Epiphany-Style Information Entry

[First-Tier Invisibility Talisman: 1/100 (Beginner)]

[First-Tier Qi-Concealing Talisman: 2/100 (Beginner)]

The two First-Order Talismans were both currently at the Beginner level. Even with the boost from his Talisman Crafting rank, Yue Shuo did not feel secure.

Based on his previous experience with drawing Beginner-level runes,

he would only succeed once or twice out of ten attempts.

And those had been Foundational Talismans.

Foundational Talismans were far easier than First-Grade Spirit Talismans.

Yue Shuo shook his head.

Besides,

he did not have many First-Grade Blank Talisman Papers to waste right now. Making First-Grade Talisman Paper himself would have to be done step by step.

After recovering his Divine Sense, Yue Shuo took out some Foundational Talisman Paper and began drawing.

Rustle, rustle...

He completed them in one fluid motion!

The moment his brush touched down, they were formed!

With the Water Condensation Talisman at the perfected level, coupled with the increase in his Talisman Crafting rank, he succeeded six times in a row.

Only then did he set down his brush and take a breather.

After all, six sheets of talisman paper arranged on the table were the easiest to work with.

Any more than that, and they became inconvenient.

He looked inward at his attribute panel, relaxed his nerves, and gathered up the six talisman papers, picking out the two whose halos looked different.

He placed them to one side.

These talismans were ten times as effective as the others.

Out of habit, Yue Shuo glanced at his Talisman Crafting proficiency. Just as he was about to continue crafting talismans, he froze and looked back at the Talisman Crafting data.

[Skill: First-Tier Mid-Grade Talisman Crafting (9/500)]

[Foundational Water Condensation Talisman: 16/200 (Perfected)]

He remembered clearly.

His Talisman Crafting proficiency had previously been at 6 points.

He had gained those from drawing First-Grade Spirit Talismans. Every successful First-Grade Spirit Talisman had given him 2 proficiency points.

He had even thought that spending 5 points of Divine Sense for only 2 points of proficiency

was not as worthwhile as drawing Foundational Talismans.

But now,

he had drawn six Foundational Talismans, succeeding in every one, yet he had only gained 3 points of proficiency!?

And the Water Condensation Talisman's proficiency had previously been at 10 points.

Now, it had indeed increased by 6 points!

So,

it was not a recording error.

Rather... after his Talisman Crafting skill reached First-Tier Mid-Grade, drawing Foundational Talismans only gave him half the proficiency?

Or perhaps,

this... change had only occurred after he first completed a First-Grade Spirit Talisman?

Yue Shuo did not know which possibility was correct.

But things were already this way.

There was no way for him to turn back time.

He could only draw another four Foundational Water-Condensing Talismans. After discovering that they only raised his Talisman Crafting proficiency by 2 points,

he could only continue helplessly.

After all, he could only grind proficiency through Foundational Talismans right now.

He had more than a thousand sheets of blank Yellow Talisman Paper.

Yet he only had six sheets of First-Grade Blank Talisman Paper.

Drawing one Foundational Talisman consumed 1 point of Divine Sense and 10 points of mana. Of course, his mana recovered quickly now.

And he also had the Qi-Replenishing Technique.

Mana consumption could be ignored.

But drawing a First-Grade Spirit Talisman consumed 5 points of Divine Sense, and seemingly 100 points of mana?

No matter how he calculated it,

grinding proficiency with Foundational Talismans was more cost-effective.

"The Divine Sense needed to raise my Talisman Crafting rank to First-Tier High-Grade has doubled. I can only keep my cultivation sessions at ten times a day."

After all, at ten cultivation sessions per day, he could still fill his cultivation progress within thirty days.

After tempering it for another two days... he would be able to advance to Qi Refining Level Two.

At Qi Refining Level Two, he would need Qi-Concealing Talismans to hide his cultivation.

That would consume even more Qi-Concealing Talisman energy.

He only had the equivalent of one and a half Qi-Concealing Talismans right now. He would only feel more at ease after preparing at least another one or two.

Therefore,

he would first shift his focus toward Talisman Crafting.

It would only take a few extra days.

Once his Talisman Crafting rank rose, he could reduce the time spent crafting talismans and switch back to cultivation. It would not affect the timing of his breakthrough.

