Chapter 24: Gambler
【Talisman Room Lv2】
【Effect: Increases success rate of first-grade talismans by 40%, second-grade talismans by 20%, third-grade talismans by 5%, and automatically grants the ability to draw “Appearance Alteration Talisman”.】
【Upgrade Requirements: 20 Medium-Grade Spirit Stones, 10 Jin of Mica Crystal Clusters, 1 Red Marrow Thunder Jade, and successful completion of a set of Five Elements Talismans (Not yet achieved).】
Ji Yuan stared at the text that popped up on the Panel, blinking his eyes.
He even thought for a moment that he had read it wrong.
As for the latter materials like the mica crystal clusters and red marrow thunder jade, Ji Yuan had never heard of them, nor did he recognize them. But he did know about the spirit stones listed at the beginning—twenty pieces... Medium-Grade!
Converted into low-grade spirit stones, that would be at least two thousand!
Just from that one glance, Ji Yuan knew that before he advanced to the Foundation Establishment stage, there was no point in even thinking about upgrading the 【Talisman Room】.
It made sense, after all.
First-grade talismans were meant for those in the Qi Refining stage, while second-grade talismans were generally used in the early Foundation Establishment stage.
And now, the Level 2 Talisman Room could already boost the success rate of second-grade talismans by 20%.
So needing to reach the Foundation Establishment stage before upgrading the Talisman Room to Level 2 was only natural.
“Phew——”
“No matter, even this Level 1 Talisman Room is enough for me to dominate the Qi Refining stage.”
Looking at the 20% success rate boost, Ji Yuan once again entered a state of hard cultivation.
Ever since learning that the Activation Rune did not require a talisman brush, Ji Yuan’s success rate in drawing the Tranquility Talisman had increased significantly.
From the very start, he could now consistently succeed two out of three times.
However, he only made two before applying one to himself to calm his mind, choosing not to waste any more.
The reason was simple—this Tranquility Talisman… wasn’t profitable.
Before he even started working on them, Ji Yuan had already set his sights on the most lucrative first-grade talisman in Zengtou Market—the Water Repelling Talisman!
Every fisherman going out to sea needed one of these.
After all, anyone entering the water had to use a Water Repelling Talisman.
Even those who knew the Water Repelling Technique rarely used it, since every bit of spiritual energy was extremely precious underwater.
The price of a Water Repelling Talisman wasn’t cheap either; each one could sell for two spirit stones.
So, in the following days, aside from making trips to Zengtou Market to buy talisman paper, Ji Yuan didn’t go anywhere else. He devoted himself entirely to crafting talismans.
Whenever his spiritual energy was depleted, he would eat spiritual eggs to recover.
Luckily, he had more than enough spiritual eggs.
Eating seven or eight a day was more than sufficient for his consumption.
Not only that, but in less than two days, the second spiritual pig he was raising matured. With no other choice, Ji Yuan took on the additional “burden” of eating spiritual pig meat alongside the eggs.
Although the spiritual energy contained in spiritual pig meat was minimal, it was still better than nothing.
Ji Yuan stewed some, roasted some, and kept them in his room.
Whenever he felt exhausted from drawing talismans, he would grab some to eat. When the heat in his body became unbearable, he would stop and continue drawing talismans.
Repeating this cycle over and over, he finally produced his first Water Repelling Talisman.
Inside the Level 1 【Talisman Room】, as long as he succeeded once, the success rate of subsequent attempts would automatically increase by 20%, making it much easier to succeed again.
As sheet after sheet of green hemp talisman paper disappeared, one Water Repelling Talisman after another appeared.
Ji Yuan finally saw the light of victory… no, the light of breaking even!
Previously, just purchasing the talisman brush and ink had cost him nearly thirty spirit stones. To break even, he needed to sell at least twenty Water Repelling Talismans.
Fortunately, during his last trip to Zengtou Market, Ji Yuan had bought another hundred sheets of green hemp talisman paper.
Even if his personal success rate was close to zero, relying solely on the success rate boost from the 【Talisman Room】 was enough for him to recover his investment.
In the blink of an eye, another three days passed.
