Cultivation: I can solidify equipment attributes

Li Yuan returned to his room at the inn and bolted the door.

He took out the bamboo slips that were the basic introduction to the Array Formation from his storage bag and placed them on the table.

The bamboo strips on the bamboo slips were slightly yellowed and woven with ox sinew rope, feeling similar to ordinary cultivation manual bamboo slips.

Li Yuan unfolded the bamboo slips and began reading them from the beginning.

The content is indeed basic.

The first few bamboo slips describe the classification of formations. They are divided into six categories according to function: attack formations, defense formations, reconnaissance formations, illusion formations, trapping formations, and restriction formations. Each category is followed by two or three lines of explanation, describing the general principles and application scenarios.

Flipping to the next page reveals the identification of spirit patterns.

The bamboo slip listed about ten of the most common array runes, each with a simple illustration next to it. These included: Sensing Rune, Conducting Rune, Gathering Rune, Sealing Rune, and Detonation Rune.

The form of the array's spirit patterns is different from that of the talisman spirit patterns.

The spirit-gathering patterns on talismans are open, while those on formations are closed.

Unlike talisman making, the spiritual energy is not released after completing the pattern. Instead, it returns to the starting point along the end of the pattern, forming a loop. The spiritual energy continuously circulates within the loop, constantly drawing spiritual energy from the surroundings to replenish its consumption.

The difference between one-time and continuous processes lies in this closed loop.

Turning further down the bamboo slips, a concept is mentioned—node network.

No matter how complex the runes of a talisman are, they are all on a single sheet of paper. All the runes share the same medium, and the spiritual energy does not need to cross a medium when flowing on the paper.

The formations are different. The spirit patterns of a formation are distributed across multiple carriers, requiring conductive patterns to be laid between the carriers to connect the various nodes into a network.

The direction, length, and angle of the conductive patterns determine the efficiency of spiritual energy transfer between nodes.

The array eye is the core node of the entire array. All spiritual energy flows to and ultimately converges at the array eye.

The basics of array formations are explained in great detail, but there is not a single complete array formation on the bamboo slips.

There was no formation diagram, no formation process, and no materials list.

Only the principles and identification methods are discussed.

Li Yuan flipped to the last bamboo slip. The last few lines read something like, "The way of formations is profound and complex; one must be guided by a master to enter the field, and one cannot try to figure it out in isolation," and then that was it.

Fifteen spirit stones, that's all.

Old Sun is right, it really is too basic.

Although detailed, it is not effective enough.

Li Yuan closed the bamboo slip and placed his fingers on the surface of the bamboo strip.

The panel popped up.

[Equipable item detected: Basic Array Formation (Complete)]

[Entry Preview: Array Dao Insights (White) - Increases proficiency gained when setting up arrays by 50%]

[Preview of Permanentization Conditions: Set up an array entirely by your own efforts (0/1)]

[Current equipment slots are full (5/5). Replace current equipment?]

White entries.

The skill gain during formation setup is increased by 50%.

This entry will be quite useful if you study formations in the future. Just as talisman crafting has a "skill improves with each stroke" feature that accelerates proficiency, formations can also have similar acceleration methods.

The condition for permanentization is that one must set up an array entirely by oneself.

To meet the requirements for permanentization, one must first learn at least one complete formation.

Li Yuan put the bamboo slips into his storage bag; he had no equipment.

Let's leave it for now. We'll deal with it when we have the chance to learn the complete formation later.

Li Yuan pulled out a piece of demon beast meat from his storage bag, roasted it using his fire control technique, and ate it. A warm current spread out, nourishing his bones and muscles with his blood and energy, and the remaining demonic power was transformed into baleful energy, flowing into his entire body.

Then take out the Killing Essence Pill.

Pour out two pieces and put them in your mouth.

When malevolent energy enters the body, its affinity minimizes its negative effects, and the body-tempering process draws it into the fascia and bones.

The Iron Ox Kung Fu was activated.

Qi and blood are drawn from the dantian and channeled into the internal organs along the path of the Iron Ox Technique. Simultaneously, malevolent energy is squeezed from the outside, creating a double cleansing effect.

After reaching the peak of mastery, the resilience of the internal organs is several levels stronger than before. When qi and blood flow into the walls of the internal organs, they are no longer passively received, but actively absorbed, and the depth and efficiency of penetration are much higher.

But there's still a long way to go before it's perfect.

The accumulation of the final stage requires daily grinding, relying on continuous rinsing and tempering to forge every inch of the internal organs to their limit.

The remaining amount of Sha Yuan Pills is enough for a while. We'll find a way to replenish them once we run out.

After finishing his afternoon of cultivation, Li Yuan stopped and stretched his muscles.

The sky outside the window had already darkened, and the lanterns of Yunyang Market shone through the cracks in the window, casting long, thin strips of light on the wall.

After finishing his meal, he was about to continue practicing his internal energy while sitting cross-legged when there were two knocks on the door.

The pace was neither too fast nor too slow.

Li Yuan got up and opened the door.

