"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Song, for the generous gift." Duan Shuang also expressed her gratitude with a smile.

"No need for formalities, Fellow Daoists. It's just a humble gift, I shall take my leave now." Song Qiwu smiled slightly, turned around, and left.

"Take care, Fellow Daoist." The three of them escorted him out of the cave.

...

Watching the silhouette gradually fade in the distance, Gong Yang sighed, "It seems the Song family genuinely wants to resolve our conflict, and we owe it to Fellow Daoist Xu."

"After all, Fellow Daoist Xu is a swordsmanship prodigy, the Song family surely wouldn't want to offend him easily." Duan Shuang smiled radiantly, her beautiful eyes glancing over Xu Ping, filled with admiration.

Listening to their admiration, Xu Ping rubbed his nose, "You both flatter me too much, surely the Song family respects all three of us."

"Fellow Daoist Xu, you are too modest. I know my own worth, without you, the Song family might not even glance at me." Gong Yang said self-deprecatingly.

Duan Shuang smiled gently and interjected, "Regardless, the Song family's initiative to resolve our conflict is worth celebrating, tonight we drink to our heart's content!"

"Indeed, we drink to our heart's content!"

...

After Song Qiwu left, the three continued the banquet.

The festivities continued until the end of the hour of Hai.

During this time, Duan Shuang and Gong Yang resumed discussions about continuing the exploration of the ruins.

Now that the Song family has reconciled with them, without a troublesome enemy, the idea of exploring the ruins naturally resurfaced.

Both of them had gained significant benefits from it, so naturally, they wouldn't easily give it up.

Xu Ping, as usual, funded their puppets and talismans, while asking them to help find spiritual objects for prolonging life.

After a brief discussion, they quickly sorted out all the details: "Alright, we'll join the underground auction first, then proceed."

"Would Fellow Daoist Xu be interested in joining?" Gong Yang extended the invitation to Xu Ping.

Due to the events related to the ruins, the underground auction was set in the Wanzhe Waters, promising a variety of items.

Duan Shuang and Gong Yang both had items they needed, so they invited Xu Ping to join the auction before exploring the ruins.

"An underground auction, huh?"

Xu Ping's eyes sparkled, tempted by the idea.

He currently lacked a puppetry technique and a fire attribute demon core.

The puppetry technique goes without saying, and the fire attribute demon core was intended for the Water Lake Mouse to break through to the second-stage.

He already had a water attribute demon core, now he just needed the fire attribute demon core.

However, these two items were rare and not commonly seen in regular markets; perhaps they might only appear at an underground auction.

Yet, thinking of the Song family's ancestor secretly spying, his excitement quelled.

"I won't be going." Xu Ping shook his head.

Although the Song family has reconciled with them superficially, Xu Ping was certain they were still secretly observing him.

There was no need to take unnecessary risks.

"However, I would like to trouble you two, Fellow Daoists, to help me buy a puppetry technique and a fire attribute demon core at the underground auction."

"The puppetry technique should be third-grade, and the higher the grade of the fire attribute demon core, the better!" Xu Ping clasped his hands.

Although he wouldn't attend, entrusting Duan Shuang and Gong Yang could achieve the same goals.

"Third-grade puppetry technique, fire attribute demon core?"

Gong Yang paused, and after realizing, nodded, "That should be no problem, but I'm not sure if they can be found."

While the third-grade puppetry technique and fire attribute demon core are rare, they do not attract the attention of fake pill and Golden Core cultivators; this favor can be helped.

"It's fine, just do your best, Fellow Daoists." Xu Ping smiled, and then handed each of them a demon core and thousands of spirit stones to cover the auction funds for the puppetry technique and demon core.

"If the spirit stones are insufficient, I'll be sure to reimburse both of you once you've bought the items."

...

...

After the banquet concluded, Xu Ping returned alone to the Thousand Leaves Mountain.

Inside the cultivation room.

Sitting cross-legged on a meditation mat, Xu Ping took out Song Qiwu's wooden box, and with a swipe of his divine sense, easily erased the restriction on it.

Then he reached out and opened the wooden box, it emitted a faint spiritual qi, revealing a sleek piece of spirit wood, the material was delicate, imbued with a hint of spirituality.

"This is... third-rank spirit wood?" Xu Ping expressed surprise.

Though just a small section, it could be used to create third-rank talisman paper, thus quite valuable.

"The Song family is quite generous; when the time comes to extinguish them, I'll make sure they don't feel pain." Xu Ping thought silently.

After putting the third-rank spirit wood back into the wooden box and securing the restrictions, Xu Ping began his cultivation for the day.

...

...

In cultivation, there is no perception of time, and in the blink of an eye, ten days had passed.

