CHAPTER 34: CHAPTER 34: EARTH-SHATTERING THUNDERBOLT

Shen Xuan accepted the fresh Water Cloud Turtle blood, placed it to the side, and went up to inspect Zhao Chunsheng’s injuries.

"It’s nothing, just superficial wounds. The Water Cloud Turtle isn’t poisonous, and I have thick skin, so I’ll recover in a few days."

"There are too many teams eyeing that Water Cloud Turtle. Our team only managed to grab some turtle meat and shared this blood with me. How many Spirit Stones could it be worth?"

Zhao Chunsheng asked expectantly.

This was the reward he risked his life to obtain.

Shen Xuan glanced at the Water Cloud Turtle blood.

He was also unsure about the market price.

"I’ll test the effect first, and then price it for you."

"Alright, whatever Talisman Master Shen says, I trust you."

To Zhao Chunsheng, Shen Xuan was a person of good character.

He never quibbled with him.

Shen Xuan shook his head and carried a small barrel of Water Cloud Turtle blood into the practice room.

Then, he poured out a small basin, about a quarter, placing it on the stone table.

His Divine Thought guided, and the Mysterious Jade Talisman emitted golden light that enveloped the Water Cloud Turtle blood in the basin.

Soon, the Water Cloud Turtle blood lost its color, turning into a puddle of yellow water.

[Talent: Longevity Mastery (2/100)]

[Dao Rhyme: 28]

The effect exceeded his expectations.

The Longevity talent, from entry-level 88 points, directly soared to mastery level 2 points, equating to half a month’s practice.

And on the Mysterious Jade Talisman.

[Lifespan: 67/132]

The Longevity talent advanced to mastery, increasing lifespan by eight years!

Not only that, Dao Rhyme increased by 28 points.

Truly worthy of a mature tier one upper-grade Water Cloud Turtle!

The remaining Water Cloud Turtle blood needs several days to plunder and absorb.

Shen Xuan meditated for a while.

When he came out again, Zhao Chunsheng’s complexion noticeably improved.

"Daoist Zhao, to be honest, the Water Cloud Turtle blood has significant effects on my cultivation technique. Eighty Spirit Stones, how’s that price?"

"Alright! Eighty Spirit Stones! It wasn’t in vain that I risked my life! Old Wu even joked about me, only wanting this Water Cloud Turtle blood and not the turtle meat!"

Upon hearing it could be sold for eighty Spirit Stones, Zhao Chunsheng visibly relaxed.

"Don’t go after such things in the future; it’s too dangerous."

Shen Xuan advised.

"Actually, in my cultivation, I don’t necessarily need this Demon Beast blood."

Zhao Chunsheng gratefully said, "Talisman Master Shen, you’re a good person! But in these times, good people are hard to survive! If I don’t go, what about my two children?"

"Should I let them follow my old path, living the life of a Demon Hunter, with death and uncertainty hanging over them day by day?"

"In the future, they should become Alchemists or Artifact Refiners. The fortune-teller said I have blessings in old age. The older I get, the more fortunate I’ll be!"

Jiang Xueqi was wiping her tears at the side, saying, "Oh, stop bragging. If something happens to you, what will I and the children do!"

"It won’t. I’m being careful! That chaotic fight, if it weren’t for someone attacking from behind, I wouldn’t have gotten injured at all."

Just as Shen Xuan predicted, the greatest threat in hunting a tier one upper-grade Water Cloud Turtle was the cultivators with ulterior motives.

There were only three teams actively hunting, but seven or eight teams were lurking nearby, watching intently.

Once the Water Cloud Turtle was trapped, everyone gathered to swarm and dissect its blood and flesh.

Zhao Chunsheng’s team had seven people, aside from him, there were two Late Stage Qi Cultivators, strong in combat.

The seven cooperated, snatched a Water Cloud Turtle leg, and retreated quickly.

Only ten or so breaths later, all seven of them were injured to varying degrees.

Zhao Chunsheng was one of the luckier ones.

A Middle Stage Qi Cultivation teammate had his arm broken.

"Thankfully, there’s Talisman Master Shen’s premium Rejuvenation Talisman, or his arm wouldn’t have been preserved!"

Zhao Chunsheng talked excitedly about the chaotic Demon Hunting.

"When we retreated, those people were still fighting over the turtle shell. A tier one upper-grade Water Cloud Turtle shell can easily sell for seven or eight hundred Spirit Stones!"

