Immortality and Cultivation: I Have Too Many Talents

Chapter 26 Iron Bones Forged (Please continue reading)

A second-tier snake demon, equivalent to a Foundation Establishment cultivator in the human race, spews out poisonous mist that is difficult to remove with ordinary detoxification pills.

"I can suppress this bit of toxicity with my spiritual power and heal slowly. It'll be a good excuse to go home," Zhao Chunsheng chuckled.

Shen Xuan was speechless for a moment.

He never expected that Zhao Chunsheng, a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator, would be so stingy.

Although the toxicity is relatively mild, it can be suppressed with spiritual power and healed slowly.

However, over time, it will have some impact on one's foundation and will be detrimental to future cultivation.

However, judging from Zhao Chunsheng's appearance, he doesn't seem to have much enthusiasm for cultivation anymore.

His focus was on earning spirit stones and raising his two sons.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have been living in the lowest-class accommodations all this time.

After exchanging pleasantries for a while, Shen Xuan said a few polite words about taking good care of himself, gave him two exquisite [Rejuvenation Talismans], and then headed back home.

In the days that followed, Shen Xuan returned to his usual routine of cultivating, making talismans, and disciplining his beloved wife.

His storage bag gradually swelled up, and he now had more than a hundred spirit stones.

With his current talisman-making skills, if he focuses on making [Rejuvenation Talismans], he can earn seventy or eighty spirit stones a month.

After deducting the cost of the spirit-gathering array and daily necessities, one can save forty spirit stones per month.

"Let's find another water-type monster that can plunder talent!"

Shen Xuan opened the "Illustrated Compendium of Monsters of the Wilderness".

Although there were many monsters inside, very few met Shen Xuan's requirements.

Tier 1, medium grade, water attribute, large quantity, cheap.

Those that meet the requirements are mostly various kinds of spirit fish, demon shrimp, and demon crabs from the Longze River.

Water-attribute monsters on land are not only difficult to hunt, but also expensive.

After searching for a long time, Shen Xuan finally chose the ironback crab.

He used a concealment technique to change his appearance, put on a brown short-sleeved shirt, and went to the market alone.

"How much is this ironback crab?"

Shen Xuan stopped in front of a street vendor.

"Six spirit stones each!"

A single iron-backed crab weighs about two pounds, which is equivalent to three spirit stones per pound, making it quite expensive.

It's all shell, with at most three ounces of meat per pound.

"Can you make it cheaper? I really want to buy it!"

The vendor looked up and glanced at Shen Xuan.

How many do you want?

Shen Xuan thought for a moment.

"Four!"

These days, he has become increasingly familiar with the mysterious jade talisman.

The golden light emitted each time a talent is plundered can cover a limited number of demonic beasts.

Moreover, there will be a certain cooling-off period.

Four weighing eight jin each are roughly the upper limit of the golden light range of the mysterious jade talisman.

"Eleven spirit stones, that's the lowest I can go!"

"Okay. But you have to pick the one with the biggest head for me!"

Shen Xuan handed over the spirit stone.

The vendor skillfully tied four iron-backed crabs with a rope and handed them to Shen Xuan.

"Fellow Daoist, be careful. This kind of demonic crab is extremely powerful. Don't untie the magic ropes."

"Thank you, I'll keep an eye on it."

After leaving the market, Shen Xuan circled around a few times. Seeing that no one was following him, he changed his appearance in a secluded corner and quickly went home.

In the practice room.

As the golden light of the mysterious jade talisman swept past, all four bound ironback crabs fell silent.

[Plunderable Talents: Water Control, Iron Bones, Self-Healing]

Shen Xuan chose the [Iron Bones] talent.

[Talent: Iron Bones (16/100)]

【Daoyun: 12】

Shen Xuan was slightly disappointed.

I spent twenty spirit stones, and my talent progress is only 16 points.

Moreover, the Taoist rhyme only has 12 points.

"It seems that the quality of this Iron Bone talent is somewhat poor, and the Daoist charm is even worse."

However, his main goal is to improve his spiritual root aptitude; he can accept that his talent and Daoist charm are slightly inferior.

"In the future, if I have the chance, I still want to go to the immortal city near the East Sea. There are a lot of water-attribute demonic beasts there, they are cheap and have strong talents!"

Shen Xuan thought to himself.

