Cultivation Starts from Farming Chapter 910 - 401: Dragon Blood Fruit Ripens; Mastered Ascending Dragon Technique
Previously on Cultivation Starts from Farming...
With a subtle nod, Xu Ping conveyed his comprehension: "Xu Mou naturally grasps the hardship of this endeavor."
"It's exactly due to this difficulty that I must confer with the Golden Clan Leader, uniting our two clans' powers to forge a path toward fortune."
Xu Ping hesitated briefly before continuing: "I certainly won't allow the Golden Clan Leader or your noble clan to labor without reward."
Hearing these words, Jin Yuxuan swept his hand grandly, displaying remarkable magnanimity:
"Fellow Daoist Xu, no need for such politeness. Shui Hu Mouse is my son-in-law too, and a vital pillar of the Golden Spirit Mouse clan."
"Aiding kin in paving their path ahead—where does talk of payment fit? It's simply our obligation!"
"The Golden Clan Leader's righteousness leaves Xu Mou in admiration."
A faint smile graced Xu Ping's lips as he inwardly recognized this as the other's way to strengthen their pact.
Jin Yuxuan's voice altered, a spark of insight gleaming in his gaze: "In ordinary days, hunting heaven-and-earth spiritual items to aid a breakthrough to Fourth Rank Upper Grade proves immensely challenging and demands immense luck."
"Yet now... as the magic calamity looms, amid the peril lies a real chance!"
"Oh?"
Xu Ping's curiosity surged at once upon hearing this, "Please elaborate."
Leaning in a bit, Jin Yuxuan dropped his tone:
"Fellow Daoist might be unaware, but concerning this magic calamity, though True Dragon Hall hasn't mustered a united force like the Human Race, they've stayed far from idle."
"Inside the hall, they've dispatched a 'Demon Slaying Order' to the chief demon races they command, letting any who kill ancient demons and deliver their cores or clear evidence redeem merits at True Dragon Hall."
"On the merit rankings' prize list... several scarce gems appear that assist demon beasts in advancing to Fourth Rank Upper Grade!"
Xu Ping's eyes lit up abruptly at this revelation; it opened a surprising avenue.
Deep in the outer sea stands True Dragon Hall, its depths immeasurable, so even with the raging magic calamity, devastation doesn't engulf it.
Beyond the fabled Divinity Transformation stage Dragon King dominating the human realm, just the singular outer sea depths alone...
Heaven and earth's laws bolster demon beasts while curbing other kinds, keeping True Dragon Hall steadfast and victorious.
Thus, no need for them to rally total defenses—they just delegate missions, dispatching subordinate demon races to wear down ancient demons.
Simultaneously, this sharpens those races, culls the frail, preserves the mighty, and yields gains besides.
This very setup boosts Shui Hu Mouse's odds of reaching Fourth Rank Upper Grade.
"What a splendid chance this is."
Xu Ping struck his palms, "Yet what exact missions exist, and how many merits for those trades?"
Noticing Xu Ping's enthusiasm, Jin Yuxuan grew animated and delved into specifics:
"Missions divide by ancient demon tiers, from Tier Three Demon Soldiers up to Fourth Rank Demon Lords, merits matching each, peaking with Demon Lord kills."
"Exchanging for those breakthrough realm treasures... demands a staggering merit tally."
A wry grin touched Jin Yuxuan's features, "Even pouring all our Golden Spirit Mouse clan's might into it, assembling enough before the magic calamity ends would prove tough."
"Hence, we require Fellow Daoist Xu's aid still."
"It's Xu Mou's responsibility; I won't refuse." Xu Ping agreed promptly after listening.
To him, taking down Fourth Rank ancient demons carried zero risk, merely costing some time at worst.
Still, Xu Ping inwardly sighed just then.
As the magic calamity erupted, he saw himself swamped beyond all others.
Commitments to the Human Race demanded his aid against late Nascent Soul ancient demons.
And for Shui Hu Mouse, venturing to fell ancient demons for True Dragon Hall merits... no true respite ever.
Yet it served both sides well.
Shui Hu Mouse gains his breakthrough, and Xu Ping could swap for other fine treasures from True Dragon Hall—no downside.
They hashed out particulars at length afterward, until a content Jin Yuxuan rose to take his leave.
"Time presses urgently; I must rush back to the clan at once to make preparations and reach out to Fellow Daoist when the moment arrives!"
"Excellent, stay safe, Golden Clan Leader."
Xu Ping saw Jin Yuxuan off from the hall in person, his eyes following the golden light streak as it shot away over the far horizon before he made his way back inside.
...
Xu Ping made his way over to Duan Shuang’s cultivation cave.
Icy chill filled the cavern, where Duan Shuang sat cross-legged upon a jade platform, eyes lightly shut, fingers weaving seals, enveloped by an odd divine soul energy.
She practiced the ’Thousand Mechanism Skill.’
Xu Ping refrained from interrupting, simply waiting quietly nearby, his eyes soft as he observed her.
At his present Divine Sense level and perception, grasping Duan Shuang’s cultivation status came effortlessly.
Duan Shuang’s Divine Sense flowed steadily and purely, her grasp of the ’Thousand Mechanism Skill’ clearly profound.
Her Divine Sense power outstripped typical early Nascent Soul peak cultivators by a wide margin.
Just one more step remained before breaking through that hurdle into Mid-Stage Nascent Soul in the Divine Sense realm.
"Impressive..."
A faint nod from Xu Ping revealed satisfaction gleaming in his gaze.
Duan Shuang advanced even swifter than Xu Ping expected.
When her Divine Sense truly advances to Mid-Stage Nascent Soul, the cultivation bottleneck will ease, making the jump to Mid-Stage Nascent Soul far smoother and more effective.
Dual Cultivation to boost Divine Sense loomed near.
Xu Ping stood watch in silence, the cave filled only with Duan Shuang’s steady breaths and subtle divine soul fluctuations.
After a full hour, the divine soul ripples around Duan Shuang gradually settled.
Her eyes fluttered open slowly, crystalline like a frozen pond.
Her sweeping gaze instantly caught Xu Ping standing protectively close by.
A warm smile bloomed across her stunning features, melting like winter frost under early spring rays.
"Xu Lang!"
Rising with elegant poise, akin to a fluttering butterfly, she slipped effortlessly into Xu Ping’s arms.