Cultivation Starts from Farming

The primary soul’s movements suddenly stiffened, and a trace of extreme reluctance flashed in its scarlet eyes, but it dared not disobey, only letting out a low, aggrieved whimper.

Xu Ping raised his hand and cast a series of complex gray-white runes, imprinting them onto the struggling remnant body of the Hundred-Eyed Ghost Monarch.

The runes fused in, and the struggles of the Hundred-Eyed Ghost Monarch rapidly weakened, finally transforming into a swirling, sealed azure orb, which flew into Xu Ping’s sleeve.

The reason he didn’t allow the primary soul to immediately consume it was simple:

The souls previously absorbed by the Ghost Monarch had not yet been fully refined. If it now absorbed and refined a Ghost Monarch of this level, the soul would enter a relatively weak digestive state for a short period.

In this perilous Ancient Demon Hall, rendering this trump card temporarily powerless was by no means a wise decision.

Everything needed to wait until returning to Blood Bone Island and making sufficient preparations before refining.

The battle ended, and the cave returned to deathly silence, with only pure Yin Fiend Qi flowing gently.

It was only then that Zhang Shuo awoke as if from a dream, hurriedly flying forward, his face brimming with an even greater awe, or even a fawning smile full of fear:

"Fellow Daoist’s divine techniques are unparalleled, Zhang truly had his eyes opened today, and admires you profoundly."

Xu Ping glanced at him but said little, only asking plainly, "Where is the Taiyin True Water?"

"It’s... at the deepest part of the cave, Senior, please follow me." Zhang Shuo dared not neglect, hastily leading the way.

They passed through the chaotic battlefield.

The deeper they went, the purer the Yin Qi became, no longer carrying violent ghostly energy, but transforming into an extremely pure and cold force.

Quickly, they came upon a small pool, about several yards square.

The pool’s water was not ordinary water, but a viscous, mercury-like liquid shimmering with faint silver light.

Thin strands of the ultimate Yin coldness wafted up from the water, coalescing into various profound rune shapes in the air, before quietly dissipating.

Just approaching it, a sense of exquisite refreshment and coolness emanated from the Nascent Soul, making the Divine Sense even clearer.

"Taiyin True Water, I’ve finally found it!"

Zhang Shuo’s eyes were filled with ecstatic joy and longing.

Yet he dared not make a single move, only gazing eagerly at Xu Ping.

A slight smile appeared at the corner of Xu Ping’s mouth.

This item, although precious, was of little use to him, so it could be given to Duan Shuang.

Xu Ping kept his promise and, with a swipe of his finger, his Mana cut like a blade, precisely dividing the pool of Taiyin True Water into three parts, which were drawn into three Jade Bottles prepared in advance.

One of the bottles flew toward Zhang Shuo.

"This is what you deserve."

Zhang Shuo caught the Jade Bottle, feeling the incredibly pure Power of Taiyin within, and was overwhelmed with excitement, saying repeatedly:

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist, for your generous gift."

The hope of reaching Mid-Stage Nascent Soul was in this bottle.

He had bet correctly.

Looking at him, Xu Ping suddenly spoke, his tone calm yet tinged with deep meaning:

"Fellow Daoist Zhang, being so familiar with this place, do you perhaps know if there are other similarly... hidden treasure troves in this Ancient Demon Hall?"

"If you know, perhaps we could cooperate once more."

Hearing this, Zhang Shuo’s face showed a wry smile, and he waved his hands repeatedly: "Senior, you must be joking."

"It was sheer luck, thanks to the legacy of my sect elders, that I was able to know of this place."

"The Ancient Demon Hall is extremely perilous, and I, as an Early-stage Nascent Soul Cultivator, find myself already content with such fortune, not daring to covet anything more."

"I only seek a safe place to wait for the Ancient Demon Hall to close."

Xu Ping’s gaze lingered on his face for a moment, asking no more: "In that case, take me out of this place."

"Of course."

Zhang Shuo nodded in agreement and once again activated the Netherworld Compass to guide the way.

Half an hour later.

The two figures reappeared at the outskirts of Ghost Spring Valley.

"Fellow Daoist, until we meet again."

Xu Ping said lightly, transforming into an inconspicuous cyan Escape Light, disappearing instantly into the sky, heading deeper into the Ancient Demon Hall.

Zhang Shuo might still hold secrets, but too many spoils could spoil the broth; now was not the time to delve deeper.

For him, seeking the Moon Shadow Stone and hunting the ancient demon for Nirvana Blood was the top priority.

Only after Xu Ping’s figure had completely vanished did the excitement and sycophancy on Zhang Shuo’s face slowly fade, replaced by extreme calm, though a complex, unfathomable light flickered in the depths of his eyes.

He stood in place, contemplating for a moment, then piloted his Escape Light in a different direction.

Half a month later.

Zhang Shuo concealed himself, sneakily returning to Ghost Spring Valley.

He cautiously scouted around for a long time, confirming that no one was watching before he used the Netherworld Compass, stealthily moving once more toward the fog-laden depths of Ghost Spring Valley.

Moreover, his movements were even more careful and cautious than before, as if terrified of disturbing something...

...

In another ruin of the Ancient Demon Hall.

"Ah, no——!"

"Master Ancestor, save me!"

"Run, it’s that demonic ape, it’s back!"

The desperate, shrill screams rose and fell but abruptly ceased!

Blood stained the broken white marble tiles, and severed limbs were scattered everywhere.

The terrifying ancient demon, with three heads and six arms, overflowing with Demonic Qi, was wantonly slaughtering a team of unlucky cultivators.

The three Early-Stage Nascent Soul cultivators leading them desperately resisted, but their Magical Treasures and Divine Techniques left not even a trace on its demonic body.

On the contrary, the ancient demon’s casual punches and palms brought terrifying, space-shattering power that smashed them and their Protective Magical Treasures into pulp.

It moved like a tiger among sheep, its six arms waving, grabbing those terrified, fleeing Golden Core cultivators, popping them into its mouth like beans, chewing a few times before swallowing, not even allowing their Nascent Souls to escape.

In just a few short moments, this exploration team, made up of three Nascent Souls and seven or eight Golden Cores, was entirely annihilated, becoming the blood feast of this ancient demon.

"Burp..."

The demon ape belched, its six scarlet eyes showing satisfaction and remaining hunger.

Its massive tongue licked the blood from the corner of its mouth, its nostrils flaring as if sensing the direction of its next prey.

Then it let out a low roar, taking massive strides that made the ground rumble, heading toward a direction where the Spiritual Qi vibrations were relatively strong.

Wherever it passed, demonic flames roared, and all things withered.

...