Fortunately, he initially chose a water-attribute spiritual root. If it were a demon beast of another attribute, it would be much more difficult to obtain and the price would be several times higher. In the following days, Shen Xuan would change his form every ten days and go out to buy iron-backed crabs.

Three months later.

Shen Xuan successfully plundered the Ironback Crab's [Iron Bones] talent.

[Talent: Iron Bones (Beginner) (2/100)]

【Daoyun: 68】

[Spiritual Root: Water 18/100]

The Iron Bones talent tempers the entire body's bones, making them as hard as iron and granting immense strength.

Shen Xuan used the [Iron Bone Technique], and the spiritual energy in his body seeped into his bones, constantly tempering and strengthening their hardness.

"Not bad, at least the cultivation speed is fast!"

【Iron Bone Technique】Comparable to superior body-refining techniques, yet it does not require expensive medicinal soups, making it a practical talent.

Without hesitation, Shen Xuan added all the Daoist essence he had acquired to his [Self-Healing] talent.

[Talent: Proficient in Self-Healing (73/200)]

Shen Xuan planned to rest for a while and first advance his [Iron Bones] talent to mastery, so as to make his physical body even more solid.

Perhaps, one day in the future, I can even achieve physical sainthood!
Shen Xuan was still looking forward to the effects of the [Iron Bones] talent.

a few days later.

Zhao Chunsheng and Jiang Xueqi, a married couple, returned the visit.

"Has Fellow Daoist Zhao's poison not been completely eradicated yet?"

"How could it be that fast! That's a second-tier snake demon!"

Zhao Chunsheng didn't take it seriously.

"Only a small portion remains. In about a month, it will be completely removed."

Zhao Chunsheng came to inquire about Shen Xuan's next plans.

He was recuperating at home, with no income, and his savings were dwindling, causing him some anxiety.

"Naturally, I will still need to trouble Fellow Daoist Zhao to help me sell the [Rejuvenation Talisman] and purchase demonic beasts."

Shen Xuan reassured him.

Zhao Chunsheng can earn some spirit stones from both of these things.

Shen Xuan, however, was unwilling to show his face in public, fearing he would get into trouble.

In fact, with his current strength, he should be above Zhao Chunsheng.

“No problem. Master Shen is a man of great things; leave these trivial matters to me!”

Upon hearing this, Zhao Chunsheng patted his chest confidently.

At this time, the doorbell rang.

Shen Xuan found it somewhat strange.

He lived in Qinglongwan Market for fifty years, keeping to himself and rarely making friends with others.

open the door.

An old servant in blue robes stood at the door, his aura clearly indicating he was in the late stage of Qi Refining.

He stepped aside, and a young cultivator walked up behind him. He had sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, and an extraordinary demeanor, with the air of a refined and elegant young gentleman.

"Shen Xuan, this is Young Master Ding Yijin," the old servant in blue said politely, his face full of respect.

Shen Xuan was taken aback.

Behind him, Zhao Chunsheng's voice came through.

"The eldest son of the Ding family head, the seed of the Ding family's foundation building."

Shen Xuan was puzzled, but a smile naturally appeared on his face.

"Young Master Ding, it is an honor for me to have you here. Please come in!"

Ding Yijin smiled slightly.

“Master Shen, there’s no need to be so formal. Yuyao and I are of the same generation, so you can just call me Yijin.”

"Young Master Ding, you're too kind," Shen Xuan said respectfully.

He had been in Qinglongwan Market for so long, but apart from Zhao Chunsheng and his wife, he had no familiar fellow Daoists.

Moreover, he is the eldest son of the Ding family, a key talent cultivated for Foundation Establishment.

He wouldn't dare to presume upon such an opportunity.

With a slight scan of his divine sense, he knew that this person's cultivation level was also above his own.

He was only slightly inferior to Lü Zhengying.

It is very likely that he has reached the peak of Qi cultivation.

Alarm bells rang in Shen Xuan's mind.

Why would someone of such high status visit him without a reason?

For a moment, Shen Xuan's mind raced, trying to figure out where things had gone wrong.

Although Shen Xuan had been holding back some of his skills, he successively purchased the [Condensing Water to Transform Edge Technique], the Water Cloud Shield, and the Water-Dividing Emei Thorn.

If the Ding family were to pay attention, they would surely be able to realize that his talisman-making skills far surpass those of ordinary mid-grade talisman masters.

Are you here to investigate?
(End of this chapter)