The Troubles of Lacking Spirit Stones!

Li Qingyuan sat cross-legged in meditation. Beneath the earth veins of his house lay a damaged First-grade Spirit Vein, from which underground spiritual energy surged forth.

The Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy around the Small Courtyard also gathered toward him.

He held a Spirit Stone in each hand.

The Great Spring Technique circulated, absorbing Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy and turning it into his own use. The spiritual power within his body completed a Great Heavenly Cycle as his entire body bathed in spiritual light, breathing in and out spiritual energy.

With a crack, the two Spirit Stones in Li Qingyuan's hands lost their spiritual power. Thoroughly absorbed, they turned into crushed stone.

"Phew~"

Li Qingyuan exhaled a long breath of turbid air. The spiritual energy within him completed its final Great Heavenly Cycle before returning to his dantian and settling into his Qi Sea.

Li Qingyuan revealed a delighted expression. "I never thought drawing talismans could also aid cultivation."

Over the past half year, Li Qingyuan had focused on cultivating spiritual power, setting aside a small portion of his time to study six kinds of Low-grade First-tier Talisman Paper. While drawing talismans, he continuously depleted the spiritual power and mental energy within his body.

After exhausting them, he would meditate to continuously restore his magical power.

Exhausting himself time and again, recovering... then exhausting himself again, recovering again... through this unceasing cycle, his cultivation had advanced in just half a year at a rate comparable to the previous seven or eight months.

It seemed that drawing talismans was also a cultivation method for condensing spiritual power and tempering mental energy.

And that was only his first gain.

His second gain was that, over the past half year, Li Qingyuan had mastered a total of six kinds of Low-grade First-tier Talisman Paper.

They were—Cleaning Talismans, Illumination Talismans, Blood-Stopping Talismans, Lightness Talismans, Iron Armor Talismans, and Ice Thorn Talismans.

The first three were for daily life and assistance.

The latter three were for combat, increasing one's strength.

By now, all six kinds of talismans Li Qingyuan drew were of Genuine Quality, and Masterwork Quality ones even appeared from time to time.

Low-grade First-tier Talisman Paper was also divided into Low-Grade Quality, Genuine Quality, and Masterwork Quality.

Take a Low-grade First-tier Ice Thorn Talisman as an example. Low-Grade Quality meant the talisman had barely formed, and its power corresponded to Qi Condensation First Layer.

Genuine Quality corresponded to Qi Condensation Second Layer.

Masterwork Quality corresponded to Qi Condensation Third Layer.

His third gain was that, using the guidance function of the Mysterious Feminine Space, Li Qingyuan had thoroughly mastered talisman-drawing techniques, achieving a success rate as high as ninety percent.

Furthermore, in order to temper his talisman-drawing skill, Li Qingyuan had not chosen to draw talismans first and then duplicate them.

Instead, he chose to duplicate twice the talisman materials and talisman ink before inscribing the talismans. The more talismans he drew, the more his Talisman Path Skill improved.

This way, he could not only condense spiritual energy and temper his soul, but also improve his talisman-drawing skill.

Moreover, what he had shown Grandpa Clan Leader was that, after half a year of study, his success rate in inscribing six kinds of Low-grade First-tier Talisman Paper had reached sixty percent.

Li Qingyuan looked troubled. "Sigh, how am I supposed to exchange these talismans for Spirit Stones to support my cultivation?"

Over the past half year, Li Qingyuan had secretly accumulated several hundred talismans.

Among them, Lightness Talismans, Iron Armor Talismans, Ice Thorn Talismans, and Blood-Stopping Talismans made up the majority, while the daily-use Cleaning Talismans and Illumination Talismans were the fewest.

Genuine Quality Lightness Talismans, Iron Armor Talismans, Ice Thorn Talismans, and Blood-Stopping Talismans were worth three Spirit Stones each. Masterwork Quality ones were worth four Spirit Stones each.

Cleaning Talismans and Illumination Talismans, however, were much cheaper. The talisman materials they used were also the cheapest, costing roughly half a Spirit Stone per sheet.

Thus, Cleaning Talismans and Illumination Talismans sold for only one Spirit Stone each.

Using the talisman prices provided by Grandpa Clan Leader, Li Qingyuan made a preliminary estimate and reached a conclusion.

If he sold all the talismans currently in his possession, they would be worth no less than a thousand Spirit Stones.

After all, Li Qingyuan had a cheat.

His talisman materials and resources doubled.

His success rate was absurdly high—fully ninety percent—and he had also produced quite a few Premium Talisman Papers.

Most importantly, the talismans he drew did not need to be supplied to the clan's cultivators, nor could they be supplied to them. He could only save them up himself.

Moreover, aside from labor, his talismans basically cost nothing.

Unlike Grandpa Clan Leader, who could draw talismans worth two thousand Spirit Stones in a year but needed to spend several hundred Spirit Stones on costs.

