Bone Talisman Spirit Body (Please Bookmark)

Three months later.

Cold Spring Peak.

"Rise!"

With Elder Tianding's soft shout, grains of blue light surfaced from the bottom of the cold spring at the highest peak, glittering like precious gems.

"Merge!"

With a change in his hand seals, nine water dragons suddenly appeared at the bottom of the cold pool. Breathing out icy mist, they froze the grains of blue light into fist-sized blocks of ice that floated to the surface.

"Foundation Establishment Pills... they're finally refined."

At the foot of the mountain, the Mid Qi Refinement disciples were exhausted to the extreme, even though they could occasionally meditate to restore their vitality. They were gaunt and haggard.

Only Xu Wusu forced himself to stay alert and sent out a transmission talisman.

Before long, the transmission talisman returned. After listening to a few words, a smile appeared on his face. "This time, Elder Tianding has refined twenty proper Foundation Establishment Pills..."

"Mm, compared to last time, Elder Tianding's alchemy has improved considerably."

"This round of alchemy was truly exhausting. We should return and rest properly for a few days..."

The disciples bade their farewells one after another.

Fang Qing was likewise preparing to leave, but Xu Wusu stopped him and spoke a few words to him.

This man... probably wants to win me over?

Inside his cave dwelling, Fang Qing recalled his dealings with Xu Wusu, and a thought stirred in his heart.

Is my alchemy really that valuable?

Or is he an enemy of Clouddrift Adept's faction?

Forget it. There's no use thinking about this. Tomorrow, I should go to the Palace of Miscellaneous Affairs and start preparing metal-fire talismans and all kinds of spirit materials early...

After reaching Mid Qi Refinement, my cultivation speed has slowed considerably. I'll need pills to help me as well.

The next day, Fang Qing summoned the Green Leaf Boat. He first went to the nearest Pill Island's Pill Hall and accepted several tasks to refine Jadeflower Spirit Water.

This spirit water was more suitable for Qi Refinement early-stage cultivators. After reaching Mid Qi Refinement, he needed the higher First-Order Mid Grade "Ginseng Green Spirit Water."

The main ingredient of this spirit water was "Jade Qi Ginseng." Not only were the ingredients more expensive, but the refining method was also more difficult. Fang Qing could not challenge it yet.

Therefore, he could only refine Jadeflower Spirit Water first, exchange it for contribution points, and then trade those for Ginseng Green Spirit Water, suffering an extra layer of exploitation for nothing.

"I'll endure it for now. Once I make a few more trips to Ancient Shu, I'll definitely buy a large amount of Jade Qi Ginseng and raise my proficiency in Ginseng Green Spirit Water."

Having made up his mind, Fang Qing went to the Palace of Miscellaneous Affairs on Myriad Treasures Island, where he found a scene of misery everywhere.

"Oh? It seems the sect's compulsory missions have already been issued. Everyone is rushing to buy life-saving magical artifacts, spirit pills, and talismans?"

Fang Qing wandered among them in rather leisurely fashion, even taking the opportunity to pick up a bargain or two.

Of course, they were not really bargains. These immortal sect disciples were each more cunning than the last. Any item Fang Qing could not see through was priced outrageously, and their boasts grew ever more extravagant. Some even dared claim they were Nascent Soul relics.

Fang Qing's bargain-hunting merely meant stocking up while several raw materials had dropped in price.

"In the Land of Ancient Shu, metal and fire are the prominent forces of this age, and there are more Metal Virtue and Fire Virtue spirit materials... though naturally not as many as on Jade Island..."

"If I want to trade spirit materials between the two worlds, I should sell earth, wood, water, and other attribute materials that exist in both worlds over there, then exchange them for metal-fire materials and bring them back... I can earn quite a bit from the price difference."

"Of course, there are also high-value items. For example, Great Sun Violet Qi—if I gathered a strand here, it might sell for an astronomical price over there! But I'm afraid I'd have the life to take it and not the life to spend it... Besides, I don't have a cultivation technique for Great Sun Violet Qi."

