Comprehensive Improvement

Even in Zhenjiang City, the Great Xia Trading Company remained the most eye-catching establishment in the prefectural city.

It occupied an enormous area and had four full floors, one more than the Great Xia Trading Company in Yuanshan City.

The fourth floor catered to Nascent Soul Cultivators.

After leaving the Cai residence, Lu Qingshan headed straight for the Great Xia Trading Company.

Upon entering, he saw that the first floor alone stretched nearly a hundred meters across. There were dozens of blue-clad attendants inside, and even more customers.

It truly deserved to be called the largest and most trustworthy trading company in all of Zhenjiang City.

After killing Cry Soul True Person and seizing two Storage Rings, Lu Qingshan's wealth had reached a level others could scarcely imagine.

In Spirit Stones alone, he currently possessed over twenty Fourth-grade Spirit Stones and more than a hundred Third-grade Spirit Stones.

As for the scattered First-grade and Second-grade Spirit Stones he had left, Lu Qingshan no longer even spared them a glance.

There was little point in hoarding Spirit Stones. Lu Qingshan needed to convert them into his own combat strength.

Yuanshan City was ultimately only a county city, where truly fine Spirit Artifacts, pills, and talismans could not be bought.

That was why Lu Qingshan had waited until arriving in Zhenjiang City before preparing to spend properly.

After entering the Great Xia Trading Company, Lu Qingshan did not linger on the first floor and went directly to the second.

The items on the first floor no longer meant much to him.

Compared to the first floor, the second was clearly far quieter.

The second floor catered to Foundation Establishment cultivators.

—Even in Zhenjiang City, Foundation Establishment cultivators were not so common that they could be found everywhere.

Yet Lu Qingshan, a Qi Refining cultivator, quickly drew sidelong glances from several customers as soon as he reached the second floor.

Which great lineage's disciple was this again?

Some cultivators muttered inwardly.

By all reason, a Qi Refining cultivator coming to the second floor to make purchases had to be some wealthy child of a great lineage.

"Young master, may I ask what you need?" A blue-robed attendant at the fifth level of Qi Refining respectfully came forward.

Lu Qingshan glanced at the attendant and said calmly, "I need Spirit Artifacts, as well as some talismans and pills. But I want the finest things on the second floor!"

The blue-robed attendant was slightly taken aback. But after carefully sizing Lu Qingshan up and confirming that he was not joking, his face immediately broke into a broad smile.

He had encountered a major customer. He just did not know which household this young master came from.

"Young master, this way, please. Sit inside first, and I'll call the shopkeeper over to discuss matters with you in detail," the blue-robed attendant hurriedly said, leading Lu Qingshan into a private room on the second floor.

Quite a few customers on the second floor had already noticed what was happening around Lu Qingshan.

Seeing him led into the private room reserved for major customers, some quietly discussed matters with their companions, while divine light flickered in others' eyes as they plotted who knew what.

Inside the private room.

The antique tables, chairs, and furnishings were arranged with elegant simplicity, comfortable and refined.

In a corner of the room stood an incense burner, where a stick of incense smoldered slowly, filling the room with a faint scent of sandalwood.

Not long after Lu Qingshan sat down, a cultured middle-aged man entered with a maidservant.

The maidservant carried a teapot and several teacups.

"I am the shopkeeper of the Great Xia Trading Company's second floor. May I ask how I should address you, young master?" the middle-aged man asked with a smile.

"Lu Qingshan."

"So it is Young Master Lu." The middle-aged man turned to the maidservant and instructed, "Why are you standing there? Pour tea for Young Master Lu."

Once the maidservant had poured the tea, Lu Qingshan did not stand on ceremony. He lifted his cup, took a light sip, and politely remarked, "Fine tea!"

The middle-aged man smiled. "I heard that Young Master Lu wishes to purchase the best Spirit Artifacts and talismans on the second floor. I have already instructed the attendants to retrieve several treasures that have been stored away for many years. I guarantee they will not disappoint you. Please wait a moment, Young Master Lu."

