Cultivation Starts from Farming-Chapter 497 - 266: Wind Night Sword Skill Reaches Perfection; Ancient Sand Immortal City (2)
The atmosphere between the Purple Mountain Association and the Ten Thousand Dragons Commerce Association is becoming increasingly tense, with friction escalating constantly.
Xu Ping seizes the opportunity, occasionally stirring things up from the shadows.
With the strength and concealment ability of the Water Lake Mouse, no one can detect him.
Moreover, he deliberately arranges for the Water Lake Mouse to leave behind some ambiguous and dubious clues at the site of their conflicts, intending to further disrupt the situation.
However, unexpectedly to Xu Ping, despite the escalating tensions, both sides ultimately chose to show restraint and did not erupt into large-scale violent conflict. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢
"This is somewhat strange?"
Gazing at the somewhat eerie tense atmosphere between the two parties, Xu Ping couldn’t help but frown slightly, filled with doubt.
Xu Ping can understand why the Purple Mountain Association is unwilling to easily initiate large-scale combat.
After all, even with his assistance from behind the scenes, the Ten Thousand Dragons Commerce Association’s deep foundation remains intact, and despite losing a Golden Core Cultivator earlier, the Purple Mountain Association is still clearly at a disadvantage in overall strength.
But the Ten Thousand Dragons Commerce Association’s hesitation to initiate war leaves Xu Ping feeling quite puzzled.
It’s known that the Ten Thousand Dragons Commerce Association is not simple, not only do they have a master of the Middle Stage of Golden Core in residence, but they are also equipped with a third-rank mid-grade puppet, and by no means should they fear his impersonation of Yan Ruchen and Miao Jun.
"Could there be some hidden factors at play?" Xu Ping thought to himself.
The current behavior of the Ten Thousand Dragons Commerce Association seems more like quiet waiting for some opportunity or condition to be fulfilled, hence they have been exercising restraint, not acting rashly.
"It seems I need to investigate this matter further!" Xu Ping decided internally.
Even though his own strength makes it unlikely for the Ten Thousand Dragons Commerce Association’s schemes to pose a substantial threat to him, caution still prevails.
After all, "Knowing yourself and your opponent leads to victory in countless battles," more understanding equals more chances of success.
Moreover, he originally planned to venture out once more, firstly to gather materials needed for a third-rank mid-grade puppet.
Secondly, he hopes to try his luck in seeking third-rank spiritual objects that extend life.
Having made up his mind, Xu Ping immediately took action.
Although Wan Junhao previously betrayed the Purple Mountain Association, Xu Ping’s usual performance is commendable, and he is still relatively trusted within the association.
Thus, he simply explained the general situation of this journey to Miao Sijia, and then he left Hundred Spirit Mountain.
...
...
The main goal of this trip for Xu Ping is to acquire materials to craft a third-rank mid-grade puppet.
These materials are extremely rare and difficult to find in ordinary places; only those large-scale, resource-rich Immortal Cities might have them.
However, Hundred Bamboo Mountain is not an option for now.
After all, not long ago he had used the Thousand Illusion Mask to impersonate someone and killed a Golden Core Cultivator from the Hundred Bamboo Sect.
Currently, the Hundred Bamboo Sect is posting wanted notices everywhere, searching with all their might for the "suspect" who was impersonated.
As for the destination of this journey, Xu Ping has already decided in his mind: Ancient Sand City.
Reputed throughout Wind Country, Ancient Sand City is one of the largest cities in the nation.
This city’s fame is not only due to its vibrant commerce and lively atmosphere.
More importantly, City Lord Gu Yuntao possesses extraordinary influence in the realm of cultivation.
Gu Yuntao is no ordinary figure.
He was once a renegade disciple of the Hundred Puppet Sect, yet this didn’t stop him from making a name for himself in the cultivation world.
Currently, he possesses Late-Stage Golden Core cultivation, and is a renowned figure throughout Wind Country.
What stands out even more is that he is one of the few top-tier third-rank Puppet Masters in Wind Country.
With his exquisite puppet crafting techniques, he personally created and commands a formidable third-rank upper-grade Puppet Array.
Such strong capabilities make him almost one of the most elite below the Nascent Soul.
Additionally, it is rumored that Gu Yuntao has a deep connection with a high-ranking member of the Hundred Bamboo Sect.
Because of this complicated relationship, despite the Hundred Bamboo Sect’s animosity towards Gu Yuntao, they are forced to hold back their rage and dare not launch an attack against him lightly.
Xu Ping’s choice of Ancient Sand City as the destination of this trip is largely driven by his interest in Gu Yuntao and his powerful Puppet Array.
In Xu Ping’s cultivation plan, obtaining this powerful Puppet Array would provide more confidence when facing Nascent Soul Cultivators.
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...
Two months passed in the blink of an eye.
Amidst the boundless yellow sands, Ancient Sand Immortal City stands silently, like a solitary fortress left behind by the world.
The howling wind sweeps in ferociously, enveloping the sky in yellow sand; the entire world appears as if controlled by this chaotic, disorderly force, a world of blurred desolation.
Then, at this moment.
A faint, illusory human silhouette shoots swiftly like a meteor from the direction of Ancient Sand Immortal City.
A blurred human silhouette flies swiftly from the direction of the Immortal City like a shooting star.
This silhouette moves extremely fast, trailing a long dust trail across the sea of sand, forming a line that disappears in an instant.
Occasionally clear, occasionally blurred, it seems to merge into the vast desert sea.
With a soft "poof."
The blurry silhouette halts abruptly by a sand dune, transforming into an ordinary young man.
The young man, dressed in a simple black robe, flashes quickly and slips into an inconspicuous sand hole.
The wind and sand still mercilessly howl, sweeping indiscriminately across the world, seeming to want to bury all traces on this earth entirely.
