Cultivation Starts from Farming Chapter 1004 - 431: Late-Stage Nascent Soul Cultivator; Surging Strength_2

Time flowed swiftly by, and two full months vanished like a fleeting moment.

On this particular day, the enchantment sealing the underground cave began to glow, gradually receding and opening.

Xu Ping emerged, his formidable Qi completely concealed, resembling the silent yet potent undercurrent of a deep ocean, capable of stirring apprehension in any heart.

"Xu Lang!"

Duan Shuang, who had been patiently waiting outside for an extended period, had her eyes, akin to sparkling stars in the nocturnal heavens, instantly illuminate with a brilliant radiance.

Her form blurred, accompanied by a fragrant breeze, as she gracefully landed before Xu Ping. Her exquisite eyes were brimming with palpable joy and undisguised admiration.

"Congratulations, Master, on your advancement to the Late-Stage Nascent Soul! The Great Dao beckons, and Divinity Transformation now lies within reach!"

Water Lake Rat also hastily pushed its way forward, its expression a mask of sycophantic delight. A sense of profound emotion stirred within it.

Having been by Xu Ping’s side since the very beginning, it understood the depth of his foundational cultivation. Yet, it was astonished that upon reaching the late stage, his aura now surpassed its own, rivaling that of a top-tier Late-Stage Nascent Soul demon.

Truly, the foundation laid was unfathomably solid.

"Hmm."

A gentle smile graced Xu Ping’s features as his gaze encompassed both the woman and the rat.

Rarely offering praise, he acknowledged, "You have toiled diligently, protecting the Dharma all these years."

"Not toil, Master! It is a profound honor for this humble rat to safeguard your Dharma practice," Water Lake Rat replied, its face alight with an expansive grin.

After imparting a few more instructions, Xu Ping dispatched Water Lake Rat.

Subsequently, Xu Ping extended his hand, enclosing Duan Shuang’s tender palm within his own, and together they entered her cave abode.

Before long, the melodious and clear strains of zither music began to emanate from within the secluded dwelling...

Commencing with tender melodies, the music escalated to a passionate crescendo, reminiscent of silk being triumphantly torn.

After a considerable duration.

The zither music gradually subsided, and a profound silence reclaimed the cave abode.

Another hour elapsed before the entrance to the cave opened once more.

With Duan Shuang’s meticulous care, Xu Ping bathed and donned a freshly prepared cyan robe. He felt utterly revitalized, the slightest trace of fatigue from his prolonged seclusion and breakthrough completely dispelled.

The path of Cultivation necessitates equilibrium; this is the orthodox way.

Moments of suitable relaxation and cherished warmth are also integral components of nurturing the Dao heart.

...

Casually returning to the subterranean core cave, Xu Ping assumed a cross-legged position upon the stone platform.

He commenced a calm contemplation of the path forward and his strategic planning following his advancement to the Late-Stage Nascent Soul.

The augmentation of his strength was comprehensive, and the opportunities it presented were myriad and far-reaching.

"Firstly, there is the initial revolution of the True Interpretation of Sword Dao."

A subtle glint flickered in Xu Ping’s eyes.

Previously constrained by his Divine Sense and comprehension, the profound mystery of "dispersing its form and condensing its spirit" remained perpetually veiled.

Now, with his Divine Sense strength nearing the threshold of the Divinity Transformation stage, his capacity for comprehension and deduction had correspondingly ascended. Grasping this profound sword principle would undoubtedly yield enhanced results with lessened effort.

Should he manage to achieve even an Entry Level glimpse of this path, the prowess of his Condensing One Sword would be sufficient to establish itself as one of his most potent offensive assets at the present juncture.

"Secondly, the crafting of a Fourth-rank Top-grade Puppet awaits."

Previously limited by his insufficient Divine Sense and Mana, he could only partially dismantle the war trophy, a Fourth-rank Top-grade Puppet, acquired from the Star Palace.

Now, with the surge in his Divine Sense, his mastery over intricate details and his ability to decipher complex restrictions were unparalleled.

Completely disassembling it, comprehending the principles of its creation, and subsequently attempting to craft one himself was no longer an unattainable ambition.

Upon successfully forging even a single Fourth-rank Top-grade Puppet, when combined with his Puppet Array, he might genuinely possess the capability to maneuver or even offer resistance against Divinity Transformation stage cultivators.

"Finally, the art of drawing quasi-Fifth-grade Talismans is to be pursued."

With a mere thought, several Fourth-rank Top-grade Talismans, radiating a spiritual luminescence and containing restrained power, materialized before him.

These talismans, having been nurtured over years, already possessed potency far exceeding the ordinary.

Following his breakthrough to the late stage, concurrent with the transformation of his Mana and the augmentation of his Divine Sense, his perception of the fundamental rules of the world had grown sharper. He now possessed the essential groundwork to venture into the drawing of the legendary quasi-Fifth-grade Talisman.

If successful, the nurturing of a quasi-Fifth-grade Talisman over decades, or even centuries, would imbue it with power sufficient to pose a threat to Divinity Transformation cultivators.

This would undoubtedly become a genuine trump card, capable of decisively altering the course of any conflict.

"Whether it's any of these three paths that I manage to perfect, my cultivation base will undoubtedly undergo a massive surge."

Xu Ping felt a surge of confidence, his mind was meticulously organized with a distinct strategy.

Ascending to the Late-Stage Foundation Establishment phase had effectively removed numerous impediments standing in his way.

...

A full year had elapsed, the passage of time proceeding with quiet inevitability.

Within the Artifact Refining Chamber.

At this precise moment, the chamber was practically overflowing with components for puppets, so numerous and meticulously arrayed that they gleamed with metallic luster and pulsed with intricate runes.

Ranging from minute gears, no larger than a fingertip and etched with arcane patterns, to substantial limbs and torsos, exceeding a foot in length and clad in formidable armor plating, all were systematically sorted and stacked like miniature mountain ranges.

In the central open space, the once-intact Fourth-rank Top-grade Ancient Demon Puppet lay completely dismantled, its intricate energy core, the complex transmission mechanisms, and the restrictions governing its Divine Sense reception laid bare.

Xu Ping surveyed the scattered parts, a subtle smile gracing the corners of his lips.

"At last, I have completely deciphered the construction principles, the core limitations, and the precise material composition of this Fourth-rank Top-grade Puppet!"

The profound advantages conferred by his amplified Divine Sense were spectacularly evident at this juncture.

Had this been before his recent breakthrough.

Attempting the complete disassembly of a Fourth-rank Top-grade Puppet, and achieving a full comprehension of its internal workings, which mirrored the complex celestial arrangements, would have demanded at least a decade or two of painstaking, methodical effort, and even then, success would have been far from guaranteed.

The slightest misstep could have led to catastrophic damage to the critical components, nullifying all prior endeavors.

However, with his Divine Sense now hovering at the precipice of the Divinity Transformation stage, every single talisman imprint within the puppet, every inherent characteristic of the materials used, and every method of their amalgamation, was illuminated with absolute clarity in his mind, meticulously understood and mastered.

"The next step is to commence the formal creation of the Fourth-rank Top-grade Puppet."