Then he would supply them to the clan cultivators, helping them kill enemies, protect themselves, and increase their strength. They were also used to hunt demonic beasts. Over an entire year, he provided the clan cultivators with talismans worth more than a thousand Spirit Stones.

Therefore, by the end of each year, Grandpa Clan Leader could earn only two or three hundred Spirit Stones in profit.

As Clan Leader, he was truly diligent and fully worthy of the role.

"I have to sell these talismans and exchange them for Spirit Stones." Li Qingyuan frowned slightly, somewhat troubled.

"At my current rate, reaching Qi Condensation Third Layer Perfection and attempting Qi Condensation Fourth Layer will probably take three years."

"Then, getting through Qi Condensation Fifth Layer and Qi Condensation Sixth Layer will probably take seven or eight years."

Li Qingyuan calculated, "By the time I advance and step into Qi Condensation Level 7 within ten years, I'll already be in my early twenties."

"Advancing in Late Qi Condensation is even harder. It requires more Spirit Stones, more resources, and even expensive pills to assist cultivation."

"Qi Condensation Level 7, Qi Condensation Eighth Layer, Qi Condensation Ninth Layer, Qi Condensation Tenth Layer. On average, calculating four or five years for each realm..."

"I estimate I'll already be forty or fifty years old. And that's only the ideal scenario."

For a Third-rate Qi Condensation Family, producing even one Late Qi Condensation expert was exceedingly difficult.

Especially Qi Condensation Tenth Layer. It was said that the accumulation required for Qi Condensation Tenth Layer surpassed that of Qi Condensation Eighth Layer and Qi Condensation Ninth Layer.

Wanting to go one step further and reach Qi Condensation Tenth Layer Perfection was even more difficult.

There were only three First-rate Qi Condensation Families on Willow Crane Island. Only their clans possessed cultivators at Qi Condensation Tenth Layer Perfection, and their numbers were extremely scarce. It was not easy to attain.

A sense of urgency rose in Li Qingyuan's heart. "Even if I can reach Qi Condensation Tenth Layer Perfection at around fifty, I'll still need a great deal of time and over ten thousand Spirit Stones to slowly plan for a Foundation Establishment Pill."

"I'm afraid it will be difficult to obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill and attempt Foundation Establishment even before I turn sixty."

"Even if I succeed by luck at sixty, after Foundation Establishment, my own potential will basically be exhausted, making it extremely difficult to form a core."

Li Qingyuan shook his head. "No, I must become immortal. I must attain longevity."

"I have to find a way to sell these talismans and exchange them for Spirit Stones to accelerate my cultivation, without exposing my secret."

"Grandpa Clan Leader."

In the afternoon, Li Qingyuan arrived at Grandpa Clan Leader's secluded Small Courtyard.

He took out six Premium Talisman Papers and smiled. "Grandpa Clan Leader, you said that as long as I could draw Masterwork Quality talismans, you would teach me to inscribe Tier 1 Mid-grade Talisman Paper."

Tier 1 Mid-grade Talisman Paper corresponded to Mid Qi Condensation, to cultivators at Qi Condensation Fourth Layer, Qi Condensation Fifth Layer, and Qi Condensation Sixth Layer.

Clan Leader Li Guangao's eyes lit up as he smiled. "They really are Masterwork Quality talismans. This Iron Armor Talisman is enough to withstand the full-force strike of a Qi Condensation Third Layer cultivator."

"And the Lightness Talisman, Ice Thorn Talisman, Blood-Stopping Talisman... You actually drew all of them at Masterwork Quality."

He praised, "Qingyuan, your talent for drawing talismans surpasses this old man's by tenfold—no, by a hundredfold."

He laughed heartily. "Good. Today, Grandpa Clan Leader will teach you to draw Tier 1 Mid-grade Talisman Paper."

The method of learning remained the same as before.

First, he watched Grandpa Clan Leader draw several Tier 1 Mid-grade Talismans.

Then Li Qingyuan followed Grandpa Clan Leader's instruction, using ordinary paper and brush to copy the talismanic patterns.

Throughout the learning process, Grandpa Clan Leader taught him with meticulous care.

"This old man has mastered a total of three kinds of Tier 1 Mid-grade Talisman Paper."

"The Diamond Talisman focuses on defense. Once activated, spiritual energy transforms into protective force; it grants an Indestructible Diamond Body, impervious to blades and spears, untouched by water and fire."

"The Wind Blade Talisman focuses on offense. Once activated, gale force transforms into blades, killing enemies from afar, shattering all that stands before it, and prevailing wherever it goes."

"The Explosive Fire Talisman focuses on offense. Once activated, blazing flames burn across the sky, comparable to a Fireball Technique at great mastery. It is enough to run rampant through Mid Qi Condensation."

Grandpa Clan Leader smiled. "Today, we'll start with the Diamond Talisman."