Shen Xuan felt a surge of wild joy in his heart, overwhelmed with excitement.
Sixty years!
He had waited a full sixty years, finally receiving the essential Golden Finger of a transmigrator!
But what's the use of this Mysterious Jade Talisman?
He gazed at the small golden characters on the Mysterious Jade Talisman, feeling a wave of confusion.
Originally, he had resigned himself to fate, spent more than half of forty years of savings, married a mortal woman from the Ding Family as his wife, and placed his hopes on nurturing offspring.
Yet, at the age of sixty, after marrying a young wife, the Mysterious Jade Talisman was suddenly activated.
How could he be content to live an ordinary life now!
He couldn't forget his youthful dreams.
Roaming the world, watching the winds and clouds, and affirming the Dao of longevity.
Seeing the values of Cultivation Technique, Realm, and Talisman Art, Shen Xuan confirmed his inner suspicions.
The lifespan is average, and the Spirit Root had long been known.
On the Profound Origin Continent, normal cultivators have all Five Elements.
A sensitivity above 10 points is considered a low-grade Spirit Root.
Shen Xuan's best Water Spirit Root only has 8 points of Spiritual Energy Sensitivity, a solid inferior Spirit Root.
It's not that he didn't work hard, but his Spirit Root Talent limited his potential!
Keeping him from breaking through!
With the appearance of the Mysterious Jade Talisman, there must be a way to break the impasse.
Shen Xuan glanced at the sleeping Ding Yuyao.
Could it be because of her?
Without hesitating, Shen Xuan continued.
Half an hour later.
Exhausted, Shen Xuan focused his eyes on the Mysterious Jade Talisman before him.
Golden ancient small characters appeared slowly without any change.
At this moment.
Shen Xuan felt a sense of loss.
Upon reflection, it made sense.
Ding Yuyao was merely a mortal woman without a Spirit Root.
The appearance of the Mysterious Jade Talisman was very likely because the timing was right.
Maybe age, maybe Cultivation Realm, maybe...
That's not important.
What's important is how he could make good use of this Mysterious Jade Talisman to continue cultivating!
Shen Xuan's gaze lingered on the "Stealable Talent" section, a trace of hope flickering through.
Shen Xuan gently moved Ding Yuyao's arm aside, tiptoeing out of bed.
She was exhausted from last night's exertion, let her sleep a little longer.
As soon as Shen Xuan stepped out of the bedroom, Ding Yuyao's charming eyes opened, filled with shyness and a hint of pride.
Her husband was not only a cultivator but also a Talisman Master!
Furthermore, he was robust, lively as a dragon, completely unlike an ordinary sixty-year-old from the Mortal World.
Yesterday, they were active for a full hour!
Leaving her whole body sore!
...
In the morning, the market became lively.
The vendors each shouted to sell their wares at the stall.
"Fellow Daoist Shen, newlyweds, and up so early!"
"A pear tree crushing a peach tree, Fellow Daoist Shen, you really know how to enjoy!"
"I always said Fellow Daoist Shen is a blessed man! Good luck today, got a Profound Water Turtle, selling it to you cheap!"
The vendors were familiar neighbors joking with Shen Xuan.
One of them was selling a low-grade demon beast, the Profound Water Turtle, that he acquired.
For some reason, Shen Xuan glanced at the Profound Water Turtle, feeling a stir in his heart.
This Profound Water Turtle was only the size of a bowl, a juvenile.
Seeing Shen Xuan pause, the vendor loudly said, "Three Spirit Stones, half selling, half gifting, as my wedding present to you."
"Too small, it's only a juvenile, two Spirit Stones at most!" Shen Xuan replied unhappily.
"Hey, this is an authentic Tier One low-grade demon beast! Once grown, it can sell for at least twenty Spirit Stones!"
A neighboring vendor laughed.
"Who doesn't know that the Profound Water Turtle has a long lifespan, taking at least forty years to grow from a juvenile to an adult! By then, would Fellow Daoist Shen even need it?"
"Hey, don't mess up my business! How about this, Fellow Daoist Shen, two Spirit Stones and nine Spirit Pearls!"
Spirit Pearls are a smaller unit in the Cultivation Realm, with ten Spirit Pearls equal to one Spirit Stone.
"Just two Spirit Stones! If you won't sell, forget it."
Shen Xuan pretended to leave.
"Hey, Fellow Daoist Shen, don't go!"
"Fine, I'll sell it to you, for good fortune!"
