After the transaction, Shopkeeper Ding warmly invited Shen Xuan and his wife to the lounge for a sit-down, personally brewing Spirit Tea for them.
"Yuyao, I told you, Shen the Talisman Master is indeed a fine son-in-law! Look, he can already make exquisite Talismans, the good days are yet to come!"
"Thank you, Grandpa Qingtai."
After finishing the Spirit Tea, Shen Xuan spent a Spirit Stone to purchase a substandard Jade Hairpin Spiritual Artifact.
The Water Phoenix Hairpin can gather weak water Spiritual Qi, enhancing cultivation.
When attacked at close range, it can automatically trigger a layer of Water Shield with a weak protective effect.
For this, Shen Xuan also got Shopkeeper Ding to give him a book on Superior Inner Power Heart Method.
"Jade Maiden Scripture," this is a secular Daoist Sect female inner power technique, focusing on gentle and tranquil movements, both internal and external cultivation, harmonizing blood and Qi, with a unique effect on women's body care and health.
Ding Yuyao is merely a mortal woman, yet Shen Xuan is willing to spend Spirit Stones to buy artifacts and inner power techniques for her.
Shopkeeper Ding observed and nodded secretly.
This match was not a mistake.
A Talisman Master capable of making exquisite Talismans has a promising future!
However, he's just a bit older, sixty years old!
Otherwise, even in a Foundation Establishment cultivation clan, he would be a key cultivation subject.
Shen Xuan didn't think much about it.
After exchanging pleasantries, he left the Ding Family shop with his young wife.
Only five Spirit Stones remained in the Storage Pouch.
He went to the rice shop and meat shop, spending two Spirit Stones to buy twenty pounds of Spirit Rice, sixty pounds of refined rice, and ten pounds of Barbarian Beef.
On the way back, the vendor indeed saved the Profound Water Turtle for him.
This Profound Water Turtle is also a juvenile but somewhat larger.
Shen Xuan haggled and finally paid two Spirit Stones and five Spirit Pearls to acquire it.
The savings in the Storage Pouch were depleted, leaving only five Spirit Pearls.
Yet Shen Xuan was full of confidence.
That evening.
Ding Yuyao prepared a sumptuous dinner.
"My husband has worked hard! Eat more and replenish your body."
Ding Yuyao said with a charming smile.
Over the past ten days, under Shen Xuan's guidance, she finally experienced the joy of intimacy.
With several sessions per day, she was particularly lively after being nurtured.
She worried about her husband's ability to handle it, affecting his cultivation.
After all, her husband is a sixty-year-old elder.
"Okay. You should also eat some Spirit Rice and Barbarian Beef. I'll teach you to cultivate inner power refinement."
After dinner, Shen Xuan took out the "Jade Maiden Scripture."
"Yuyao, this is a female Daoist cultivation technique, beneficial for health and wellbeing. If you break through to innate, it can also extend longevity."
Ding Yuyao accepted the "Jade Maiden Scripture," feeling somewhat sad.
She has no Spirit Root and cannot cultivate.
A mortal body, living in the Market with Spiritual Qi nurture, ages slower than in the mundane world.
After forty, she would start to age, and perhaps by then her husband won't be as fond of her.
Fortunately, her husband has poor talent, making breakthroughs hopeless in this lifetime.
Perhaps they can still walk hand in hand, grow old together, and spend their lives mutually dependent.
After eating, Shen Xuan went to the Practice Room.
This time, he adeptly stole the talent of Concealing Breath from the Profound Water Turtle.
On the Mysterious Jade Talisman, ancient golden characters once again shone brightly.
[Talent: Concealing Breath (8/100)]
[Dao Rhyme: 3]
[Breath Concealment Talisman: Mastery (42/400)]
The Concealing Breath talent stole 5 points, Dao Rhyme increased by 2 points, and the proficiency of [Breath Concealment Talisman] enhanced by 10 points.
Shen Xuan was overjoyed.
This is much faster than cultivating alone.
If the stolen talent reaches 100, what kind of gains will there be?
Shen Xuan was full of motivation.
He changed his daily schedule.
Cultivation, talisman making, sleeping, eating, lastly, double exercises.
No choice.
