I Accumulate Spirit Roots for My Next Life

Chapter 67: Chapter 67: Singing Loudly at the Graveside

Three days ago, my father’s words resonated in my mind, but they are out of place with the current scene.

The villa under Spirit Pearl Mountain’s core area, the Spiritual Qi here rivaling the main vein of the Zhao family, at a rent of three hundred sixty Spirit Stones per year!

Is this the treatment a mere Tier One Middle Level Talisman Master can enjoy?

“Brother Li, I was a bit rude just now, please forgive me. It’s just… didn’t you go to Immortal City with Shopkeeper Lu? Why are you here?” Zhao Qian forcibly suppressed his inner emotions and changed his attitude.

“Immortal City is vast and hard to settle in; this place is also quite good,” Li Jizhou said calmly.

“This place… is indeed quite good!” Zhao Qian took a deep breath and nodded solemnly.

“Oh, right, Brother Li, this is Brother Wen, the fifth son of the Wen family’s direct line.” Zhao Qian reacted suddenly and quickly turned to introduce Wen Junyuan to Li Jizhou.

“Haha, Brother Zhao actually knows Talisman Master Li?” Wen Junyuan stepped forward with a smile.

“To be honest with Brother Wen, Brother Li and I shared hardships at Inverted Mountain for three years; the brotherly bond between us is extraordinary!” Zhao Qian said proudly.

Li Jizhou’s eyelids slightly moved; when he saw Zhao Qian at the Yang family a year ago, he felt Zhao Qian had matured greatly, with a faint aura of a family young master.

However, seeing him today, he seemed somewhat sycophantic.

A leopard can’t change its spots.

Unwilling to make small talk, Li Jizhou casually replied, then discussed talisman matters briefly with Wen Junyuan before finding an excuse to send them off.

Wen Junyuan brought twenty sheets of top-grade talisman paper, stating if they weren’t enough, he’d send more anytime, appearing generous.

He also promised that this talisman creation would grant Li Jizhou a favor from the Wen family; in the future, he could use the Wen name for anything in the marketplace.

With Li Jizhou’s skill coupled with his previous research on Spirit Trapping Talismans, at least ninety percent success was assured.

However, he did not intend to deliver that many; of the twenty sheets, he planned to complete nine at most, not out of greed for a few top-grade talisman papers, but because it matched his unfamiliar level in this kind of talisman creation.

That evening, Zhao Qian returned with servants from his family’s shop in the marketplace, pushing two carts of the Zhao family’s top-quality Spirit Rice and bringing plenty of spirit beast meat and dishes from the largest restaurant in the marketplace, demonstrating closeness.

Through glasses raised and exchanged, memories of past hardships and sweetness were shared bit by bit.

After three rounds of drinks, Zhao Qian could no longer resist probing indirectly, and Li Jizhou did not hide it, telling him that besides talisman creation, he now practiced alchemy.

He mentioned it was a means learned out of necessity while stranded at Inverted Mountain.

This made Zhao Qian wish eagerly to burn yellow paper and swear brotherhood with Li Jizhou.

He immediately expressed he could arrange for Li Jizhou to return to the Zhao family, be worshiped as a Pill Master, live by the ancestral shrine’s Spirit Vein, and be provided with three wives and four concubines.

However, as the words left his mouth, he immediately felt his idea was laughable.

Li Jizhou, who could afford to live in the most central villa under Spirit Pearl Mountain, had the Wen family’s favor and the strongest backing of Ten Thousand Talisman Pavilion, would hardly regard the Zhao family as noteworthy.

He immediately punished himself with three glasses.

After eating and drinking his fill, Zhao Qian left with a pleasant smile, but upon returning to his shop in the marketplace, his joyful expression instantly vanished, turning into dejection, his eyes dull.

Ultimately, all that was left was a heavy sigh: “Ah!”

Ten days later, Li Jizhou sent a message for Wen Junyuan to come collect the talismans.

“I am ashamed, Brother Li. It took me ten days to finally draw the first top-grade Spirit Trapping Talisman; please take it first, Brother Wen, and I will accelerate the talisman making,” Li Jizhou said, handing over only one.

“It’s all good, all good. Spirit Trapping Talismans are indeed niche; achieving results in ten days is already impressive.” Wen Junyuan still appeared generous.

It took until two months later for Li Jizhou to gradually deliver nine top-grade Spirit Trapping Talismans.

However, during the third delivery, Wen Junyuan mentioned the Spirit Beast causing damage to the Spiritual Bamboo Garden’s roots had already been caught—a recently manifested Fire Spirit Rabbit—and he paid Li Jizhou three hundred Spirit Stones as thanks.

Even though there was one talisman still owed, Li Jizhou did not try to gain small advantages and insisted on returning thirty Spirit Stones.

This side income was earned quite easily; besides the two hundred seventy Spirit Stones, nine sheets of Tier One top-grade talisman paper were left over.

On the day of receiving his payment, he visited Ten Thousand Talisman Pavilion, thanked Qi Yuan, and tried to share his earnings with her, but Qi Yuan refused.

