The main cultivation technique he practiced, [Divine Treasure Canghai Technique], wasn't common fare. It was a rare, superior sect technique.
A cultivation method of the Water Attribute.
"Divine Treasure" referred to the body's five organs: the heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys.
It transformed the spiritual energy within the body into a boundless sea. Taking the dantian as its source, the Five Elements revolved in a cycle, beginning with the kidney's Water and ending with the lungs' Metal, before returning to the kidney's Water. The energy then became pure spiritual power and flowed into the dantian.
At a high level of cultivation, the five organs would generate Endless Vitality, and spiritual power would flow without end. It would turn like a boundless sea within the body, while the dantian would swell like a vast abyss.
It was said that cultivators who mastered the [Divine Treasure Canghai Technique] possessed far more spiritual power than others of the same level. Their power surged like a vast, rolling sea, allowing them to crush opponents above their own level.
It was a parting gift Master Yan had given him all those years ago.
A superior cultivation technique rarely allowed to leave Qingyun Sect.
Though it contained only the Qi Refining Chapter, it was more than enough for him to cultivate.
However, his cultivation was limited by his Spirit Root Aptitude. Qi Refining Level 3 was already the limit.
But today, Shen Xuan felt a faint stirring within.
In the cultivation room.
The Mysterious Jade Talisman shone with golden light, enveloping the Juvenile Body Mysterious Water Turtle.
When the golden light faded, Shen Xuan's body trembled slightly.
Countless tiny golden characters formed into streams of insight about Spell Techniques and surged into his Sea of Consciousness.
In an instant.
Shen Xuan felt as if he had returned to the beginning of heaven and earth, when all things lay in primordial chaos.
He became an enormous, nameless turtle, concealing its aura as it drifted with the waves in the boundless sea.
He could sense the rhythm of every drop of seawater. He remained as still as a mountain, silent and unmoving.
It was as if, with the slightest stir of his Divine Sense, he could merge with the sea, leaving no trace or form behind.
It seemed to last only an instant.
And yet, it felt eternal.
Shen Xuan closed his eyes, his brow slightly furrowed. His consciousness lingered in that primordial age, rising and falling with the nameless turtle amid the waves.
Yet insights continued to well up within him.
"It's said the Mysterious Water Turtle carries a trace of the bloodline of the Divine Beast Black Tortoise. Many low-tier Monster Beasts have the bloodlines of Divine Beasts. If they cultivate successfully and awaken their bloodlines, they can gain all kinds of astonishing Innate Divine Abilities."
"I have the Mysterious Jade Talisman, which can plunder Monster Beasts' Bloodline Talents. The [Breath Concealment Technique] was a legacy hidden within the Mysterious Water Turtle's bloodline."
Shen Xuan was beside himself with joy.
The [Breath Concealment Technique] he had plundered came from the Mysterious Water Turtle's Divine Beast bloodline. It was profound and mysterious.
Shen Xuan slowly opened his eyes.
At the slightest stir of his Divine Sense,
his entire aura drew inward. It was as if he had become part of a calm lake, not a trace of his presence leaking out.
Unless someone came close, they wouldn't be able to detect him at all.
This was far more effective than his High-grade [Breath Concealing Talisman].
He looked at the Mysterious Jade Talisman again.
[Talent: Breath Concealment Beginner (2/100)] [Dao Rhyme: 40] [Breath Concealing Talisman: Minor Mastery (8/800)]
As he had expected, not only had the experience for [Breath Concealing Talisman] increased, he had also gained a [Breath Concealment] Talent from the Mysterious Water Turtle.
But an even more unexpected surprise awaited him.
[Spirit Root: Water 9/100]
His Water Spirit Root Aptitude had improved by one point!
He could have wept with joy!
It hadn't been easy!
Sixty years. He had waited a full sixty years!
He had finally found a way to break free of his Inferior Spirit Root.
For more than forty years, he had suffered several nightmares every year.
"Shen Xuan, Inferior Spirit Root!"
That icy voice had pounded against his Dao Heart again and again.
Just as his Dao Heart was about to shatter and he was ready to accept his fate and take a wife at sixty, his Golden Finger had finally arrived!
The [Breath Concealment] Talent was certainly important, but improving his Spirit Root Aptitude was the Mysterious Jade Talisman's greatest power!
Countless hopes rose in Shen Xuan's heart!
If he could plunder just one more Talent and raise his Water Spirit Root to ten points, he would break through to the Mid Qi Refining Stage!
His future was bright!
That evening.
Shen Xuan kept his excitement in check and repeatedly tested his cultivation in the cultivation room.
Sure enough, the [Divine Treasure Canghai Technique] flowed a little more smoothly than before.
The spiritual power in his body also seemed a little purer.
Shen Xuan tried making a batch of [Breath Concealing Talismans].