Shen Xuan asked in return, "What’s more important, life or Spirit Stones?"

"Life is important. But without Spirit Stones, life becomes unimportant."

Shen Xuan shook his head and stopped advising.

Respect others’ destinies.

Shen Xuan knowing he could fairly purchase Zhao Chunsheng’s Water Cloud Turtle blood was already a favor to him.

In the ensuing dozen days.

Shen Xuan refined all the Water Cloud Turtle blood.

[Talent: Longevity Mastery (24/100)]

[Dao Rhyme: 106]

Shen Xuan allocated all Dao Rhyme points to the Self-Healing talent, as it’s the talent he currently cannot practice.

[Talent: Self-Healing Mastery (42/400)]

"Therefore, I’m not urgently in need of this existing Demon Beast essence blood."

"What I need is new Demon Beast essence blood that can enhance my Spirit Root talent."

"Before finding a suitable new Demon Beast, I’ll focus on talisman making and saving Spirit Stones."

"You only regret having little money when you really need it. In the Cultivation World, many problems can be solved with Spirit Stones."

"If it can’t be solved, it’s because you don’t have enough Spirit Stones!"

After careful contemplation, Shen Xuan clarified his direction.

He told Zhao Chunsheng he wouldn’t need any Demon Beast essence blood for a short time.

"I’m out of money. I need to make talismans and save Spirit Stones!"

Zhao Chunsheng was quite regretful.

Having finally found a financial path, it was cut off again.

Two months went by quickly.

One day, Zhao Chunsheng returned hastily.

He brought bad news.

"The Ding Family’s Foundation Establishment Pill was squandered by the second young master Ding Yisi!"

Shen Xuan was shocked and quickly asked, "Daoist Zhao, what exactly happened?"

The stability of Cyan Dragon Bay concerns his life safety.

If something happens to the Ding Family, Cyan Dragon Bay would surely become chaotic.

Zhao Chunsheng sighed and said, "The news has spread in the market. Ding Yisi, the second young master of the Ding Family, dissatisfied with the family’s preference for the first young master Ding Yijin, stole the Foundation Establishment Pill and failed in forceful foundation establishment!"

Shen Xuan asked incredulously, "Wasn’t it said that during the last exploration, the Ding Family didn’t obtain the Foundation Establishment Pill?"

Zhao Chunsheng replied, "The Ding Family indeed had insufficient sect merits. They used the family savings to exchange sect merits with other Cultivation Clans, and only then obtained a Foundation Establishment Pill from the Cyan Cloud Sect."

"Can sect merits be exchanged for Spirit Stones?"

"Isn’t that obvious?"

Shen Xuan was speechless.

He had finally settled down, wholeheartedly cultivating, with a promising road ahead.

And then the Ding Family pulled such a move!

"The Ding Family has been established for thousands of years. How could something like this happen?" Shen Xuan said angrily.

Zhao Chunsheng said, "Talisman Master Shen, it’s a Foundation Establishment Pill! For the sake of a Foundation Establishment Pill, brothers turn against each other, fathers and sons fall out. Such things have always happened. What’s strange about it?"

"Moreover, Ding Yisi and Ding Yijin have the same father but different mothers, competing with each other. There’s almost no brotherhood!"

"Besides, the Ding Family’s patriarch is still present. With a Foundation Establishment Cultivator overseeing, the Ding Family won’t fall into chaos and can hold on for a while. But if the Ding Family’s patriarch also falls..."

Zhao Chunsheng didn’t continue.

Shen Xuan sighed lightly.

It seems he also needs to make some preparations.

It’s not easy for a Middle Stage Qi Cultivator to relocate and settle in another place.

He also has a mortal wife with him.

The journey is long.

The new place can also present bullying risks.

"Let’s hope the Ding Family can hold on."

Returned to the practice room.

Shen Xuan was restless and unable to calm down.

His heart felt heavy, seemingly weighted by a boulder, making it difficult to breathe.

The Ding Family was already weak.

Having finally exchanged for a Foundation Establishment Pill, only to squander it.

If something happens to the Ding Family’s patriarch.

The Ding Family would surely decline.

The Cyan Dragon Bay Market would surely fall into chaos.

At that time, how should he handle himself?

If he were alone, he could dive into the Spirit Pool and sneak through the Dark River to the bottom of Longze River for a safe escape.

But what about Ding Yuyao?

Faced with peril, abandoning his wife and escaping alone.

Shen Xuan couldn’t do it!