txolops Chapter 166 The Shadow Reappears
Chapter 166 The Shadow Reappears
A third-tier puppet possesses the combat power to rival a Core Formation cultivator.
Looking at the little doll in his hand, Li Ping couldn't help but let his mind wander.
If he were to create dozens of Tier 3 puppets in the future, wouldn't he be able to roam freely in the Western Wilderness?
During the battle, dozens of third-tier puppets swarmed forward. Even Xiao, the Alliance Leader who is known as the number one cultivator in the Western Wilderness, would have to temporarily retreat.
Thinking of this, Li Ping's gaze fell on the small print on the third-tier puppet.
Of the nutrients needed for inheritance, spirit stones are easy to obtain.
Of the remaining two nutrients, ironwood is not a particularly precious spiritual wood. However, ironwood that is a thousand years old can be used to refine magical treasures. Generally, it will fall into the hands of Core Formation cultivators after it appears in the world, and Foundation Establishment cultivators rarely have the opportunity to come into contact with it.
He still needs a section that's ten feet long, which won't be easy to handle.
However, compared to a third-tier spirit, this thousand-year-old ironwood seems to be nothing.
To obtain a third-tier soul essence, he either needs to kill a third-tier demonic beast or a Core Formation cultivator and extract their soul for refinement!
The difficulty of either one is far beyond what a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator like Li Ping could accomplish.
Before reaching the Core Formation stage, he would never consider doing something as difficult as challenging opponents of higher levels.
Moreover, according to Yu Menghan...
The materials used to craft third-tier puppets are all extremely precious, and most of them can also be used to craft magical artifacts.
Even if he did collect all the necessary thousand-year-old ironwood and third-order essence, and with his unparalleled talent, he would still be able to inherit the third-order puppetry technique researched by generations of cultivators of the Heavenly Craft Sect.
And it can be manufactured with a 100% success rate.
But with his current financial resources, it's simply impossible for him to create a third-tier puppet.
Therefore, the idea of forming a third-tier puppet army can be described as a long and arduous task.
"No rush, we can take our time with the puppets. The most important thing right now is my cultivation." Li Ping shook his head and returned to the training room to cultivate diligently.
After breaking through to the Foundation Establishment realm, and undergoing decades of arduous cultivation, he could clearly sense that he was not far from breaking through to the mid-Foundation Establishment stage.
……
After the New Year.
Ji Shuxuan visited Li Ping at Xiantao Mountain, and also brought news of Yan Hengchuan.
In the message, Yan Hengchuan mentioned that he planned to return to the Immortal City soon and pay his respects to his master.
Li Ping scanned Ji Shuxuan with his divine sense and discovered that his cultivation had reached the eighth level of Qi Refining.
Clearly, in the years since Master Ji passed away, he has not slacked off and has been very diligent in his cultivation, which is why he has achieved such a high level of cultivation.
He was also quite clear about Yan Hengchuan's situation.
Although Yan Hengchuan only possessed five spiritual roots and was not as talented as Ji Shuxuan, he practiced a demonic cultivation technique that allowed for rapid advancement.
Therefore, Yan Hengchuan's cultivation level is now much stronger than Ji Shuxuan's, having already reached the peak of the eighth level of Qi Refining.
Perhaps, when he comes to the city to pay his respects to Li Ping, what will appear before Li Ping will be a cultivator at the ninth level of Qi Refining.
After Ji Shuxuan informed Yan Hengchuan of the matter, around the middle of that year, Yan Hengchuan indeed came to the Immortal City to visit Li Ping.
He was originally a cultivator from the Immortal City, possessing an identity token from the Immortal City. Now, after decades of cultivation, he could freely control the demonic aura of the "Blood Spirit Hundred Transformations True Scripture" on his body, making it easy for him to conceal his presence when entering and leaving the Immortal City.
Li Ping quickly scanned the area with his divine sense and discovered that his cultivation had indeed reached the ninth level of Qi Refining.
If an ordinary cultivator were at his level, he could reach the peak of the ninth level of Qi Refining within three to four years, and then attempt to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage with the help of a Foundation Establishment spiritual object.
However, Yan Hengchuan had cultivated the "Foundation Seizure Method," and his magical energy was already bound to Yan Liming. Under these circumstances, he could not use the traditional foundation-building method to build his foundation.
There is only one way for him to establish his foundation: wait until Yan Liming establishes his foundation, then seize Yan Liming and take over his foundation!
However, more than ten years ago, he sensed that Yan Liming's presence had suddenly disappeared, and he was very worried that something had happened to Yan Liming.
As a result, he was depressed for a time and even lost his energy for cultivation.
However, with Li Ping's reassurance, he continued his cultivation diligently and eventually achieved his current level of cultivation.
Upon seeing Li Ping, Yan Hengchuan immediately exclaimed excitedly, "Grandmaster! I can sense that demon Yan Liming's aura again!"
"Oh?" Li Ping was a little surprised, but then he nodded: "Let's talk inside."
The two entered the training room, and Yan Hengchuan began to explain in detail.
Li Ping listened and nodded.
From Yan Hengchuan's description, he learned that about half a year ago, when Yan Hengchuan was cultivating, he suddenly sensed Yan Liming's aura.
Just like nearly ten years ago when Yan Liming's aura suddenly disappeared, this time his aura also appeared abruptly.
Furthermore, based on the sensations from the "Foundation-Seizing Method," Yan Hengchuan judged that Yan Liming had successfully established his foundation and was now a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
This made Yan Hengchuan extremely excited.
This made Yan Hengchuan extremely excited.
