CHAPTER 42: CHAPTER 42: GU INSECT INHERITANCE

Four days later.

Just back from Yuan Wei’s house, Xu Ping began counting the Spirit Stones in his possession, a faint smile appearing on his face.

"A total of one hundred and forty-three Spirit Stones!"

The evil spirit that Old Sun had transformed into was killed by him, but others still didn’t know, leaving the entire market in a state of fear.

The price of the Evil-breaking Talisman was maintained at six Spirit Stones each, and it even seemed to be on the rise.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, relying on the information asymmetry.

Xu Ping had been frantically drawing Exorcism Talismans these days, having Yuan Wei sell them.

As the Exorcism Talisman reached a proficient level, his success rate had soared to over ninety percent.

The speed of earning money was simply astonishing.

...

Time passed with Xu Ping’s frenzy of talisman drawing.

A month quickly slipped by, and winter quietly arrived unnoticed.

Winter in this world arrived much later than in his original world, only truly entering the cold season in January.

After winter arrived, the weather got colder with each passing day.

Heavy snow also began to fall from the sky.

And with the advent of the heavy snow, the high price of the Evil-breaking Talismans, which had persisted for over a month, finally saw a dramatic decline.

The price not only plummeted, it even failed to maintain its original price of two Lower Grade Spirit Stones and fell all the way to one Lower Grade Spirit Stone.

Xu Ping also stopped drawing Evil-breaking Talismans and turned to drawing other talismans.

Although he hadn’t specifically calculated how many Spirit Stones he earned from drawing Evil-breaking Talismans for a month, it was conservatively estimated to exceed a thousand Spirit Stones.

This was the first time he had broken a four-digit savings.

...

...

In the dense forest.

The towering parasol trees reached the clouds, their branches weighed down slightly by the heavy snow.

The ground was thickly covered with snow, and stepping on it made a crunching sound.

Xu Ping stood in the snow, holding a sword in one hand, the blade glinting silver-white in the cold wind, as light as a flowing cloud.

He took a step forward, and his sword moves unfolded.

The sword flashed as if merging with this white world.

Each move flowed naturally, the Sword Qi tracing graceful arcs in the air, stirring up a flurry of snowflakes.

The invisible sharp aura burst from the sword, felling the surrounding large trees with ease, as if they were mere tofu, one after another.

Accompanied by a continuous rumbling sound.

Xu Ping pressed onward, numerous trees meeting an undeserved fate along the way.

Half an hour later.

He stood in the vast white snow, habitually checking his proficiency panel.

[Flowing Cloud Sword Mastery: 1276/1600]

"The progress of the Flowing Cloud Sword is getting slower." Xu Ping furrowed his brows deeply.

Since the Flowing Cloud Sword proficiency broke through a thousand, the daily practice proficiency began to slow down.

After surpassing a thousand two hundred, it declined markedly, now barely able to increase by one point each day.

"How long do I have to grind before the Flowing Cloud Sword reaches Perfection!" Xu Ping felt a bit irritable.

He had a hunch that as the total experience value increased, his rate of gaining experience could continue to decrease.

"Why didn’t this happen while practicing Geng Metal Finger?" Xu Ping was puzzled as to why the Flowing Cloud Sword progress had stalled.

He grew even more annoyed.

A surge of anger filled his heart, gripping the sword handle tightly, he slashed out fiercely, cutting down a towering tree with a swipe of his sword light.

As if still unsatisfied, he began to recklessly swing in the dense forest, countless trees falling at his sword’s command.

Boom!

A towering tree crashed down before him, its thick layer of snow falling off, turning into countless snowflakes that scattered and danced in the air.

As the snowflakes fell, they soon buried Xu Ping.

Feeling the cold chill, Xu Ping’s mood gradually calmed.

Running his mana, the snow on him was brushed off.

"Let’s go home." He sheathed the Qinghe Sword and retraced his steps.

...

...

Not long after returning home, Zhang Chenyu visited enthusiastically.

"The evil spirit has been unheard of for more than a month, it seems it should have left." Zhang Chenyu, lightly stroking his long beard, the wrinkles on his face seemed to have faded slightly with the good news.

"It should have left." Xu Ping smiled in response.

It indeed had left, and it was he who personally sent it away.

"Yesterday I successfully drew a First Rank Upper Grade talisman again."

"Ah, even though I’m at Qi Cultivation level six, I can only draw three types of First Rank Upper Grade talismans, which is quite embarrassing." Zhang Chenyu sighed, yet his expressions betrayed a hint of pride.

Xu Ping looked at him expressionlessly.

The old chap, showing off here again.

With Qi Cultivation level six but able to draw First Rank Upper Grade talismans, his Talisman Master talent was far superior to the average person.

"Oh, is that so? Then I must congratulate Daoist Zhang." Xu Ping said with feigned earnestness.

"Daoist Zhang is extraordinarily gifted, unlike me who is naturally dull, just recently managed to draw a First Rank Middle Grade talisman, far inferior to Daoist Zhang." Xu Ping sighed as well.

"What, you drew a First Rank Middle Grade talisman!?" Zhang Chenyu couldn’t help but be shocked, staring at Xu Ping as if he was witnessing a monster.

In less than two months, from knowing nothing about talismans to becoming a Talisman Master capable of drawing First Rank Middle Grade talismans.

What kind of monstrous talent is this?

"Ah, it’s nothing, it’s nothing, I just learned to draw a First Rank Middle Grade talisman, far inferior to Daoist Zhang." Xu Ping waved his hand modestly.

...

After sending off the now discouraged Zhang Chenyu.

Xu Ping internally reflected.

Still not humble enough.

Not subtle in concealing his talent.

A few more times and Zhang Chenyu might feel like hanging himself.

Xu Ping picked up the now cold Spirit Tea and drank it down, the bitter taste spreading in his mouth.

"Should I pay more attention next time?"

...

...

Ever since moving into the new home, Xu Ping had been acting low-key, cautiously dealing with people, avoiding all conflicts where possible, and never showing off his abilities in front of others.

With the Spirit Tiger Gang around, no robbers invaded, and the days passed in peace and stability.

More than ten days passed.

Other skills were steadily progressing, except for the Flowing Cloud Sword and Qi Nourishing Skill, whose progress was slow.

Especially the Flowing Cloud Sword, which had almost come to a standstill.

This also made Xu Ping’s mood increasingly irritable, once contemplating giving up sword practice.

But he gritted his teeth and persisted.

...

...

Yuan Wei’s house.

"Master, I finally found someone willing to sell an inheritance." Yuan Wei said excitedly.

Xu Ping’s heart was filled with delight, he immediately asked, "What kind of inheritance?"

This was one of the few pieces of good news lately.

"Worm inheritance." Yuan Wei’s voice carried some excitement, "I asked the person selling the inheritance, and it contains various methods of refining worms, they can be used in combat, and even to enhance one’s cultivation."

"Worm inheritance?" Xu Ping was a little taken aback.

This inheritance was indeed obscure, but Yuan Wei’s introduction made it sound a bit intriguing.

"How did the transaction go?" Xu Ping inquired.

"I’ve already agreed on a time with the seller, we’ll meet at the trading place tomorrow." Yuan Wei replied.

"Alright." Xu Ping nodded, "You did well this time, take these Spirit Stones as your reward."

He took out ten extra Spirit Stones from his pile for Yuan Wei.

"Thank you, master." Yuan Wei happily accepted the Spirit Stones.

This master was worth following; strong, and generous, too.