Cultivation Starts from Farming Chapter 956 - 415: Upgrading the Wraith (2)

Within its scarlet gaze, a maelstrom of madness, avarice, agony, and ferocity converged, twisting sharply once more to fix upon Xu Ping, revealing an intense urge to consume.

The signs of a backlash were manifesting once more!

Xu Ping, having anticipated this, let out a cold snort. The divine sense, vast as an ocean, erupted with a mighty roar, descending like an invisible restraint.

Concurrently, his hands moved with swift precision, unleashing waves of an amplified 'Thousand Mechanisms Forbidden God Spell' a storm of runes directed towards the core of the main soul.

"Roar! Howl!"

The spectral entity let out a howl of defiance, its soul body writhing with fierce resistance as the newly absorbed snake soul power clashed violently against the imposed restrictions.

For a period, the cave resounded with demonic wails and surging energy; had it not been for the containment spell, the commotion would have surely alerted the outside world.

Xu Ping concentrated his divine sense, meticulously guiding and harmonizing the chaotic energies circulating within the main soul. He aided its process of refining the Essence Soul Pill, a task that, while immensely beneficial, carried significant peril.

This endeavor was both gradual and fraught with danger.

A year and a half silently slipped by, marked by this quiet struggle and meticulous refinement.

At long last, on this particular day, the tumultuous, conflicting energies within the main soul began a gradual descent into calm, eventually integrating completely.

Its soul form ceased its outward expansion, instead drawing inward, becoming more consolidated and profound.

The previously entirely black soul body was now delicately overlaid with a thin yet incredibly robust spectral outline resembling snake scales.

The pressure it exuded had noticeably escalated beyond its previous level.

"It is complete!"

Xu Ping slowly retracted his divine sense, a subtle weariness evident on his features, yet his lips curved into a smile of satisfaction.

The process had been perilous, but the remuneration was substantial.

The power of the Ten Thousand Souls Banner had seen an increase of three tenths.

Nevertheless, Xu Ping felt no inclination to relax his vigilance.

He harbored no hesitation, not even pausing to consider the considerable drain his divine sense had just endured.

Xu Ping executed a spell, his divine sense infused with essence blood, inscribing a multitude of intricate grey-white runes – far more numerous than before – into the very origin of the main soul, forming an inescapable network.

"Awuu...."

The specter emitted a mournful cry steeped in despair, its soul body trembling uncontrollably. Unable to resist, it could only passively endure the agonizing torment as the reinforcement of the restriction took hold.

Perceiving the power of the restriction, now almost entirely intertwined with the main soul's core essence, Xu Ping finally exhaled slowly.

This spectral entity, as it grew more formidable through continuous absorption, simultaneously developed enhanced intelligence and a greater inclination towards rebellion, becoming increasingly shrewd.

Henceforth, it would require even more cautious handling, with absolutely no room for negligence.

Suppressing his reflections, Xu Ping commenced meditation to recuperate the mana and divine sense depleted during the soul refinement.

Silence descended once more upon the cave.

Only the suspended Ten Thousand Souls Banner faintly emanated a progressively unsettling dark luminescence.

The act of devouring the Mystic Nether Snake Essence Soul Pill had significantly bolstered this specter, but it came with inherent risks.

Should it proceed to absorb a True Dragon Essence Pill, the danger would likely intensify.

"It seems that next time, when I absorb the True Dragon Essence Pill, I will require the assistance of the Wood Spirit Avatar," Xu Ping mused internally.

Otherwise, on his own, he might genuinely struggle to maintain control over this entity.

Concurrently, Xu Ping harbored concerns about his ability to manage the Ten Thousand Souls Banner should it truly achieve the status of a supreme artifact.

After a brief period of contemplation, he concluded that such a feat would be challenging.

Unless his divine sense and divine techniques were to advance considerably further.

"Let it be for now; the priority is to acquire the resources necessary to elevate the Ten Thousand Souls Banner!"

"Regardless, Hongyi will likely not be returning to hunt Demonic Beasts in the outer sea for quite some time."

With his decision made, Xu Ping resumed his meditation to restore his mana and divine sense.

....

Time continued its unceasing march, and another two years elapsed.

Within the subterranean cavern,

Xu Ping maintained his cross-legged meditation atop the Cold Jade Platform, eyes shut, his divine sense radiating outwards in vast, ocean-like waves that enveloped the specter.

The principal soul of the Ten Thousand Souls Banner hovered in mid-air, its size having expanded manifold. Its entire being pulsed with Demonic Qi as if boiling vigorously, and brilliant beams of golden dragon light now continuously erupted from what was once a purely pitch-black soul body.

The Fourth Rank Upper Grade True Dragon Essence Pill was being vigorously refined within it.

An indeterminate stretch of time passed.

Suddenly.

"Roar!"

A cry, unlike any heard before, a fusion of dragon roars and demonic howls, exploded from the main soul's maw, shaking the very foundations of the heavens!

Its colossal soul body abruptly began to contract! All the effervescent Demonic Qi and the clashing golden radiance converged like rivers flowing back to the sea, collapsing and condensing inward.

In the blink of an eye, a formidable aura, vastly superior to anything felt before, descended with crushing intensity.

The main soul's form became noticeably more distinct and substantially solid.

What was once a phantom-like soul body now possessed the tangible weight and texture of actual flesh.

The entirety of its being displayed a peculiar coloration of dark gold interwoven with absolute black. Its head appeared even more ferocious, sporting a horn upon its forehead, fangs bared, and eyes like a dragon's, blazing with dark crimson spectral flames.

The emitted aura surged with incredible power, reaching an astonishing level that seemed to signify the zenith of its late-stage cultivation.

"It is complete!"

A brilliant flash ignited Xu Ping's eyes, yet his mind remained far from at ease.

Indeed, confirmation followed swiftly.

Just as the main soul concluded its dramatic transformation, an even more unadulterated and terrifyingly sinister deathly Qi erupted from its body, like a dam bursting its bounds, instantly engulfing the entire subterranean cavern.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

The protective Restriction arrayed upon the cave walls emitted strained groans under the immense pressure, and the shielding light screen flickered wildly.

Concealed within that potent Evil Qi was an unruly, defiant will, striving to shatter all bonds and turn upon its very master.

It was akin to a rampaging, ancient monstrous beast, intent on consuming its controller.

The colossal eyes of the main soul, aflame with ghostly dragon fire, abruptly fixed upon Xu Ping, utterly devoid of any trace of "obedience." Instead, there was only pure, frigid, predatory savagery and insatiable greed.