Cultivation Starts from Farming Chapter 979 - 423: Stirring Up the Winds and Clouds

Beside him, Hongyi perceived the heavy atmosphere and spoke to assuage his worries, "Fellow Daoist Xu, there's no need for excessive concern. While the Star Palace wields significant power, the outer seas are not entirely under their command."

"The True Dragon Hall presents a formidable challenge," Xu Ping replied.

"Furthermore, should the Star Palace make any unusual moves or if any concrete intelligence emerges, I shall inform you promptly to allow for necessary preparations."

Hearing Hongyi's assurance, a measure of relief settled upon Xu Ping, and he clasped his hands in gratitude, saying, "Thank you kindly, Fellow Daoist Hong."

Hongyi, while not a central figure in the Star Palace, possessed access to information regarding major developments and trends.

Having him as an informant meant Xu Ping would not be entirely left to his own devices.

Subsequently, Hongyi presented Xu Ping with all the sword-refining materials he had gathered.

Gazing upon the storage bag, brimming with an array of precious spiritual materials that pulsed with a soft glow, Xu Ping finally felt a sense of reassurance.

The components for his magic swords were nearly complete; only the final acquisition from the Mystic Water Sect remained, after which all seventy-two magic swords could be elevated to the Spirit Treasure level.

At that juncture, the might of the Five Elements Sword Array would be significantly amplified, becoming yet another powerful strategic asset in his arsenal.

After stowing the materials, Xu Ping expressed his thanks to Hongyi once more before inquiring, "Fellow Daoist Hongyi, regarding the materials needed for cultivating the Nirvana Golden Body, which I previously asked you to investigate, have you received any updates?"

Hongyi paused in thought before responding, "The Thousand-Year Spiritual Marrow Jade is an exceptionally rare and elusive substance. I have encountered some unsubstantiated rumors suggesting its possible appearance within ancient ruins, but this information lacks confirmation and its veracity is questionable."

"Upon my return, I will conduct further inquiries. Should any verified and reliable news surface, I will communicate it to Fellow Daoist Xu at the earliest possible moment."

Xu Ping's eyes brightened upon hearing this.

Even the faintest whisper of a rumor offered a glimmer of hope.

Once these materials were secured and the Nirvana Golden Body successfully cultivated, the resilience of his physical body would ascend to unimaginable heights.

At that point, confronting cultivators at the Divinity Transformation stage might not be an entirely hopeless endeavor; at the very least, his prospects for a successful evasion would be substantially improved!

"I am grateful for your diligent efforts, Daoist," Xu Ping stated with deep sincerity.

...

An hour elapsed.

Hongyi and Elder Nine Nether departed as discreetly as they had arrived, their exit unobserved.

Within the Blood Bone Hall, silence reclaimed its dominion.

Xu Ping remained seated alone in the primary seat, his fingers rhythmically tapping the armrest; the relaxed demeanor he had previously displayed had vanished, replaced by a profound sense of gravity and deep introspection.

The looming threat posed by the Twin Saints of the Star Palace, hanging precariously above like an executioner's blade, exerted a pressure far exceeding any previous existential crisis.

This represented an absolute disparity in cultivation realms, a gulf in power capable of inducing utter despair.

Xu Ping commenced a meticulous analysis of the current intricate circumstances:

"The Twin Saints currently harbor suspicions regarding the outer seas alone, with no definitive evidence implicating me directly."

"Consequently, I must exercise extreme caution and refrain from any rash actions. Fleeing at this juncture would be equally perilous. Any display of unusual behavior would invariably attract the focused attention of the Star Palace, thereby exposing my vulnerabilities and leading to my own downfall."

"Within the Wind Origin Realm, confronting two enraged Divinity Transformation cultivators would offer a minuscule chance of survival."

"Consider fleeing to the Nanchuan Realm?"

This notion had barely surfaced before Xu Ping decisively quashed it.

Even setting aside the insufficient quantity of boundary stones, should he possess an ample supply, he was currently a wanted individual by the Heaven-Suppressing Sect, rendering the Nanchuan Realm a decidedly unsafe sanctuary.

This avenue of escape was currently unfeasible.

"Remaining idle and awaiting destruction is an undeniable path to ruin."

"Should time wear on, given my meteoric rise and demonstrated prowess in the outer seas, the Star Palace would inevitably designate me as a primary subject for observation, perhaps even for testing."

"I must orchestrate a strategic maneuver to divert their attention, to shift the impending disaster elsewhere..."

A chilling glint flickered in Xu Ping's eyes, akin to the unfathomable depths of an icy abyss, where countless stratagems were conceived and extinguished.

"In the prevailing predicament, the sole viable recourse is to redirect the calamity and sow discord between formidable adversaries."

"To completely siphon the Star Palace's wrath and focus, channeling it directly towards the True Dragon Hall."

A clear and audacious strategy began to crystallize within Xu Ping's mind.

The animosity between the True Dragon Hall and the Star Palace has festered for ages, fueled by incessant squabbles over precious resources and coveted territories. Harmony was a forgotten concept between them.

Furthermore, over the continuum of years, he and Hongyi had joined forces in countless hunts against formidable late-stage demon beasts, some even possessing the bloodline of the True Dragon, a part of the Demon Race's powerhouse lineage...

This grave spilling of blood has been unyieldingly pinned upon the Star Palace.

On the True Dragon Hall's part, a bitter, deep-rooted hatred towards the Star Palace must already be brewing intensely.

Even Hongyi had faced relentless pursuit due to this very grievance.

It was merely a matter of time before a spark ignited the powder keg between the two factions.

"If I can artfully instigate matters and provoke a fierce conflict between them..."

"The more chaotic the situation becomes, the more secure I shall be!"

"Naturally, I must ensure I have no personal involvement in this affair, nor leave any trace that could possibly link back to the Human Race," Xu Ping's strategic thinking was exceptionally precise.

"This must be executed solely through the hands of the Demon Race."

Only by adhering to this method could the plan be flawless, ensuring no one would ever suspect the human cultivator orchestrating from the shadows.

"Just recently... the Star Palace cultivators dispatched to scout Blood Bone Island were thoroughly startled and driven away. They likely won't dare approach rashly for some time."

"This presents me with an opportune window to make my move."

A subtle, cold glint flickered within Xu Ping's eyes as an elaborate scheme began to meticulously form and solidify in his mind.

Half a year slipped by uneventfully.

The protective array surrounding Blood Bone Island rippled faintly, and a streak of golden light zipped past, its speed so extreme it was almost imperceptible.

Before long, the distinctive silhouette of the water rat materialized outside Xu Ping's secluded cultivation chamber.

However, its stay on the island was brief, lasting only about an hour. After a discussion with Xu Ping, it departed as quietly as it had arrived, transforming back into golden light and swiftly vanishing, as if it had never graced the island with its presence.

Another half a year elapsed.

Deep within the immensity of the ocean, resided the True Dragon Hall.