Cultivation Starts from Farming

"Benefactor!"

The middle-aged cultivator raised his voice a pitch higher, quickly walked over to Xu Ping, and upon seeing the face clearly, he exclaimed with excitement, "It really is you, benefactor!"

"Fellow Daoist, you're too kind. It was just a minor effort." Xu Ping said with a smile.

"Your effort truly saved my daughter's life and mine. Ling'Er, take out Daddy's Spirit Tea, please come in, Daoist." The middle-aged cultivator pulled Xu Ping inside.

Unable to refuse such hospitality, Xu Ping followed him into the house.

Sitting across from each other at the square table, his daughter served Spirit Tea to both of them.

Xu Ping took the teacup, had a sip, and felt a fragrant aroma fill the air; it was surprisingly delicious.

So he drank up all the tea in his cup in one go.

Seeing Xu Ping devour his Spirit Tea like a cow chewing peonies, the middle-aged cultivator twitched his mouth slightly but still politely said, "I'm Zhang Chenyu, and I don't even know the name of my benefactor."

"Xu Ping." Xu Ping directly gave his real name to Zhang Chenyu as he had nothing to hide.

"Fellow Daoist Xu, I must express my gratitude once again for saving us... cough cough cough..." Before Zhang Chenyu could finish his sentence, he suddenly started coughing violently.

"Dad!" Zhang Ling'Er's fair face showed a hint of concern.

"Fellow Daoist Zhang, are you... injured?" Xu Ping hesitated and asked.

"Injured by those three robbers before, still not completely healed, but it's no big deal now." Zhang Chenyu waved his hand.

"Have you moved here to live?" He changed the topic.

"Yes, I just moved here yesterday." Xu Ping nodded.

Zhang Chenyu did not seem to be alright, but since he was unwilling to reveal more, Xu Ping wouldn't interfere more.

"That's a good thing, we are neighbors now. This place is guarded by the Spirit Tiger Gang, so it's safer than elsewhere." Zhang Chenyu said with a smile.

"This place is guarded by the Spirit Tiger Gang?" Xu Ping was stunned.

"Yes, the Spirit Tiger Gang maintains order here but not for free. Every month, two Spirit Stones must be handed over." Zhang Chenyu explained with a nod.

"I see." Xu Ping suddenly understood.

Having the Spirit Tiger Gang maintaining order was quite good, at least it could keep relative stability.

Though he did not need the protection of the Spirit Tiger Gang, for him, two Spirit Stones were nothing, it was easy to give.

"I'm also a member of the Spirit Tiger Gang now, usually just helping them draw talismans." Zhang Chenyu said with a smile.

"Impressive, impressive, it turns out Fellow Daoist Zhang is a Talisman Master!" Xu Ping was slightly surprised.

Being a Talisman Master was a noble profession, much superior to his roles as a Spirit Plant cultivator and wine brewer.

"Oh, it's nothing, it's nothing, can't do anything else, just barely make a living." Zhang Chenyu humbly said, but judging from his smiling face, he seemed quite proud.

"Dad, could you say a little less!" Zhang Ling'Er couldn't help but say.

Almost lost his life because of this issue, still unable to correct this flaw.

Zhang Chenyu felt a bit suffocated inside, and retorted, "Are you telling your dad what to do now, I am talking with your uncle, kids shouldn't interrupt."

Uncle!

Sigh!

Xu Ping's face showed a somewhat unnatural smile at once.

But upon thinking carefully, given his age of 28, being an uncle to a girl of seventeen or eighteen was not unreasonable.

"Haha, niece... Fellow Daoist Ling'Er is just thinking of your well-being." Xu Ping said with a smile, trying to smooth over the awkwardness.

"Please don't take offense, Fellow Daoist." Zhang Chenyu forced out a smile.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Xu Ping took his leave and went home.

...

Arriving home.

Xu Ping thoughtfully stroked his chin, "I didn't expect Zhang Chenyu to be a Talisman Master, I wonder if he's selling his Talisman Master's heritage."

He was quite interested in the Talisman Master's heritage, after all, being a Talisman Master was like having a golden-egg-laying hen.

Also, with the panel, becoming a real Talisman Master would happen sooner or later.

"But there's no rush in this matter, let's wait till the relationship between us deepens."

...

...

The next day, just as Zhang Chenyu said, members of the Spirit Tiger Gang came to collect protection fees, paid monthly, at a rate of two Spirit Stones.

Xu Ping handed over the two Spirit Stones happily.

After the Spirit Tiger Gang members left, no one disturbed him in the following days.

Xu Ping could also settle down to cultivate.

Of course, he spent a few days digging the basement.

...

Ten days later.

In the bedroom.

Xu Ping swallowed the Spirit Gathering Pill in one gulp, crossed his legs, operated the cultivation technique, and began cultivating.

As he delved deeper into cultivation, Xu Ping gradually felt an unprecedented power within his body, with mana flowing intensely like tidewaters.

Although he hadn't broken through to Qi Cultivation level five, the mana inside him grew increasingly intense.

The process continued for an unknown period.

Xu Ping suddenly opened his eyes, expelling a puff of gray-black gas from his mouth, instantly feeling his body much lighter and his mana circulating more smoothly.

"This mana!"

Feeling the intense mana inside him, Xu Ping was quite surprised.

The mana had grown as thick as that of some practitioners at Qi Cultivation level five.

"Five Elements Skill... has it broken through!?" Xu Ping excitedly opened the proficiency panel.

[Cultivation Technique: Five Elements Skill Minor Achievement (Level Four): 1/800]

"It really broke through!!"

Xu Ping carefully sensed the changes after achieving Minor Achievement in the Five Elements Skill.

Besides his mana becoming more intense, it had also become more pure.

Long-term Pill consumption certainly wouldn't make his mana as pure as diligent self-cultivation.

The purity of mana didn't affect cultivation and combat much but did influence breaking through bottlenecks.

Though with the proficiency panel, Xu Ping wasn't afraid of being unable to break through, the purification of mana was always a good thing.

"Not bad, not bad, every breakthrough of the Five Elements Skill brings unexpected benefits." Xu Ping smiled.

The ordinary Five Elements Skill had almost been turned into top-tier divine power by him.

Besides the thicker and purer mana, his cultivation speed also enhanced, nearly comparable to Upper Grade Spirit Root.

"The speed of cultivating to Qi Cultivation nine layers has advanced again!"

Stretching lazily, Xu Ping headed to the kitchen to prepare some food.

...

...

Early the next morning.

In a dense forest, a figure rushed at increasing speed, quick to the point where only residual shadows could be seen running through the woods.

If not looked carefully, it would seem as if there were countless people in the woods.

Half a quarter of an hour later, Xu Ping stopped, gasping and sweating heavily, steaming with vapor.

"The speed added by Minor Achievement in the Light Body Technique is too fast, completely surpassing the speed specialists at Body Refining level three cultivators." Xu Ping said as he blew the cold wind, feeling delighted inside.

The Light Body Technique had already broken through two days ago, but the added speed was too fast, and he spent two days getting acclimated to it fully.

Such full-force execution really exceeded expectations.

"With this speed, some mid-stage Qi Cultivation practitioners, even those at level seven, can't react fast enough before being slain by me."

In this perilous world, no greater joy exists than improving one's power.