Young wife Ding Yuyao evidently couldn't handle his high-frequency exercise.
"Beauty is but bones wrapped in skin; form is empty, and emptiness is form!"
"Can't indulge in female beauty, cultivation and character building are the true paths to longevity!"
Shen Xuan secretly reminded himself.
In the next ten days, all 120 sets of [Breath Concealment Talisman] materials were used up.
With increasing proficiency, using premium materials, the success rate of making Talismans steadily improved, and the high-quality rate was also rising.
A fifty percent success rate, a twenty-five percent high-quality rate.
With ten Spirit Stones in cost, 60 Talismans were made, with 15 of them being high-quality.
Shen Xuan roughly calculated.
Not counting pen depreciation, in ten days he could earn five Spirit Stones!
Fifteen per month, one hundred and eighty per year!
Shen Xuan was startled!
This income was something he could not previously conceive of!
However, Shen Xuan quickly calmed down.
Absolutely cannot be careless!
Safety first!
This is merely gross income.
To continue cultivation requires continuous resource investment.
That juvenile Profound Water Turtle is no small expense.
Shen Xuan repeatedly reminded himself, living cautiously is the real path.
Since introducing Qi into the body, it's been over forty years.
Over sixty years old, he doesn't have a single Magical Artifact!
Nestled in Cyan Dragon Bay Market, he never went out and never fought with cultivators.
Even conscripted labor was replaced with Spirit Stones, let alone Secret Realm adventures or outdoor demon hunting.
"In terms of combat, probably no one is more useless than me." Shen Xuan pondered secretly.
He sold the Talismans he made to the Ding Family shop, exchanging them for Talisman materials and Spirit Stones.
Then purchased a juvenile Profound Water Turtle from a vendor, stealing its Concealing Breath talent.
After deducting food expenses, about eight Spirit Stones could be saved monthly for emergencies.
Time passed like white horses running past a gap.
Soon, half a year had passed.
Every ten days, Shen Xuan sold Talismans once and bought one juvenile Profound Water Turtle to steal its Concealing Breath talent.
On this day, in the Mysterious Jade Talisman.
[Talent: Concealing Breath (98/100)]
[Dao Rhyme: 36]
[Breath Concealment Talisman: Mastery (396/400)]
The proficiency of making [Breath Concealment Talisman] was constantly increasing, with success rates and high-quality rates steadily improving.
Now, using 120 sets of premium materials could successfully create seventy [Breath Concealment Talismans], twenty of which are high-quality.
Shen Xuan exercised great caution.
Each sale of [Breath Concealment Talismans] kept it at sixty pieces, with ten high-quality ones.
Stored the rest.
Earning eighteen Spirit Stones per month.
Originally, he could purchase more juvenile Profound Water Turtles.
To not arouse suspicion, he kept the buying pace to ten days apart.
Even so, the neighbors outside gave him a nice-sounding nickname.
Turtle Talisman Master!
To this, Shen Xuan smiled slightly, indifferent.
This day is a special one.
Shen Xuan became exceptionally excited.
For this, he specially took his young wife to engage in an intense game of friendly competition in broad daylight.
After a blissful sleep, woke up, bathed, dressed, burned incense, and cleaned his hands.
He vaguely felt that this talent theft was of great significance.
His Spirit Root talent limited his cultivation upper limits.
Not just cultivation realm, but also talisman making skill.
Now, half a year has gone by; his level is very close to a middle-grade Talisman Master.
These are all thanks to the Mysterious Jade Talisman's effect!
His wealth has also accumulated sixty Spirit Stones.
Plus sixty high-quality [Breath Concealment Talismans],
In the past, such earning speed was simply unimaginable!
In cultivation, alchemy, array, artifact, talisman, each successful practice brings rapid Spirit Stone earnings.
"Unfortunately, my cultivation realm still cannot be improved!"
These six months, Shen Xuan insisted on daily cultivation of the [Divine Hidden Sea Technique] for two hours but still did not feel any breakthrough chance.
The Mysterious Jade Talisman shows it clearly.
[Cultivation Technique: Divine Hidden Sea Technique Mastery (200/200)]
[Realm: Qi Cultivation Third Layer: 100/100]