Xu Ping smiled faintly, "Fellow Daoist Gong, try the Spirit Tea I just picked recently. It tastes quite good!"

He gestured with his hand in an inviting manner.

"Then I must savor it well." Gong Yang raised the teacup and said with a smile.

With a cup of Spirit Tea consumed, the atmosphere between the two gradually became harmonious.

After a few more casual words, Gong Yang turned serious and spoke of the actual matter of his visit: "Fellow Daoist Xu, to be honest, I have an important matter to discuss with you today."

"Feel free to speak!" Xu Ping smiled slightly, adopting a posture of attentive listening.

"I want to invite Fellow Daoist Xu to explore a secret realm together."

Gong Yang organized his words briefly and said with a serious expression, "I know Fellow Daoist Xu has never been keen on exploring secret realms, but the situation this time is somewhat special."

"Oh?"

"What is special about it?"

Xu Ping asked with interest.

"I discovered traces of Crystal Condensing Liquid in that secret realm." A trace of excitement flashed in Gong Yang's eyes.

"Crystal Condensing Liquid?"

Xu Ping's heart jolted.

This Crystal Condensing Liquid is renowned in the Cultivation Realm, as it can at least increase the success rate of Core Formation by one or two percent.

Do not underestimate this one or two percent success rate; for countless cultivators at Foundation Establishment Perfection struggling to form a core, it's enough to lead them into fierce contests.

"Fellow Daoist Xu, look!"

As Gong Yang spoke, he gently flipped his hand, and a crystal-clear Jade Bottle appeared in his palm.

Xu Ping fixed his gaze, noticing a small cluster of silvery-white viscous liquid flowing inside the Jade Bottle.

"Is this Crystal Condensing Liquid inside?"

Xu Ping's face showed curiosity, as he had only ever heard of the renowned Crystal Condensing Liquid and never seen the actual object.

"Exactly!"

Gong Yang nodded with certainty, "What is contained inside is indeed genuine Crystal Condensing Liquid!"

"However, the quantity of this small cluster of Crystal Condensing Liquid is really insufficient. According to my estimation, at least five or six portions are needed to barely meet the requirement for a cultivator's Core Formation."

As Gong Yang spoke, a trace of regret appeared on his face.

"Five or six portions?" A glimmer of contemplation flickered in Xu Ping's eyes, before he continued to ask, "Fellow Daoist Gong, was this small portion of Crystal Condensing Liquid acquired from that ruin?"

"Indeed!"

Gong Yang answered confidently, "My friend and I only broke the restrictions on the periphery of that secret realm to obtain this small portion of Crystal Condensing Liquid."

"If all the restrictions in the secret realm can be broken, there must be plenty of Crystal Condensing Liquid remaining inside."

"However, the core restriction of that secret realm is extremely powerful. With my and my friend's abilities, it is very difficult to break it in a short time, and once we act, it's easy for information to leak out."

"Therefore, after much deliberation, I wish to invite Fellow Daoist Xu to come along. Once the restrictions are broken, the treasures inside will be equally divided among the three of us."

Gong Yang spoke sincerely, his tone was very earnest.

Now that he was at Late-Stage Foundation Establishment, he naturally started planning for Core Formation.

Facing such a rare opportunity, he naturally did not want to miss it easily.

"Does anyone else know about this matter? And it's not Duan Shuang?"

Xu Ping's eyebrows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

He pondered for a moment before asking, "I wonder how Fellow Daoist Gong discovered this ruin?"

"It was my friend Li Wei who told me." Gong Yang answered truthfully.

"Friend Li Wei?"

Xu Ping had no impression of this unfamiliar name. After hearing it, the slight interest remaining in his heart completely vanished.

Although he trusted Gong Yang, it was difficult to generate a sense of trust towards this friend of Gong Yang's whom he had never met.

"Thank you for the kind offer, Fellow Daoist Gong, but I am concerned that there might be traps or strong prohibitions lurking in the secret realm. In comparison, it is more prudent to stay at Thousand Leaves Mountain drawing talismans."

Xu Ping politely declined Gong Yang's invitation.

In his view, even if the secret realm truly held a large amount of Crystal Condensing Liquid, he wasn't interested in risking his safety to go there.

After all, he possessed a long lifespan, and there was ample time before he needed to form a core. There was no need to rush into danger at this time.

Once he reached Foundation Establishment Perfection, perfected the Sword Array cultivation, and broke through to the second stage of Sword Dao, it wouldn't be too late to slowly seek out Core Formation Spiritual Objects.

Upon hearing Xu Ping's refusal, Gong Yang instinctively wanted to persuade him further, but knowing Xu Ping's nature, he swallowed back the words that came to his lips.

"Since Fellow Daoist Xu is unwilling, I have no choice but to seek out others." Gong Yang shook his head with slight regret.

"Then I wish Fellow Daoist Gong a fruitful journey." Xu Ping said with a smile.

"Thank you for your kind words, Fellow Daoist Xu!" Gong Yang replied with a hearty laugh.

...

Two days later.

Dragon Market.

"Xu Ping didn't go?" Elder Hao was full of astonishment upon hearing Xu Zhixuan's report.

"Yes."

Xu Zhixuan said with a face full of helplessness, "According to Li Wei, Xu Ping refused because he was concerned that the secret realm might contain traps or hidden prohibitions."

"Concerned about traps or hidden prohibitions in the secret realm?" Elder Hao's eyebrows knitted together tightly.

What kind of ridiculous reason is that?

Given Xu Ping's demonstrated combat power, combined with his ability as a Tier Three Talisman Master, how could he be afraid of such things?

"Could it be that you, or perhaps that Li Wei, had a fault in the execution of the plan, which allowed Xu Ping to detect a flaw?"

Elder Hao's gaze turned sharp and dangerous.

"No... no!"

Xu Zhixuan broke into a cold sweat in fright and hurriedly explained, "I followed your plan precisely, proceeding cautiously every step of the way."

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