In the realm of cultivation, resources were essential for every cultivator along their path.

The limitations of talent and understanding could only be overcome with the aid of external items.

Niu Chang was uncertain about how the cultivation path worked in this world beyond the so-called golden core stage defined by Huang Zhi.

Nevertheless, he had his own approach, a self-sufficient dao. Even without his system, as long as he wasn't prohibited from cultivating on his own, he would excavate an underground cave and meditate there until he reached his limits.

This world did not heavily rely on external resources for cultivation. One simply needed to meditate and increase their qi to progress.

If everyone in this kind of world had an open mind and focused on developing methods that suited their needs without relying on external items, conflicts over resources would naturally be avoided.

However, Niu Chang held this opinion without truly understanding the world he was in.

On Huang Zhi's side, she possessed more knowledge about cultivation than Niu Chang. Reaching the golden core stage was her limit, but she wouldn't miss the opportunity to obtain the secret within Niu Chang's body and transcend that limit, ascending to immortality among immortals.

The endless amount of qi and vitality within Niu Chang presented a privileged opportunity for her to soar to new heights and become like a phoenix.

Although certain special places contained abundant spiritual qi that facilitated faster cultivation for martial artists, it was almost ineffective for those at the golden core stage.

The path of cultivation had always been a survival of the fittest, a dog-eat-dog world where the strongest dog stands atop countless fallen enemies.

Plundering had always been the most efficient way to increase one's wealth without requiring any investment.

The dragon head phantom gradually receded into the battle armor, breaching the final line of defense. Now, the yellow qi could effectively neutralize the invading red qi.

Huang Zhi's dazed expression also began to fade, her eyebrows twitching slightly and her nose moving.

"The endless greed of living beings is something I'm helpless against," Niu Chang said with a sense of pity, reflecting on the loss of his friend.

"Perhaps it's a one-sided claim, but I did enjoy our brief conversation at that time. Maybe I am indeed seeking companions to walk together on this long path, discussing the world and laughing at others."

"Traveling to witness its wonders..." Niu Chang murmured softly, finally able to let go of everything.

He straightened his relaxed back and smiled compassionately and kindly at the world, not just limited to Huang Zhi.

Losing a friend, especially his first friend, the feeling of separation and parting due to a chance encounter provided him with everything he needed and ignited a small spark to ignite the long-prepared fuse.

The Shrine Maiden Under the Sacred Tree was a cultivation technique that encompassed both cultivation methods and martial techniques. However, so far, Niu Chang had only managed to derive two practical skills and one theoretical skill from it.

However, these three skills were still inadequate. The first skill could only distract the enemy's thoughts.

The second skill could only invade the enemy's qi.

As for the third skill, even Niu Chang himself didn't know its full capabilities, except that it targeted the enemy's soul.

These three skills lacked the crucial elements necessary to cause fatal harm to anyone.

Of course, if the first skill reached the highest mastery, Niu Chang might be able to turn anyone into his mindless slave, just as he felt when he first encountered the smiling shrine maiden.

As for the second skill, the shrine maiden phantom was an upgraded version of the first skill, targeting the enemy's five senses.

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

With these thoughts in mind, Niu Chang looked at the Shrine Maiden Under the Sacred Tree from a different perspective, aiming to extract its offensive potential.

He had the idea but lacked the essential element. He needed inspiration and intense emotions to activate the skill for the first time.

"My fair lady in white and red,

Our meeting was a fortuitous mistake,

You smiled at me, but fear and resentment made me flee,

Unaware, I failed to recognize your kindness,"

Niu Chang reminisced about his first encounter with the shrine maiden. Their meeting was nothing but a coincidence and a misunderstanding that created a distance between them. The powerful shrine maiden was oblivious to her own strength, while the ignorant Niu Chang feared and resented her.

"Shamelessly, I once again seek your aid,

You heard my plea and chose to help me,

My heart remained cold, unable to contain your affection,

But at least, it can offer you a promise,"

In a time of need, Niu Chang did his best to find a solution to his problem, ultimately returning to the same place seeking help from the woman he had feared and resented. However, the shrine maiden did not ignore his plea and extended her assistance. Now, for the third time, he visited that place, seeking another favor, but without any negative feelings towards the shrine maiden.

