18: Only worth 150 spirit stones per use?

After finishing his Cultivation, Lu Yang, for once, did not immediately begin the next round.

First, Chi Rong could no longer improve his Spiritual Root.

Second, an irresistible sense of exhaustion surged from the depths of his Soul.

He had spent his mental energy opening the qi gates for Liu Yan during the day, and then spent several hours in high-intensity Alchemy; his body was already hollowed out.

He lay lazily in Chi Rong's arms, sniffing the cold, faint fragrance on her body, and couldn't help but ask about her past injury.

Chi Rong was silent for a moment, then said indifferently: "During a Sect trial, I was ambushed by Disciples from other Schools."

Her tone was flat, but it carried a hint of coldness: "Female cultivators of the Hehuan Sect are... always the best prey in the eyes of certain 'Righteous Path' Disciples."

In those so-called trial grounds, the hunting and humiliation of Hehuan Sect Disciples were almost an unspoken rule.

...

After learning about the cruelty of the Sect trials from Chi Rong, Lu Yang stood up and carefully tidied her slightly disheveled moon-white long dress.

The two walked out of the room.

Lu Yang handed a list filled with names of spirit plants to Chi Rong: "Junior Martial Uncle, these are the spirit plants this Disciple needs tomorrow. I have to trouble Junior Martial Uncle to help purchase them."

Chi Rong took the list, her tone indifferent: "When will you come to collect them?"

Lu Yang looked troubled: "Uh... this Disciple fears having important matters tomorrow and will be unable to get away. Could you... please, Junior Martial Uncle... send them over?"

Chi Rong's eyes narrowed, her voice suddenly turning cold: "You want me, an Outer Sect Elder, to run errands and deliver spirit plants for you?"

Lu Yang was prepared; he quickly fished a small Jade Bottle from his Storage Pouch and stuffed it into Chi Rong's hand without a word: "Thank you for your hard work, Junior Martial Uncle! This is a small token of this Disciple's appreciation; please accept it!"

Chi Rong held the slightly cool Jade Bottle in her hand, looking at Lu Yang's "you understand" expression. She opened her mouth, but eventually swallowed the refusal and accepted it with a cold face: "...Fine."

She turned to leave, but stopped, looking back at Lu Yang, her eyes as sharp as knives, carrying undisguised warning: "I will come again at this time tomorrow. I only hope..." She paused, her tone grim, "that everything you said can truly be fulfilled. Otherwise... Hmph!"

After a cold, delicate huff, Chi Rong transformed into a moon-white stream of light, shot into the sky, and quickly disappeared into the night.

After flying for a distance, the rapidly flying Chi Rong looked at the small Jade Bottle in her hand.

She hesitated for a moment, but ultimately could not resist the inexplicable, somewhat masochistic urge to investigate, and pulled out the cork.

A familiar, though far from pure, medicinal scent wafted out; this was clearly just a standard quality rejuvenation pill.

It was obviously not the flawless Medicinal Pill Lu Yang had just refined, but rather ordinary stock left over in his Storage Pouch from who knows when.

Chi Rong's fingers gripping the Jade Bottle tightened slightly, her knuckles turning white.

She pulled the corners of her mouth in self-mockery, a cold, bitter smile appearing on her lips, dissipating silently in the night wind: "Heh... so in his eyes, my labor as a Cauldron is... only worth these mere 150 Spirit Stones?"

After sending off Chi Rong, dusk had already gathered.

The sunset's afterglow dyed the small courtyard orange-red, but Mu Wanqing had not yet returned.

Lu Yang remembered the whispers by his pillow last night; Mu Wanqing had said the batch of spirit plants she was tending was nearing maturity, and she needed to guard against petty thieves for these few days, determined to stay until the Small World closed before leaving.

The Alchemy Materials were exhausted, so Lu Yang simply turned his energy to the path of Talismans.

He took out the newly purchased items from his Storage Pouch:

A thick stack of Talisman paper, a spirit Talisman brush with a shimmering tip, and four finished Talismans used as references.

divine movement talisman, Iron Wall Talisman (first-tier auxiliary type), Flame Explosion Talisman, Sword Qi Talisman (second-tier attack type).

The divine movement talisman, once activated, creates wind under the feet, making travel of a thousand miles a day effortless.