After attending the underground auction, Gong Yang sought out Xu Ping.

"Fellow Daoist Xu, the puppetry inheritance was not found at the auction, but I managed to acquire a Second-stage Upper Grade Fire Attribute Demon Core."

Gong Yang, looking resigned, took out a transparent jade box, which contained a fiery red Demon Core.

"A Second-stage Upper Grade Fire Attribute Demon Core?" Xu Ping's eyes lit up involuntarily.

He hadn't expected to gather both items in one go, so finding a Second-stage Upper Grade Fire Attribute Demon Core was already an unexpected delight.

It's important to know that specific attribute Demon Cores are difficult to find. Finding a Second-stage Middle Grade one is already considered good.

With this Second-stage Upper Grade Demon Core, the chance for the water lake rat to break through the second stage increased again.

"Finding a Second-stage Upper Grade Fire Attribute Demon Core is already an unexpected delight. Thank you greatly, Fellow Daoist Gong!" Xu Ping gratefully clasped his hands after storing the Demon Core.

"No need to be so polite, Fellow Daoist Xu; here are the remaining Spirit Stones and Demon Cores!" Gong Yang handed the remaining Spirit Stones and Demon Cores to Xu Ping.

After Xu Ping put everything away, he smiled and asked, "When will Fellow Daoists Gong and Duan go explore the relics?"

"In five days. Fellow Daoist Duan still has some preparations to make and is currently in seclusion," Gong Yang replied.

"I see, may Fellow Daoist Gong accept these talismans and pass a few to Fellow Daoist Duan as well." Xu Ping handed over the Second-stage talismans he had drawn to Gong Yang.

Receiving the Second-stage talismans, Gong Yang chuckled, "I'm truly grateful to Fellow Daoist Xu!"

'To do things for Fellow Daoist Xu, he is indeed generous if it can be accomplished.'

'If I didn't know how to refine artifacts, I'd consider working for Fellow Daoist Xu full-time.'

After some more casual chatting, Gong Yang took his leave.

With only a few days left before exploring the relics, he naturally needed to make some more preparations.

...

...

After Gong Yang left, Xu Ping leisurely made his way to the spiritual field.

From the outskirts of the Thousand Leaves Mountain peak to the mountainside, a vast expanse of lush green spread out, where spirit plants and spirit medicines were thriving.

In the center of the spiritual field, a verdant Hundred Bamboo Wood was growing straight, emitting waves of Spiritual Qi.

"Tribulation Spirit Skill!"

Xu Ping, with a calm expression, performed a magic technique with his hands, lightly pointing with his fingers. Hundreds of strands of Longevity Mana shot out from his fingertips, instantly hitting the spirit plants and spirit medicines planted in the spiritual field.

Whoosh!

In an instant!

The originally lush spirit plants and spirit medicines quickly turned yellow and withered, and within moments, they turned into masses of black ash, leaving behind clusters of life-filled green light orbs.

"Go!"

With a flick of Xu Ping's fingers, these clusters of green light orbs instantly merged into the Hundred Bamboo Wood.

Buzz!

As the Hundred Bamboo Wood continuously absorbed these green light orbs, the entire Spirit Wood emanated a green spiritual glow, exuding a rich aura of vitality.

Crack! Crack!

Amidst a series of crisp sounds, the entire Hundred Bamboo Wood began to grow visibly taller.

It grew a full foot taller before gradually stopping.

"The Tribulation Spirit Skill has reached Minor Achievement, and the efficiency has indeed increased considerably!" Seeing the Hundred Bamboo Wood now two meters tall, Xu Ping nodded in satisfaction.

It's at least twice as efficient as at the proficiency level.

At this rate, in no more than seven years, this Hundred Bamboo Wood will grow enough to refine thirty-six magic swords.

It's getting close!

...

After performing the Tribulation Spirit Skill, Xu Ping did not forget to use the 'Spirit Storage Skill' to stabilize the growth of the Hundred Bamboo Wood.

"Come here, and fill this spiritual field with spirit plants and spirit medicine!"

With a thought, Xu Ping summoned the water lake rat and gave it an order!

The water lake rat scampered over, its face full of flattery.

"Work hard, and once you reach the peak of the First Rank, I will help you break through to the second stage!" Xu Ping took out the jade box containing the Second-stage Upper Grade Fire Attribute Demon Core and revealed a slight gap.

The scent of the Demon Core almost made the water lake rat drool.

It patted its chest with its paws, as if to say it would take care of it.

"Go on, work hard!" With a flick of his finger, Xu Ping sent a Pill into the water lake rat's mouth.

With a 'gulp', the water lake rat swallowed it and energetically began planting spirit medicine.

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