Cultivation Starts with Rejuvenation

Calmly concentrate, Sea of Consciousness is clear.

Holding the middle-grade talisman brush gifted by Yan Kongyi, feeling the Heaven and Earth Spirit Mechanism.

”Swish~” A spark of inspiration, the brush moves like a dragon, and the spiritual ink configured with Fire-attribute Spirit Beast Blood immediately glimmers on the talisman paper.

”It’s done!”

Moments later, the spiritual mechanism dissipates, the spiritual ink stabilizes, and a Blazing Talisman is completed.

This past year, no extra cultivation of magical power was needed, more time was spent on alchemy to earn spirit stones and studying the talisman art.

Thanks to the refining by the Fire Spirit, the magical power becomes increasingly refined, making it more effortless to draw late-period talismans.

Especially with the Fire Spirit empowering in the Dantian, sensing Heaven and Earth fire spiritual mechanism becomes easier; today, he finally succeeded in drawing his first mass-damage powerful Blazing Talisman, which is not easy to create even for seasoned Tier One talisman masters.

Gently stroking the Blazing Talisman, Li Ji’an let out a long breath.

The talisman path, easy to learn but hard to master, truly is no exaggeration.

Starting at the age of eight, learning talisman knowledge with Yan Kongyi, and never slackening all these years, a full twenty-seven years.

Even subtracting the initial five years of theoretical learning, and another ten years lacking practice materials, he persisted diligently for twelve years.

Only now does he draw late-period premium talisman without relying on luck.

The previous late-period premium Ice Freeze Talisman was only made after crafting hundreds of mid-term Cold Wind Talismans; it seemed fortune smiled upon him unexpectedly. This time, it is truly through his own divine sense perception, refined magical power, and understanding of Heaven and Earth Spirit Mechanism.

However, this success also owes to the assimilation with the Fire Spirit, enhancing the affinity with Heaven and Earth Fire Spirit Mechanism.

”Now, finally, I can rely on talisman crafting to earn spirit stones.”

The reason he says now he can earn spirit stones through talisman crafting is that talisman materials are expensive, yet the value of mid-term talismans is low, with profit margins even lower than mid-level pill medicines.

In Immortal Cities or various markets, the number of mid-term talisman masters is at least double that of pill masters because they are easy to learn, very accessible, and don’t require pill fire. Any spirit root magical power works, with no entry barriers.

As a result, the consumption of talisman materials is tremendous, prices remain high, and because many talisman products flood the market, talisman prices are very low.

A mid-term pill master, as long as they can ensure a certain pill formation success rate, can barely sustain themselves.

But mid-term talisman masters are really like workhorses, many even relegated to the edges of slum areas, enduring a tough life.

Moreover, even if a talisman master’s skill improves, upon initially entering the late period, due to further increased talisman success rates and material costs, losses are common.

Most late-period pill medicine materials can be obtained for fifty spirit stones, but late-period talisman materials start at least at seventy or eighty apiece.

A pill furnace can yield multiple pills; once the furnace is opened, it won’t be a complete loss.

Yet a talisman is one by one; if this one is ruined, it’s a total loss.

Even though Li Ji’an could draw late-period talismans a few years ago, their quality couldn’t be guaranteed since talismans differ from pills in needing to connect with the Heaven and Earth Spirit Mechanism, which involves divine soul and magic power requirements for talisman making. It’s more about mindset, affinity with the Heaven and Earth Spirit Mechanism, and cannot rely solely on proficiency and experience accumulation like pills.

Any talisman dao master either has extraordinary talent or exceptional comprehension, perceiving the Heaven and Earth Spirit Mechanism through continuous attempts.

Li Ji’an belongs to the latter.

At that time, although he could draw late-period talismans, he couldn’t break even.

Now able to produce premium talismans, the success rate for upper-grade talismans is higher, and he can truly profit from talisman making.

Carefully storing the premium Blazing Talisman, Li Ji’an lifts the restriction of the Alchemy Room.

”Uncle Li, can Little Fire come out?” Xiaoqiao and Gugu were long waiting outside.

Liberally smiling, Li Ji’an releases the Fire Spirit.

As soon as the Fire Spirit emerges from Li Ji’an’s Dantian, it excitedly runs towards Xiaoqiao and Gugu.

Over the year, the three companions harmonized well.

And each found their value.

Xiaoqiao is responsible for cooking and coordinating, Fire Spirit manages temperature control for the stove, and Gugu handles food preparation.

Visibly, Xiaoqiao grew significantly this year, and Gugu’s physique changed from eating plenty of Demon Beast meat. While the Fire Spirit couldn’t enjoy the food, it appreciated the atmosphere.

Li Ji’an is pleased with this outcome, financially supports them.

This year, his cultivation expenses decreased, and alchemical earnings nearly guaranteed monthly over three hundred spirit stones income, covering living costs and talisman practice expenses. In a year, almost two thousand spirit stones were saved.

Now with talisman skill improvements, profits will be better.

And after a year of refinement by the Fire Spirit, he’s almost at the peak of Qi Cultivation 9th Layer and theoretically can attempt Foundation Establishment.

”No rush, accumulate for another two years.” At thirty-five, peak time still lies far ahead, no hurry.

In this realm, ordinary cultivators, even at seventy or eighty, as long as magical power and physical body haven’t started to decline, theoretically, it’s not too late for Foundation Establishment. Once successful, the physical body and magical power will revive, compared to nearly three hundred years of lifespan, early or late Qi Cultivation by decades isn’t particularly different.

In the past thousand years, Cangyun State has seen many septuagenarian Foundation Establishment cases, and even several centuries ago, a Wood Element Cultivator skilled in health-preservation methods successfully did Foundation Establishment at a hundred, becoming a celebrated story and an inspirational figure in the Cultivation Realm.

Of course, this is speaking in terms of cultivation realms, mainly involving resource-strapped Loose Cultivators. In a sect, or resource-abundant families, to compete for more resources and showcase potential, many cultivators may advance Foundation Establishment sooner.