Breakthrough to the Second Realm (Please Bookmark)

The Small Talisman Hall truly was small.

Once inside, he saw rows upon rows of wooden shelves, each gleaming with multicolored spiritual light. Beyond that, there was no spare space at all.

Beneath the protection of the spiritual light, talismans of various colors and patterns were displayed on the shelves.

At the center stood a counter, with only a shop assistant sitting behind it. Even when he saw Fang Xing enter, he could barely be bothered to acknowledge him.

The service industry in the Cultivation World seriously needs improvement... Looks like Azure Pill Workshop was just an exception?

Fang Xing grumbled inwardly before speaking directly. "Spirit Test Talisman... how much is one?"

"One Spirit Stone each."

The blue-clad shop assistant answered without even lifting his head.

"Why is it so expensive? The stalls outside only charge eight Spirit Sand... If you haggle, they might even sell them for six or seven." Fang Xing instinctively objected.

"Hmph, hmph... Every talisman in this hall is a premium work drawn by a Grandmaster. How can they compare with those inferior goods outside?"

The assistant perked up and gestured animatedly as he took out a talisman. "Look at this talisman paper, this talisman ink... every bit of it is top quality. Can those outside compare? Can they? Take this Spirit Test Talisman, for example. If you buy a shoddy one and the test result is wrong, it could delay a young Genius's entire life... Not to mention attack and defense talismans. If they fail at a critical moment, that could cost you your life! Who knows which rogue Cultivator drew the talisman paper at those roadside stalls? Would you dare trust it?"

Though his attitude was poor, Fang Xing felt that he had a point. He obediently took out a Spirit Stone and bought a Spirit Test Talisman.

By this point, every last bit of the money he had earned from selling the Vermillion Dragon Grass was gone. He would not be taking even a single coin home; it had all been left at the market.

"Sigh, what you earn at the market gets spent at the market. Don't even think about taking a penny home!"

After leaving the Small Talisman Hall, Fang Xing sighed.

Fortunately, he had already seen enough for the day. He did not linger and strode out of the market.

Once he left the Slum Area, a yellow sparrow immediately flew from his basket and began monitoring the surroundings.

Fang Xing had originally only done so as a precaution.

But before long, he could no longer smile.

A furtive figure clearly appeared in the surveillance feed, following behind him!

The figure was hunched over, with a tobacco pipe tucked at his waist. It was none other than the elderly stall vendor!

"It was only two Spirit Stones!"

"Where's the trust between people?"

Fang Xing complained, then abruptly sped up.

With surveillance from the sky, shaking off the other man would not be difficult.

Though the man was only an ordinary martial artist and old and frail at that, he might still possess one or two hidden tricks, or even talismans!

I'll settle the score with you later...

After several rapid turns and bursts of speed, Fang Xing vanished without a trace.

A moment later, the old stall vendor arrived at Fang Xing's former location. Looking at the footprints that had disappeared from the ground, a trace of regret flashed across his face...

Temporary camp.

By now, the camp had long since been renovated. All aboveground structures had been removed, leaving only a lawn.

Fang Xing came to one spot and lifted the turf, revealing an entrance beneath it.

Following the entrance downward, he arrived in a cave. Ventilation shafts had been dug inside, and a Smart Computer was at work. Nine screens continuously displayed surveillance footage of the surroundings.

He checked the system logs and found nothing unusual apart from a few wild animals coming to drink water. He nodded in satisfaction.

As he silently recalled what he had seen and heard today, Fang Xing opened a document and began recording the day's prices, the market's layout, and various observations and insights...

At the end, he made a careful note of the old stall vendor's appearance.

He would remember this grudge!

"I got one Spirit Test Talisman and a bottle of Qi Blood Pills. I can cultivate quietly for a while now. Breaking through to the Second Realm won't be a problem, hmph..."

Fang Xing set down the pills and looked at the Spirit Test Talisman in his hand.

The talisman paper was bright yellow, covered in traced runes that seemed to conceal spiritual light, along with a faint scent of ink.

"Low-grade talismans in the Cultivation World take effect once torn open. Some can even be used by ordinary people..."

"But anything slightly more advanced, such as the First-Grade Mid-Rank Golden Bell Shield Talisman... can only barely be used by Innate Martial Artists aside from Cultivators. Innate True Qi is required to activate them..."

"As for even higher-grade talismans, aside from certain special types deliberately designed with lower requirements, most need a Cultivator's mana to activate. Non-Cultivators simply cannot use them."

Fang Xing had obtained all this common knowledge about using talismans by swallowing his pride and demanding "after-sales service" from the blue-clad shop assistant!

After all, if he bought a talisman, they had to tell him how to use it, right?

It had been a little embarrassing to be treated like a country bumpkin, but Fang Xing had never cared much about saving face.

"The Spirit Test Talisman is a fairly common talisman. It can be used simply by tearing it open... It tests for Spiritual Roots. As long as someone has a Spiritual Root, light will appear on the talisman. The color and brightness determine one's cultivation aptitude..."

