"Shen Xuan, inferior spirit root!"
A cold voice whispered in his ear.
In a dream, Shen Xuan stood on a sheer cliff, stepping into the void, suddenly waking up in fright.
The room was dim.
Shen Xuan cast a Daoist spell and lit up the night lamp hanging on the wall.
"Time flies fast, in the blink of an eye, more than forty years have passed."
Getting out of bed, he listened to the sound of rain pouring outside, as if it were beating deep into his divine soul.
In an old room, listening to rain alone, youth was long gone.
The joys and sorrows of the mortal world, he'd seen it all.
Shen Xuan gazed at the dark night outside and sighed deeply.
More than forty years ago, he and six classmates, led by Master Yan, youthful and spirited, participated in the entry test of the Cyan Cloud Sect.
The result was brutal.
The highest of the five elements spirit root was the Water Spirit Root with a spiritual energy sensitivity of only 8 points, an undeniable inferior spirit root!
Not to mention joining the sect, even wanting to be a servant, they wouldn't take him!
With no choice, under Master Yan's recommendation, Shen Xuan came alone to Cyan Dragon Bay Market, living cautiously, as if walking on thin ice.
Now, at sixty, his cultivation realm still remained at the Qi Cultivation Third Layer.
His spirit root talent was too poor; Qi Cultivation Third Layer was the limit.
Fortunately, through diligent practice, he learned to make Breath Concealment Talismans and Invisibility Talismans.
They were only low-grade talismans, but his success rate exceeded thirty percent.
Relying on his talisman making skill, Shen Xuan survived with difficulty in the Cyan Dragon Bay Market.
Unlike those loose cultivators with no skills, crammed in the shantytown on the outskirts of the market, struggling for basic needs and surviving by hunting demon beasts.
Living knife-edge lives, never knowing what tomorrow holds, the suffering was indescribable!
As a plain and unimpressive transmigrator, Shen Xuan did his best.
Avoiding all drinking, whoring, gambling; spending twelve hours a day, except for eating and sleeping, devoted entirely to cultivation and talisman making.
It's hard.
Even with such effort, he could only afford a dingy place on the outskirts of the market, eating two bowls of spirit rice mixed with regular rice each day.
Occasionally buying some low-grade demon beast meat to spice up life.
Outside, the rain poured heavily, the night wind was chilling.
Shen Xuan stared blankly at the serpentine flashes of blue lightning across the sky, contemplating secretly.
"Sixty years wasted, seeing all the world's flowers, enjoying all the years, it's time to accept fate!"
A transmigrator from a small town, always believing that hard work is rewarded by the Heavenly Dao.
Even having an inferior spirit root, he persisted in his diligent cultivation.
After all, there are many legends in the cultivation realm of those with inferior spirit roots achieving greatness.
The fact that he could transmigrate to this immortal martial world was luck indeed.
In his youth, he possessed exceptional learning and natural talent, overcoming challenges to enter the White Deer Academy as Master Yan's direct disciple.
All seven direct disciples were people of great fortune, endowed with spirit roots, introducing Qi into their bodies.
In a dream for sixty years, half a life has been wasted.
"Inferior spirit root, ultimately can't break through the early stage of Qi cultivation!"
Despite such discipline and self-restraint, limited by spirit root talent, he saw no hope on the path.
Shen Xuan finally understood, fully relaxing his mind and fell back into sleep.
The next day.
The rain stopped and the sky cleared.
Shen Xuan took the talismans he had prepared and walked into the Ding family's store along the main street of the market.
"Oh, Fellow Daoist Shen, you are here so early!"
The familiar shopkeeper Ding greeted with a smiling face.
"Ten Breath Concealment Talismans, ten Invisibility Talismans, help me exchange for four spirit stones."
As soon as he finished speaking, the shopkeeper Ding asked with some surprise: "Oh, Fellow Daoist Shen, aren't you exchanging for talisman paper and cinnabar this time?"
"No, I have some stock left, enough to last a while."
"Alright then."
Shopkeeper Ding took out four crystal-clear spirit stones.
Shen Xuan carefully put them into his storage pouch.
"Wait a moment, Fellow Daoist Shen, there's something I need to discuss with you."
Shen Xuan followed the shopkeeper Ding into the rest room of the shop.
"Fellow Daoist Shen, you've been living in our Ding Family's Cyan Dragon Bay Market for over forty years, right?"
"Forty-three years."
"You've never participated in the triennial conscription, right?"
"I'm not good at fighting. I have always paid the replacement tax for every conscription."
According to the Ding family's regulations, loose cultivators residing in the market are required to pay housing rent and also enlist for conscription.
