Cultivation Starts from Farming

He determined the direction, then quickly set up the Flying Boat and flew off into the distance.

However, just as the Flying Boat departed the desolate island, an overwhelming Divine Sense swept over Xu Ping and Gong Yang.

In an instant, a chill surged from the soles of their feet to the back of their heads, raising goosebumps all over their bodies.

Under the scrutiny of this Divine Sense, they felt that their disguises were utterly useless, as if they were stark naked in front of it.

"Gol...Golden Core Cultivator!" Gong Yang's face involuntarily showed a trace of terror.

Xu Ping couldn't help but feel a thread of tension in his heart, fearing that the Golden Core Cultivator might detect something unusual.

Fortunately, the Divine Sense only swept past them without lingering on either of them.

On the Flying Boat, Xu Ping and Gong Yang both breathed a sigh of relief at once.

Xu Ping was fearful of the Golden Core Cultivator detecting anomalies, while Gong Yang was afraid the Golden Core Cultivator, failing to find the Geng Metal, might vent their anger on the two.

"Quick, let's go, let's go!"

Gong Yang poured all his mana into the Flying Boat, hastily maneuvering it to flee.

Whoosh!

The Flying Boat transformed into a ray of spiritual light, disappearing into the horizon at incredible speed.

After flying for a full day and night, reaching a safe distance, they completely relaxed.

At such a far distance, even a Golden Core Cultivator would undoubtedly find it near impossible to track them again.

"That auction really was dangerous!"

Gong Yang wiped the cold sweat off his forehead, still with lingering fear, "If unnecessary, one should attend these underground auctions sparingly."

Though he had attended several auctions before, it was his first time encountering such peril; if the Golden Core Cultivator vented their anger on them, it would truly be an unexpected calamity.

"Indeed." Xu Ping nodded in agreement.

The items auctioned in these underground auctions, though of better quality than those in ordinary auctions, posed a higher danger level.

Fake Pills and Golden Core Cultivators, rare on usual days, were more than one at the underground auction, and with his current strength, self-preservation might be somewhat borderline.

"Does Fellow Daoist Xu have any further plans, or will you return to Purple Bamboo Mountain with me?" Gong Yang asked, slowing the speed of the Flying Boat.

"I have some matters to attend to, so I won't be traveling with you." Xu Ping shook his head in refusal; he still needed to deliver the jade box to Celestial Desolate Island, and he would certainly go alone.

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Gong, for accompanying me to this underground auction; I shall invite you for a drink once I return." Xu Ping cupped his fists in thanks, smiling.

"Certainly, I've long been eagerly awaiting Fellow Daoist Xu's Spirit Wine!" Gong Yang displayed a brilliant smile on his face.

His purpose in accompanying Xu Ping to the underground auction was to draw their relationship closer; it seemed like the relationship had progressed rather well.

After saying farewell to Gong Yang, Xu Ping set up his Escape Light and disappeared into the horizon.

Gong Yang casually maneuvered the Spiritual Boat towards Purple Bamboo Mountain.

...

...

A month later.

Wanzhe Waters, Celestial Desolate Island.

In a luxurious building, an elderly man with youthful features stood with a grim face by the window.

"Miscalculated, I didn't expect an Early-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivator to have the ability to conceal the induction of a third-tier Restriction; could someone have helped him, an Array Master?"

He had intended to track down the opponent once he safely left the underground auction, but unexpectedly, they had been concealed.

Thinking about the hefty price he had paid, fearing that it might all be in vain, his face grew increasingly darker, filled with regret; he pondered he should have chosen someone else.

At this moment.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

"Island Master!"

Eager knocking sounded from outside the door.

"Enter!"

The elderly man swept his Divine Sense to identify the visitor, swung his sleeve, and the door opened automatically.

At this moment, a pot-bellied middle-aged man hurriedly stepped inside, respectfully taking out a wooden box engraved with a Divine Sense imprint from his storage bag, and handed it to the elderly man:

"Island Master, a Foundation Establishment senior asked me to deliver this wooden box to you."

"Wooden box?"

"Did he say anything?" the elder's face moved slightly as he spread out his hand, causing the wooden box to float slowly into his grasp.

