章 22: Chapter 22: Breaking Through the Second Realm (Please Favorite)
Little Talisman Hall really was "small".
Upon entering the shop, one could see rows of wooden racks flashing with various colors of spirit light; apart from that, there was no other free space.
Protected by the spirit light of the wooden racks, various talismans with different colors and lines were displayed.
In the center was a counter with only one young man sitting behind it, who seemed indifferent as Fang Xing entered.
'The service industry in the Cultivation World really needs improvement... Maybe Green Pill Workshop was just an exception?'
Fang Xing mumbled to himself, then asked directly, "Spirit Testing Talisman... how much does it cost?"
"One spirit stone each."
The young man in the green robe replied without even looking up.
"Why so expensive? The outside stalls only charge eight spirit sands... If you haggle, you might even get it for six or seven," Fang Xing instinctively retorted.
"Hmph... Every single talisman in this hall is a masterpiece drawn by masters. How can it be compared to those inferior goods outside?"
The young man got spirited, gesticulating as he drew out a talisman, "Look at this paper, this ink... all top-quality. Can the outside ones compare? Can they? Take this Spirit Testing Talisman, for example, if someone buys a defective one, the result might ruin a young genius's life... Not to mention other attack or defense talismans that might fail at critical times and cost lives! The talismans from street stalls, who knows who drew them? Would you trust them?"
Though his attitude was poor, Fang Xing felt his points were valid and reluctantly paid for a 'Spirit Testing Talisman' with a piece of spirit stone.
After this, the earnings from selling the 'Vermilion Dragon Grass' were completely used up—not a penny would he carry back home; it was all left in the city market.
"Sigh, it really is 'earn in the market, spend in the market', not a penny to bring home!"
Fang Xing sighed as he walked away from Little Talisman Hall.
Fortunately, he had seen and learned enough for the day, feeling no regret as he strode away from the market.
After leaving the tent area, a yellow sparrow suddenly flew out of the basket on his back, monitoring everything around him.
Originally, Fang Xing was just being cautious.
But soon, he couldn't laugh anymore.
In the surveillance footage, a sneaky figure clearly appeared—it was following right behind him!
The figure looked stooped, with a smoking pipe tucked at his waist—it was the old vendor!
"It's just two spirit stones!"
"Where is the trust between people?"
Fang Xing scoffed and suddenly quickened his pace.
With the surveillance from the sky, shaking off his pursuer was not difficult.
Although the pursuer was just an ordinary Martial Artist, old and frail, he might still have a trick or two, or even a talisman!
'I'll settle the score with you later...'
Fang Xing dashed and turned sharply, disappearing without a trace.
Moments later, the old vendor arrived at his last known location, looking at the vanishing footprints on the ground with a hint of regret on his face...
Temporary Camp.
By now, this camp had been remodeled; all buildings on the ground had disappeared, leaving only a lawn.
Fang Xing arrived at a spot, lifted the lawn, and an entrance appeared.
Following the entrance downward, he reached a cave. The inside of the cave was ventilated, and a smart computer was at work, with nine screens continuously displaying images from the surrounding surveillance.
He checked the system log and, seeing nothing unusual beyond some wild beasts coming to drink water, he nodded in satisfaction.
Silently recollecting the day's observations, Fang Xing opened a document and started recording today's prices, the market's geography, and some insights...
In the end, he deeply marked the identity of the old vendor.
He remembered this grudge!
"Got one 'Spirit Testing Talisman', one bottle of 'Qi Blood Pill', can silently cultivate for a while, and breaking into the Second Realm should be no problem, hmph..."
Fang Xing put down the elixir, looking at the 'Spirit Testing Talisman' in his hand.
The talisman paper was in a bright yellow color, its runes sketched out and seemingly hidden with spirit light, with a faint fragrance of ink.
"Talismans in the Cultivation World are usable just by tearing them apart if they are low-rank ones, and even ordinary humans can use them..."
"But for a slightly higher level, such as a mid-grade, First Rank 'Golden Bell Shield Talisman'... apart from cultivators, only Innate Martial Artists can barely use them, needing Innate True Qi to activate..."
"Higher-grade talismans, apart from some special types intentionally made easier to use, mostly require cultivators' mana to activate, hence not usable by non-cultivators."
These were all common knowledge about using talismans which Fang Xing shamelessly gained as 'after-sales service' from the young man in the green robe!
After all, having bought a talisman, they had to tell me how to use it, right?
It was a bit embarrassing to be seen as a bumpkin, but Fang Xing never cared much about face.
"'Spirit Testing Talisman' is a relatively common talisman. Just tear it open to use... It is used to detect Spirit Roots. If there are Spirit Roots, the talisman will glow with color and intensity indicating the cultivation potential..."
"Many Martial Artists harshly follow the pioneering spirit not just to gather spirit sands and buy elixirs for breaking through their own Martial Arts Realms but also to place their hopes of cultivation on the next generation..."