Lu Qingshan nodded slightly.

After a while, six or seven attendants pushed open the door and entered, each carrying a tray with an ancient brocade box upon it.

The middle-aged man placed the brocade boxes on the table, opened them one by one, and introduced them individually to Lu Qingshan.

"Acupoint-Sealing Benevolent King Needles, a low-grade Spirit Artifact, forged from Ice Soul Cold Iron."

"Skip it. I'm not interested in this Spirit Artifact." Lu Qingshan swept a glance over the needle-shaped artifact gleaming coldly in the box and spoke blandly.

He already had the Cry Soul Sword, so he had no need for an offensive Spirit Artifact.

Besides, what Sword Cultivator used needle-shaped artifacts? Wouldn't that be embarrassing?

The middle-aged man's expression did not change. He opened another brocade box, and inside was actually a talisman.

Lu Qingshan's eyes lit up.

He recognized this talisman: a Beast Talisman!

Lu Qingshan picked up the Beast Talisman.

Beast Talisman: Spirit Leaf Ape

Grade: Second-grade Beast Talisman

Description: Refined by a Talisman Master sealing the demonic beast's soul essence into a talisman.

Talisman Effect: Summons the soul essence of a Second-grade Demonic Beast, the Spirit Leaf Ape.

Duration: 30 minutes

Uses: 1/1

Spirit Leaf Ape Basic Attributes: Strength 20, Agility 5, ...

Talents: Abnormally Strong (Health +100), Soul Essence Body (Physical damage reduction 20%, spell damage received increased by 20%), ...

Skills: (Omitted)

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Beast Talismans were among the most practical and precious talismans. Once a Beast Talisman was used to summon a beast soul, the beast soul would attack on its own instincts under the cultivator's command.

It was equivalent to a downgraded Demonic Pet.

That was why, despite being only a Second-grade talisman, the Great Xia Trading Company had solemnly stored it in a brocade box.

Before the middle-aged man could explain, Lu Qingshan said directly, "I'll take this Beast Talisman."

The middle-aged man's cheek twitched slightly. "Young Master Lu is truly forthright."

The middle-aged man opened another brocade box. Inside was yet another talisman.

"This is a Breath Concealing Talisman, one of the few Third-grade talismans on our second floor..."

Breath Concealing Talisman

Grade: Third-grade

Talisman Effect: Conceals one's aura, making one difficult to detect. It also has a strong shielding effect against the spiritual sense of Foundation Establishment cultivators.

After using this talisman, even Foundation Establishment cultivators would find it difficult to detect him with Spiritual Sense.

—A divine talisman for the path of cautious survival.

Lu Qingshan nodded to himself.

"I'll take this Breath Concealing Talisman too!"

Long afterward, Lu Qingshan emerged from the Great Xia Trading Company laden with spoils.

This time, he had armed himself from head to toe, inside and out, entirely with Spirit Stones.

He felt as if every inch of him now radiated the fragrance of a cash-burning tycoon.

Besides the Beast Talisman: Spirit Leaf Ape and the Breath Concealing Talisman, he had also bought numerous offensive talismans inscribed with Second-grade Five Elements spells from the Great Xia Trading Company.

He did not buy many pills. Cry Soul True Person's Storage Ring contained common healing pills and pills that restored spirit power, so he did not need to replenish them.

The only pill he purchased was the Snow Lotus Pill.

Snow Lotus Pill

Grade: Second-grade pill

Description: Refined from snow lotus capable of healing soul damage, it therefore provides a certain benefit to a cultivator's soul.

Pill Effect: After consumption, the soul receives a layer of protection for three hours, granting a degree of resistance against secret soul-attacking arts.

Anything associated with the soul was worth several times more.

This bottle of Snow Lotus Pills was no exception. Though it was merely a Second-grade pill, Lu Qingshan had spent five times the usual price of a Second-grade pill to acquire it.

But it was worth it.

Although few low-level cultivators mastered methods of soul attack, meaning these Snow Lotus Pills would most likely go unused.

Lu Qingshan never placed his hopes on luck.

