Cultivation Starts from Farming-Chapter 704 - 331: Upgrading the Puppet Array; News of Hongyi
He slowly opened his eyes, with a hint of stars shimmering in his gaze, then turned into a calm and serene expression.
"Hoo—"
A wisp of white breath expelled from his mouth, seemingly ordinary, but actually containing countless impurities and inner turbidity.
This is a common method of expelling impurities and absorbing new essence in the cultivation of the Heart Refining Skill, which requires purifying the mind after every practice.
As usual, he opened the proficiency panel.
[Heart Refining Skill Minor Achievement: 34/800]
...
"After entering Minor Achievement in the Heart Refining Skill, the progress is unexpectedly slow..."
Xu Ping frowned slightly, feeling a bit displeased in his heart.
Compared to the rapid progress at the Entry Level stage, now every increase in proficiency is quite difficult.
At this pace, it would take at least decades of hard cultivation to reach Perfection in the Heart Refining Skill.
In ordinary times, this wouldn’t be a concern, but the looming threat of the Wind Origin Realm invasion draws closer each day.
Spending decades to cultivate the Heart Refining Skill to Perfection is simply not a wise choice.
"I must find a way to speed up the progress."
Xu Ping frowned and contemplated, a deep thought flashing in his eyes.
Since the Heart Refining Skill is meant to enhance inner state, it must be approached from the aspect of inner state.
The cultivation path emphasizes adapting to circumstances and acting according to the environment.
To accelerate the cultivation speed of techniques related to the inner state, the most crucial thing is finding ways and places that can rapidly enhance the inner state.
After contemplating for a long time, a bright light suddenly flashed in Xu Ping’s eyes:
"Perhaps only by embarking on the path of Heart Refining can the inner state be truly tempered, and the proficiency of the Heart Refining Skill might soar!"
However, thinking of this, Xu Ping couldn’t help but frown again: "True Monarch Chixiao and others are surely still secretly monitoring. Once I step out of the Valley of Ten Thousand Demons, the news will leak, and I’ll certainly be besieged and killed by them....."
Although he possesses considerable strength now, facing the siege of several Nascent Soul cultivators poses a threat to his life.
After all, his own cultivation is still only at Golden Core Perfection, presenting an inherent disadvantage when confronting a Nascent Soul True Monarch.
"It seems I must first address the threat posed by True Monarch Chixiao and the others!"
Murderous intent flickered in Xu Ping’s eyes, as cold as ice.
"Hongyi should be arriving these days, and then we can plan accordingly."
...
Half a month passed in a flash.
On this day, Xie Lu reported that a Core Formation cultivator had left a message at the mountain gate requesting a commission for puppet refinement.
Such requests were not uncommon, and Xu Ping originally did not pay it much mind.
Until he saw the Sound Transmission Talisman presented by Xie Lu, with special restrictions placed on it, Xu Ping’s heart filled with joy.
Hongyi has finally arrived!
Once Xie Lu left, Xu Ping broke the restriction on the Sound Transmission Talisman, and sure enough, Hongyi’s voice came through, along with the agreed meeting place.
The next evening, the sunset was as red as blood, painting the sky in a brilliant orange hue.
A thousand miles outside the Valley of Ten Thousand Demons, a low-level spirit lake named "Blue Water Reflects the Sky" shimmered with sparkling waves.
On the lakeside, a simple fishing platform stood quietly, with a young cultivator in a green silk robe standing on it.
This person had sword-like brows and starry eyes, with an extraordinary aura and facial features that were defined but not sharp, instead revealing a certain scholarly grace.
Suddenly, a breeze passed over the lake surface, creating small ripples.
"Fellow Daoist Hong, it’s been a long time."
A clear voice emerged from behind, and the green-robed young man slowly turned around, a gentle smile appearing on his face.
At some unknown time, Xu Ping had already appeared on the fishing platform, and the two were only three feet apart.
He wore a white robe, with an immortal demeanor and a poise of transcendence, like a jade untouched by dust.
Such a silent appearance would have terrified anyone else but a familiar acquaintance.
"It’s been a while!" Hongyi smiled and clasped his hands, his voice smooth as jade.
Xu Ping carefully examined this old friend, with a hint of astonishment in his eyes.
He realized that in the short span of several decades, Hongyi’s cultivation had already reached the peak of Early-stage Nascent Soul.
For ordinary Nascent Soul cultivators, reaching this stage without one or two hundred years of arduous cultivation and accumulation is almost impossible.
"Fellow Daoist Hong’s cultivation has advanced so remarkably, it’s truly astounding." Xu Ping sincerely remarked.
Hearing this, Hongyi waved his hand modestly: "Just fortunate, I still have ways to go compared to Daoist Friend."
He had naturally heard of Xu Ping’s feat of standing alone against two Nascent Soul True Monarchs with just his Golden Core self and still gaining the upper hand.
The two exchanged smiles, the years of separation seemingly vanishing into thin air.
"Come, let’s talk in the lakeside pavilion."
Hongyi gestured, and a small pavilion floating on the lake came into view.
The two of them flew into the pavilion, and Hongyi casually waved his hand, immediately enveloping the entire pavilion with an invisible barrier to ensure their conversation would not be overheard by outsiders.
Inside the pavilion, Spirit Tea and Spirit Fruit had long been prepared, clearly showing Hongyi’s ample arrangement.
He poured a cup of fragrant Star Tea for Xu Ping and smiled: "Fellow Daoist Xu came to seek me, surely you have important matters to discuss?"
"Indeed, I have serious matters to discuss with Fellow Daoist Hong."
Xu Ping put down his teacup, his expression turning solemn, as did his tone become more composed.
He explained the situation regarding True Monarch Chixiao, the Snake Demon Monarch, and others.
Including their coveting the mutated bloodline of the Water Lake Rat, as well as the series of actions from the Red Sand Sect in recent years.
"Oh?"
Hongyi raised an eyebrow, with a flash of interest in his eyes.
He gently rubbed the teacup, pondered for a moment, then asked: "How does Fellow Daoist Xu plan to deal with it?"
"Very simple, I plan to eliminate them all!" Xu Ping’s eyes glinted coldly.
"Of course, given my ability, I cannot handle them alone, so I hope Fellow Daoist Hong will assist me." Xu Ping’s tone turned sincere.
Even with the powerful army array composed of eight Quasi-Fourth Rank Puppets, against the combined forces of many Nascent Soul cultivators, he finds it difficult to escape unscathed alone, let alone completely annihilate them.
"Naturally, this won’t be without compensation for Fellow Daoist Hong’s assistance. Whatever Fellow Daoist Hong requires, feel free to ask—if it’s within my ability, I won’t refuse."
Although there is a good relationship between him and Hongyi, since it’s a matter of hunting multiple Nascent Soul cultivators, there’s undoubtedly a cost to be considered.