Those unwilling to enlist can opt to pay with spirit stones instead.
The replacement tax for each conscription is six spirit stones.
For forty-three years, Shen Xuan had never enlisted for conscription.
In fact, adhering to the way of caution, except for trying to farm when he first arrived, he never left the Cyan Dragon Bay Market.
"This time is different. There's an order from above; substituting with spirit stones is not allowed. All loose cultivators in the market, when their turn comes, must participate."
"Unless..."
Shen Xuan smiled wryly.
"Fellow Daoist Shen, it's not that I'm saying this. You're already sixty, still at the Qi Cultivation Third Layer; it's time to let go."
"Twelve Spirit Stones are not unaffordable for you!"
"Think about it, marrying a Ding Family girl means you won't have to serve as a servant. You'll recoup your cost in six years and also get a well-behaved, lovely little beauty who warms your bed. It's worth it!"
Shen Xuan said helplessly, "Alright, Shopkeeper Ding, stop talking, I agree."
"Recommend someone to me!"
After speaking, he counted twelve Spirit Stones from his Storage Pouch and handed them to Shopkeeper Ding, suppressing his heartache.
After receiving the Spirit Stones, Shopkeeper Ding's smile became even brighter: "Rest assured, we've known each other for over forty years, I won't treat you unfairly!"
For an ordinary Loose Cultivator, twelve Spirit Stones are no small amount.
It's the annual rent for a residence in the market's outskirts.
With his current circumstances and worth, Ding Family could only recommend non-cultivators to him.
Since Shen Xuan decided to take a wife, he wanted to find an ideal partner, not only gentle and kind but also young and beautiful.
At least, someone who could make him impulsive.
Shopkeeper Ding took out an album with over a hundred young and beautiful non-cultivator women from the Ding Family.
Shen Xuan flipped through each page.
Soon, he selected a charming little lady.
She was about 165 cm tall, with long legs, a full chest, wide hips, a slim waist, and skin whiter than snow.
"Good eye!"
Shopkeeper Ding gave a thumbs-up and said, "Her name is Ding Yuyao, her great-grandfather was a cultivator. Although she doesn't have a Spirit Root, she comes from a family of officials, knowledgeable and courteous."
"Can I meet her?"
"Of course you can, Fellow Daoist Shen, please wait a moment."
Shopkeeper Ding hurriedly left.
Half an hour later, he brought Ding Yuyao to Shen Xuan.
Shen Xuan looked her up and down; her figure and appearance were even better than the album.
"My name is Ding Yuyao, nice to meet you, Talisman Master Shen."
Her voice was very pleasant, ethereal and melodious, like the flow of a clear spring.
"If I were to take you as my wife, would you be willing?"
Her delicate cheeks blushed deeply.
A soft voice replied.
"I am willing."
Shen Xuan nodded.
"I will send the betrothal gift."
Shen Xuan gave Ding Yuyao enough respect; the betrothal gift was valued at six Spirit Stones.
Ten days later, Shen Xuan hosted a wedding banquet at his residence.
The guests were just some neighbors and locals.
Shopkeeper Ding, as the representative of the Ding Family, sent over Talisman Paper worth one Spirit Stone.
Deep in the night, embraced like mandarin ducks, the silk quilt turned into a wave of passion.
Shen Xuan rode the horse whip, indulging wantonly for a night.
Being sixty, what of it!
As a cultivator, he was still vibrant, filled with energy at the right time!
In the early hours.
After the tempestuous night, the weary Ding Yuyao fell into sweet dreams.
Shen Xuan, however, had no desire to sleep.
Before his eyes, appeared a Mysterious Jade Talisman, both real and illusory, with Dao Rhyme flowing, majestic and profound! Gradually, several lines of golden, ancient small characters emerged on the Mysterious Jade Talisman, shimmering with a faint glow.
[Talisman Master: Shen Xuan]
[Lifespan: 60/108]
[Cultivation Technique: Divine Hidden Sea Technique Skilled (199/200)]
[Realm: Qi Cultivation Third Layer: 99/100]
[Spirit Root: Water 8/100]
[Spirit Root: Wood 7/100]
[Spirit Root: Fire 6/100]
[Spirit Root: Gold 5/100]
[Spirit Root: Earth 5/100]
[Breath Concealment Talisman: Skilled (199/200)]
[Invisibility Talisman: Skilled (199/200)]
[Stealable Talent: None]
[Talent: None]
[Dao Rhymes: None]
[Cloud Rain Technique: Entry Level (24/100)]
[Water Shield Technique: Skilled (16/200)]
[Water Blade Technique: Skilled (18/200)]