Iron Bones Body Forging (Request Follow Reading)

A Second-Order Snake Demon was equivalent to a human Foundation Establishment Cultivator. The poisonous mist it spewed was difficult to purge with ordinary Detoxification Pills.

"This little bit of poison can be suppressed with spiritual power and slowly nursed away. It's the perfect excuse to go home." Zhao Chunsheng chuckled.

Shen Xuan was speechless.

He had not expected Zhao Chunsheng, a Late Qi Refining Stage cultivator, to be this stingy.

Though the poison was mild and could be suppressed with spiritual power while he slowly recuperated, over time, it would still affect his Dao Foundation to some extent, which would hinder his future cultivation.

However, judging by Zhao Chunsheng's appearance, he no longer had much passion for cultivation.

His mind was set on earning Spirit Stones and raising his two sons.

Otherwise, he would not have kept living in a D-grade Residence.

After exchanging pleasantries for a while, Shen Xuan offered a few customary words urging him to recuperate well, gave him two High-grade Spring Return Talismans, and headed home.

In the days that followed, Shen Xuan returned to his fixed routine of cultivation, talisman crafting, and training his Beloved Wife.

His Storage Bag gradually swelled again, holding over a hundred Spirit Stones.

With his current talisman-crafting skill, if he focused on making Spring Return Talismans, he could earn seventy or eighty Spirit Stones a month.

After deducting the cost of the Spirit Gathering Array and his daily needs, he could save forty Spirit Stones each month.

"Find another Water Attribute Monster Beast with a talent that can be plundered!"

Shen Xuan opened the Savage Plains Yao Beast Illustrated Guide.

Though it contained many monster beasts, very few met Shen Xuan's requirements.

First-Order Middle Grade, water attribute, plentiful, and cheap.

Most that fit the bill were the various Spirit Fish, Demon Shrimp, and Demon Crabs in the Longze River.

Water Attribute Monster Beasts on land were not only difficult to hunt, but also expensive.

After flipping through it for a long while, Shen Xuan finally settled on the Ironback Crab.

He used the Breath Concealment Technique, disguised his appearance, changed into a brown short-sleeved outfit, and went alone to the Marketplace to look around.

"How much are these Ironback Crabs?"

Shen Xuan stopped before a small vendor.

"Six Spirit Stones each!"

An Ironback Crab weighed about Two jin, making it three Spirit Stones per jin. It was truly rather expensive.

With all that crab shell, a jin would yield at most three taels of meat.

"Can you make it cheaper? I'm buying in earnest!"

The vendor looked up at Shen Xuan.

"How many do you want?"

Shen Xuan thought for a moment.

"Four!"

These past days, he had grown increasingly familiar with the Mysterious Jade Talisman.

Whenever it emitted golden light to plunder a talent, there was a limit to how many monster beasts it could cover.

Moreover, there was a certain cooldown period.

Four crabs, eight jin—this was about the upper limit of the Mysterious Jade Talisman's golden light.

"Eleven Spirit Stones. Not a single stone less!"

"Fine. But pick out the bigger ones for me!"

Shen Xuan handed over the Spirit Stones.

The vendor skillfully bound four Ironback Crabs with a Magic Rope and handed them to Shen Xuan.

"Fellow Daoist, be careful. These Demon Crabs are incredibly strong. Don't untie the Magic Rope."

"Thank you. I'll be careful."

After leaving the Marketplace, Shen Xuan circled around outside several times. Once he saw no one was following him, he changed his appearance in a secluded corner and hurried home.

Inside the Training Room.

As the Mysterious Jade Talisman's golden light swept over them, the four bound Ironback Crabs all fell silent.

[Plunderable Talent: Water Control, Iron Bones, Self-Healing]

Shen Xuan chose the [Iron Bones] talent.

[Talent: Iron Bones (16/100)]

[Dao Rhyme: 12]

Shen Xuan was slightly disappointed.

Twenty Spirit Stones had only raised the talent's progress by 16 points.

And Dao Rhyme stood at merely 12 points.

"Looks like this Iron Bone talent is of rather poor quality, and its Dao Rhyme is even worse."

Still, his main purpose was to improve his Spirit Root Aptitude. Even if the talent and Dao Rhyme were somewhat lacking, he could accept it.

"Given the chance, I should still visit an Immortal City near the East Sea. There are plenty of Water Attribute Monster Beasts there—they're cheap, and their talents are stronger!"

Shen Xuan thought to himself.

Fortunately, he had chosen a water-attribute spirit root from the start. Monster beasts of other attributes would be far harder to obtain and cost several times more.

