CHAPTER 35: CHAPTER 35: QI CULTIVATION LEVEL 5

Midnight.

Cultivation completed.

Xu Ping opened the panel and his gaze fell on the cultivation stage.

[Stage: Fourth-layer Qi Cultivation: 98/100; Nourishing Life Skill Second-layer: 10/100]

"Almost there. At this rate, in just two days, I can break through to the fifth layer," Xu Ping’s eyes shone brightly.

He quickly calmed down.

"I don’t know if Yuan Wei can buy the inheritance. I can’t rely solely on him."

"The timing is right, I should also ask Zhang Chenyu if he’s willing to sell his talisman inheritance."

"However, I’ll wait until I break through to the fifth layer before going."

...

...

Two days later, late at night.

The spiritual power within Xu Ping’s body was guided by his consciousness into another tiny branch under increasing spiritual pressure, expanding and complicating the network of spiritual power within him.

"Boom!"

His whole body trembled.

He opened his eyes.

In an instant, there seemed to be a glimmer of light in his eyes, which quickly dimmed again.

"Finally reached the fifth layer of Qi Cultivation, next stop sixth layer, late-stage Qi Cultivation, Foundation Establishment..." Xu Ping’s face showed joy.

Although the breakthrough in cultivation didn’t significantly increase his strength.

But cultivation is the foundation of everything; without it, there’s no longevity, and without longevity, no matter how strong your battle power is, it’s useless.

Xu Ping reveled for a while and opened the proficiency panel.

[Name: Xu Ping]

[Longevity: 28/119 years]

[Stage: Fifth-layer Qi Cultivation: 1/100; Nourishing Life Skill Second-layer: 16/100]

[Cultivation Technique: Five Elements Skill, Minor Achievement (Fifth layer): 68/800]

[Skills: Spirit Rain Skill Mastery: 41/400; Geng Metal Finger Perfection: ∞; Light Body Technique Minor Achievement: 246/800; Flowing Cloud Sword Major Achievement: 864/1600; Fireball Technique Entry Level: 23/100]

Looking at the lifespan of a hundred and nineteen.

Xu Ping couldn’t help but sigh.

Setting aside the dangers of this world.

The life of cultivating immortality is actually quite pleasant.

A long life, no need to worry about approaching the end of life, a strong physique immune to diseases, and countless simply cooked yet extraordinarily delicious foods.

Of course, first, you have to be strong enough.

To survive all sorts of calamities.

Even the mighty Foundation Establishment cultivators can’t escape disasters.

The joy on Xu Ping’s face faded: "This is just a small step forward, the days ahead are long."

He stood up and walked out of the room, into the courtyard.

On a summer night, the chirping of insects was noisy, and a refreshing breeze blew, making one feel extremely comfortable.

But in the distance, there came faint beast roars and screams, disrupting this comfort.

Listening to the sounds, they seemed to be slowly approaching this area.

Xu Ping frowned and turned to look at a patch of forest.

With the help of moonlight, he could vaguely see several humanoid black figures drifting in the woods, occasionally emitting low growls.

Having crossed over for several months, Xu Ping was no longer a novice in immortal cultivation, and naturally understood what these humanoid black figures were.

They were a semi-evil presence formed by the intertwining and absorption of leftover resentful and evil qi following the mass deaths of cultivators.

This semi-evil presence was certainly incomparable to real evil presences.

Not only were they extremely fragile, but they would soon dissipate on their own.

But having so many semi-evil presences showed how severe the casualties of cultivators in Dongwu Market had been recently.

"Alas."

After a sigh, Xu Ping lost the mood to continue strolling and turned back to the house, slipping into the basement to sleep.

...

...

The next day.

Xu Ping calculated the time and arrived at Zhang Chenyu’s house.

Knock, knock, knock...

He knocked on the door.

With a creak, the door opened, and a pretty face appeared.

"Fellow Daoist Ling’Er." Xu Ping greeted with a smile.