Although it is far from as fast as flying on a sword, its advantage lies in stealth.

Walking between the cover of mountains and forests, combined with Talismans like ground-shrinking, concealment, and earth-escaping, greatly increases the chance of survival.

Of course, in the face of absolute Divine Sense suppression, it is all in vain.

The Flame Explosion Talisman and Sword Qi Talisman, as the names suggest, the former triggers blazing fireballs, while the latter condenses into sharp Sword Qi.

The power depends on the quality of the Talisman and the spiritual power intensity and control precision of the user.

Because Lu Yang harmonizes the Five Elements through the Dragon Phoenix Yin-Yang Art, his spiritual power control far exceeds his own Realm, which is a huge advantage for making and using Talismans.

Looking closely at the Talisman paper, the first-tier paper texture is ordinary, while the second-tier has a faint golden sheen, and the Talisman runes on it are several times more profound and complex.

To save expenses in his early years, Lu Yang had drawn first-tier rejuvenation Talismans, barely counting as Entry-Level standard.

He decided to start practicing with the divine movement talisman he was most familiar with.

He put away the other Talismans, spread out a piece of ordinary Talisman paper, picked up the spirit Talisman brush, took a deep breath, concentrated his spirit, and began to trace the profound patterns on the finished Talisman stroke by stroke, carefully.

Drawing Talismans is a dual toil of Divine Soul and spiritual power!

Every stroke requires precise control of spiritual power output and mental imprinting; with the slightest mistake, the Talisman paper would instantly turn to ash, and all previous efforts would be wasted.

Lu Yang was fully focused, fine beads of sweat seeping from his forehead, his thin wrist trembling slightly from the effort.

For a full hour, he remained motionless like a stone statue, finally placing the last stroke!

"Hum..."

A flash of spiritual light flickered across the surface of the Talisman paper, and a faint but formed rune was imprinted on it.

First-tier low-grade divine movement talisman, second-rate quality!

Success!

Lu Yang breathed a long sigh of relief, and an irresistible sense of exhaustion, originating from the depths of his Soul, surged like a tide, instantly draining all his strength.

Putting down the Talisman brush, he realized he was drenched in sweat, his vision going black, and he just wanted to collapse and fall asleep immediately.

The Divine Soul power of the Qi Refinement Stage was, after all, too weak.

He forced himself to put away the Talisman and Talisman brush, stumbled toward the bed, his heavy eyelids unable to hold on any longer, and was about to fall into darkness...

"Junior Brother! Open the door!" Mu Wanqing's crisp and slightly urgent voice sounded outside the courtyard, accompanied by "bang bang" knocking.

Lu Yang struggled to get up, opening the door with unsteady steps.

Mu Wanqing flashed in with a smile, seeing Lu Yang's listless appearance and drooping eyelids, her willow eyebrows raised slightly:

"Yo, Junior Brother, how sleepy are you?"

"It's... drawing Talismans, the Divine Soul consumption was too high, I wanted to rest early..." Lu Yang's voice was airy.

"That won't do!" Mu Wanqing's beautiful eyes widened, carrying unquestionable determination, "Junior Brother gave Senior Sister valuable suggestions this morning, and this Senior Sister has humbly adopted them and can't wait to try the effect of the new method!"

While speaking, she had cleverly blocked Lu Yang's retreat as he tried to escape to the bed.

Lu Yang thought it was bad, and just as he was about to speak, Mu Wanqing's eyes flashed with charming light, and an invisible force of fascination instantly enveloped him!

Lu Yang only felt his blood and Qi churning, and his Magic Treasure lit up uncontrollably.

Mu Wanqing took the opportunity to push him onto the couch and began her so-called "new method of Cultivation."

However...

Only ten breaths later, that lit-up Magic Treasure was like a candle in the wind, suddenly extinguished.

Lu Yang also awoke from the fascination, and no matter what means Mu Wanqing used, the pitiful amount of Primordial Yang Qi in his body could no longer be mobilized at all.

Seeing Lu Yang fall into a deep sleep in the blink of an eye, even emitting slight snoring, Mu Wanqing pouted helplessly.

She had no choice but to take out the remaining azure spirit pill and take it, while trying her best to absorb the pitifully thin Primordial Yang Qi in the air, Cultivating alone.

...