Cultivation Starts from Farming

"I've completed the matchmaking task. The rest is up to Fellow Daoist Zhou and Fellow Daoist Xu to discuss," Gong Yang said with a smile.

Zhou Leqi continued, cupping his hands, and said, "Fellow Daoist Xu, I've heard your alchemy skills are unparalleled. I'd like to ask you to refine a batch of pills."

Upon hearing this, Xu Ping instantly understood that Gong Yang had introduced him to some business.

Having business come to him was naturally something to take on, especially since alchemy wouldn't take much of his time.

"Of course, that's no problem. What kind of pills would you like refined?" Xu Ping asked with a smile.

"Here's the list of pills, please have a look, Fellow Daoist Xu," Zhou Leqi handed Xu Ping a jade slip.

Xu Ping glanced over it with his Divine Sense. There were quite a few types, most of which were related to beast taming.

'It seems this Fellow Daoist Zhou has a Beast Taming Family behind him,' he thought to himself, deducing part of Zhou's background from the pills.

"No problem, I can refine all these pills within a month," Xu Ping nodded in agreement.

This was still a conservative estimate. If he went all out, he could refine them in half a month at most.

Zhou Leqi's eyes flashed with a hint of delight, "Thank you, Fellow Daoist Xu. Here are the materials for alchemy, please check them."

He took out two storage bags filled with materials from his Storage Ring and handed them to Xu Ping.

Xu Ping swept over them with his Divine Sense and found there were extra materials.

This was quite normal, as alchemy also involves loss.

However, for Xu Ping, with his skilled panel, loss was almost non-existent.

With extra materials, he naturally accepted them with a smile.

After the two discussed the specific fees for refining pills, Zhou Leqi bid farewell, "There are matters in my family that need attending, so I won't chat further. Farewell."

"Safe travels, Fellow Daoist Zhou!" Xu Ping personally saw him out of the cave.

...

After sending off Zhou Leqi, Xu Ping returned to the cave, only to see Gong Yang looking at him with a full smile, much like a proud child waiting to be praised for doing a good deed.

Seeing this, he couldn't help but find it amusing, 'This Fellow Daoist Gong really went to great lengths to please me!'

"Thank you, Gong Yang, for introducing this business to me." Xu Pin, though amused, showed no hint on his face, and cupped his hands in thanks.

"Just a small task, just a small task!" Gong Yang's smile grew even brighter.

After a few casual exchanges, Xu Ping inquired about how Gong Yang refined Magical Artifacts without Earth Fire.

"That's simple, using Arrays or raising a spirit beast that breathes Demon Fire works," Gong Yang said with a smile.

"Demon Beast? That's indeed a good idea!" Xu Ping's heart stirred.

"However, to refine Upper-grade Magical Artifacts or even Top-grade Magical Artifacts, the Demon Fire of a First Rank Demon Beast might not suffice," Xu Ping continued to ask.

'Upper-grade Magical Artifacts, Top-grade Magical Artifacts?'

Gong Yang glanced at Xu Ping with curiosity before replying, "Just set up an array to amplify the Demon Fire. Since this array only serves as a magnifier, it doesn't consume many Spirit Stones."

"I see!" Xu Ping suddenly understood, cupped his hands, and thanked, "Thank you, Fellow Daoist Gong, for informing me."

It seems Gong Yang must have employed the same method.

"No problem, it's just some unconventional knowledge," Gong Yang waved his hand.

"Fellow Daoist Xu, the path of Artifact Refining requires steady progress, step by step," Gong Yang said earnestly.

Xu Ping smiled slightly, without explaining further, he asked instead, "I wonder if Fellow Daoist Gong could recommend a place that sells such Demon Beasts?"

"You can purchase them from Fellow Daoist Zhou Leqi's family. His family specializes in selling various Demon Beasts, good quality at affordable prices. I bought my Fire Crow from them," Gong Yang answered.

"What a coincidence, next month when Fellow Daoist Zhou comes, I'll go visit his family," Xu Ping said with a smile.

"Next month may be difficult!"

Gong Yang shook his head and explained, "The time and place of the underground auction are confirmed, it will be held three months later on a deserted island in the Wanzhe Waters."

"However, the island is quite far from our Purple Bamboo Mountain, so we must plan our departure."

Upon hearing this, Xu Ping's eyes brightened, "Then next month isn't plausible. Anyway, there's no rush, I can go after returning."

