Condense Water into Edge

With the [Water Control] talent, Shen Xuan's strength advanced by leaps and bounds.

"It's time to acquire a magic tool."

Pitiful to say.

After over forty years of cultivation, Shen Xuan didn't even own a single magic tool.

A cultivator's battle wasn't merely about cultivation realm.

Physical condition, spiritual power, magic tools, spells, talismans, pills, and so on—all were influencing factors.

Victory or defeat often came in an instant.

If the gap was a full major realm, the difference in spiritual sense, spiritual power, and physical body was like heaven and earth; no amount of external aid could overcome that chasm to win.

Thus, even a Qi Refining Perfection cultivator with a hundred tricks up their sleeve, when facing a Foundation Establishment Grand Cultivator, would almost certainly end in utter defeat. Escaping with their life was already a sign of extraordinary talent.

For Qi Refining Cultivators, relying solely on talismans and spell techniques in combat was unreliable.

The true trump card was still the magic tool they had nurtured for years.

Its activation speed couldn't match talismans or spells, but its offensive and defensive capabilities far surpassed them.

Over the past year or so, Shen Xuan had saved one hundred and eighty spirit stones through talisman crafting.

From now on, with a Mastery-level [Water Control Talisman] skill, the speed of earning spirit stones would only grow faster.

At the Ding Family shop.

"Talisman Master Shen wants to buy a magic tool?" Shopkeeper Ding greeted him warmly.

Ever since learning that Shen Xuan had broken through to Mid-grade Talisman Master, his attitude toward Shen Xuan grew increasingly enthusiastic.

How could he not be enthusiastic? This was a Mid-grade Talisman Master!

Every time Shen Xuan came to his shop to sell talismans or buy talisman materials, he could make a profit from the transactions.

The larger the deal, the more spirit stones he earned!

"Shopkeeper Ding, I'd like to buy a high-quality defensive magic tool."

That's right, a defensive magic tool!

Shen Xuan had thought it through clearly—he would prioritize buying 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 a single Mid-grade magic tool.

He had the Mysterious Jade Talisman as his backing; as long as he didn't die, his path to the Dao was promising.

"Talisman Master Shen, follow me."

Shopkeeper Ding led him to the inner residence's VIP room.

Then, he brought out several brocade boxes.

"Talisman Master Shen, take a look. These are all Mid-grade Defensive Magic Tools."

Shen Xuan didn't stand on ceremony; he took them out one by one to examine.

As soon as the defensive magic tools were taken out, they spontaneously drew in spiritual energy, emitting waves of Spiritual Power Fluctuation.

"These are all treasures from the shop's collection, each one a rare gem."

Shopkeeper Ding's face was full of confidence, and he began introducing them to Shen Xuan one by one.

"This magic tool is called the Flying Dragon Umbrella, made from..."

"This one is the Water Cloud Shield..."

"This one is the Nine Seals Banner..."

Time passed bit by bit.

After a round of repeated hesitation and selection.

Shen Xuan ultimately chose the Water Cloud Shield.

It was refined from the shell of a century-old Water Cloud Turtle, its surface covered with the marks of time, capable of withstanding attacks from Late Qi Refining Stage cultivators.

Defensive magic tools were a bit pricier than offensive ones.

This Water Cloud Shield cost a full one hundred and twenty spirit stones!

And that was after Shopkeeper Ding gave him a discount out of consideration for Shen Xuan being a regular customer.

It drained most of Shen Xuan's savings in one go!

Seeing Shen Xuan's pained expression, Shopkeeper Ding felt an inexplicable surge of satisfaction.

"Rest assured, Talisman Master Shen, this Water Cloud Shield is worth the price! If you change your mind, within two months, I'll give you a full refund!"

"No need. It's just a mere Mid-grade Defensive Magic Tool!"

Shen Xuan stubbornly insisted.

"By the way, do you have any good Water Laws?"

"Talisman Master Shen needs a cultivation technique or a spell technique?"

"A spell technique, naturally."

Shen Xuan's main cultivation technique, the [Divine Treasure Canghai Technique], was an authentic sect technique passed down from Qingyun Sect, of excellent quality—how could he easily switch to another? And the two Water Attribute spell techniques he currently knew, the Water Shield Technique and the Water Blade Technique, were both common fare, not worth delving into deeply.

