Ding Yijin's successful Foundation Establishment was like a shot of adrenaline for the Ding Family.
A Foundation Establishment Elder from the Qingyun Sect had personally attended the Foundation Establishment Celebration, and the Three Great Cultivation Families—Zhao, He, and Tao—had all established themselves in Qinglong Bay.
This also meant that the Ding Family had weathered its most difficult time.
"Fellow Daoist Zhao, if you hunt any Water Attribute Monster Beasts, bring me their blood."
Shen Xuan reminded Zhao Chunsheng as he was heading out.
"Sure!"
He readily agreed.
By now, rumors of Shen Xuan's relationship with Qin Yuehan, the newly appointed elder of the Qingyun Sect, were all the talk at Qinglong Bay Market.
With connections like that, the Ding Family was exceptionally warm toward Shen Xuan.
Ding Yijin himself had called Ding Yuyao his little sister.
That had also sent Zhao Chunsheng's standing among the monster hunters soaring.
After all, his entire family shared a home with Talisman Master Shen.
Shen Xuan had grown a little bolder now.
It turned out that many cultivators needed Yao Beast Essence Blood for their cultivation, not just him.
Alchemy, Artifact Refining, array formations, and Talisman Crafting all required Yao Beast Essence Blood.
Even improving one's Spiritual Root was nothing particularly rare.
Many Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures could improve Spirit Root Aptitude.
There were even Spirit Pills specifically made to improve Spirit Root Aptitude.
It was just that when someone's Spirit Root Aptitude was too low, the cost of improving it was steep.
And the further one progressed, the harder it became to improve.
Sect recruitment tests were like job interviews in his Previous Life.
Everyone had a bachelor's degree.
But the companies only recruited from 985 and 211 universities.
Ordinary universities didn't even make the shortlist.
The better one's Spirit Root Aptitude, the easier one was to cultivate.
There were surely hidden gems out there, but no sect was willing to spend a great deal of effort seeking them out.
With the Spirit Veins in Xuan Yuan Continent numbering only so many, cultivators were becoming a surplus everywhere.
Shen Xuan focused on practicing Talisman Crafting.
Every now and then, he instructed Ding Yuyao in whip techniques.
He taught her to simplify the complex, using the simplest moves to get the job done.
He warned Ding Yuyao not to activate the Purple Jade Sword Heart Bracelet on her wrist lightly.
It contained Nine Sword Intents nurtured by Qin Yuehan.
Shen Xuan guessed they were probably Sword Intents Qin Yuehan had cultivated during Qi Refining.
A Foundation Establishment Sword Intent couldn't be activated with True Qi alone.
A month later, Zhao Chunsheng came home with a bucket of Monster Beast Blood, grinning from ear to ear.
Shen Xuan asked, "What's this?"
"Green Scale Snake Blood. Talisman Master Shen, give it a try!"
"Sure!"
Shen Xuan carried the Green Scale Snake Blood into the training room.
He poured a quarter of it into a basin.
Before this, he had repeatedly studied True Person Qingxu's Essays.
He had come up with a bold guess.
The blood of an adult Water Attribute Monster Beast might also let him plunder its talents.
Talents were hidden in one's bloodline.
As long as he had enough Monster Beast Blood, he could give it a try.
And the amount of blood needed would have to be at least the full supply from one adult Monster Beast.
The Green Scale Snake was a First-Order Middle Grade Water Attribute Monster Beast, several yards long, amphibious, and nonvenomous.
Shen Xuan silently recalled the Green Scale Snake's entry in the Savage Plains Yao Beast Illustrated Guide.
Suddenly, he laughed at himself.
Why was he thinking so much?
He was just a little Qi Refining Level 5 cultivator. He'd finally awakened his Golden Finger, which let him plunder Monster Beast Bloodline Talents and improve his Spirit Root Aptitude. Why be picky?
The Green Scale Snake was a First-Order Middle Grade Monster Beast. It was bound to have a Bloodline Talent worth plundering!
The Mysterious Jade Talisman shot out a beam of golden light.
[Plunderable Talent: Insight, Agility, Devour]
Shen Xuan chose the [Insight] talent.
[Talent: Insight (28/100)] [Dao Rhyme: 28]
"Just as I thought. The blood of adult Monster Beasts can also be used to plunder Bloodline Talents. This Green Scale Snake has a fine talent, with quite a high Dao Rhyme."
The blood of a whole Green Scale Snake was enough to get him started.
He left the training room.
"Eighty spirit stones!"
Shen Xuan counted out eighty spirit stones and handed them to Zhao Chunsheng.
