Chapter 256: Chapter 253: Spirit Beast Advancement

Not long after.

Xiao Yunzhi left with the Blazing Sun Bird. As for whether she returned to the Western Wilderness or went to Yong’an City, she did not inform Li Ping.

The Mustard Seed Heaven, and Gao Ji Taoist who resided within it.

In accordance with Gao Ji Taoist’s own wishes, he preferred to stay with Li Ping, so Xiao Yunzhi did not take him, leaving him by Li Ping’s side instead.

...

In the courtyard, Li Ping was checking on the Earth Spirit Rat’s condition.

He was not a Beast Master, but performing a basic check-up on a Spirit Beast posed no problem for him.

Back when he killed the Seven Immortals of the North Pole and seized the Earth Spirit Rat from them, the creature had already reached Tier Two Lower Grade. After so many years of following Li Ping and consuming numerous Tier Two Spirit Pills, it had also recently refined one-third of a Dragon Blood Grass stalk.

The Earth Spirit Rat was finally about to advance.

Unlike humans and Aliens, Demon Beasts had no concept of Spiritual Roots or Cultivation Techniques. Their cultivation process was actually a constant awakening of their inner bloodline to obtain the power inherited from their ancestors.

Generally speaking, how far a Demon Beast could go was inextricably linked to the bloodline within it.

The stronger the bloodline, the greater the potential, and the higher the chance of becoming a Great Demon.

The Earth Spirit Rat’s bloodline was inferior to that of a Spirit Beast like the Desolate Fire Sparrow, which had awakened a True Spirit Bloodline. Thus, in terms of advancement speed, ease of advancement, lifespan, and combat strength... it was far inferior to the Desolate Fire Sparrow.

It was like comparing a cultivator with mixed Spiritual Roots to one with a Celestial Spiritual Root; a fundamental difference in their very origin.

Therefore, the Desolate Fire Sparrow’s advancement had been a natural success, while the Earth Spirit Rat’s could be expected to be much more difficult.

After a thorough inspection, Li Ping found that although the power of the Dragon Blood Grass had brought it to the brink of advancement, its chances of success were actually not that high.

Li Ping couldn’t help but worry.

After all, if it failed to advance, even if Li Ping healed it in time with his Nourishing Life Skill Power, it would still miss this opportunity. Goodness knew how long it would have to wait for the next chance.

’The Earth Spirit Rat has a talent for finding Celestial and Earthly Treasures. After it advances, its talent will surely be enhanced, and it will be able to find more precious Spiritual Objects.’

After a moment of contemplation, Li Ping decided to do something.

Things that could increase a Demon Beast’s chances of advancement were either Spirit Grass like the Dragon Blood Grass, Spirit Pills made specifically for Demon Beasts, or the Demon Cores and Essence Blood of High-tier Demon Beasts of the same attribute.

Li Ping planned to tackle this from three angles.

For the task of searching for Spiritual Objects and Earth Attribute Demon Cores and Essence Blood, he used his personal connection with Shi Yutong to ask for her help in collecting them.

As for pills.

The Earth Spirit Rat was an Earth Attribute Demon Beast. Li Ping planned to refine a type of Tier Two Middle Grade Spirit Pill called the "Yellow Jade Pill." Feeding it to the rat to refine during its advancement would increase its chances of success.

As he was thinking, Gao Ji Taoist’s voice reached his ears. "That Spirit Bird must be a celestial Spirit Bird with a True Spirit Bloodline, right? And this treasure-hunting rat... Tsk tsk, Fellow Daoist Li, your fortune is truly astonishing. Even this old man is a little envious."

When he cultivated, Li Ping would seal Gao Ji Taoist in the Jade Box to prevent him from discovering his secrets.

However, when he took a break from cultivation to feed his Spirit Beasts or rest, as he was doing now, he would let Gao Ji Taoist out for some air.

Li Ping shook his head. "Senior, you flatter me. Both of my Spirit Beasts are only Tier Two. They’re nothing to be envious of."

