Chapter 227: News of the Ruins?
Chapter 227: Chapter 227: News of the Ruins?
Immediately.
Inside a private room at the teahouse, Xie Xing smiled and began, "To be honest with you, Fellow Daoist Li, the real reason I rushed from Cloud City to Flying Snow City was for a matter concerning the Celestial Skill Sect."
"Oh? I’d like to hear the details." Li Ping was a little puzzled, hoping Xie Xing would continue.
At this point, however, Xie Xing’s expression turned grave. He said solemnly, "But what I am about to say is a secret. I hope you can keep it confidential for me, Fellow Daoist."
Seeing his extremely cautious demeanor, Li Ping smiled and nodded. "Rest assured, Fellow Daoist Xie. I am not one to gossip."
"I trust you, Fellow Daoist Li." Xie Xing nodded, then proceeded to tell him about the Celestial Skill Sect matter.
...
To prevent eavesdroppers, Xie Xing lowered his voice and communicated via voice transmission.
"Fellow Daoist Li, a long time ago, I unintentionally acquired a Tier One puppet in the market of Cloud City. At first, I didn’t think much of it and just used the puppet as a servant to manage my immortal-abode."
Xie Xing paused and glanced at Li Ping, seeing that he was listening intently.
He quickly continued via voice transmission, "But last year, the puppet shattered from age, revealing a secret within... Hidden inside was a map to a secret vault of the Celestial Skill Sect. After some research, I discovered that the vault is located about a thousand li from Flying Snow City."
"A hidden vault of the Celestial Skill Sect?"
Li Ping’s expression was strange.
He remembered encountering something similar back when he was cultivating in Fenglan Immortal City.
Back then, a Demon Cultivator disguised as Alchemy Master Hu Feng had invited him to venture out of the city, claiming he needed to gather Cinnabar Fruit to refine Essence Qi Pills.
The temptation of the Essence Qi Pills was considerable, and the invitation came from a ’good friend’ with whom he was on good terms. Logically, he should have agreed.
However, Li Ping was suspicious and ultimately refused Hu Feng’s invitation.
’And now this?’
His eyes flickered slightly. "I’ve never met you before, Fellow Daoist Xie. Why would you tell me such a secret?"
Seeing that Li Ping seemed interested, Xie Xing gave a wry smile and continued in a low voice via transmission, "To tell you the truth, I originally planned to take the treasure from the Celestial Skill Sect’s vault and leave. But because of the Ice Sea Beast Tide outbreak, several Tier Two Demon Beasts are lingering near the vault. I don’t dare get close, so I had to enter Flying Snow City first and slowly figure out a plan."
"After entering the city, I happened to hear that someone was asking about the Celestial Skill Sect’s cultivation techniques." Xie Xing sighed softly. "I don’t know anyone in Flying Snow City. Agreeing to meet you, Fellow Daoist Li, was an act of desperation. I hope to invite you to go with me, kill the Demon Beasts, and open the vault."
"And you trust me just like that, Fellow Daoist Xie?" Li Ping asked softly.
"Originally, I wouldn’t have dared to trust you, Fellow Daoist Li, but after meeting you, I learned that you are a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator." Xie Xing explained with a smile, "For you to have cultivated to the late-stage of Foundation Establishment means you have a great future ahead and will surely plan for Core Formation. Therefore, as long as you make a Heavenly Dao Oath, I will naturally be able to trust you."
Cultivators are not mortals. If one makes a Heavenly Dao Oath and then breaks it, they will face interference from their Heart Demon when trying to break through a bottleneck.
The difficulty of breaking through the bottleneck increases drastically, making success nearly impossible.
As long as Li Ping planned to attempt Core Formation, it was highly unlikely he would break the oath. Therefore, Xie Xing’s explanation seemed to have a certain degree of persuasiveness.
But Li Ping was a peace-loving person. He hated nothing more than fighting and killing, even if the opponents were just animals.
He wasn’t an animal rights activist, but he didn’t have a habit of wantonly killing animals either.
"Fellow Daoist Xie, I am busy with my cultivation and have no plans to go out for the time being. As for the secret vault expedition, I must ask you to find someone more suitable." Li Ping refused point-blank.
Hearing Li Ping use his busy cultivation as an excuse to refuse the treasure-hunting proposal, Xie Xing quickly explained, "If you’re worried about delaying your cultivation, Fellow Daoist Li, there’s no need. The vault is only about a thousand li outside the city. If all goes smoothly, we could retrieve the treasure and return in just a few days."
Li Ping still shook his head. "Let’s forget about the expedition. However, Fellow Daoist Xie, if you happen to obtain the Celestial Skill Sect’s Divine Sense cultivation technique from the vault, I am willing to purchase it at a high price."
"Since you are busy, Fellow Daoist Li, let’s just drop it. I’ll have to find someone else. I only hope you will honor your promise to keep this a secret for me." Li Ping’s attitude was firm, and Xie Xing, though regretful, could only give up on his plan to invite him.
"Don’t worry, that goes without saying," Li Ping promised with a smile.
...
Watching Xie Xing leave, Li Ping’s eyes flickered.
He would never believe in such a good thing just falling into his lap.
Of course, regardless of whether the matter was true or false, Li Ping wasn’t the least bit interested.
He currently maintained a good relationship with Shi Yutong. By performing alchemy for the Flying Snow Sect, he earned a large amount of Spirit Stones and could even skim some Spirit Medicines on the side.
He lacked nothing, so why would he need to go out on an adventure?
The Ten Thousand Spirits Divine Communication Skill was good, but it wasn’t something he urgently needed. It would be nice to have, but it wouldn’t be a problem if he didn’t.