"The time I have is limited by heaven,

The distance between us is stronger than anything,

Only in the timeless and spaceless realm can this promise endure,

When death befalls me, I shall give you my eternal vow."

As Niu Chang chanted these words, the shrine maiden in the depths of his mind fluctuated. What was once a blurry image now became a tangible person.

Yet, Niu Chang still could not see her true appearance. The flowing white and red sacred robe appeared even more intricate up close, with a shadow partially covering her face, although her eyes conveyed kindness as they gazed upon him.

The moment he made his promise, the red qi and cherry blossom petals surrounding his body surged like a waterfall, flowing in an unknown direction.

A faint sound of a ringing bell drifted through the air, and if one listened carefully, they could hear the fleeting giggles of a maiden.

Soft and gentle, the giggles carried the sweetness of cherry blossoms and the warmth of spring.

The abundant qi within Niu Chang's body rapidly drained, yet there were no significant movements in his surroundings.

Meanwhile, Huang Zhi had already broken free from the restrictions and was able to resist Niu Chang's beguiling smile. However, as she prepared to launch an attack, she heard that same affectionate voice.

In response, her shoulders trembled, and she fixed her gaze upon Niu Chang, who seemed to be conversing with himself.

The red qi surrounding his body converged behind him, transforming into a lifelike shrine maiden in white and red, even more realistic than the one behind Huang Zhi.

The shrine maiden's long ethereal hair cascaded down her back, reaching the ground. Her sacred robe adorned her body, her skin pristine white with a hint of rosiness, and her face partially obscured with a sweet smile upon cherry lips.

The shrine maiden embraced Niu Chang with boundless love. Her lips parted, and Huang Zhi could see her giggling after hearing Niu Chang's promise.

Raising her head, the shrine maiden met Huang Zhi's gaze. It was a spontaneous gesture, and now the shrine maiden replaced the shrine maiden phantom on Huang Zhi's back.

Although slightly more transparent and with blurred details, the essence remained unchanged. She wrapped her arms around Huang Zhi's neck and held her close.

The yellow qi, which neutralized the invading red qi, was counterattacked, akin to fire being swallowed by a towering tsunami. The red qi once again showed its dominance, preventing any counterattack.

In the midst of all this, Niu Chang was in a daze, his recollection of the shrine maiden's appearance evoking a sense of affection.

However, he snapped out of it when Huang Zhi blasted her yellow qi to push the shrine maiden away.

Shifting his gaze, Niu Chang witnessed a spectacular scene unfolding before his eyes.

Huang Zhi, donned in her impractical battle armor, struggled to free herself from the woman cloaked in white and red. The shrine maiden appeared so lifelike that Niu Chang questioned whether he was hallucinating.

To confirm his reality, he checked the qi within his body and discovered that it was rapidly draining, equivalent to three-quarters of his total qi.

Observing the wrestling match between the two beautiful women without being blinded by lust, as he no longer needed it, Niu Chang noticed something peculiar. Huang Zhi did not attempt to use her limbs to shake off the shrine maiden.

'It's strange. Why isn't Huang Zhi using her limbs to fend off the shrine maiden?' Niu Chang observed further until he found the answer. 'It's not that Huang Zhi doesn't want to; she seems unable to move.'

Redirecting his gaze to the shrine maiden, he pondered, 'The first three skills involve pulling the shrine maiden from within my mind and projecting her onto the enemy. The first skill leaves a haunting smile in the enemy's mind, the second skill summons the shrine maiden phantom, and the third skill likely sends the shrine maiden directly into the enemy's soul.

However, these skills are prerequisites for activating the fourth skill, Eternal Vow. The encounter itself was nothing more than a coincidence, but since there was an encounter, separation naturally follows. This aspect of separation serves as the offensive method, dragging the enemy's soul and spirit into the timeless and spaceless realm of eternal death.'