Lu Jiangxian had recuperated for two years, and then saw the turbid Qi of heaven and earth surge within the Mirror, golden light flowing, the aura subtly rising. With a stir of his Divine Sense, he traced the connection between the Talisman Seed and the Mirror itself to probe.
"Li Xuanfeng has reached Foundation Establishnt."
The feedback from Li Xuanfeng's Foundation Establishnt was even less than before, only bringing a slight increase in Divine Sense and Xuan Guang, much like when Li Chijin was the first to break through Qi Cultivation, and subsequently, with every Li family mber who broke through, the feedback gradually diminished, lacking the qualitative improvent seen before.
'Now that thods are gradually taking shape, it is still necessary to nurture a Zifu.'
At present, Lu Jiangxian's Witch Talisman arts were strengthening day by day. He already possessed many shamanic ans, but he lanted that all at hand were spells of the Moonlight lineage; not only conspicuous, but any Qilin child cultivated could easily attract the covetous gazes of those Zifu monks…
'Just wait until the Li Family offers up that Zifu essence blood, then act upon further plans.'
Talisman Qi is condensed only by uniting Essence Qi, Incense, and Soul together; a single drop of Zifu essence blood naturally would not suffice. Lu Jiangxian, after all, rely borrowed the Li family's offering and received it into the Mirror.
"It's a pity the current Dharma Mirror cannot accommodate cultivators—otherwise, all would be much smoother."
He sched on his own for a while, when the buzzing murmur of ritual arose in his ears:
"Here is the Li Clan of Lijing, sincerely presenting pure libations and diverse offerings, cold-food sacrificial beasts. Year after year, the incense never ceases… On all three epochs and six festivals, none are treated without respect. At festival tis and sunny days, the worship never ends… With smoke they burn in offering, with blood they feed the gods…"
"By decree."
A beam of white light pierced through the layers of gloomy clouds, descending into Lu Jiangxian's hand. anwhile, a string of red pearls manifested upon the desk. Lu Jiangxian used mana to bind them, first examining the Talisman Qi in his hand.
"A demon beast at the middle stage of Qi Cultivation."
He evaluated: this strand of Talisman Qi appeared sowhat frail; Da Li Mountain is hard to penetrate, and the monsters of Wangyue Lake are cunning and tend to form groups. Capturing even a single one was already quite difficult.
"Fortunately, I still have so reserve provisions of my own."
In past years, the Li Family's ritual offerings had left behind quite a few Grey Talismans of Qi Cultivation level. Lu Jiangxian had saved many, and now drew out a wisp, completing the Grey Talisman to perfection. As the Li family's Talisman Pill stores still sufficed, he did not add more.
With a sweep of Divine Sense, he saw atop the Jade Altar on the mountain, the cultivators of the Li family who had received Talisman Seeds had all taken their places.
"Talisman Qi can break realms and promote cultivation, and is bestowed, ideally, to Qi Cultivators. However, the Xiyue generation are all Fetal Breathing cultivators; better to wait for Foundation Establishnt White Talismans to grant them."
Yet Talisman Qi can only be bestowed to those with Talisman Seeds in their bodies. After so deliberation, Lu Jiangxian fixed his gaze upon Li Xuanxuan—emaciated and decrepit from Blood Escape and grave wounds:
'He has toiled for over sixty years, his path repeatedly severed… Might as well grant him the Talisman and let him take the Pill, pushing him to Late Stage Qi Cultivation.'
With a slight tap of the hand, the Grey Talisman shot into Li Xuanxuan's brow like a shooting star. Before Lu Jiangxian's eyes, several grey seal-script characters appeared:
"Preserve what is full, guard what is secure."
Unlike the previous Li family mbers who could choose among several Talismans, now Li Xuanxuan had only this one to accept—[Preserve what is full, guard what is secure].
This Talisman Qi was quite ordinary, able only to slightly improve success rates in pill concoction, talisman drawing, and other immortal-crafting arts. According to Lu Jiangxian's current understanding, it should also balance fortune and misfortune, pacify turbulence, and ward against unexpected mishaps.
"To bestow this upon Li Xuanxuan is already quite good. This Talisman Qi is the union of fate and Divine Skills. With its protection, he should live a few years longer."
Having conferred the Talisman Qi, Lu Jiangxian picked up the blood pearls from the table again.
With a gentle refining of his mana, the string of blood pearls quickly lted, mutually attracted, and condensed into a fist-sized scarlet jade bead. With a scan of Divine Sense, Lu Jiangxian silently comprehended its contained Divine Skills.
'As expected, Chi Buzi's aspect is [Heaviness and Turbidity].'
That Chi Wei could cultivate to the peak of Zifu must an the Green Pond Sect possesses this whole set of parallel cultivation techniques. But which aspect of tal Nature does this set seek…
'Judging by those Zifu monks from South River, all do their utmost to avoid forming the sa Taoist Lineage. If what is sought is [Lu Shui's Noon-Essence Talisman Nature], would it not impact that Lu Shui Perfected Lord?'
Lu Jiangxian still knew little about cultivation above Zifu, and vague doubts arose in his heart at this mont.
'I can only gather more news in the days to co.'
...
On the Jade Altar atop Lijing Mountain, blood trickled down, and the catfish demon lay stiff upon the ground, its blood light and incense rising to the unseen world, quietly dissipating.
Li Xuanxuan was closely watching several juniors, when suddenly Shengyang Mansion trembled, streaks of grey light appeared, and his mana surged.
Li Xuanxuan, near disbelief, felt the explosive surge of mana within; his face reddened, and he paused for several breaths before coming back to himself, hastily sitting cross-legged.
The Li family mbers hurriedly stepped back. In no more than the span of one stick of incense, Li Xuanxuan's cultivation leapt from Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation to the Sixth Layer. He slowly exhaled, and opened his eyes.
"Congratulations, Father."
As the juniors stepped up in greeting, Li Xuanxuan stroked his beard with satisfaction, naggingly explaining the Talisman Qi's effect, and laughed:
"Never thought this old man could obtain a Talisman Qi in this life, and it matches quite well. From now on, I'll have a bit more confidence in talisman crafting!"
He chuckled heartily, called Li Yuanjiao over, and asked:
"If I stabilize my cultivation for a few years, should I use that Talisman Pill too, advance to the late stage, and add to our family's strength?"
Li Yuanjiao certainly offered congratulations and nodded in approval, inwardly quite satisfied with this outco as well.
After all, the Zifu essence blood hadn't rendered much effect—the result was still just a Grey Talisman. Though it appeared refined and bright, it was ultimately only a Grey Talisman; whether awarded to Ximing or Xijun, it would leave him sowhat unwilling.
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