Chapter 25

~17 min read 3,272 words

The early summer sun already carried a hint of sweltering heat.

Translation: "The early summer sun already had a hint of scorching heat." Keep as single line.

"I unexpectedly started to look forward to 'opening the box'."

Note: Chinese quotes inside quotes. We'll translate: "I actually started to look forward to 'opening the box'." Keep quotes? Probably keep the Chinese quotes as English quotes. We'll output: "I actually started to look forward to 'opening the box'." Ensure single line.

Returning to his shanty town residence, Yunhe placed the fan-shaped magical artifact and a storage bag on his knees.

"This isn't exactly a good 'hobby'."

Translation: "This isn't a good 'hobby'." Keep quotes.

"Killing people and seizing treasure is exhilarating, but if he ended up being the one killed, it wouldn't be much fun."

Translation: "Killing people and seizing treasure is exhilarating, but if he became the one being killed, it wouldn't be much fun." Ensure single line.

After calming his mind, Yunhe first picked up the fan.

Translation: "Having calmed his mind, Yunhe first picked up the fan." Use Yunhe.

After infusing it with a little spiritual power, he gained a certain understanding of this magical artifact.

"The Flame Wind Fan is a first-tier low-grade magical artifact, its feature being able to raise a pillar of fire."

Translation: "'Wind-Fire Fan, a first-tier low-grade magical artifact, its feature is being able to raise a pillar of fire.'" Keep quotes.

He had witnessed the power of this Flame Wind Fan.

Translation: "He had witnessed the power of this Wind-Fire Fan."

It's not extremely strong, but compared to the first-tier elementary Water Arrow Technique, it is still somewhat more formidable.

Translation: "It's not that it's extremely strong, but compared to the 'Water Arrow Technique,' a first-tier elementary spell, it is still somewhat more powerful."

"It's not maintained as well as the Empty Bamboo Sword; its quality is comparable to the Golden Killer Sword, and if sold, it would fetch at most seventeen or eighteen low-grade ling stones."

That's already quite good.

Translation: "That's already quite good."

Afterward, he picked up the storage bag.

Translation: "Afterwards, he picked up the storage bag."

With the first experience, in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, he successfully erased the spiritual power imprint on the storage bag.

It is also a storage bag about half a square foot in size.

Translation: "It was also a storage bag about half a square in size."

As he infused his spirit sense, he saw that the storage bag was stuffed with a large number of bottles and jars.

"What are all these?"

Translation: "'What are all these?'"

He dumped everything out all at once.

Translation: "He dumped everything out all at once."

"These are talisman paper, spirit talismans? So many?!"

After emptying the crammed storage bag, he saw four stacks of blank talisman paper and three stacks of spirit talismans placed in the corner.

Each stack consists of ten sheets, totaling seventy sheets!

Translation: "Each stack had ten sheets, for a total of seventy!"

Among them,

Translation: "Among them." (Probably just "Among them," but keep as line.)

He recognized two stacks of the spirit talismans.

Translation: "Two stacks of spirit talismans he recognized."

They were the 'Swift Travel Talisman' and the 'Protective Talisman'.

"No wonder, when I used the Swift Travel Talisman to flee, they chased after me without hesitation; it turns out I had plenty in stock."

And another stack was beyond his knowledge.

Translation: "While the other stack was beyond his knowledge."

"Could this guy possibly be a talisman maker?"

Yet he also felt it was somewhat absurd.

Translation: "Yet he also felt it was somewhat absurd."

Would a proper talisman maker need to become a robber cultivator?

As long as he diligently makes talismans, why would he fear not being able to earn spirit stones?

Although the 'Swift Travel Talisman' and 'Protective Talisman' are both first-tier low-grade spirit talismans, if production could be increased, the profits would still be quite considerable.

It might indeed not be as fast as the way of robbery.

Apart from the bottles and jars and a few stacks of talisman paper and spirit talismans, what Yunhe valued most was a jade slip.

He affixed the jade slip to his forehead and immersed his spirit sense into it.

After a dense mass of text flashed by, the first line made him instinctively open his eyes.

Translation: "After a mass of tiny text flashed by, the first line made him instinctively open his eyes."

"Talisman Dao Introduction (Initial Volume)!"

This is actually a volume of the talisman maker's Talisman Dao inheritance!

The four arts of immortal cultivation: alchemy, formation, artifact, talisman.

Although the way of talisman making is listed last, it absolutely cannot be underestimated.

Alchemy and artifact forging, as long as one achieves minor success, are definitely the fastest side businesses for earning spirit stones among the four arts of immortal cultivation.

But these two arts, not even mentioning minor achievement, just getting started would likely require pouring resources that Yunhe could hardly imagine.

And as for formation dao, needless to say, it is a skill that purely relies on talent.

Alchemy and artifact forging, these two arts, at least by continually piling up resources and accumulating vast experience, can always summarize some methods suitable for oneself, and then gradually improve.

