Cultivation Starts from Farming

That day, deep within the underground palace of Blood Bone Hall.

Zi La!

A golden sword light, as bright as the rising sun and as fierce as flowing lava, tore through the air.

Xu Ping, dressed in a dark robe, stood firmly in the center, like a mountain looming by an abyss.

The Canghua Divine Wood Sword in his hand had completely transformed into a stream of golden flame, leading the surrounding fire-element Spiritual Qi into a furious convergence.

Several hours later.

The golden sword light and the scorching Sword Intent, like rivers merging into the sea, abruptly gathered, wholly entering the Canghua Divine Wood Sword.

The sword body trembled lightly, emitting a satisfying clear sound, its brilliance contained, restoring to an ancient, simple form.

Xu Ping slowly sheathed his sword and stood, the steaming hot aura around him gradually calming, his gaze deep like an ancient well, without sadness or joy.

As usual.

Xu Ping slightly moved his mind, opening the proficiency panel.

[Great Sun Burning Void Swordsmanship (Dacheng): 548/1600]

....

"Twenty years of sword practice, proficiency increased by more than five hundred forty points... the progress is quite decent."

Xu Ping looked at the panel display, a slight curve of satisfaction forming at the corner of his mouth.

At this pace, progressing steadily, in just over fifty years, he would be fully confident in grinding this sword technique to the realm of Perfection.

Then, it would be the time to completely comprehend the supreme Sword Dao of ’Sword Rainbow Splitting Light.’

With the aid of the Sword Array, its power should reach the level of top-tier late-stage Nascent Soul.

However, amidst this expectation, a trace of concern quietly surfaced in his heart.

"The enhancement of Sword Dao realm, the explosive increase in Sword Array power, will inevitably raise the requirements for magic swords carrying the Sword Intent...."

Xu Ping’s gaze rested on the ancient Canghua Divine Wood Sword in his hand, as if seeing those seventy-two magic swords forming the Sword Array.

"The Soul-Breaking Needle is hard to bear all my Power of Divine Sense, there is already precedence."

"Though the Canghua Divine Wood Sword acts as the core of the Sword Array to bear much of the pressure, these being only Cyan Locust Wood Thunder Swords, a half-step Spirit Treasure....."

"By then, can they withstand the terrifying power of the Sword Array driven by a Perfection realm sword technique?"

Xu Ping slightly furrowed his brows.

This is a very practical issue.

The grade of a Magical Treasure directly determines the maximum power a cultivator can unleash.

If the magic swords can’t withstand and collapse, under the backlash from the Sword Array, the consequences would be catastrophic.

"Ha... truly a blissful worry." Xu Ping couldn’t help but smile self-deprecatingly.

Growing his strength too fast, even the treasures are somewhat unable to keep up.

Nonetheless, given his current wealth, wanting to upgrade these magic swords one by one is not impossible.

Whether it’s seeking better materials for re-forging, or engraving more powerful amplification runes, there are paths to follow.

"It’s just... with seventy-two swords in total, wanting to enhance them all to Spirit Treasure level, the rare materials and efforts required are vast... not a feat in a day."

Xu Ping slightly shook his head, pressing this thought to the bottom of his heart temporarily.

This matter requires long-term planning, slowly accumulating resources, rush is not viable.

Xu Ping sheathed his sword, and leisurely walked to the corner of the cave beside the spiraling-eye of the Spiritual Spring, gushing with pure Spiritual Liquid.

Exercising magic, he began his daily unwavering lesson—nurturing those rare Spirit Plants.

The first attended to, naturally, is the Profound Celestial Embryo.

Its leaves growing increasingly verdant, with mysterious Dao patterns flickering on the gourd’s surface, the speed at which it absorbs Spiritual Qi growing ever quicker, as if an extraordinary life is about to take form.

Next was the Heavenly Demon Flower...

Finally...

Xu Ping’s gaze fell on the tallest plant, entirely red like blood, with trunk twisted like a dragon, exuding immense power of blood energy — the Dragon Blood Fruit Tree.

Atop the fruit tree, two fist-sized fruits, shaped like dragon eyes, with a surface covered in dense scale-like patterns, were tending towards maturity.

Emitting an intoxicating fragrance, inside as if lava-like blood energy was flowing and rolling.

"Judging by this sight, they’re about to mature soon."

A touch of eagerness flashed in Xu Ping’s eyes, "Based on the immense flood dragon blood energy contained within these fruits, they should be able to push my physical body’s blood energy to the peak of Fourth Rank Middle Grade."

Although achieving a breakthrough to Fourth Rank Upper Grade Body Refining realm directly with this fruit might not be likely, pushing the current realm to its peak is already a huge leap.

Stronger blood energy means a tougher physique, and... the capital to simultaneously control more and stronger puppets.

By the time the Tier Four Middle-grade Puppet is refined, it can be controlled smoothly too.

....

After carefully nurturing them, feeling the increasingly rich vitality and Spiritual Qi within the cave, Xu Ping, content, turned to leave the underground palace.

Upon arriving at the hall.

He saw Duan Shuang approaching, holding a jade slip emitting faint cloudy air.

"Xu Lang, Fellow Daoist Sikong from Yunxiao Sect has sent a message." Duan Shuang handed over the jade slip.

Xu Ping accepted it, scanning with his Divine Sense, and grasped the contents.

It was Sikong Ziyan inviting him to Yunxiao Sect to discuss the matter of the ’Outer Sea Alliance.’

The time is set for three months later.

The matter of the demonic disaster concerns everyone’s life and death, various forces must sit down to discuss a Chapter.

This alliance meeting is the first significant gathering before the storm.

"Shuang’Er, prepare for departure three days from now to Yunxiao Sect," Xu Ping put away the jade slip.

Duan Shuang nodded, "Mm, with so many Nascent Soul cultivators gathering, perhaps we can also take the opportunity to trade for some needed items."

Her music skill enhancement still requires some auxiliary materials.

Three days later, two inconspicuous blue Escape Lights quietly left Blood Bone Island.

...

Three months later, outside the gate of Yunxiao Sect.

Amidst the mist, fairy peaks stood towering, jade palaces hidden from view, a sight magnificent.

Numerous Escape Lights of varying strength gathered from all directions, clearly all headed to attend this alliance meeting from different sects.