"Didn't I tell you? Unless there's something important, don't disturb me."

Zhang Yan was interrupted by the sound of the door opening. Just as he was about to reprimand someone, he saw Xu Ping standing at the door with a blank expression.

"Fellow Dao... Elder Xu!" Zhang Yan quickly stood straight, shocked, causing the smoky object he held to drop to the floor with a crisp sound.

Du Xinghuai heard this and immediately became alert, sitting up straight with a sheepish smile on his face, "Elder Xu!"

"Hmm."

Xu Ping nodded, his face expressionless.

"I... I suddenly remembered I have some business to attend to, so I'll be leaving now." Du Xinghuai found a flimsy excuse and dashed out, leaving Zhang Yan alone in the small room.

The young cultivator understood the gravity of the situation, seeing the shopkeeper and Alchemist Du show such respect to this elder, quickly made his exit.

"This... this is bark from a special tree that Alchemist Du harvested, it has calming properties," Zhang Yan explained with a flattering smile while packing up.

Xu Ping didn't say much.

Old habits die hard, and he couldn't possibly force Zhang Yan to stop consuming Pills.

After tidying the room, Zhang Yan ordered the attendant to serve them tea.

"Elder Xu, if you have specifically come here, is there something you need from me?" Zhang Yan asked with a beaming smile.

"It's nothing major, I came down from 'Qiu Xuan Mountain' and thought to drop by and see you." Xu Ping replied after sipping some Spirit Tea.

"I am grateful for your concern, elder, I've been doing well." Zhang Yan's smile widened upon hearing this.

Indeed, delivering the Alchemy knowledge had been worthwhile, to warrant a visit from a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

"It's good to hear all is well. But recently, the surroundings of the Immortal City have seen an increase in Demon Beasts; be on your guard." Xu Ping nodded.

"Is that so?"

Zhang Yan was momentarily stunned and then nodded, "Understood."

Though he hadn't heard of such things, given the other was a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, he had no reason to doubt him.

"Hmm."

Xu Ping nodded.

After chatting for a while, Xu Ping bid farewell and returned to Qiu Xuan Mountain.

...

...

Seven days later, Qiu Xuan Mountain.

Training room.

Xu Ping used Mana to suspend the Purple Sun Sword in mid-air, then retrieved a Jade Bottle from his storage bag.

Removing the cap, he sprinkled a gray powder over the Purple Sun Sword.

In an instant, the originally radiant Purple Sun Sword dimmed, its purple hue growing lifeless.

"Good. No one will recognize it now."

Xu Ping nodded in satisfaction, gripping the sword hilt, as Mana surged, a sharp aura filled the training room.

This was a special powder capable of altering the appearance of a Magical Artifact without causing any harm.

And his top-grade sword was purchased from 'Qiu Xuan Mountain,' many would recognize it.

Thus, disguising it was necessary.

Xu Ping held the Purple Sun Sword in one hand and entered the practice chamber.

With the flow of Mana, Sword Qi silently gathered around him, forming an invisible current that ebbed with his breath.

Buzz!

The Purple Sun Sword trembled slightly in his hand, faint traces of thunder sounded.

Xu Ping nearly couldn't resist unleashing a full sweep, but fortunately, he restrained himself at the last moment.

With a top-grade magical sword, a full power swing might destroy the entire cavern and even disrupt the Array.

"Phew!"

Xu Ping exhaled deeply, secretly astonished, "This top-grade sword is really something!"

Merely having a thought of practicing swordsmanship caused the automatic Sword Qi Thunder Sound.

Couldn't imagine the strength if fully exerted.

"Need more harmonization, else every practice will trigger Sword Qi Thunder Sound, that would be troublesome." After calming his mood, Xu Ping flicked the sword tip, and the Primordial Sword Skill flowed smoothly.

...

...

Since acquiring the top-grade sword, Xu Ping ceased to venture out, focusing solely on cultivation.

However, the surroundings of Qiu Xuan Immortal City saw an increasing number of Demon Beasts, even Second-stage Demon Beasts started appearing frequently, increasing the assignments for Guest Ministers.

Eventually, people began to get hurt.

Everyone sensed something wasn't right, secretly pondering,

'Could the beast tide truly be coming?'

...

Three months later.

Xu Ping continued cultivating silently in his training room.

Suddenly.

Dong!

A long, distant bell resounded from the mountain top, piercing through the Array, reaching Xu Ping's ears.

"This bell sound... does it mean Qiu Xuan Ancestor has emerged?"

Xu Ping's face registered a trace of surprise.

He quickly donned the Guest Minister attire from his storage bag and hurried out the door.

...

Inside a grand hall with imposing columns lining both sides, the pillars emitted a radiant glow, clearly inscribed with some Array.

By the time Xu Ping arrived, many had already gathered in the hall, with Foundation Establishment cultivators standing in two rows, the atmosphere tense.

The Golden Core Ancestor had yet to arrive.

"Alchemist Xu."

"Alchemist Xu."

"Fellow Daoist Xu."

.....

The Foundation Establishment cultivators in the hall greeted Xu Ping upon his entrance.

Xu Ping smiled and nodded in return.

His current standing in 'Qiu Xuan Mountain' was higher than most Guest Ministers.

"Fellow Daoist Xu, join us here." Xu Zhixuan beckoned Xu Ping over with a smile.

"Since Qiu Xuan Ancestor has emerged, something serious must have happened?" Xu Ping asked as he reached behind him.

"Recently, the demon beasts around the Immortal City have increased drastically, suggesting the beast tide is prematurely arriving, such a significant event would naturally bring Qiu Xuan Ancestor out." Xu Zhixuan's expression turned serious.

"Moreover, expelling Second-stage Demon Beasts has resulted in a Guest Minister's death." He said in a lowered voice.

"A Guest Minister has died!" Xu Ping felt shock coursing through him.

The beast tide hadn't even started, yet a Foundation Establishment cultivator had died; if it did erupt, wouldn't that mean a batch of Foundations would perish?

"Just unlucky..." Xu Zhixuan was about to continue when footsteps sounded suddenly.

The crowd turned toward the sound, seeing a middle-aged man of average appearance, slightly short at about 1.6 meters in height, with dark skin, walking in.

Despite his less than favorable appearance, his sharp eyes were like swords, and his movements carried the majestic presence of a Golden Core.

Once he arrived, the great hall fell silent.

"Qiu Xuan Ancestor!"

With such imposing presence, there was only one such person in Qiu Xuan Mountain, Xu Ping dared not look further, promptly lowering his eyes.

Qiu Xuan Ancestor took his seat, scanning the hall, causing everyone to bow their heads.

"Regarding the increase in demon beasts around the Immortal City, I personally inspected Yellow Dragon Mountain Range a few days ago and detected the presence of a Third-stage grand demon in the inner mountain..." Qiu Xuan Ancestor's voice was steady but weighed heavily upon everyone's hearts.

"All signs indicate... the beast tide is truly about to erupt prematurely!"

Though everyone had their suspicions, having Qiu Xuan Ancestor confirm it made hearts palpably heavy.

If not for the presence of the Golden Core Ancestor, there would likely have been a commotion.

"The beast tide is coming!"

Xu Ping's heart sank, though his power outstripped ordinary Foundations, the beast tide would have Third-stage Demon Beasts appearing.

His humble Dao path was far from anything significant.

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