In other words, as long as there are resources, one can always achieve something.

Translation: "In other words, as long as there are resources, one can always achieve something."

But formation dao is different; if you can't penetrate it, you can't penetrate it; if you can't comprehend it, you can't comprehend it.

And what about talisman dao?

It likewise is a skill that requires resources, time, and continuous accumulation of experience.

Translation: "It likewise is a skill that requires the continual accumulation of resources, time, and experience."

However,

Translation: "However,"

Compared to alchemy dao and artifact dao, talisman dao consumes relatively fewer resources, and has lower talent requirements for learners, making it easier to get started.

Therefore, talisman dao is absolutely the most suitable auxiliary skill for Yunhe at present, without equal.

Suppressing his surprise, Yunhe calmed his mind and continued browsing.

This talisman dao introduction explains the manufacturing processes of several first-tier low-grade spirit talismans.

After roughly browsing the contents of the jade slip, Yunhe recognized the last stack of spirit talismans.

"Reveal Spirit Talisman"

It is also a first-tier low-grade spirit talisman, and purely auxiliary in nature.

Translation: "It is also a first-tier low-grade spirit talisman, and purely auxiliary in nature."

Its function is singular, but Yunhe finds it very useful.

Because it can discern the cultivation base of a Qi Refining cultivator!

As everyone knows, a Qi Refining cultivator's spirit sense is inwardly gathered and cannot be projected outward, so when facing an unfamiliar cultivator, if the other party does not reveal their cultivation base, it is difficult to judge their true cultivation level.

But by using the Reveal Spirit Talisman, one can obtain some useful information.

Compared to everyday talk, judging whether the other party is in the early, middle, or late stage of Qi Refining.

No wonder. That person must have used the 'Revealing Spirit Talisman' to learn I am merely a Qi Refining early-stage cultivator, then concluded I could be easily handled, so even if wasting a 'Swift Travel Talisman' they chased after me.

Yunhe felt that the fact was roughly as he had guessed.

Wait.

As if suddenly thinking of something, he placed the jade slip on his forehead again.

'Introduction to Talisman Dao (Initial Volume). Situ Jianhe!'

As expected!

In his mind flashed the image of that robber cultivator, especially the hand holding the wind-fire fan.

That hand did not look like what a talisman maker should have.

Yunhe rested his chin, lightly rubbing it twice.

So speaking, these things about talisman dao were snatched from others by him. Situ Jianhe, Hongye City.

His thought turned.

But these are no longer important.

What matters is that the things are now in his hands.

Then these bottles and jars, most of them should be materials for talisman making, right?

He opened them one by one.

Cinnabar, charcoal, plant ash, Beast Blood.

A large assortment, all different.

Besides that.

There were also three talisman pens of different sizes and bristle qualities.

Talisman paper, talisman pen, and spirit ink—the three main tools for talisman making were all assembled.

This isn't a storage bag at all; it's clearly a 'Talisman Maker's Grand Gift Pack'.

Yunhe couldn't help but make a teasing remark.

He gathered the items one by one.

Although he was very interested in talisman making and eagerly hoped to get started in this skill, talisman making couldn't be learned overnight.

At least he needed to finish reading the basic content on drawing spirit talismans in the jade slip before he could possibly attempt to make them.

There are also twenty-two low-grade Ling Stones.

Originally this should have been his biggest gain.

But compared to the 'Talisman Maker's Grand Gift Pack', it's more like a bonus.

Looking at it gives me a headache.

Putting down the jade slip, Yunhe gently rubbed his temples.

Even though talisman making is relatively the easiest to get into among pill, formation, vessel, and talisman arts, reading from start to finish still makes it impossible to fully absorb and learn it all at once.

Yunhe shook his head, placed the jade slip into the corner of his storage bag, and with a backhand took out a small jade bottle.

He removed the wax and opened the stopper.

Instantly a rich fragrance, carrying a faint spiritual aura, diffused outward.

He poured out one grain.

One low-grade Ling Stone per pill, the effect should not be bad.

He glanced at it, then tilted his head back and swallowed it.

Immediately he sat cross-legged steadily on the futon, clearing away all miscellaneous thoughts about talisman scripts.

Upon entering meditation, after circulating the Gold Water Element Classic, Yunhe felt a difference from his previous cultivation.

It seemed as if a warm current continuously welled up from his abdomen, then transformed into slender, continuous strands of spiritual power; as the Gold Water Element Classic circulated, it blended with his original spiritual power, ultimately merging completely.

This cultivation session, time flew by.

It lasted until evening before he awoke from meditation.

First thing, he used his spirit sense to look inward and feel his changes.

He immediately showed a look of surprise.

Is the effect of the Spirit Nourishing Pill this good?

His spiritual power increased by nearly one twentieth!

