Cultivation Starts from Farming-Chapter 839 - 377: Fame Spreads Far and Wide; Gathering Ten Fourth Rank Puppets (Part 2)
With the protection of Xuanmo True Monarch, Xu Ping, despite having the ability to reach the heavens, would definitely not dare to easily make a move against the three of them.
In fact... if handled properly, borrowing the power of Xuanmo True Monarch, it might be possible to find an opportunity to get that Pure Yin Nascent Soul of Duan Shuang... into his grasp.
Greed and the desire to survive instantly overwhelmed that insignificant concern.
The old demon of Hehuan flashed a fierce look in his eyes and decisively agreed, "Alright, let’s follow Fellow Daoist Xuanyin’s suggestion."
"We will prepare generous gifts immediately, submit a joint letter, and together worship under the seat of Xuanmo True Monarch."
"With the power of the True Monarch, suppressing that child Xu Ping would be as easy as flipping the hand!"
...
Several days later.
The news that Xu Ping single-handedly battled against the three mid-stage Nascent Soul powerhouses—Hehuan, Wan Du, and Xuanyin—and did not fall behind, even forcing the three demons to retreat with their feathers clipped, swept across the outer sea like a hurricane!
Numerous cultivators talked about this battle over tea and meals.
Moreover, Xu Ping’s cultivation was only at the early-stage Nascent Soul level; when he breaks through to the mid-stage Nascent Soul, wouldn’t his strength be comparable to a late-stage Nascent Soul great cultivator?
Among the human race cultivators in the outer sea, the late-stage Nascent Soul great cultivator is the ruler.
Some enthusiastic people even ranked him alongside True Monarch Yuan Sha as the number one under the late-stage Nascent Soul great cultivator.
Although this title is a bit exaggerated, it has gained widespread recognition in the cultivation realm of the outer sea.
After all, being able to achieve such a level with an early-stage Nascent Soul cultivation is rare throughout history.
...
Three months passed in the blink of an eye.
Deep within Blood Bone Island, a cool and aloof figure, stepping on the misty spiritual fog, walked out slowly.
It was none other than Duan Shuang, who had been in seclusion for over three months.
She wore a simple moon-white robe, had an elegant posture, her face more beautiful than before, her skin like jade, and her eyes as clear and cold as the deep spring of a cold pool.
The most obvious change was the faint Nascent Soul pressure emanating from her body.
Though she intentionally restrained it, the unique aura belonging to a Nascent Soul cultivator still clearly indicated her progress in cultivation.
The first thing Duan Shuang did upon coming out of seclusion was to go directly to Blood Bone Hall to find Xu Ping.
"Fellow Daoist Xu, the stabilization of my Dao Foundation during this Nascent Soul formation is entirely thanks to your devoted protection, akin to saving my life anew."
Duan Shuang looked at Xu Ping, a complex and indescribable warmth in her cool eyes.
Though she was in seclusion, she was aware of the matter of the old demon of Hehuan attacking again.
If it hadn’t been for Xu Ping holding up the heavens single-handedly, she might have been in danger.
"Fellow Daoist Duan, you speak too highly. You and I watch over and help each other; it is only natural."
Xu Ping smiled gently, "Congratulations, Fellow Daoist, on achieving Nascent Soul formation, the Great Dao is within reach."
Whenever possible, he naturally protected Duan Shuang completely.
Afterwards, Xu Ping shared some insights and experiences about the Nascent Soul stage with Duan Shuang, who listened attentively.
Unconsciously, the sun slipped west, and a bright full moon quietly emerged from the sea horizon, casting its clear glow everywhere.
"If Fellow Daoist Xu doesn’t mind, Duan Shuang would like to play a piece on the zither to express gratitude."
Duan Shuang gracefully flipped her hand, and a completely black, anciently styled seven-string zither materialized on her knees.
Xu Ping nodded with a smile, "Fellow Daoist Duan’s musical mastery is extraordinary, I shall enjoy listening intently."
Duan Shuang delicately plucked the strings with her slender fingers.
Zheng!
A clear and spiritual sound from the zither, like a stream in the mountains, instantly washed away the clamor of the sea breeze and the sinister aura of the island.
The tune started off slow, like clouds beneath the moon, coldly aloof, carrying Duan Shuang’s unique extinction Dao rhyme, yet within the solitude was a faint, hard-to-detect warmth.
Duan Shuang’s musical mastery had clearly reached the peak of the third-rank upper grade.
Such a level is extremely rare, and fourth-rank music grandmasters are even more extremely rare.
Though Xu Ping was not a man of elegance, at this moment, he involuntarily closed his eyes, his mind willingly opened up, merging into the flowing zither music.
A wondrous thing happened.
Under the keen perception of the great success Divine Sense of the Thousand Mechanism Skill, the intricate rhyme of the zither music faintly resonated with his Sea of Consciousness!
The music flowed like water, washing away the dust of the mind.
The slight fatigue and restlessness accumulated from consecutive battles, puppet simulations, and far-reaching plans silently dissipated under the immersion of the music.
The mind entered an unprecedented clarity and tranquility, as if placed beneath a boundless starry sky, with thoughts clearer and faster.
What surprised Xu Ping even more was.
In this state of clarity and tranquility, the speed of his Thousand Mechanism Skill’s operation within his body, surprisingly... accelerated somewhat.
Although extremely subtle, almost imperceptible, with his mastery of his own cultivation technique, this change was very clear.
...
After the song ended.
The lingering sound seemed to still hover unsullied between sea and sky.
Xu Ping slowly opened his eyes, with dazzling brilliance in his pupils and carrying a hint of hard-to-hide joy: "Fellow Daoist’s musical mastery has reached Transformation Realm."
Upon hearing this, Duan Shuang’s cold jade face bloomed with a smile as gentle as ice and snow melting for the first time, and she softly said:
"I’m glad Fellow Daoist Xu likes it. If Fellow Daoist doesn’t mind the noise, Duan Shuang can often play the zither for you in the future."
"That would be great!"
Xu Ping readily agreed.
If Duan Shuang’s musical mastery can break through to the realm of the fourth-rank music grandmaster... the effect would certainly be far beyond mere "insignificant."
You must know, ever since his Thousand Mechanism Skill broke through to the great success realm, the speed of cultivation has been as slow as a snail’s pace.
To reach the perfection level, who knows how many more years and months will be needed.
But with Duan Shuang’s profound musical mastery as an auxiliary, the situation will certainly be different.
Listening to music daily as a form of cultivation, accumulated over time, would definitely greatly shorten the breakthrough time.
Once his Thousand Mechanism Skill reaches the perfection level, his Divine Sense will undoubtedly undergo explosive growth.
Even if it is slightly inferior to a late-stage Nascent Soul great cultivator, it will unquestionably surpass mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivators.
Thinking of this, Xu Ping looked at Duan Shuang with eyes that unwittingly conveyed more warmth and expectation.
