With the [Water Control] talent, Shen Xuan's strength had advanced by leaps and bounds.
"It's time to buy a magic artifact."
It was rather pathetic.
After more than forty years of cultivation, Shen Xuan still didn't own a single magic artifact.
A cultivator's strength in battle wasn't determined by cultivation realm alone.
Physical condition, spiritual power, magic artifacts, spell techniques, talismans, pills, and many other factors all played a part.
Victory or defeat often came in an instant.
If there was a gap of an entire major realm, the two sides' Spiritual Sense, spiritual power, and physical bodies would differ by a chasm. No amount of external aid could make up for it and let the weaker side defeat the stronger one.
That was why even a cultivator at Qi Refining Perfection, no matter how many tricks they had up their sleeve, would be utterly defeated by a Foundation Establishment Grand Cultivator in the vast majority of cases. Escaping with their life would already count as an extraordinary feat.
For Qi Refining Cultivators, relying solely on talismans and spell techniques in a magical duel wasn't reliable.
Their true trump card was the magic artifact they had nurtured for many years.
It was slower to activate than talismans and spell techniques, but its offensive and defensive capabilities were far superior.
Over the past year, Shen Xuan had saved up 180 spirit stones through Talisman Crafting.
With his Proficient Level [Water Control Talisman] skills, he would only earn spirit stones faster and faster from here on.
At the Ding Family shop.
"Master Shen, looking to buy a magic artifact?" Shopkeeper Ding greeted him warmly.
Ever since learning that Shen Xuan had advanced to Mid-grade Talisman Master, he had become more and more enthusiastic toward him.
How could he not be? Shen Xuan was a Mid-grade Talisman Master!
Every time Shen Xuan came to his shop to sell talismans or buy Talisman Crafting materials, Shopkeeper Ding made a profit.
The larger the transaction, the more spirit stones he earned!
"Shopkeeper Ding, I'd like to buy a high-quality Defensive Magic Tool."
That was right, a Defensive Magic Tool!
Shen Xuan had thought it through. His first priority was to buy a Defensive Magic Tool.
He only had one life. Safety came first!
With his Cultivation Realm at Qi Refining Level 4, he could only wield one Mid-grade Magic Artifact.
He had the Mysterious Jade Talisman to rely on. As long as he didn't die, his Dao Path still held promise.
"Master Shen, come with me."
Shopkeeper Ding led him to a private reception room in the inner residence.
Then he brought over several brocade boxes.
"Master Shen, take a look. These are all Mid-grade Defensive Magic Tools."
Shen Xuan didn't stand on ceremony. He took them out of the boxes one by one to examine them.
As soon as each Defensive Magic Tool was brought out, it drew in spiritual energy on its own and gave off waves of spiritual power.
"These are all treasured pieces from the shop. Every one of them is a rare gem."
Shopkeeper Ding's face brimmed with confidence as he began introducing them to Shen Xuan one by one.
"This artifact is called the Flying Dragon Umbrella. It's made from..."
"This one is the Water Cloud Shield..."
"And this one is the Nine Seals Banner..."
Time passed bit by bit.
After much deliberation and careful narrowing down, Shen Xuan finally chose the Water Cloud Shield.
It had been forged from the shell of a century-old Water Cloud Turtle. The surface was covered in the marks of age, and it could withstand attacks from Late Qi Refining Stage cultivators.
Defensive Magic Tools cost more than offensive ones.
This Water Cloud Shield cost a whopping 120 spirit stones!
That was after Shopkeeper Ding had given him a discount for being a longtime customer.
It had instantly drained more than half of Shen Xuan's savings!
Seeing Shen Xuan's pained expression, Shopkeeper Ding felt a surge of inexplicable satisfaction.
"Don't worry, Master Shen. This Water Cloud Shield is worth the price! If you change your mind, I'll give you a full refund within two months!"
"No need. It's just a Mid-grade Defensive Magic Tool!"
Shen Xuan still stubbornly put on a brave face.
"By the way, do you have any good Water Law techniques?"
"Does Master Shen need a cultivation technique or a spell technique?"
"A spell technique, of course."
Shen Xuan's main cultivation technique, the [Divine Treasure Canghai Technique], was an orthodox sect technique passed down from Qingyun Sect, and its quality was excellent. How could he casually switch to another?
As for the two Water Attribute spell techniques he currently knew, the Water Shield Technique and the Water Blade Technique, they were common as dirt. There was no need to study them in depth.
