The days passed one by one.
Before he knew it, Shen Xuan had been making Water Control Talismans for half a year.
As his understanding of his Water Control talent gradually deepened, his Talisman Crafting skills continued to improve.
During this time, Zhao Chunsheng had brought him Green Feather Fish twice more.
Three jin one time, and four jin the other.
With daily cultivation and the plundering of talents, Shen Xuan's Water Control Talisman Completion Rate climbed steadily.
That day, he glanced at the Mysterious Jade Talisman.
[Talent: Water Control (20/100)] [Water Control Talisman: Beginner (58/100)] [Dao Rhyme: 120]
With one hundred and twenty sets of Talisman Crafting materials, he could make twenty-three or twenty-four Water Control Talismans, barely reaching a twenty-percent Completion Rate.
"Judging by this, once my Water Control Talisman reaches the Proficient Stage, I should have a Completion Rate of around thirty percent. Then I'll be able to advance to Mid-grade Talisman Master."
A thirty-percent Completion Rate would keep him above the break-even point and bring in a modest profit.
That was also the standard for certification as a Mid-grade Talisman Master.
"It hasn't been easy!"
Shen Xuan could finally see hope.
That day, Shen Xuan was practicing Talisman Crafting as usual.
He had just stepped out of the Talisman Crafting Room when he heard a knock at the door.
"Fellow Daoist Shen, I've come to see you!"
It was Shopkeeper Ding's voice.
He had come by again, his face beaming with a professional smile, his expression kind and benevolent.
"So it's Shopkeeper Ding. Please, come in."
Shen Xuan greeted him warmly.
"Yaoyao, Shopkeeper Ding is here. Come brew some tea!"
Once a month, Shen Xuan went to the Ding Family shop.
He sold Talismans and bought Talisman Crafting materials.
Shopkeeper Ding had come in person, so there had to be a reason.
After they entered, Ding Yuyao stepped forward to greet him. "Hello, Grandpa Qingtao."
"Hello, Yaoyao. What a good girl!"
Seeing Ding Yuyao, Shopkeeper Ding said with a hearty laugh, "Yaoyao, your husband is becoming more and more promising. It won't be long before he becomes a Mid-grade Talisman Master!"
Ding Yuyao didn't dare neglect him. She poured Shopkeeper Ding some Spirit Tea and said respectfully, "Grandpa Qingtao, please have some tea."
Shopkeeper Ding accepted the Spirit Tea, glanced over Ding Yuyao, then said to Shen Xuan, "Fellow Daoist Shen, Yaoyao's been married to you for nearly two years now. How come she still hasn't gotten pregnant?"
"That won't do. You two need to work harder and have a child to carry on the family line."
Ding Yuyao instinctively looked toward Shen Xuan, her expression somewhat downcast.
When they had first married, her husband had worked tirelessly with her day and night, cultivating several times a day.
Even now, though they were an old married couple, her husband was with her almost every day whenever he wasn't in seclusion.
Under normal circumstances, she should have gotten pregnant long ago.
The reason she hadn't was simple.
Either her husband was impotent, or he had no intention of letting her bear his child.
Ding Yuyao didn't say it aloud, but she was still anxious inside.
Immortals and mortals belonged to different worlds.
She hoped to bear her husband a child so their family could enjoy the happiness of being together.
She wanted someone to depend on, too.
At that moment, Ding Yuyao finally understood.
Her husband didn't want her to bear him a child!
Shen Xuan smiled and said, "It's only been two years. There's no rush."
Shopkeeper Ding shook his head repeatedly. "You're mistaken, Fellow Daoist Shen! The earlier you have a child, the sooner you can raise them. Otherwise, once you're older, even if your child makes something of themselves, you may not live long enough to enjoy the blessings they bring."
Shen Xuan lowered his head and sipped his Spirit Tea, mulling it over.
Could Shopkeeper Ding be hoping he'd marry a female cultivator from the Ding Family?
Ding Yuyao hadn't gotten pregnant because he had made sure of it.
With the Mysterious Jade Talisman, his Dao Path lay wide open. He didn't want to be burdened by children.
Besides, Ding Yuyao was a mortal.
Their child might not have a Spiritual Root.
