The Gambler

[Talisman Room lv2]

[Spirit Effect: First-Tier Talismans success rate +40%, Second Tier Talismans success rate +20%, Third Tier Talismans success rate +5%, automatically learned "Form-Changing Talisman"]

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

Ji Yuan blinked as he looked at the words that had popped up on the Panel.

For a moment, he even thought he had misread them.

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

Converted into Low-Grade Spirit Stones, that would be two thousand!

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

It made sense. First-Tier Talismans were used by Qi Refining cultivators, while Second Tier Talismans were mostly used during the Foundation Establishment Early Stage.

This Level Two Talisman Room could already raise the success rate of Second Tier Talismans by twenty percent.

So it was only natural that one needed the Foundation Establishment Realm to upgrade the Level Two Talisman Room.

"Phew—"

"No matter. This Level One Talisman Room is enough for me to reign supreme during the Qi Refining Stage."

Looking at that twenty-percent increase in success rate, Ji Yuan once more entered a period 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. Once he got the hang of it, he could steadily make two out of every three.

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

The reason was simple. These 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 put out to sea needed this thing.

After all, anyone going underwater needed a Water-Repelling Talisman. Even the few who knew the Water-Repelling Technique rarely used it; beneath the water, every wisp of spiritual energy was precious.

And Water-Repelling Talismans were not cheap, either. One could sell for two Spirit Stones.

Thus, over the following days, aside from going to Zengtou City to buy talisman paper, Ji Yuan went nowhere else. He threw himself wholeheartedly into drawing talismans.

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 was 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; aside from eating eggs, he now had the "arduous task" of eating Spirit Pig meat as well.

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

Ji Yuan stewed some and roasted some himself, leaving it in his room.

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

Repeating this cycle, he soon produced his first Water-Repelling Talisman.

Inside the Level One [Talisman Room], once he succeeded once, the success rate for subsequent attempts automatically rose by twenty percent. Successfully making the second one became much easier.

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

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

Buying talisman brushes, talisman ink, and the like had previously cost him nearly thirty Spirit Stones. To earn that back now, he needed at least twenty Water-Repelling Talismans.

Fortunately, during his previous trip to Zengtou City, Ji Yuan had bought another hundred sheets of Green Hemp Talisman Paper.

Even if his own success rate had been close to zero, the success rate provided by the [Talisman Room] alone would have been 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 he had used up the final sheet of talisman paper did he look at the full stack in his Storage Bag—thirty-two Water-Repelling Talismans in total—then finally fall backward onto the ground.

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

Every day, aside from cultivating and eating, all he did was draw talismans without end.

Even when resting, he merely dozed briefly before scrambling back up.

True cultivation.

But his efforts over the past few days had not been without gains. The greatest gain was naturally the thick stack of Spirit Stones in his Storage Bag... no, talismans.

Second 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 before releasing it from the tiny tip. Without subtle control over spiritual power, this was naturally impossible.

In other words, if he fought someone again—

Whether casting techniques or controlling Dharma Tools, Ji Yuan would be able to perform with much greater precision.

Then there was Body Tempering. After eating meat for several days straight, even though he had only eaten half a Spirit Pig, Ji Yuan felt that his physique had grown much stronger.

The most obvious change was that the skin on his body had become far tougher.

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

Growing stronger was always wonderful, and wrapped in that wonderful feeling, Ji Yuan drifted into a heavy sleep.

When he awoke again, it was already the following morning.

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

After finishing his preparations, just as he was about to depart for Zengtou City, he suddenly heard what sounded like an argument coming from the neighboring Lin Family household.

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

Even if Ji Yuan did not want to listen, he still heard everything clearly.

It turned out that Deng Yunliang's nightly trips to Zengtou City had all been to the Gambling House. Somehow, he had even brought Lin Hu along.

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

How could fishing compare to gambling? Gambling brought money faster, and it was easier too.

But over the past few days, Lin Hu had begun losing every day. With nearly all his household possessions about to be lost, he still claimed he could turn things around.

Wu Qin had been left helpless, and that was why she had started arguing with him.

Ji Yuan had no desire to meddle in someone else's family affairs.

But just as he opened his door, he saw a middle-aged man sitting at the entrance of the neighboring courtyard, sighing deeply.

The moment Deng Yunliang saw Ji Yuan, he sprang up excitedly and hurriedly forced out a smile. "Ji... Fellow Daoist Ji, are you heading out?"

"Mm."

Ji Yuan nodded coolly.

As if he could not see Ji Yuan's indifference, Deng Yunliang rubbed his hands together. "There's 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 worth pitying.

"It's just... could you lend me some Spirit Stones? Three would be enough. I need to pay this month's Immortal Residence Fee. I'll return it by next month at the latest—I'll give you five Spirit Stones back. How about it? Five!"

Deng Yunliang raised five fingers.

"No."

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

Ji Yuan suddenly turned around and shot him a cold glance, releasing the aura of the Middle Qi Refining Stage. Deng Yunliang's face went pale with 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 the 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 had always been quite fond of eating people.