Thunderclap

Shen Xuan took the Water Cloud Turtle Blood and set it aside. He then stepped forward to examine Zhao Chunsheng's injuries.

"It's nothing, just superficial wounds. Water Cloud Turtles aren't poisonous, and I'm tough. I'll be fine after a few days of rest."

"Too many teams were eyeing that Water Cloud Turtle. Our team only managed to get some of its meat. How many spirit stones will this blood you're giving me be worth?" Zhao Chunsheng asked with anticipation. This was the reward he had earned through life-and-death struggles.

Shen Xuan glanced at the Water Cloud Turtle Blood. He didn't know the market price either.

"I'll test its effects first, and I'll calculate the price for you later."

"Okay, whatever Talisman Master Shen says goes. I trust you." In Zhao Chunsheng's heart, Shen Xuan was a very good person. He had never haggled with him.

Shen Xuan shook his head and carried the small bucket of Water Cloud Turtle Blood to the Training Room. Afterwards, he poured out a small basin, about a quarter of the total, and placed it on the stone table. Using his divine sense, he guided the Mysterious Jade Talisman to emit golden light, enveloping the Water Cloud Turtle Blood in the basin.

Soon, the Water Cloud Turtle Blood lost its color and turned into a pool of yellow water.

[Talent: Longevity Proficiency (2/100)]

[Dao Rhyme: 28]

The effect exceeded his imagination. The [Longevity] talent had directly jumped from novice 88 points to proficiency 2 points, equivalent to half a month of his practice.

Looking at the Mysterious Jade Talisman again.

[Lifespan: 67/132]

The [Longevity] talent advancing to proficiency had increased his lifespan by another eight years! Not only that, but his Dao Rhyme had increased by a full 28 points. As expected of an adult Tier 1 High-grade Water Cloud Turtle! The remaining Water Cloud Turtle Blood would be absorbed over several days.

Shen Xuan meditated and recuperated for a while.

When he came out again, Zhao Chunsheng's complexion was much better.

"Fellow Daoist Zhao, to be honest, the Water Cloud Turtle Blood is quite effective for my cultivation technique. Eighty spirit stones, how is this price?"

"Deal! Eighty spirit stones, it was worth risking my life! Old Wu even laughed at me for only asking for this Water Cloud Turtle Blood and not the meat!"

Hearing that it could be sold for eighty spirit stones, Zhao Chunsheng visibly breathed a sigh of relief.

"Don't go anymore in the future, it's too dangerous," Shen Xuan advised.

"Actually, my cultivation doesn't necessarily require this monster beast blood."

Zhao Chunsheng said gratefully, "Talisman Master Shen, you are a good person! But nowadays, it's hard to be a good person! If I don't go, what about the two children?"

"Must they follow my old path, living a life as Monster Hunters, with an uncertain future and no guarantee of tomorrow?"

"They are destined to become Alchemists and Artificers in the future. The fortune teller said I would have good fortune in my old age. The older I get, the more blessed I will be!"

Jiang Xueqi wiped her tears as she said, "You! Stop bragging. If anything happens to you, what will happen to me and the children!"

"It won't. I'm being careful! In that chaotic battle, if someone hadn't sneak attacked me from behind, I wouldn't have been injured at all."

As Shen Xuan had expected, the biggest opponents when hunting Tier 1 High-grade Water Cloud Turtles were cultivators with malicious intentions.

Only three teams were actively hunting, while seven or eight teams were lurking nearby, watching covetously.

Once the Water Cloud Turtle was trapped, they swarmed it, a frenzy of dissecting its flesh and blood.

Zhao Chunsheng's team had seven people, including himself, and two Late Qi Refining Stage cultivators, making their strength considerable.

The seven cooperated in battle, and after securing one of the Water Cloud Turtle's legs, they hastily retreated.

In just over ten breaths, all seven had sustained injuries of varying degrees.

Zhao Chunsheng was considered lucky.

A Mid Qi Refining Stage teammate had his arm broken.

"Fortunately, we had Talisman Master Shen's High-grade Spring Return Talisman; it saved his arm!"

Zhao Chunsheng spoke animatedly about the monster hunting melee.

"When we retreated, those people were still fighting over the turtle shell. A Tier 1 High-grade Water Cloud Turtle Shell could easily fetch seven to eight hundred spirit stones!"

Shen Xuan retorted, "Is life more important, or are spirit stones more important?"

