In the following days, Shen Xuan seemed to have forgotten about the matter of marriage.
When selling talismans at the shop and purchasing talisman-making materials, Shopkeeper Ding reminded him several times, but Shen Xuan remained oblivious.
"This Shen Xuan, he truly doesn't want to get married!"
Shopkeeper Ding sighed with regret.
He was aware of Shen Xuan's improvement in the Water Control Talisman technique.
At this rate, it wouldn't take long for him to reach a thirty percent talisman success rate and become a Middle Grade Talisman Master.
This was indeed a Middle Grade Talisman Master.
Slowly honing his skills, with just the Water Control Talisman technique, he could earn three hundred Spirit Stones a year.
In any Foundation Establishment cultivation clan, he could secure a tributor position.
If Shen Xuan weren't a bit old, he would consider marrying his granddaughter with an Inferior Spirit Root to him.
"The clan elders are too slow! If they had acted when he first broke through to the Middle Stage of Qi Cultivation, they might have accepted a Ding Family female cultivator with an Inferior Spirit Root."
"Now, Shen Xuan is on the path to becoming a Middle Grade Talisman Master, and his ambitions have grown."
Shopkeeper Ding believed that Shen Xuan's polite refusal of his proposition was holding out for a better partner.
For a Middle Grade Talisman Master, just past sixty, it's not much of an issue.
As long as he can steadily earn Spirit Stones, finding a young female cultivator with an Inferior Spirit Root is effortless.
"Luckily, his talismans are sold in my shop, and he purchases materials from my shop, always contributing to the Ding Family."
Faced with this, Shen Xuan was also at a loss.
His schedule was packed; he didn't want to waste time and energy to earn a few extra Spirit Stones.
As his trading with Zhao Chunsheng increased, they gradually became familiar and built some trust.
Having heard that Zhao Chunsheng liked to drink Spirit Wine, Shen Xuan specially bought a jug of Pear Blossom Intoxication.
A jug of Tier One Inferior Spirit Wine, costing two Spirit Stones.
Zhao Chunsheng delivered the Cyan Feather Fish again.
After paying the Spirit Stones, Shen Xuan invited him to stay for a meal at his home.
Zhao Chunsheng gladly agreed.
Shen Xuan accompanied Zhao Chunsheng in drinking, using tea instead of wine.
A jug of Spirit Wine, not long after, found its way into Zhao Chunsheng's stomach.
Feeling slightly intoxicated, he began chatting with Shen Xuan.
As it turned out, after Zhao Chunsheng broke through to the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer, he laid the paths for his two sons.
He was lucky; both of his sons had Spirit Roots, and they were Middle Grade Spirit Roots at that.
The eldest son has a talent for alchemy and is studying under a Pill Master of Upper Grade.
The second son has a fondness for artifact refining and is apprenticing at an Upper Grade Artifact Master's shop.
Each son requires a large sum of tuition annually.
It's still a long way from completing their training!
All these years, they relied on him and his wife to hunt Demon Beasts to sustain themselves.
Considering his wife and children, he dared not venture into dangerous places, and thus his hunting income was average.
Life was financially tight.
Therefore, after his breakthrough, he didn't move but continued living on the outskirts of the market.
Shen Xuan's speculation was confirmed.
Zhao Chunsheng was indeed in need of Spirit Stones.
The reason being the tuition for his two sons.
This stirred emotion in Shen Xuan.
Pity the hearts of parents worldwide!
Moreover, it reinforced his determination not to have children for the time being.
The cultivation realm is fraught with plots and dangers and surviving is difficult.
With his current cultivation realm at the Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer, he was like walking on thin ice, still not standing firm.
Why bring forth offspring to harm both oneself and others?
...
A year later.
In the practice room.
As the Mysterious Jade Talisman withdrew its golden light, Shen Xuan slowly opened his eyes.
[Talent: Water Control Introduction (2/100)]
[Water Control Talisman: Skilled (24/200)]
[Dao Rhyme: 268]
His mind seemed to have been completely cleansed by clear water.
In an instant.
He sensed the Water Spiritual Qi in the practice room more distinctly.
The affinity had noticeably enhanced.
With a slight movement of his Divine Thought.
An immediate roaring explosion in his brain!
In that moment, he seemed to be amidst an endless ocean.
His body, like a massive Cyan Feather Fish, swam freely in the vast sea, swift as lightning.
He could easily control the movement of every drop of seawater.
As if he only needed a slight movement of Divine Thought to control the power of water flows, commanding rivers and seas, overturning rivers and seas.
Time seemed frozen.
In an instant.
Or perhaps for eternity.
Shen Xuan's consciousness was in a realm of Dao Rhyme, transforming into a Cyan Feather Fish several feet long, appearing and disappearing in the Grand River, swiftly commanding the water.
The resistance of the water flow was negligible to him.
