CHAPTER 432: CHAPTER 248: SLAYING THE DEMON CULTIVATOR; BOUNTY ORDER_3

Immediately, he flicked a finger, and a porcelain bottle flew towards Zhang Qingfeng.

"This is your reward!"

Zhang Qingfeng instinctively caught the porcelain bottle, and upon opening the lid, a fragrant aroma spread instantly.

"A Second-stage Upper Grade Pill!!"

Zhang Qingfeng immediately recognized the pills inside the bottle, his eyes filled with delight and excitement, gripping the porcelain bottle tightly, he hurriedly expressed his gratitude, repeatedly saying: "Thank you, senior, for your generous gift!"

Was this really a Golden Core senior from Yue Country?

No matter if it was or not, he hoped there would be more seniors like this.

With such a pill in hand, breaking through to the Late-Stage Foundation Establishment was just around the corner.

Considering his age, even reaching the Golden Core might have a sliver of hope.

The others looked at the porcelain bottle in Zhang Qingfeng’s hand, their eyes involuntarily filled with intense envy, secretly sighing in their hearts.

Zhang Qingfeng’s luck was truly amazing!

Just by answering a few simple questions, he received such a lavish reward.

Xu Ping waved his hand and then turned his gaze towards the only woman among the group.

This woman’s appearance was quite unique, with noticeably different features from the people of Yue Country, her brows and eyes exuding a mysterious exotic charm.

"You don’t seem to be from Yue Country, do you?"

Xu Ping’s expression was calm, his gaze scrutinizing as he continued, "Moreover, your cultivation is only at Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment, yet you can control two Second-stage Upper Grade puppets. You must be a Puppet Master!"

Hearing the generous Golden Core senior inquiring about her, this charming female cultivator suppressed her inner excitement, trying to calm herself down, respectfully replied:

"Senior, your insight is remarkable!"

"I am He Youyao, indeed not from Yue Country, but from Wind Country."

She bowed slightly, showing full courtesy, "I am indeed a Puppet Master, the puppetry skills have been passed down through generations in my family."

"Wind Country?"

Xu Ping’s eyes immediately flashed with great interest.

Wind Country is located to the southwest of Yue Country, with a vast desert stretching between the two countries.

This desert is boundless; even an Early Stage Golden Core cultivator would take at least several years to traverse it.

Moreover, Wind Country is known worldwide for its puppetry skills.

Many powers within Wind Country are adept at puppetry, and it is said that the top power in Wind Country, the Hundred Bamboo Sect, can even craft Fourth Rank Puppets.

Xu Ping had previously acquired a Quasi-Fourth Rank Puppet inheritance and was worrying about gathering materials needed for its crafting.

Perhaps in Wind Country, he would have the opportunity to find those rare materials.

Xu Ping suppressed his excitement and continued asking He Youyao several questions about Wind Country.

He Youyao spared no detail in her answers, explaining one by one.

Finally, she took out a part of the Wind Country map from her Storage Ring and respectfully handed it to Xu Ping.

"Senior, this is the only portion of the Wind Country map I have. Although it’s not complete, it can provide you some help." He Youyao respectfully offered the jade slip with both hands.

"Mm!"

Xu Ping took the jade slip and nodded slightly, quite satisfied with He Youyao’s performance.

Just as he had rewarded Zhang Qingfeng earlier, he also took out a bottle of Second-stage Upper Grade Pill and handed it to He Youyao.

"Thank you, senior!"

He Youyao received the jade bottle, eyes glimmering with joy, gratitude written all over her face.

This senior is exceptionally generous!

The others witnessed this, their eyes filled with envy and desire, eagerly staring at Xu Ping, hoping that this Golden Core senior would also ask them a few questions, so they too could receive a generous reward.

However, Xu Ping completely ignored this.

He had already obtained the information he wanted from He Youyao and Zhang Qingfeng, and naturally, he wouldn’t squander pills indiscriminately.

Though these pills were of little use at his current level of cultivation, he wasn’t running a charity and wouldn’t give rewards without reason.

Under the complex and varied gazes of the crowd, Xu Ping performed an Escape Light technique, turning into a dazzling streak of light, quickly flying towards the direction of Luoyun Immortal City.

The Escape Light streaked across the sky like a shooting star, disappearing from everyone’s sight in an instant.

"This senior is truly noble!"

After Xu Ping had completely disappeared from the horizon, Zhang Qingfeng couldn’t help but marvel.

"Indeed!"

"Such seniors are extremely rare in the entire Yue Country." He Youyao agreed wholeheartedly, nodding in agreement.

This Golden Core senior was not only generous but also so kind to them, the juniors, which was truly commendable.

However, the others, upon hearing this, couldn’t help but cast resentful glances at He Youyao and Zhang Qingfeng.

They felt that the two of them were extremely lucky to receive such invaluable Second-stage Upper Grade Pills simply by answering Xu Ping’s questions.

Yet they themselves obtained nothing, inevitably feeling a sense of imbalance in their hearts.

But they also knew clearly that in the face of overwhelming strength, their thoughts were utterly insignificant, so they could only bury their envy and jealousy deep inside, sighing inwardly.

...

...

A month later, Xu Ping arrived at Luoyun Immortal City, dusty and weary from travel.

Luoyun Immortal City was as bustling and lively as ever, with crowds coming and going on the streets.

However, due to the large-scale invasion of Demonic Cultivators, the city bore an added air of severity and tension!

On the streets and alleys, most of the cultivators’ conversation revolved around the demonic invasion, with every face showing a trace of worry.

Xu Ping made his way to Luoyun Studio with practiced ease, found the steward in charge, completed the paperwork, and then went to the Third-rank Lower Grade cave dwelling he had rented for five years.

The cave dwelling was in a remote location, surrounded by a quiet environment, making it very suitable for secluded cultivation.

Xu Ping entered the cave dwelling and released the haggard-looking Lake Mouse and Spirit Worm from the Spirit Beast Bag.

"Master."

"Hiss!"

Lake Mouse and Spirit Worm forced themselves to perk up and greeted Xu Ping.

"Mm."

Xu Ping nodded slightly, then said, "You may go ahead and continue digesting that flower pistil!"

The reason these two spirit beasts were in such a state was not due to the fatigue of traveling.

It dated back to before, in the Lava Secret Realm when Xu Ping, to save his mana, let the Lake Mouse and Spirit Worm carry him along the road.

During the journey, when the Lake Mouse passed through a mountain peak formed by solidified magma, it suddenly stopped, informing Xu Ping that something atop it attracted it greatly.

Xu Ping pondered for a moment before deciding to investigate.

Who would have thought, as soon as he set foot on the mountain, a peak Third-rank Middle Grade Demon Beast attacked him.

This demon beast was extraordinarily fierce, with ferocious attacks, Xu Ping had to fully exert himself, employing all sorts of tactics, to ultimately slay it after an intense and grueling battle.

After slaying the demon beast, Xu Ping reached the center of the mountain.

There, he discovered a pistil with an exceptionally unique shape, emitting a faint, enchanting fragrance that lingered in the air, refreshing the mind and body.

Xu Ping, smelling the floral fragrance, felt nothing unusual.

However, the Lake Mouse and Spirit Worm seemed overwhelmingly tempted by it, becoming uncharacteristically restless, their eyes glowing with greed, as if they wanted to swallow it whole immediately.

Xu Ping quickly stopped the two beasts, due to his years of experience, he keenly noticed that this pistil had not fully bloomed and was obviously not yet mature.

This was probably why the peak Third-rank Middle Grade Demon Beast remained guarding nearby without devouring it all this time.