Over the past month and more, Wang Quan had made tremendous progress.
First: he had fully mastered more than 1,500 spells.
That number might have fallen short compared with veteran cultivators who had spent over twenty years muddling along, but he believed no one in his cohort could compare.
After all, not everyone had a [First-Rank Dao Seal] to make mastering spells so effortless.
Second: he had increased his collection of Daoist Scriptures to 12,000 volumes.
He was only eight thousand volumes away from the next rank.
By his estimate, he could reach twenty thousand volumes within a year.
Then he would see what additional benefits the [second-rank Dao seal] offered.
Third: his magic power had increased to 110 strands this month.
After making several deals with the Officiant Daoist Nun this month, he had finally saved up three hundred thousand coins and switched to the finest materials for aiding magic power refinement in the Qi Refining realm.
With those, he could refine three strands of magic power a day.
His single day of refinement equaled two or three months of work for Wu Yong and the others.
He felt this was the greatest benefit the [First-Rank Dao Seal] had brought him.
Lastly, his Yin Spirit had undergone constant purification with purple qi. Just now, after he gathered a few wisps of purple qi to nourish it, it had finally risen another step.
Vaguely, he had a feeling:
His Yin Spirit could now venture out at night.
Because his Yin Spirit had been purified with purple qi, it could venture out at night without worrying about natural hazards such as baleful winds or cold winds.
Under the cover of night, his Yin Spirit would be just like his physical body.
And it would be even more convenient than his physical body.
Well... at least his Yin Spirit could pass through walls.
At that moment, Wang Quan turned his thoughts inward and examined his condition:
[First-Rank Dao Seal-Wang Quan-Age/Lifespan: 20/130] [Dao Seal Advancement Requirement: 12,000/20,000] [Realm: Qi Refining/Yin Spirit!] [Magic Power: [Bright Moon Mana-110 strands], [Purple Qi Dharmic Power-1 wisp], [Great Sun Magic Power-1 strand]. [Fundamental Methods: [Bright Moon Shines on Me Method], [Purple Qi Reaches the Heavens Method], [Great Sun Across the Sky Art]!] [Spells: [Plain Moon Paper-Cutting Art], [Moonlight Escape-110 strands]!] [Trait: Qi Gathering +1-Consume 10 strands of Heavenly Opportunity to condense a second trait.] [Heavenly Opportunity: 0 strands.] [Green Fly Coins: 200,000] [Spiritual medicines, essences, and Magic Treasures can all be converted into Heavenly Opportunity.]
After examining his condition, Wang Quan was delighted.
"At this rate, I won't even need a year to reach 1,001 strands of magic power and attempt Foundation Establishment."
He suppressed his delight and decided to try sending his Yin Spirit out that night.
"I wonder what the Second-Layer World will look like once my Yin Spirit ventures out."
"But to send my Yin Spirit out, I'll need to learn more spells to protect it and prepare some supplies."
To prepare for that night's excursion, Wang Quan stayed in the Technique Transmission Hall until noon, studying seventy or eighty spells related to Yin Spirit excursions in one go.
His [First-Rank Dao Seal] had analyzed all these spells into their perfected versions. He only needed to use them casually to master them perfectly.
By combining these Yin Spirit spells with the Daoist Scriptures, he also acquired a great deal of knowledge about Yin Spirits.
This knowledge would not show itself in everyday life.
But when he sent his Yin Spirit out and fought enemies, it would become a deep reserve that bolstered him.
After leaving the Technique Transmission Hall, he contacted the Round-Faced Daoist Nun and asked her to prepare some supplies for his Yin Spirit excursion.
Some were for protection, some for escaping, and others for tempering his Yin Spirit.
When the Round-Faced Daoist Nun saw the materials he needed, she looked stunned. "You've only been refining magic power for a little over two months, haven't you? And you're already sending your Yin Spirit out? Are you mad?"
"Sending your Yin Spirit out is very dangerous."
"Even a stray gust of night wind could scatter your Yin Spirit."
"If your Yin Spirit becomes disoriented and forgets how to return, you're dead."
"Besides, once your Yin Spirit ventures out, you'll see the Second-Layer World."
"That layer is much more dangerous than the physical world."
"At the very least, you need to condense your Yin Spirit until it feels ready to venture out."
"Even if you purify it with purple qi, you'll need at least a year of preparation."
Wang Quan smiled and reassured her. "My Yin Spirit feels ready to venture out."
"Ah...!"
The Round-Faced Daoist Nun was bewildered.
She counted on her fingers, then counted again.
Yet no matter how she counted, Wang Quan had only been refining magic power for a little over two months. An ordinary cultivator could not possibly finish tempering their Yin Spirit in those two months.
"Did you spend money buying purple qi?"
Purple qi was precious, comparable to a miraculous cure-all, and it was also the finest treasure for nourishing a Yin Spirit.
Wang Quan nodded.
The Round-Faced Daoist Nun did not ask why Wang Quan had not bought purple qi from her. Instead, she breathed a sigh of relief. "In that case, I won't worry."
"I've sent my Yin Spirit out before too, though not many times."
"All I know is that Wind, Fire, Thunder, and Lightning in the Second-Layer World are terrifying."
"Ordinary Yin Spirits can't withstand them, unless you've cultivated a Yang Spirit."
"If you encounter them, don't hesitate. Just return immediately."
Wang Quan nodded. "Mm!"
The Round-Faced Daoist Nun shared some more of her experience. Unfortunately, she had little to offer, less than Wang Quan had read in the Daoist Scriptures.
Still, he was deeply grateful to the Round-Faced Daoist Nun.
After exchanging pleasantries, Wang Quan carried his supplies back to prepare for that night's excursion.
But just as he sat upright on the Coffin Board to begin his preparations, a message appeared in his token.
It was from the Officiant Daoist Nun.
"Do you still remember the Blissful Union House and the Zhao Household?"
Wang Quan replied, "I do!"
Ever since those two factions had owed him money and refused to pay, he had kept an eye on news about them.
His sources were not very good, though, so his information was slow to arrive.
Still, he could get most of the routine news.
The Officiant Daoist Nun said, "The corpse we buried last time has now completely turned into an anomaly."
"The burial site you found couldn't suppress its transformation."
"Now the Blissful Union House and the Zhao Household want an explanation from you."
Wang Quan laughed. "I told them at the time. When they asked us to handle the corpse, they said there was nothing abnormal about it, but it showed signs of becoming an anomaly on the way."
"They couldn't bear to spend money on a different burial site. Now that it's become an anomaly, it's their fault. They shouldn't blame me!"
The Officiant Daoist Nun said, "That's what I said too."
"But they won't listen!"
"They want us to get rid of the anomaly."
Wang Quan replied, "Heh..."
The Officiant Daoist Nun was speechless...
"Be serious. What do you think?"
Wang Quan shook his head. "From now on, I won't take a single job from the Blissful Union House or the Zhao Household."
The Officiant Daoist Nun said, "Why go that far? We can make them pay extra!"
Wang Quan shook his head. "They docked our pay last time. That's enough to prove they aren't good people."
"I don't deal with people like that."
The Officiant Daoist Nun rolled her eyes. "By your standards, there isn't a single good person in the entire Drowning Dao Lower Court or the Market Ward."
Wang Quan remained silent.
After a moment, the Officiant Daoist Nun said, "I'll go with them tonight to inspect the anomaly and see whether it's easy to deal with."
"Then I'll discuss the price with them!"
"This time, I'll make them pay upfront!"
"Want to come?"
Wang Quan shook his head. "No. I need a bath. Talk later!"
The Officiant Daoist Nun was speechless...
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