However, he declared to Qi Yuan that he no longer wanted to take on any side gigs, claiming his alchemy was sufficient for survival.

Qi Yuan did not insist, but gained a higher regard for Li Jizhou.

After returning, Li Jizhou once again hung the sign indicating “Closed for Spiritual Retreat,” returning to his stable and orderly cultivation life.

Each day, he cultivated for three hours, and Evergreen Skill’s progression remained stable; perhaps in another two years, he would surely break through to Qi Cultivation Fifth Level.

His talisman skills also steadily advanced; from just entering Tier One Late Stage upon leaving Inverted Mountain, now he could draw top-grade talismans at the late stage, and perhaps within a year, he could rise to Tier Two Talisman Master, though there was no Tier Two Talisman Master inheritance yet, so no rush.

The study of Medical Poison progressed rapidly after laying a foundation in the early stages. Besides having already concocted two unique poisons, he now had drafts for two more in mind.

Occasionally, he also researched the Clear Wind Bright Moon Pill, left on the last page of the Medical Scripture by Pharmacist Zheng. Only a few details were needed, and within five years, he should be able to attempt it.

Body Refining steadily improved after breaking through the First Layer. Judging by his current physical strength, after breaking through the Second Layer, his body should be able to withstand a blow from a Late Stage Qi Cultivation practitioner, which gave Li Jizhou great delight, significantly improving his life-saving ability, making him feel that his only risk taken before was finally worthwhile.

The biggest surprise was the cultivation of the Flame Phosphorus Skill. Once the main realm of Evergreen Skill broke through to Middle Stage of Qi Cultivation, the auxiliary practice of Flame Phosphorus Skill accelerated again, especially after trying a Premium Qi Condensing Pill, the progress of Flame Phosphorus Skill surged.

This encouraged Li Jizhou’s hopes for pill-assisted cultivation.

The regret was that Evergreen Skill was restricted by time; regardless of the cultivation speed, the rule of one cycle per day, one turn per year, was fixed, and could not be accelerated by pill consumption.

Flame Phosphorus Skill, as an auxiliary cultivation, could only enhance the fire attribute of Magical Power in the Dantian; it could not truly lead the transformation of the Dantian, and was limited by the Dantian’s realm, unable to exceed the main cultivation of Evergreen Skill.

Thanks to Flame Phosphorus Skill’s remarkable progress, the condensed Pill Fire also increasingly strengthened, not far from top-grade Pill Fire.

At that time, he could try creating Tier One Middle Level pills, such as Breaking Rank Pills, which had considerable profit and broad market demand as Wealth Pills.

In terms of Array study, he had reached the point of initial mastery; getting closer to entry-level.

A year later, it’s time to pay the rent again.

Li Jizhou slowly ceased cultivation, Qi Cultivation Fourth Level stable, and looking ahead to Qi Cultivation Fifth Level.

Meanwhile, at Twin Lakes, within the Zhao family.

“Hahaha, congratulations to Qian’Er on breaking through to Qi Cultivation Third Level, finally becoming a Middle Stage Qi Cultivation cultivator!” Zhao Kunwu looked approvingly at Zhao Qian.

Yesterday, Zhao Qian took a Breaking Rank Pill and successfully broke through today, becoming a Middle Stage Qi Cultivation cultivator.

“Thank you, Father,” Zhao Qian’s eyes also showed delight.

“Qian’Er, now you have passed the toughest early stage. Next, all you need to do is press on. After reaching Qi Cultivation Sixth Level, I will give you a top-grade Breaking Rank Pill. As long as planning for the Foundation Establishment Pill goes smoothly, achieving Foundation Establishment before forty seems certain. Then, you’ll have over two hundred years of lifespan.

And as for that Li Jizhou, even if his talisman skills are exceptional and his alchemy methods are exquisite, since he cultivates Evergreen Skill, he’s destined in this life to have no chance at Foundation Establishment and will ultimately be lost in the river of time.

You must not develop a Heart Demon; just maintain good relations. Let him bask in glory for decades.

When he turns to dust, you’ll still be in your prime; by then, singing loudly at his tomb will be quite amusing…”

A year ago, Zhao Qian returned, informing his father that not only had Li Jizhou mastered talisman skills, but now he was also adept at Alchemy Dao, comfortably residing at the villa below Spirit Pearl Mountain, living extravagantly and carefree.

This made Zhao Kunwu secretly amazed, while also seeing immense value in Li Jizhou.

He urged Zhao Qian to forge a good rapport with Li Jizhou strongly.

But Zhao Qian went several times, only to be turned away by the “Closed for Spiritual Retreat” sign at the door.

Seeing Zhao Qian nearly develop a Heart Demon from being tormented by Li Jizhou, he resolutely gave Zhao Qian a Breaking Rank Pill yesterday despite the opposition from the clan elders.

“Father, you are right; I will surely sing loudly at his tomb!” Zhao Qian, now a Middle Stage Qi Cultivation cultivator, felt his spirits soaring!

Source: .com, updated by novlove.com