Chapter 54: Seventh Layer of Lian Qi, Second-rank Talisman Master

The breakthrough came a bit faster than expected.

Three months after taking in the Lin family sisters.

A mighty surge of magical energy radiated from Xiao Zhangqing's training chamber, so intense that the Bing-level Cave Dwelling's formation could not conceal it, faintly resonating with heaven and earth.

"Seventh Layer of Lian Qi?"

"Who is it?"

"It seems to be... Xiao Symbol Master's cave dwelling?"

Most cultivators around the Bing-level Cave Dwelling are at the mid-stage of Lian Qi.

If one is at the Late Stage of Lian Qi, the ambient spiritual energy in the Bing-level Cave Dwelling area is somewhat insufficient; unless they are especially destitute or lack Spirit Stones, they would move to a Yi-level Cave Dwelling.

Therefore, when someone in a Bing-level Cave Dwelling breaks through to the Late Stage of Lian Qi, it draws considerable envy from other cultivators.

After all, even with a medium-quality spirit-root aptitude, cultivating to the Seventh Layer of Lian Qi is not easy and requires a long period of accumulation.

As for low-quality spirit roots, the threshold of the Late Stage of Lian Qi is already an insurmountable chasm.

"He truly is a prominent figure of Nanshan Fang, a model for all scattered cultivators!"

"His Talisman Path talent is unmatched, and even his cultivation progress is this rapid. In just a few years, advancing from the early stage to the Late Stage of Lian Qi—such speed is quite rare in Nanshan Fang, isn't it?"

"But isn't it said that Xiao Symbol Master only has a low-quality spirit root? How can his cultivation be so fast? Even with ample Spirit Stone supply, this speed is unusually abnormal…"

"Perhaps this is a natural talent!"

Cultivators in the surrounding cave dwellings whispered among themselves.

Although they do not know Xiao Zhangqing and have never had a chance to befriend him, they are all well aware that he resides here.

After all, Xiao Zhangqing's own status is high enough that in Nanshan Fang he ranks just below the major Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Moreover, having taken two mid-stage of Lian Qi sisters as maids, delegating all trivial tasks to them has become a celebrated story in Nanshan Fang, evoking great envy among nearby cultivators.

…

"Finally reached the Seventh Layer of Lian Qi!"

Xiao Zhangqing felt a massive surge of magical power within his body; compared to the Sixth Layer of Lian Qi, both the magnitude and his control over the power were incomparable.

Most crucially, Xiao Zhangqing's spiritual perception also grew considerably!

Originally, Xiao Zhangqing's spiritual perception could sense a distance of three to four zhang, roughly just over ten meters.

Now that he has broken through to the Late Stage of Lian Qi, his spiritual perception has more than doubled, reaching over ten zhang.

Although most of the time it remains a useless extra, still inferior to eyesight for distance.

But in certain special environments where vision is obscured, spiritual perception becomes highly useful.

Moreover.

Even without relying on spiritual perception to sense external objects, from a Symbol Master's perspective, stronger spiritual perception is always better! Because the magical energy consumption for drawing talismans is secondary; the primary cost is spiritual perception, which must channel heavenly and earthly spiritual forces together with one's own magical power into the Talisman Script. The number of scripts a Symbol Master can draw in a day depends on the strength of spiritual perception, not on magical power.

Thus, Xiao Zhangqing's enhanced spiritual perception means he can produce many more Talisman Scripts daily, doubling his Spirit Stone earnings! Even though he cannot earn side income now and can only sell at the Lingfu Pavilion, his monthly salary will still increase substantially.

Most importantly... with his spiritual perception rising, the rank of Talisman Scripts Xiao Zhangqing can use will also increase!

He can now employ Second-rank Talisman Scripts as his trump card!

During the mid-stage of Lian Qi, the most effective scripts Xiao Zhangqing could wield were at most first-rank supreme.

If it were a Second-rank Talisman Script, with his magical power and spiritual perception he could not effectively unleash its strength, posing no threat to Foundation Establishment cultivators.

It might even fail to harm the enemy and injure himself first. Now, however, his spiritual perception and magical power allow him to manipulate Second-rank Talisman Scripts with relative ease.