This was his preparation against soul attacks.

Before learning a secret soul art, he could only rely on such external items to deal with other cultivators' soul attacks.

He bought only one Spirit Artifact.

Water Cloud Eight Gates Shield

Grade: Low-grade Spirit Artifact

Description: Refined from a single complete Water Cloud Stone cut into eight pieces, it is incomparably sturdy and indestructible.

This Spirit Artifact consists of eight Water Cloud Shields. Once activated with spiritual power, the eight shields can circle around the user's body for defense.

Spirit Artifact Effect: Sturdiness +4

Active Effect: Eight Gates Shield Armor

Commands the eight Water Cloud Shields to combine into a suit of shield armor. The shield armor possesses durability.

Durability: 100/100

Additional Note: Once durability is depleted, Eight Gates Shield Armor can no longer be used, and the Spirit Artifact's effect will also become invalid.

With the Water Cloud Eight Gates Shield, Lu Qingshan's meager health finally gained a little sense of security.

With +4 Sturdiness, even Foundation Establishment cultivators would find him quite hard to crack.

And put simply, the effect of Eight Gates Shield Armor was equivalent to stacking an additional hundred points of armor onto Lu Qingshan.

Finally, Lu Qingshan spent a hefty sum to purchase thirteen pill-sized purple Thunder Pearls.

Thunder Pearl

Description: A consumable formed when Magic Cultivators use special methods to condense the lightning of heaven and earth. It possesses immense power.

Effect: Releases compressed lightning power, erupting with tremendous damage.

Thunder Pearls possessed terrifying power. If a Foundation Establishment cultivator carelessly took one head-on, they would be reduced to ashes in an instant.

Thunder Pearls were also simple to use. They only required a trace of spirit power to detonate, practically making them costless to activate.

Of course, they were not without drawbacks. Though Thunder Pearls were powerful, there was a brief delay of three breaths between activation and detonation.

For mortals, three breaths were nothing.

But for cultivators, those three breaths were enough for them to flee beyond the Thunder Pearl's blast range.

A single Thunder Pearl cost five Third-grade Spirit Stones.

Lu Qingshan, flush with wealth, bought all thirteen Thunder Pearls without the slightest hesitation.

These thirteen Thunder Pearls could be saved as trump cards.

The harvest was substantial, but so was the cost.

Lu Qingshan's enormous reserve of Spirit Stones was nearly exhausted.

After sorting through his gains, Lu Qingshan turned his gaze toward the attribute panel.

Without hesitation, the experience points he had accumulated for so long poured away in a single rush.

"Qi Guiding Technique increased to Lv9, Spirit Power +10!"

"Qi Guiding Technique increased to Lv10 (0/1000), Spirit Power +10!"

"Qi Guiding Technique increased to Lv10 (1000/1000) max! This cultivation method has reached its highest level. Special effect obtained: Spirit Power +50!"

"It has been detected that you have reached the current realm's level cap. Advancement quest obtained: Foundation Establishment!"

Foundation Establishment: Learn a Foundation Establishment Cultivation Method.

After half a month, he was finally about to challenge the Foundation Establishment realm.

Lu Qingshan was filled with emotion.

It had not been easy.

Lu Qingshan (Human)

Class: Sword Cultivator

Cultivation Method: Qi Guiding Technique Lv10 (max!)—[Spirit Power +150]

Realm: Qi Refining

Experience: 968

Spirit Power: 150/150

Talents: Innate Sword Seed (Legendary Talent), Specialization, Formation Breaker, Sword Skill Affinity (Beginner), Thick Skin and Flesh

Skills: Heavenly Eye Technique (General), Falling Bright Sword Art Lv10 (max), Secret Sword: Wind Severing Lv1 (0/2000)

Factions:

Yuanshan Tower: Enthusiastic (200)

Zhishou Tower: Friendly (20)

Heavenly Mystery Temple: Friendly (10)

What he needed to do next was obtain a Foundation Establishment Cultivation Method, then prepare to advance into Foundation Establishment.