Moreover, although Great Sun Violet Qi was convenient to gather—one only needed to face east and collect the great sun's primordial qi when dawn was about to break—it would take at least several years to gather a complete strand.

"Isn't this Junior Brother Fang Qing?"

While Fang Qing was wandering around and occasionally making purchases, a voice called out.

He turned around and saw Hua Lian.

Hua Lian of Flying Fish Island was a disciple of Myriad Treasures Island's main island. He worked at the Palace of Miscellaneous Affairs, which counted as landing a lucrative post.

He also knew many hidden details about missions and was quite skilled in dealing with people. His connection with Fang Qing had never been severed.

"I recently heard that Junior Brother Fang successfully advanced to become a First-Order Low Grade alchemist. Have you come to buy medicinal ingredients this time? I know several stalls where the ingredients for Jadeflower Spirit Water are the best value for the price..."

Hua Lian wore a smile as refreshing as a spring breeze.

"Thank you, Senior Brother Hua. I'd also like to purchase some metal-fire attribute talismans for protection. Do you happen to know any channels?"

Fang Qing did not let this local guide go, directly stating his request.

"Metal-fire attribute talismans? Metal talismans are one thing, but fire talismans are naturally three parts weaker at sea, and three parts weaker still when facing cultivators with water-attribute techniques... Very few cultivators in our sect practice them."

Hua Lian frowned, then thought for a moment. "I remember an inner sect disciple who happens to possess a Mid Grade Fire Spirit Root, as well as a constitution suited for talisman drawing. He had no choice but to study this path. His stall is not far away. Since his goods are somewhat slow-selling, his prices are fairly cheap."

"Thank you, Senior Brother."

What Fang Qing wanted were cheap fire-attribute talismans.

Though fire talismans suffered in the Lesser Vast Sea, they would become formidable in another environment.

He still remembered the Golden Blade Talisman that had displayed such tremendous might last time.

"Senior Brother, your spiritual power seems profound. I'm afraid you'll soon break through to the Qi Refining Fifth Layer, right? In the True Disciple duels ten years from now, you may not be unable to compete for a place."

Fang Qing chose flattering words. After all, lies cost nothing.

"I have no confidence at all in the True Disciple Grand Competition ten years from now... But twenty years from now, my cultivation should break through to Late Qi Refinement. Perhaps then I can give it a try."

Hua Lian knew his own measure and answered with a bitter smile.

"Isn't there also a True Disciple position in the Hundred Arts of Immortality?"

Fang Qing asked what he most wanted to know.

Senior Brother Hua Lian came from a Foundation Establishment Immortal Island and was also a disciple of Myriad Treasures Island. He was well-informed and might have more intelligence.

"Hundred Arts of Immortality disciples? I'm afraid that's even harder than dueling..."

Hua Lian shook his head. "Whether it is formations, alchemy, or talisman drawing... all require hundreds or thousands of failures before one can improve. If one's family wealth is not substantial, how many times can one even attempt it? Thus, anyone who can devote themselves to the Hundred Arts of Immortality must have a force supporting them... To put it bluntly, it is still the private preserve of those great figures. Outsiders like us should just fight for a place through dueling."

"The suppression is actually this severe? Even Hua Lian, a disciple of a Foundation Establishment family, thinks his own family can only compete for True Disciple positions through dueling?"

Fang Qing was startled and hurriedly asked for the details.

"The Hundred Arts of Immortality also have ranks. Can a spirit planter be compared to an alchemist?" Hua Lian sneered. "For a formation master, being near Second-Order is enough to pass the assessment. An alchemist needs Second-Order skill. A talisman master is in danger even at Second-Order Low Grade... And spirit planters? At minimum, they need to be Second-Order High Grade before they have a chance of passing the examination. And the examiners are the sect elders themselves—the standards are all in their hands. Unless you surpass the masses so completely that there is no room for dispute, otherwise..."