"Life is important. But without spirit stones, life isn't important anymore."

Shen Xuan shook his head and stopped persuading.

Respect others' destiny.

Shen Xuan was already being very generous by acquiring Zhao Chunsheng's Water Cloud Turtle Blood at a fair price.

Over the next ten-plus days.

Shen Xuan refined all the Water Cloud Turtle Blood.

[Talent: Longevity Proficiency (24/100)]

[Dao Charm: 106]

Shen Xuan added all his Dao Charm Points to the [Self-Healing] talent, as it was the only talent he couldn't currently practice.

[Talent: Self-Healing Mastery (42/400)]

"So, I don't urgently need this existing Yao Beast Essence Blood."

"What I need is new Yao Beast Essence Blood that can improve my Spirit Root Aptitude."

"Before I find suitable new Yao Beasts, I'll focus on making talismans to save spirit stones."

"You never have enough money when you need it. In the cultivation world, many problems can be solved with spirit stones."

"If they can't be solved, it's because you don't have enough spirit stones!"

After careful consideration, Shen Xuan clarified his direction.

He told Zhao Chunsheng that he didn't need any Yao Beast Essence Blood for the time being.

"I'm out of money. I need to make talismans to save spirit stones!"

Zhao Chunsheng was quite disappointed.

He had finally found a way to make money, and now it was gone.

Two months passed in the blink of an eye.

On this day, Zhao Chunsheng returned in a hurry.

He brought bad news.

"The Ding Family's Foundation Establishment Pill was wasted by the Ding Family Second Young Master, Ding Yisi!"

Shen Xuan was shocked and quickly asked, "Fellow Daoist Zhao, what exactly happened?"

The stability of Qinglong Bay was a matter of his own life and safety.

If the Ding family were to fall into trouble, Qinglong Bay would inevitably descend into chaos.

Zhao Chunsheng sighed and said, "It's spread throughout the market. The Ding Family Head's second son, Ding Yisi, was unhappy with the family's favoritism towards the Eldest Young Master, Ding Yijin. He stole a Foundation Establishment Pill and attempted Forced Foundation Establishment, but failed!"

Shen Xuan asked incredulously, "Didn't they say the Ding family didn't obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill during the last reclamation?"

Zhao Chunsheng replied, "The Ding family indeed lacked Sect Merit Points. They used their Family Savings to exchange for Sect Merit Points from other Cultivation Families, and only then did they manage to exchange for one Foundation Establishment Pill from the Qingyun Sect."

"Sect Merit Points can also be exchanged for spirit stones?"

"What else?"

Shen Xuan was speechless.

He had finally settled down, diligently cultivating, his path promising.

And now the Ding family had pulled this stunt!

"The Ding Family Heritage spans nearly a thousand years, how could such a thing happen?" Shen Xuan said angrily.

Zhao Chunsheng replied, "Talisman Master Shen, this is a Foundation Establishment Pill! For the sake of a Foundation Establishment Pill, brothers turn against each other, fathers and sons slaughter each other. Such things have always happened, what's so strange about it?"

"Moreover, Ding Yisi and Ding Yijin are from different mothers and are rivals. Where would any brotherly affection come from!"

"However, the Ding Family Old Ancestor is still alive. With a Foundation Establishment Grand Cultivator holding the fort, the Ding family won't fall into chaos yet and can hold on for a while. If the Ding Family Old Ancestor also perishes..."

Zhao Chunsheng did not finish his sentence.

Shen Xuan sighed softly.

It seemed he also needed to make preparations.

However, at the Mid Qi Refining Stage, relocating to settle elsewhere was not an easy task.

He also had a Mortal Wife with him.

The journey was long.

A new place would also make him vulnerable to bullying.

"I hope the Ding family can hold on."

Returning to the Training Room.

Shen Xuan's mind was restless, unable to calm down.

His heart felt heavy, as if a massive stone was pressing down on him, making it difficult to breathe.

The Ding family was already weak.

After finally exchanging for a Foundation Establishment Pill, it was wasted.

If the Ding Family Old Ancestor had an accident.

The Ding family would surely decline.

Qinglong Bay Market would surely fall into chaos.

At that time, how would he manage?

If it were just himself, he could leap into the Spirit Pool and swim through the Underground River to the bottom of the Longze River, and he could surely escape safely.

But what about Ding Yuyao?

In times of crisis, abandoning his wife and escaping alone.

Shen Xuan could not do that!