56: Chapter 56 The True Understanding of Elementary Talismans

Five days after breaking through to Level 3 Qi Refining, Lin Xuan finally pushed open the door of his Quiet Room.

He stood in the courtyard, taking a deep breath. The late autumn air carried a chill, yet inhaling it felt as though a scorching heat filled his lungs—that was the surging Thunder Spiritual Energy within his body responding.

Within his Dantian, the spiritual energy was as thick and heavy as mercury. Every time he circulated the Purple Heaven Divine Thunder Art, as the spiritual energy flowed through his Meridians, it brought forth extremely faint purple electric sparks on the surface of his skin, like a thin layer of Thunder-Patterned Armor, flickering in and out of existence.

This was the precursor to the Thunder Spiritual Energy becoming pure enough to begin automatically protecting his body.

Lin Xuan flexed his wrists. The most difficult thing to adapt to after the Breakthrough was not the spiritual energy, but the explosive increase in his Physical Body strength.

Two days ago, he had wanted to pour a cup of tea, but the moment his fingers touched the cup, the coarse pottery cup shattered into pieces with a "crack".

Now, he could finally control it.

He walked to the stone table in the courtyard and poured a cup of water. This time, his movements were very light, and the teacup remained intact.

"My strength has increased by about fifty percent, and my control still needs to be honed." Lin Xuan muttered to himself, finished drinking the water, and placed the teacup back on the table.

He planned to go learn new Spells to increase his combat capabilities.

After tidying up, Lin Xuan left his small courtyard and headed towards the Dharma Transmission Pavilion.

On Emerald Bamboo Peak in autumn, most of the bamboo leaves had already turned yellow, falling with a rustle whenever the wind blew. Most of the Disciples encountered on the road were in a hurry, many with bulging Storage Pouches hanging from their waists, their faces wearing a solemnity akin to preparing for battle.

Arriving at the Dharma Transmission Pavilion, the One-armed Elder was still curled up in a bamboo chair, dozing off.

Lin Xuan walked up close and bowed respectfully: "Senior."

The elder lifted his eyelids, his gaze lingering on him for a moment: "You broke through?"

"Yes, this Disciple was fortunate enough to break through to Level 3 Qi Refining."

"It wasn't luck." The elder sat up a bit straighter, examining Lin Xuan carefully, "Your spiritual energy is solid, your aura is steady, and your Physical Body strength is far beyond those at the same level. You kid, you've endured quite a bit of hardship."

Lin Xuan did not deny it: "This Disciple did indeed Cultivate in the Gravity Valley for a period of time."

"Gravity Valley? That place is not bad, but not many can persist." The elder rarely showed a hint of a smile, "Speak, what do you want to exchange for this time?"

"This Disciple wishes to exchange for higher-level lightning Spells; I ask for Senior's guidance."

The elder pondered for a moment: "What aspect do you want to focus on?"

Lin Xuan thought for a moment: "This Disciple currently has 'Palm Thunder' for single-target attacks, 'Thunder Whip Technique' for mid-to-close range, and 'Thunder Flash Step' to enhance movement techniques. What I lack is area control and more powerful burst damage."

"Your reasoning is clear." The elder nodded, "I suggest you choose two: First is 'Thunder Net Technique', which combines area control and damage, useful for dealing with groups or restricting movement; second is 'Thunder Spear Technique', high-penetration single-target burst, suitable for siege and breaking defenses."

He fished out a black stone tablet from beside his lounge chair: "Both of these are in the third pavilion on the second floor. Additionally, I suggest you consider the basic Legacy of 'Talisman-making' or 'Formation-setting'. On the path of cultivation, having more skills is never a burden."

Lin Xuan's heart stirred: "Senior, between Talisman-making and Formation-setting, which is more suitable for a Thunder Cultivator?"

"It depends on which path you want to take." The elder said slowly, "Talisman-making has a lower threshold, requires less investment, and yields results quickly. A good Talisman can save your life at a critical moment. Formation-setting has a high threshold and requires large investment, but once you enter the door, the wonders are endless. For a Thunder Cultivator, if you can set up a lightning-attribute Formation, it will have miraculous effects whether cultivating or fighting."

Lin Xuan weighed it for a moment: "Then this Disciple will first exchange for the Elementary Talisman True Interpretation. As for Formations... I will consider it when my cultivation is higher in the future."

"Wise." The elder tossed him the stone tablet, "Go. Remember, Spells are better refined than numerous; once you choose, practice them well."

"Thank you, Senior."

Lin Xuan took the stone tablet and walked into the pavilion.

The second floor of the Dharma Transmission Pavilion was quieter than the first, and there were fewer Jade Slips. He quickly found the area marked "Lightning Spells".

The Jade Slip for 'Thunder Net Technique' was pale purple and slightly warm to the touch. When his Divine Sense probed inside, a large amount of information flooded his mind: how to weave Thunder Spiritual Energy into a net, how to control the size and density of the net, how to make the thunder net possess both paralysis and damage...

