"Shen Xuan, Inferior Spirit Root!"
A cold voice rang in his ear.
In his dream, Shen Xuan stood atop a towering cliff. One foot stepped into empty air, and he jolted awake.
The room was dim.
Shen Xuan formed a Daoist Magic Seal, lighting the Night Pearl Lamp hanging on the wall.
"Time really flies. In the blink of an eye, more than forty years have passed."
He got out of bed, listening to the rain pouring outside. It seemed to pound deep in his Divine Soul.
In old age, listening to the rain alone in an empty room, he was no longer young.
He had grown indifferent to the joys and sorrows, the partings and reunions of this world.
Shen Xuan gazed out at the dark night and let out a deep sigh.
More than forty years ago, he and six fellow students, full of youthful spirit and vigor, had gone together to take Qingyun Sect's entry test under Master Yan's guidance.
The result had been cruel.
His highest affinity among the Five Elements Spirit Roots was Water, but his Spiritual Energy Sensitivity was a mere 8 points. He was an Inferior Spirit Root through and through!
Forget joining the sect—even as a servant, they wouldn't take him!
With no other choice, and on Master Yan's recommendation, Shen Xuan came alone to Qinglong Bay Market and lived cautiously, as if walking on thin ice.
Now, in his sixties, his Cultivation Realm still remained at Qi Refining Level 3.
His Spirit Root Aptitude was too poor. Qi Refining Level 3 was his limit.
Fortunately, he had cultivated diligently and learned to craft [Breath Concealing Talismans] and [Invisibility Talismans].
They were only low-grade Talismans, but his Talisman Completion Rate exceeded thirty percent.
It was thanks to his Talisman Crafting skills that Shen Xuan had managed to scrape by in Qinglong Bay Market.
He was unlike those Rogue Cultivators with no skills to their name, packed into the Shantytown on the outskirts of the Market, unable to meet even their basic needs and forced to survive by hunting Monster Beasts.
They lived by the blade, never knowing if they'd see another day. Their lives were bitter beyond words!
As an utterly ordinary Transmigrator, Shen Xuan had done his best.
He had never touched drinking, womanizing, gambling, or vice. Of the twelve hours in a day, apart from eating and sleeping, he devoted every moment to cultivation and Talisman Crafting.
It was hard.
Even after pushing himself that far, he could only afford to rent a D-grade Residence on the outskirts of the Market and eat two bowls of Spirit Rice mixed with Refined Rice each day.
Every now and then, he'd buy a few ounces of low-grade Yao Beast Meat to make life a little better.
Outside, the rain fell in torrents, and the night wind was cool.
Shen Xuan stared blankly at the winding blue lightning flashing across the sky, lost in thought.
"I've spent sixty years watching the flowers bloom and fade, savoring every passing year. It's time I accepted my fate!"
A young man from a small town before his transmigration, he had always believed that Heaven rewards diligence.
Even with an Inferior Spirit Root, he had kept up his painstaking cultivation.
After all, there were many tales in the Cultivation World of Inferior Spirit Roots cultivating their way to greatness.
His transmigration to the Xianxia World should have meant he was extraordinarily lucky.
In his youth, he had been widely read and exceptionally talented. He had overcome one challenge after another, entered White Deer Cave Academy, and become one of Master Yan's Personal Disciples.
All seven Personal Disciples were People of Great Luck. They possessed Spirit Roots and had achieved Qi Induction.
A dream of sixty years, half a life wasted.
"An Inferior Spirit Root can never break through the Early Qi Refining Stage!"
No matter how disciplined and diligent he was, his Spirit Root Aptitude still held him back. The Dao Path ahead remained hopelessly out of sight.
At last, Shen Xuan had come to terms with it. He relaxed completely and fell back asleep.
The next day.
The rain had stopped, and the sky had cleared.
Shen Xuan took the Talismans he had made and walked along the Market's main street into a Ding Family shop.
"Well, Fellow Daoist Shen, you're here early!"
Shopkeeper Ding greeted him with a beaming smile.
"Ten [Breath Concealing Talismans] and ten [Invisibility Talismans]. Exchange them for four Spirit Stones."
As soon as he finished speaking, Shopkeeper Ding asked in surprise, "Eh? Fellow Daoist Shen, aren't you exchanging them for Talisman Paper and Cinnabar anymore?"
"No. I still have some supplies at home. They'll last me a while."
"All right, then."
Shopkeeper Ding took out four crystal-clear Spirit Stones.
Shen Xuan carefully placed them in his Storage Bag.
"Wait, Fellow Daoist Shen. There's something I'd like to discuss with you."
Shen Xuan followed Shopkeeper Ding into the shop's Rest Room.
"Fellow Daoist Shen, you've lived in our Ding Family's Qinglong Bay Market for over forty years, haven't you?"
"Forty-three years."
"The labor draft comes once every three years. You've never taken part, right?"