And even if they did, there was a good chance it would be an Inferior Spirit Root.
"If you have something to say, Shopkeeper Ding, please say it directly."
Shopkeeper Ding stopped beating around the bush and said with a smile, "The elders of the clan have discussed it. We can marry another woman from the Ding Family to you!"
"Don't worry. Times have changed. You're about to become a Mid-grade Talisman Master, so your status is naturally different now."
"This time, we guarantee that your new Dao companion will have a Spiritual Root!"
Ding Yuyao's face turned deathly pale.
If her husband had another Dao companion, how could a mere mortal like her live with them in the future?
Shen Xuan didn't immediately refuse.
He wasn't willing to take another wife.
Even if the Ding Family was willing to marry a woman with a Spiritual Root to him, she would have an Inferior Spirit Root!
He had no intention of taking on another burden.
However, he needed to make a living in Qinglong Bay and didn't want to offend the Ding Family.
He thought about how to turn them down politely.
Seeing that her husband hadn't rejected the offer outright, Ding Yuyao felt a deep ache in her heart.
Over the past year and a half, she and her husband had gotten along wonderfully. She had made him her only support and the one she entrusted her heart to.
She hadn't expected that her husband would now have a better option.
And the one who had come to propose the match was an elder of her own family.
Cultivators and mortals were ultimately part of two different worlds.
"Husband, Grandpa Qingtao's suggestion makes sense. If you have a Dao companion with a Spiritual Root, your child will have a much better chance of inheriting one." Ding Yuyao said it against her will.
Shopkeeper Ding praised her. "Yaoyao, what a sensible girl!"
Then he turned to Shen Xuan. "Fellow Daoist Shen, the Ding Family's female cultivators with Spiritual Roots are in high demand! I can still find you a young, beautiful one right now. A little later, I may not be able to!"
Shopkeeper Ding deliberately emphasized the words "young and beautiful."
He knew what Shen Xuan liked.
Shen Xuan sighed softly. "Shopkeeper Ding, I've been rather busy lately. I need to hone my Water Control Talisman skills. Let's talk about this another time!"
Shopkeeper Ding paused, slightly stunned.
He hadn't expected Shen Xuan to politely refuse.
"Very well. Once you've made up your mind, come talk to me."
As he saw Shopkeeper Ding out, the man lowered his voice. "You're really in no hurry? I can find you a young, beautiful female cultivator! I guarantee you'll be satisfied!"
As he spoke, he stared fixedly at Shen Xuan.
"Let's talk about it another time!"
When Shen Xuan returned home, he saw the reproachful, self-pitying look in Ding Yuyao's eyes.
"Yaoyao, I..."
Ding Yuyao said softly, "Husband, you don't have to explain. I understand. I only hope that if you take another Dao companion someday, you won't forget how I've served you all this time."
"Husband and wife are one. You don't need to say things like that!"
Shen Xuan gently pulled Ding Yuyao into his arms.
He showed his affection for his wife through his actions.
Afterward.
Ding Yuyao lay in Shen Xuan's broad embrace like a little cat.
"Don't worry. I'm not planning to take another Dao companion."
Hearing her husband's words, Ding Yuyao couldn't help letting out a soft "Ah."
"I want to focus on cultivation and hone my Talisman Crafting skills. We can talk about taking another Dao companion in a few years."
Shen Xuan didn't make any promises.
But there was indeed no need for another Dao companion these next few years.
Although Ding Yuyao was a mortal, she was only eighteen and had practiced the Jade Maiden True Scripture. She was in the prime of youth, beautiful as a flower, with a graceful figure.
There was no need to take another wife just for the sake of women.
If he really wanted to indulge himself, all he needed was enough Spirit Stones. There were so many little enchantresses at Tianxiang Pavilion; they could come up with every kind of pleasure imaginable!
"Do you really mean it, Husband?"
"I do!"
Ding Yuyao said nothing more. She wrapped her arms around Shen Xuan's neck, closed her eyes, and smiled from ear to ear.
She was, after all, an eighteen-year-old girl who knew little of the world!
She couldn't hide what was in her heart.
"Go to sleep."
"No, I want to..."
The bed began to rock again.
Before you continue