However, something unexpected happened to Zhao Tao.
Boom!
The Geng Metal Finger fiercely collided with the incoming black net, Spiritual Qi surged, and with a loud explosion, the black net was blasted apart, its light dimming slightly.
Zhao Tao's face changed dramatically; he never expected his magical artifact to be so fragile, shattered by a single strike.
"This is impossible!" Zhao Tao was incredulous, wanting to retreat but it was already too late.
Xu Ping naturally would not let him go easily, seizing the opportunity to launch several Geng Metal Fingers, closing in.
In a panic, Zhao Tao pulled out several talismans and stuck them on himself.
Bang!
The outermost golden protective shield quickly shattered under the continued blows of the Geng Metal Finger, bursting like a soap bubble.
"Lv Liu, save me!" Zhao Tao shouted in fear, hastily retreating.
Lv Liu's pretty face changed dramatically, without hesitation she launched several talismans.
In an instant, several fireballs and Wind Blades appeared out of thin air, rushing towards Xu Ping.
Xu Ping calmly stuck several talismans on himself.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Fireballs and Wind Blades hit Xu Ping's protective shields like a storm, but even after continuous impacts, they only broke one layer of shield, leaving two more untouched.
"Die!"
Xu Ping roared angrily.
Bang!
A golden streak shot through the air, directly breaking Zhao Tao's last protective shield, penetrating his chest like lightning, leaving a gaping hole as blood spurted out, staining the ground red.
A hint of reluctance flashed in his eyes, his lips moved slightly as if wanting to say something, but he had no strength left to speak, finally collapsing onto the ground.
"Zhao Tao!" Lv Liu exclaimed in horror, fear surged into her heart like a tide.
She never expected things to unfold like this; Xu Ping was so powerful, having just broken through the fourth layer of Qi Cultivation, yet he effortlessly dealt with both of them, easily killing Zhao Tao, plunging her into deep despair.
"Did you enjoy this fight?" Xu Ping coldly looked at Lv Liu.
Lv Liu's heart trembled, she lost the will to fight, and without hesitating, broke through the window to escape, not even having time to recall her magical artifact.
"Trying to escape?" Xu Ping sneered coldly, his gaze like a blade, flicking his finger, a flash of golden energy shot out, instantly breaking her foot.
"Ah!" Accompanied by a painful scream, Lv Liu fell to the ground, clutching her injured ankle, her face full of fear and disbelief.
She looked up at Xu Ping, a hint of pleading in her eyes, "Please, spare my life, I'm willing to..."
Her dress slipped from her fragrant shoulder, revealing her snow-white skin and proud bosom.
But before she could finish her sentence, Xu Ping's Geng Metal Finger fired once again, golden light flashing, aimed directly at her head.
Bang!
Her head exploded like a watermelon, blood splattering, brain matter flying, dyeing the entire room with a layer of crimson.
The world suddenly fell silent, with deafening silence.
Looking at Lv Liu's headless corpse, falling to the ground, blood gushing.
Xu Ping felt very calm.
Not as excited and tense as last time.
However, his gaze gradually became complex.
"Damn, the prettier the woman, the more deceitful!"
Xu Ping couldn't help but curse.
If it weren't for him breaking through to the fourth layer of Qi Cultivation, if it weren't for practicing the "Nourishing Life Skill", he would probably be dead by now.
Xu Ping took a deep breath to suppress his thoughts, approaching the corpses, skillfully starting to loot.
After half a cup of tea, Xu Ping hurriedly left Zhao Tao's house.
Before long, he arrived home safely.
He went inside, closed the door.
His mind completely relaxed, after a brief rest, Xu Ping placed down the spoils of the battle.
The most valuable should be Zhao Tao's mid-grade magical artifact, the black net, and Lv Liu's lower-grade magical artifact, the flying shuttle.
Qi Cultivators don't have Divine Sense, only Spiritual Sense for inner vision.
Limited by Spiritual Sense and mana.
For example, early-stage Qi Cultivators can control one lower-grade magical artifact at most, mid-stage can control two lower-grade artifacts or one mid-grade artifact, and late-stage can only manipulate two mid-grade artifacts or four lower-grade artifacts.
Of course, some elite disciples of top sects, with abundant mana and powerful Spiritual Sense, at late-stage can even barely manage an upper-grade magical artifact.
But top-grade artifacts are entirely the realm of Foundation Establishment Cultivators.
This black net is sufficient for him to use until late-stage Qi Cultivation.
But currently, the power of the Geng Metal Finger is too strong, its usage too convenient, causing him to not habitually use magical artifacts during battles.
"Forget it, better to have than not." Xu Ping kept the black net and flying shuttle, then took out the two's storage bags.
Spending a little while removing the mana imprint on them.
The storage bags opened, his eyes instantly lit up.
"These two... are loaded!"
Inside their storage bags, the Spirit Stones totaled over eighty pieces.
It's just unknown how many of these Spirit Stones were obtained from hunting others.
"Got money again!"
Xu Ping chuckled, pocketing the Spirit Stones one by one.
Then, he turned his gaze to several silver flying needles in the storage bag.
Xue Ping certainly knew the power of these Soul-Breaking Needles, he almost fell victim to them.
Interested, he kept them, thinking they'd be handy for future ambushes.
Lastly, only some Spirit Medicine, pills, talismans, books, and other miscellaneous items remained.
Xu Ping sorted them all one by one, storing them carefully.
"Huh? What's this?"
At this moment, Xu Ping found another unexpected find.
A rolled-up piece of sheepskin.
Xu Ping unrolled the sheepskin and carefully examined its contents.
It turns out it records the recipes for three types of Spirit Wine.
The first Spirit Wine is called 'Fasting Wine', similar in effect to a Fasting Pill, can be consumed as Spirit Food; a sip can sustain you for three days without water or food.
The second Spirit Wine is called 'Beauty Nourishing Wine', beneficial for qi nourishment and enhancing beauty.
The last one is 'Hundred Flowers Brew', which enhances qi and blood, strengthening physique.
"Great stuff!"
Xu Ping's eyes lit up, although the first two Spirit Wines aren't very useful for him, the last one is of great value.
The 'Qi Nourishing Skill' currently increases only by one each day, the progress is indeed slow.
If he gets the last one, the progress might speed up!
Xu Ping took a closer look at the ingredients required for 'Hundred Flowers Brew'—the other Spirit Medicines and Spirit Fruits are all common items, but it requires a special Gu insect called Hundred Flowers Gu.
Hundred Flowers Gu secretes a unique liquid that can decompose and ferment all Spirit Medicines and Spirit Fruits into Spirit Wine.
The quality of the Hundred Flowers Gu also determines the potency and properties of the Hundred Flowers Brew.
"The Hundred Flowers Gu, huh? That's interesting." Xu Ping stored the sheepskin, intending to start crafting the Hundred Flowers Gu when he had time.
The sheepskin describes, the crafting process for such Hundred Flowers Gu is not difficult, as long as one has a bit of talent in Insect Refining, even the first-time attempt has a decent success rate.
Out of ten tries, at least one or two are likely to succeed.
After all, the Hundred Flowers Gu only counts as a low-level Gu insect, it wouldn't be overly difficult.
"I can certainly master it!" Xu Ping was full of confidence.
Even if his talent isn't up to par, with a proficient panel, how could he not succeed?