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Chapter 96: New Talismans
🕑 Added 2025-05-13 04:05:26 +0000 UTCCompared to the lively and joyful atmosphere of the people from Changjia Village moving into their new homes, Han Yuanzhi and his wife’s relocation was much more low-key. Han Yuanzhi could only travel back and forth between Changjia Village and Hanshan City every day, since he still had to go to Zhishi Hall. In contrast to Han Yuanchun’s enthusiasm, Han Yuanzhi and his wife seemed less invested. It wasn’t that they didn’t want children, but rather that repeated failures had scarred them emotionally, making them too afraid to hold onto any hope.
For decades, aside from seeking out doctors, Han Yuanchun had also tried all sorts of folk remedies for his brother and his wife. One such remedy involved placing a garment that had once belonged to a woman who had birthed six or seven children underneath their bed to increase the chances of conception. Though this seemed unconvincing, Han Yuanchun’s older brother had insisted that it was incredibly effective. At the time, Han Yuanzhi had been concerned not only because he found the method dubious, but also because he worried about his brother's mental state. Both of them resigned themselves to fate, yet were more concerned about Han Yuanchun, fearing he might not be able to bear the reality of their infertility.
This time, the suggestion was to move to a new location in order to conceive. Han Yuanzhi was skeptical. He and his wife had already stayed in various places over the years, yet still had no luck.
Han Yuanchun, with his usual efficiency, arranged everything, and Han Yuanzhi and his wife had no choice but to move into the newly built house. The new courtyard still smelled fresh and new. Since the villagers were descendants of the Chang family, Han Yuanzhi and his wife tried to avoid encountering anyone, fearing it might trigger painful memories. They decided to stay inside the courtyard and lead a quiet life, just the two of them.
Couples facing fertility issues of high cultivation often took a specific type of medicinal pill. Chen Xiao suspected that it was a medicine designed to adjust both parties’ bodies to the best possible reproductive state and recommended that they continue taking it without interruption. Han Yuanzhi and his wife clearly found the pills more reliable, and, without needing Chen Xiao’s advice, had already planned to use them.
Chen Xiao had full confidence in this approach. When the house was completed and Han Yuanzhi and his wife moved in, Han Yuanchun politely invited Chen Xiao and Xi Yunqing to come witness the event. Upon stepping into the Han family’s courtyard, Chen Xiao immediately sensed the abundant feng shui energy. If it hadn’t been for his previous experience with the qi acquired from hole-digging, he might have lost his composure right then and there.
Such an overwhelming energy was likely due to the fact that the house was built over a dragon vein, coupled with the strong karma involved. Chen Xiao judged that the couple’s attempt to have a child this time was bound to yield a very positive result.
Once he left the Han family’s courtyard, Chen Xiao could not hold back and told Xi Yunqing that he felt a breakthrough was imminent. Xi Yunqing’s expression immediately turned serious, and he led Chen Xiao to a vacant house left by Ah Shou. There, he would enter seclusion to focus on his cultivation. Chen Xiao didn’t know how others might experience seclusion, but having a Golden Core stage cultivator like Xi Yunqing guarding the door day and night made him feel both warm and secure.
Without hesitation, Chen Xiao crossed his legs and entered a meditative state. Inside his mind, the golden compass shimmered, with swirling golden qi revolving in circles. Once enough energy accumulated, he broke through to the third level. Simultaneously, his body shuddered as the surplus energy from the breakthrough dispersed, automatically flowing from his upper dantian to the rest of his body. It was far more refined than the first time he had unwittingly guided qi into his body, as it now reached every organ, blood vessel, and cell.
Chen Xiao couldn’t help but let out a long breath of stale air. As he stood up, he felt as though he had been reborn. His body felt lighter, his vision clearer, and even the faintest sounds reached his ears with greater clarity.
“This is the feeling of the Body Refining stage?” Chen Xiao said in disbelief as he stretched out his hands. Despite it being nighttime, he could clearly see the back of his hands.
“Xiao Di, have you finished your seclusion?” Xi Yunqing’s voice came from outside the door.
Chen Xiao hurried to open the door, excited to greet him. “Big Brother, I’ve broken through!”
Xi Yunqing carefully examined him. From Chen Xiao’s energy and the brightness in his eyes, it was immediately obvious that he had reached a higher cultivation level. Xi Yunqing smiled, “Congratulations, Xiao Di, on breaking through to the Body Refining stage.”
Chen Xiao chuckled, then remembered the tooth token. He took it from his pocket, focusing his mind on it. Seeing this, Xi Yunqing’s shoulder twitched slightly, but he quickly controlled himself, making no move to disturb Chen Xiao.
Being able to protect Chen Xiao during his breakthrough was already enough for Xi Yunqing to feel close to him. But now, he was touched to realize that Chen Xiao trusted him even more deeply than he had imagined. Unlike when they tested magical tools together, Chen Xiao was now using the tooth token to channel the teachings within it, revealing what he had learned. Such openness could only be shared between the closest of friends.
Chen Xiao, feeling no need to hide anything from Xi Yunqing, used the tooth token openly. After all, it was Xi Yunqing who had first told him about the secret behind it. The contents inside were something Xi Yunqing had already known when he had played with the token earlier.
Once the compass unlocked a new layer, there was plenty of remaining energy. Chen Xiao drew out a small portion, guiding it from his upper dantian and channeling it through his body to his hands. He immediately noticed another benefit of his breakthrough, his control over the qi had become much more agile. Moving the qi now felt far easier. In no time at all, he channeled the small amount of energy into his hands.
The energy entered the tooth token, and a portion of its contents was instantly projected into Chen Xiao’s mind. These contents felt like indelible marks, firmly etched into his memory, never to be forgotten.
The activation level of the tooth token depended on the amount of energy input. This time, the token revealed five new talisman crafting methods and even better materials for painting them.
Chen Xiao lowered his hand, the tooth token still in his grip, and excitedly said to Xi Yunqing, “Big Brother, I’ve learned to attack talismans! Now, I won’t have to run away from enemies anymore.”
Xi Yunqing nodded, “It’s good that you’ve learned attack methods, but you must also be able to assess the situation during a battle. If you’re outmatched, it’s not shameful to retreat and preserve your life.”
Chen Xiao nodded obediently. “I understand. If I’m not able to win, I won’t risk my life.”
Xi Yunqing gave him an approving look and asked, “What kind of talismans did you learn this time?”
Chen Xiao replied, “They’re basic talismans; Thunderstrike, Swift Movement, Calming, Protective, and Disease-Curing talismans.” These were the types of talismans Chen Xiao had seen and used in his past life when working with feng shui, especially when dispelling malefic energies. Protective and Disease-Curing talismans were among the most common.
Xi Yunqing was a bit puzzled by Chen Xiao’s casual mention of “basic” talismans, but soon let it go and began discussing the five new talismans with him.
