Chapter 117: Small Success in the Pure Yang Five Elements Technique, News

"Three hundred low-grade spirit stones? That’s acceptable!"

The price was reasonable. After all, the Seal Talisman was highly versatile; it not only encompassed all the effects of a suppression talisman but could also seal spells. The ability to seal spells was what he found most exciting, and it had the potential to become another one of his trump cards.

"Actually, when I first acquired this Star Seal Talisman technique, it cost me five hundred low-grade spirit stones. Unfortunately, my own talent for talisman crafting is limited. I only mastered the first-grade portion; as for the second-grade, only a second-grade talisman master could comprehend it, and the third-grade talisman is even more of a fantasy. Although the third-grade content in this Star Seal Talisman technique is incomplete, it is only missing a small core portion. If one's mastery of the art is profound enough, it is not impossible to complete it. You must know, a third-grade seal talisman can even suppress the power of a magic treasure. The legendary Talisman Treasures are said to be created by using seal talismans as a base to imprison the might of magic treasures."

As Wei Xingyuan spoke, he walked to the inner cabinet of the shop and retrieved a thick jade slip. It was protected by a restriction, but it was only a common one. He casually dispelled it while handing the slip to Zhou Changwang.

Zhou Changwang reached out to take it, saying, "Many thanks, Boss Wei." He then took out three hundred low-grade spirit stones.

"Don't mention it. I recommended this Star Seal Talisman technique to you because I see your extraordinary potential in talisman crafting. I wouldn't have been so willing to part with it for just anyone." Wei Xingyuan waved his hand and continued, "By the way, if you manage to craft some seal talismans in the future and wish to seal powerful spells, you can look for me. I know a cultivator who specializes in thunder arts, known as the Five-Thunder Wanderer. His 'Five-Thunder Blast' is astonishingly powerful. If you hire him to seal that spell, the value of your talisman will increase significantly. For instance, a standard finished seal talisman is a first-grade mid-tier item worth thirty low-grade spirit stones. But if it were sealed with the 'Five-Thunder Blast,' the price would soar to one hundred. That extra seventy spirit stones represents the value of the spell itself. Of course, hiring someone comes with a fee, and there is a risk of failure; usually, one success for every three attempts. This cultivator's rates are fair, and he guarantees success—twenty spirit stones per talisman. If all three attempts fail, he takes nothing, which is why many talisman masters are willing to seek his help."

"Thank you for the tip, Boss Wei. If I have a need, I will certainly look for him," Zhou Changwang said, bowing slightly.

If he had a need, he would indeed look for the Five-Thunder Wanderer. However, he was a thunder-art cultivator himself. His 'Five-Elements Thunder Transformation' was not the least bit inferior to the 'Five-Thunder Blast,' and since he had already brought it to the Great Perfection stage, its power was undoubtedly far greater. While others might need to pay to have spells sealed to earn more spirit stones, he had no such worry.

...

Back in his courtyard, Zhou Changwang immediately focused his mind on the *Star Seal Talisman Technique*. He discovered that it contained detailed information on seal talismans, categorized into three levels.

The first level detailed the crafting of first-grade seal talismans, including the rune structures, diagrams, and underlying principles, explained from the shallow to the profound. Zhou Changwang gained a great deal from this. After all, his previous success as a talisman master relied heavily on the three volumes of *Basic Talisman Scriptures*, which were quite superficial; he often knew how to draw the talismans but didn't understand the 'why.' Beyond his own hard work, the attribute panel's ability to ignore rules and force improvements had been his greatest asset. Now, with the records in the *Star Seal Talisman Technique*, he finally filled those gaps and gained a much more detailed understanding of drawing and crafting talismans.

The second level covered second-grade seal talismans, which were significantly more complex. Although Zhou Changwang did not yet fully grasp the meaning, he could see that the second level was a natural extension of the first. If he completely mastered the first level, he would surely learn the second quickly.

The third level, the third-grade seal talisman, had clear omissions in the actual drawing method. He guessed this jade slip was not an 'original,' but rather a compilation by a second-grade talisman master of what they had managed to learn. Since the author was only a second-grade master, they could draw the second-grade talismans but not the third. What was presented here was merely the structure and method the author had 'copied.' Naturally, one could not attain the true inheritance or successfully draw a third-grade seal talisman from such a copy.

Zhou Changwang felt a bit helpless, but he thought, "Perhaps, once I have mastered both the first and second-grade seal talismans to the Great Perfection stage, I might be able to use the interconnected nature of these talismans to decipher this 'copied' third-grade method and truly craft a third-grade seal talisman."

He knew the three levels were closely linked, a process of deepening knowledge. Mastering the first would make learning the second easier, and mastering the second would provide a unique insight into the third.

...

In the talisman room, Zhou Changwang began his first attempt at drawing a seal talisman. He took out a stack of common-grade talisman paper. Since he was a beginner at this specific talisman, using high-quality paper would be a waste. These papers, which cost about one low-grade spirit stone for fifty, were just right.

He picked up his talisman brush, dipped it in spirit blood ink, and channeled a bit of spiritual energy. The brush emitted a faint glow—a sign that his spiritual energy was circulating smoothly. It was also worth noting that because his spiritual energy was purer now, he felt a sense of ease, which slightly increased his chances of success.

