The days that followed proceeded step by step.
Cultivation, talisman making, and acquiring the talent of Silver Jade Fish.
After recharging his energy, he sparred with his young wife, Ding Yuyao, trying various forms of exercise.
Every time he went out to buy Silver Jade Fish, Shen Xuan would use the Concealing Breath Technique to change his appearance.
At the market, he did not covet cheap deals, and tried to trade with different fish vendors.
Just like with the Breath Concealment Talisman, after acquiring the invisibility talent from the Silver Jade Fish, his skill in making Invisibility Talismans steadily improved.
"What, is Fellow Daoist Shen researching the Invisibility Talisman again?"
While exchanging talisman paper and cinnabar for Shen Xuan, Ding Shopkeeper joked.
In his view, Shen Xuan had already mastered the Breath Concealment Talisman technique, and there was no need to explore the same-grade Invisibility Talisman further.
"Having more skills doesn't burden you. Besides, using both the Breath Concealment Talisman and Invisibility Talisman together is more effective in hunting outdoors."
"That's right! Fellow Daoist Shen is truly considerate!"
Shen Xuan would sell one hundred sixty Invisibility Talismans each month, storing the extras for later.
Once every ten days, he would go out, changing his identity to buy Silver Jade Fish, and secretly sell ordinary Invisibility Talismans.
Half a year later.
Inside the practice room.
The Mysterious Jade Talisman emitted a golden light, covering six or seven Silver Jade Fish on the table.
Soon, all six or seven Silver Jade Fish turned belly-up, turning into a pile of dead flesh, with no Spiritual Qi remaining.
Shen Xuan focused his mind.
The ancient golden characters on the Mysterious Jade Talisman changed again.
[Talent: Invisibility Entry Level (2/100)]
[Dao Rhyme: 82]
[Invisibility Talisman: Minor Success (12/800)]
Similar to when he previously acquired the Concealing Breath talent.
A rush of understanding emerged in Shen Xuan's heart.
He transformed into a nameless Silver Fish, changing his form in the vast sea, merging with the seawater, completely transparent.
The seawater's color constantly changed, and he changed along with it, maintaining his transparency throughout.
If not observed up close, its existence would be undetectable.
Opening his eyes, Shen Xuan felt a surge of joy.
[Spirit Root: Water 10/100]
A fit of inspiration followed.
Shen Xuan instantly understood; this was the sensing of a breakthrough opportunity!
He quickly took out two Spirit Stones, crushed them, and held them in his hands.
In the practice room, strands of Spiritual Qi emanated from his palms, forming a faint mist, misty and ethereal, like an Immortal Realm.
At this moment, Shen Xuan sat cross-legged, with hands forming seals, five hearts facing heavenward.
His eyes were slightly closed, Divine Sense connected, surrounded by waves of Spiritual Qi.
This breakthrough, whether successful or not, would determine his future path!
Success would mean stepping into the Middle Stage of Qi Cultivation, shedding the identity of the lowest cultivator; failure would mean...
Failure would mean a lifetime stuck in the Early Stage of Qi Cultivation, forever struggling at the bottom of the Cultivation Realm!
Shen Xuan carefully guarded his mind, guiding his Spiritual Power through all his meridians.
The Divine Hidden Sea Technique suddenly mobilized a massive surge of Spiritual Power, originating from the Dantian, rotating through the Five Elements, majestic and surging like the vast sea.
Finally, the time came to a critical point.
Boom!
Like thunder, yet silent.
The shackles were broken.
All of his limbs, bones, and muscles seemed to be cheering with uncontainable energy.
Shen Xuan slowly opened his eyes.
At this moment.
His aura surged dramatically.
Having broken through to the Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer, his Spiritual Power increased by thirty percent!
He could feel the Spiritual Power inside his body, as boundless as a vast sea, circulating through his organs continuously, endlessly, and inexhaustibly.
The body seemed to have undergone a qualitative transformation, with Dantian, organs, meridians, bones, muscles, and nerves all being strengthened.
Carefully sensing his own transformation, Shen Xuan felt a sense of joy to the point of tears.
"Forty years of cultivation, passing sixty, finally stepping into the Middle Stage of Qi Cultivation!"
The Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer was the threshold for the Middle Stage of Qi Cultivation.
He was already sixty-one years old!
After enduring hardship for more than forty years, he finally saw a glimmer of hope!
Shen Xuan slightly stabilized his internal Spiritual Power.
Getting up, he left the practice room and went to the inner residence.
Ding Yuyao was cultivating the Jade Maiden Scripture, wearing only tight clothing, her graceful figure making soft moves, inviting endless thoughts.
Seventeen years old, nourished by abundant Spirit Rice and Demon Beast Meat, she seemed to develop once more, her snowy skin showed a faint redness, her figure alluring and gentle, with a captivating lightness and grace.
Shen Xuan walked straight over.
"Husband, I haven't finished practicing yet!"
"Let me teach you!"
The next morning.
The excitement within Shen Xuan gradually subsided.
He glanced at his young wife sleeping soundly.
Ding Yuyao slept peacefully, with a slight smile at the corner of her mouth.
Inside the Mysterious Jade Talisman.
[Lifespan: 61/112]
[Cultivation Technique: Divine Hidden Sea Technique Mastery (2/400)]
[Realm: Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer: 1/100]
The Divine Hidden Sea Technique had broken through to the mastery stage.
With the increase in realm, his lifespan increased by four years.
Generally speaking, a cultivator's lifespan is closely linked to their cultivation realm.
A typical cultivator, in the Qi Cultivation Stage, has a lifespan of one hundred and twenty years, in the Foundation Establishment Stage, two hundred and forty years, and in the Core Formation Stage, a lifespan of five hundred years.
Of course, lifespans can't be generalized considering the differing cultivation techniques.
Overall, there will be some variance, but the discrepancy won't be too large.
Even within the Qi Cultivation Stage, there are those who live to a hundred and fifty.
However, they are very few.
"It seems I'm still a person of longevity!" Shen Xuan thought to himself.
Judging by the lifespan shown on the Mysterious Jade Talisman, if he continues to cultivate to perfection in the Qi Cultivation Stage, he will definitely surpass one hundred thirty years.
After breaking through to the Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer, his talisman making skills could rise further, naturally becoming a Middle Grade Talisman Master.
The ability to earn Spirit Stones increased substantially.
Even better than a Demon Hunter at the Late Stage of Qi Cultivation!
"Stay steady, don't get reckless!" Shen Xuan reminded himself.
He rose quietly.
He returned to the practice room.
Continuing cultivation to stabilize his aura.
He stayed at home for over ten days, consolidating his middle-stage realm of Qi Cultivation.
[Talent: Concealing Breath Mastery (28/400)]
After more than half a year of cultivation, his Concealing Breath Technique had reached mastery.
Shen Xuan used the Concealing Breath Technique to disguise his aura as the Qi Cultivation Third Layer.
Among cultivators, Divine Sense and aura are usually used to determine each other's cultivation realm.
With Shen Xuan's mastery of the Concealing Breath Technique, ordinary Qi Cultivation Stage cultivators couldn't see through his disguise.
As for Foundation Establishment cultivators.
In the entire Cyan Dragon Bay Market, there were only a few Foundation Establishment cultivators, not more than five in total.
Moreover, they all resided in the core area with dense Spiritual Qi in Cyan Dragon Bay, living in seclusion.
After making preparations, Shen Xuan went out again, bringing the Invisibility Talismans he had crafted to the Ding Family shop.
"Fellow Daoist Shen is here!" Ding Shopkeeper greeted with a smile.
Every ten days, Shen Xuan would visit the Ding Family shop to sell talismans, exchanging for talisman-making materials and a small amount of Spirit Stones, making it a routine.
As Shen Xuan's talisman making skill improved, Ding Shopkeeper's attitude toward him grew increasingly sincere.
Shen Xuan took out sixty Invisibility Talismans from his storage pouch, ten of which were premium quality.
"Exchange them all for Spirit Stones."
"Ah! Fellow Daoist Shen, you're not exchanging for Invisibility Talisman materials?"
"Taking a break for now."
"Alright."
Ding Shopkeeper handed over fourteen Spirit Stones.
"What would you like to buy?"
A shopkeeper couldn't bear to see customers take Spirit Stones home.
"Do you have any Explosive Spirit Pills?"