Turtle Talisman Master

Just two days later.

News of Shen Xuan's breakthrough had already spread to the neighbors nearby.

A sixty-one-year-old old cultivator, after taking a single Spirit Burst Pill, had broken through to Mid Qi Refining Stage!

This stroke of luck left the fellow rogue cultivators in the neighborhood green with envy.

"Talisman Master Shen's breakthrough was all thanks to my Mysterious Water Turtles!"

"Nonsense, Talisman Master Shen stopped buying your Mysterious Water Turtles half a year ago!"

"What do you know! It was my Mysterious Water Turtles that laid the foundation—he ate them for a full half year, over twenty of them!"

Hearing the vendor's words, the crowd snapped to attention, as if there might be some truth to it.

When Shen Xuan stepped out his door, a large crowd immediately surrounded him.

"Talisman Master Shen, are those Mysterious Water Turtles really effective?"

Shen Xuan didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Still, he kept a straight face and said with utter seriousness, "Of course they work! Three Spirit Stones a pop—what do you think?"

The crowd burst into laughter!

But sure enough, that vendor's Mysterious Water Turtles started selling like hotcakes.

"Shen Xuan really broke through to Mid Qi Refining Stage!"

Shopkeeper Ding, who was sipping his Spirit Tea, spat out a mouthful with a "pfft."

"An old cultivator over sixty, relying on just one Spirit Burst Pill to break through to Mid Qi Refining Stage?"

Doubt churned in Shopkeeper Ding's mind.

Before long, rumors began to spread.

It was said that after Shen Xuan got married, he took great care of his health, buying a juvenile Mysterious Water Turtle every ten-odd days to nourish himself.

He was also a Water Method Cultivator, perfectly in sync with the Mysterious Water Turtle's nature.

Whether others believed it or not, the price of Mysterious Water Turtles on the market shot up visibly, faster than the eye could follow.

Juvenile Mysterious Water Turtles, originally just two or three Spirit Stones, jumped to three or four.

Adult Mysterious Water Turtles leaped straight from twenty Spirit Stones to thirty.

And even at that price, they were snapped up clean.

Shen Xuan had long anticipated these rumors floating around outside.

After reaching Mid Qi Refining Stage, one's status and standing would rise noticeably.

Though still at the bottom, if one had a useful skill, they could quickly catch the eye of a Cultivation Family and be recruited.

Before Shen Xuan could even head to the Ding Family shop, Shopkeeper Ding had already arrived at his door bearing gifts.

Now, looking at the Shen Xuan before him, he couldn't hide the surprise in his eyes.

"Shen Xuan, have you really broken through to Qi Refining Level 4?"

"All thanks to Shopkeeper Ding's Spirit Burst Pill—I succeeded by chance," Shen Xuan said modestly.

Outside the door, many neighbors were still gathered to watch.

They had lived here for a long time; some had even arrived earlier than Shen Xuan.

For over forty years, Shen Xuan had kept to himself, living a simple life between two places.

They knew he was a Low-grade Talisman Master, a dedicated cultivator.

His spirit root was extremely poor, most likely an Inferior Spirit Root.

No one expected that after forty years, at the age of sixty, he would actually break through to Qi Refining Level 4!

"Mid Qi Refining Stage!"

Gazing at that familiar, handsome face before him.

Shopkeeper Ding felt a daze, memories flooding back to over forty years ago.

A youthful-faced Shen Xuan had come to his shop to buy Talisman Crafting materials.

Back then, Shen Xuan's Talisman Completion Rate was frighteningly low.

Yet, despite that, he never gave up.

At the time, Shopkeeper Ding had sighed to himself.

The heavens were merciless.

For someone so diligent and hardworking, limited by their spirit root talent, their cultivation in this life would never exceed Qi Refining Level 3.

And sure enough, Shen Xuan had been stuck at Qi Refining Level 3 for a full thirty years.

How many thirty-year spans does a person have in life?

Yet, with just one Spirit Burst Pill, he had broken through to Qi Refining Level 4.

"Who could have predicted the twists of fate!" Shopkeeper Ding said with a sigh.

He knew full well that the key to Shen Xuan's breakthrough to Qi Refining Level 4 was that Spirit Burst Pill.

A steep price of fifty Spirit Stones.

If it weren't for Shen Xuan's rapid progress in Talisman Crafting in recent years, allowing him to produce High-quality Talismans, he simply couldn't have afforded it!

Shopkeeper Ding's thoughts.

Shen Xuan could roughly guess them.