Zhao Chunsheng's face blossomed like a chrysanthemum.
Talisman Master Shen sure was generous!
The same Green Scale Snake Blood would fetch at most sixty spirit stones if sold at the Marketplace.
"Talisman Master Shen, if I get more blood from Water Attribute Monster Beasts, will you still buy it?"
"I will! But it has to come from a different kind of Monster Beast."
Shen Xuan answered firmly.
As long as he had spirit stones, he would put them toward plundering Monster Beast Talents.
As his Spirit Root Aptitude improved, cultivation grew smoother and smoother.
He needed to improve his strength as quickly as possible.
Over the next half-month, he successfully plundered the Green Scale Snake's talent.
[Talent: Insight Beginner (2/100)] [Dao Rhyme: 106] [Spiritual Root: Water 22/100]
Shen Xuan first tried out the [Insight] talent.
It was an intuitive ability somewhat like sensing with one's Divine Soul. It let him keenly pick up on the slightest movements, changes in expression, and fluctuations in the voices of nearby living beings.
The ability was like a snake's forked tongue, sensing the faintest vibrations in the air.
"What a practical talent. It lets me notice the smallest details, see into people's hearts, and tell right from wrong."
This talent could help Shen Xuan avoid many unknown dangers.
Besides, using the [Insight Technique] also increased his talent Proficiency.
So he added his Dao Rhyme to the Self-Healing Talent.
[Talent: Self-Healing Mastery (83/400)]
Over the next six months, Zhao Chunsheng wasn't very lucky.
The Monster Beasts he hunted had other attributes.
It left him quite frustrated.
When it came time to divide the spoils, he could ask for the Monster Beast Blood and resell it to Shen Xuan for a few extra spirit stones.
Shen Xuan, however, wasn't in a hurry.
A Water Spirit Root Aptitude of 22 was enough to reach the Late Qi Refining Stage.
All he needed to do now was cultivate steadily and improve his Cultivation Realm.
He could focus on making [Spring Return Talismans] and earning spirit stones.
As for Water Attribute Monster Beast Blood, it was better to have it, but there was no rush if he didn't.
As long as he had spirit stones, he could buy some anytime.
Ever since they moved into the B-grade Residence, Ding Yuyao never went out unless Shen Xuan was with her.
She was a mortal, and living in the Inner City of the Market made her stand out.
The Ding Family, on the other hand, had a steady stream of female cultivators around her age visiting the Shen household and calling Ding Yuyao their sister.
Shen Xuan knew exactly what was going on.
The Ding Family still hadn't given up. They wanted to pull him onto their side.
All he could do was pretend not to notice.
Whenever the Ding Family's female cultivators came by, he would hide in the training room or Talisman Crafting Room.
Cultivation, training, and Talisman Crafting were not to be disturbed.
Ding Yuyao understood her husband's intentions.
She was even more determined not to let those fluttering songbirds get close to him.
Jiang Xueqi helped her keep the women away from the training room and Talisman Crafting Room.
After some time, the Ding Family seemed to understand Shen Xuan's intentions.
The Ding Family's female cultivators gradually came around less often.
But from time to time, they sent servants to bring gifts over during holidays and festivals.
Shen Xuan returned gifts of comparable value in the form of high-grade [Spring Return Talismans].
He made a point of neither profiting nor losing out.
He didn't want to become too entangled with the Ding Family.
The Four Great Cultivation Families here each had two Foundation Establishment Grand Cultivators. On the surface, they were evenly matched and lived in harmony.
But the Ding Family Old Ancestor was nearing the end of his Lifespan.
When that time came, the Ding Family would still be the weakest of them.
And Qinglong Bay was a land of great fortune.
Not only was its Spiritual Qi abundant, it also controlled a harbor on the Longze River and collected tolls there.
Ding Yijin's successful Foundation Establishment made everything look fine.
In truth, the family was strong on the outside but weak within.
Shen Xuan knew the inside story.
Most of the Qinglong Bay Market's profits had to go toward paying off the debt for the Foundation Establishment Pill.
The Zhao, He, and Tao Families had taken advantage of the situation, each moving into Qinglong Bay Market and opening a Shop.
It was easy to invite the gods in, but hard to send them away!
When it came to dividing up the spoils, there were never any eternal enemies or friends.
He had no desire to get caught up in the struggle for power among the Four Great Cultivation Families.
Unless the Ding Family grew stronger still.
Unless a third cultivator from the Ding Family successfully achieved Foundation Establishment.
Otherwise, once the Ding Family Old Ancestor's Lifespan ran out and he passed away—
no one could say how the situation would unfold!
Before you continue