Qi Refining Level 5

A young girl of seventeen or eighteen stood before the spirit fields, a massive white cloud hovering in the air above them.

Bean-sized raindrops poured down from high above, landing on the Seven-Leaf Grass.

The young girl had delicate and elegant features, wearing a lotus-colored deep robe, with two cute dimples appearing on her face.

After a while, she retracted her hand technique, and the white cloud dissipated as if it had never appeared at all.

With a muffled creak, Han Changming walked out of the bamboo building, a faint smile appearing on his face.

The young girl gave a sweet smile and said, "Ninth Brother, you're up so early today!"

The young girl was Han Changming's cousin, Han Changxin, who ranked fifteenth in the "Chang" generation.

"Fifteenth Sister, you've come very early today. Have you had breakfast? Let's eat together!"

Han Changming smiled slightly at Han Changxin and said warmly.

"Hee hee, I haven't had breakfast yet! Then I won't stand on ceremony with you."

Han Changming washed the rice and cooked, stir-frying two dishes, and chatted with Han Changxin while they ate.

Han Changxin was at the fourth level of Qi Refining and was responsible for looking after the clan's spirit herbs and the spirit fields of several fellow clansmen.

She was quite warm-hearted, often helping clansmen look after their spirit herbs, and was diligent in her work, so all the clansmen liked her.

"Ninth Brother, if I remember correctly, you are participating in the talisman-making assessment today, right?"

Han Changming nodded and said, "I'll go after I finish eating. I don't know if I can pass the assessment."

In fact, after a great deal of practice, Han Changming's success rate in crafting three types of first-tier talismans had already reached thirty percent, and his success rate for the Fireball Talisman had reached forty percent. He was able to make such great progress not only because of Han Zhangzhong's careful guidance, but also because the Spirit Gathering Stone had played a key role.

When crafting talismans, he would often have a sudden realization, but his mana would be exhausted, forcing him to meditate to recover it; by the time his mana was restored, the inspiration would have vanished.

With the Spirit Gathering Stone in hand, Han Changming's mana recovered quickly, allowing him to craft talismans more frequently, which gradually improved his success rate.

"Ninth Brother, good luck! I believe you can pass the assessment." Han Changxin cheered Han Changming on.

After breakfast, Han Changming left his residence and flew toward the General Affairs Hall on his magic tool.

Not long after, Han Changming arrived at the General Affairs Hall.

Han Zhangkang and Han Zhangzhong were presiding over the assessment. With six bundles of blank talisman paper, Han Changming needed to craft seven Fireball Talismans, seven Earth Arrow Talismans, and seven Water Shield Talismans to pass.

The assessment took place in a side room, with Han Zhangkang and Han Zhangzhong watching from the side without saying a word.

Han Changming took out his talisman brush and cinnabar, sat cross-legged, and closed his eyes to calm his mind.

A quarter of an hour later, he adjusted his state to the best, picked up the talisman brush, dipped it in cinnabar, and set the brush to paper.

Before long, a red talisman rune appeared on the paper, followed by a second, a third...

The assessment took an entire day, and after his mana was completely exhausted, he had to meditate to recover it.

Unsurprisingly, Han Changming passed the assessment, crafting eleven Fireball Talismans, nine Earth Arrow Talismans, and eight Water Shield Talismans.

According to market prices, six bundles of first-tier low-grade blank talisman paper cost six spirit stones, and the talismans Han Changming crafted could be sold for thirty-six spirit stones. In other words, he had earned thirty spirit stones in a single day—though, of course, he had used a box and a half of cinnabar, so after deducting the cost of the cinnabar, it was less than thirty spirit stones.

When he first started learning the art of talisman-making, Han Changming didn't know how many bundles of blank talisman paper he had wasted. It was only because Han Daohe had lived frugally to support his studies that he was able to reach this point.

