Cultivation Starts from Farming

Moreover, the 'Soul-Searching Technique' he sought was not something of immeasurable value; for Fake Pill cultivators, it was not particularly attractive, let alone for Golden Core cultivators.

"I wonder when the next underground auction will be?" Xu Ping asked again.

"The last one was a year ago, so it should be about a year from now," Gong Yang said with a smile, stroking his beard. "But the exact time is still unknown; they usually notify us three months in advance."

"Then, Fellow Daoist Gong, please notify me before the next underground auction begins," Xu Ping cupped his hands.

"It's a small favor." Gong Yang smiled.

The two chatted for a while, and it wasn't until dusk began to fall that Xu Ping left.

...

...

Night descended, like heavy silk covering the earth.

Thousand Leaves Mountain.

Xu Ping sat in the courtyard, his mind pondering the plan ahead.

"With a year until the next underground auction, I could use this time to set up a protective array for the mountain, renovate and decorate the cave dwelling, and plant spirit valley, medicinal herb seeds, and spirit wood saplings, which would be good practice."

"However, these are not difficult tasks; the focus should be on the 'Thousand Threads Puppet Transformation Skill.'" Xu Ping flipped his hand, and a jade pendant appeared in his palm.

He was quite interested in this Puppet Control Skill; if he could master it and combine it with a dozen second-stage upper-grade puppets, even a Fake Pill cultivator might be a match.

Xu Ping's divine sense penetrated the jade slip, gradually grasping its profound concepts.

Pale green spiritual light floated one after another in his divine sense, and he became absorbed in comprehending these mantras, his body motionless.

In this way, an hour quietly passed.

At this moment, Xu Ping suddenly opened his eyes, a deep meaning flashing in them: "Divine Sense into Threads, huh?"

This secret technique emphasizes drawing a small amount of divine sense to create a thread of divine sense imprint, planting it on the puppet, allowing full control of the puppet with one's mind.

Although there is no limit to the number of divine sense imprints, one can plant as many as one wishes; nonetheless, a cultivator's divine sense is ultimately limited.

If too many divine sense imprints are planted, it will severely affect oneself, so generally, a cultivator can control at most five or six puppets simultaneously.

Moreover, one can also retrieve the divine sense planted on the puppets at any time without harming oneself.

This divine sense secret technique is immensely valuable, at least not inferior to his 'Shocking God Needle,' for puppets controlled by divine sense have much greater combat capability than those not controlled by divine sense.

The 'Thousand Threads Puppet Transformation Skill' has three levels.

Upon mastering the first level, one can control puppets with a cultivation lower than one's own.

Upon mastering the second level, one can control puppets with the same cultivation as one's own.

Upon mastering the third level, one can control puppets one tier higher than one's own cultivation.

"It seems reaching the third level will significantly enhance my strength," Xu Ping thought to himself.

Controlling a second-stage middle-grade puppet holds little significance for him; controlling a second-stage upper-grade puppet would truly be beneficial to him.

"But before that, I still need to acquire a second-stage puppet skill inheritance set to start manufacturing puppets."

A second-stage puppet holds immense value; if he intended to buy a dozen at once, even going bankrupt wouldn't suffice.

It's far more economical to forge them himself.

"There's so much to do ahead; I haven't even gotten started on the artifact refining technique, and now I need to purchase second-stage puppet techniques to start manufacturing puppets," Xu Ping couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

However, he did not feel rushed; with a proficiency panel available, he wasn't afraid of not mastering it.

...

The following period was exceedingly busy for Xu Ping.

By day, he set up protective arrays for the mountain, renovated and decorated the cave dwelling, and planted spirit valley, medicinal herb seeds, and spirit wood saplings.

By night, he practiced the 'Thousand Threads Puppet Transformation Skill' and cultivated.

Besides, he also had to find time to practice swordsmanship and research artifact refining.

Although life was busy, Xu Ping had already grown accustomed to it and instead found it fulfilling.

In this way, time flowed like water, and two months quietly slipped by.

This day, the sun was blazing in the sky.

Xu Ping stood before a medicine field, performing the Spirit Rain Skill, massive clouds completely shrouding this area of spirit fields. Soon, a drizzle of spirit rain fell, causing the spirit herbs in the fields to grow even more lush and full.

Having finished performing the Spirit Rain Skill, Xu Ping looked up and instantly felt refreshed.

From the outskirts of the mountain top to the halfway point, large swathes of verdant green were shining; that was the spirit valley thriving robustly.

From the outside to the inside, spirit wood saplings were encircling the outer ring of the mountain top.

At the center of the spirit fields, various spirit flowers and exotic grasses bloomed splendidly in a riot of color.

At the entrance of the cave dwelling, a self-dug half-acre pond was covered in brilliant lotus flowers, resembling a sea of pink.

