Cultivation Starts from Farming Chapter 984 - 424: Materials Gathered, Sword Array Upgrade_3

The demonic power surging from his person was as unfathomable as an abyss and as mysterious as the boundless sea, possessing a density far exceeding that of the peerless late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators previously encountered by Xu Ping.

"The boons granted by the True Dragon Hall on this occasion are undeniably exceptional," Xu Ping contemplated internally.

Nevertheless, a genial smile graced Xu Ping's countenance as he declared, "The arrival of esteemed Daoist Jin truly illuminates our humble dwelling. Observing your bearing, it is evident you have achieved significant strides in your cultivation, and your divine techniques must undoubtedly be unfathomably profound. Truly admirable."

He then ushered Jin Yuxuan into the main hall and personally retrieved the premium spirit tea, a treasure meticulously preserved on Blood Bone Island.

Instantly, the delicate aroma of tea permeated the air, subtly intertwining with the hall’s inherent cool ambiance, crafting a uniquely distinct atmosphere.

Jin Yuxuan accepted the cup of tea offered by Xu Ping, a flicker of self-satisfaction momentarily surfacing on his features. Yet, maintaining the composed dignity befitting a clan leader of the demon race, he responded with a smile, "Esteemed Daoist Xu, your words are too kind. I merely had the good fortune to refine my bloodline and achieve a slight enhancement in my cultivation. But you, "

Jin Yuxuan's gaze fixed upon Xu Ping, his voice resonating with genuine admiration as he continued, "Your aura grows increasingly refined and profound, with spiritual light occasionally flickering at your brow. It appears you are drawing near the zenith of the mid-stage Nascent Soul realm."

"With your exceptional divine techniques and such astonishing cultivation velocity, ascending to the late-stage realm seems an inevitable certainty, achievable in the very near future."

Following an exchange of felicitations and a few sips of the exquisite spirit tea, a sense of harmonious accord settled over the gathering.

Once the initial courtesies were concluded, Jin Yuxuan's expression turned serious. Gently setting down his tea cup, he broached the core subject: "Esteemed Daoist Xu, concerning the spiritual items you previously tasked me with sourcing to aid demon beasts in overcoming their cultivation bottlenecks, I have remained steadfast in my endeavor."

"During my recent report to the True Dragon Hall, I successfully procured two such items through diligent inquiry across various channels."

As he spoke, a subtle movement of his sleeve produced a jade box, intricately adorned with restrictive inscriptions, which materialized upon the table.

The instant the lid was lifted, an intensely pure vital essence and a refreshing, soul-soothing fragrance simultaneously permeated the chamber.

Within the jade box, positioned on the left, rested an object approximately three inches in length. It bore a resemblance to a bamboo shoot, yet was meticulously sculpted from pure white jade, identified as the 'Millennium Stone Milk Bell Shoot.'

Imbued with the earth's core essence and abundant vitality, it proves exceptionally effective in fortifying foundations and replenishing depleted essence when demon beasts undertake the arduous process of breaking through their cultivation limits.

To the right lay a diminutive, transparent jade bottle containing slightly less than half its capacity of an amber-hued, viscous liquid, known as 'Hundred Herb Soul Tempering Liquid.'

This potent concoction serves to refine the demon soul, bolstering its resilience and spiritual acuity, thereby counteracting inner demons and significantly elevating the probability of successful breakthroughs.

Xu Ping’s divine sense carefully scanned the items, confirming that the caliber of these treasures was indeed of the highest order, far surpassing ordinary artifacts. A look of unfeigned satisfaction involuntarily bloomed across his features.

These two artifacts precisely addressed the most critical aspects required by the Spirit Worm during its impending breakthrough, arriving as a veritable timely blessing.

"Esteemed Daoist Jin, I deeply appreciate the considerable effort you've invested in this pursuit. These two items are precisely what I required with utmost urgency,"

Xu Ping offered his hands in a solemn gesture of gratitude, then, without the slightest hesitation, waved his hand, conveying the jade box into his storage dimension.

