135: Chapter 135 Half a Year

It was already evening by the time he returned from the market.

Lin Xuan would exercise his muscles and bones in the courtyard, practicing a few sets of fist techniques.

The fist techniques of the Thunder Body Refining Technique were simple and brutal, with no flashy Moves; it was just punch after punch, strike after strike.

Every punch used his full strength, the wind from his fists whistling, causing fine cracks to appear on the bluestone of the courtyard wall.

After finishing the punches, he would be drenched in sweat. The sweat ran down his back, soaking his clothes.

He did not use a Cleansing Spell, but instead took off his shirt, drew a bucket of well water, and poured it over himself from head to toe. The well water was very cold, making him shiver as it splashed onto his body, but it felt very comfortable.

As night fell, Lin Xuan returned to the main room, sat cross-legged on the bed, and began his evening Cultivation.

The Purple Heaven Divine Thunder Art circulated, and Thunder Spiritual Energy flowed slowly through his Meridians.

The efficiency of his Cultivation was still not high; the Spiritual Qi concentration here was lower than in the Sect, and the Thunder Spiritual Energy was even thinner. But he was not in a hurry; with time and accumulation, there would always be progress.

Such days were calm and fulfilling.

Three months later.

Lin Xuan's Qi Refining Cultivation stepped from the Late Stage of the 6th layer into the Peak of the 6th layer.

The Qi vortex in his Dantian was as solid as substance, the purple thunder seed shining brilliantly, each pulsation carrying immense Spiritual Energy.

His Body Refining Cultivation had also fully adapted to the intensity of the Middle Stage of the 5th layer.

The "jade-like bones" Realm was completely stabilized, the thunder patterns on the surface of his bones becoming clearer, with a faint trend of penetrating deep into the bone marrow.

That was a sign of "Thunder Tempering the Five Viscera" deepening further; once the five viscera and six bowels were all tempered, his Body Refining Cultivation would be able to Breakthrough to the 6th layer.

Half a year later.

Lin Xuan's Talisman-making craftsmanship had improved significantly.

The success rate of the Thunder Shield Talisman was already close to 100%, almost never failing.

The success rate of the Thunder Spear Talisman had also increased from 60% to 90%, and the quality was getting better and better, with greater power.

He began to attempt drawing 1st-grade High Grade Talismans.

It was an attack Talisman called the "Thunderstorm Talisman", and the difficulty of drawing it was several times higher than the Thunder Spear Talisman.

The Talisman patterns were as complex as a maze, and every stroke required extremely precise control of Spiritual Energy.

The speed, force, and rhythm of the Spiritual Energy injection; even the slightest deviation would result in all previous efforts being wasted.

Lin Xuan tried over a dozen times, succeeding only once, and the quality was barely acceptable.

But he was not in a hurry. Talisman-making was not something that could be rushed. By practicing slowly, he would succeed one day.

Every ten days or half a month, Lin Xuan would go to Shopkeeper Qian's shop to sell a batch of Thunder Shield Talismans in exchange for Spirit Stones and Talisman-making Materials.

Shopkeeper Qian would always accept them with a smile, never lowering the price.

Sometimes, when the Talismans Lin Xuan brought were of exceptionally good quality, he would even give a few extra Spirit Stones, calling it a "discount for old customers."

"Fellow Daoist Lin, the quality of your Thunder Shield Talismans is better than most on the market," Shopkeeper Qian said while counting the Spirit Stones. "I've been selling Talismans for so many years, and you are the first one who can draw such quality."

"Shopkeeper Qian, you flatter me." Lin Xuan took the Spirit Stones and put them into his Storage Pouch.

"I'm telling the truth," Shopkeeper Qian looked at him seriously. "If you don't want to stay on this island forever, you could try going to Bibo City. The Talisman market there is large, and the prices are high. With your craftsmanship, you would definitely be able to gain a foothold."

"We shall see," Lin Xuan smiled. "Now is not the time."

After half a year, Lin Xuan had saved nearly two thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones in his Storage Pouch. Added to what he had saved previously in the Sect, his net worth was already quite considerable.

But he never flaunted his wealth.

Every time he went to the market, he wore the most ordinary gray cloth Dharma robe, circulated the Origin Returning Qi Concealment Formula to suppress his Cultivation to Qi Refining Stage 5, keeping a low profile.