"Now, this looks like a spiritual land!"

Xu Ping smiled with satisfaction; he was very pleased with the results of his two months of busy work.

Moreover, not only has the environment of Thousand Leaves Mountain become more pleasant and visually appealing, but its security has also greatly improved.

The array originally set up in Thousand Leaves Mountain was only a second-stage middle-grade array. After his days of labor and modification, this array has now been upgraded to the second-stage upper-grade level.

Yet Xu Ping felt it still wasn't safe enough, so he set up another second-stage upper-grade array.

Under his design and adjustments, the two arrays complemented each other, greatly augmenting their power, even touching a hint of third-rank power.

With these two arrays guarding it, even a Fake Pill cultivator could not break through.

"It's a pity that with my current array skills, I still can't set up a third-rank array; otherwise, it would truly be impregnable," Xu Ping regrettably shook his head.

The main issue is that a third-rank array is too difficult, completely in a different league from the second stage.

Even with the help of the skilled interface, Xu Ping is still at a loss.

However, he wasn't too worried, after all, there aren't many Golden Core cultivators in the entire Yue Country, and without any plausible reason, a Golden Core cultivator wouldn't suddenly attack his Thousand Leaves Mountain.

...

...

After arranging the cave dwelling on the mountain, Xu Ping invited Duan Shuang and Gong Yang over.

With the notarization of the cultivators from the Shuize Sect.

The three of them re-signed a spirit contract for shared rental.

This time the spirit contract officially took effect, and for the next decade, this Thousand Leaves Mountain would completely belong to him.

After signing the spirit contract.

Lu Chang'an held a banquet in the cave dwelling, entertaining Duan Shuang and Gong Yang.

Gong Yang stayed briefly before returning to Xiao Hui Mountain, as he had taken up a major deal recently and was busy day and night.

Xu Ping knew about this, so he did not ask him to stay.

Therefore, only Xu Ping and Duan Shuang were left on Thousand Leaves Mountain.

"Fellow Daoist Duan, try the Hundred Flowers Brew I have crafted," Xu Ping poured Duan Shuang a cup of his modified Hundred Flowers Brew.

"Fellow Daoist Xu, you know how to brew wine?" Duan Shuang showed a surprised expression, then immediately picked up the cup to taste.

The flavor was very peculiar, with the fragrance of various spirit flowers bursting along with the taste of the wine on the tip of the tongue.

Duan Shuang's eyes brightened, and she couldn't help but exclaim, "Excellent wine!"

"As long as the fellow daoist enjoys it!" Xu Ping smiled slightly and poured Duan Shuang another cup.

The two drank and chatted.

Xu Ping couldn't help but ask why she was so fond of exploring secret realms.

"Ah, I just want to control my own destiny!" Duan Shuang sighed softly, "I possess a Pure Yin Body, and once a male cultivator seizes the Primordial Yin from me..."

Saying this, she looked at the young man in white, warm as jade, with sharpness hidden in his brows.

She seemed to realize the inappropriateness of her words since Xu Ping was also a male cultivator.

A faint blush surfaced on her delicate face.

At this moment, Xu Ping couldn't help but show an awkward expression.

...

...

After seeing off Duan Shuang, Xu Ping found it difficult to calm his thoughts.

"Controlling one's destiny, how difficult is that!" He sighed softly.

It's not just for Foundation Establishment cultivators like them, even Golden Core cultivators might not dare claim to fully control their destiny.

Perhaps only the lofty Nascent Soul cultivators have the confidence to make such a claim.

For some reason, a desire to practice his sword suddenly welled up in his heart.

Xu Ping turned his palm, and the Purple Sun Sword appeared in his hand.

He held the sword single-handedly, the sword momentum like a rainbow, thrusting straight out, the sword light cutting through the air, the Primordial Sword Skill fluently executed.

The sword momentum spread around him, the air filled with a kind of Sword Intent, as if even time had come to a halt.

In this instant, Xu Ping's body seemed to merge with heaven and earth, countless insights surfacing in his heart.

He closed his eyes, feeling the changes of the sword momentum, mentally reciting each detail, gradually comprehending the essence of swordsmanship.

The sword momentum in his hand kept changing, each change carrying different forces, reaching for the sky.

Xu Ping was completely immersed, his sword momentum growing stronger as though it was about to envelop the entire Thousand Leaves Mountain with this Sword Intent.

"Break!" he shouted in a low voice, the sword light suddenly flashed, seemingly tearing through the void, with formless Sword Qi thrusting straight at the mountain rock ahead.

Rumble!

The mountain rock was instantly pulverized into powder, scattering in the air, and even the arrays guarding the entire Thousand Leaves Mountain began to flicker ceaselessly.

"Primordial Sword Skill... has reached perfection!"