Cultivation: I can solidify equipment attributes

The materials for making talismans were used up faster than Li Yuan had expected. There were still some ordinary yellow paper talismans left, but the materials specifically for several types of first-grade low-level talismans were almost gone.

Li Yuan counted the remaining spirit stones in his sleeve and went out.

Wu's Talisman Shop was still the same as before. Li Yuan bought two dozen pieces of blue-patterned paper, a bottle of spirit ink, and a packet of powder for talisman-making, spending six spirit stones.

After leaving the talisman shop, I turned into a small cultivator's stall in the middle of East Street and bought two bone-healing pills and one spirit-restoring powder.

Bone-Setting Pills can set broken bones, and Spirit-Restoring Powder can keep you going when your spiritual energy is almost depleted. These items aren't expensive, but I always feel uneasy if I don't bring them with me on a long trip.

As I passed the intersection of East Street, I saw several rogue monks squatting against the wall, whispering to each other.

"Have you heard? A squad of the guards patrolling in the south was attacked."

"A demonic beast?"

"They weren't demonic beasts, they were people." The rogue cultivator lowered his voice and glanced around. "They said there were four or five of them, their cultivation levels were not low, they fought and ran away, they didn't even show their faces clearly."

"How many were injured?"

"Two people were injured, one with a broken arm and the other with internal organ damage. They were both brought back."

An older rogue cultivator chimed in, "This doesn't seem like the style of a traitorous cultivator. Traitorous cultivators target lone rogue cultivators; who would be so foolish as to attack a guard team?"

"Who knows? Anyway, things are getting more and more turbulent outside lately."

Li Yuan didn't stop walking, only taking in these few words.

The guard patrol was attacked by four or five people who then fled after attacking the enemy.

It's not a monster, it's a human.

Li Yuan returned to his residence and bolted the door.

For the next two days, Li Yuan hardly went out.

During the day, he practiced the Subtle Yuan Meridian Guiding Technique and the Hundred Meridians Returning to Origin Technique, and at night he crafted talismans. During this time, he also took two Meridian Soothing Pills, and his cultivation steadily progressed.

The progress of the Micro-Element Meridian Guiding Technique was slow but solid. In two days, seven or eight more fine meridians were opened, all located in the waist, abdomen, and under the ribs. Thanks to the previous practice of the Hundred Meridians Returning to Origin Technique, the proficiency increased rapidly, and it also reached the level of proficiency.

【Micro-Element Meridian Guiding Technique: Proficient - (23/400)】

Each time a channel is opened, a thin, warm current of spiritual energy flows in, almost imperceptible when it merges into the whole, but it is indeed an improvement.

Two days later, Li Yuan first went to Master Yu's residence.

The gate to the courtyard was still closed, and no one answered.

Li Yuan stood outside the door for a moment, then turned and walked towards Master Lu.

The door to Master Lu's room was open, and several newly drawn talismans were laid out on the table, with a cloth bag next to it, the opening of which was tied.

Upon seeing Li Yuan enter, Master Lu pushed the cloth bag forward.

"It's done."

Li Yuan opened the cloth bag and took a look.

Five talismans were neatly stacked inside.

The texture of the talisman paper is significantly different from that of ordinary first-tier mid-grade talisman paper; it is thicker and tougher, with a layer of fine animal hide texture on the surface—this is animal hide talisman paper made from the belly skin of a split-horned lizard.

The spiritual patterns on the talisman were nearly twice as dense as those on a regular mid-grade talisman, with the patterns at several key points overlapping tightly, faintly exuding a solid spiritual pressure.

"A total of five were produced." Master Lu leaned back in his chair. "A lot of material was wasted during the leather making process. The leather was not very big to begin with, so in the end, only eight sheets of talisman paper were cut out. Three more were wasted on drawing the talismans, so the final product was five."

"Two Flame Talismans, two Ice Talismans, and one Vajra Talisman."

Master Lu pointed to them one by one.

"The Flame Talisman and the Frost Talisman are offensive, and their power is 40-50% stronger than ordinary mid-grade first-tier talismans. The Vajra Talisman is defensive; once activated, it can withstand a normal attack from a high-grade first-tier demonic beast."

Li Yuan picked up a Blazing Flame Talisman and examined it. The talisman felt slightly heavy in his hand, its spiritual pressure was restrained, and the animal hide pattern on the surface felt somewhat rough, but its overall condition was not bad.

"The leather alone cost twelve spirit stones, the drawing fee for the five talismans is twenty, and the spirit ink and auxiliary materials are three," Master Lu said, counting on his fingers. "You'll need to pay an additional eleven spirit stones."

Li Yuan counted out spirit stones from his sleeve and stacked them on the table.

Master Lu accepted the spirit stones and added another sentence.

