Cultivation Starts from Farming Chapter 1027 - 439: Reward—Dragon Essence Blood Tempering Pill and Awakening Spirit Pearl

The battlefield, which had been eerily silent, broke the stillness after merely a few breaths—

"Oh!"

"We've triumphed! We've actually won!!"

"The Star Palace and the Ancient Demon have been forced to retreat! We held our ground!!"

Cheers, deafening and unrestrained, mingled with overwhelming joy, fervent excitement, and the choked sobs of the survivors from both the cultivator and demon races of the outer sea, surging like a tidal wave.

This conflict, which had been presaged to end in utter devastation, had been miraculously turned around.

Myriad gazes, brimming with profound gratitude, fervent worship, profound awe, and an indescribable confluence of emotions, all turned, as if drawn by an invisible force, towards a singular figure. He stood amidst the battlefield's devastation, a brilliant blue-golden Divine Sword in hand, his robes billowing dramatically—it was Xu Ping!

It was he, at the most critical juncture, who wielded the formidable Ten Thousand Souls Banner, fundamentally altering the course of the high-level combat!

It was he, whose Nascent Soul stage cultivation allowed him to execute a sword strike that rivaled the power of Divinity Transformation, leaving the entire arena stunned into silence!

It was he, who, in conjunction with that enigmatic ghost cultivator Elder, had pushed an Ancient Demon at the Divinity Transformation stage to the very brink of desperation!

Without Xu Ping's intervention today, the outer sea would have undoubtedly fallen into ruin.

The colossal dragon form of Ao Guang, the Dragon King, slowly receded back into the clouds. With a mere flicker of spiritual light, he reverted to his human guise: a middle-aged man adorned in a resplendent dark gold dragon robe, twin horns gracing his brow, exuding an aura of imposing dignity and immense power.

Taking a single, decisive step, he materialized before Xu Ping and the Nine Nether Elder. The Elder, his spectral aura now retracted, had also resumed the appearance of a wizened old man.

Then, with a slight flick of his sleeve, Ao Guang, the Dragon King, unleashed a gentle golden light. This radiant barrier enveloped the trio, effectively shielding them from the myriad eyes peering up from below, thus isolating them from any prying scrutiny.

His attention then settled upon the two individuals before him, his gaze tinged with a complex mixture of sentiments. He gave Xu Ping a particularly penetrating look before clasping his hands together, his voice steady and resonating with genuine sincerity:

"I extend my deepest gratitude to both of you for your timely assistance today. You have single-handedly saved countless lives within the outer sea from an impending calamity."

"This immense debt of kindness will forever be etched in the hearts of the Dragon Race and all beings of the outer sea."

His gratitude was utterly genuine and profound.

While he was uncertain about the spontaneous decision of these two to intervene, he knew with unshakeable certainty that without their help, he himself would have sustained grievous injuries, and the fate of the outer sea would have been irrevocably altered.

Simultaneously, however, his heart thrummed with an equally potent blend of bewilderment and a subtle undercurrent of apprehension.

Since when had such formidable existences, capable of challenging beings at the Divinity Transformation stage, been concealed within this very outer sea?

One had mastered the esoteric and Heaven-defying ghost Dao.

The other, even more astonishingly, a cultivator at the Nascent Soul stage, was equipped with two peerless supreme treasures, possessed an unfathomable comprehension of the Sword Dao, and wielded combat prowess that neared the level of Divinity Transformation.

The true depth and hidden power of this outer sea were, it seemed, far beyond his prior comprehension.

Xu Ping and the Nine Nether Elder exchanged a knowing look, both offering a slight, reciprocal nod.

"There is no need for such elaborate formalities, Dragon King Ao Guang,"

Xu Ping responded with composed tranquility, mirroring the Dragon King's gesture by cupping his own hands.

Despite standing before the Fifth Rank Dragon King, a ruler who had presided over the outer sea for countless years, the bearing and undeniable might Xu Ping had demonstrated placed him on equal footing for this conversation.