"Many martial artists toil miserably in the wilderness. Aside from saving Spirit Sand to buy pills and break through their martial arts realms, even more of them place their hopes of cultivation on the next generation..."

"This body of mine was created by the Blue Star Federation from carefully selected sperm and eggs. On top of that, I have the great fortune of transmigrating here. I definitely have a Spiritual Root. At most, its quality may differ... I can definitely cultivate! Otherwise, why would the Gate of Heavens capture this world? I want to cultivate..."

Fang Xing silently encouraged himself.

Cultivators not only had countless methods at their disposal, but also long lifespans. It was undoubtedly the foremost path of evolution.

Not to mention flying through the sky on swords and attaining Longevity—how many people had dreamed of such things as children?

If one could cultivate, who would toil away at martial arts?

With a trace of anticipation, he tore open the Spirit Test Talisman!

A radiance fell upon him before gradually dimming.

One minute passed...

Two minutes passed...

Five minutes passed...

Nothing happened.

"This Spirit Test Talisman isn't broken, is it?"

Fang Xing scratched his head. "Sigh... Cultivation may be good, but building up combat power takes far too long. A single secluded cultivation session requires years or even decades of grueling practice. It might even take a century to advance a cultivation technique by one level. How could it compare to martial arts' rapid progress?"

"What kind of trash immortal art is this? You dare disturb my martial heart? Get lost, aaah!"

After venting, Fang Xing composed himself. "Martial arts, martial arts! The Immortal Path is nothing... One day, my martial arts will blow it apart!"

Several days later.

Fang Xing assumed the Great Dragon Stance and silently focused his consciousness on the Attribute Panel:

Name: Fang Xing

Age: 16

Occupation: Martial Artist

First Realm: Skin and Flesh (Flesh Refinement: 99/100)

Military Body Boxing Twelve Forms: 33/100 (Proficient)

Great Dragon Stance: 3/200 (Mastery Level)

Gate of Heavens (Charging)

"After the Great Dragon Stance reached Mastery Level, advancing it has become increasingly difficult... Without any other help, it may take around a year to reach the Fourth Stage and give birth to Dragon Artistic Conception!"

"My martial arts realm, on the other hand, is advancing rapidly now..."

With the Mastery Level Great Dragon Stance working in tandem with Qi Blood Pills, Fang Xing's Flesh Refinement progress was advancing by leaps and bounds.

At this point, he was already on the verge of a breakthrough!

He opened his eyes and silently swallowed a Qi Blood Pill.

A surge of heat rose within him, but the pill that usually caused his Qi-Blood to greatly increase and his proficiency to soar now clearly felt somewhat inadequate.

"It's the bottleneck between the First Realm and Second Realm!"

Realization dawned on Fang Xing. He pulled out the stopper and continuously poured pill after pill into his mouth.

Whoosh!

It felt as though a fire were burning in his lower abdomen. He could hear the blood flowing through his body like a roaring river.

Fang Xing suddenly felt as though his skin and muscles were melting. A powerful hot current spread through his bones and tendons, finally causing them to begin undergoing tempering. A sharp explosive crack rang out!

The entry representing his martial arts realm on the Attribute Panel suddenly blurred, then new information appeared:

Second Realm: Bone and Tendon (Tendon Refinement: 1/100)

"I broke through... the Second Realm of martial arts!"

Fang Xing clenched his fists, feeling the powerful strength surging from his bones and tendons. The corners of his lips curled upward slightly.

"A Second Realm Martial Artist can learn B-Rank and even A-Rank Martial Arts. The cultivation techniques and combat skills of this world's martial artists are still far too crude, nowhere near the advanced system that Federation martial arts honed through bloody battles... Once I master an A-Rank Martial Arts, I feel that I'll be able to contend with Innate Martial Artists in the Second Realm without relying on external aid!"

"Unfortunately, I'm still on vacation..."

Since he was on vacation and had no famous teacher to guide him, Fang Xing did not know whether Flesh Refinement, like Skin Refinement, had distinctions such as cowhide, copper skin, and Jade Skin.

Nor could he directly receive instruction in A-Rank Martial Arts like Ghost God Blade.

"If I chose cultivation, could I really receive the kind of systematic training the Federation provides in this world?"

"Not to mention that martial arts can ultimately pilot mechs. Their destructive power is even more astonishing—they can even destroy a planet in a single strike... Ordinary Cultivators probably could not even imagine it."

"The Qi Blood Pills are about to run out after helping me break through the bottleneck. Next, I should properly adapt to my new realm, then visit the market again..."

Fang Xing looked over his body.

His once somewhat lean figure had become much sturdier. Once he took off his shirt, clearly defined muscles could be seen.

Not only that, but he even seemed to have grown a little taller.

"Thin in clothes, muscular without them... If I'd had this body in my previous life, women might have chased after me!"

Fang Xing touched his strong muscles, feeling slightly wistful.

Unfortunately, the days of his previous life were gone forever.