8: Talisman Control

As Lin Feng's Comprehension Ability improved, his speed in Cultivating and learning the Swift Steps Technique increased rapidly. In less than a month, Lin Feng was already able to use the Swift Steps Technique's enhancement to increase his running speed by almost double. Although he had not yet achieved Major Achievement in this technique, its use already yielded excellent results. As for using it in combat, Lin Feng had not yet attempted it.

After the previous incident, Wen Han and Mu Qingxue did not cause any more trouble. As for the Hall of Skill Transmission's cleaning tasks, neither of them dared to shirk their duties. With Deacon Wang backing Lin Feng, and Lin Feng in charge, the two obediently followed along and performed their tasks.

Because of Wen Han and Mu Qingxue's previous provocations, Lin Feng developed a sense of crisis. It wasn't that he feared others challenging his position; for Utility Disciples, whether he was a Senior Brother or not was unimportant. The key was whether others would follow suit and cause trouble. Once a precedent was set, a lot of trouble would continuously follow.

Although Cultivators are supposed to be free from worldly desires, these Cultivators are still human. As humans, they possess seven emotions and six desires. Wherever there are many people, there will be schemes and rivalries, and Cultivators are no exception.

Lin Feng was now just over eleven years old, and his future path was still long. Therefore, Lin Feng decided to increase his Cultivation time. He wanted to suppress others' dissatisfaction with him through the advantage of his Cultivation Realm.

Previously, besides completing tasks and resting, Lin Feng would go to the dining hall for meals. To increase his Cultivation speed, Lin Feng began to shorten his rest time. Already at Qi Refining Stage 2, Lin Feng didn't need to rest for too long each day to maintain his full energy. Therefore, Lin Feng increased his daily Cultivation time to ten hours, resting for only one hour each day, and spending the other hour on miscellaneous tasks.

By utilizing his 'Diligence Can Compensate for Lack of Talent' ability, he elevated his Cultivation efficiency to be comparable to a True spiritual root cultivator. This would prevent him from being surpassed by others, and with more Cultivation time and higher efficiency, he could leave behind those Disciples whose Cultivation Realm was inferior to his.

Lin Feng's determined state also greatly impressed the Disciples living in the same row. Those Disciples also followed Lin Feng in diligent Cultivation. Under Lin Feng's influence, everyone was actively Cultivating.

Because Lin Feng Cultivated for eight hours every day, his Cultivation speed was four times that of normal Cultivation, allowing him to catch up to the progress of True spiritual root cultivators in improving their Cultivation. His Cultivation progress was very encouraging. Driven by Lin Feng, six months passed, and Xiong Hu broke through to Qi Refining Stage 2. Although Lin Feng hadn't broken through to Qi Refining Stage 3, he was not far from it.

Lin Feng was still very much looking forward to being able to Breakthrough his Cultivation Realm in the future. After all, a Breakthrough to a new stage would grant him a new entry, and a new entry meant new talents. How could Lin Feng not look forward to this?

As for the Senior Brothers, Junior Martial Uncles, or Senior Martial Uncles who came to the Hall of Skill Transmission to explain Cultivation experiences, Lin Feng was quite active at first, but later, due to his tight Cultivation schedule, he rarely went.

In addition to his Cultivation, Lin Feng also began to pay more attention to accumulating knowledge about Cultivation. He understood that simply relying on diligent Cultivation was not enough; a profound theoretical foundation was also needed to support it. Therefore, he began to use all available time to read various Cultivation classics and study the Cultivation insights of his predecessors.

During his reading, Lin Feng discovered some interesting knowledge about Alchemy and Talismans crafting. He realized that these auxiliary skills were equally important for enhancing his overall strength. Thus, he decided that, in addition to Cultivation, he would also set aside time to learn Alchemy and Talismans crafting.

However, learning Alchemy and Talismans crafting required a significant number of Spirit Stones, and Lin Feng had none. He could only first understand Alchemy and Talismans crafting through books, laying the groundwork for when he could learn these two skills in the future. At the same time, six months passed, and Lin Feng once again went to the Merit Law Pavilion, using the Spirit Stones he had gathered to exchange for the Jade Slip containing the Fireball Technique.

