Genuine Flame Ice Talismans, Qi Condensation Third Layer Perfection!

Half a month later, peace returned to the three thousand li surrounding Willow Crane Island.

Not only did the Abducting Evil Cultivators cease appearing, even the Bandit Cultivators had become somewhat more low-key.

Thus, Willow Crane Island returned to its former order, and the various Markets reopened.

The Li Immortal Clan also needed to sell spirit plants, talisman paper, Spirit Beasts, Origin Iron Stone, and various other resources, then trade them for Spirit Stones, talisman materials, elixirs, and other Cultivation Resources.

However, for the sake of caution, the Clan Leader personally led the team this time, with the Second Elder accompanying him and the heads of the clan's various industries going along.

The Great Elder remained behind to guard the clan, assisted by two Qi Condensation Fourth Layer cultivators, while more than ten Qi Condensation Third Layer cultivators stayed behind.

Li Qingyuan continued cultivating as usual.

More than ten days later, Grandpa Clan Leader and the others returned laden with goods.

That evening, after the family finished dinner, father and son Li Dingzhou and Li Qingyuan closed the door and spoke in private.

Li Dingzhou took several items from his Storage Bag, his face full of pain as he said, "Tier 1 High-grade Talisman Paper materials cost five Spirit Stones per sheet?"

"And this High-Grade First-Rank Talisman Ink—just two taels cost ten Spirit Stones."

Li Dingzhou's heart bled as he said, "Eight sheets of Tier 1 High-grade Talisman Paper materials. Two taels of High-Grade First-Rank Talisman Ink. Fifty Spirit Stones spent in total."

Li Qingyuan took out fifty Spirit Stones and said, "Father, you need to cultivate too. Let your son pay these fifty Spirit Stones himself."

A few days ago, father and son had split their Cultivation Resources evenly, fifty Spirit Stones each.

After Li Qingyuan's resources doubled, he had over a hundred Spirit Stones. Moreover, after drawing talismans, he earned seven Spirit Stones a month, which became fourteen after doubling.

Li Dingzhou waved his hand. "No need. In this life, I will only go as far as Mid Qi Condensation."

"But you are different, Yuan'er. You have the potential for Foundation Establishment and need Spirit Stones more than I do."

Li Qingyuan stuffed some into his hands and said, "How about this? Father and I split them evenly, twenty-five Spirit Stones each."

Li Dingzhou repeatedly declined, but in the end only accepted twenty Spirit Stones for cultivation.

After obtaining the talisman paper materials and talisman ink, Li Qingyuan returned to his secluded little room and began drawing talismans.

"A High-Grade First-Rank Talisman Brush is too expensive. I'll make do with this Wind Spirit Wolf Hair Brush." As he spoke, Li Qingyuan took out two taels of talisman ink and eight sheets of talisman paper materials.

"Hu~" He drew a deep breath, expelled the turbid air, and calmed his mind.

A moment later, Li Qingyuan raised his brush and drew the talisman, fully focused and not daring to be distracted in the slightest.

A quarter-hour later

Buzz!

The first Flame Ice Soul Severing Talisman succeeded!

Li Qingyuan said delightedly, "Genuine quality. The power of one strike rivals the full-force attack of a Qi Condensation Eighth Layer cultivator."

"Again!"

The second, the third... three genuine-quality talismans, all without a hitch.

After drawing three talismans in succession, Li Qingyuan set down his brush and sat in meditation to regulate his breathing, restoring his spiritual power and soul before beginning the second round of talisman drawing in his best condition.

The materials were precious and could not be wasted. Li Qingyuan had no choice but to be cautious.

With the guidance of the Mysterious Feminine Space, coupled with his own talent, and with every talisman drawn in his best physical and mental state, neither arrogant nor impatient—

This time, all eight sheets succeeded. Every one was of genuine quality.

"Hu~" Li Qingyuan let out a long breath, saying regretfully, "I never expected my condition to be this good while drawing talismans."

"What a pity. If I possessed Mid Qi Condensation cultivation, had developed Spiritual Sense, and also owned a High-Grade First-Rank Talisman Brush, I might have been able to draw Flame Ice Soul Severing Talismans of premium quality."

A premium-quality talisman could rival the full-force strike of a Qi Condensation Ninth Layer cultivator. It could suppress, or even injure, a Qi Condensation Eighth Layer cultivator.

Even a Qi Condensation Eighth Layer cultivator could be blasted to death beneath overwhelming firepower, so long as there were enough talisman papers.

