"This is the first reason. The second is that gift-giving can also lower his guard, making him think our Song family bears no grudges with him. If he comes out of Thousand Leaves Mountain, I'll seize the opportunity to personally end his life!"

Upon hearing this, Song Fei immediately nodded in admiration, "Uncle, your insight is impressive. I truly admire it!"

"Go now and remember to handle the matters I've assigned!" The yellow-robed Taoist nodded.

"Yes!"

After Song Fei cupped his hands in salute, he respectfully withdrew.

...

...

Over a month later.

Thousand Leaves Mountain, cultivation chamber.

Xu Ping took a piece of Second-stage talisman paper, spread it open on the stone table, and then lightly dipped a brush into spiritual ink made from Second-stage Demon Beast blood. Without any hesitation, he began to write.

The strokes flowed smoothly, like water, with no hindrance. The Spiritual Power was steady, and everything proceeded flawlessly, without the slightest accident.

"It's done!"

Seeing the spiritual light of the Celestial Thunder Talisman completely subdued, Xu Ping smiled faintly.

After spending two months, he finally succeeded in drawing the Second-stage Lower Grade talisman--the Celestial Thunder Talisman.

For others, this speed would be deemed monstrous, yet Xu Ping found it quite normal.

He could originally draw talismans with considerable skill, and with the assistance of the panel and Divine Sense, completing the Second-stage Lower Grade talisman in two months was quite normal.

As Xu Ping put away the Celestial Thunder Talisman and prepared to draw the second one, he seemed to sense something, stepped out of the cave, and dispersed the mist of the Array.

He saw the sky above Flower Butterfly Mountain filled with a vast Spiritual Qi.

"Is this... a breakthrough to Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment?" Xu Ping's face showed a trace of surprise.

But upon reflection, it seemed reasonable. As Duan Shuang had a Pure Yin Body, her innate talent was exceptionally strong.

Moreover, with considerable rewards from this relic exploration, breaking through to Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment was only logical.

"It seems I need to go and congratulate her." Xu Ping smiled.

He was quite pleased about Duan Shuang's breakthrough to Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment.

This also meant that Duan Shuang and Gong Yang's chances of obtaining the things he desired from the relics increased again.

...

...

Three days later, after Duan Shuang had completely stabilized her cultivation, Xu Ping and Gong Yang went to Flower Butterfly Mountain to congratulate her.

"Fellow Daoist Duan has broken through to Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment at just over fifty, while I am over a hundred and still circling at Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment," Gong Yang said enviously.

"Fellow Daoist Gong is modest, your improvements aren't small either. You're now at the peak of Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment, just a step away from breaking through to Late-Stage Foundation Establishment," Xu Ping smiled.

"But I don't know when I'll be able to break through this last step!" Gong Yang said worriedly.

Though he reached the peak of Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment thanks to the opportunities from the relic, he could clearly feel the bottleneck.

Without external help, breaking through indeed seemed very difficult.

'It seems the relic's opportunities are necessary. Now that Fellow Daoist Duan has broken through to Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment, our chances of obtaining them together have increased.'

'But we've offended the Song family gravely, and I'm afraid if we meet again in the relics, we'll encounter danger!' Gong Yang thought inwardly.

...

Inside Duan Shuang's cave.

"Congratulations to Fellow Daoist Duan for advancing further on the path of the Great Dao. You now have hope of achieving the Golden Core!" Xu Ping and Gong Yang both congratulated with smiles.

Immediately, the maid delivered their congratulatory gifts before Duan Shuang.

Gong Yang's gift was a one-time-use defensive Jade Token, while Xu Ping's gift was a Second-stage Beauty Pill.

"Thanks for your kind words, dear Daoists. Please have a seat!"

Seeing the Second-stage Beauty Pill Xu Ping gifted, Duan Shuang's eyes sparkled, her smile radiant, and she warmly invited the two of them to a stone table laid with delicious cuisine.

Clearly, she favored Xu Ping's gift more.

Seeing this, Gong Yang was speechless.

In terms of value and practicality, his one-time-use defensive Jade Token was undoubtedly superior.

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