Wang Lu stood in the corridor, his expression no different from usual, but the look in his eyes was more somber than when he left. He glanced into the room, walked in, and casually closed the door behind him.

Li Yuan sat down on the edge of the bed and waited for him to speak.

Wang Lu didn't lay any groundwork and started speaking directly.

"Someone is buying up the auxiliary materials for the Foundation Building Pill in the market."

He stretched out one hand and counted on his fingers.

"Red Reed Grass, Mystic Spirit Sand, and Soul-Gathering Dew. These three items were all bought by the same person from different shops within three days."

He withdrew his hand.

"These three auxiliary ingredients combined can only make a few Foundation Establishment Pills. Crimson Grass establishes the foundation, Mysterious Spirit Sand stabilizes the pill fire, and Condensed Soul Dew protects the spirit. This combination corresponds to a Foundation Establishment Pill called the Breakthrough Yuan Pill."

Wang Lu took out a folded piece of paper from his sleeve, unfolded it, and placed it on the table.

The paper listed the names of seven materials. The first three were the three he had just mentioned, while Li Yuan was not familiar with the last four.

"The Breakthrough Pill requires a total of seven ingredients."

Wang Lu tapped the paper with his finger.

"The first three ingredients are auxiliary ingredients, and three of the last four are common main ingredients that can be bought on the market. The last ingredient is the core main ingredient, called the Spirit Essence Fruit, which can only grow in specific spiritual vein environments and is extremely rare on the market."

He pulled his finger off the paper.

"We've got our eye on the person who bought the auxiliary materials. He also sold a main ingredient. If it was indeed sent by that cultivator to buy it, then together with what he got from the herb garden, all that's missing is the Spirit Essence Fruit."

Wang Lu continued, "The Spirit Essence Fruit hasn't appeared in the market, at least not in the last six months. It's priceless; either it was prepared in advance, or people are still looking for it."

Li Yuan looked at him.

"So what do you plan to do?"

"wait."

Wang Lu's tone was indifferent.

"Yunyang Market is Yuanyang Sect territory, so we can't make a move here. But there's a very high chance we can't buy Spirit Essence Fruit here, so he'll have to go out and look for it sooner or later. Once he's outside the market, he's no longer bound by Yuanyang Sect's rules."

He folded the paper and put it into his sleeve.

"The order from above is to keep an eye on him, gather intelligence, and then send people to intercept him after he leaves the market. It doesn't matter whether he's in the market or not, as long as we can block him outside the market."

Li Yuan nodded and watched Wang Lu leave.

After the footsteps in the corridor faded away, the room became quiet again.

Li Yuan bolted the door and sat down at the table.

Take out the special materials for refining the divine talisman from the storage bag.

With the "Enhancing Spirit Ink" attribute displayed, both the spirit ink's guiding efficiency and spirit rune stability are boosted. Combined with the increased success rate and proficiency from "Mastery Through Brushwork," the conditions for practicing Divine Refining Talismans are much better than before.

In the following period, Li Yuan devoted most of his free time to refining the spirit talisman.

During the day, I would go out and wander around the market, keeping an eye out for any disturbances, and buy some daily necessities. After returning, I would focus on making talismans and cultivating my skills.

The success rate of refining spirit talismans is steadily increasing.

At night, Li Yuan spread out a sheet of golden talisman paper, dipped it in dark gold spirit ink, and began to write.

After completing five circles of the Concentration Rune, the smoothness of the entire talisman from its beginning to its end was unlike any of the previous Refining Spirit Talismans.

It's not that any particular spiral was drawn exceptionally well; it's that the overall rhythm has changed. The transitions between the five spirals no longer require deliberate adjustments to density and speed. The wrist rotation and the increase in spiritual energy are like two sides of the same movement, working together seamlessly.

The dark gold luster that emerged on the surface of the talisman was more composed and understated than that of the previous finished products.

The panel popped up.

[Refining Spirit Talisman: Proficient (0/400)]

Li Yuan placed the Spirit Refining Talisman on the table and glanced at it twice.

skilled.

The arrangement of the spirit patterns is a level more refined than when I first started learning. The spacing between the five spirals decreases more evenly, and the distribution of spirit energy density in each spiral is just right.

First-tier superior talisman, from beginner to proficient.

Li Yuan tried using this Spirit Refining Talisman, and the effect was better than the previous beginner-level Spirit Refining Talisman.

The Wang family provided him with ample materials, and Li Yuan took this opportunity to refine a few spirit-refining talismans to enhance his soul from time to time.

After his spiritual power was enhanced, his talisman-making skills also improved.

After neatly folding and putting away the finished product, Li Yuan put down his talisman brush.

Night had fallen over Yunyang Market outside the window. The light from the lanterns seeped in through the cracks in the window, casting pale yellow streaks on the walls. In the distance, the main street could still be faintly heard with the sounds of people; this market was much more lively at night than Qinghe Market.

Li Yuan sat cross-legged on the bed and closed his eyes to practice his internal energy.

The spiritual energy surged into the body and settled in the dantian.