Cultivation Starts from Farming Chapter 927 - 406: Fourth Rank Middle-grade Puppet Refining Success_3

Nevertheless, Xu Ping accomplished these tasks in quick succession with incredible success and speed.

Among these achievements, his profound Divine Sense, on par with a late-stage Great Cultivator, offered the most crucial backing.

The "proficiency panel," which provided unparalleled optimization for every stage of the refining process and allowed for near-flawless execution, was truly the secret to his incredible feats.

"Let's put its might to the test!"

Xu Ping contained the surge of elation within his heart, his gaze sharp.

With a sweep of his sleeve, shimmering lights appeared in an instant.

Seven more Fourth Rank Lower Grade puppets, each distinct in form, joined the initial Middle-Grade puppet.

Ten puppets in all!

Three of Fourth Rank Middle Grade, and seven of Fourth Rank Lower Grade.

They stood silently in the Artifact Refining Room; the mere convergence of their Spiritual Pressure generated a formidable pressure field, as weighty as a mountain and as keen as a divine blade.

The very air seemed to thicken, creating an invisible force that subtly warped the void, intimidating any ordinary Mid-stage Nascent Soul Cultivator who dared to enter.

"Arise!"

Xu Ping's eyes flared suddenly, and he whispered a command.

The Qi and blood within his body surged forth, rapidly circulating and connecting to the cores of the ten puppets.

Buzz!

The auras of the ten puppets became instantly unified by an unseen energy, forming a unified entity—the Puppet Array, successfully established!

A vast, solemn power, far exceeding the simple sum of the individual puppets' might, erupted. Its force shattered an invisible barrier, solidly reaching the Late-Stage Nascent Soul level.

Mighty, dominating, imbued with a destructive aura!

Xu Ping, positioned at the heart of the array, could distinctly feel the influx and command of this power.

Its offensive capability, without question, had attained the late stage.

Furthermore, owing to the puppets' materials and the array's integrated defensive function, its defensive strength surpassed that of typical Late-Stage Nascent Soul Cultivators.

Naturally, this immense power amplification came at a price.

Xu Ping could perceive the tremendous strain on his Qi, blood, and physical body, his meridians aching slightly, reaching the absolute limit his corporeal form could withstand.

Introducing another Fourth Rank Middle-Grade puppet, while potentially increasing the array's power, would likely cause his Qi, blood, and physique to falter first.

"It appears that tempering the physique must never be neglected," Xu Ping's mind was exceptionally clear.

The Dragon Blood Fruit's potential had not been fully tapped; if his physique could advance another stage, reaching the pinnacle of Tier Four Middle Grade, it might just be sufficient to support two additional Middle-Grade puppets.

However, completely replacing the array's core with ten Fourth Rank Middle Grade puppets would place an exceptionally high demand on his physique, likely requiring it to reach at least the threshold of Late-Stage Nascent Soul!

"A physique at the Late-Stage Nascent Soul... that is exceedingly difficult!"

Xu Ping inwardly shook his head. The path of a Body Cultivator is even more arduous and protracted than that of a standard Cultivator. "My only hope is that once the Golden Spirit Mouse ascends to Fourth Rank Upper Grade, it can channel more origins, aiding the Dragon Blood Fruit in its mutation and amplifying its efficacy once more."

"By then, perhaps, I may be able to elevate my physique to that legendary late-stage pinnacle."

Reflecting swiftly, Xu Ping had already formulated a clear trajectory for his future cultivation.

"With the rampant Ancient Demons, it seems they have reached their peak frenzy. A great storm is brewing... but how the Golden Spirit Mouse tribe is prepared remains unknown," Xu Ping's eyes held a deep, contemplative look.

The Water Lake Mouse tribe had been diligently refining themselves for a long time, their cultivation polished to the peak of Fourth Rank Middle Grade, merely awaiting the final breakthrough and essential Spiritual Objects.

Then, with a mere thought, he dismantled the array, and with another gesture, he retrieved the ten painstakingly crafted puppets.

Sensing the notably diminished quantity of precious materials within his storage Magical Artifact, even with his considerable wealth, Xu Ping couldn't suppress a pang of regret.

Over the years, the resources expended in refining these high-tier puppets had been immense.

"However, with the Ancient Demons around, there's no fear of lacking material sources." His eyes gleamed with a cold light, pushing aside that fleeting thought.

...

One month later.

The anticipated communication from the Golden Spirit Mouse tribe never arrived. Instead, an urgent Communication Talisman was received from Yun Weifeng.

The message was concise yet carried immense weight: "Proceed immediately to God Burial Bend. The Ancient Demons are on the move, their scale unprecedented. A major conflict is imminent."

Xu Ping's gaze narrowed slightly as he set aside a Core Soul Jade he was currently nurturing.

For Yun Weifeng, a Great Cultivator who had reached Nascent Soul Perfection, to personally position himself at God Burial Bend and speak of a 'major move' indicated a seriousness far beyond those scattered demon tides encountered previously.

Yet, Xu Ping's countenance remained steadfast, a flicker of determination gleaming in his eyes.

With his present might, as long as he avoided plunging directly into the heart of the Ancient Demon Army's encirclement, he possessed ample capability to ensure his own safety.

Consequently, he harbored no intention of abstaining from the engagement.

Naturally, should circumstances arise that were beyond his control, he was fully prepared to make his escape.

After imparting brief instructions to the Water Lake Mouse and Duan Shuang, Xu Ping's form blurred, transforming into an almost invisible Escape Light that silently dissolved into the distant horizon.

...

Five days later.

Having traversed several long-distance Teleportation Arrays, Xu Ping found himself once more at God Burial Bend.

Upon emerging from the Teleportation Array, a suffocating, violent, and destructive demonic aura assailed him, far more potent than anything he had felt before.

Casting his gaze upward, he observed the imposing and menacing Ancient Demon Hall suspended in the distant sky. Its Demonic Qi surged like a spewing black volcano, with roiling clouds of demonic energy enveloping the sun and sky.

Below, spread across the land, the Ancient Demon Army was arrayed in a dense sea of formations, so vast that a cursory count revealed no less than tens of thousands.

Within their ranks were a multitude of lesser Demon Soldiers, colossal demonic beasts, and high-tier Ancient Demons whose Qi distinctly surpassed the Nascent Soul stage.

Even more unsettling were several indistinct yet overwhelmingly powerful presences lurking deep within the demon host, reminiscent of unfathomable abysses.

One such presence sent Xu Ping's spiritual senses into a state of heightened alert, instilling a faint yet pervasive sense of unease.

Furthermore, the Ancient Demon Army before him was not the disorganized, bloodthirsty rabble observed in the past.

They were organized into tactical formations, moving in unison, their Demonic Qi interlinked, clearly operating under a singular, exceptionally strict command and control structure.

This level of disciplined execution was something previously unimaginable, even when multiple Late-Stage Nascent Soul Ancient Demons appeared concurrently.

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