Cultivation Starts from Farming

Xu Ping paused his actions, slowly turned around, and his gaze, sharp as lightning, landed on the red-haired Nascent Soul in the stone crevice, who had not yet recovered from the shock. He raised an eyebrow slightly:

"Hmm?"

This person had nearly become a ghost’s meal just moments earlier and was still stunned. Why didn’t he think of fleeing a thousand miles away immediately, but instead called out to stop him?

This is... quite interesting.

The red-haired Nascent Soul felt a chill sweep through his Divine Soul under Xu Ping’s indifferent gaze, and the fear he had just suppressed surged back to his heart.

He swallowed hard, pressing down the heart that was almost leaping out of his chest, forcing a sycophantic smile even uglier than a cry, and cupped his hands in salute from a distance:

"I... I am Zhang Shuo, the Isle Master of Red Sun. Many thanks to Daoist friend for your lifesaving grace earlier!"

"The Daoist friend has unmatched Divine Techniques, limitless Mana, dispelling the horde of ghosts with a flick of the finger, and even subduing that fierce master soul with ease. Zhang is in utmost admiration!"

Zhang Shuo exhausted his ability to flatter, trying to steady this unfathomable "old demon."

Xu Ping watched his performance with interest but remained silent, though his gaze seemed to pierce through the human heart.

Zhang Shuo, feeling his scalp go numb under the gaze, began to sweat coldly again and dared not go in circles any longer. He hurriedly got to the point:

"Daoist friend... Zhang rudely stopped you because there is a great opportunity I wish to inform you of!"

"Oh, an opportunity?"

Xu Ping’s lips curled into a faint, ambiguous smile, "Speak."

Zhang Shuo took a deep breath, forcibly calming himself down, and lowered his voice:

"This junior observed that the master soul of the Daoist friend, with its unparalleled Divine Techniques and fierce power, has already reached the threshold of the Late-Stage Nascent Soul...

One or two more Tier Four Middle-grade Ghost Monarchs might allow you to step into the Late-Stage Nascent Soul level."

He paused, observing Xu Ping’s expression. Seeing no impatience, he continued:

"And I, Zhang... happen to know that in the deepest part of this Ghost Spring Valley, in an extremely yin and cold place, there lies a... peak Tier Four Middle Grade."

"Even... half a step into the Upper Grade level Ghost Monarch!"

"This beast is the true overlord of the Ghost Spring Valley, usually hidden deep, devouring the yin channels of this place to cultivate, with strength far surpassing those Ghost Monarchs earlier."

Upon hearing this, Xu Ping finally showed a trace of genuine interest in his eyes.

Peak of Tier Four Middle Grade, even half a step into the Upper Grade Ghost Monarch?

If true, its vast Soul Power could indeed likely allow the main soul of the Ten Thousand Souls Banner to complete its final metamorphosis.

But this Zhang Shuo, whom I met by chance and who was nearly killed by my ghost earlier, why so kind-hearted now?

"Why do you wish to inform me of this matter?"

Xu Ping’s voice was calm, yet it carried an invisible pressure, "Surely it’s not... out of altruism?"

Before the words finished speaking, an overwhelming, terror-inducing Divine Sense, far beyond the Mid-Stage Nascent Soul, "pressed" gently upon Zhang Shuo’s Divine Soul.

"Late-Stage Nascent Soul Divine Sense?!!"

Zhang Shuo was terrified to his core, his face turning deathly pale in an instant.

He initially guessed the other was a peak Mid-Stage Nascent Soul Demon Cultivator, but unexpectedly, their Divine Sense had already reached the true Late-Stage Nascent Soul realm.

Could it be some Late-Stage Nascent Soul expert suppressing their cultivation to infiltrate the Ancient Demon Hall?

But the rules of the Ancient Demon Hall....

"Daoist friend doesn’t know!"

Zhang Shuo suppressed the chaotic thoughts in his heart and spoke urgently, "Zhang has no ill intentions. The reason for sharing this matter is actually out of personal gain!"

Under the pressure of Xu Ping’s terrifying Divine Sense comparable to the Late-Stage Nascent Soul, he dared not conceal anything and spilled everything like pouring beans from a bamboo tube:

"I dare not deceive the senior! The lair of that peak Tier Four Middle-grade Ghost Monarch is accompanied by a small pool of... Lunar True Water!"

"Lunar True Water?"

A gleam of light flashed in Xu Ping’s eyes.

He naturally understood this, being an innate Spiritual Object nurtured over millennia in extremely yin places, extremely yin and cold, yet able to nourish the Nascent Soul, with incredible effects for Early-Stage Nascent Soul cultivators in breaking through bottlenecks.

In the outside world, it is enough to incite any Early-Stage Nascent Soul cultivator to fight for!

"Absolutely true!"

Seeing Xu Ping seemingly interested, Zhang Shuo hastily swore, "This was personally stated by a previous Mid-Stage Nascent Soul Island Master of Red Sun Isle before his passing."

"Several hundred years ago, he explored the Ancient Demon Hall, stumbled into that forbidden land, and witnessed the pool of Lunar True Water with his own eyes, but was also discovered by that Ghost Monarch. He barely escaped with his life, severely injured, and soon passed away...."

His face showed a mix of terror and greed, "This junior has been stuck at Early-Stage Nascent Soul for a long time. If I can get Lunar True Water’s assistance... I would have a great chance to break through to Mid-Stage!"

"Unfortunately, that Ghost Monarch is too terrifying in power. Even two or three Mid-Stage Nascent Soul giants might find it difficult to succeed..."

"I saw the Daoist friend’s astonishing Divine Techniques earlier, so I wish to borrow your power to slay the Ghost Monarch!

"If successful, Zhang only asks for some Lunar True Water."

Zhang Shuo gazed at Xu Ping expectantly, his heart in his throat.

This was the only method he could think of to obtain Lunar True Water and keep his life intact.

Making a deal with a tiger was extremely dangerous, but the allure of breaking through to Mid-Stage was simply too great.

Xu Ping was silent for a moment, his gaze deep as he looked at Zhang Shuo.

Lunar True Water wasn’t of much use to him personally.

But... it would be greatly beneficial for Duan Shuang’s future breakthrough to Mid-Stage.

Additionally, that half a step into Upper Grade Ghost Monarch is indeed what he needs.

"Okay." Xu Ping tersely uttered a single word.

Hearing this, Zhang Shuo was overjoyed:

"Thank you, Daoist friend. Then Zhang will lead the way immediately. That place is extremely hidden, and naturally guarded by an Illusion Array...."

"Lead the way." Xu Ping interrupted, concise and to the point.

Zhang Shuo didn’t dare delay, suppressing the wild joy and residual fear in his heart, transforming into a streak of red Escape Light, cautiously flying deeper into Ghost Spring Valley, where the Yin Fiend energy was almost as thick as ink.

Xu Ping restrained his aura, following like a specter, neither fast nor slow.

Their figures quickly disappeared into the dense gray fog deep in the valley.

...