"Not bad, congratulations, Changming. From now on, you are a first-tier low-grade talisman master. The clan will provide you with blank talisman paper; the clan will provide you with thirty bundles of blank talisman paper every month, and you need to submit one hundred and eight first-tier talismans. The type is not restricted. The more talismans you submit and the higher their grade, the more contribution points you will receive."

Han Zhangkang took out two sets of first-tier magic robes and handed them to Han Changming.

These two sets of magic robes had the function of repelling dust. Beside the gourd pattern on the clothes were two leaves. The official clothing of Han Clan disciples was embroidered with a gourd pattern; clothes with one leaf represented ordinary Qi Refining clansmen who had not mastered a specialized skill and mostly engaged in ordinary work, such as patrolling or guarding islands.

Clansmen with specialized skills, such as talisman masters, alchemists, artifact refiners, or formation masters, would have two leaves embroidered on their clothes, and if they reached the Foundation Establishment stage, there would be three leaves.

Han Changming expressed his thanks and accepted the magic robes.

"Changming, you must continue to work hard. Every three days, come to my place, and I will teach you how to craft other talismans. Fireball Talismans, Earth Arrow Talismans, and Water Shield Talismans are not particularly easy to sell. A talisman master must master the crafting of many types of talismans," Han Zhangzhong said earnestly.

"Grandson understands, I will practice diligently."

Returning to his residence, Han Changming immediately changed into his new magic robes. From this day on, he was a first-tier low-grade talisman master.

If Han Daohe knew this news, he would surely be very happy.

After becoming a first-tier low-grade talisman master, Han Changming resumed his normal routine, spending three hours every day crafting talismans and using the remaining time to cultivate.

He had not forgotten that cultivation was the foundation.

Half a year passed in the blink of an eye.

A large patch of yellow mist floated in the room, and as time passed, the yellow mist gradually dissipated, revealing Han Changming's figure.

A quarter of an hour later, Han Changming opened his eyes, a hint of joy appearing in them as he muttered to himself:

"Finally, I have entered the fifth level of Qi Refining."

For the thirty bundles of blank talisman paper, he needed to craft one hundred and eight talismans. With the Spirit Gathering Stone in hand, Han Changming completed the task in less than half a month, and he used the remaining time to cultivate.

Under Han Zhangzhong's patient guidance, he was already able to craft six types of first-tier talismans: three first-tier low-grade and three first-tier mid-grade.

Of the three first-tier mid-grade talismans—Fire Blade Talisman, Quicksand Talisman, and Water Blade Talisman—his success rate for the Fire Blade and Quicksand talismans had reached twenty percent, and his success rate for the Water Blade Talisman was ten percent.

He could now accumulate more than one hundred contribution points every month, which meant over one thousand points a year. In less than twenty years, he would be able to accumulate twenty thousand contribution points to exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill.

Don't look at the long time; guarding an island for several years would only yield a few dozen contribution points, unless one performed a meritorious service.

"Calculating the time, it's time to go collect the talisman paper."

Stepping out of his residence, Han Changming controlled his magic tool and flew toward the General Affairs Hall.

"Granduncle, your grandson has come to collect this month's blank talisman paper. These are the talismans I refined this month."

Han Changming took out the refined talismans and handed them to Han Zhangkang for counting.

"Not bad, Changming. Your level of refining first-rank talismans is getting higher and higher. That makes a total of one hundred and twenty contribution points." Han Zhangkang put away the talismans and transferred one hundred and twenty contribution points to Han Changming.

"Changming, our family has opened a talisman shop in Kuixing Market, and we are short on talisman masters. I intend to send you to Kuixing Market to help out. What do you think?"

Han Changming was slightly stunned and asked, "My talisman refining level is not high. Will I be able to help if I go?"

"You will. It is just a small shop, and your refining level is more than enough. Rest for a few days, and then set off with Deling. She happens to be escorting a batch of goods to Kuixing Market."

"Yes, Granduncle. Sharing the family's burdens is what your grandson ought to do. I shall take my leave."