that they didn’t know this secret at all.

But Zhang Chi was different. Not only did he know about it, but he was also unaffected by the Spirit Contract.

’If I get the chance, I must fight for it. But I can’t be too hasty!’

Zhang Chi was tempted, but he quickly calmed himself.

* * *

The Magical Treasure Flying Boat continued on its way.

Half a month passed quickly. After flying an unknown distance, the group finally arrived deep in the desert, nearing their destination.

Along the way, the cultivators had all attuned themselves to the Array Flags they had received.

As the substitute, Zhang Chi had naturally participated as well.

Moreover, as an Array Master, he had long since recognized this formation as the Nine Spirits Earth-Splitting Array, a Tier Four Middle Grade array whose mighty power surpassed even his own Gold Fiend Gale Array.

"Alright, this is the spot. Set up the array immediately, and then we wait."

"No one is to wander off. If you ruin the plan, don’t blame me for being merciless."

The Nascent Soul Female Cultivator recalled the Flying Boat, and everyone landed on a sand dune. They then began to move under her command.

The nine Golden Core Peak Cultivators took their positions, planting their respective Array Flags in the ground to enclose a circular area several thousand zhang across. They then concealed themselves under the cover of the Array Flags, sitting cross-legged to lie in wait.

The two Nascent Soul True Monarchs, Zhang Chi, and the Hundred Flowers Palace Saintess also hid themselves nearby.