Cultivation Starts from Farming

"Elder... elder, what has happened?" the cultivator in blue asked, trembling.

Compared to Xu Ping, he had been directly expelled by the 'Spirit Wood Pavilion,' feeling extreme fear inside.

"It's none of your business. This is your pay for today; you may go." Xu Ping said indifferently, flicking his fingers as over twenty Spirit Stones fell directly into the blue-clad cultivator's arms.

"Thank you, elder. I bid you farewell!" The cultivator in blue held the Spirit Stones joyfully, unable to help but sigh inwardly, 'Foundation Establishment Cultivators are indeed generous; the reward for just leading the way is enough for a whole month's earnings.'

...

After the blue-clad cultivator left, Xu Ping quickly disappeared into the crowd.

However, he kept pondering how to acquire the cultivation method and secret techniques of the Song family.

"Perhaps I can use the Thousand Illusion Mask to infiltrate the Song family and plot to obtain their cultivation methods and secret techniques?" Xu Ping immediately thought of using the Thousand Illusion Mask.

But after careful consideration, he shook his head.

"I'm afraid not!"

"Important figures in the Song family likely have soul tokens. If they die, the tokens will break. Should I infiltrate then, it would be like delivering myself into their hands."

"And becoming an unimportant figure in the Song family certainly wouldn't let me access the core cultivation methods and secret techniques."

Xu Ping pondered for a long time.

He felt that there was only one somewhat reliable way, which was to learn a Soul-Searching Secret Technique, directly capture important figures from the Song family, and then perform a soul search.

If one doesn't work, then two will. After all, with his current strength, apart from having some trouble with the Song family's Fake Pill patriarch and the Foundation Establishment Perfection cultivators, he hardly regarded other mid-to-late Foundation Establishment cultivators.

"Since Song Li knows about the cultivation methods and secret techniques, then I'll make him the first target."

"However, before that, I still need to learn the Soul-Searching Secret Technique."

"But this kind of technique, leaning towards demonic ways and involving Divine Sense, is hard to find!" Xu Ping felt somewhat helpless.

Even at the large auction in Qiu Xuan Immortal City previously, he hadn't seen it for auction, and he didn't know if Wanzhe Waters had it.

"Perhaps I could go back and ask Duan Shuang and Gong Yang; they might know something." Xu Ping thought to himself.

Now that almost everything had been purchased, it was time to leave.

With Song Li stationed at the Spirit Wood Pavilion on Dragon Lion Island, he likely wouldn't leave for a while. Even if he did leave, it didn't matter. Given Xu Ping's strength and ability to hide, capturing one or two Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Song family posed no problem.

...

...

Half a month later.

Xu Ping piloted the Flying Boat back to Thousand Leaves Mountain.

After resting for a day, he first visited Duan Shuang on Flower Butterfly Mountain.

"Soul-Searching Secret Technique? I don't know about that." Duan Shuang shook her head.

Upon hearing this, Xu Ping couldn't help but feel a tinge of disappointment, bowing as he said, "Then I shall ask Fellow Daoist Gong."

"Fellow Daoist Xu, hold on." Duan Shuang called after Xu Ping.

"Does Fellow Daoist Duan have something else in mind?" Xu Ping turned back, puzzled.

Duan Shuang smiled charmingly, "I've recently discovered a secret realm. I'm wondering if Fellow Daoist Xu would be interested in exploring it with me?"

"A secret realm?"

Xu Ping's expression turned strange, not helping but recall their first meeting when Duan Shuang had been trapped in ruins.

If not for him, she might have been trapped indefinitely.

It seems this Fellow Daoist Duan really enjoys exploring secret realms!

"I have many things to attend to recently, so I won't accompany Fellow Daoist Duan this time. I wish you a fruitful adventure," Xu Ping shook his head, refusing.

For him, exploring unknown secret realms posed more risks than benefits, and there was no need to take such risks.

Besides, he truly had many tasks at hand.

Exchanging a farewell, Xu Ping then conjured Escape Light to reach Little Hui Mountain.

In a pavilion on Little Hui Mountain.

Gong Yang warmly greeted Xu Ping, "What brings Fellow Daoist Xu to this old man?"

Their previous encounter had left their relationship somewhat awkward, and Gong Yang naturally wanted to mend it.

"Pardon the intrusion; I've come to ask if Fellow Daoist Gong knows where Soul-Searching Techniques are sold," Xu Ping inquired, cupping his hands.

"Soul-Searching Technique?"

Gong Yang furrowed his brow, contemplating for a moment before shaking his head, "I have not heard of anywhere selling Soul-Searching Techniques."

"So Fellow Daoist Gong doesn't know either?"

Just when Xu Ping thought he would leave disappointed again, he heard Gong Yang suddenly say, "But, this old man could take Fellow Daoist Xu to an underground auction to try your luck."

"Underground auction?" Xu Ping showed a puzzled expression.

What's this auction he had never heard of before?

Seeing the confusion on Xu Ping's face, Gong Yang explained, "It's an auction organized by a group of mysterious cultivators, locations are never fixed, and notices are temporary. The items sold are mostly things that shouldn't see the light of day, but the items are all top-notch."

"After the auction, if you haven't found anything satisfying, you can still go on stage to seek trades."

"But it's incredibly secretive with high entry barriers, so very few people know about it."

Listening to Gong Yang's explanation, Xu Ping's eyes flickered. This underground auction sounded intriguing, allowing participants to go on stage and seek trades.

However, those daring to go on stage might become targets, and if their strength was weak, their lives could be in danger.

"Do Fake Pill or Golden Core cultivators participate in such auctions?" Xu Ping asked.

"It's just a small auction held every two years, unlikely to attract Golden Cores. However, as for Fake Pill cultivators, it's possible, just with a very low probability." Gong Yang thought for a moment before responding.

Upon hearing this, Xu Ping immediately felt relieved.

As long as there were no Golden Core cultivators, he had nothing to fear even if a Fake Pill cultivator attended.