Gao Ji Taoist was dismissive. "A Spirit Bird with a True Spirit Bloodline will have no trouble passing its Transformation Tribulation. As long as you raise it patiently, Fellow Daoist Li, you will sooner or later possess a Nascent Soul Level Spirit Beast."

Li Ping smiled but said nothing.

"If you’re worried about your current combat strength, Fellow Daoist Li, this old man once hid some Spiritual Materials for refining a Tier Three Puppet in a certain treasury," Gao Ji Taoist suggested. "Go and retrieve them. It’s more than enough to build a Tier Three Puppet. With one of those in hand, you’ll have no worries about protecting yourself."

In fact, this wasn’t the first time Gao Ji Taoist had made this suggestion.

He didn’t care about the Spiritual Materials he had collected over the years. Compared to the materials themselves, he was more eager to personally witness Li Ping refine a Tier Three Puppet.

Upon hearing Gao Ji Taoist’s suggestion, Li Ping just shook his head. "I’m afraid I’ll have to disappoint you, Senior. I’m currently focused on cultivating to break through to Core Formation and really can’t spare the time to retrieve the contents of your treasury."

Gao Ji Taoist persisted, "Actually, this treasury is less than a million li from Flying Snow City. With your escape speed, a round trip wouldn’t take long at all."

Li Ping still shook his head and refused. "I don’t have time to go out."

Gao Ji Taoist sighed and said no more.

...

Placing the Mustard Seed Heaven where Gao Ji Taoist resided into a Jade Box and sealing off his Spiritual Sense, Li Ping turned and walked back to his training room.

A Tier Three Puppet. Of course he wanted one.

If he hadn’t been unable to gather the necessary Spiritual Materials, he would have started building a Tier Three Puppet long ago.

But now Gao Ji Taoist was saying his treasury contained the Spiritual Materials needed to build a Tier Three Puppet, and he was willing to give them all to Li Ping?

Based on Gao Ji Taoist’s previous trustworthiness, Li Ping was inclined to believe him.

Whether it was giving Xiao Yunzhi the Ten Thousand Year Cold Jade or giving him the complete Ten Thousand Spirits Divine Communication Skill, Gao Ji Taoist had always acted with sincerity and hadn’t played any malicious tricks.

But he knew full well that in human society, all acts of honesty and trustworthiness were often just a setup for one final, big betrayal.

Who knew if Gao Ji Taoist’s repeated fulfillment of his promises was just a ploy to gain his trust and deceive him?

What if he eagerly took Gao Ji Taoist to retrieve the Spiritual Materials from the treasury, only to find that there were no materials at all—just a Tier Three Puppet that Gao Ji Taoist had already refined and controlled?

If he were to face a Tier Three Puppet equivalent to a Core Formation Cultivator, even if he could escape with his Blood Wing Escape Skill, he would probably be hunted relentlessly by Gao Ji Taoist, unable to cultivate in peace.

That was a scenario he was unwilling to face. He had no desire to walk into a trap orchestrated by Gao Ji Taoist.

He didn’t want to become ’Li the Runner’; he just wanted to focus on his cultivation and break through to Core Formation.

Besides, given his current situation, a Tier Three Puppet was not an urgent need.

Laying low and cultivating in Flying Snow City every day was perfectly fine.

Gao Ji Taoist’s treasury wasn’t going to grow legs and run away. Li Ping estimated he would reach Core Formation within a dozen years or so. What was the harm in waiting until after his breakthrough to go and get it?

Before reaching Core Formation, no matter what Gao Ji Taoist said, his response would be a uniform ’Too lazy to go out.’

...

Several months later, with Shi Yutong’s help, Li Ping finally gathered all the Spiritual Objects needed for the Earth Spirit Rat’s advancement. He also successfully refined a batch of Yellow Jade Pills and gave them to the Earth Spirit Rat to refine.

After watching it consume all the Spiritual Objects and transform into a yellow, earthy phantom before disappearing into the ground, Li Ping nodded slightly.

The protective array around his cave residence was actually spherical, so the ground beneath was also within its range. The Earth Spirit Rat had burrowed underground to enter a dormant state, using the special subterranean environment to make its advancement easier.

