59: Sharp Gold Armor-Breaking Talisman

The old appraiser's voice carried a hint of imperceptible emotion.

He put on special thin silk gloves, picked up a yellow thunder apricot with extreme professionalism, brought it close to his nose to sniff lightly, and infused a trace of faint Spiritual Qi into his fingertips to investigate the thunder power and Wood Qi contained within.

Then he picked up another Vermillion Fruit, feeling its pure fire-wood fusion Spiritual Qi. His movements were swift and precise.

“Three yellow thunder apricots, High Grade in appearance, clear thunder patterns, abundant vitality, containing pure thunder power and Wood Qi. They are excellent for Body Refining, Breaking Through Bottlenecks, and refining thunder-attribute Medicinal Pills.”

The old appraiser's voice returned to calm, but his speaking speed was noticeably faster, “Two Vermillion Fruits, pure and full of fire-wood Spiritual Qi, sufficient in age. They are High Grade auxiliary Medicinal Pills for refining ‘Fire Origin Pill’ and ‘Foundation Establishment Pill’, or even for direct consumption. All are rare items.”

Lin Feng rubbed his hands honestly, a nervous yet expectant smile on his face: “Then… can my things be put up for auction? How much… how much are they worth?”

The old appraiser put down the Spirit Fruits and looked deeply at Lin Feng, as if trying to discern something from his simple face, but ultimately just said in a business-like manner: “Naturally, they can be auctioned, and they will certainly be sought-after items. According to the merchant association’s appraisal, the five yellow thunder apricots can be set at a reserve price of twenty-two thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones; the two Vermillion Fruits can be set at a reserve price of fifty-eight thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones. The final transaction price will only be higher. Fellow Daoist, do you agree to consign them at this reserve price? Additionally, a five thousand Spirit Stone deposit is required.”

Lin Feng’s face showed great surprise and a hint of heartache, as he nodded repeatedly: “I agree! I agree! Five thousand Spirit Stones… I have them!”

The old appraiser patiently waited for him to count, and after confirming it was correct, handed over a Jade Slip engraved with special runes and inlaid with a tiny golden scale in the center: “This is the consignment voucher, please keep it safe. After the auction, present this Jade Slip and your identity Jade Slip to settle the remaining balance after deducting commission and deposit. If the item is not sold, the deposit will not be refunded.”

Lin Feng clutched the Jade Slip tightly in his hand as if it were a treasure, hid it close to his body, and then profusely thanked the old appraiser before bowing and carefully exiting the side hall.

Lin Feng, relying on his extraordinary Divine Sense, avoided those who were following him and returned to his Immortal Cave.

He returned to the Profound-numbered Immortal Cave in Cuiyun Residence. He did not go out again, but instead activated the newly purchased “Dust Star Array.”

Seven Formation Flags were inserted into the ground of the quiet room according to specific directions, and the eight-cornered Formation Plate was placed in the center. As Spiritual Qi was injected, a hazy starlight curtain instantly rose, enveloping the Immortal Cave and isolating its internal and external aura and prying eyes.

For the next few days, Lin Feng did not leave his home.

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He walked to the center of the quiet room, sat down cross-legged, and did not immediately adjust his breathing. His gaze fell on the newly acquired green jade wolf-hair Talisman brush. The brush handle was warm, cloud patterns flowed on it, the tip was condensed, and Spiritual Qi was contained within. ‘A craftsman must sharpen his tools to do his work well. What exactly is so exquisite about the Talisman Dao in the Eastern Sea Region?’ Strong curiosity and the desire to improve his strength temporarily suppressed his fatigue.

He took out the crimson Jade Slip— “Talisman Dao True Explanation.”

His Divine Sense sank into it, and vast Talisman knowledge surged into his mind. The opening chapter expounded on the essential difference between Foundation Establishment Stage Talismans and Qi Refinement Stage Talismans: the Spiritual Qi circulation is more complex, the Heaven and Earth laws invoked are more profound, the Talisman structure needs to bear stronger energy, and the requirements for the Talisman maker’s Divine Sense control, Spiritual Qi purity, and comprehension of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi flow are all multiplied!

His attention was quickly drawn to one of the Talismans— “Sharp Gold Armor-Breaking Talisman”!

The Jade Slip described: When this Talisman is activated, it can transform into a supremely sharp and keen Geng Metal Qi, specialized in breaking various Protective Auras, Dharma Shields, and armors. Its power is comparable to a full-strength strike from a Middle Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator!

Its Talisman structure was complex and intricate, like countless tiny sharp blades crisscrossing and overlapping, containing an unyielding sharp Concept.

‘What a good Talisman!’ Lin Feng praised in his heart. This was precisely the offensive method he urgently needed to supplement. He immediately immersed himself in it, repeatedly pondering every stroke of the complex Talisman, the nodes and eruption points where Spiritual Qi flowed within it, trying to understand the “Sharp Gold” true meaning contained within.

Several hours passed, and Lin Feng felt he had a preliminary understanding of the “Sharp Gold Armor-Breaking Talisman” structure.

He took out a special blank Talisman paper, capable of bearing Foundation Establishment Stage Spiritual Qi, and spread it out before him. Concentrating his mind, he mobilized the pure Spiritual Qi from his Dantian and slowly injected it into the green jade wolf-hair brush in his hand.

The brush tip was fully dipped in good “Gold Scale Sand” Spirit Ink. The moment the brush tip touched the Talisman paper, Lin Feng concentrated fully, his Divine Sense highly condensed, guiding the Spiritual Qi to flow along the brush tip, and began to outline the profound Talisman on the Talisman paper.

The first stroke fell, Spiritual Qi infused, and the Talisman paper shimmered with a faint golden light. However, when he outlined to the third turning point, Lin Feng's Divine Sense control over the subtle Spiritual Qi changes had an extremely tiny deviation! The Spiritual Qi lines under the brush tip suddenly became unstable, and the contained Sharp Gold Qi instantly lost control!

Chirp—!

With a soft sound, the expensive blank Talisman paper was actually torn open by an invisible sharp Qi from where the brush tip lost control, the break smooth as a mirror! A faint, destructive Geng Metal aura diffused within the quiet room.

It failed!

Lin Feng looked at the ruined Talisman paper and Spirit Ink, his brows tightly furrowed.

‘What an overbearing Sharp Gold Concept! The demands on Divine Sense control are almostharsh, and even a slight discrepancy in the rhythm, weight, and speed of Spiritual Qi injection will prevent the Talisman structure from stably bearing its power, causing it to backfire…’ He was not discouraged; instead, a stronger fighting spirit ignited in his eyes.

The Talisman Dao of the Foundation Establishment Stage was indeed incomparable to that of the Qi Refinement Stage! Each failure deepened his understanding of this Talisman.

He cleaned up the discarded Talisman, spread out another blank Talisman paper, concentrated, and began to draw… This time, he was even more cautious, his Divine Sense like the most precise probe, constantly monitoring every subtle change in Spiritual Qi under the brush tip.

As a result, he had not succeeded in drawing it even by the date of the auction.

Could it be that he truly needed to Breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Stage before he could normally draw second-tier Talismans?

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