Chapter 961: Chapter 417: Peak of Fourth Rank Middle Grade Spirit Vein; Blood and Qi Enhancement

The aura on the Spirit Worm becomes more robust and condensed, already approaching the peak of Fourth Rank Lower Grade.

Around its body, earth-colored spiritual light flows, faintly resonating with the earth vein breath of the entire Blood Bone Island; evidently, it has not slackened during this time.

"Master."

The Spirit Worm shows a fawning expression.

"Hmm."

Xu Ping slightly nods, then he flicks his sleeve, and two sections of Fourth Rank Middle Grade Spirit Veins suddenly float in the void.

With the emergence of these things, the surrounding Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi instantly becomes active, and the ground gives a faint tremor as if in resonance.

"How long would it take to integrate these into the island’s Spirit Veins to upgrade Blood Bone Island’s Spirit Veins to the peak of Fourth Rank Middle Grade?" Xu Ping directly asks.

The Spirit Worm’s huge head approaches the two sections of Spirit Vein, carefully sensing them, and confidently replies: "Master, at most a year, I am fully confident to elevate the Spirit Vein quality to the peak of Fourth Rank Middle Grade."

"Very well, proceed."

Xu Ping’s eyes gleam brightly.

So fast, it somewhat exceeds his expectation.

"I will not fail the master."

The Spirit Worm’s gigantic maw opens wide, wrapping the two heavy sections of Spirit Vein with a powerful suction, then its massive body slowly sinks into the ground, disappearing as if melting into water.

The next moment.

Xu Ping’s powerful Divine Sense clearly perceives the Spirit Worm has already gone deep underground with the two Spirit Veins, gradually merging them with the main Spirit Vein of Blood Bone Island.

In the first few days, the island showed little change.

But soon, changes began to quietly occur.

The Spiritual Qi pervading the air gradually becomes richer; in every breath, one can feel strands of refreshing Spiritual Qi entering the lungs.

A year later.

These changes reached a critical point.

The entirety of Blood Bone Island subtly shook.

"Buzz!"

A grand buzzing sound emanated from deep within the earth vein, perceivable only to high-tier cultivators.

The spirit mist on the island instantly became extremely rich, almost unable to disperse.

"It has succeeded!"

Meditating Xu Ping suddenly opens his eyes, a brilliant light bursts forth from them.

He senses the concentration of Spiritual Qi on the entire island has climbed to an extreme.

Moreover, this is achieved even without employing the Spirit Gathering Array.

"Activate!"

Xu Ping, with a thought, flicks his fingers, instantly fully activating the Spirit Gathering Array.

Buzz!

The dense Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, almost liquefied, is forcibly absorbed, compressed, and gathered towards Xu Ping’s underground abode.

The quality and concentration of Spiritual Qi in the underground abode slowly rise to the threshold of Fourth Rank Upper Grade.

"Excellent!"

Xu Ping carefully senses it, his lips subtly forming into a smile.

This undoubtedly accelerates his cultivation and can support the operation of stronger arrays.

At this moment, the Spirit Worm’s huge body tiredly emerges from the ground.

It fawningly approaches Xu Ping: "Master, mission accomplished!"

"Well done."

Xu Ping generously praises it and rewards it with a few precious Earth Element Demon Cores, "Go and rest well."

"Thank you, Master."

The Spirit Worm, delightedly takes the Demon Cores and happily sinks into the ground.

Xu Ping then sits back down cross-legged, attempting to operate the "Ten Thousand Woods Evergreen Scripture."

As soon as the cultivation technique operates, he’s slightly taken aback.

The surrounding dense and pure Spiritual Qi rushes into his body like a breached flood.

The speed is swift, the quantity vast, far exceeding the past.

The dominating characteristic of the perfected "Ten Thousand Woods Evergreen Scripture" in siphoning Spiritual Qi exhibits itself thoroughly at this moment.

"It seems the Spiritual Qi was hindering the cultivation speed of the Ten Thousand Woods Evergreen Scripture before." Xu Ping’s eyes reflect a peculiar glint.

With such high-quality Spirit Vein support, his cultivation speed will surely ascend another level, enabling an earlier breakthrough to the peak of Fourth Rank Middle Grade in preparation for the late-stage breakthrough.

"However, wanting to upgrade this Spirit Vein to Fourth Rank Upper Grade might require an exceedingly prolonged effort, or..."

Xu Ping’s sight gleams, "Finding a section of Fourth Rank Upper Grade Spirit Vein as a catalyst."

But Fourth Rank Upper Grade Spirit Veins are rare treasures throughout the outer seas, all being occupied by the most influential sects or Demon Race divisions, their sections even harder to come by.

This matter can only be noted down for now, slowly seeking opportunities.

In the ensuing time, Xu Ping becomes thoroughly immersed in cultivation.

With the vastly improved Spiritual Qi environment, his cultivation level progresses steadily and swiftly.

...

Time flies, another year passes.

On this day, a familiar Escape Light arrives outside Blood Bone Island, it is Liang Ming.

His expression carries obvious sorrow and fatigue.

Upon seeing Xu Ping, Liang Ming bows respectfully, his voice low: "Fellow Daoist Xu, Liang has come to inform... Uncle Shan Tianyou passed away two months ago in Mystic Water Cave Heaven."

Despite being somewhat anticipated, Xu Ping cannot help but sigh softly.

A Late-stage Nascent Soul Great Cultivator has thus perished.

Liang Ming, in low spirits, continues: "Before Uncle’s passing, he left instructions for the funeral to be simple, inviting only a few old friends."

"He specifically instructed to invite Fellow Daoist Xu to attend and to deliver the promised item to Fellow Daoist Xu."

Xu Ping falls silent for a moment, then nods: "Elder Shan’s integrity is admirable; Xu will personally attend."

He and Duan Shuang make brief preparations, then follow Liang Ming as they leave Blood Bone Island, heading towards Mystic Water Sect.

Three months later, Mystic Water Sect.

At this time, Mystic Water Sect is enveloped in an atmosphere of solemnity and sadness.

The Sect Protection Array is fully activated, yet it cannot conceal the pervasive grief throughout the sect.

The disciples of the sect are all dressed in mourning attire, faces filled with sorrow.

Due to Shan Tianyou’s instructions for a simple ceremony, no widespread notice was given, so besides Xu Ping and Duan Shuang, no other outsiders were invited.