Rustle rustle rustle
A gentle breeze swept through the rice fields, stirring waves of motion that lapped against Li Ye's body. The wind carried a mingled scent of blood and fresh grain so thick it nearly drowned him.
To the average person, such a jarring contrast of scents might be overwhelming, even enough to knock them unconscious. But for him, this was just another part of daily life.
He took a deep breath, his expression calm and content.
[You tended to Tier-One spirit crops Blood Grain Rice with refined technique, promoting its healthy growth. EXP +0.1…]
[...]
As the final notification faded from the system panel, it marked the full completion of his efforts over the four acres of Blood Grain Rice, with each field offering its respective feedback.
In these turbulent and rapidly changing times, any opportunity to improve his strength could become a crucial means of survival every bit was precious.
"With this, I should be able to upgrade both my talisman crafting and gu techniques..."
Li Ye muttered to himself, sighing inwardly.
He no longer lacked high-quality Wood Essence Pills. Just a few days before the New Year, he had already pushed his cultivation to Qi Refining Level Six by sheer brute force essentially pill-popping his way up.
His original plan had been to funnel all the EXP from this and future harvests into the alchemical arts, raising it as high as possible in preparation for refining the Foundation Establishment Pill, vital for his eventual breakthrough.
But with the current situation, further improving alchemy wouldn't help him advance his realm anytime soon.
What he needed now was power and battle strength. That was the more practical choice.
With that thought in mind, and seeing the spirit fields were deserted, he decisively opened up his panel.
[Name: Li Ye]
[Spiritual Root: Low-Grade Earth-Wood Dual Root]
[Remaining Lifespan: 72 Years (3 Years Lifespan Lost Due to Qi Overdraft)]
[Skills:]
Planting Tier-One (Superior): 627/3000
Alchemy Tier-One (Intermediate): 195/5000
Artifact Crafting: Not Yet Initiated: 12/2000
Talisman Tier-One (Intermediate): 342/3000
Gu Technique: Not Yet Initiated: 263/1800
[Herbal Essence:]
Emerald Bud Essence ×146
Blood Grain Rice Essence ×72
Sunfire Essence ×7
[Herbal Essence Trait:]
Vitality Level 1
[Experience: 5732]
Reality had proven that, as long as he was willing to invest the resources, the panel's support made it entirely possible for him to steadily raise his alchemy proficiency through personal effort alone.
It just wasn't fast enough to keep up with his immediate needs.
With a single thought, he poured EXP into both the Talisman and Gu Technique skills. A tidal wave of spiritual light surged from the depths of his soul, flooding his consciousness and converting into skill mastery.
"Now I should be able to use the Sunfire Essence for higher-tier talismans..."
Li Ye sorted through the newly acquired techniques in his mind, his tone tinged with excitement.
If it worked, the next talisman he crafted using the Sunfire Essence would far outstrip that risky but successful Sunfire Fireball Talisman from before!
As for other battle techniques, he could now supplement them with Gu insects.
Thanks to the wealth he'd accumulated from selling pills, he had naturally begun studying that incomplete Gu Technique inheritance. Though the progress was modest, he had still managed to collect a fair amount of the necessary materials.
Now, he could start crafting new Gu insects and even attempt to finish refining those incomplete ones left behind by Xiong Yinxiu!
[Talisman Tier-One (Superior): 0/4000]
[Gu Technique Tier-One (Beginner): 0/2500]
Seeing the new EXP requirements after the skill upgrades, Li Ye couldn't help but feel a little regretful.
"Only a little over a thousand EXP left not enough to raise the Gu Technique to another level. Otherwise, I could prepare even more thoroughly…"
"Sigh, no point being greedy. Better to take it one step at a time."
Just as he had told Elder Ji, even though the sect had resumed normal operations and disciples were free to come and go, Li Ye had no intention of leaving.
Apart from tending the spiritual fields on the back mountain each day, he spent most of his time secluded in the underground meditation chamber.
There, he had begun the initial feeding and cultivation of various Gu insects those needing to be reforged or fully refined.
Once the insects absorbed enough materials and conditions were met often by stimulating them to devour one another through secret techniques he would complete their refinement.
As for the rest of his free time, aside from daily cultivation, he poured all his focus into drawing talismans.
In just two days, he had already replenished his entire stock of talismans. He had even started attempting the high-end ones that could only be crafted with Tier-One Superior-level skills like protective charms and Fire Serpent Talismans.
For example, he now had several protective talismans rare ones that could automatically activate upon being attacked tucked beneath his robe.
After drawing so many talismans, his hand had regained its best feel, and it was time to begin a new round of experiments using Blazing Sun Essence.
"The original idea was risky, but it was fundamentally sound…"
"Blazing Sun Essence is pure, searing yang energy its essence is nearly at the Tier-Two level!"
"Though it leans slightly gentle due to its plant-nature aspect when used for offense, it's perfect for me…"
"Since I have full control over all plant-type essences, blending them with my mana during talisman crafting goes almost unhindered allowing me to massively enhance the power of talismans that match its attributes!"
"Hmm… but that also means the talisman paper needs to be of a much higher grade."
Reflecting on his previous attempt at crafting the Sunfire Fireball Talisman, Li Ye felt a pang of pain.
During his first try, he had used ordinary talisman paper. Halfway through the process, the paper couldn't handle the power of the Blazing Sun Essence and was completely ruined.
Unlike his previous failures, which simply wasted mana and materials, this time the energy bursting from the talisman paper had exploded outright nearly blowing up the entire talisman workshop!
If Li Ye hadn't trained his body to a strong degree, he probably would've been gravely injured by the blast.
That was one major downside to using Blazing Sun Essence in talisman crafting.
But it had also revealed its terrifying potential.
After gritting his teeth and spending a fortune on special talisman paper made from enchanted beast hide, he managed to successfully craft two of them.
He tested one of them.
With a single activation, a blazing orange-red fireball slammed into a rocky cliff and blasted out a massive crater. The rocks inside had been melted into slag, and intense spiritual flames continued to burn furiously.
Its power surpassed even the strongest Tier-One talismans!
Li Ye estimated that if a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator got hit by that without at least a mid-grade defensive artifact they'd be lucky to survive!
If a simple fireball talisman could be pushed to this level... what kind of devastation could a Fire Serpent Talisman unleash?
With that thought, Li Ye steadied his breath, summoned a stream of Blazing Sun Essence into his body, wrapped it with mana, and began channeling it into his talisman brush. Carefully, he began to draw on the beast-hide talisman paper.
He was extremely cautious and focused to the utmost.
Even though the Blazing Sun Essence burned his mana and seared his meridians, his expression didn't flinch. His entire mind was immersed in the task.
After all, if the Fire Serpent Talisman's intricate mana nodes failed mid-process, the resulting blast would be far deadlier than the fireball one. It could truly blow him half to death!
Fortunately, his prior experiences paid off.
Even when the first wave of Blazing Sun Essence ran out and he had to replenish a second, he didn't make a single mistake.
The drawing was completed in one smooth motion!
He set the brush down, stepped back a few paces, and looked at the talisman lying on the table faint waves of scorching heat radiated from its surface. A grin slowly spread across his face.
This subtle yet oppressive aura…
There was no doubt!
This Fire Serpent Talisman had reached Tier Two!
Holding it in his hand and admiring it, Li Ye couldn't help but sigh with amazement,
"Sunfire Serpent Talisman… After over a year of farming, I've finally grown myself a true lifesaving trump card!"
"I just wonder which unlucky fool will be the first to run headfirst into it!"
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