Cultivation Starts from Farming-Chapter 840 - 377: Fame Spreads Far and Wide; Successfully Assembling Ten Fourth Rank Puppets_3
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In the ensuing years,
Duan Shuang kept a low profile, dedicating most of her time to cultivating Nascent Soul-level secret techniques and nurturing her Lifebound Magical Treasure.
But she still found time to visit Blood Bone Hall and play a tune for Xu Ping.
Meanwhile, Xu Ping, apart from listening to the music, was engrossed in the underground cave, refining puppets.
The sound of flames, runes, and clashing metals never ceased.
Five years slipped by quietly.
On this day,
In the underground cave of Blood Bone Hall,
The air seemed to stagnate, filled with the unique mix of metal, spirit wood, and energy cores.
Ten tall, diverse metal constructs stood silently in the center of the cave.
This was the fruit of Xu Ping’s labor over the years—ten Fourth Rank Lower-grade Puppets.
"Ten years shaping a sword, today it is finally forged!"
Xu Ping stood before the puppets, his black robe fluttering without wind, a spark of excitement in his eyes.
After spending so many years and so much material, he finally gathered these ten Fourth Rank Lower-grade Puppets, comparable to Early-Stage Nascent Soul.
Such a number of Fourth Rank Puppets is not easily amassed, even in the resource-rich outer seas.
In the outer seas, cultivators with high skill levels are relatively few.
After all, the Human Race in the outer seas is obviously not as safe as under the rule of the Star Palace.
"Array... Activate!"
Xu Ping took a deep breath, suppressing his inner excitement as a vast stream of Divine Thought flooded into the core talisman array of the ten puppets.
Simultaneously, his blood essence surged forth.
Buzz—
The closed "eyes" of the ten puppets lit up instantly.
Ten distinct yet equally violent energy beams shot towards the sky.
The multiple restrictions on the cave ceiling, which could withstand a full-force strike from a Mid-Stage Nascent Soul, were easily torn and pierced through in an instant by the outburst of these ten energies.
Rumble!
An indescribable aura of horrifying slaughter, mixed with the overwhelming pressure of ten "Nascent Souls," erupted like an invisible world-ending tsunami, centering from the underground secret cave, engulfing the entire Blood Bone Island.
The sky darkened instantly as the fierce wind howled.
The ever-present Blood Bone mist was forcibly dispelled and obliterated by this pressure.
Duan Shuang, who was comprehending the Dao resonance of annihilation in the cave, suddenly opened her eyes, her exquisite face revealing astonishment for the first time!
"This... This is... Late-Stage Nascent Soul?!" Her mind was shaken, almost unable to resist breaking through the barrier!
However, this earth-shattering aura lasted for less than a single breath!
Within the cave, Xu Ping’s expression was extraordinarily grave.
Controlling a formation of ten Fourth Rank puppets, the burst of power exceeded his expectations, reaching the precipice of Late-Stage Nascent Soul.
But the consumption... was equally terrifying.
His mana, blood essence, and Divine Sense were nearly 70% drained in an instant; if not for his exceptionally solid foundation, he would have been unable to sustain it.
"Retract!"
Xu Ping forcibly severed the formation connection.
The towering beams of light vanished instantly.
The eyes of the ten puppets dimmed, returning to cold metal constructs, standing quietly.
The cataclysmic aura withdrew like the ebbing tide.
"The power... truly astonishing, but the consumption is indeed terrifying."
Xu Ping shook his head with a wry smile, "With my current cultivation, forcibly activating this array might last at most a quarter of an hour."
This could only be used as a trump card; without further breakthroughs in his blood essence and Divine Sense, it was difficult to use this as a conventional method.
Moreover, although this puppet array’s power is impressive, it merely reached the threshold of Late-Stage Nascent Soul.
Compared to a true Late-stage Nascent Soul Great Cultivator, there is still a considerable gap.
However, for a Mid-Stage Nascent Soul cultivator, this array could indeed be considered a dimensional strike.
One blow is enough to severely damage the old devil of Hehuan or even break his Dharma body.
At that moment, a Sound Transmission Talisman entered the underground cave, and Duan Shuang’s voice emerged: "Fellow Daoist Xu, what happened?"
Hearing this, Xu Ping quickly stored away the ten puppets, his figure flashing to the main hall of Blood Bone Hall.
At the moment, the worry had not completely faded from Duan Shuang’s impeccably beautiful face. Seeing Xu Ping emerge from the hall, she hurriedly approached:
"Fellow Daoist Xu, that aura just now...?"
Though she was already Nascent Soul, the pressure was too terrifying, far exceeding her level as a newly formed Nascent Soul.
Xu Ping maintained a calm expression, waving his hand with a gentle smile:
"No worries, I was merely practicing a newly acquired divine technique and inadvertently failed to control it. I apologize for startling Fellow Daoist Duan."
Duan Shuang gazed at Xu Ping intently; seeing no sign of severe injury, a weight lifted from her heart.
The power just now faintly touched the threshold of Late-Stage Nascent Soul; had it been an enemy attack or loss of control, the consequences would be unimaginable.
"As long as Fellow Daoist is safe."
She nodded slightly, a subtle trace of concern in her cool gaze.
Just then, a beam of golden light shot over from the horizon, landing in the form of a Golden Spirit Mouse.
"Fellow Daoist Purple Abyss!" Duan Shuang greeted with a salute.
"Fellow Daoist Duan." The Water Lake Mouse returned the courtesy politely.
This woman had a significant relationship with the master; it was possible she could become the mistress at some point.
The Water Lake Mouse then turned to Xu Ping, its small eyes blinking, hesitating yet full of desire to speak.
Duan Shuang, astute as she was, realized that the Water Lake Mouse had an important report for Xu Ping, and calmly said:
"You two talk, I must return to stabilize the new insights from my secret technique."
With that, she transformed into a cool gray-white Escape Light and drifted away.
Once Duan Shuang’s figure disappeared, the Water Lake Mouse quickly sidled up to Xu Ping, its ingratiating smile almost overflowing: "Master, great news! The Golden Spirit Mouse clan... has agreed."
"Clan Leader Jin Yuxuan agreed to meet with you personally!"
"Oh?"
Xu Ping raised an eyebrow, a glimmer of understanding in his eyes, "Where?"
"On a nameless barren island near the sea boundary of the two clans, scheduled for a month later!"
The Water Lake Mouse quickly replied, "Master’s strategic foresight, as expected, was accurate. The conflict between the Golden Spirit Mouse and the Blood Snake Clan’s serpents is intensifying, both sides have shown true flames, and the casualties are considerable."
