Cultivation Starts from Farming Chapter 995 - 428: Harvesting the Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Marrow Jade; Innate Spiritual Liquid of Origin (2)

Before any cry or resistance could be formed, a pinpoint of ethereal light had already been mirrored in his eyes. In a mere instant, it plunged directly into his Sea of Consciousness!

The Soul-Breaking Needle!

"Ugh...."

Instantly, all life vanished from the young man's eyes, his body going utterly slack as he crumpled to the ground.

A spectral Nascent Soul had just begun its escape when a claw, formed from pure Soul Power, emerged from the void. It snatched the fleeing soul in a single sweep and thrust it into a Ten Thousand Souls Banner that silently unfurled.

The entire sequence unfolded with lightning speed, completely silent and without leaving any trace.

Indeed, the two Mid-stage Nascent Soul Cultivators who were concealed outside the palace had not even detected the slightest hint of disturbance.

As the shadows receded, Xu Ping's figure materialized.

He bestowed an indifferent glance upon the lifeless corpse of the youth on the ground. Then, with a casual flick of his wrist, a wisp of True Flame erupted, reducing the body to ash and obliterating all evidence.

"The rules of Star Palace?"

Xu Ping's lips twisted into a cold, mocking curve as his form once again dissolved into the shadows, vanishing without a trace.

He had intentionally delayed the killing, of course, aiming to postpone the discovery and thus facilitate his own undetected departure.

Half a month later.

The young man's unexplained absence was finally noted by Star Palace. Despite dispatching investigators, their efforts yielded absolutely nothing.

Star Palace simmered with fury, yet they did not broaden their search.

This was primarily because the majority of Star Palace's focus was currently diverted to the Outer Seas, where they faced even greater recent troubles.

Their intricate plots within the Outer Seas had once again been uncovered by the Demon Race.

....

Three years hence.

Xu Ping traversed the immense expanse separating Star Palace's inland domain from the tumultuous Outer Seas, finally returning to Blood Bone Island.

The island remained enveloped by a thick mist of Spiritual Qi, its protective Array functioning as always, presenting an image of serene tranquility.

Upon his arrival, Xu Ping did not immediately attend to his accumulated spoils or enter a period of cultivation. Instead, his figure flickered and appeared just outside Duan Shuang's cave abode.

The beautiful woman seemed to have anticipated his presence; the cave's Restriction dissolved silently. Duan Shuang, clad in pristine white robes, was already standing with grace at the entrance, her exquisite eyes radiating undisguised delight and a touch of worry.

"Xu Lang, you have returned!"

Duan Shuang meticulously examined him from head to toe. It was only after confirming the stability of his aura and the absence of any injuries that she finally exhaled a breath of true relief.

While she possessed unwavering faith in Xu Ping's extraordinary Divine Techniques, in the context of the current intense conflict between the Demon Race and Star Palace, even Xu Ping was merely a pawn on the grand chessboard.

Once inside the cave, Xu Ping gently took Duan Shuang's hand, which felt cool like fine jade, and inquired softly, "During these years I was away, in the Outer Seas... did anything significant occur?"

At his question, Duan Shuang's delicate brows furrowed slightly, a solemn expression clouding her lovely features as she replied with a hushed tone, "Xu Lang, in the second year after your departure, a truly world-shattering event transpired in the Outer Seas."

She paused briefly to gather her thoughts before continuing, "The Demon Race somehow discovered that Hundred Cloud Hall had long been secretly infiltrated by Star Palace, and might even have fallen entirely under their covert control."

"This revelation incensed the Demon Race. In their furious backlash, they struck with overwhelming might and, in a single night... eradicated Hundred Cloud Hall entirely. "

"All Human Race factions within the Outer Seas, upon receiving this news, were plunged into extreme fear, a panic that spread like wildfire."

"The various prominent sects immediately initiated stringent internal investigations to ascertain their own innocence, desperate to avoid incurring the Demon Race's wrath and suffering the same fate as Hundred Cloud Hall."

"Fortunately, subsequent to the destruction of Hundred Cloud Hall, the Demon Race also conducted what appeared to be a thorough screening. They ultimately concluded that other Human Race powers in the Outer Seas had not been subjected to large-scale infiltration. Only then did they refrain from further escalating the scope of their purge."

"However, following this incident, the overall situation in the Outer Seas escalated to unprecedented levels of tension. Human Race cultivators venturing abroad became considerably more wary."

"Such a monumental event occurred?"

Xu Ping's countenance registered an appropriate level of astonishment, as though he were hearing this for the very first time.

Yet, deep within the placid depths of his heart, all remained perfectly clear.

His hidden influence was undeniably present behind these developments, subtly stoking the flames.

Employing the Demon Race as a tool to eliminate potential threats and to instill fear in the observers was an integral part of his grand design.

And judging by the outcome, the intended effect had materialized even more favorably than he had initially anticipated.

Unaware of the subtle shift in Xu Ping’s thoughts, Duan Shuang continued to voice her concerns: "The Outer Seas might seem tranquil on the surface now, but turbulent currents churn beneath. Tensions are stretched taut everywhere, like bowstrings ready to snap."

Xu Ping gently patted the back of her hand, offering reassurance. "Everything will be alright. We face problems as they come—building dams when the water rises and blocking soldiers when they march. With me here, Blood Bone Island will remain as unshakeable as Mount Tai."

Duan Shuang’s gaze met his, and a radiant smile bloomed on her face.

She, naturally, placed her complete trust in him.

After a period of tender conversation, where they exchanged insights on cultivation and discussed the island's minor affairs, Xu Ping eventually rose. He returned to the subterranean cave dwelling concealed deep beneath Blood Bone Hall.

Having unsealed numerous layers of Restrictions, he finally sat cross-legged upon the chilled stone slab. The first item Xu Ping retrieved was the custom-made jade box housing the Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Marrow Jade.

Upon opening the lid, a fist-sized piece of jade was revealed. It possessed a milky white hue, radiating warmth throughout, with an ethereal spiritual light that seemed to flow internally, exuding a boundless and pristine vitality.

As his fingers grazed the jade’s surface, a spark of eager anticipation ignited in Xu Ping’s eyes.

"The primary components for the Nirvana Golden Body are almost complete, with only the final segment of the Nine-Heavens Gang Wind Essence remaining. As for the supplementary materials, I have already amassed over half of them."

Once all materials were gathered and the Nirvana Golden Body was successfully cultivated, his physical form would experience a dramatic surge in strength, equipping him with the means to survive—and perhaps even contend—against a Divinity Transformation Cultivator.

This represented one of the crucial trump cards he had strategically prepared to counter any potential future threats at the Divinity Transformation level.

Xu Ping carefully secured the Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Marrow Jade before taking out another Jade Bottle. This container held the Innate Spiritual Liquid, which had been born concurrently with the jade itself.

The Spiritual Liquid presented an even more refined, milky white luminescence. Though resting placidly within the bottle, it appeared to contain the vibrant life force of a miniature world.

"This is quite an unexpected boon,"

A faint, satisfied smile graced the corners of Xu Ping’s mouth.

A heaven-and-earth Spiritual Object capable of simultaneously extending lifespan and enhancing cultivation was an exceptionally rare treasure, invaluable at any stage of a cultivator’s journey.