He hovered the brush over the paper and began. One rune, two runes... his hands were rock steady. His powerful spiritual sense gave him a massive advantage in controlling his energy and tracing the lines. There was not a single error.

Just as the fourth rune structure was about to be completed, an uneven distribution of spiritual energy caused the brush to stutter. With that, the talisman failed. Zhou Changwang didn't mind; he tossed the paper aside and continued.

One, two, three... he failed repeatedly, but he kept drawing. The seal talisman was a first-grade mid-tier talisman, harder to draw than a Golden Light Shield talisman. Despite his improved strength and skills, every talisman required a gradual process of learning.

Fortunately, Zhou Changwang maintained a calm mind. Finally, on the thirteenth attempt, he successfully completed the final rune and closed the loop.

*Hum!*

The talisman flashed with spiritual light. It was a success.

He checked his attribute panel:
*Talisman Crafting: Proficient (19/200)*
*Seal Talisman: Beginner (1/100)*

Sure enough, he had mastered the entry-level of the Seal Talisman, and his overall proficiency in Talisman Crafting had also increased. He finally relaxed. Now, he just needed to keep drawing to raise its proficiency.

Curious, he wanted to test the talisman's effect. He tossed it forward and activated it with a flicker of spiritual energy. In his mind, he willed a Geng-Gold Finger spell, which instantly formed and struck the talisman.

*Puff!*

A deep pit appeared in the ground—ten feet deep, dark and bottomless. The seal talisman was instantly destroyed.

"This..." Zhou Changwang blinked. He realized he had used a Great Perfection level Geng-Gold Finger. How could a mere entry-level seal talisman hold that?

He resumed drawing. Having reached the entry level, he rarely failed now. After drawing ten more, he tried again, this time using a basic, entry-level Geng-Gold Finger.

*Hum, hum, hum...*

The talisman vibrated violently before settling down. The spell was successfully sealed.

"But the power..." He didn't hesitate to activate the talisman.

*Swish!*

A Geng-Gold Finger shot out, embedding itself three inches into the ground.

"Only ten percent of the power of a standard entry-level Geng-Gold Finger. As expected, although this seal talisman is miraculous, it follows the same theory as ordinary talismans: the power of the sealed spell is determined by the grade of the talisman itself."

He concluded that standard seal talismans could only contain one to three percent of a spell's power. Fine-grade talismans could reach thirty to sixty percent, and only finished, perfect-grade talismans could retain over seventy percent of the spell's original power.

He tested again with a Proficient-level Geng-Gold Finger, but it failed. It took until the fourth attempt to succeed, and again, it only contained ten percent of the power. As for the Small Success level, the talisman shattered immediately—it was beyond the limit.

He tested other spells like Fireball, Growth, and Ring-Year. He concluded that the talisman's grade defined the upper limit of the spell it could withstand. Attack spells were the hardest to seal; if the power exceeded the limit, it would fail. Auxiliary spells like Spirit Rain or Growth, which had less destructive energy, were easier to seal.

"In short, the grade determines the limit. A standard seal talisman can seal attack spells two levels above its own, and auxiliary spells three levels above."

...

Over the next few days, Zhou Changwang focused on three things: drawing talismans, practicing the Five-Elements Glazed Heart Lamp, and the Five-Elements Pure Yang Technique.

By the seventh day, he had reached the Proficient level in the Five-Elements Glazed Heart Lamp. The casting time dropped from eighteen breaths to thirteen, and the duration doubled from one incense stick to two. The refined spiritual energy now shimmered with an amber, glazed-like luster.

On the tenth day, his Five-Elements Pure Yang Technique reached Small Success, finally awakening the auto-circulation effect. It could now circulate slowly on its own, recovering and refining his spiritual energy even when he wasn't actively meditating. His cultivation speed had doubled, putting him on par with geniuses possessing dual-attribute spiritual roots.

Just as he was feeling exhilarated by his progress, Qian Xiaoyue arrived at his door, her expression grave.

"What's wrong? Is it... time?" Zhou Changwang asked, his heart sinking.

"Yes. I just received news from Sister Shen. A second-grade high-tier alchemist on Kou Tuo Peak has successfully refined the Nine-Turn Life-Returning Pill. There were five in total; one was given to Bai Yufeng, the genius disciple of the Bai family who was sent to the Qingyuan Sect. He is currently rushing toward the Fengmingwu Marketplace to deliver the pill to the Bai family's ancestor."

Qian Xiaoyue took a deep breath. "Sister Shen says that a Foundation Establishment cultivator takes fifteen days to travel from Kou Tuo Peak to the marketplace. She learned this five days ago, meaning he will arrive in ten days. The Chen family will certainly intercept him before then to stop the pill from reaching the ancestor. They will likely launch an attack and cause chaos in the process."

She looked at him solemnly. "Sister Shen told me to inform you: it is time to leave the marketplace. The departure is set for three days from now. We will meet at the entrance."

"Three days?" Zhou Changwang nodded firmly. "And what is our destination?"