Talent Plunder

Shen Xuan was ecstatic, filled with excitement.

Sixty years!

He had waited a full sixty years and finally obtained the essential Golden Finger for a transmigrator!

But what exactly was this Mysterious Jade Talisman for?

He gazed at the small golden characters on the Mysterious Jade Talisman, a sense of confusion washing over him.

Originally, he had resigned himself to fate. He had spent most of his forty years of savings, married a mortal woman from the Ding family, started a family, and placed his hopes on raising his descendants.

However, at the age of sixty, after marrying his beautiful wife, the Mysterious Jade Talisman was suddenly activated.

Since that was the case, how could he be content to live the rest of his life in mediocrity!

He could not forget the dreams of his youth.

To wander freely in the world, to laugh at the changing winds, and to attain Dao through longevity.

Upon seeing the values for Cultivation Technique, Cultivation Realm, and Talisman Art, Shen Xuan confirmed his suspicions.

His Lifespan was average, and he already knew about his Spirit Root.

on the Xuan Yuan Continent, normal cultivators possessed all Five Elements.

A Spiritual Energy Sensitivity exceeding 10 points indicated a Low-grade Spiritual Root.

Shen Xuan's best Water Spirit Root had a Spiritual Energy Sensitivity of only 8 points, making it a definite Inferior Spirit Root.

It wasn't that he didn't try hard enough; it was his Spirit Root's aptitude that limited his potential!

Preventing him from breaking through!

Now that the Mysterious Jade Talisman had appeared, there must be a way to overcome this predicament.

Shen Xuan looked at Ding Yuyao, who was sleeping soundly.

Could it be because of her?

Without time for tenderness, Shen Xuan continued.

Half an hour later.

Exhausted, Shen Xuan focused his gaze on the Mysterious Jade Talisman before him.

The ancient, small golden characters on it slowly appeared.

There was no change whatsoever.

At this moment.

Shen Xuan felt a sense of loss.

Thinking about it, it made sense.

Ding Yuyao was merely a mortal woman without a Spirit Root.

The appearance of the Mysterious Jade Talisman was likely due to the right timing.

Perhaps it was his age, perhaps his cultivation realm, perhaps...

That didn't matter.

What mattered was how he could make good use of this Mysterious Jade Talisman and continue his cultivation!

Shen Xuan's gaze fell upon the "Plunderable Talent" section, a flicker of longing in his eyes.

Shen Xuan gently moved Ding Yuyao's arm away and tiptoed out of bed.

He had exhausted himself last night; let her sleep a little longer.

The moment Shen Xuan's figure left the bedroom, Ding Yuyao opened her beautiful eyes, a blush of shyness mixed with a hint of pride on her face.

Her husband was not only a cultivator but also a Talisman Master!

Moreover, his stamina was excellent, vigorous and lively, completely unlike a sixty-year-old man in the mortal world.

Yesterday, they had been "exercising" for a full hour!

It had left her aching all over!

In the early morning, the Market Town bustled with activity.

Stall vendors called out their wares.

"Fellow Daoist Shen, newly married, and out so early!"

"A pear blossom atop a rose bush, Fellow Daoist Shen, you truly know how to enjoy yourself!"

"I told you long ago, Fellow Daoist Shen is a blessed man! I got lucky today and found a Mysterious Water Turtle, I'll sell it to you cheap!"

The stall owners were all familiar neighbors, teasing Shen Xuan.

One of them was selling the Low-grade Yao Beast he had acquired, a Mysterious Water Turtle.

For some reason, Shen Xuan glanced at the Mysterious Water Turtle, and his heart stirred.

This Mysterious Water Turtle is only the size of a bowl, a juvenile body.

Seeing Shen Xuan stop, the vendor shouted, "Three Spirit Stones, practically giving it away, consider it my wedding gift to you."

"It's too small, a juvenile body, two Spirit Stones at most!" Shen Xuan said irritably.

"Hey, this is a genuine First-order Low-grade Yao Beast! If you raise it, it'll be worth at least twenty Spirit Stones!"

A nearby vendor chuckled.

"Who doesn't know the Mysterious Water Turtle has a long lifespan? Raising it from a juvenile body to adulthood takes at least forty years! By then, will Fellow Daoist Shen still need it?"

"Go on, don't interfere with my business! How about this, Fellow Daoist Shen, two Spirit Stones and nine Spirit Pearls!"

Spirit Pearls are a smaller unit of measurement in the cultivation world, ten Spirit Pearls to one Spirit Stone.

"Just two Spirit Stones! If you don't sell, then forget it."

Shen Xuan made a move as if to leave.

"Hey, Fellow Daoist Shen, don't go!"

"Fine, I'll sell it to you, just for good luck!"