Looking at the eight talisman papers, Li Qingyuan chuckled. "Eight genuine-quality Flame Ice Soul Severing Talismans. Used properly, they should be enough to blast a Qi Condensation Level 7 expert to death."

"At last, I have a bit of ability to protect myself."

"Eh, this Wind Spirit Wolf Hair Brush is starting to break?" Li Qingyuan looked at the talisman brush. A tiny crack had appeared on its shaft. Though small, it was there.

Li Qingyuan said troubledly, "As expected, when a Mid-grade First-tier Talisman Brush is forcibly used to inscribe Tier 1 High-grade Talisman Paper, the brush is damaged as the injected spiritual energy and talisman runes contend against each other."

"To draw Tier 1 High-grade Talisman Paper, I still need a High-Grade First-Rank Talisman Brush for long-term use."

"Forget it. I'll raise my cultivation first."

Li Qingyuan pondered. "I need to reach Qi Condensation Fourth Layer as soon as possible and develop Spiritual Sense."

"Once the soul transforms into Spiritual Sense, I can control a sword to kill enemies and crush Qi Condensation Third Layer cultivators."

"Furthermore, using Spiritual Sense to control talismans against enemies will be faster and more precise. With Flame Ice Soul Severing Talismans at my side, I should roughly be able to contend with Late Qi Condensation cultivators."

Having said that, Li Qingyuan put away the eight talisman papers and began cultivating.

In the days that followed, Li Qingyuan returned to his daily arduous cultivation. Drawing on his learning experience from his previous life, he formulated scientific and reasonable cultivation routines.

Meditative qi cultivation, practicing Tier 1 Spells, drawing talismans, basic swordsmanship and fist-and-kick techniques, simulated exchanges with his father, sparring with the Great Elder and Second Elder...

His cultivation, spells, swordsmanship, combat experience, and talisman-drawing skill all continued to improve.

Compared to before, Li Qingyuan now had somewhat more Cultivation Resources.

His monthly earnings from drawing talismans were seven Spirit Stones, doubled to fourteen. Apart from meditative qi cultivation, he could refine one Spirit Stone a day.

Furthermore, he ate Spirit Rice every day.

His cultivation site remained the core area of the clan's First-Rank Incomplete Spirit Vein. Only the Clan Leader, Great Elder, and Second Elder enjoyed this treatment.

Time passed, and his cultivation steadily improved.

One month, three months, half a year, one year...

Spring passed and winter came. In the blink of an eye, more than a year had gone by.

This year, Li Qingyuan was twelve years old.

Inside the room, Li Qingyuan sat cross-legged. The twelve-year-old youth had already grown to one meter sixty in height. Dressed in a green robe, his handsome face still bore a trace of childishness, but his eyes were exceptionally lively.

Buzz!

As Li Qingyuan meditated and cultivated qi, Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy gathered around him and was turned into his own use. Spiritual Pressure spread from within his body—it was Qi Condensation Third Layer Perfection.

"Hu~" He circulated his cultivation with both hands and slowly exhaled the turbid air.

Li Qingyuan withdrew his spiritual power and smiled in satisfaction. "Twelve years old, Qi Condensation Third Layer Perfection."

"At the shortest, half a year; at the longest, one year. I will surely step into Qi Condensation Fourth Layer and develop Spiritual Sense."

"Grandpa Clan Leader said that my innate soul is powerful, making it easier for me than ordinary people to develop Spiritual Sense. Coupled with my High-Grade Three Spirit Root aptitude, there are practically no bottlenecks for me within the Qi Refining Stage."

Li Qingyuan said, "So I am not like Father and the others. I do not need to use Lesser Spirit Nurturing Pills to break through."

"As for elixirs, unless necessary—or unless they are premium-grade elixirs—"

"Otherwise, it is best not to take them."

In a small place like Willow Crane Island, Qi Refining Stage elixirs contained mixed and excessive medicinal potency. Many people had only barely become First-Rank alchemists, and the medicinal potency of the elixirs they refined was impure. Taking them could easily affect the quality of one's spiritual power and one's foundation.

Of course, premium-grade elixirs from Core Formation sects or Nascent Soul sects were refined by high-rank alchemists, so it was naturally possible to take a small amount of them to break through cultivation bottlenecks.

Li Qingyuan knew this well. As he was now, he did not need to consider swallowing elixirs within the Qi Refining Stage for the time being.

He wanted to temper every Minor Realm to perfection and let breakthroughs come as naturally as water flowing into a channel.

"Next, I'll charge toward Mid Qi Condensation!"