"I wonder how far in advance we need to depart. If it's very tight, I'll have to negotiate with Fellow Daoist Zhou to postpone the alchemy timeline," Xu Ping asked.

"No need to rush, Fellow Daoist Xu. We can depart about a month in advance," Gong Yang said with a smile.

"Then there's indeed plenty of time, enough for me to complete the alchemy," Xu Ping laughed.

...

...

A month later, at Thousand Leaves Mountain.

"Mission accomplished. The pills Fellow Daoist Zhou entrusted to me have been completely refined!" Xu Ping smiled, handing a storage bag full of pills to Zhou Leqi.

Zhou Leqi accepted the storage bag, scanned it with his Divine Sense, and knew the count, "Thank you for your hard work, Fellow Daoist Xu. Here's your reward."

He cheerfully took out a storage bag containing Spirit Stones from his Storage Ring and handed it to Xu Ping.

Xu Ping accepted it without even checking and directly stored it into his Storage Bag.

"The family matters have been busy lately, so I'll take my leave for now."

Zhou Leqi cupped his hands, ready to leave, but was stopped by Xu Ping, "Please wait, Fellow Daoist Zhou."

"Is there anything else, Fellow Daoist Xu?" Zhou Leqi turned his head in confusion.

"I've heard that Fellow Daoist Zhou's family specializes in selling various Demon Beasts. I wonder if you have any Demon Beasts that can breathe Demon Fire to assist in Artifact Refining?" Xu Ping asked with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Leqi replied cheerfully, "Of course, we have Fire Crows and Fire Soul Wolves that can breathe Demon Fire to assist in Artifact Refining."

"Just listening to my driest explanation won't give you an understanding. How about you follow me to my family, and then you can slowly choose?" Zhou Leqi warmly invited.

"That's precisely my intention, but I won't be able to go for a few months due to an outing. When I return, I'll go to your family for a good selection," Xu Ping cupped his hands.

"Looking forward to your arrival at any time, Fellow Daoist Xu," Zhou Leqi said with a smile.

...

...

Another month went by.

The sky was clear, an endless expanse of blue, resembling a giant sapphire embedded in the horizon.

The sunlight was bright, casting golden rays that illuminated the earth.

At that moment, a Flying Boat carrying two people lifted off from the summit of Maple Leaf Mountain and flew into the distance.

Gong Yang cheerfully piloted the Spiritual Boat at the front, looking relaxed; Xu Ping, in a white robe, serene and peaceful, akin to an ancient tree rooted at the stern of the boat.

The boat proceeded on its course, flying for a month before they reached a deserted island devoid of Spirit Veins.

"Remember to conceal your identity, Fellow Daoist," Gong Yang reminded Xu Ping, then donned a mask to shield his Divine Sense vision and used a Secret Technique to alter his form.

Xu Ping also wore a mask Gong Yang handed him, and used the Thousand Illusion Mask to change his shape.

Once both were disguised, Gong Yang steered the boat deeper into the island.

A quarter of an hour later, they came across the dazzling spiritual light of a large array, resembling stars in the dawn, resplendent and eye-catching.

"A Third-rank Array!!"

Xu Pin felt the power of the array and was greatly astonished.

The array didn't have Spirit Veins as its Array Source; how many Spirit Stones would this consume?

But Gong Yang wasn't fazed, calmly stowing the Flying Boat, "We're here, let's get off."

The two descended before the array.

Standing at the front of the array were two black-clad men, each wearing a grotesque ghostly mask.

Xu Ping glanced at the black-clad men, his eyes narrowing slightly.

These two were the same Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators as he was, and one appeared to be Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment.

"Token!" rumbled the mid-stage black-clad man.

Gong Yang flicked his finger, and a token made of a special metal landed in his hand.

After verifying the token, the mid-stage black-clad man returned it to Gong Yang.

Then, he took out a Spirit Plate to control the array, infused Mana into it, and with the flicker of spiritual light, an array passage appeared before their eyes.

"Enter," the mid-stage black-clad man said coldly.

According to the underground auction rules, the holder of the token could bring one other person along inside, clearly acknowledging Xu Ping and Gong Yang were together, so it was unnecessary to check if Xu Ping had a token as well.

The two exchanged a glance and, without hesitation, passed through the array passage into the interior of the array.