Gambler

[Talisman Room lv2]

[Spiritual Effects: First-Tier Talismans success rate +40%, second-tier talismans success rate +20%, third-tier talismans success rate +5%, automatically learns "Form-Changing Talisman"]

[Upgrade Requirements: Middle-Grade Spirit Stone ×20, Mica Crystal Cluster ×10 jin, Crimson Marrow Thunder Jade ×1, successfully draw a complete set of Five-Element Talismans (not achieved)]

Ji Yuan looked at the words that had appeared on the panel and blinked.

For a moment, he even thought he had read them wrong.

Ji Yuan did not recognize, nor had he heard of, things like Mica Crystal Clusters and Crimson Marrow Thunder Jade. But he knew what those Spirit Stones at the front were—twenty... Middle-Grade ones!

Converted into Low-Grade Spirit Stones, that would take two thousand of them!

With that one glance, Ji Yuan knew that until he reached Foundation Establishment, there was no point even thinking about upgrading the [Talisman Room].

That made sense. First-tier talismans were used by Qi Refining cultivators, while second-tier talismans were mostly used during the Foundation Establishment Early Stage.

The current level-two Talisman Room could already raise the success rate of second-tier talismans by twenty percent.

So requiring the Foundation Establishment Realm to upgrade the level-two Talisman Room was only natural.

"Ha—"

"No matter. This level-one Talisman Room is enough for me to reign supreme during Qi Refining."

Looking at that twenty-percent increase in success rate, Ji Yuan once more entered a mode of bitter cultivation.

Ever since learning that Spirit Awakening did not require a talisman brush, Ji Yuan's success rate in drawing Calming Talismans had risen greatly. As soon as he got started, he could steadily produce two successful talismans out of every three.

But after making two, he pasted one onto himself to calm his mind and stopped wasting materials.

The reason was simple: Calming Talismans... could not make money.

Before he had even begun, Ji Yuan had already set his sights on the most profitable first-tier talisman in Zengtou City: the Water-Repelling Talisman!

Every fisherman who took a boat out needed one of these.

After all, once they entered the water, they needed a Water-Repelling Talisman. Even the few who knew the Water-Repelling Technique rarely used it. Beneath the water, every thread of spiritual energy was exceedingly precious.

Water-Repelling Talismans were not cheap either. A single one could sell for two Spirit Stones.

Thus, over the next few days, aside from going to Zengtou City to buy talisman paper, Ji Yuan went nowhere else. He threw himself heart and soul into talisman-making.

Whenever his spiritual energy ran dry, he began eating eggs to recover.

Fortunately, he had more than enough Spirit Eggs. Seven or eight a day were enough to sustain his consumption.

What was more, before two days had even passed, the second Spirit Pig he had raised matured. He had no choice—besides eating eggs, he now had the "hardship" of eating Spirit Pig meat as well.

Though the spiritual energy contained in Spirit Pig meat was limited, it was still better than nothing.

Ji Yuan stewed some and roasted some himself, storing them in his room.

Whenever he grew tired from drawing talismans, he picked some up to eat. Whenever he ate until his body grew unbearably hot, he stopped and continued drawing talismans.

Repeating this cycle over and over, he soon drew his first Water-Repelling Talisman.

Inside the level-one [Talisman Room], as long as he succeeded once, the success rate for subsequent attempts would automatically rise by twenty percent. Drawing a second successful one would then be much easier.

As sheets of Green Hemp Talisman Paper vanished one after another, Water-Repelling Talismans appeared one after another.

Ji Yuan finally saw the dawn of victory... no, the dawn of recouping his investment!

His earlier purchases of talisman brushes, talisman ink, and the like had cost him nearly thirty Spirit Stones. To earn that back now, he needed to sell at least twenty Water-Repelling Talismans.

Fortunately, when Ji Yuan had last gone to Zengtou City, he had bought another hundred sheets of Green Hemp Talisman Paper.

Even if his own success rate was close to zero, the [Talisman Room]'s success rate alone would be enough for him to recoup his costs.

In the blink of an eye, another three days passed.

