Cultivation Starts from Farming Chapter 879 - 390: Life and Death Divine Light Reaches Perfection (3)

"Fellow Daoists Liang and his wife have come to offer their congratulations, a small gift, not much to show our respect."

With that, he handed over a jade box brimming with Spiritual Qi.

Inside the box was a millenia-old Profound Ice Jade Lotus, entirely ice-blue, exuding a rich Water Element Qi—it’s astonishingly effective for stabilizing one’s realm and nurturing the Nascent Soul.

Lei Jingyan offered her greetings with a smile, her gaze fleetingly sweeping over Xu Ping, secretly apprehensive: indeed.

The depth and richness of his aura far surpassed that of an ordinary mid-stage cultivator.

"No need for such formalities, please." Xu Ping accepted the jade box, smiled indifferently, and gestured to lead the way.

Inside the Blood Bone Hall, hosts and guests took their seats.

The fragrance of Spirit Tea filled the air; the atmosphere was harmonious.

Between their words, Liang Ming and his wife extolled Xu Ping, with Duan Shuang occasionally responding coldly.

After a round of pleasantries.

Xu Ping set down his teacup and casually spoke:

"Fellow Daoist Liang, Fairy Lei, the Ancient Demon Hall is set to re-emerge in just over a decade, might you have any detailed intelligence regarding it?"

"The Ancient Demon Hall?"

Liang Ming’s smile slightly froze; a trace of surprise and solemnity flickered in his eyes.

He looked towards Xu Ping, speaking gravely: "Fellow Daoist Xu... are you planning to explore that dangerous place?"

The last opening of the Ancient Demon Hall was a harrowing sight, especially the terrifying bone-armored ancient demon that tore apart mid-stage nascent souls—it’s a shadow that lingers over his heart.

Unless he could ascertain the situation within, he definitely wasn’t willing to venture inside.

"That is indeed my intention."

Xu Ping’s tone was calm, as if discussing an ordinary matter.

Liang Ming instinctively wanted to dissuade him.

The place is exceedingly perilous, with multiple mid-stage nascent souls fallen and late-stage threshold ancient demons lurking—too many variables.

But as the words reached his lips, he forcefully swallowed them back.

Xu Ping could crush the old demon of Pleasure Sect even at the early-stage of Nascent Soul, and now with his fearsome achievements at the mid-stage... even those late-stage threshold ancient demons could only be met in combat.

Not to mention, as long as Xu Ping wished to leave, virtually no cultivator or ancient demon within the Ancient Demon Hall could stop him.

"Fellow Daoist Xu’s divine techniques are unrivaled, beyond comparison to Liang Mou." Liang Ming smiled wryly, then spoke earnestly, "Since you are intent, Liang Mou shall do his utmost."

"Our Mystic Water Sect has explored the Ancient Demon Hall through many generations, indeed amassing quite a wealth of exclusive intelligence, far more detailed than the common circulating information."

Liang Ming took out a specially crafted deep blue jade slip, upon which runes flowed, evidently set with restrictions.

"This is our sect’s core intelligence copy, covering known maps of the Ancient Demon Hall regions, patterns of spatial nodes, and... extrapolations on the most fearsome ancient demon’s habits, activity range, and weaknesses."

However..."

Liang Ming paused, slightly apologetic, "It involves some concealed arrangements and target areas within the hall by our sect and has been omitted, I ask for your understanding."

"No matter, it is as should be." Xu Ping accepted the jade slip, his expression unchanged.

His powerful Divine Sense instantly probed into the jade slip.

An overwhelming flood of information poured into his Sea of Consciousness.

Far more comprehensive and refined than any intelligence he had acquired in marketplaces, truly invaluable to him.

"This intelligence is exceedingly detailed, greatly aiding Xu Mou!"

Xu Ping withdrew his Divine Sense, a flash of satisfaction in his eyes.

He intended to offer a price in exchange, but Liang Ming insisted on gifting it.

Thus Xu Ping did not decline further and cupped his hands: "Thank you, Fellow Daoist Liang, this favor will be remembered by Xu Mou."

"Fellow Daoist Xu is too kind, it’s merely an exchange of needs." Liang Ming smiled slightly.

To exchange intelligence that’s no longer top secret for the Mystic Water Sect for a favor from a future giant—this transaction, worthwhile.

Hosts and guests enjoyed themselves.

After chatting idly for a while, Liang Ming and his wife smartly stood up to bid farewell.

They understood, as Xu Ping had already decided to explore the Ancient Demon Hall, the final decade would likely be needed for preparations.

...

After seeing the two off, Xu Ping and Duan Shuang returned to the hall.

"Xu Lang, are you really going to explore the Ancient Demon Hall?" Duan Shuang felt a bit worried.

The Ancient Demon Hall, a place infamous for its perils, left a deeply ingrained impression on her.

Especially with that ancient demon inside, whose strength reached the threshold of late-stage nascent soul—it made her uneasy.

"You know my nature well; if not entirely certain, I would absolutely not dare to risk the Ancient Demon Hall." Xu Ping smiled slightly, reassured.

Duan Shuang thought, and it seemed right.

After all, back in the Nanchuan Realm, Xu Ping never explored any secret realms.

"Back at Purple Bamboo Mountain, Xu Lang was clearly the strongest in divine techniques, yet his courage seemed less than mine, a mere girl."

Duan Shuang recalled amusing past events, her smile blossomed like a flower, with a touch of teasing in her tone.

"Shuang’Er, you’re bold lately, daring to tease your husband."

Xu Ping raised his eyebrows and embraced Duan Shuang’s waist, carrying her into Duan Shuang’s abode.

....

Seven years passed like fleeting shadows, quietly gone.

Those seven years saw the offshore regions of the Wind Origin Realm shrouded in a subtle and tense atmosphere.

With the Ancient Demon Hall’s opening day approaching, the entire offshore vibrated restlessly.

Even the reclusive old monsters emerged from closed-door cultivation, their eyes flickered with greedy and yearning light.

Indeed, the opportunities hidden within the Ancient Demon Hall are alluring to an extreme; even knowing the perils well, they couldn’t resist the heart of many cultivators willing to stake their lives.

On this day.

Blood Bone Island’s underground cave; silent like millennium-old Profound Ice.

Except for a faintly discernible grey-white stream, like Extinction Snakes roaming in the void, slowly spiraling around Xu Ping, annihilating, then regenerating.

The stone walls, floor, and restrictions of the cave, all under the influence of this aura, displayed a strange phenomenon.

Suddenly, those endlessly spiraling grey-white streams abruptly halted, as if time was paused at this moment.

Then, like rivers converging into the sea, as if eternal extinction finally arrived.

All the grey-white streams wildly recoiled, in an inconceivable speed, instantly vanished into Xu Ping’s brow, gone without a trace.

Xu Ping’s tightly closed eyes suddenly opened.

Deep within his pupils, there was no distinction between whites and irises—only a vast greyness consuming all light and vitality.

Buzz!

A sound of universal extinction swept silently through the cave.

Space seemed frozen for a moment, then resumed its flow.