Of course... under normal circumstances, Late Stage of Lian Qi cultivators have no opportunity to use Second-rank Talisman Scripts.

Because a single Second-rank Talisman Script costs at least several hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones, and in places like Nanshan Fang it is priced but unsellable! Ordinary Late Stage of Lian Qi cultivators lack Spirit Stones and have no channels to purchase Second-rank Talisman Scripts.

But for Xiao Zhangqing, unsurprisingly, he will soon have as many Second-rank Talisman Scripts as he desires! Because he is about to ascend to Second-rank Talisman Master! "Inventory!"

As soon as the thought occurred, the inventory interface materialized.

Sure enough, just as Xiao Zhangqing expected, three more slots appeared behind the original six equipment slots!

When his cultivation first broke through to the mid-stage of Lian Qi, the equipment slots grew from three to six. Now they have expanded to nine!

Each qualitative breakthrough in cultivation brings changes to the inventory! "Also, will the number of simultaneously equipped items increase?"

Xiao Zhangqing felt joy and couldn't help but look forward.

At present, he can benefit from two equipped items simultaneously.

At this moment, his equipped items are the 'Enlightenment Mat' and the 'Longevity Technique Jade Tablet'; instead of removing them, he attempts to equip the brand-new 'Silver Moon Wolf Hair Brush'.

【Silver Moon Wolf Hair Brush】

【Equipment Effect: Symbol Master minor rank +1】

【Equipment Requirement: Any Talisman Script Mastery】

Now Xiao Zhangqing has already refined several Talisman Scripts to great mastery, so the equipment requirement is already satisfied.

"Buzz!"

It felt as if his head had been struck hard with a dull hammer; Xiao Zhangqing nearly lost his footing and fell.

Immediately, countless Talisman Script techniques flooded Xiao Zhangqing's mind, like a knowledge explosion, adding many drawing memories.

It was as if several years had passed; over these years Xiao Zhangqing had immersed himself day and night in drawing talismans, and countless inspirations and skills erupted like sparks.

Xiao Zhangqing suddenly opened his eyes, surrounded by immense excitement!

"Although I had anticipated this long ago, the long-awaited fulfillment is still incredibly exhilarating!"

Xiao Zhangqing felt the Talisman Script skills in his mind, and under the boost of the equipment effect, they became an instinct as if divinely assisted; although he hasn't tried yet, he is 100% certain.

He can now draw Second-rank Treasure Talisman!

The Symbol Master minor rank +1 from the Silver Moon Wolf Hair Brush lets him leap straight over the threshold from a first-rank superior Symbol Master to a Second-rank Talisman Master! This equipment effect is truly extraordinary!

If the +1 minor rank were applied at a first-rank lower-mid level, the effect would help but not be especially massive.

But at the first-rank superior threshold, it becomes the ultimate 'Divine Skill'! An absolute divine skill, not at all weaker than the Twin-wing Tiger Hair Brush's Talisman Path talent boost, even stronger! "Also, after breaking through to the Late Stage of Lian Qi, the equipment slots expanded by three, and the number of simultaneously equipped items increased by one."

Xiao Zhangqing felt after using this brand-new equipment, the Silver Moon Wolf Hair Brush, the equipment effects of the Enlightenment Dao Meditation Mat and the Longevity Technique Jade Tablet also did not disappear, indicating that he can now use three pieces of equipment simultaneously! "Get the materials for a Second-Grade Talisman ready right away!"

Xiao Zhangqing couldn't wait to try drawing a Second-Grade Talisman.

He now possesses the skills of a Second-Rank Talisman Master, but lacks the materials for a Second-Grade Talisman.

After all, the power of a Second-Grade Talisman is who knows how many times stronger than that of a top-grade First-Grade Talisman, and the Spirit Ink, Talisman Paper, and cinnabar it requires all need to be of a higher grade.

No matter how skilled the talisman technique, the materials for a First-Grade Talisman cannot be used to draw a Second-Grade Talisman; even a clever woman cannot cook without rice.

This is also why a single Second-Grade Talisman can sell for hundreds of Spirit Stones.

Besides the high labor cost of Second-Rank Talisman Masters, the increased material cost is also one of the reasons.

Sorry, I was held up today, so the update is a bit late~ (End of chapter)