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Rise of the Sword Son-in-Law-Chapter 422: From Now On, I’ll Call You Xiao Qing
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Breaking through to the Seventh Rank had once again elevated Xu Ping’an’s strength to a new level.
Most importantly, whether it be in the cultivation of his soul or his True Yuan, Xu Ping’an would now possess tremendous potential for the future.
"My physical cultivation with the Wood Attribute has also reached full saturation, and my liver has evolved. Now, my physical strength is comparable to that of sixty dragons," Xu Ping’an mused to himself.
His physical cultivation had improved significantly as well.
Wood Attribute, Fire Attribute, Earth Attribute, Wind Attribute had all reached saturation.
The other attributes had also reached half saturation, so now Xu Ping’an’s sheer physical strength was nearly equivalent to sixty dragons, comparable to an average cultivator at the Eighth Rank First Layer Realm.
If all his strengths were combined, he would have no problem facing a cultivator at the Eighth Rank Peak.
"Xu Ping’an, what shall we do next?" Tang Qingyu asked.
They were effectively trapped in this cave dwelling. Once they left, they would have to confront the cultivators of the Wind Radiance Sect.
"Let’s check out the Xuanqing Immortal Vine first, then we can leave. Don’t worry, even if they are waiting outside, they pose no threat to us anymore," Xu Ping’an said with a smile.
Tang Qingyu was stunned—no threat to them?
That stunning woman was at the Eighth Rank Peak, could it be that Xu Ping’an possessed the strength to contend with someone at the Eighth Rank Peak?
How could that be possible?
He had only just broken through to the Seventh Rank First Layer Realm!
Perhaps he had some other methods!
Tang Qingyu guessed inwardly. In her view, even if Xu Ping’an had broken through to the Seventh Rank, it was impossible for him to directly compete with someone at the Eighth Rank Peak. It would already be impressive if his strength was comparable to the Fifth Layer Realm of the Eighth Rank.
But seeing Xu Ping’an’s confident demeanor, she chose not to question further.
Xu Ping’an, on the other hand, approached the Xuanqing Immortal Vine. The Xuanqing Immortal Vine seemed to be wary, its vines coiling around the Enlightenment Tree shifted slightly.
"I know you possess spiritual awareness. Now, I am giving you two options: die by my hand, and I’ll harvest your Xuanqing Vine Heart, or submit to me," Xu Ping’an said coldly to the Xuanqing Immortal Vine.
Tang Qingyu’s face showed surprise.
Xu Ping’an was going to subjugate the Xuanqing Immortal Vine?
Could that really work?
After Xu Ping’an’s words fell, there was no response.
However, Xu Ping’an let out a cold laugh as a ball of Chaotic True Fire emerged in his hand.
As soon as the flame appeared, the Xuanqing Immortal Vine let out a sound similar to that of a child’s cry.
Xu Ping’an knew that it was the sound of its panic.
Tang Qingyu was also surprised; she had not expected the Xuanqing Immortal Vine to actually fear Xu Ping’an’s Chaotic True Fire.
Seeing this, Xu Ping’an revealed a smile.
He had looked at the "Grass Control Technique" earlier, and its key points were not difficult. After breaking through to the Seventh Rank, with Xu Ping’an’s Soul Power, he could completely control the Xuanqing Immortal Vine.
This Xuanqing Immortal Vine was not of the Ninth Rank, but at the Eighth Rank Peak. However, it had undergone a mutation, which is why it had combat power comparable to a Ninth Rank First Layer Realm.
If he could subjugate it, he would then have a helper comparable to a Ninth Rank First Layer Realm by his side.
Xu Ping’an’s own strength was naturally no match for the Xuanqing Immortal Vine, but he possessed the Chaotic True Fire given to him by Tang Xinyue, which was the deadly nemesis of the Xuanqing Immortal Vine.
"So, what will it be, submission or death? Choose for yourself," Xu Ping’an said again.
This time, after a moment of silence, the Xuanqing Immortal Vine extended one vine in a gesture akin to a nod.
Xu Ping’an knew it had submitted, and he was immediately pleased.
Then he followed the method of the Grass Control Technique to condense a Soul Mark and imprinted it into the body of the Xuanqing Immortal Vine.
The next moment, Xu Ping’an felt his soul connect with the Xuanqing Immortal Vine.
He could completely control its body with a mere thought.
"Master!"
The Xuanqing Immortal Vine uttered in a voice similar to that of a young female child.
"Hmm, how long have you developed spiritual awareness?" Xu Ping’an asked.
"Reporting to master, I have had spiritual awareness for a thousand years," the Xuanqing Immortal Vine responded.
"Then how long have you been here?" Xu Ping’an asked curiously.
"Reporting to master, I was planted here as a seed by a powerful being. It was not until fifty thousand years ago that I sprouted from the earth. After growing for fifty thousand years, I then developed spiritual awareness. So, I am still quite young," the Xuanqing Immortal Vine replied.