Concurrently, he extended a pre-prepared storage pouch forward, stating, "A humble token of my appreciation. I sincerely hope you will not refuse."

Jin Yuxuan probed the storage pouch with his divine sense, and his smile immediately widened, becoming even more radiant.

Within lay not only several fourth-rank offensive and defensive talismans, pulsing with potent spiritual qi, but also a collection of rare spiritual materials highly beneficial for the cultivation path of the demon race. Their value was, at the very least, on par with the two treasures he had brought, and perhaps even exceeded them.

"Esteemed Daoist Xu, you are far too gracious. Our acquaintance spans many years, and our interactions are mutually beneficial; there is truly no need for such formality." Jin Yuxuan conveyed, accepting the storage pouch with a smile.

Having secured the reward, Jin Yuxuan took another sip of his tea before casually shifting the conversation to another matter:

"Speaking of which, esteemed Daoist Xu, the higher echelons of the True Dragon Hall recently promulgated a rather peculiar decree."

"The hall has issued directives to our affiliated demon races, mandating not only the continued surveillance of the outer seas and vigilance against the remnants of the Star Palace forces, but also demanding an exceptionally keen watch for any occurrences of 'abnormalities' within the maritime territories."

"Abnormalities?"

A knot tightened in Xu Ping's chest, yet his expression remained serene, as tranquil as a still lake, as he posed his question: "Do we have any specifics on the kinds of situations the True Dragon Hall deems as abnormal?"

"Could it be that the Star Palace is undertaking some new, clandestine operations?"

Jin Yuxuan offered a shake of his head, a shadow of bewilderment crossing his features: "The Hall was rather vague, not elaborating on the specifics."

"Their directive merely mentioned any peculiar or unexplainable fluctuations in Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, indications of rare treasures surfacing, or any signs pointing to the covert movements of suspected high-tier cultivators... all such occurrences necessitate immediate reporting."

"However, Fellow Daoist Xu need not be overly concerned about this particular matter."

Jin Yuxuan's tone shifted, becoming noticeably more relaxed: "Given the substantial merit our race earned by thwarting the Star Palace's recent activities, the True Dragon Hall places a great deal of trust in us."

"This particular sea territory, encompassing the waters around your Blood Bone Island, has coincidentally been designated for monitoring by our Golden Spirit Mouse clan. This arrangement naturally prevents you from encountering extraneous difficulties."

Upon hearing this, the tension Xu Ping held within him eased slightly, though his inherent caution remained fully intact.

He offered a smile that conveyed fitting gratitude: "I understand. In that case, I must offer my advance thanks to Fellow Daoist Jin for your consideration. My Blood Bone Island has always maintained a state of tranquility; I doubt any abnormalities will trouble the True Dragon Hall."

The two continued their conversation for roughly another hour, delving into shared cultivation insights and discussing the subtle shifts in the outer sea's landscape, before Jin Yuxuan eventually stood, indicating his intention to depart.

Xu Ping personally accompanied him to the island's edge, observing until the dark golden streak of escape light vanished into the distant skyline.

Returning to the vast and somber Blood Bone Hall, Xu Ping settled alone upon the central seat, his eyes gleaming with a faint luminescence as he sank into profound contemplation.

After a considerable pause, Xu Ping let out a sigh: "As a cultivator at the Nascent Soul stage, navigating the space between two Divinity Transformation powers is indeed akin to treading on thin ice. A single misstep could spell utter ruin."

Fortunately, he had established connections within both major factions.

Hongyi served as his eyes and ears for the Star Palace's movements, while Jin Yuxuan provided advance notice of the True Dragon Hall's various stratagems and intentions.

These afforded him, without question, invaluable latitude to maneuver within the narrow confines, enabling him to more effectively sidestep a multitude of potential perils.