"I’ve prepared everything for you. The rest is up to your own efforts," Li Ping said softly, then returned to his training room to continue his arduous cultivation.

Fortunately, the Earth Spirit Rat did not disappoint him.

At the end of that year, Li Ping was sitting in a pavilion, chatting with Ji Shu Xuan, who had come to pay a visit.

Every so often, Ji Shu Xuan would take the initiative to visit Li Ping and report on recent events in Flying Snow City. This time was no exception.

Ji Shu Xuan looked even more aged than he had at Xu Guikai’s Dao Companion ceremony the previous year.

His Origin had been damaged. When he was younger, it was fine, as his vigorous life force suppressed the issue.

But now that he was older, he seemed to change almost daily, aging at a shocking rate.

His hair was stark white, and his withered face was crisscrossed with wrinkles like old tree bark. Liver spots, faint and scattered like dried tangerine peel, dotted the valleys and ridges of his features.

Ji Shu Xuan described the city’s recent events to Li Ping in a low voice.

Looking at this face, its handsome contours still faintly visible, Li Ping’s gaze seemed to pierce through time and space. He saw a scene from over seventy years ago: the youthful faces of Ji Shu Xuan and Yan Hengchuan, brought to him in Fenglan Immortal City by Daoist Ji, who had asked him to look after them.

’Time flows like water!’

Li Ping had a premonition that Ji Shu Xuan probably wouldn’t live to see him reach Core Formation. He likely only had a few years left.

’Should I prolong his life for him?’ In the end, Li Ping shook his head.

Ji Shu Xuan’s Origin was severely damaged; it wasn’t something a minor fix could cure. It was practically beyond any conventional cure. Even if Li Ping were to intervene, it would consume a vast amount of his Magical Power and expose the unique properties of his Nourishing Life Skill.

Li Ping had used his Nourishing Life Skill Power to heal another living being four times before.

The recipients had been his Third Senior Brother, Xiao Yunzhi, the Desolate Fire Sparrow in its fetal state, and a dying Seven-Color Illusory Light Butterfly.

His Third Senior Brother was a mortal and couldn’t have known about his heaven-defying ability.

When he treated Xiao Yunzhi, she was unconscious, and Li Ping had deliberately changed his appearance and acted under a false identity.

The remaining two were Spirit Beasts with low intelligence; Li Ping wasn’t worried about them leaking his secret.

But treating a Late-stage Qi Refining cultivator like Ji Shu Xuan would, with one hundred percent certainty, expose the unique nature of his Nourishing Life Skill Power.

Li Ping couldn’t be sure that Ji Shu Xuan would keep his secret.

’For a mortal to live to such an age is considered a long life. He should be content with having lived this long,’ Li Ping sighed.

...

Just as Ji Shu Xuan was reporting to him, the Spiritual Qi in the courtyard suddenly fluctuated.

Immediately after, a powerful aura slowly rose from beneath the courtyard grounds.

Ji Shu Xuan was taken aback. "Uncle Li, what’s happening?"

After sensing it for a moment, a slight smile appeared on Li Ping’s face. "It’s nothing. Just one of the Spirit Beasts I’m raising is advancing."

Just now, aided by the many precious Spiritual Objects he had prepared, after more than half a year, the Earth Spirit Rat had finally not let him down. It had successfully advanced to Tier Two Middle Grade, reaching the same level as the Desolate Fire Sparrow.

Hearing Li Ping’s explanation, Ji Shu Xuan quickly smiled and offered his congratulations. "Congratulations, Uncle Li, on gaining another capable Spirit Beast."

"Haha..." Li Ping was in a good mood.

The Earth Spirit Rat’s successful advancement made it equivalent to a treasure detector. In the future, it might be able to find many precious Celestial and Earthly Treasures. Li Ping had high hopes for it.

If they weren’t currently in Flying Snow City, and if the Earth Spirit Rat wasn’t still too weak, he would have already ordered it to go out and hunt for treasure on its own.

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