Cultivation Starts from Farming Chapter 938 - 410: Upgrading the Canghua Divine Wood Sword (2)

"I do hope that the Ancient Demon Hall can become still for a time, allowing me the opportunity to properly look after the Water Lake Rat."

Given Xu Ping's current cultivation level, completing the elimination of a late Fourth Rank ancient demon would not be an insurmountable task, provided there were allies to assist. What was chiefly required was simply the passage of time.

Time, indeed, felt like it had flown by in the blink of an eye, with two full years having elapsed.

...

The front lines at Burial God Bend had, as Xu Ping had wished, fallen into an unusual state of quiet. Since the momentous, world-altering conflict, the ancient demons appeared to have lowered their banners and ceased hostilities. Apart from sporadic sorties by small detachments of demon soldiers for harassing raids, no other significant activity was observed. The formidable Ancient Demon Hall, resembling a silent giant, remained concealed within the dense demonic qi, rendering its true intentions indiscernible to all.

This eerie calm, however, did not bring solace to the cultivators stationed there; instead, it created an atmosphere akin to the tense quietude that precedes a violent tempest.

Nevertheless, the absence of large-scale confrontations was, by any measure, a beneficial development, bestowing upon the Human Race a much-needed interval to recuperate.

Perceiving that a major conflict was not imminent, Xu Ping utilized the Teleportation Array to journey back to Blood Bone Island.

Blood Bone Island.

Following a period of affectionate moments shared with Duan Shuang, Xu Ping retreated to his subterranean abode.

He assumed a cross-legged position upon the stone bed, extended his palm, and the Life Creation Pill materialized within his grasp.

Without a moment's hesitation, Xu Ping inclined his head slightly and ingested the pill for refinement.

On the front lines facing the Ancient Demon Hall, the ever-present possibility of battle made it impractical to consume and refine such potent alchemical substances.

Half a month later.

Xu Ping's eyes fluttered open, a subtle smile gracing his lips."Not bad at all. Despite this being my third time consuming it, my lifespan has been extended by over 120 years."

This successfully replenished the lifespan he had previously expended.

Based on Xu Ping's projections, after consuming at most two more Life Creation Pills, any further increase in his lifespan would likely cease. Still, the outcome was far from unsatisfactory.

After dedicating a few more days to the complete assimilation of the residual medicinal potency, Xu Ping retrieved the Obsidian Spiritual Ore.

"I wonder just how much spiritual essence this Obsidian Spiritual Ore will impart to the Canghua Divine Wood Sword,"

Xu Ping's gaze fixated on the peculiar, dark stone hovering in mid-air, a spark of anticipation glinting in his eyes.

Naturally, the Obsidian Spiritual Ore required a meticulous refining process before its integration with the Canghua Divine Wood Sword could commence.

Consequently, during the ensuing days, Xu Ping channeled all his focus into the refinement and amalgamation of the "Obsidian Spiritual Ore" and the subsequent enhancement of the Canghua Divine Wood Sword.

...

Deep within his cave dwelling, the Earth Fire chamber was fortified with stringent restrictions.

Xu Ping sat in a cross-legged posture at its core, the vibrantly verdant Canghua Divine Wood Sword, intimately linked to his consciousness, suspended before him.

In close proximity lay the dark, lustrous Obsidian Spiritual Ore.

He executed hand seals with both his hands, unleashing his formidable Divine Sense which enveloped the Obsidian Spiritual Ore as precisely as the most delicate carving tool.

Concurrently, the True Flame of his Nascent Soul was summoned, transforming into a meticulously shaped crimson serpent of flame that began to coil around the ore.

The refinement procedure was exceptionally arduous and demanded immense mental fortitude. The Obsidian Spiritual Ore possessed a unique material composition that exhibited extreme resistance to flames, and the spiritual essence contained within necessitated careful direction using specialized techniques; the slightest misstep could result in the dissipation of its spiritual properties, rendering all prior efforts futile.

Xu Ping maintained unwavering concentration, painstakingly refining and meticulously stripping away the surface impurities of the stone, coaxing forth the resplendent spiritual essence trapped within – a substance resembling a swirling nebula of darkness.

Days gradually transitioned into weeks, weeks into months.

A full year later.

All extraneous impurities had been purged from the Obsidian Spiritual Ore, leaving behind only a concentrated mass of spiritual essence, roughly the size of a clenched fist, shimmering like a slowly flowing, liquid black diamond.

"Merge!"

A sharp gleam flashed in Xu Ping's eyes as he deliberately drew a drop of his essence blood from his fingertip, allowing it to fall into the amorphous blob of Obsidian Spiritual Essence.

Instantly, he altered his magical incantations, guiding the essence with renewed magical techniques to slowly and uniformly coat the blade of the Canghua Divine Wood Sword.

Sizzle...

Much like the violent hiss of cold liquid meeting a searingly hot surface, a peculiar sound echoed the instant the blade made contact with the essence.

The Canghua Divine Wood Sword shivered uncontrollably, emitting a series of resonant hums that seemed to convey both profound joy and a hint of discomfort.

Upon the blade, the naturally occurring wood grains appeared to awaken, voraciously absorbing the dark spiritual essence.

Xu Ping closed his eyes, focusing his will intently, utilizing his own Divine Sense as a conduit to cautiously orchestrate the harmonious integration, ensuring this foreign spiritual essence would perfectly meld with the sword's intrinsic essence, thereby nurturing and fortifying the sword spirit.

An additional year and a half elapsed. When the final vestiges of the Obsidian Spiritual Essence were entirely assimilated by the Canghua Divine Wood Sword, the sword underwent a momentous change. Its blade retained its verdant hue, now deepened and more subdued. Simultaneously, a delicate yet pronounced black pattern emerged along the center of the sword’s spine, stretching its full length like a backbone, within which minuscule, star-like specks flickered erratically. The spiritual pressure emanating from the sword intensified considerably, and the sword spirit’s conveyed intent grew markedly clearer and more vivid, imbued with a profound sense of steadiness. "It is complete!" Xu Ping’s eyes gleamed with exhilaration. After two and a half years, he had finally achieved the refinement into the Canghua Divine Wood Sword. He gestured, and the sword transformed into a streak of azure light, settling into his palm. Gripping the hilt, a feeling of seamless integration, as if it were an extension of his own body, resonated within him. Xu Ping assessed it carefully, his heart overflowing with joy. Its power had seemingly advanced by one or two levels, a truly impressive feat. After all, the Canghua Divine Wood Sword was a Heaven-Reaching Spiritual Treasure, and even a slight enhancement to such a treasure was exceedingly challenging. Most importantly, the sword spirit’s conveyed intent had become several times more lucid and lively, brimming with a yearning for advancement and an overwhelming aura of power! "Not bad!" Xu Ping declared. "In time, once its spirituality is fully nurtured and it attains complete sentience, it will be indistinguishable from a cultivator, even capable of independent combat!"