Cultivation Starts from Farming Chapter 875 - 389: Mid-Stage Nascent Soul (2)
Xu Ping showed no obvious disappointment on his face as he casually put away the jade slip, "How is the beast tide’s situation?"
Seeing his master was not disappointed, the Water Lake Rat let out a sigh of relief and hurriedly said:
"The Golden Clan Leader asked me to convey to the master that the beast tide has passed its most intense wave, and the human cultivators have stabilized their formation relying on the big island and arrays. Both sides have entered a stage of stalemate and attrition."
"However..."
The Water Lake Rat’s blood-red eyes shifted, and it lowered its voice, "Recently, in the open sea, the fallen fourth rank Demon Beasts, especially those of mid-grade level, have, in quantity, far exceeded before."
"This has already attracted some attention from the True Dragon Hall."
"Thus, the Golden Clan Leader repeatedly urged, asking the master to remain dormant and absolutely refrain from hunting fourth rank Demon Beasts in the near future, lest you bring disaster upon yourself."
Upon hearing this, Xu Ping’s deep eyes remained calm, only slightly nodding: "I understand. Relay to the Golden Clan Leader that Xu Mou had no intention of venturing out in the past ten to twenty years."
He was already accumulating strength for the journey to the Ancient Demon Hall and needed time to break through to the Mid-Stage Nascent Soul and the Sword Dao realm. How could he cause unnecessary complications during such a sensitive time?
The Water Lake Rat nodded repeatedly: "The master is wise; I will surely convey the message."
....
After sending the Water Lake Rat to the Dragon Blood Fruit tree, the cave abode returned to silence.
Xu Ping sat cross-legged on the stone bed, deep in thought.
"Thirty-five years..." He silently murmured this number in his heart.
Only thirty-five years remained until the next opening of the Ancient Demon Hall.
It is long for mortals, but for a Nascent Soul cultivator, especially one preparing to step into such a perilous land, it is but a fleeting moment.
"Although it’s a minor beast tide, its intensity isn’t low. Still, it has now entered a stalemate phase. Thirty-five years... is enough for the beast tide to calm down, or even possibly end."
"The journey to the Ancient Demon Hall should proceed without external disturbances."
Eliminating this last concern, Xu Ping’s mind stirred slightly.
Buzz!
The proficiency panel quietly opened.
[Lifespan: 390 / 3981 years]
[Realm: Early-Stage Nascent Soul: 98/100]
[Cultivation Technique: Ten Thousand Woods Evergreen Scripture (Nascent Soul Chapter) Major Achievement: 1001/1600]
...
Xu Ping’s gaze paused on the "98/100" in the [Realm] section for a moment, and even his tranquil heart couldn’t help but ripple slightly.
"Mid-Stage Nascent Soul... really is just a stone’s throw away!"
A hint of anticipation and excitement quietly flashed through Xu Ping’s deep eyes.
The difference between Early-Stage and Mid-Stage Nascent Soul might seem small,
But in reality, it’s a comprehensive qualitative change and leap in terms of mana accumulation, Divine Sense intensity, and insight into Daoist arts.
For someone like him with deep foundations and numerous methods, the breakthrough would be even more significant.
"At most... eighteen years!" Xu Ping was certain in his heart.
Thanks to the intricacies of the Ten Thousand Woods Evergreen Scripture and his current cultivation speed, he would surely break through the last 2 points of proficiency within eighteen years.
"But before that..."
Xu Ping’s gaze shifted down to the skills column on "Great Sun Burning Sky Sword Technique (Minor Achievement): 748/800".
"The swordsmanship breakthrough should come before the realm!"
Just a few dozen proficiency points before reaching major achievement, and after that, he’s only one step away from perfection.
This also means he’s only a step away from fully comprehending the Sword Rainbow Splitting Light.
By then, with Mid-Stage Nascent Soul cultivation and Sword Rainbow Splitting Light, relying solely on the Sword Array, he could contend with even Late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators.
Even if he used all his trump cards, it’s not impossible to suppress a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator!
"Sword Rainbow Splitting Light...." Xu Ping sighed inwardly.
This is a Sword Dao realm that countless Nascent Soul Sword Cultivators dream of.
Now, he’s not far from it.
...
Time flies, and three and a half years passed like a fleeting moment.
Deep within the underground cave abode.
Sword Qi permeated the surroundings.
The scorching, domineering, terrifying heat seemed capable of incinerating all directions and enveloped every inch of space.
Xu Ping’s silhouette was like an illusion, holding the Canghua Divine Wood Sword, invisible Sword Intent gushing out.
He was practicing the "Great Sun Burning Sky Sword Technique."
Every move was ancient and vigorous, containing the will to burn the skies and boil the seas.
The sword moves were sometimes like the rising sun, brilliant and dazzling; sometimes like the blazing noon sun, illuminating all worlds.
"Burn the Heavens!"
The four sword techniques cycled repeatedly, becoming increasingly harmonious and violent.
The scorching Sword Intent roared and surged within him, as if about to break through some invisible shackle.
Finally!
When Xu Ping’s mind united, pushing the "Return to the Ruins" move to the extreme.
Buzz!
A grand sword hum, seemingly from the sun’s core, erupted from within Xu Ping.
The temperature in the cave abode soared to the extreme; if not for the array reinforcement on the walls, they might have melted.
At this moment, the text on the proficiency panel suddenly changed:
[Great Sun Burning Sky Sword Technique (Major Achievement): 1/1600]
....
The blazing white light slowly converged, eventually returning to Xu Ping’s body.
"Achieved Major Achievement!"
Xu Ping slowly gathered himself, standing in place. His surroundings still emitted a lingering heat that made one’s heart tremble, yet a slight smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
He was now just one step away from the long-desired realm of Sword Rainbow Splitting Light.
Perfection is just around the corner.
....
With his thoughts clear, Xu Ping didn’t linger in the euphoria of the Sword Dao breakthrough.
He flickered and arrived at the Spiritual Spring Eye deep within the cave abode.
The gurgling clear spring bubbled up from the earth’s veins, and the Spiritual Qi was so dense it was almost turning into liquid.
Beside the spring eye, the entirely crimson as blood Dragon Blood Fruit tree was exuding a more intense fragrance and immense blood energy than ever before.
The Water Lake Rat was using its own blood to water the Dragon Blood Fruit tree.
The branches and leaves swayed slightly, greedily absorbing the dripping essence blood.
Crimson clouds flowed around it, and the two Dragon Blood Fruits at the top, about to mature, were exceptionally radiant.
The fruit skins were crystal clear, and inside, it seemed like molten golden-red blood was flowing, the power of its blood aura was at least a rank stronger than the previously matured ones.