"Don't use this kind of talisman normally, but in a critical moment... well, it's best not to skimp on it, just in case something goes wrong."

Li Yuan carefully placed the five talismans inside his robe, nodded, and left.

After returning to his residence, Li Yuan sorted out all the pills, talismans, and talisman-making materials he had bought, categorizing them neatly.

He then sat down cross-legged and continued his practice.

After some time, there were several knocks on the door.

Li Yuan got up and opened the door; it was Sun Liang.

"We're leaving tomorrow. I've been sent to inform you. Meet outside the west gate of the market before dawn."

Li Yuan nodded.

After Sun Liang left, Li Yuan closed the door and, instead of packing his bags, sat back down at the table.

Spread out the talisman paper, pick up the talisman brush, and dip it in ink.

As Li Yuan finished drawing the fourth Golden Armor Talisman, his fingertips paused slightly, and he noticed something.

This talisman was drawn almost 30% faster than the previous one, from start to finish, yet the spiritual patterns on its surface were even more uniform.

The panel appears.

[Tier 1 Runecrafting: Proficient (0/400)]

Li Yuan glanced at it and put the panel away.

They replaced it with a yellow paper talisman.

As the pen tip touched the paper, the spiritual patterns spread out, each stroke as steady as if it had been walked a thousand times.

As he finished writing and sealed the seal, a flash of inspiration struck, and the cleansing talisman was complete.

One, two, three...

I drew five in a row, and they were all finished.

They changed the eight talismans to six.

The warning signs, originally six, were reduced to four.

Once you've mastered the art of talisman making, the success rate of basic talismans skyrockets.

Moreover, Li Yuan discovered that the proficiency level of these three talismans was also increasing rapidly. Successfully creating one talisman was equivalent to creating three or four before, and he estimated that it wouldn't be long before he reached the proficiency level.

The completed talismans were arranged into several stacks and put into the pockets of the robe.

He checked his belongings one last time—the pills, talismans, spirit-detecting plate, breath-concealing jade pendant, and talisman-making materials were all there.

Li Yuan lay down fully clothed and closed his eyes to regulate his breathing.

Before dawn, Li Yuan had already opened his eyes.

The market was not yet fully awake; the streets were deserted, with only a few spirit lamps still lit.

Li Yuan walked along West Street all the way to the west gate of the market.

A considerable number of people had already gathered at the meeting point.

About forty monks stood in twos and threes by the roadside, a larger group than any previous outing. Some were dressed as guards, some as patrolmen, and some in civilian clothes.

Li Yuan glanced around but didn't see He Shou.

But I spotted a familiar figure at the front of the crowd.

Qu Bo.

Standing next to Qu Bo were three other people, all at the late stage of Qi Refining, wearing matching gray-blue robes and swords at their waists; they were cultivators from the main branch of the Wang family.

Li Yuan walked into the line and found a spot that was neither too far forward nor too far back.

Before long, Uncle Qu raised his hand, and the scene quieted down.

"Everyone's here. Let me just say a few words."

The voice wasn't loud, but the conversation of dozens of people around them suddenly stopped.

"This mission is to clear out the monsters in an area near the market town for rogue cultivators, open up a road, and then bring over any rogue cultivators who are willing to leave."

"You might encounter monsters or other things on the road. Whatever you encounter, follow orders."

Qu Bo speaks very simply, without any preamble; he simply lays out the facts.

Qu Bo's gaze swept over the few Wang family cultivators in the late stage of Qi Refining in the front row.

"Divide into six small teams, each leading one team to provide support."

Qu Bo took out a roster from his bosom and began to read out the names.

When he read out the names of the third team, Qu Bo's gaze fell on Li Yuan, and his brows twitched slightly.

"Li Yuan".

Li Yuan stepped forward.

"You've reached level six in Qi Refining?"

The eyes of several people around them also turned to them.

"Yes," Li Yuan replied.

Uncle Qu hummed in agreement.

"Not bad, you were still at level five when we went into the mountains last time."

Qu Bo didn't say much, but lowered his head and made a mark on the roster.

"You'll lead the fourth team. Five men under you; I'll give you their names in a bit."

Li Yuan nodded and returned to the group.

The list was read out quickly.

There were six teams, each with five to seven people, plus Qu Bo himself and three Wang family cultivators.

The Wang family cultivators were not assigned to squads, but instead followed Qu Bo to provide support. Each squad leader was responsible for their own people, and they would coordinate their efforts in case of major events.

Li Yuan received the roster for his team.

Five people, three at the mid-stage of Qi Refining, and two at the third level of Qi Refining. I don't recognize any of their names.

Qu Bo took back the roster and glanced at everyone.

"Each team should meet up on their own, and we can discuss the details on the way."

"Set off."