Shopkeeper Ding mused, "The shop does have a Signature Water Art, originally from Bishui Sect. But the price is a little steep."
"Bring it out and let me see!"
"Certainly!"
Shopkeeper Ding solemnly took out a Cultivation Technique Jade Slip.
[Water Condensation Edge Shaping Art].
Shen Xuan sent his Spiritual Sense into it and only saw the introduction to the cultivation technique at the beginning.
"Rest assured, this is a sect technique from Bishui Sect. If you weren't Master Shen, I wouldn't even bring it out!"
"How many spirit stones?"
"Fifty spirit stones."
Shen Xuan was so startled that he nearly smacked the Cultivation Technique Jade Slip into Shopkeeper Ding's face.
"Why don't you just rob me!"
Fifty spirit stones for a Qi Refining cultivation technique jade slip—what was that if not robbery!
His prized [Divine Treasure Canghai Technique] was a sect technique from Qingyun Sect, and its market price was only thirty spirit stones.
Yet this [Water Condensation Edge Shaping Art] was merely a spell technique, and it cost fifty spirit stones—ten times the price of an ordinary sect spell technique!
"Master Shen, how can you say that!"
Shopkeeper Ding looked aggrieved.
"We've known each other for over forty years. When have I ever deceived you?"
"Honesty is the foundation of business. I, Ding Qingtao, have run this shop for fifty years. Surely you can trust me?"
Shen Xuan let out a soft sigh.
"Shopkeeper Ding, it's not that I don't trust you. It's just that this price..."
"This price is absolutely worth every spirit stone!"
Shopkeeper Ding declared with conviction, "This is a High-grade Spell Technique from Bishui Sect. It cost me forty spirit stones to acquire. They say that once you cultivate it to a profound level, you can transform into a divine dragon, condense water into a sharp edge, and cut through anything!"
"Sure, keep talking! Forty spirit stones!"
"Forty-five spirit stones! Master Shen, don't make things difficult for me. The shop has its books to balance, too!"
"Fine!"
Shen Xuan reluctantly took out the spirit stones and bought the Signature Water Art that Shopkeeper Ding had been boasting about.
"If it's not as good as you say, I'll return it!"
"You can't return this one! There's a Sect Restriction inside. It can only be cultivated by one person!"
Shopkeeper Ding cried out.
Shen Xuan shot him a glare, then turned and left the shop.
Just buying one Defensive Magic Tool and one Water Law technique had reduced more than a year's savings to a mere dozen or so spirit stones.
What a rip-off!
Inside the cultivation room.
Shen Xuan sat cross-legged.
As he circulated the [Divine Treasure Canghai Technique], the spiritual energy in the room seeped into his body in an orderly, steady flow, following the rhythm of his breathing.
In his dantian.
Spiritual power transformed into the phantom image of a vast ocean, linking the five viscera and spanning the six bowels, forming a whole unto itself—a world of its own.
Wisps of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy were drawn into his body.
In the blink of an eye, they flowed into that boundless ocean.
Blue, red, yellow, white, and green—the five colors of the Five Elements swirled endlessly before ultimately returning to deep blue, giving off an exceedingly profound Dao Rhyme.
All the spiritual energy in the room was drawn into Shen Xuan.
A wisp of blue-green spiritual power slowly flowed into his dantian.
The ocean grew vaster and more expansive, surging endlessly with Endless Vitality.
"So this is the Water Attribute spiritual power cultivated through the [Divine Treasure Canghai Technique]? It's truly powerful!"
Shen Xuan marveled inwardly.
The Mysterious Jade Talisman shimmered faintly.
[Cultivation Technique: Divine Treasure Canghai Technique Proficient (48/400)]
Feeling the fluctuations of spiritual power within his dantian, a faint smile appeared on Shen Xuan's face.
After his Water Spirit Root had increased to 12 points, his cultivation had clearly become much faster.
[Cultivation Realm: Qi Refining Level 4: 28/100]
At this rate, he would break through to Qi Refining Level 5 in three years.
That pace wouldn't be considered fast for other people.
But for Shen Xuan, it was already exceptionally precious.
Now, when he cultivated the [Divine Treasure Canghai Technique], it flowed much more smoothly. His cultivation efficiency was several times greater than before!
"Let's try this [Water Condensation Edge Shaping Art]!"
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