After searching the market for a long time, Li An couldn't find anyone selling Body Refining Skills.
This left him somewhat disappointed, but it was quite normal, as Body Refining Skills are rare to begin with.
He then went to the Scripture Pavilion, and after spending fifteen Spirit Stones, he obtained the right to browse several bookshelves.
Every bookshelf in the Scripture Pavilion is sealed, with some holding core cultivation techniques that must be exchanged for with contribution points. Fortunately, Li An didn't require anything too advanced.
The bookshelf before him was filled entirely with Yellow Rank Low Grade cultivation techniques, all of which were worn and tattered from frequent reading.
After searching for a long time, Li An finally found a Body Refining Skill in a corner—a Copper Skin Skill.
Thanks to the few cultivators focusing on body refinement, this technique was slightly newer than the others. Li An spent a morning in the Scripture Pavilion before leaving.
——Li An didn't want to reveal his Iron Tree Skill, so he needed to find a common cultivation technique to cover it.
The Copper Skin Skill was a good choice.
Then, he went to the Artifact Refining Hall, registered at the entrance, and after waiting for a while, Wang Dazhu came out.
He was shirtless, wearing only a dusty leather apron, his body appearing even darker and more robust. Li An noticed that his vitality was much more abundant than most people.
Moreover, Wang Dazhu's cultivation level had surprisingly reached the Perfection of Qi Cultivation's fourth layer.
Such a cultivation pace isn't much weaker than Mu Qingwan's Yellow Rank Middle Grade Spirit Root, is it?
"Could it be, there's something special about his bloodline?"
Li An felt a chill in his heart, primarily because Wang Dazhu's current vitality sparked some conjectures in him.
Some cultivators have exotic blood flowing within them, but it's difficult to awaken it.
Could it be that by forging in the Artifact Refining Hall, Wang Dazhu inadvertently awakened a certain bloodline?
It's indeed possible.
"A physique different from ordinary people, along with a pure Dao Heart..."
Li An couldn't help but sigh, Wang Dazhu was indeed an example of "a simple person with simple fortune."
The Immortal Dao is difficult, and scheming is commonplace; those who tread far on this path are often accustomed to deceit and intrigue.
However, there are also a few individuals with a pure Dao Heart, who focus solely on cultivation. Such people progress faster instead.
Which is better or worse, it's actually hard to say.
"Brother An, you're here, I've prepared everything you wanted."
Wang Dazhu took out a storage bag from his apron, and in the blink of an eye, a large bag of iron sand appeared before Li An.
To think he's using a storage bag... as expected of a disciple of the Artifact Refining Hall.
Li An hasn't used one yet.
Mainly because a storage bag is a Spatial Spiritual Artifact of considerable value. At the exchange counter, even the lowest grade one costs forty Spirit Stones, which isn't particularly urgent for Li An at the moment.
"Alright, Dazhu, here are the Spirit Stones, take them."
Li An untied his bundle and took out thirty Spirit Stones, handing them to Wang Dazhu.
"Brother An, these are all scraps from the hall, unrecorded, sand I ground myself, no need to pay..."
Wang Dazhu laughed foolishly, but Li An insisted, "No, business is business, I can't let you suffer a loss."
He pushed the Spirit Stones into Wang Dazhu's hand, then carried the two hundred pounds of iron sand and left.
...
After leaving the Artifact Refining Hall, he went to the Medicine Hall.
Similarly, after registering, Zhao Xian's Story soon came out.
"Brother Li, the medicinal liquid you wanted, I had the master personally prepare it."
He handed Li An numerous bottles and jars.
Li An checked each one, then said, "Thank you, Brother Zhao!"
The medicinal liquid only cost him fifteen Spirit Stones.
"Oh, Brother Li,"
As he was leaving, Zhao Xian's Story suddenly added, "I've got some news, the Spirit Beast Mountain Range has reopened. Many are venturing there again, after being sealed for four to five years. Many Spirit Herbs have become quite abundant; do you want to give it a try? I'll buy the herbs you gather at a high price!"
Li An had known about this news half a month ago, but he just smiled and said, "It's too dangerous, I'll continue drawing talismans instead."
...
Back at his residence.
Li An poured the two hundred pounds of iron sand into the bath barrel!
This iron sand was meticulously ground from scraps of spiritual materials; each grain of sand couldn't be too sharp, or Li An's body wouldn't withstand it, nor too smooth, otherwise, it would be useless for body refining.
Six months ago, Li An had asked Wang Dazhu to help collect it, and only now had he gathered this much.
Each grain was carefully ground by Wang Dazhu, so Li An felt it worth spending thirty Spirit Stones to buy this iron sand.
Stripping completely, he only wrapped a cloth around certain particularly sensitive areas for simple protection, and then jumped into the wooden barrel!