"I'm not good at fighting. I've paid the Substitute Labor Tax every time."
According to the Ding Family's rules, Rogue Cultivators living in the Market had to pay rent and serve in the labor draft.
Those unwilling to serve could pay Spirit Stones instead.
The labor tax was six Spirit Stones each time.
In forty-three years, Shen Xuan had never served in the labor draft once.
In fact, as a practitioner of the Cowardly Path, he had never left Qinglong Bay Market after trying his hand at farming when he first arrived.
"This time's different. The higher-ups have ordered that no one can pay with Spirit Stones instead. Every Rogue Cultivator in the Market has to serve when their turn comes."
"Unless..."
Shen Xuan gave a wry smile.
"Fellow Daoist Shen, don't take this the wrong way. You're sixty years old and still only at Qi Refining Level 3. It's time to let go."
"Twelve Spirit Stones aren't beyond your means!"
"Think about it: marry a Ding Family woman and you won't have to serve in the labor draft. You'll earn the cost back in six years, and you'll even get a pretty, obedient young woman to warm your bed for free. What a bargain!"
Shen Xuan said helplessly, "All right, Shopkeeper Ding. Stop trying to talk me into it. I agree."
"Recommend someone for me!"
As he spoke, he counted out twelve Spirit Stones from his Storage Bag and handed them to Shopkeeper Ding, fighting back a pang of heartache.
After taking the Spirit Stones, Shopkeeper Ding's smile grew even brighter. "Don't worry. We've been friends for over forty years. I won't let you down!"
For an ordinary Rogue Cultivator, twelve Spirit Stones was no small sum.
It was a year's rent for a residence on the outskirts of the Market.
Given his circumstances and means, the Ding Family could only recommend a mortal woman to him.
Since Shen Xuan had decided to take a wife, he wanted someone who fit his ideal: gentle and virtuous, young and beautiful.
At the very least, she had to stir his desire.
Shopkeeper Ding took out an album filled with over a hundred young Ding Family mortal women in the bloom of their youth.
Shen Xuan flipped through them one by one.
Soon, he spotted a lovely young woman, radiant as a flower.
She stood a full five feet five, with long legs, a full bosom, a narrow waist, generous hips, and skin as fair as snow.
"Good eye!"
Shopkeeper Ding gave him a thumbs-up. "Her name is Ding Yuyao. Her great-great-grandfather was once a cultivator. Though she has no Spirit Root, she comes from an official family and is well-educated and courteous."
"Could I meet her?"
"Of course. Please wait a moment, Fellow Daoist Shen."
Shopkeeper Ding hurried off.
Half an hour later, he appeared before Shen Xuan with Ding Yuyao.
Shen Xuan looked her up and down. She was even more lovely in person than she had appeared in the album.
"This humble woman, Ding Yuyao, greets Talisman Master Shen."
Her voice was lovely, clear and sweet as a spring flowing over stones.
"If I take you as my wife, would you be willing?"
Her delicate cheeks were flushed red.
Her soft voice drifted over.
"This wife is willing."
Shen Xuan nodded.
"I'll send over the betrothal gifts."
Shen Xuan gave Ding Yuyao the respect she deserved. Her betrothal gifts were worth six Spirit Stones.
Ten days later, Shen Xuan held a wedding banquet at his home.
His only guests were a few neighbors.
Shopkeeper Ding, representing the Ding Family, brought a gift of Talisman Paper worth one Spirit Stone.
As night deepened, they lay entwined like mandarin ducks beneath their brocade quilt, its red waves tossing.
Shen Xuan rode hard and gave himself over to abandon all night.
So what if he was sixty!
As a cultivator, he was hale and hearty, still in his prime!
In the early hours of the morning.
After the stormy waves had passed, the exhausted Ding Yuyao sank into a deep sleep.
But Shen Xuan wasn't the least bit sleepy.
Before his eyes appeared a mysterious Jade Talisman, both real and illusory. Dao Rhyme flowed around it, its aura vast and majestic, its mysteries beyond measure! Several lines of ancient golden characters gradually appeared on the Mysterious Jade Talisman, glimmering faintly.
[Sect Master: Shen Xuan] [Lifespan: 60/108] [Technique: Divine Treasure Canghai Technique Proficient (199/200)] [Realm: Third Level of Qi Refining: 99/100] [Spiritual Root: Water 8/100] [Spiritual Root: Wood 7/100] [Spiritual Root: Fire 6/100] [Spiritual Root: Metal 5/100] [Spiritual Root: Earth 5/100] [Breath Concealment Talisman: Proficient (199/200)] [Invisibility Talisman: Proficient (199/200)] [Plunderable Talent: None] [Talent: None] [Dao Resonance: None] [Cloud and Rain Technique: Beginner (24/100)] [Water Shield Technique: Proficient (16/200)] [Water Blade Technique: Proficient (18/200)]
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