"My body was created by the Blue Star Federation from the finest sperm and eggs, plus I have the great luck of transmigration, there must be Spirit Roots; the difference is only in the quality of the Spirit Roots... I must be able to cultivate! Otherwise, why would the Gate of All Heavens capture this world? I want to cultivate..."
Fang Xing silently encouraged himself.
Cultivators not only had numerous skills but also lived extremely long lives, which could be said to represent the foremost pathway of evolution.
Not to mention, flying through the skies with sword control and having everlasting life, how many people dreamed of this as children?
If one could cultivate, who would deign to tediously train in Martial Arts?
With a hint of expectation, he tore open the "Spirit Testing Talisman"!
A ray of light landed on his body and then dimmed.
One minute passed...
Two minutes passed...
Five minutes passed...
Nothing happened.
"Could this Spirit Testing Talisman be broken?"
Fang Xing scratched his head, "Sigh... although cultivation is appealing, becoming powerful takes too long. A single meditation retreat could require years or even decades of arduous practice, and it might even take a hundred years to advance one level in cultivation technique. How can this compare to the rapid progress of Martial Arts?"
"What kind of lousy Immortal Technique is this? It dares to disturb the heart of my Martial Arts? Get lost!!!"
After venting, Fang Xing's mood lifted: "Practice Martial Arts, practice Martial Arts! This mere Immortal Path... one day, it will be shattered by my Martial Arts!"
...
Several days later.
Fang Xing assumed the Great Dragon Stance, his consciousness silently concentrated on the attribute panel:
[Name: Fang Xing]
[Age: 16]
[Profession: Martial Artist]
[First Realm: Flesh and Skin (Refining Flesh: 99/100)]
[Military Boxing Twelve Styles: 33/100 (Skilled)]
[Great Dragon Stance: 3/200 (Master)]
[Gate of All Heavens (Charging)]
...
"Mastering the Great Dragon Stance has become increasingly difficult... Without outside help, it might take around a year to advance to the Fourth Stage and awaken the 'Dragon Intent Realm'!"
"My Martial Arts Realm, however, is progressing swiftly..."
With the help of a Master-level Great Dragon Stance and Qi Blood Pills, Fang Xing's progress in refining muscles was incredibly fast.
By this time, he was on the verge of a breakthrough!
He opened his eyes and swallowed a Qi Blood Pill in silence.
A warm current emerged, but the elixir, which normally greatly enhanced his vitality and skill proficiency, felt somewhat ineffective this time.
"It's the bottleneck between the First and Second Realm!"
A moment of enlightenment appeared in Fang Xing's mind, and he uncorked the bottle, continuously pouring handfuls of pills into his mouth.
Crackle!
His lower abdomen seemed ablaze, and he could hear his blood flow, sounding like a mighty river.
Suddenly, Fang Xing sensed his skin and muscles seemingly 'melting,' a powerful heat enveloping his sinews and bones, which finally began to undergo tempering and emitted a loud pop!
Above the attribute bar, the section representing his Martial Arts Realm blurred and then displayed new information:
[Second Realm: Sinews and Bones (Refining Muscle: 1/100)]
"I've broken through... to the Second Realm of Martial Arts!"
Fang Xing clenched his fists, feeling the powerful strength emanating from his sinews and bones, his lips slightly curled upwards.
"A Second Realm Martial Artist can learn B-level, or even A-level Martial Skills. The cultivation techniques and skills of this world are too rough compared to the advanced systems developed from battles within the Federation Martial Arts... Once I master an A-level Martial Skill, I feel like I could stand toe-to-toe with Innate Martial Artists even at the Second Realm without external help!"
"It's just a shame that I'm currently on vacation..."
Since he was on vacation and without a mentor's guidance, Fang Xing didn't know whether refining flesh was similar to refining skin, with different tiers such as leather, copper, and jade.
Nor could he directly learn A-level Martial Skills like those of the Ghost God Saber.
"If I chose cultivation, could I really receive training from a system like the Federation's in this world?"
Not to mention, Martial Arts ultimately allowed one to pilot Mechas, possessing astonishing destructive power that could even obliterate stars, something beyond the imagination of ordinary cultivators.
"The Qi Blood Pills are nearly exhausted due to breaking through the bottleneck. Next, I'll need to adapt properly to the new Realm before making another trip to the city..."
Fang Xing looked at his body.
His previously slender frame had become much more muscular, and taking off his shirt, he could see ripped muscles defined.
Not only that, he seemed to have grown taller as well.
"Wearing clothes, I look thin; without clothes, I show off muscles... If I had this body in my previous life, perhaps women would have chased after me!"
Fang Xing touched his toned muscles, feeling somewhat emotional.
Unfortunately, the days of his past life were forever gone.
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