The Jade Slip for 'Thunder Spear Technique' was deep purple, and touching it caused a stinging sensation. This Spell compressed Thunder Spiritual Energy to the extreme, condensing it into a thunder spear, with astonishing penetrating power, but it had extremely high requirements for spiritual energy control.

Lin Xuan took out the two Jade Slips and went to the basic Legacy area to find the 'Elementary Talisman True Interpretation'—this Jade Slip was very thick, covering basic Talisman theory, analysis of common Talisman patterns, drawing techniques, etc., with a massive amount of information.

Carrying the three Jade Slips downstairs, the elder removed the Restrictions for him one by one.

"'Thunder Net Technique' and 'Thunder Spear Technique' are free, the 'Elementary Talisman True Interpretation' is two hundred contribution points." The elder deducted two hundred contribution points and suddenly said, "Kid, the outside world is not peaceful. Since you have chosen Talisman-making, study it well. At critical moments, a single Talisman might mean a life."

Lin Xuan bowed solemnly: "This Disciple will remember."

Leaving the Dharma Transmission Pavilion, he did not return directly to Emerald Bamboo Peak, but diverted to the market.

Just as he stepped into the market area, Lin Xuan felt that the atmosphere was wrong.

Usually at this time, the market should be bustling with noise, with Disciples from various peaks setting up stalls or shopping, very lively.

But today, the streets were much colder, with nearly thirty percent fewer Disciples setting up stalls, and the remaining stall owners also looked grim, with few hawking their wares.

He walked to the Medicinal Pill shop he frequented.

"Junior Brother Lin is here?" The shopkeeper recognized him and managed to squeeze out a smile, "What do you need?"

"Quality qi gathering pills, and Qi Recovery Powder, three bottles of each."

The shopkeeper turned to get the medicine, and Lin Xuan asked casually: "Why are there so few people today?"

"Sigh, don't mention it." The shopkeeper lowered his voice, "The conflict on the front lines has escalated. Yesterday, dozens more people were conscripted, all elites in the Late Stage of Qi Refining. Now, anyone in the market with a little combat experience has either been conscripted or has formed a team to try their luck at the border—I heard that many good things are scattered on the outskirts of the ancient ruins over there, and if you pick up one, you'll be rich."

He placed the Medicinal Pills on the counter: "Quality qi gathering pills, fifty-eight points per bottle, one hundred and seventy-four points for three bottles. Qi Recovery Powder, thirty points per bottle, ninety points for three bottles. A total of two hundred and sixty-four points."

Lin Xuan frowned slightly: "The price went up?"

"Indeed!" The shopkeeper smiled bitterly, "The price of Medicinal Pill Materials has risen, and the Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters who refine them have been conscripted, so production has dropped. Now all Medicinal Pills and Talismans have generally risen by thirty percent. Even then, they are often out of stock."

Lin Xuan paid the contribution points, put away the Medicinal Pills, and went to the Talisman area to look around.

Sure enough, the prices of basic life-saving Talismans like the Golden Light Talisman and the God-Speed Talisman had all risen by twenty to thirty percent. And the quality had clearly dropped—the spiritual light on some Talismans was dim, obviously substandard products made in a hurry.

He stopped in front of a stall selling Talisman paper and cinnabar.

The stall owner was a young boy who looked even younger than him, with Level 1 Qi Refining cultivation, his eyes red as if he had just cried.

"Senior Brother, do you want to buy Talisman paper?" The boy's voice was hoarse.

"How much is it?"

"Ordinary Talisman paper, ten contribution points per unit (one hundred sheets). Cinnabar, fifteen points per box (one jin)." The boy hung his head, "Before... it used to be eight points and twelve points."

Lin Xuan looked at the goods on his stall. The Talisman paper had a uniform texture, the cinnabar color was pure, and the quality was good.

"Where is your Master?"

"He was conscripted to the front line." The boy's voice was even lower, "Before Master left, he told me to sell this inventory to exchange for contribution points to buy Medicinal Pills for cultivation. But... now everyone is buying finished Talismans, no one is buying Materials."

Lin Xuan was silent for a moment.

He took his identity Jade Slip from his Storage Pouch: "I want two units of Talisman paper, two boxes of cinnabar."

The boy suddenly raised his head, hope rising in his eyes: "Re-really?"

"Yes."

After deducting fifty contribution points, Lin Xuan put away the Materials. The boy thanked him repeatedly.

"Cultivate well." Lin Xuan only said this one sentence, turned around, and left.

He did not blindly hoard finished Talismans. The price was inflated, the quality had dropped, and the cost-performance ratio was too low.

Since he now had the Talisman Legacy, he would certainly try to draw them himself. With the pure Thunder Spiritual Qi provided by the Thunder-Light Bug in the Spirit-Taming Tower Space, drawing lightning-attribute Talismans might give him an advantage.