After all, whether Yan Liming can successfully establish his foundation is related to his path in cultivation.
To be honest, he was even more eager than Yan Liming himself for Yan Liming to succeed in establishing his foundation.
However, to perform the "Foundation-Seizing Technique," one must still reach the peak of the ninth level of Qi Refining.
Therefore, he did not rush to Immortal City to inform Li Ping of this matter. Instead, he waited until he broke through to the ninth level of Qi Refining before coming to Immortal City and telling Li Ping the details of the matter.
"That's a good thing." After listening to Yan Hengchuan's explanation, Li Ping raised his eyebrows and nodded.
After thinking for a moment, he asked again, "Is Yan Liming still deep in the Cloud and Mist Mountains?"
Yan Hengchuan shook his head: "He's gone. As soon as I sensed his presence, he left the Cloud Mist Mountains and headed towards the Western Wilderness. Perhaps he returned to the territory of the Blood Shadow Sect's Demonic Cult."
"He actually returned to the Blood Shadow Sect as soon as he successfully established his foundation." Li Ping was also somewhat surprised to hear this.
If Yan Liming is also a cowardly cultivator who retreats into hiding after returning to the Blood Shadow Sect, then that would be troublesome.
After a moment's thought, he instructed Yan Hengchuan, "You should focus on your cultivation for now, and we'll talk again when you reach the peak of the ninth level of Qi Refining."
He is not far from breaking through to the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment. Once he breaks through, his combat power will increase significantly, and he will be more confident in dealing with Yan Liming.
"Yes, Grandmaster!" Yan Hengchuan replied respectfully.
He obeyed his master's orders without question.
……
After Yan Hengchuan left, Bai Lin came to tidy up.
Li Ping then noticed that Bai Lin's cultivation had already reached the peak of the late stage of Qi Refining, and she could try to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage.
In fact, Li Ping had made arrangements for her to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage long ago, and several years ago, he had been constantly nourishing her with the power of the Nourishing Life Technique, allowing her original essence to return to its peak.
Thinking of this, he nodded slightly to himself: "I should give her that Foundation Establishment Pill."
After Bai Lin finished tidying up, Li Ping called her over with a smile. After checking her cultivation level, he showed a satisfied expression: "Not bad, Lin'er, you can try Foundation Establishment now."
After saying that, he took out a jade bottle from his storage bag and handed it to Bai Lin.
Amidst Bai Lin's astonished expression, Li Ping smiled and said, "This jade bottle contains a Foundation Establishment Pill. From today onwards, put everything aside and focus on seclusion to adjust your state. Once you feel ready, you can directly take this Foundation Establishment Pill to attempt to establish your foundation."
"Foundation Building Pill!" Bai Lin was extremely surprised, but at the same time, there was some struggle in her eyes.
Li Ping, however, did not notice the change in Bai Lin's expression. After giving Bai Lin the Foundation Establishment Pill, he waved his hand to indicate that Bai Lin did not need to thank him, and he had already returned to the training room to cultivate.
In his view, his own cave dwelling was protected by two layers of formations, and apart from him and Bai Lin, only Meng family cultivators were qualified to enter and exit.
However, the Meng family has an excellent reputation, and as long as he pays his rent on time, they will not bother him.
Therefore, in this second-tier high-grade spiritual land, Bai Lin can directly attempt to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage without even needing Li Ping's protection.
After arranging Bai Lin's foundation building, Li Ping immersed himself in arduous cultivation. Before he knew it, another month had passed, and it was time to treat the Seven-Colored Illusionary Light Butterfly once a month.
As Li Ping emerged from seclusion, he immediately spotted the communication talismans flying erratically within the formation.
Reaching out, he tore open the communication talisman, and Yu Menghan's voice came through, saying that she was waiting outside Li Pingdong's residence.
Normally, Li Ping wouldn't need to worry about such matters; Bai Lin would handle them. However, Bai Lin is currently in seclusion, attempting to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage, so Li Ping has to personally guide Yu Menghan into the cave.
"I wonder how Lin'er is doing." Li Ping walked towards the entrance of the formation while scanning the place where Bai Lin lived with his divine sense.
To his surprise, Bai Lin's room was completely empty; he couldn't even see a soul in sight.
"Did they go out?" Li Ping wondered, and his steps faltered.
He quickly resumed his steps, continuing towards the entrance of the formation.
Then, he activated the formation and lured Yu Menghan inside.
Yu Menghan was clearly surprised that it was Li Ping, not Bai Lin, who came to greet her.
However, Li Ping did not explain anything and directly led her into the house to complete the treatment for the Seven-Colored Illusionary Light Butterfly for the day.
Before leaving, Li Ping thought of the nourishment he needed to inherit the third-order puppet-making technique. He smiled and said, "Fairy Yu, I have a favor to ask, and I hope you can grant it."
After examining the butterfly, Yu Menghan found that its condition had improved.
In a great mood, she waved her hand and said, "Fellow Daoist Li, please speak freely. I will do my best to fulfill your request."
"It's like this, I'd like to change the payment for the next two treatments," Li Ping said calmly.
Upon hearing this, Yu Menghan's expression turned strange and unnatural, as if she thought Li Ping was going to raise the price at the last minute.
She said calmly, "Oh? Fellow Daoist Li, why don't you tell me?"
"I need a piece of thousand-year-old ironwood, about ten feet long! If Fairy Yu is willing to provide it, I can forgo my next two opportunities to choose treasures." Li Ping smiled and said, "This shouldn't be too difficult for you, Fairy. Of course, if the value difference is too great, I'm willing to make up the difference."