Out of twelve sheets of Talisman Paper, his Talisman Completion Rate was a whopping sixty percent. Three of the seven completed Talismans were even high-grade!
His skill at making [Breath Concealing Talismans] had clearly improved.
As for the [Breath Concealment] Talent,
casting the [Breath Concealment Technique] required only a tiny amount of spiritual power and could last half an hour, with an effect surpassing that of a High-grade [Breath Concealing Talisman].
Each time he cast it, he gained one point of experience in the [Breath Concealment Technique].
"Not bad. It uses little spiritual power, is practical, and levels up quickly."
Shen Xuan had chosen to plunder the Breath Concealment Talent because he wanted to improve his insight into making [Breath Concealing Talismans] and earn spirit stones as soon as possible.
Now, it seemed this Talent was well worth cultivating in its own right.
At a high level, it could not only conceal his cultivation, but also help him evade cultivators' Spiritual Sense and the senses of all kinds of Monster Beasts, greatly improving his ability to survive in the wilderness.
Ten days later, Shen Xuan sold sixty [Breath Concealing Talismans] as usual and exchanged them for high-quality Talisman Paper and Cinnabar. On his way back, he bought another Juvenile Body Mysterious Water Turtle.
That day, in the cultivation room, Shen Xuan once again released the Mysterious Jade Talisman's golden light to plunder the Juvenile Body Mysterious Water Turtle.
But something unexpected happened.
The attempt to plunder its Talent failed.
The Juvenile Body Mysterious Water Turtle stared curiously at the human in front of it, as if asking, "What are you trying to do?"
"The Mysterious Jade Talisman isn't omnipotent. It can only plunder a bloodline Talent from each kind of Monster Beast once."
Shen Xuan wasn't discouraged.
He cast a spell, beheaded the Juvenile Body Mysterious Water Turtle, and handed it to Ding Yuyao.
"Boil it into soup. We'll have a good nourishing meal tomorrow."
He had bought more than twenty Juvenile Body Mysterious Water Turtles, but this was the first time he had eaten Mysterious Water Turtle meat.
It really was a powerful tonic.
The moment he finished eating, heat surged through his whole body, as if he had endless energy.
That night, he charged forth like a dragon, his momentum like a rainbow!
Riding his warhorse, he lashed his whip and waged his campaign, drenched in sweat and utterly satisfied!
Afterward, Shen Xuan couldn't help sighing.
No wonder it was a nourishing Monster Beast. What a fiery kick!
After that, Shen Xuan used the [Breath Concealment Technique] and Disguise appearance to sell off nearly two hundred ordinary [Breath Concealing Talismans] in small batches to street vendors at a low price.
He got only forty spirit stones for them.
The dozen or so remaining High-grade [Breath Concealing Talismans] were bestsellers that would be easy to sell, so he kept them in reserve.
"The Cinnabar for [Breath Concealing Talismans] uses Mysterious Water Turtle blood as its main ingredient, while the Cinnabar for [Invisibility Talismans] uses Silver Jade Fish blood. If I want to improve my Spirit Root Aptitude, I'll need to buy Silver Jade Fish regularly."
Qinglong Bay Market stood beside a great river, so Spirit Fish and Demon Shrimp were plentiful.
Silver Jade Fish, however, were relatively rare.
They lived in the river's deep waters, where their bodies could blend in with the surroundings and turn transparent. They were difficult to catch, and they didn't come cheap.
A lower-grade Spirit Fish cost one spirit stone for just three jin, more than three times the price of Savage Beef.
Shen Xuan already had a fortune of over a hundred spirit stones, so he could afford it.
Besides, he could also plunder the Invisibility Talent and improve his skill at making [Invisibility Talismans].
The next morning.
Shen Xuan used the [Breath Concealment Technique], Disguise appearance, and headed to the Market Marketplace.
He stopped at a stall selling Spirit Fish.
"How much for the Silver Jade Fish?"
"Four Spirit Pearls per jin!"
Seeing a customer, the vendor greeted him enthusiastically.
"If you're buying a lot, fellow cultivator, I can offer you a discount."
"I like Silver Jade Fish. I want them alive, each at least half a jin. If the price is right, I can buy from you regularly."
A big customer!
The vendor lowered his voice.
"Three Spirit Pearls per jin, fellow cultivator. That's the lowest price."
"I'll look around at the other stalls first."
After making a round, Shen Xuan returned to the same stall.
The vendor hadn't lied. Three Spirit Pearls per jin really was the lowest price in the Marketplace.
"Three jin to start!"
"Coming right up!"
The vendor caught six Silver Jade Fish. The scale's tail rose high in the air.
"Three jin and one liang. You're getting a little extra. That extra liang is on me."
Shen Xuan handed over a spirit stone and received one Spirit Pearl in change. Carrying the Silver Jade Fish, he wandered around outside for a few laps before turning back toward home.
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