During these three days, not even the promotion of a semi-spiritual fish to a spiritual fish could distract Ji Yuan.
It wasn’t until he finished drawing the last sheet of talisman paper that he looked at the stack inside his storage pouch—thirty-two Water Repelling Talismans in total. Finally, he leaned back and collapsed onto the floor.
There was no other reason—he was simply too exhausted.
For days on end, all he did was cultivate, eat, and draw talismans without end.
Even when resting, it was only for brief naps before quickly getting up again.
Truly… the immortal cultivation lifestyle.
However, his efforts over the past few days were not without reward.
The biggest gain was, of course, that thick stack of spirit stones—no, talismans—in his storage pouch.
Additionally, Ji Yuan’s fine control over spiritual energy had greatly improved.
Drawing talismans required channeling spiritual power into the talisman brush and releasing it through the fine tip.
Without delicate control over spiritual energy, this was impossible.
In other words, if he were to engage in combat again—
Whether it was casting techniques or manipulating magical tools, Ji Yuan could now perform with much greater precision.
Next came physical strengthening.
After several days of eating meat, even though he had only consumed half of a spiritual pig, Ji Yuan felt that his physique had become significantly stronger.
The most noticeable change was that his skin had become much tougher.
Although he still couldn’t withstand the Water Drop Finger technique—such a monstrous ability—ordinary Water Ball Techniques no longer posed much harm to him.
The feeling of becoming stronger was always wonderful, and in this pleasant state, Ji Yuan gradually drifted off to sleep.
When he woke up again, it was already the next morning.
Feeling refreshed, Ji Yuan tidied himself up, collected today’s seven spiritual eggs, and slaughtered that spiritual fish.
After preparing everything, he was just about to head out to Zengtou Market when he suddenly heard the neighbors, the Lin family, arguing.
Having stayed at home for five or six days, Ji Yuan had no idea what had happened.
But with just a wall separating the two households, and with Lin Hu and Wu Qin arguing loudly in the courtyard, even if Ji Yuan didn’t want to listen, he could still hear everything clearly.
It turned out that Deng Yunliang had been going to Zengtou Market every night to visit the gambling house. Somehow, he had even dragged Lin Hu along.
On their first visit, Lin Hu actually won some money, and once he tasted the thrill of winning, he got hooked.
After all, gambling made money much faster than fishing—and with less effort.
However, in the past few days, Lin Hu had been losing every day.
Seeing that he was about to lose all his belongings, he still claimed that he could make a comeback.
Wu Qin, unable to bear it any longer, started arguing with him.
This was someone else’s family matter, and Ji Yuan didn’t want to get involved.
But just as he opened the door, he saw a middle-aged man sitting at the entrance of the neighboring courtyard, sighing heavily.
As soon as Deng Yunliang saw Ji Yuan, he stood up excitedly, forcing a smile.
“Ji… Ji Daoist Friend, are you heading out?”
“Mm.”
Ji Yuan responded coldly with a nod.
Deng Yunliang seemed oblivious to his attitude, rubbing his hands together.
“There’s something… I’d like to discuss with you, if you don’t mind?”
“Whatever it is, talk to me when I get back.”
Knowing that Deng Yunliang was a gambling addict, Ji Yuan had no interest in having any further dealings with him.
Gambling addicts weren’t worthy of sympathy, no matter where they were.
“It’s just… could you lend me some spirit stones? Just three will do. I need to pay this month’s Immortal Residence Fee. I’ll repay you by next month—five spirit stones! What do you say? Five!”
Deng Yunliang held up five fingers.
“I don’t have any.”
Ji Yuan leaped onto his white boat.
Seeing this, Deng Yunliang tried to follow.
Ji Yuan suddenly turned around, releasing his mid-stage Qi Refining aura.
Deng Yunliang turned pale with fright, staggering back several steps before finally stopping.
“S-Sorry for bothering you.”
Deng Yunliang finally came to his senses, cupping his hands toward Ji Yuan and exhaling deeply.
Ji Yuan ignored him and steered the boat toward Zengtou Market.
He wasn’t worried. If Deng Yunliang had any sense, that would be best.
If not… the Yunyu Marshlands were known for devouring people.