The cold iron sand, with its rough edges, brushed against his skin, causing Li An to grit his teeth in pain. He quickly began circulating the Spiritual Qi according to the Iron Tree Skill.
He "swam" within the iron sand, allowing every inch of his skin to come into close contact with it!
The iron sand was quickly stained red with the blood that seeped out!
"The Life Seed has greatly enhanced my recovery ability, the speed of stopping bleeding and scabbing far surpasses that of ordinary people!"
Li An was pleasantly surprised because this meant his cultivation progress might be faster than he had imagined.
Two hours later.
Li An finally walked out of the iron sand, filled another large wooden barrel with hot water, and then poured in a bottle of blue medicinal liquid.
He entered this bath filled with medicinal liquid.
Streams of pain, like ants gnawing on his skin, made Li An hastily stop the Super Sensing Skill, otherwise this severe pain might make him faint from the agony!
...
In the blink of an eye, another year had passed.
In the past half year, the talisman brushes Li An bought from the Exchange Store, as well as those issued by the Talisman Hall last year, were all worn out.
On this day, it was time to turn in the talismans again. Li An lined up, taking out five Spirit Gathering Talismans and five Qi Refilling Talismans, which were the mandatory task numbers.
Then he produced six Flame Talismans.
"Hmm?"
Tan Qingxue was counting the talismans submitted this month, and she glanced at him in surprise.
This quantity meant that Li An had become an excellent Yellow Rank Low Grade Talisman Master.
However, Li An had been in the Talisman Hall for two years, so reaching this level was quite normal.
In the past two years, Tan Qingxue had also intentionally observed Li An, but he had performed so mediocrely that she had gradually stopped paying attention.
After all, with such fierce competition in the Talisman Hall, she didn't have the extra mind to focus on someone with average talent.
"Six pieces of Yellow Rank Low Grade excellent talismans, with an additional contribution of thirty points."
She quickly noted it down.
After she finished registering, Li An didn't leave but said, "Senior Sister Qingxue, I would like to... apply for the premium talisman brush and premium talisman paper."
To draw Yellow Rank Middle Grade talismans, one needed premium quality talisman brushes and talisman paper.
But buying them oneself was too expensive, costing about thirty to forty Spirit Stones!
Heartache!
Since he started cultivating the Iron Tree Skill, his expenses had always been high, and he truly couldn't afford it.
The main thing was, Li An couldn't expose his real talisman-making level, otherwise, with his current talisman stockpile, if he sold them all... he could instantly make a considerable fortune.
"You just reached the threshold for crafting Yellow Rank Low Grade excellent talismans, you're still far from Yellow Rank Middle Grade, it will take at least three years,"
Tan Qingxue said, "Applying now is too soon."
There are only seven Yellow Rank Middle Grade Talisman Masters in the Talisman Hall, and in her view, Li An aspiring to use premium talisman brushes now was indeed aiming too high.
"How about this, Senior Sister Tan, I can cover the difference for the premium talisman brush; what do you think?"
"The low-grade talisman brush I get annually is valued at about eight Spirit Stones, the cheapest premium talisman brush costs about thirty Spirit Stones, I need to cover twenty-two Spirit Stones..."
Li An took out a pile of Spirit Stones, counting them, among which there was a talisman brush; he carefully placed the talisman brush aside before handing the Spirit Stones to Tan Qingxue.
Tan Qingxue glanced at the talisman brush in Li An's hand, and a hint of astonishment appeared in her eyes.
This talisman brush, she was very familiar with... because it belonged to Xu Qiuhui!
So Xu Qiuhui's brush was sold to Li An, huh.
This Li An didn't use it till it was worn out but cherished it...
She suddenly said, "Forget it, for Xu's sake, I'll help you apply for a free one."
Li An was immediately surprised upon hearing this, was Tan Qingxue this generous??
After all, showing Xu Qiuhui's talisman brush was merely intended to make Tan Qingxue compromise a bit, he didn't really want to take advantage of the Talisman Hall.
Although he was puzzled in his heart, he still quickly said, "Thank you, Senior Sister Tan! Thank you!"
"Don't rush to thank me,"
Tan Qingxue had a sly glint in her eyes as she said, "I'm planning to go to the Spirit Beast Mountain Range in a few days, I've heard someone found Second Grade Spirit Herbs there... would you come with me?"
The Spirit Beast Mountain Range is quite dangerous, and disciples from the Talisman Hall seldom go out on missions; she lacked experience.
And the talisman brush in Li An's hand reminded her of Xu Qiuhui's past advice, Li An was a person of decent character, very shrewd… taking him along might prove useful?
Li An was suddenly stunned upon hearing this.
He thought to himself regretfully, Tan Qingxue wasn't easy to deal with either… it wasn't easy to take advantage of her.
He fell into a trap!
...