Buying the Spirit Burst Pill, which was useless to him, at a high price was all to pave the way for his own breakthrough to Qi Refining Level 4.

Now, at last, it was a complete success.

Before long, news of Turtle Talisman Master Shen Xuan's breakthrough to Qi Refining Level 4 spread widely throughout Qinglong Bay Market.

Upon hearing this, many Rogue Cultivators' first reaction was full of emotion, even a hint of admiration.

Truly inspiring!

"Over sixty years old, at the age of sixty, and still breaking through!"

"From now on, we can't call him Turtle Talisman Master anymore. With this man's diligent nature, becoming a Mid-grade Talisman Master is only a matter of time."

"Well said. If he becomes a Mid-grade Talisman Master, buying talismans from him will always be a bit cheaper."

"The Ding Family got a bargain! Marrying off a Mortal Woman and picking up a Mid-grade Talisman Master son-in-law for free!"

After Shen Xuan's breakthrough, the meaning behind Turtle Talisman Master gradually shifted to a positive affirmation.

The legend of the Mysterious Water Turtle being able to supplement Water Method Cultivators also spread more and more widely.

Shen Xuan observed at home for a few days.

Seeing that the cultivators in the market all affirmed his hard work and didn't spark other speculations, he finally relaxed.

After all, he had been a true ascetic for forty years, living a two-point-one-line life—no whoring, no gambling, no drinking, never going out.

His reputation was already well established.

After the promotion.

Shen Xuan began to consider his next path of cultivation.

He had improved his Spirit Root Aptitude by plundering Monster Beast talents.

Next, he would certainly have to continue plundering Monster Beast talents.

However, he had to be especially cautious in choosing the Monster Beasts.

When he plundered the Silver Jade Fish, he discovered that the Silver Jade Fish also had a Water Control talent.

He plundered the Invisibility talent as planned.

After raising his Water Spirit Root to 10 points, it became a Low-grade Spiritual Root.

In theory, he could cultivate up to Qi Refining Level 6.

If he raised it to 20 points, it would become a Mid-grade Spirit Root.

Late Qi Refining Stage would be within reach.

He could even attempt to impact Foundation Establishment.

Just as he was thinking, someone knocked on the door.

Every cultivator's residence in the market was equipped with a small defensive formation.

The annual rent of twelve Spirit Stones provided a cultivation dojo and a certain degree of security.

For a residence like Shen Xuan's, even a Late Qi Refining Stage cultivator couldn't break through it easily.

Moreover, if the commotion was too great, the Ding Family's enforcement team would arrive.

Opening the door, it was none other than Zhao Chunsheng and Jiang Xueqi, the couple.

"Fellow Daoist Zhao, Fellow Daoist Jiang, do you two have business with me?"

This was a distinguished guest!

"Let's talk inside!"

"Oh, please, come in quickly!"

Shen Xuan hurriedly called Ding Yuyao to brew tea.

"Fellow Daoist Shen, congratulations on your breakthrough to Mid Qi Refining Stage. A small gift, not worthy of your esteem."

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Zhao, Fellow Daoist Jiang."

Shen Xuan accepted it respectfully.

It was just some inexpensive Spirit Fruits and Spirit Vegetables.

As Late Qi Refining Stage Monster Hunters, taking the initiative to visit and congratulate him was already a great show of respect for Shen Xuan.

"I heard that Fellow Daoist Shen can craft High-grade Breath Concealing Talismans and Invisibility Talismans?"

Zhao Chunsheng took a small sip of the Spirit Tea Ding Yuyao had served, then got straight to the point with his question.

"Not bad. But the Talisman Completion Rate isn't very high."

Zhao Chunsheng nodded and said, "Fellow Daoist Shen has built up a solid foundation through steady accumulation; there's no need to rush. In a few days, my wife and I will be heading to the Shadow Forest to hunt. Sell me some High-grade Breath Concealing Talismans and Invisibility Talismans."

"Alright! How many does Fellow Daoist Zhao need?"

"For this kind of fast-consumption item, as long as the price is right, two to three hundred would be fine."

Shen Xuan gave a wry smile.

He took out all the hundred-plus High-quality Talismans from his Storage Bag.

"This is all I have for now."

Zhao Chunsheng swept his Spiritual Sense over them and saw that there were exactly one hundred High-quality Talismans—fifty Breath Concealing Talismans and fifty Invisibility Talismans.

He was slightly surprised inwardly.

Being able to produce this many High-quality Talismans in one go meant the rumors outside weren't false.

This Shen Xuan indeed has some talent in Talisman Crafting.