During those three days, even though one Half-Spirit Fish had advanced into a Spirit Fish, Ji Yuan had no time to deal with it.

Only after using up the last sheet of talisman paper did he look at the full stack of thirty-two Water-Repelling Talismans in his Storage Bag, lean backward, and collapse onto the floor.

There was no other reason. This period had simply been too exhausting.

Every day, apart from cultivating and eating, he drew talismans without end.

Even when resting, he only took brief naps before scrambling back up.

True cultivation.

Yet his efforts over these past few days had not been without rewards. The greatest harvest was naturally that thick stack of Spirit Stones in his Storage Bag... no, talismans.

Next was the enormous improvement in Ji Yuan's fine control over spiritual energy.

When drawing talismans, he had to pour spiritual power into the talisman brush and release it from the tiny brush tip at the end. Without subtle control over spiritual power, this naturally could not be done.

In other words, if he fought others with magic again—

Whether casting techniques or controlling magical artifacts, Ji Yuan would be able to perform far more precise maneuvers.

After that came Body Tempering. Having eaten meat for several consecutive days, though he had only consumed half a Spirit Pig, Ji Yuan felt that his physique had grown much stronger.

The clearest change was that the skin of his body had become far tougher.

Though he still could not withstand something as monstrous as the Water Drop Finger, ordinary Waterball Techniques no longer did him much harm.

Growing stronger was always wonderful, and Ji Yuan drifted off to sleep amid that wonderful feeling.

When he woke again, it was already dawn the next day.

Feeling utterly refreshed, Ji Yuan tidied himself up, collected today's seven Spirit Eggs, and slaughtered that Spirit Fish as well.

Once he had finished preparing everything and was about to set out for Zengtou City, he suddenly heard what sounded like an argument coming from the neighboring Lin Family.

The two households were separated by only a single wall, and Lin Hu and Wu Qin were arguing in their courtyard.

Even if Ji Yuan had not wanted to listen, he still understood everything.

It turned out that Deng Yunliang had been going to Zengtou City every night to visit the Gambling House, and somehow, he had brought Lin Hu along.

On the first night Lin Hu went, he won money. Once he had won, he became addicted.

How could fishing make money as quickly as gambling? And gambling was easier, too.

But over the past few days, Lin Hu had begun losing every day. He was about to gamble away every last scrap of the household's property, yet he still claimed he could turn things around.

Wu Qin had no choice, which was why she had begun arguing with him.

Ji Yuan had no interest in meddling in someone else's family affairs.

But just as he pushed open his door, he saw a middle-aged man sitting at the entrance of the neighboring courtyard, heaving long sighs.

The moment Deng Yunliang saw Ji Yuan, he sprang to his feet in excitement and hurriedly forced out a smile. "Ji... Fellow Daoist Ji, are you heading out?"

"Yes."

Ji Yuan nodded coolly.

Deng Yunliang seemed not to notice at all. Rubbing his hands together, he said, "There is something... I would like to discuss with Fellow Daoist Ji. Would that be possible?"

"Whatever it is, wait until I return."

After learning that Deng Yunliang was a gambling addict, Ji Yuan no longer wanted anything to do with him.

No matter where one was, gamblers were not worthy of sympathy.

"J-just, could you lend me some Spirit Stones? Three will do. I need to pay this month's Immortal Residence Fee. I will repay you by next month at the latest—five Spirit Stones, how about it? Five!"

Deng Yunliang held up five fingers.

"No."

Ji Yuan jumped onto the White Boat, and Deng Yunliang looked as though he wanted to follow.

Ji Yuan abruptly turned around and cast him a cold glance, releasing the aura of the Middle Qi Refining Stage. Deng Yunliang's face went pale in fright, and he staggered back several steps before stopping.

"S-sorry for the trouble."

Deng Yunliang finally came to his senses. He cupped his hands toward Ji Yuan and let out a long breath.

Ji Yuan ignored him and piloted his boat toward Zengtou City.

He was not worried. If Deng Yunliang knew what was good for him, then all was well.

If he did not... the masters of Cloud-Rain Marsh were quite accustomed to eating people.