Don't underestimate this one twentieth; if each Spirit Nourishing Pill gave such an effect, in less than half a month he might reach the perfection of the third layer of Qi Refining and could attempt to breakthrough to the fourth layer.

Yunhe fell into thought.

Perhaps it's because it's the first time taking it; afterward the effect might become worse and worse.

But even so, it still made him quite satisfied.

One Spirit Nourishing Pill is worth one low-grade Ling Stone, but in terms of cultivation advancement its effect equals about half a jar of red-pattern spirit honey.

But thinking about it, it also makes sense.

Red-pattern spirit honey does have the effect of increasing cultivation, but spirit honey is like spirit rice, belonging to everyday foodstuffs, used to satisfy the appetite of some spirit-stone wealthy cultivators, and also to reduce intake of mundane impurities; it is not specially for boosting cultivation, so compared to the effect of elixirs on cultivation advancement, they are naturally incomparable.

One would think that if the culinary art, one of the hundred arts of immortality, were put to use with precious spiritual materials, the efficacy of red-pattern spirit honey could be maximized.

But Yunhe himself need not think that way; exchanging red-pattern spirit honey for spirit stones and then purchasing elixirs is the fastest way to advance cultivation.

If the Demon Beast Body successfully breaks through to the middle of the first stage, relying on reciprocation and the Spirit Nourishing Pill, perhaps I could attempt a breakthrough to the fourth layer of Qi Refining in an extremely short time.

And reaching the fourth layer of Qi Refining would count as a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator, completely different from the early stage.

At that time.

With a great increase in spiritual power, the 'Blood Insect Control Technique' within the 'Blood Insect Sacrifice Technique' secret art has hope of reaching minor accomplishment, greatly increasing the number of controlled bees.

The 'Insect Battle Formation' also has a chance to achieve minor accomplishment thereby, doubling its power!

Even against Wei Qingfei at the sixth layer of Qi Refining, he felt confident he could match him a little.

Indeed, for cultivators with poor aptitude, taking elixirs is the only shortcut.

Having tasted the benefits brought by the elixir, Yunhe felt a bit unsatisfied, wanting more.

Buzz—

Upon discovering Yunhe waking from meditation, the Red Pattern Spirit Bee Queen, which had been cooped up for a long time, finally flew out from the corner.

It came before him.

Through the link established by the Blood Insect Control Technique between it and Yunhe, it conveyed its emotions.

Hungry!

Yunhe was instantly speechless.

Indeed, today he hadn't gone out to release the bees, nor had he fed the Red Pattern Spirit Bees.

He had actually gotten a bit carried away with his cultivation for a moment.

He waved his hand.

The whole room filled with the buzzing of countless bee wings, as Red Pattern Spirit Bees emerged one by one from the corners.

'With the queen bee, I can actually produce offspring myself, no longer needing to transform from spirit bees.'

He gathered all the Red Pattern Spirit Bees into the spirit insect bag.

He put on his robe.

He stepped out the back door into the night.

Yunhe's thoughts remained lively as he walked through the alleys.

'How to mate, and with which few Red Pattern Spirit Bees to mate, that is the problem.'

He currently has reached the limit of fifty from the Blood Insect Control Technique, so he doesn't need to supplement for now, thus he didn't let the queen produce offspring.

Moreover, producing offspring would definitely consume the queen's vitality, temporarily reducing her strength.

However, if he breaks through to the fourth layer of Qi Refining, this will inevitably need to be done, requiring advance planning.

'The queen bee is a first-stage early demon beast; purely in terms of demonic power, it should be equivalent to a first-layer Qi Refining cultivator. If the Red Pattern Spirit Bees that mate with it are also first-stage early demon beasts, would the offspring differ from those produced by mating seven- or eight-pattern Red Pattern Spirit Bees?'

Quite likely.

After all, demon beasts pay great attention to bloodline inheritance.

Even ordinary spirit bees will produce differences in condition, physique, reaction, etc., due to the different male bees mating with the queen.

'In the incomplete chapters of the Blood Insect Sacrifice Technique, it also mentions the cycle of 'selecting insects and choosing the best, then breeding the best, raising to continue nurturing, nurturing to again select,' through constant cultivation, screening, elimination, and re-cultivation to obtain the finest variety of spirit insects.'

Unfortunately, the Blood Insect Sacrifice Technique he obtained is too severely incomplete; the 'Selecting Insects' chapter only has a vague concept, with no actual practice.

'Let's see if we can find a substitute later.'

Soon after.

Yunhe, lost in thought, arrived at the bee-releasing ground.

Huh?

As soon as he arrived at the familiar place, he felt something different.

He brushed his palm across his waist.

The Golden Killing Sword appeared in his hand.

'This is a black-ringed hornet?'

Gazing at the shadow flying out from the grass.

Somewhat unexpected.

Then he frowned.

'Not from the same nest!'

(End of chapter)

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