When selling Talismans, he only sold twenty or thirty at a time, never selling in bulk. When Shopkeeper Qian asked if he had more, he would always shake his head and say "that's all."

Keeping a low profile was his first Law for survival in the Cultivation world.

This day, Lin Xuan went to wander around the market as usual.

Just as he walked into Shopkeeper Qian's shop, he saw Old Man Chen sitting on a stool at the entrance, looking somewhat unwell.

"Old Man Chen, what's wrong?" Lin Xuan walked over and sat down next to him.

"Sigh," Old Man Chen sighed. "That kid, Little Hu, ran into some trouble when he went out to sea yesterday."

"What trouble?"

"He ran into a Peak Medium Grade 1st-grade Sawtooth Shark. That beast chased his boat for over ten miles; if he hadn't run fast, he would probably be in the shark's belly by now."

Old Man Chen shook his head. "This kid just won't listen to advice. I've told him so many times, don't go to the deep-water area, don't go to the deep-water area, but he insists on not listening."

"It's good that he's alright."

"He's fine, but the boat is broken. Repairing the boat costs Spirit Stones, buying Materials costs Spirit Stones; it's another expense." Old Man Chen gave a bitter smile. "It's getting harder and harder to make a living on this sea."

"Is the commotion in that sea area to the southeast getting bigger?" Lin Xuan asked casually.

"Indeed," Old Man Chen lowered his voice. "Recently, the thunderous light in that sea area is no longer just occasionally appearing, but appearing every few days. The night before last, I was standing at my doorway and could see the horizon in the southeast turning purple. Even from hundreds of miles away, one could see it."

"Does Island Master Zhou have anything to say about it?"

"No. Island Master Zhou is still the same, staying in seclusion and not coming out." Old Man Chen shook his head. "However, I heard that Bibo City has already sent people to investigate. Two Foundation Establishment Cultivators came, stayed on the island for two days, then went out to sea, and haven't returned yet."

Lin Xuan's heart stirred.

Bibo City sent people?

This indicated that the anomaly in that sea area had already attracted the attention of higher-level Cultivators.

If it really was an ancient ruin or an extraordinary treasure appearing, this sea area would likely become lively soon.

"Fellow Daoist Lin," Old Man Chen suddenly turned his head to look at him. "You aren't thinking of going to that sea area, are you?"

"I don't have that plan for now," Lin Xuan said truthfully.

"That's good," Old Man Chen patted his shoulder. "Let me tell you, that kind of place is not for small Cultivators like us. Even if there really are treasures, they belong to those great Cultivators. If we go, we won't even get to drink the soup, and we might even lose our lives."

"I know."

Lin Xuan picked up his teacup and took a sip.

He knew Old Man Chen was right.

But he also knew that things like Opportunity never come knocking on one's door. If one wants to obtain something, one must take corresponding risks.

Not going now does not mean never going.

When his strength is sufficient, he will definitely go to that sea area to take a look.

Not to seek treasure, but to figure out one thing—whether the anomaly in that sea area has any connection to the ancient teleportation array he came from.

If there is...

Lin Xuan put down his teacup and stood up.

"Old Man Chen, I'm heading back."

"Alright, be careful on the road."

Lin Xuan walked out of the market and headed west along the gravel path.

The sun was setting, and the horizon was stained with a layer of dark red. The sea breeze blew from afar, carrying a salty, fishy scent.

When he walked to the low woods, that Iron-beaked Stork was still standing on top of that low tree.

Half a year had passed, and it was still here, with the same vigilant appearance, squawking a few times, but it did not chase after him.

Lin Xuan ignored it, quickened his pace, crossed the gentle slope, and returned to his small courtyard.

Pushing open the courtyard gate, a thin layer of leaves had fallen in the courtyard. The leaves of that crooked-neck tree had turned mostly yellow, and a few were swirling in the wind, drifting down.

It was autumn.

Lin Xuan stood in the courtyard, looking at the sky in the southeast.

The horizon was pitch black, and nothing could be seen.

But he knew that in that direction, in that sea area shrouded in mist, something was brewing.

Perhaps it was an Opportunity, perhaps it was danger.

No matter what it was, he had to be prepared.

He returned to the main room, sat cross-legged on the bed, and began to Cultivate.

The Purple Heaven Divine Thunder Art circulated, and Thunder Spiritual Energy flowed slowly through his Meridians.