A subtle smile touched the wizened features of the Nine Nether Elder. "The Saints of the Star Palace harbor the most treacherous ambitions, utterly disregarding the safety of this world's inhabitants and further shamelessly colluding with the Ancient Demon to perpetrate such heinous acts."

"Our intervention was, therefore, not merely an option, but a clear obligation – to grant the myriad beings of the outer sea even a sliver of hope for continued existence."

He spoke with grandiloquent pronouncements, presenting himself as a paragon of righteousness devoted to the world's welfare. However, a fleeting, almost imperceptible glint in his clouded eyes hinted at deeper, concealed intentions known only to himself.

The mere mention of the Ancient Demon immediately cast a heavy shadow across Ao Guang the Dragon King’s otherwise dignified countenance. "The Ancient Demon is inherently a creature of immense difficulty to contend with; its demonic Qi is vile and corrupting, its Divine Techniques perplexing and sinister, and now, to find it in league with the Star Palace, acting with such brazen malevolence...."

"Although they have been repelled on this occasion through your invaluable assistance, the threat they pose is far from extinguished. That hidden Ancient Demon Hall, lurking within the void, could manifest at any unforeseen moment."

"Furthermore, following their defeat, the Star Palace will undoubtedly harbor resentment and will not simply let this matter rest. The impending future for the outer sea may prove even more fraught with peril, necessitating the unwavering support of both you, esteemed fellow Daoists, as we navigate this crisis together."

His words served not only as a statement of grim reality but also as a strategic reinforcement of his position. He aimed to solidify the allegiance of Xu Ping and the Nine Nether Elder—these two suddenly emerged, immensely powerful allies—binding them more tightly to the common cause against the encroaching threats of the Star Palace and the Ancient Demon.

Then, his tone shifted as he extended another invitation, this time with a greater air of gravity: "Your kindness, the Dragon Race and all beings of the outer seas shall cherish deeply."

"This locale is unsuitable for in-depth discussion. Might I trouble the two honored Daoist friends to accompany me to the Dragon Palace for a conversation?"

"Matters critical to the very survival of the outer sea necessitate a thorough exchange with the two of you."

Upon hearing this, Xu Ping did not immediately concur. Instead, his gaze turned towards the Nine Nether Elder.

The Nine Nether Elder uttered a soft chuckle: "The Dragon Palace is indeed a magnificent locale, renowned for its splendor and abundant Spirit Veins."

"However, in my estimation, it would be more prudent to select a quiet, secluded chamber within the True Dragon Hall's domain for our discussion."

Although they currently found themselves allied with the True Dragon Hall against a common external threat,

they were not of the same lineage, and their true intentions could not be entirely trusted. Furthermore, considering the Dragon Race's inherent arrogance, one could not be entirely certain they wouldn't lay a trap within their own Dragon Palace stronghold.

It was wise to maintain a degree of separation and caution when on another's territory.

What sort of individual was Dragon King Ao Guang? He immediately grasped the unspoken sentiment behind the Nine Nether Elder's proposal.

A subtle, almost imperceptible spark flickered in his eyes, yet his outward expression remained placid. He nodded in understanding:

"Your assessment, Esteemed Daoist Friend, is sound. It was my lapse in judgment. Let us proceed as you suggest."

He did not press the matter further, displaying the comportment of a sovereign and showing deference to the two formidable cultivators.

Having spoken, he tilted his head back and released a resonant dragon's cry that pierced the depths of the seawater, its sound traveling far and wide.

After but a brief interval.

The distant waters churned, and a colossal Fourth Rank Upper Grade Flood Dragon, its scales gleaming menacingly and a single horn adorning its brow, surged forward with haste, bowing its head respectfully before Dragon King Ao Guang.

"Let us depart."

Dragon King Ao Guang was the first to ascend onto the Flood Dragon's expansive back.

Xu Ping and the Nine Nether Elder wasted no further time. With a flicker of their forms, they found themselves standing securely upon the Flood Dragon's back.