Just as Lin Feng was diligently Cultivating every day, Li Yunfei found him and informed him that he was going out to perform a mission. Because Outer Sect Disciples of the Sect also had to perform missions, but as his Cultivation Realm improved, his Cultivation speed had slowed down considerably. Therefore, he had to go down the mountain to perform missions to earn Spirit Stones and purchase Cultivation resources.

Li Yunfei, as a True spiritual root cultivator and already an Outer Sect Disciple, had to worry about resources. Lin Feng, thinking of this, also decided to prepare early for the future. Therefore, whenever he had free time, he would study Talismans crafting and Alchemy. Although he had no one to guide him, it did not prevent Lin Feng from understanding the functions of both through reading books, preparing for when he could acquire these two skills in the future.

Another acquaintance left the Sect. After seeing off Li Yunfei, Lin Feng returned to his previous state of diligent Cultivation.

Until he was twelve years old, Lin Feng's Cultivation broke through to Qi Refining Stage 3.

Because Lin Feng arrived a year earlier than this batch of Disciples, and regardless of whether these Disciples came from Cultivation Families or were Mortals recruited, currently, Lin Feng was the only Disciple who had broken through to Qi Refining Stage 3. He currently held a firm advantage over these Utility Disciples with his Qi Refining Stage 3 Cultivation. The reason Lin Feng was able to achieve this was partly due to his talent entries and partly due to his intense Cultivation. Most Utility Disciples could not achieve even half of Lin Feng's level of effort, as Cultivation was too boring and monotonous for these young children.

Upon breaking through to Qi Refining Stage 3, Lin Feng once again gained a new entry.

Breakthrough Realm, gain entry selection rights.

One: Gray entry · Physical Depletion (The body is prone to illness, Physique is very weak.) Can be advanced.

Two: White entry · Strong (Good Physique, naturally stronger than peers, also greater strength.) Can be advanced.

Three: Green entry · Talisman Control (Talismans crafting success rate increased by 30%.) Can be advanced.

Looking at the newly appeared entries, Lin Feng did not need to hesitate at all and directly chose three: Green entry · Talisman Control.

After making his choice, Lin Feng glanced at his new panel:

Character: Lin Feng

Realm: Qi Refining Stage 3

Gray entry one: Early Misfortune (Early Misfortune, but after experiencing misfortune, there will be an opportunity, estranged from Family.) Note: Cannot be advanced.

Green entry one: Diligence Can Compensate for Lack of Talent (Daily Cultivation for eight hours yields double effect, an additional double for every four more hours.) Note: Can be advanced once.

Green entry two: Minor Comprehension (Comprehension Ability is twice as high as the average person.) Can be advanced.

Green entry three: Talisman Control (Talismans crafting success rate increased by 30%.) Can be advanced.

With the 'Talisman Control' entry, coupled with 'Minor Comprehension,' Lin Feng's path in learning Talismans crafting would surely far surpass that of ordinary Cultivators. However, the only thing Lin Feng currently lacked was Spirit Stones. Without Spirit Stones, how could he purchase talisman brushes, talisman paper, and spiritual ink?

Since he had the talent for Talismans crafting, Lin Feng decided to inquire about it, first to understand the prices of these items. Lin Feng went to the plaza and shops where some Disciples of the Sect had stalls.

In Cloud-Soaring Pavilion, there was a plaza designated for Outer Sect Disciples and some Inner Sect Foundation Establishment Disciples to set up stalls. However, for Foundation Establishment Seniors, setting up a stall was somewhat a loss of Face, so Foundation Establishment Seniors were rarely seen in the plaza, but there were quite a few Outer Sect Disciples.

Lin Feng strolled around the plaza and found a female Cultivator's stall who looked a bit older than himself. This female Cultivator appeared to be only three or four years older than Lin Feng, and she was already quite beautiful, giving off the feeling of a girl next door. Lin Feng walked up to this female Cultivator, and instead of touching the items on the stall, he directly asked:

"Senior Sister, may I ask the value of this talisman brush? Could you please introduce it to your Junior Brother?"