Shopkeeper Ding mused, "The shop does have a signature Water Art, originating from Bishui Sect. However, the price is a bit steep."

"Let me see it!"

"Alright!"

Shopkeeper Ding solemnly took out a cultivation technique jade slip.

[Water Condensation Edge Shaping Art].

Shen Xuan swept his Spiritual Sense into it, only catching the introductory description of the technique.

"Rest assured, it's a Bishui Sect sect technique. If it weren't for you, Talisman Master Shen, I wouldn't even bring it out!"

"How many Spirit Stones?"

"Fifty Spirit Stones."

Shen Xuan was so startled he nearly threw the jade slip back in Shopkeeper Ding's face.

"Why don't you just rob me!"

A Qi Refining stage technique jade slip, selling for fifty Spirit Stones—what difference was that from robbery? He had to know that Shen Xuan's pride, the [Divine Treasure Canghai Technique], was a Qingyun Sect sect technique with a market price of only thirty Spirit Stones. And this [Water Condensation Edge Shaping Art] was merely a spell technique, selling for fifty Spirit Stones—ten times the price of an ordinary sect spell technique!

"Talisman Master Shen, that's not fair to say!"

Shopkeeper Ding wore a face full of grievance.

"We've dealt with each other for over forty years—when have I ever cheated you?"

"In business, integrity is key. I, Ding Qingtao, have operated here for fifty years—can you still not trust me?"

Shen Xuan let out a light sigh.

"Shopkeeper Ding, it's not that I don't trust you, but the price..."

"This price is absolutely worth more than you pay!"

Shopkeeper Ding declared with conviction. "This is a High-grade Spell Technique from Bishui Sect. My cost was forty Spirit Stones. It's said that when cultivated to a high level, one can transform into a divine dragon, condense water into sharp edges, and cut through anything!"

"Keep boasting! Forty Spirit Stones!"

"Forty-five Spirit Stones! Talisman Master Shen, don't make this hard on me—the shop has to keep accounts too!"

"Fine!"

Shen Xuan grudgingly took out the Spirit Stones and bought what Shopkeeper Ding considered the shop's treasure.

"If it's not as good as you say, I'll return it!"

"That can't be returned! It has a Sect Restriction inside, allowing only one person to cultivate it!"

Shopkeeper Ding cried out.

Shen Xuan shot Shopkeeper Ding a glare, then turned and left the shop.

After buying just one defensive magic tool and one Water Art, over a year's worth of savings left him with only a dozen or so Spirit Stones.

Truly a rip-off.

In the training room.

Shen Xuan sat sitting cross-legged.

After circulating the [Divine Treasure Canghai Technique], the spiritual energy in the room, following Shen Xuan's breathing, seeped into his body in an orderly, gradual manner.

In his dantian.

The spiritual energy transformed into a phantom of a vast ocean, connecting the five viscera, spanning the six bowels, forming a whole, a self-contained universe of its own.

Strands of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy were drawn into his abdomen.

In an instant, they converged into that boundless ocean.

Blue, red, yellow, white, green—the five colors of the Five Elements spun without cease, ultimately returning to deep blue, radiating an utterly profound Dao Rhyme.

All the spiritual energy in the room was completely absorbed by Shen Xuan.

A wisp of azure green spiritual energy slowly flowed into his dantian.

The ocean became even more vast and expansive, surging endlessly with Endless Vitality.

"So this is the Water Attribute spiritual energy cultivated by the [Divine Treasure Canghai Technique]? Incredibly formidable!"

Shen Xuan marveled inwardly.

The mysterious jade talisman shimmered faintly.

[Cultivation Method: Divine Treasure Canghai Technique Proficient (48/400)]

Feeling the spiritual power fluctuation in his dantian, a smile couldn't help but appear on Shen Xuan's face.

After raising his Water Spirit Root to 12 points, cultivation had clearly become much faster.

[Realm: Qi Refining Level 4: 28/100]

At this rate, in three years, he would be able to break through to Qi Refining Level 5.

To others, this speed wasn't considered fast.

But to Shen Xuan, it was already remarkably precious.

At this moment, when he cultivated the [Divine Treasure Canghai Technique], it was noticeably smoother, with cultivation efficiency several times what it had been before!

"Let me try this [Water Condensation Edge Shaping Art]!"