"However... to be on the safe side, it’s still more prudent to find a reliable breakthrough aid." Xu Ping quickly calmed down, his Dao heart was stable, neither arrogant nor impatient.

He had already entrusted Hongyi to keep an eye on it, and would inquire about the progress the next time Hongyi came.

In the outer sea, resources become extremely scarce and hard to come by at the Late-Stage Nascent Soul level.

...

In the days that followed, Xu Ping did not rush to achieve results but instead calmed his mind, carefully comprehending, consolidating, and adapting to all the changes brought about by the baptism of Dao rhythm.

And soon, another surprising discovery emerged!

His cultivation speed unexpectedly increased again based on the original.

It was not because the cultivation technique operated more efficiently or absorbed Spiritual Qi faster.

Instead, his affinity with Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi had been inexplicably enhanced to a great extent!

Even without actively operating the cultivation technique, the pure Spiritual Qi in the surrounding heavens and earth would be invisibly attracted, continuously gathering towards his body.

There was no need for intentional refinement; as soon as this Spiritual Qi entered his body, it would gently transform into pure mana, nourishing the Nascent Soul.

If he actively operated the "Ten Thousand Woods Evergreen Scripture"...the cultivation speed was unimaginably fast.

It was like a snowball, crazily absorbing and refining massive amounts of Spiritual Qi!

It was practically like having a super auxiliary device that automatically cultivates at all times.

In an extremely efficient cultivation like this, a year’s time passed in the blink of an eye.

On this day.

Underground cave residence.

Xu Ping completed the circulation of his energy and slowly opened his eyes.

Divine light concealed in his eyes, aura deep and condensed like an abyss.

He habitually opened the proficiency panel.

[Lifespan: 503 / 4441 years]

[Realm: Mid-Stage Nascent Soul: 62/ 100]

....

"Not bad, not bad!"

Looking at the proficiency bar advancing one more grid, Xu Ping couldn’t help but grin, in excellent spirits.

"Just 38 more proficiency points, and I will reach the Peak of Mid-Stage Nascent Soul. At this rate, it will certainly be achieved in another thirty to forty years!"

He advanced to Mid-Stage Nascent Soul shortly after turning four hundred. Now, with the prospect of reaching the mid-stage peak, his speed is absolutely top-notch in the entire outer sea Cultivation Realm.

After adjusting his state to the best, Xu Ping did not continue to cultivate but instead went to the stone platform specially used for crafting talismans.

He was preparing to attempt crafting a Fourth Rank Upper-Grade spirit talisman again!

He had tried many times before but never succeeded.

Now, with his Divine Sense soaring to Nascent Soul Perfection, he was in an unprecedented good state, and Xu Ping had a strong premonition that this time he would succeed.

Everything was ready.

Xu Ping held his breath, picked up the spirit pen that had been nurtured for many years, and dipped the tip heavily in Spiritual Ink.

Start writing!

The pen moved like a dragon and a snake, with spiritual light flowing.

Divine Sense acted like the most precise carving knife, guiding the majestic mana and the true essence of the talisman perfectly into every stroke.

The whole process was like flowing clouds and water, smooth and unhindered, without the slightest stagnation.

At the moment when the last stroke concluded perfectly —

"Buzz!"

The entire talisman suddenly burst with dazzling spiritual light, countless mysterious runes wandered and merged on the paper surface.

Finally, it became completely introverted, transforming into a unique pattern that seemed ancient but contained the power to destroy heaven and earth.

A terrifying spiritual pressure far beyond the Fourth Rank Middle Grade talisman flashed and disappeared.

"It’s done!"

Looking at the perfect and flawless spirit talisman on the table, Xu Ping’s mouth couldn’t help but curl upwards, revealing a joyful and satisfied smile.

After many years of research and countless failures, today finally achieved perfection.

A Fourth Rank Upper-Grade talisman maker, such an achievement, is as rare as a phoenix feather in the entire Human Realm.

Xu Ping picked up the newly created "Qian Gang Lei Sha Talisman," his fingertip brushing over the warm talisman paper, sensing the terrifying thunder evil power within it that could severely injure or even kill a Mid-Stage Nascent Soul cultivator.

With a thought, Xu Ping executed "Talisman Nurturing Technique," slowly integrating the talisman near the Nascent Soul in his Dantian, nourishing it day and night with his own pure mana.

"After nurturing for several decades, absorbing Nascent Soul Dao rhythm and mana, the talisman’s power...may become unimaginable!"

"It might even threaten or severely injure a Late-Stage Nascent Soul." Xu Ping’s eyes were filled with anticipation.

Moreover, as the Talisman Nurturing Technique continues to improve, its power can keep increasing, becoming another powerful trump card.

...

With a rare good mood, Xu Ping left the underground cave residence and went to Duan Shuang’s cave residence.

In the serene and elegant cave residence, warm jade paved the ground, Spirit Plants adorned, and a faint fragrance permeated the air.

Duan Shuang saw Xu Ping arrive, and with a rare lightness and joy between his brows, she too smiled beautifully.

Moments later.

In Duan Shuang’s cave residence, the sound of a zither flowed like water, carrying the Dao rhythm of soothing the mind and enlightening wisdom.

It was unknown how long had passed.

The tune ended.

The pool filled with Spiritual Spring mist, Duan Shuang awakened from meditation, her charming and exquisite figure faintly visible in the thin mist, like a lotus emerging from the water.

She naturally leaned close to Xu Ping, a hint of surprise in her beautiful eyes, she looked up and asked:

"Xu Lang, your Divine Sense has grown a lot recently. I feel that this dual cultivation greatly nourished and enhanced my Divine Sense, far more than before."

Duan Shuang felt the significant growth of her own Divine Sense, her heart full of joy and disbelief.

At this rate, she felt that after reaching the Peak of Mid-Stage Nascent Soul, her Divine Sense strength could rival that of an ordinary Late-Stage Nascent Soul.

This undoubtedly exceeded her expectations a bit.

Holding the warm and soft jade beauty, feeling its amazing curves and elasticity, Xu Ping’s mood was even more delighted, a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, responding lightly:

"It’s nothing but some random gains, in the aspect of Divine Sense... just a small improvement."

Duan Shuang’s beautiful eyes turned, she didn’t ask further questions.

She just leaned her ear gently against his solid chest, enjoying the sense of security brought by this tranquility and strength.

Although with Xu Ping’s current Divine Sense at the Nascent Soul Perfection level, dual cultivation with Duan Shuang offered only minor improvements for his own Divine Sense, the effect could be almost negligible.

But this not only relaxed the mind, balanced yin and yang, it also greatly benefitted Duan Shuang’s cultivation, especially in terms of Divine Sense.

According to Xu Ping’s plan, with full assistance, Duan Shuang hoped to boost her Divine Sense to the Late-Stage level in the Mid-Stage Nascent Soul.

And when she truly breaks through to the Late-Stage Nascent Soul, when they dual cultivate again, the benefits will be mutual.

It might help his Divine Sense, at the Late-Stage Nascent Soul, to touch or even exceed the Nascent Soul stage domain, glimpsing a trace of the mystery of Divinity Transformation!

By then, along with the enhanced power of the Soul-Breaking Needle, he will truly possess the capital to threaten a Divinity Transformation cultivator.

Thinking of this, even with Xu Ping’s current state of mind, he couldn’t help but look forward to it, a ripple in his Dao heart.