Chapter 924: Chapter 405: Fourth Rank Upper Grade Talisman Inheritance; Duan Shuang Breaks Through to Mid-Stage Nascent Soul_3

This favor is not small.

Liang Ming quickly thanked him and said with a smile, "Fellow Daoist Xu, you are too kind. It is the fortune of our Mystic Water Sect to establish such a good relationship with you."

These words came from the heart.

Investing in a cultivator with boundless potential and current strength comparable to that of a Late-Stage Great Cultivator yields tremendous benefits for the sect in the long run.

After chatting about the external situation and cultivation insights for a moment longer, Liang Ming got up to take his leave.

Xu Ping personally escorted him out of the island.

...

After seeing off Liang Ming, Xu Ping immediately went to Duan Shuang’s cave abode.

He retrieved the cold jade treasure box and handed it to Duan Shuang.

Opening the box, the exotic fragrance of the Star Spirit Ganoderma permeated the air once again.

"Shuang’Er, this item is for you."

"In the coming days, refine your mana well, stabilize your state of mind, and prepare to break through to the Mid-Stage Nascent Soul," Xu Ping said gently yet with anticipation.

"Xu Lang..."

Duan Shuang looked at the Ganoderma radiating starlight in the box and then at Xu Ping, her beautiful eyes shining with starlight, filled with gratitude and affection.

She understood well how rare such a treasure was.

Xu Ping merely gave a slight smile, gently stroked her cheek, and, with a hint of teasing in his voice, said:

"Shuang’Er, break through early, greatly increase your Divine Sense, and only then can the benefits of dual cultivation with your husband be maximized."

"It’s all for my sake."

Upon hearing this, Duan Shuang’s pretty face immediately flushed with two rosy hues as she gave Xu Ping a charming look.

She bit her lip gently, her delicate body softly leaning into Xu Ping’s arms, exhaling like orchids:

"This concubine... will not disappoint Xu Lang’s high hopes..."

In his arms, with the warm fragrance and soft jade tantalizing the senses, an ordinary person would’ve long been distracted.

Yet, Xu Ping’s expression remained calm as he smilingly placed his hand on Duan Shuang’s delicate waist, "Alright, you need to clear your mind and focus on preparations for now."

"Once you achieve success, your husband will ’reward’ you well."

His words made Duan Shuang’s face even redder, like a ripe peach; she meekly nudged Xu Ping, her eyes full of anticipation.

After some gentle advice, Xu Ping finally left Duan Shuang’s cave abode and returned to the underground cave in Blood Bone Hall.

...

Underground cave.

With a thought, Xu Ping used his Divine Sense to summon the Spirit Worm from underground and handed it the bag of Fourth Rank Lower Grade Spirit Vein remnants.

"Slowly merge these into the main Spirit Vein; however much it can improve depends on your skills."

"Rest assured, master, I will give it my all!"

The Spirit Worm flatteringly received the storage bag, feeling the pure essence of the Spirit Vein within and filled with excitement.

Devouring and assimilating other Spirit Veins brought benefits to it as well.

The Spirit Worm clutched the storage bag and quickly burrowed deep into the earth.

Xu Ping’s powerful Divine Sense then extended downward.

He could clearly see the main Spirit Vein on Blood Bone Island, which had reached Fourth Rank Middle Grade, under the guidance of the Spirit Worm.

Like a living creature, it extended countless tiny Spiritual Qi tendrils, gingerly wrapping around those remnants, beginning to slowly absorb and assimilate the pure essence within.

The entire process was silent, yet contained the majestic power of the earth’s pulse.

The concentration of Spiritual Qi within the cave began to rise, albeit at an extremely slow but unwavering pace, bit by bit.

"Not bad, accumulating bit by bit. With the Spirit Vein remnants slowly nourishing it, upgrading the Spirit Vein to Fourth Rank Upper Grade can be greatly accelerated."

"Even if it doesn’t reach Fourth Rank Upper Grade before breaking through at Water Rat Lake, it should be fine once I break through to Late-Stage Nascent Soul," Xu Ping nodded in satisfaction.

Of course, these few remnants are surely not enough; he entrusts the Outer Sea Alliance to help him search for more.

...

Time flies, and four years pass.

During these four years, more and more ancient demons emerged from the Ancient Demon Hall.

Xu Ping also frequently went to the frontlines through the teleportation array set up by the alliance, defending and clearing demonic beasts.

With his formidable strength and the Soul-Breaking Needle, a deadly weapon against ancient demons, he slew no fewer than a dozen Mid-Stage and Early Nascent Soul ancient demons, and countless Golden Core-level demonic beasts.

His battle achievements were illustrious!

Xu Ping’s name became revered in the frontline regions.

Some even rated him as the second cultivator of the Outer Sea, though many cultivators opposed these praises.

However, Xu Ping felt a bit regretful.

During these four years, he did not find another opportunity to slay a Late-Stage Nascent Soul ancient demon.

On one hand, Late-Stage ancient demons were rare and more cunning, often retreating into the Ancient Demon Hall at the slightest disadvantage.

On the other hand, he lacked the exceptional opportunity like before to ambush and severely damage their Divine Soul with the Soul-Breaking Needle.

Trying to directly slay a similarly leveled being intent on escaping is indeed extremely challenging.

On this day, Xu Ping returned once more from the front line to Blood Bone Island.

Only because Duan Shuang sent a message that she was prepared and about to enter seclusion to break through to Mid-Stage Nascent Soul.

For Duan Shuang’s major breakthrough event, Xu Ping naturally had to personally protect her.

Inside the cave.

Duan Shuang sat cross-legged, her aura adjusted to peak condition.

She had refined most of the Star Spirit Ganoderma, and its majestic medicinal power and Star Essence settled in her Nascent Soul and all her limbs.

As she cast the last Spell, the Nascent Soul within her Dantian suddenly opened its eyes and made a hand gesture.

Boom!

A powerful suction force erupted from Duan Shuang’s body.

The Spiritual Qi from Blood Bone Island’s Spirit Vein, as well as the abundant Spirit Stones pre-arranged around her, converged upon her like rivers into the sea.

Forming a giant Spiritual Qi vortex above her head.

"It has begun."

Sitting cross-legged atop Blood Bone Island, Xu Ping’s eyes flickered, his Divine Sense enveloping the surroundings to ensure fail-safe conditions.

With his experienced eye, the initial phase of the breakthrough process seemed smooth.

Inside the cave.

Duan Shuang looked solemn, faithfully guarding her mind, guiding the vast Spiritual Power and the medicinal power of the Star Spirit Ganoderma, charging time and again against the invisible barrier. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

The process was not all smooth sailing; the barrier was extremely solid, and several attempts failed to achieve the breakthrough.

Duan Shuang’s forehead was beaded with sweat, her complexion turning slightly pale.

But at this moment, the true value of the Star Spirit Ganoderma’s medicinal power began to show.