After thinking it through,

he followed the plan step by step.

One night passed, and the 24th came to an end.

Talisman Crafting (59/500), Water Condensation Talisman (116/200); the Qi-Replenishing Technique and Lesser Cloud-Rain Technique both improved slightly.

After that, he made clear and steady progress every day.

Yue Shuo even paused his daily fixed casting of the Lesser Cloud-Rain Technique for several days.

By the end of the 25th:

Cultivation (131.8/1000), Thousand Waves Formula (40/100), Talisman Crafting (159/500).

Yue Shuo discovered that cultivating the Thousand Waves Formula in water was slightly faster.

He squeezed time out of time, finally managing to recover nearly two hundred points of Divine Sense through sleep in addition to cultivation.

By the end of the 26th:

Cultivation (161.8/1000), Thousand Waves Formula (50/100), Talisman Crafting (259/500).

By the end of the 27th:

Cultivation (191.8/1000), Thousand Waves Formula (60/100), Talisman Crafting (359/500).

By the end of the 28th:

Cultivation (221.8/1000), Thousand Waves Formula (70/100), Talisman Crafting (459/500).

On the 29th, Yue Shuo finally maxed out his Talisman Crafting.

Moreover, all three Foundational Talismans he knew had also reached First Tier. After reaching perfection, they had actually advanced automatically!

[Skill: First-Tier High-Grade Talisman Crafting (0/1000)]

[Foundational Water Condensation Talisman: 200/200 (Perfected)]

[First-Tier Water Condensation Talisman: 0/100 (Beginner)]

[Foundational Fire-Starting Talisman: 200/200 (Perfected)]

[First-Tier Fire-Starting Talisman: 0/100 (Beginner)]

[Foundational Dust-Cleaning Talisman: 200/200 (Perfected)]

[First-Tier Dust-Cleaning Talisman: 0/100 (Beginner)]

Now, the drawing methods for three First-Grade Spirit Talismans naturally appeared in Yue Shuo's mind. Their runes were far more complex than before.

He had anticipated this situation before.

Even so,

now that it had truly happened,

he was still thrilled beyond measure.

His gaze could not help shifting once more to the Tai Chi Fist he had stopped practicing for some time.

[First-Tier Tai Chi Fist: 524/2000 (Perfected)]

Even Foundational Runes could advance after being maxed out.

If this Tai Chi Fist, which could raise his lifespan limit and Spiritual Root, could advance to the second tier...

Excitement!

Of course he understood the importance of a Spiritual Root to cultivation.

After all, Zou Chongying did not possess a panel like his that allowed him to precisely use Divine Sense recovery for cultivation.

Yet in roughly two months,

he already had the possibility of advancing to Qi Refining Level One.

That was the advantage brought by talent.

Of course, Zou Chongying's cultivation efficiency was so high probably because someone had recognized his talent and invested in him.

After all, a single Spirit Carp could raise cultivation by at least fifty points.

Back when they had been at the Spirit-Drawing Stage,

eating ten of them would allow them to advance.

Of course, cultivation gained without tempering had a low chance of successfully breaking through, but the Qin Clan steward likely understood this as well.

Perhaps, like what he had done before,

constantly circulating his cultivation method to temper and purify his own cultivation

was not some rare technique.

In addition, places rich in spiritual energy, environments suited to breaking through with one's cultivation method, better spirit fish and spiritual meals, and the like

could all provide a certain boost to cultivation and breakthroughs.

He simply did not have many choices.

Yue Shuo quickly calmed down.

He looked at the extra information that had appeared after the rank increase. Rather than touch it with his thoughts immediately, he rested first to recover his Divine Sense.

The information entry gained from raising a skill's rank

seemed to be a one-time opportunity.

It gave him a chance to improve his Talisman Crafting efficiency as though he had attained sudden enlightenment.

Last time, he had failed to craft talismans because he had exhausted his Divine Sense. Later, he had pondered it as well, but he had never again recaptured that strange feeling of talisman crafting.

After recovering his Divine Sense to full.

Yue Shuo laid out the remaining six sheets of First-Grade Blank Talisman Paper.

With a thought, he lightly tapped it.

(First-Tier High-Grade: Your mastery of First-Grade Runes has improved.)