Fifty thousand years to surface?
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Fifty thousand years of growth?
Does that mean it took a full one hundred thousand years to develop spirit intelligence?
Indeed, it is really difficult for plants to develop spirit intelligence.
And the one who planted the Xuanqing Immortal Vine was most likely the owner of this cave dwelling.
"So those vines from the formation earlier, were they you?" Xu Ping’an asked.
"Yes, it was me, but not solely my power. I borrowed some of the formation’s power; otherwise, simply relying on my own strength, I couldn’t have been that powerful. My true strength is roughly equivalent to a cultivator who has just entered the Ninth Rank," the Xuanqing Immortal Vine responded.
Xu Ping’an nodded his head.
It was pretty much as he had expected.
"Can your body shrink? I want to take you with me," Xu Ping’an said.
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"Yes, Master."
As soon as the Xuanqing Immortal Vine’s voice fell, it transformed into a half-meter-long vine that flew towards Xu Ping’an and coiled around his wrist, looking just like a bracelet.
Tang Qingyu, who was standing by, hadn’t heard their conversation, but seeing this scene implied Xu Ping’an had already subdued the Xuanqing Immortal Vine, filling her with immense surprise!
"My surname is Xu, so you’ll be called Xu Qing. Hereafter, I’ll refer to you as Xiao Qing. When I don’t allow you to come out, do not emerge," Xu Ping’an commanded.
"Thank you for the name, Master," the Xuanqing Immortal Vine emitted a joyful sound.
Clearly, the vine was incredibly happy that Xu Ping’an had named it.
Xu Ping’an nodded, then ceased paying attention to the Xuanqing Immortal Vine.
He hadn’t reached the point of opening the Heavenly Gate yet, so the heart of the Xuanqing Immortal Vine wasn’t of much use to him for the time being.
Moreover, he felt that even if he truly reached the Peak of Eighth Rank, one Xuanqing Immortal Vine might not be enough to open his Heavenly Gate when the time came.
That’s right, he still had the Earthly Gate to open, and the amount of energy needed was still unknown.
"Let’s go, let’s get out of here," Xu Ping’an said to Tang Qingyu.
Tang Qingyu nodded and obediently followed.
Meanwhile, outside.
At this moment, Yan Zhenling and Yun Feiyu were guarding the entrance to the cave dwelling.
Having suffered the terror of the vines, they didn’t dare to enter the cave again.
"Yan Zhenling, I came here to help you, so what do you mean by rejecting me now?" Yun Feiyu said, eyes burning with anger at Yan Zhenling.
Just before, he had tried to embrace Yan Zhenling, to claim her as his own.
But Yan Zhenling had pushed him away.
You should know that he is the top genius of the Wind Radiance Sect, his talent ranking among the top three even among the sect’s disciples.
To someone like Yan Zhenling, an Outer Sect Elder, her status was inferior to that of elite disciples like him.
He had given her face by addressing her as an elder, and now she was actually rejecting him?
"Feiyu, I didn’t mean it like that. I said that as long as you help me obtain the heart of the Xuanqing Immortal Vine, I could give myself to you. But the heart of the vine has yet to be found, so how can I fulfill my promise?" Yan Zhenling spoke with a hint of exasperation.
She was already angry at the flaws in her a cultivation scripture of the Wind Radiance Sect, and here Yun Feiyu was trying to do such things to her at this time, instantly causing resentment to flare.
"Hmph, you’re pretending to be a virgin while acting like a whore. Yan Zhenling, don’t think I don’t know—you must have slept with the Third Elder numerous times to secure this opportunity to enter the Heavenly Star Palace, and as for your master, he probably hasn’t spared you either. Everyone in the sect knows you’re his plaything," Yun Feiyu said with a look of disdain, his gaze full of scorn as he looked at Yan Zhenling.
Yan Zhenling’s eyebrows knitted tightly, and a surge of killing intent flickered in her eyes.
"What, did I say something wrong? Aren’t you a whore that everyone in the sect can have at will?" Yun Feiyu sneered continuously.
This damn whore actually dared to refuse him; what was she pretending to be?
Yan Zhenling looked at Yun Feiyu coldly, her heart as frosty as ice.
"That’s right, I am at everyone’s disposal, so what? Yun Feiyu, don’t you want my body just like they did?" Yan Zhenling said coldly.
"Tch, I’m not after your body. Could it be that I would like your sleazy soul?" Yun Feiyu’s contempt grew even stronger.
Yan Zhenling glared at him in fury but offered no rebuttal.
"Oh, are we having an argument?"
Just then, a light chuckle broke the silence.
Both of them turned toward the direction of the waterfall.
They saw Xu Ping’an and Tang Qingyu flying through the waterfall and approaching.