"The Foundation Establishment senior only mentioned one thing, an underground auction!" the pot-bellied middle-aged man replied respectfully.

"Underground auction!?"

Rumble!

The elderly man widened his eyes, aura erupting instantly, as a formidable spiritual pressure swept through the entire room.

"Isla...Island Master!" the middle-aged man said tremulously, his face pale and legs quivering under the elder's spiritual pressure.

The elderly man realized he was somewhat losing composure, promptly suppressed his excitement, restrained his aura, and hurriedly asked, "Did he say anything else?"

"No...nothing else, the Foundation Establishment senior only mentioned those words." The middle-aged man stuttered slightly even as he spoke.

"Understood, you may leave now." The elder spoke with a composed face.

"Yes, Island Master!" The middle-aged man courteously bowed and quickly exited the room, closing the door behind him.

"Unexpectedly, there's still room for a turnaround in this matter!" the elder murmured to himself, a hint of excitement flashing through his eyes.

His Divine Sense moved, easily erasing the Divine Sense imprint on the wooden box, which then opened automatically, revealing a verdant Spirit Talisman inside.

"This is... the Yin-Yang Induction Talisman?" The elder recognized the Spirit Talisman in the jade box at once.

"Do you want me to come find you? Then I'll grant your wish."

....

On an unnamed desolate island.

The moment the elderly man erased the Divine Sense imprint from the jade box, Xu Ping, previously sitting cross-legged with closed eyes on a branch, suddenly opened his eyes, a gleam flashing through them.

"The Divine Sense imprint has been erased; Old Celestial Desolate should be arriving soon!" he muttered to himself.

Xu Ping had arrived near Celestial Desolate Island a few days earlier but hadn't acted rashly; instead, he began investigating information about the Island Master of Celestial Desolate Island.

He learned from others that the owner of Celestial Desolate Island was known as Old Celestial Desolate, a Late-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, with quite the reputation in the entire Wanzhe Waters.

However, in Xu Ping's view, a Late-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivator was of no significant concern.

Especially after his Primordial Sword Skill breakthrough, a Late-Stage Foundation Establishment was no match for him at all.

Yet, to be on the safe side, Xu Ping opted to arrange a meeting, which undoubtedly offered more security.

...

Another half-hour passed.

"He's here!"

Xu Ping sensed something, looking up sharply to see an Escape Light rapidly approaching the desolate island.

He leaped down from the branch, arriving at a flat area.

A moment later.

The Escape Light landed not far from Xu Ping, and as the spiritual light dispersed, an elder with youthful features revealed his form.

"Are you Old Celestial Desolate?" Xu Ping inquired, cupping his hands.

"Indeed, I'm Old Celestial Desolate. My friend tasked you to bring something to me, is it with you?" Old Celestial Desolate replied with a salute, then asked eagerly.

"Do you have the item I seek?" Xu Ping didn't answer directly but instead asked with an expressionless face.

"I have it here!" Old Celestial Desolate flicked his fingers, sending a jade slip skimming through the air, precisely landing in Xu Ping's hand.

Xu Ping grasped the jade slip, swept it with his Divine Sense, and a complete 'Soul-Searching Technique' appeared in his mind.

"The 'Soul-Searching Technique' is genuine!" Xu Ping nodded in confirmation.

"Then the item I'm looking for, is it with you?" Old Celestial Desolate's voice carried a hint of urgency.

Xu Ping didn't speak but flipped his right hand, revealing a dull gray jade box in his palm, followed by a tap with his left index finger.

Crack! Crack!

With a series of crisp breaking sounds, a jade box brimming with spiritual light and covered with Restrictions appeared.

"Yes, this jade box is mine, give it to me!" Old Celestial Desolate, unable to control his excitement and wearing a ferocious expression, demanded as the jade box appeared intact.

Seeing Old Celestial Desolate's excitement, Xu Ping furrowed his brow but nonetheless returned the jade box to him.

Old Celestial Desolate meticulously inspected the jade box upon retrieval and found that the Restrictions were intact, with no signs of being opened, he exhaled a breath of relief.

Likely, if the jade box had been opened and its contents discovered by the opponent, they wouldn't have bothered coming back to return it to him.