After buying the Profound Water Turtle, Shen Xuan went to the meat shop in the market, spending a Spirit Pearl to chop a pound of low-grade demon beast Barbarian Beef.
Being short on money, he didn't even buy Spirit Rice and hurried home.
At home, there were still ten pounds of Spirit Rice, enough to last a month.
Ding Yuyao got up, trying to endure her pain, limping around in the kitchen.
"One tael of Spirit Rice, three taels of fine rice, cut half a tael of Barbarian Beef, cook them together for porridge."
Shen Xuan instructed, then went into the practice room.
He opened the Beast Bag containing the Profound Water Turtle and placed it on the table.
A juvenile Profound Water Turtle, about the size of a bowl, poked its tiny head out.
Emitting a faint demonic aura.
Shen Xuan focused his mind, and the Mysterious Jade Talisman appeared before him.
His Divine Thought flickered.
Spiritual Power poured into the Jade Talisman.
Swish!
A golden light enveloped the young Profound Water Turtle.
The next moment.
The young Profound Water Turtle's head drooped down, its blood-colored shine quickly fading away.
Soon it dried up, turning deep brown.
The demonic aura vanished as well.
The Mysterious Jade Talisman shone with dazzling golden light.
The ancient golden small characters changed.
[Stealable Talent: Water Control, Concealing Breath, Longevity.]
[Talent: None]
[Dao Rhyme: 1]
Useful!
Shen Xuan's eyes gleamed with excitement.
Who would have thought that the commonly seen Tier One low-grade Spirit Beast Profound Water Turtle could offer three talents for him to steal.
Water Control is suitable for magical combat, Longevity is good for health, but what he needs most right now is Spirit Stones.
Shen Xuan pondered repeatedly in his heart, finally deciding on Concealing Breath.
[Talent: Concealing Breath (3/100)]
At the same time.
Shen Xuan felt a surge of inspiration about the Concealing Breath Technique.
"Is this the Concealing Breath talent of the Profound Water Turtle?"
"Pity, it's only a juvenile, providing too few talent resources."
Shen Xuan examined his circumstances.
Soon, he made a discovery.
[Breath Concealment Talisman: Mastery (1/400)]
[Breath Concealment Talisman] skill advanced!
At that moment, Shen Xuan felt a warm liquid welling up in his eyes.
It wasn't easy!
Forty years of talisman making, today finally advancing the [Breath Concealment Talisman] to the mastery stage.
And this was just a juvenile Profound Water Turtle; if it were an adult, it would...
Realizing this, a smile crept onto Shen Xuan's face.
"Found the correct way to use the Golden Finger Hand, but mustn't be careless! The Cultivation Realm is unpredictable, full of crises, a slight carelessness can lead to death, and the loss of one's path!"
An adult Profound Water Turtle is a big target, expensive, easily drawing suspicion.
Moreover, one costing twenty Spirit Stones is beyond his current means.
The juvenile Profound Water Turtle is better.
It's a small target, cheap, and unnoticed by others.
He's lived to sixty by adhering to the motto "Safety First," staying in the Cyan Dragon Bay Market, never venturing out for adventure.
Even the Ding Family's labor duties were replaced with Spirit Stones.
Leaving the practice room, breakfast was already prepared, with an aroma penetrating the Divine Soul.
This was Spirit Rice Porridge with Barbarian Beef.
The moment Shen Xuan drank it, a warm stream quickly spread to every part of his body.
Blood surged, rapidly recovering the mind's energy depleted last night.
Being a mortal, Ding Yuyao stuck out her pink tongue licking her lips.
"You have some too."
"Ah! Can I eat it too?"
"You can have a little."
Shen Xuan picked up a bowl and served her half a bowl.
Ding Yuyao wasn't a cultivator, unable to refine the Spiritual Power in Spirit Rice and demon beast meat.
Having a little is still doable.
It can invigorate vitality and prolong life.
Ding Yuyao scooped half a spoon, cooled it with a breath and gently poured it into her small mouth.
A never before felt peculiar sensation, warmth spreading through her, making her feel light as a feather.
Her tongue touched a small piece of Barbarian Beef, and with a gentle bite, it turned into sweet meat juice exploding in her mouth.
Looking up at her husband Shen Xuan, Ding Yuyao's eyes were filled with gratitude.
Though born in the Ding Family, she was a mortal woman, this was the first time she tasted such delicious Spirit Rice Beef Porridge!