"Oh, it’s Brother Xu!" Zhang Ling’Er’s face showed a bright smile, "Are you looking for my father?"

"Yes, I have something to discuss with your father." Xu Ping smiled slightly.

"Please come in, Brother Xu, my father is... huh?"

"Brother Xu, you broke through to the fifth layer of Qi Cultivation?" Zhang Ling’Er exclaimed.

"Just luck, I broke through yesterday," Xu Ping replied modestly.

"This isn’t just luck; Brother Xu is so young yet already in the fifth layer of Qi Cultivation, late-stage or even Foundation Establishment wouldn’t be impossible for you." The girl’s eyes showed admiration and envy.

Despite being praised as young by a girl nearly ten years his junior, Xu Ping couldn’t help but smile: "Not at all, I’m still far behind some true geniuses."

"Please come in, Brother Xu, I’ll go call my father." Zhang Ling’Er giggled, turned, and walked inside.

Xu Ping followed her into Zhang Chenyu’s study, fragrant with ink, with walls full of talismans exuding a faint Spiritual Qi.

Zhang Chenyu was sitting at the desk, holding a talisman, seemingly in the final stages of its creation.

Xu Ping didn’t disturb him, standing quietly to the side and waiting.

Soon, Zhang Chenyu completed the final steps, and a talisman was completed.

"Fellow Daoist Xu, you’ve come!" Zhang Chenyu looked up, seeing Xu Ping, he smiled slightly.

"I just arrived. Zhang Daoist’s skill in talisman drawing is truly eye-opening," Xu Ping praised.

"Hahaha, not really, I just casually drew a First Rank Upper Grade Golden Saber Talisman, nothing worth mentioning," Zhang Chenyu put down the talisman, stood up, looking quite pleased.

"Ling’Er, serve tea," Zhang Chenyu instructed.

"Got it."

The two sat down at the wooden table, and Zhang Ling’Er had already poured the tea.

After a few sips, Xu Ping felt the time was right, and said, "I’m actually here today with something to ask of Zhang Daoist."

"Fellow Daoist Xu, feel free to speak," Zhang Chenyu replied.

"I’d like to purchase some talisman inheritances. I hear that Zhang Daoist’s talisman skills are ancestral, and I wish to learn some from you," Xu Ping spoke directly.

"Purchase talisman inheritances?"

Zhang Chenyu frowned slightly but quickly relaxed: "Logically speaking, Fellow Daoist Xu saved my daughter and me, and giving them to you would be the least I could do, let alone selling them."

"However, ancestral rules prohibit sharing these skills, and I swore an oath at my ancestors’ graves."

Xu Ping’s heart sank upon hearing this.

But unexpectedly, Zhang Chenyu continued: "However, although the ancestral skills cannot be sold, I have another incomplete talisman inheritance, only up to First Rank Middle Grade; I don’t know if Fellow Daoist Xu would be interested."

"I’d be more than interested!" Xu Ping was overjoyed.

He didn’t even know how to draw the simplest of talismans; First Rank Middle Grade was simply too far for him.

By the time he could draw First Rank Middle Grade, he might very well have access to even better things.

"It’s good that Fellow Daoist Xu doesn’t mind," Zhang Chenyu chuckled, handing an old book to Xu Ping.

"What are you saying, Zhang Daoist?" Xu Ping laughed as he accepted the old book, then asked, "How many Spirit Stones does this inheritance cost?"

"There’s no need to discuss Spirit Stones between us; consider it repayment for saving my life," Zhang Chenyu waved his hands.

"Fair is fair, whatever Spirit Stones are due must be given," Xu Ping insisted earnestly.

"Fellow Daoist Xu, you’re being too courteous..." Zhang Chenyu tried to refuse.

Five minutes later.

After some back-and-forth, Xu Ping finally paid Zhang Chenyu fifty-five Spirit Stones, but Zhang Chenyu also gifted Xu Ping an old talisman pen, a stack of talisman papers, and a bottle of spiritual ink.