"So, for disciples like us without any background or backing, the only positions we can truly compete for are the ten dueling spots?"

Fang Qing murmured.

"Heh... Although some descendants of the sect's Foundation Establishment cultivators also study dueling arts, when it comes to risking their lives, they are still a notch below us..."

Hua Lian spoke casually. "We're here."

Senior Brother Hua is also from a Foundation Establishment family. Why does he have the air of a desperado? He's even more of a Rogue Cultivator than Rogue Cultivators...

Fang Qing silently complained as he looked toward a stall ahead.

The stall owner was a red-browed young man. More than a dozen fire-attribute talismans were displayed before him. Judging from the lack of people around him, business was not doing well.

"First-Order Low Grade Fireball Talismans, Mid Grade Raging Fire Talismans, High Grade Firecloud Talismans?"

Fang Qing looked them over and was immediately tempted.

"This Senior Brother Huo Tianhuo is an inner sect disciple. He possesses the Bone Talisman Spirit Body, and even Foundation Establishment elders praise his talisman-drawing skill without reserve."

Hua Lian introduced him.

"Senior Brother Huo, this junior would like to buy a few talismans."

Fang Qing hurriedly saluted, then began shopping. "Give me one Firecloud Talisman. I'll also take several Raging Fire Talismans and Fireball Talismans..."

"A major customer..."

Delight appeared on Senior Brother Huo's face. "I'll give Junior Brother a cheaper price..."

After chatting for a few more sentences, Fang Qing began asking around. "May I ask whether you have any Second-Order talismans for sale?"

That ruined place, Ancient Shu, was simply too dangerous. Without a powerful life-saving trump card, he could not rest easy.

"Second-Order talismans?" Huo Tianhuo laughed. "That is equivalent to the power of a Foundation Establishment elder's strike... How powerful are Foundation Establishment elders? A single drop of their spiritual power equals all the spiritual power of a Qi Refining Great Perfection cultivator like us. Thus, the force of one strike is incomparably terrifying. Even if you had a Second-Order talisman, you're only at the Fourth Layer of Qi Refinement. It would drain you dry, and you still could not activate it... If you were in Late Qi Refinement, you could perhaps try. But if you have not cultivated Spiritual Sense, you could easily injure others and yourself, even perish together..."

"Spiritual Sense? Isn't Spiritual Sense exclusive to Foundation Establishment cultivators?"

Fang Qing did not mind displaying his ignorance, so long as he could hear more useful information.

Moreover, he possessed the talent of Eloquence's Edge. His words were sincere, making others more willing to reveal intelligence to him.

"Spiritual Sense is naturally exclusive to Foundation Establishment cultivators, but some exceptionally gifted Qi Refinement cultivators, or those who encounter extraordinary opportunities, can likewise condense Spiritual Sense during the Qi Refinement stage... Otherwise, where do those True Disciples who master Second-Order arts while still in Qi Refinement come from?"

Huo Tianhuo smiled. "If one can cultivate Spiritual Sense during Qi Refinement, the benefits are numerous. Not only can it help one grasp the Hundred Arts of Immortality more quickly, it also adds another ten or twenty percent hope when breaking through to Foundation Establishment... Unfortunately, this is far too difficult, and there is no fixed path. To prevent the majority of ordinary Qi Refinement disciples from wasting themselves in fruitless effort, the sect generally does not speak of it."

"So... to master Second-Order arts early, one must possess Spiritual Sense?"

Fang Qing immediately abandoned the idea of buying Second-Order talismans. According to Huo Tianhuo, even if he had them, Fang Qing could not afford their price at present.

"First-Order High Grade talismans... should be enough as well."

After leaving the Palace of Miscellaneous Affairs, Fang Qing let out a long breath. "Next... I need to keep accumulating strength, strive to break through to Late Qi Refinement, and cultivate Spiritual Sense! And Body Refinement as well..."