MTLNOVEL Chapter 21
Li An scoured the trading market for a long time but found no one selling Body Refining Techniques.
He wasn’t surprised, though—such techniques were rare.
He visited the Scripture Pavilion, spending 15 spirit stones for access to a few racks.
Each rack was sealed. Some held core techniques, requiring contribution points to exchange. Luckily, Li An didn’t need anything fancy.
The rack before him was filled with tattered Low Grade Yellow Tier Techniques, heavily worn from use.
After searching, he found a Body Refining Technique in a corner—Copper Skin Technique.
Since few cultivated their bodies, it was less worn than others. Li An studied it all morning before leaving.
He needed the Copper Skin Technique to mask his Iron Tree Technique.
Next, he went to the Tool Forging Hall. After registering and waiting, Wang Dazhu came out.
Shirtless, wearing a dusty leather apron, Wang Dazhu looked darker and sturdier. Li An noticed his vitality was stronger than most.
His cultivation was at the peak of the Fourth Layer of Qi Refining.
That speed rivaled Mu Qingwan’s Mid Grade Yellow Tier Spirit Root!
“Could his bloodline be special?” Li An wondered. Wang Dazhu’s robust vitality sparked some guesses.
Some cultivators had unique bloodlines, hard to awaken.
Could blacksmithing in the Tool Forging Hall have triggered something in Wang Dazhu?
It wasn’t impossible.
“His physique stands out, plus a pure heart for the Dao…” Li An mused. Wang Dazhu was a case of “fools have their luck.”
The immortal path was tough, full of scheming. Those who went far often mastered deceit.
But a rare few, with pure hearts focused solely on cultivation, progressed faster.
Which was better?
It was hard to say.
“Brother An, you’re here! I got everything you asked for.” Wang Dazhu pulled a storage bag from his apron, producing a large sack of iron sand.
Using a storage bag… Tool Forging Hall disciples had it good.
Li An still didn’t own one. Storage bags, being spatial tools, were pricey. Even the cheapest at the exchange hall cost 40 spirit stones, and he didn’t need one urgently.
“Thanks, Dazhu. Here’s the spirit stones.” Li An opened his pack, handing over 30 stones.
“Brother An, these are scraps from the hall, not on the books. I ground them myself. No need for payment…” Wang Dazhu grinned.
“No, fair’s fair. Can’t let you lose out.” Li An stuffed the stones into his hands and hoisted the 200-pound sack of iron sand.
…
Leaving the Tool Forging Hall, he visited the Medicine Hall.
After registering, Zhao Xianchuan soon appeared.
“Brother Li, I had my master mix the medicinal liquids you wanted.” He handed over several bottles and jars.
Li An checked them, then said, “Thanks, Brother Zhao!”
The liquids cost 15 spirit stones.
“By the way, Brother Li,” Zhao Xianchuan added before parting, “I heard the Spirit Beast Mountain Range reopened. People are heading there. After four or five years of lockdown, the herbs are thriving. Want to try? I’ll buy any herbs you get at a high price!”
Li An had heard this half a month ago. He smiled. “Too risky. I’ll stick to drawing talismans.”
…
Back at his residence, Li An poured the 200 pounds of iron sand into a tub.
The sand, ground from spiritual material scraps, was neither too sharp to harm his body nor too smooth to be useless for training.
He’d asked Wang Dazhu to prepare it six months ago, and it took this long to gather.
Each grain was carefully crafted, so Li An spent 30 stones without hesitation.
He stripped, wrapping cloth around sensitive areas for protection, then jumped into the tub!
The cold, rough sand scraped his skin, making him grit his teeth. He quickly ran the Iron Tree Technique, channeling spiritual qi.
He “swam” in the sand, letting every inch of skin make contact.
Soon, blood tinted the sand red!
“The Life Seed makes my recovery strong. I stop bleeding and heal faster than most!” Li An was thrilled. His training might progress quicker than expected.
Two hours later, he climbed out and filled another tub with hot water, adding a bottle of blue medicinal liquid.
He soaked, feeling an ant-like sting on his skin. He stopped the Super Sense Technique—otherwise, the pain would knock him out!
…
A year passed in a blink.
Both his exchange hall brush and last year’s Talisman Hall brush were worn out.
It was time to submit talismans. Li An lined up, presenting five Spirit Gathering Talismans and five Qi Recovery Talismans to meet the quota.
Then he pulled out six Flame Talismans.
“Hm?” Tan Qingxue, checking the month’s submissions, glanced at him, surprised.
This number meant Li An was a skilled Low Grade First Rank Talisman Maater.
But after two years in the Talisman Hall, this was expected.
She’d watched Li An, but his average performance made her lose interest. With the hall’s fierce competition, she had no time for someone so ordinary.
“Six Low Grade First Rank High Grade Talismans, 30 extra contribution points,” she noted quickly.
After she finished, Li An didn’t leave. “Sister Qingxue, I’d like to request a High Grade talisman brush and papers.”
Making Mid Grade First Rank Talismans required High Grade brushes and papers.
Buying them himself would cost 30–40 stones!
Too painful!
Since starting the Iron Tree Technique, his expenses were high. He couldn’t afford it.
His true talisman stock, if sold, could make him rich quick, but he couldn’t reveal that.
“You just reached the threshold for Low Grade First Rank Talismans. You’re far from Mid Grade—three years at least,” Tan Qingxue said. “Requesting now is premature.”
Only seven Mid Grade First Rank Talisman Master were in the hall. To her, Li An aiming for High Grade brushes was overambitious.
“How about this, Sister Qingxue? I’ll cover the cost difference,” Li An offered. “The yearly low-grade brush is worth about eight stones. The cheapest High Grade brush is around 30. I’ll pay 22 stones…”
He pulled out a pile of stones, counting them, with his old brush mixed in. He carefully set it aside before handing over the stones.
Tan Qingxue glanced at the brush, surprised. She knew it—Xu Qiuhui’s!
So Xu Qiuhui sold it to Li An.
He hadn’t worn it out, treasuring it instead…
“Fine, for Sister Xu’s sake, I’ll get you one for free,” she said.
Li An was stunned. Tan Qingxue was that generous??
He’d shown Xu Qiuhui’s brush just to soften her, not to mooch off the hall.
Though puzzled, he quickly said, “Thank you, Sister Qingxue! Thank you!”
“Don’t rush to thank me.” A sly glint flashed in her eyes. “In a few days, I’m heading to the Spirit Beast Mountain Range. Rumor is, someone found a Second Grade Spiritual Herb there… Come with me?”
The range was dangerous, and Talisman Hall disciples rarely took missions. She lacked experience.
Li An’s brush reminded her of Xu Qiuhui’s praise—his good character and sharp instincts. He might be useful.
Li An froze.
He sighed inwardly. Tan Qingxue wasn’t one to offer freebies.
He’d fallen into her trap!
…
(Chapter End)