Sensations surged continuously in Shen Xuan's heart.
Is this the Water Control Talent of the Azure Feather Fish?
Truly, a natural water control expert!
Shen Xuan was overjoyed.
The Cyan Dragon Bay Market is established by the Longze River.
The Longze River flows into the East Sea, stretching over thousands of miles, enriching the land and sustaining billions of lives.
There are countless spiritual fishes, demon beasts, spirit plants, and spiritual ores in the river.
It is extremely difficult to obtain spiritual objects from the water.
The Human Race is ultimately not as adept with water techniques as aquatic demon beasts, and the pressure of deep water makes it hard for human cultivators to make progress.
Shen Xuan knew that, as a human, this divine power of water control was far from being as adept as the Azure Feather Fish.
However, he was already very satisfied.
His affinity with water spiritual energy had greatly increased, making it easier to practice water techniques.
With a mere thought, he could control the power of nearby water currents for his use.
"No wonder they are the fastest spiritual fish in the Longze River. Even at the entry-level, they can greatly enhance their strength in the water. Once cultivated to a deep level, in places with abundant water spiritual energy, it would be like adding wings to a tiger, and spiritual power would be as endless as the sea, causing a dramatic increase in strength several times over."
"This is the Water Control Talent!"
Just at the entry-level, one could gain such abilities. What would it be like after upgrading to proficient and mastery levels?
Could one really control the great oceans and rivers, overturning rivers and seas?
Shen Xuan focused his gaze on the mysterious talisman.
[Spirit Root: Water 12/100]
Increased by two points!
As common sense goes, after breaking through the lower-grade spirit root, the more you improve, the more difficult it becomes.
The Azure Feather Fish's Water Control Talent gave him a one-time increase of two points in spirit root talent!
He only needs to replicate it four times to raise his water spirit root to 20 points, advancing to a middle-grade spirit root!
A middle-grade spirit root is the qualification to strive for Foundation Establishment!
Shen Xuan felt a surge of excitement in his heart.
"Calm! Stay calm!"
Shen Xuan got up and paced back and forth ten times in the practice room, gradually calming down.
"Right, there's also the Dao Rhyme!"
He sat back down cross-legged.
Shen Xuan's Divine Thought pointed to the line of golden, ancient, simple characters of the Water Control Talent.
"Add Points!"
The Dao Rhyme Points slowly decreased.
Along with it, the proficiency of the Water Control Talent increased.
Shen Xuan bravely used up all 268 Dao Rhyme Points in one go.
[Talent: Water Control Proficient (82/200)]
At the entry-level, one Dao Rhyme Point could increase one point of proficiency.
At the proficient level, the Dao Rhyme consumed doubles.
Shen Xuan slowly opened his eyes, with many insights on water control filling his mind.
This time, he seemed to transform into the Azure Feather Fish, living and hunting in the grand river for hundreds of years, accumulating many water control techniques.
Not only that.
[Water Control Talisman: Mastery (12/400)]
The Water Control Talent directly elevated the [Water Control Talisman] skill to the mastery stage!
In the previous two months, he had already crossed the threshold and advanced to a middle-grade Talisman Master.
Now, with the rapid improvement of the [Water Control Talisman] skill, his ability to earn Spirit Stones increased significantly!
[Cloud Rain Technique: Proficient (28/200)]
[Water Shield Technique: Mastery (16/400)]
[Water Blade Technique: Mastery (12/400)]
These are the three water attribute techniques he knows.
[Cloud Rain Technique] is a basic technique for Spirit Plant Cultivators.
It was the first technique Shen Xuan learned after arriving at the Cyan Dragon Bay Market.
When he heard that most Spirit Plant Cultivators lived in difficult conditions, he gave up.
The Spirit Plant Cultivator who taught him was busy from dawn to dusk. After deducting land rent, the harvested Spirit Rice was only enough to pay rent and make ends meet.
There was no energy or time left for cultivation.
[Water Shield Technique] and [Water Blade Technique] are used for magical combat. Originally at the proficient stage, they surprisingly also advanced to the mastery stage automatically.
"So, the Water Control Talent can enhance the proficiency of all water techniques!"
Shen Xuan could hardly suppress his joy.
Tonight, with so many gains, it's only right to celebrate!
He got up and stepped into the bedroom.
Ding Yuyao was drowsily sleeping.
Suddenly, she was bound by a tremendous force.
Then, there was a great shaking of the earth and the heavens!
Afterwards.
Ding Yuyao asked in confusion, "Husband, what's wrong?"
"Nothing! Just a bit of fiery temper recently."
"Husband, you're so bad!"
"Is this called bad? The little enchantresses at the Celestial Fragrance Pavilion, now that's what you call bad!"
"You're not allowed to go!"
Shen Xuan had a mischievous smile on his face.
"Then it depends on Yuyao's performance!"
"Alright! Let your husband witness my true strength!"
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