After buying the Mysterious Water Turtle, Shen Xuan went to the butcher stall in the Market Town and spent one Spirit Pearl on a jin of low-grade Yao Beast Savage Beef.

With his pockets empty, he didn't even buy Spirit Rice and hurried home.

He still had ten jin of Spirit Rice at home, which would last him for a month.

Ding Yuyao had woken up and was looking around the kitchen, enduring the pain as she limped.

"One liang of Spirit Rice, three liang of Refined Rice, half a liang of Savage Beef, cook them together as porridge."

Shen Xuan gave the instruction and then entered the Training Room.

He placed the Beast Bag containing the Mysterious Water Turtle on the table and opened it.

A juvenile body Mysterious Water Turtle, the size of a bowl, poked out its small head.

It emitted a faint Yao Qi.

Shen Xuan concentrated, and the Mysterious Jade Talisman appeared before his eyes.

His divine sense moved slightly.

Spiritual power flowed into the Mysterious Jade Talisman.

Swish!

A golden light enveloped the juvenile body Mysterious Water Turtle's Yao body.

The next moment.

The juvenile body Mysterious Water Turtle's head drooped, its blood-red luster rapidly faded.

It soon became dry and shriveled, turning a dark brown.

The Yao Qi also dissipated.

On the Mysterious Jade Talisman, golden light flashed.

The ancient, simple golden text changed.

[Plunderable Talent: Water Control, Breath Concealment, Life Extension.]

[Talent: None]

[Dao Charm: 1]

It works!

A sharp glint flashed in Shen Xuan's eyes, revealing a hint of excitement.

He hadn't expected that the common First-order Low-grade Spirit Beast Mysterious Water Turtle in the cultivation world could provide three talents for him to plunder.

Water Control was suitable for combat, Life Extension was suitable for health preservation, but what he needed most right now was Spirit Stones.

Shen Xuan pondered repeatedly in his heart and finally chose Breath Concealment.

[Talent: Breath Concealment (3/100)]

At the same moment.

Shen Xuan felt as if his mind had been enlightened, gaining some insights into the art of concealing one's aura.

"This is the Mysterious Water Turtle's Breath Concealment talent?"

"What a pity, it's only a juvenile body, the talent resources provided are too scarce."

Shen Xuan examined his own condition.

Soon, he discovered something.

[Breath Concealing Talisman: Proficient (1/400)]

The [Breath Concealing Talisman] skill had advanced!

For a moment, a warm liquid welled up in the corners of Shen Xuan's eyes.

It wasn't easy!

Forty years of talisman crafting, and today I finally reached the Proficient stage with the [Breath Concealing Talisman].

This was just for a juvenile [Yao Beast], a Mysterious Water Turtle at that. If it were an adult one, then...

Snapping back to reality, Shen Xuan couldn't help but smile.

"Found the correct way to use the Golden Finger, no slacking! The cultivation world is treacherous and full of hidden dangers. A single misstep could lead to death and the end of my path!"

An adult Mysterious Water Turtle would be too large a target, too expensive, and would easily attract suspicion.

Moreover, at twenty [Spirit Stones] each, he couldn't afford one right now.

A juvenile Mysterious Water Turtle was better.

Smaller target, cheaper price, and people wouldn't pay too much attention.

His ability to reach sixty years old was entirely due to his life motto of "Safety First." He stayed put in the Qinglong Bay Market, never venturing out for adventures.

He even used [Spirit Stones] to substitute for the [Ding Family]'s [Corvée Labor].

Leaving the [Training Room], breakfast was ready, emitting an aroma that deeply permeated the soul.

This was [Spirit Rice] porridge with [Savage Beef].

The moment Shen Xuan drank it, a warm current rapidly spread throughout his limbs and bones.

His blood surged, and the mental energy he had depleted last night quickly recovered.

Ding Yuyao, a mortal, stuck out her tender pink tongue and licked her lips.

"You should eat some too."

"Ah! I can eat too?"

"You can have a little."

Shen Xuan picked up a bowl and served her a small portion.

Ding Yuyao wasn't a [Cultivator], so she couldn't refine the spiritual energy from the [Spirit Rice] and [Yao Beast] meat.

Eating a little was still fine.

It could enrich her blood and prolong her life.

Ding Yuyao scooped a small spoonful, blew on it, and gently put it into her mouth.

A strange sensation she had never experienced before washed over her. Her entire body felt warm, and she felt lighter.

Her tongue touched a small piece of [Savage Beef]. With a gentle bite, it melted into sweet, savory juice that exploded in her mouth.

Looking up at her husband, Shen Xuan, Ding Yuyao's eyes were filled with gratitude.

Although she came from the [Ding Family], she was a mortal woman. This was the first time she had ever tasted such delicious [Spirit Rice] and beef porridge!