In the days that followed, Shen Xuan changed his appearance and went out to purchase Ironback Crabs once every ten days.

Three months later.

Shen Xuan successfully plundered the Ironback Crab's [Iron Bone] talent.

[Talent: Iron Bone Beginner (2/100)]

[Dao Rhyme: 68]

[Spirit Root: Water 18/100]

The Iron Bone talent tempered every bone in the body, making them hard as iron and granting immense strength.

Shen Xuan used [Iron Bone Art], and threads of spiritual power seeped into his bones, continuously tempering and reinforcing their hardness.

"Not bad. At the very least, it cultivates quickly!"

[Iron Bone Art] rivaled a superior body-refining spell technique, yet it required none of the costly medicinal broths. It was quite a practical talent.

Without hesitation, Shen Xuan added all the Dao Rhyme he had obtained to his [Self-Healing] talent.

[Talent: Self-Healing Proficient (73/200)]

Shen Xuan planned to rest for a while and first advance the [Iron Bone] talent to Mastery, tempering his body into something even more solid.

Perhaps one day in the future, he might even achieve Sanctification of the Flesh!

Shen Xuan was still very much looking forward to the effects of the [Iron Bone] talent.

A few days later.

Zhao Chunsheng and Jiang Xueqi, the married couple, came to visit again.

"Fellow Daoist Zhao, hasn't the poison been completely purged yet?"

"How could it be that fast? That was a Second-Order Snake Demon!"

Zhao Chunsheng did not take it too seriously.

"Only a small half remains. In a little over a month, it can then be completely purged."

Zhao Chunsheng had come to ask about Shen Xuan's plans going forward.

He was recuperating at home with no income, eating away at his savings, and was growing anxious.

"Naturally, I'll still have to trouble Fellow Daoist Zhao to help me sell [Spring Return Talismans] and purchase monster beasts."

Shen Xuan gave him a reassuring answer.

Zhao Chunsheng could earn some spirit stones from both of these matters.

As for Shen Xuan, he was unwilling to show his face too much, lest he invite trouble.

In truth, given his current strength, he should already be above Zhao Chunsheng.

"No problem. Talisman Master Shen is a man meant for great things. Leave such tedious trifles to Zhao!"

Hearing this, Zhao Chunsheng patted his chest and made a solemn promise.

At this moment, the doorbell rang.

Shen Xuan found it rather strange.

He had lived in Qinglong Bay Market for fifty years, keeping a low profile and rarely going out. He had never formed ties with anyone.

He opened the door.

A Green-clad Old Servant stood outside, his aura unmistakably that of the Late Qi Refining Stage.

He stepped aside, and a young cultivator walked forward from behind him. With sword-like brows, starry eyes, and an extraordinary bearing, he possessed the air of a worldly refined young master.

"Shen Xuan, this is Young Master Ding, Ding Yijin," the Green-clad Old Servant said politely, his face full of respect.

Shen Xuan froze for a moment.

Behind him came Zhao Chunsheng's voice transmission.

"The Ding Family Head's Legitimate Son—the Ding Family Foundation Establishment Seed."

Though puzzled, Shen Xuan naturally revealed a smile.

"Young Master Ding, your presence honors Shen greatly. Please, come in!"

Ding Yijin smiled faintly.

"Talisman Master Shen, no need to stand on ceremony. Sister Yuyao and I are of the same generation—you may simply call me Yijin."

"Young Master Ding, you are too courteous," Shen Xuan said respectfully.

He had been at Qinglong Bay Market for so long, yet aside from Zhao Chunsheng and his wife, he had no Daoist friends he was familiar with.

Much less the Ding Family Heir, a Foundation Establishment Seed receiving focused cultivation.

He did not dare try to climb such heights.

With a slight sweep of his Spiritual Sense, he could tell that this man's Cultivation Realm was likewise above his own.

Only slightly inferior to Lu Zhengying's.

He was very likely at Qi Refining Perfection.

Alarm bells rang loudly in Shen Xuan's heart.

Why would someone of such noble status visit him for no reason at all?

For a moment, countless thoughts churned through Shen Xuan's mind as he considered where he might have slipped up.

Though Shen Xuan had concealed some of his abilities, he had successively purchased the Water Condensation Edge Shaping Art, the Water Cloud Shield, and the Water-Splitting Emei Dagger.

If the Ding family had been paying attention, they would certainly have noticed that his talisman crafting far surpassed that of an ordinary Mid-grade Talisman Master.

Had they come to verify it?