Cultivation Starts from Farming Chapter 992 - 427: Swordsmanship Stirring the Primordial Qi of Heaven and Earth (Part 2)

This particular grass possesses remarkable properties, supremely effective for stabilizing the Nascent Soul Realm and greatly amplifying the spirituality within it. While its impact on Xu Ping himself might be minimal, for cultivators like Duan Shuang or others in the early stages of the Nascent Soul Realm, it unquestionably represents a priceless treasure.

"This expedition was not without its rewards after all."

A faint smile graced Xu Ping’s lips as he extended his hand towards the jade box.

Bang! Bang!

At the very instant his fingertips were about to make contact with the jade box, two meticulously prepared assaults were unleashed. One manifested as a fiery dragon, radiating intense heat that scorched the very heavens and earth, while the other took the form of an icy cone, seemingly capable of freezing the fabric of space itself, both hurtling from the cave’s entrance.

The hidden assailants had evidently been lying in wait, anticipating this precise moment when Xu Ping’s guard would be down.

A cold smirk played on the edges of Xu Ping’s mouth.

His Divine Sense had already made him aware of the two early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators who, despite their attempts at stealth, had been detected long before they entered the cave.

Finding it beneath him to even turn his head, a simple thought prompted a small, pitch-black banner to emerge from his sleeve. It rapidly expanded in the wind, growing to an immense size adorned with the tormented visages of countless souls, exuding a chilling, demonic aura.

From the banner, spectral entities roared forth. Two elongated black tongues, coalesced from pure Soul Power, lashed out like menacing whips!

Poof! Poof!

The seemingly ferocious fire snake and the ice cone dissolved into nothingness mere moments after colliding with the soul tongues, crumbling like fragile bubbles.

Without losing any of their impetus, the formidable tongues effortlessly pierced through the defensive spirit treasures and the protective spiritual light that the two attackers had hastily summoned, constricting them tightly like captured prey.

"No, venerable senior, please spare us!"

"We are prepared to offer everything..."

The desperate pleas for mercy were abruptly silenced.

The soul tongues retracted, dragging the two Nascent Soul cultivators, whose faces were etched with utter terror, along with their very Nascent Souls, into the Ebon depths of the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, where they became sustenance for the myriad souls within.

Xu Ping acted as if the entire event was trivial.

He meticulously secured the Solid Infant Pill before vanishing from the cave with a mere flicker of movement.

...

Time flowed swiftly, and in the blink of an eye, two full years had elapsed.

Xu Ping had journeyed through virtually every locale indicated on Hongyi’s jade slip, even venturing into perilous areas not marked on any map, his exploration guided by his formidable Divine Sense and a significant measure of luck.

He amassed a wealth of diverse spiritual materials and spirit medicines, including several rare treasures. However, the Thousand-Year Spirit Essence Jade, which he so keenly desired, remained conspicuously absent.

Even with Xu Ping’s typically unflappable temperament, a sense of disappointment began to creep in.

Over the course of these two years,

Xu Ping had diligently charted nearly every potential region marked on Hongyi’s map, venturing into deep canyons and exploring hidden caverns.

He compiled an array of spiritual materials, arcane ores, and unique spirit grasses, some of which could incite envy even in seasoned Nascent Soul cultivators. Yet, not a single trace of the Thousand-Year Spirit Essence Jade could be unearthed.

Despite possessing a disposition generally unswayed by minor setbacks, Xu Ping couldn’t help but feel a pang of disappointment.

Bang!

Just as he was contemplating abandoning his search and preparing to investigate one final, desolate mountain range barely indicated on the map, a sudden and violent surge of mana fluctuation erupted in the distance.

The power level exhibited in the ongoing duel suggested a cultivation base roughly at the zenith of the mid-stage Nascent Soul realm, posing no substantial threat to Xu Ping in his current state.

However, amidst the chaotic energy discharge, he keenly detected an unusual and unexpected anomaly—a phenomenon that should not logically occur in a battle of such a tier.

Evidence of Primordial Qi being drawn!

"Hmm?"

Xu Ping halted his movement, a flicker of surprise registering in his eyes.

The ability to draw Primordial Qi typically required at least reaching the advanced stages of the Divinity Transformation Sect, signifying an initial grasp of the fundamental laws governing Heaven and Earth.

Alternatively, it could be achieved like Yun Weifeng, by wielding an artifact of supreme power.

How then could such a phenomenon manifest in a clash between cultivators of the mid-stage Nascent Soul realm?

After a brief period of contemplation, Xu Ping resolved to investigate the source of this unusual occurrence.

He meticulously concealed his aura, approaching the site of the engagement with spectral silence.

Concealed behind a colossal rock, scarred and weathered by demonic energies, Xu Ping observed the scene with keen scrutiny.

Within the open area, two figures were locked in a ferocious contest. One was a middle-aged cultivator of ordinary appearance but with stern eyes, operating at the early-stage Nascent Soul. He skillfully maneuvered a finely crafted green flying shuttle for both offensive and defensive maneuvers, demonstrating apparent proficiency in both divine techniques and ample resources.

His adversary was a gaunt cultivator, resembling a reed in stature, wielding an ancient, gleaming golden longsword. His cultivation had remarkably ascended to the peak of the mid-stage Nascent Soul realm.

What particularly captivated Xu Ping’s attention was this emaciated cultivator. As he brandished his sword, waves of golden sword-light radiated outwards in every direction.

While each sword strike didn't exactly wield the Power of Heaven and Earth, akin to Divinity Transformation, they possessed the ability to induce a subtle resonance and compression with the surrounding Primordial Qi. This created an invisible restraint upon the opponent.

This seemingly minor influence consistently hampered the middle-aged cultivator's movements, creating openings in his defenses.

"Intriguing..."

Xu Ping mused, stroking his chin, a spark of fascination in his gaze.

The depth of this gaunt cultivator's Sword Dao was not exceptionally profound or elusive, appearing rather unrefined and straightforward. However, his mastery over influencing Primordial Qi was undeniably extraordinary.

This was no commonplace swordsmanship; it was undoubtedly a highly specialized technique.

Should he manage to acquire this skill, both his Sword Dao realm and the might of his sword arrays could potentially experience a significant advancement.

He resolved that this technique must be attained.

At this juncture, the ongoing battle was decidedly one-sided.

The middle-aged cultivator found himself in dire straits, scarcely able to defend himself. Despite frantically deploying his flying shuttle and activating several powerful talismans, he remained unable to escape the pervasive confinement of Primordial Qi and the piercing sword light.

"Argh!"

At last, a piercing scream echoed through the air.

The golden sword light, much like a viper, seized its moment to strike, effortlessly penetrating all of the middle-aged cultivator's defenses and cleaving his body in two.

A fleeing Nascent Soul, caught in a state of panic, was promptly obliterated by the relentlessly pursuing sword light, leaving nothing behind.