In fact, he actually hoped the matter was true. It would be best if the Celestial Skill Sect’s vault really did hide the complete version of the Ten Thousand Spirits Divine Communication Skill.
That way, when Xie Xing returned with a full haul, he could buy the cultivation technique from him.
However, Li Ping privately thought the probability of this being true was not high.
Good things didn’t just fall from the sky in this world.
It was like an average, plain-looking guy earning a pittance suddenly having a gorgeous 36D woman fall for him at first sight and dote on him daily. Was that possible? That kind of fairytale usually ended with a one-way ’honeymoon’ to Southeast Asia.
’True or not, I’ll just ignore it.’ Li Ping shook his head.
This time was different from his time in Fenglan Immortal City. Back then, he hadn’t dared to leave the city.
But now? He cultivated the Nine Tribulations True Spirit Scripture and possessed the ability to Transform Appearance. He could leave the city with a different face at any time.
But he couldn’t be bothered to leave the city. He couldn’t even be bothered... to leave his home.
His main quest was to reach Core Formation. Any other side quests were just unnecessary complications that had to make way for the main objective.
’Still, it seems someone has their eyes on me, so I need to be careful.’ Li Ping thought to himself. ’But taking down a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator isn’t a sure thing, even for several cultivators of the same level.’
’So as long as I don’t foolishly walk right into some kind of array trap, I can rest easy.’
This was also why he dared to reveal his Tier Two Upper Grade alchemy skills after advancing to late-stage Foundation Establishment.
The amount of Spirit Stones a cultivator could possess wasn’t determined by how good they were at earning them, but by their own strength to protect them.
Possessing Spirit Stones and resources that exceeded one’s own strength would naturally attract the attention of opportunistic robbers.
’Time to go back and cultivate.’
Li Ping shook his head, not taking the matter to heart at all.
Being coveted by others was something he had already anticipated when he decided to reveal his alchemy skills.
...
「On the other side.」
Xie Xing left the teahouse and went straight back to his inn. Half a day later, he emerged from the inn with a different face. After a series of twists and turns, he soon arrived at a quiet courtyard in the city.
He knocked on the gate with the agreed-upon signal, and the gate opened to let him in.
Six figures were waiting for him in the courtyard, all of them Foundation Establishment Cultivators.
What was even more surprising was that among the six figures were not only members of the Human Race, but also two beautiful, similar-looking figures with silver hair and snow-white skin. They were clearly Snow People.
Another figure was burly, with coarse facial features unlike those of the Human Race. He was one of the Alien Races living in the Land of the Far North—a Barbarian.
When Xie Xing entered, the six figures were drinking and chatting idly.
Anyone who saw members of the Human Race, Snow People, and Barbarians sitting together, drinking and getting along harmoniously, would have been greatly astonished.
After all, the Snow People were one thing, but there was a deep-seated hatred between the Barbarians and the Human Race.
The people in the courtyard seemed to be waiting for Xie Xing. As he walked in, all eyes fell on him, as if asking about the outcome of his trip.
A hint of excitement could be seen in their eyes.
After all, their target this time was a high-tier Alchemist, whose wealth far exceeded that of an ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivator.
But Xie Xing just shook his head helplessly.
...
Li Ping focused single-mindedly on his cultivation, and the peaceful days passed quickly. Another year went by.
Sitting in the pavilion, Li Ping’s gaze fell upon the Desolate Fire Sparrow perched on an old tree in the courtyard.
He could clearly sense that the Desolate Fire Sparrow was in low spirits and somewhat listless.
As for the reason... it was very simple.
For the past ten-odd years, it had always played with the Blazing Sun Bird.
Xiao Yunzhi had taken the Blazing Sun Bird with her into seclusion to attempt her breakthrough to Core Formation, and it had been nearly two years now.
During this time, without a little companion to play with, it felt lonely, solitary, and cold.
’Two years...’ Li Ping also sighed with some emotion.
Core Formation was nothing like Foundation Establishment.
The Golden Core formed by a cultivator was an object combining essence, qi, and spirit, possessing all sorts of incredible abilities.
Crossing this step meant becoming a True Master.
It was normal to treat it with extreme caution and only attempt the breakthrough after thorough preparation.
Never mind two years; even two and a half years wouldn’t be considered long at all.
However, Xiao Yunzhi possessed a Celestial Spiritual Root and wouldn’t face a bottleneck. She wouldn’t need to spend as much time as other cultivators.
Li Ping estimated that her breakthrough to Core Formation would likely happen within these two years.
Once Xiao Yunzhi reached Core Formation, Li Ping didn’t know if she would continue to call him ’Brother Li’ or switch to some other form of address.
In the Cultivation Realm, the strong were revered. It wasn’t impossible that Xiao Yunzhi might disregard their old friendship.
Although he privately believed Xiao Yunzhi wasn’t that kind of person.
But Li Ping had already mentally prepared himself for this possibility.
He was a flexible person. When he saw Xiao Yunzhi again, he would respectfully address her as ’Senior’.
’Core Formation... Cultivate, cultivate!’
Li Ping sighed, then turned and walked back into his house.
He took out the Spiritual Eye jade, sat down cross-legged, and began to cultivate in silence.
However, just as Li Ping was deep in his arduous cultivation, an unexpected event interrupted him.
The immortal-abode several hundred zhang away from his, which had been vacant for several years, was finally rented out.
Shortly after, the person who rented the immortal-abode got settled and came to pay a visit to their new neighbor.
Li Ping received the visitors. To his surprise, the ones who had rented the neighboring immortal-abode were a pair of twin girls from the Snow People.